The Proclaimers have revealed hearing their songs sung in Sunshine on Leith was the most surreal moment of their lives.
The film, which is based on 25 years of the Proclaimers’ hits, tells the story of two soldiers returning to Edinburgh after serving in Afghanistan.
Brothers Craig and Charlie Reid said they were happy to hand over their lives’ work to the film-makers. The twins, who attended the movie’s UK premiere in Edinburgh last night, said hearing their songs was “surreal”.
Craig, 51, said: “When I saw Sunshine on Leith and heard the songs I think it was the most surreal thing in my life.
“You’re feeling choked up because you remember where you were when they were written and all the rest of it, but having actors sing your songs back to you, especially female actors, was really strange.
“I’ve seen the film three times now and it’s still a very strange experience. The thing we worried about was that the songs would be misinterpreted or taken completely out of context, but it never happened. The storyline runs from the lyrics of the songs.”
He added: “At the premiere in Toronto, I could hear people sniffling all around. I was the only one not crying. Musicals are supposed to be an emotional journey, but they’ve done it right it feels bang up to date and totally contemporary Scotland. And Edinburgh looks fantastic in it.”
The brothers admitted they were disappointed some of the songs used in the stage musical had to be cut from the film adaptation.
Charlie said: “They’ve condensed the amount of time, and unfortunately they’ve lost a few songs, but it feels punchier it has to move faster.
“They cut Throw the R Away and Heaven Right Now, but it’s not our gig. We told (director) Dexter Fletcher ‘you’ve got carte blanche, do what you want’. We’re very happy with the result.”