The Soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou is something of an oddity in that it was arguably more successful than the film itself. It sold over 5 million copies, won 5 Grammys, reached Number 1 in the Billboard Album Charts (over a year after the release of the film), and spawned it’s own documentary film. It is likely that more people have heard I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow than have seen the movie.

While lead singer of The Soggy Bottom Boys Everett is played by George Clooney, it is not actually his voice that you are hearing. Instead he has been dubbed over by Bluegrass musician Dan Tyminski. According to Tyminski, when he told his wife of the news - that she would be hearing his voice come out of George Clooney’s face - she replied “God damn, that’s my fantasy”

The Coen Brothers have a long history of great music in their films. In recent years we have been treated to Inside Llewyn Davis and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (which we will, I am sure, come to in future weeks), but they are unlikely to ever surpass the music from O Brother, Where Art Thou. It is a cultural icon, that strikes the typical Coen brothers blend of Comedy and Drama. Playfulness and desperation.

The film itself, and the themes it explores, remain relevant today, 22 years after it’s release, and will, I am sure, remain relevant for years to come.

Directed by: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen

Starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Holly Hunter, John Goodman

UK Release Date: 15th September 2000