The Soundtrack

[calliope_queene]

I'm not sure when that bit actually plays in the film, although (as I am listening to it at the moment) it sounds familiar.
I do enjoy the soundtrack. It is not my favourite, but I do enjoy it. I especially like 'Evacuating London' 'Father Christmas' 'The Battle' and 'Only the Beginning of the Adventure'.
And I, like many have said, skip over the songs that you usually hear during the credits...I'm just not the kind who likes 'inspired songs' I guess.

[Lirenel]

I'm not sure when that bit actually plays in the film, although (as I am listening to it at the moment) it sounds familiar.
.

Just got back from watching the movie again and payed close attention to the music this time. Turns out I was right twice. That piece plays both when the armies are charging and when Peter and the Witch fight.

I'm gald I figured it out, that was so annoying!

[Esther]

Although it doesn't seem to be the popular opinion, I have to say that I love the Alanis Morisette song. Some of the lyrics are absolutely wonderful. I especially like the closing lines of the three verses, "Destined to serve, destined to roam," "Destined to seek, destined to know," and "Destined to reign, destined to roam." They contain so many ideas that can be associated with both the Narnia story and the Christian life. Destined to serve... The children served Narnia thorugh their efforts to rescue it from the White Which/Jesus came not to be served but to serve; destined to roam... they had to travel to new and unknown places before Aslan gave them their finaly victory/Christians are aliens and strangers in this world, waiting for a city which is built by God; destined to seek and to know... they had to ask for help and wisdom from Aslan and he gave them everything they needed/Christians are told that if we seek we will find and that if we ask for wisdom, God is generous in giving it; destined to reign... the children fulfilled the prophecy and reigned as kings and queens/Christians will someday reign with Christ as fellow heirs of his kingdom.

Sorry if I sound like I'm preaching a sermon. I was so thrilled to hear those lyrics, it made me love the song, and I just wanted to share my ideas.

[Lirenel]

Alright, I have another question concerning the Narnia music. Does anyone know the words to the vocalizations that play in "The Battle"? There's some at the beginning, around 0:50 and again at the 3:00 mark. Are they even words, or just "ahhh, ahh ah ah" stuff? Did that even make any sense?

[rusmeister]

I just got the soundtrack today. I really like it, especially the Narnian Lullaby. As for the songs, I much prefer them to the songs on the "Inspired By" cd, as those are mostly not my style of music (though I like the lyrics).

The one thing that really bothers me on the soundtrack is from Morissette's song "Wunderkind." Having a background in German, I automatically pronounce "Wunderkind" according to German pronunciation rules; I have never heard it pronounced differently. But Morissette mangles it. Is "wonder kind" (with a long i sound) the acceptable pronunciation after all and I'm just a loner following German rules when I say "Voonderkind" (with a short i sound)? Everything else about that song is beautiful, but that pronunciation just makes me cringe.

You're not alone. Although "winder-kind" (long i sound) represents total ignorance and should be eschewed, when in America, you have to tip your hat to American ignorance of foreign languages and use American phonetics, so wunder (as in wonder) kind (as in kindergarten, also a German borrowing) has to be accepted. (I grew up monolingual so fully understand "monos", while still glad to be "multi" now.)

[rusmeister]

The mechanism that produces two "soundtracks" for a film is interesting. The machine has learned that people genuinely interested in the music will shell out multiple times, first for a fake soundtrack (consisting of songs, mostly pop crap that wouldn't sell anywhere else and of which you only hear a couple of snippets in the film, then for the original score, which includes maybe a third of the symphonic music you hear in a film. Finally, 5-10 years later they release a "collector's edition" with most of the music for twice the price. So in the end, the music lovers pay 3 or 4 times for the music they want.

"Music Inspired By" stuff is despicable. Even the word "soundtrack" doesn't help anymore. You have to look for the code words "Original score". And the individual parts of the score are called "pieces", not songs (which are melody + singing). So you folks are scaring me. Is the score loaded with songs? Or is it symphonic (as it should be). I'm still waiting to both see the movie and listen to the soundtrack.

Beware the Soundtrack CD my son,
The songs that bite
The tunes that catch
Beware the Music Inspired By and shun
the dubious cheap pop crap

[Mornamoice]

...you have to tip your hat to American ignorance of foreign languages...

I've heard that there are people who are multi-lingual, that is, speak many languages; then there are people who are bilingual, or speak two languages; and finally there are people who are monolingual, or Americans.

Actually, I'm among those Americans with a strong background in languages, having studied German, Russian, Italian, Latin, classical Greek, New Testament Greek, and Anglo-Saxon at different times in my life (also a little French, Spanish, and Polish, but not enough to be significant). It is true, however, that American schools tend to be sadly lacking in language offerings. I happened to attend a junior high and high school in which the administrators had an appreciation for the need for foreign language study (things have changed there since I graduated), and I began with German in seventh grade. Many American kids don't even get a chance to study any foreign language until ninth grade! As far as I'm aware, in Europe children mostly begin language studies in the early elementary grades (when the brain is better wired for learning a new language). I think this puts American children at a distinct disadvantage.

[Summer]

I like the soundtrack. I won't say that any of it is on the level of some of my favorite orchestral pieces or operas, but it's all very good. I did miss the period piece from the movie, and my favorite remaining song (which I still wish there was more of) is the Narnian lullaby.

I am a little unhappy with the cd itself for being a very uninformative thing. Does it even mention how long the individual tracks are? I don't think so. Plus, where's that completely awesome bit of music from the trailer?

[wood-maid]

Finally, 5-10 years later they release a "collector's edition" with most of the music for twice the price. So in the end, the music lovers pay 3 or 4 times for the music they want.

So the soundtrack that's out now (not the "Inspired By") doesn't actually have most of the music?

"Music Inspired By" stuff is despicable.

I'm inclined to disagree. ;) I didn't buy the CD, just got it from our library, and while majority of it was despicable (imo) and I was glad I didn't buy it, I really liked Steven Curtis Chapman's "Remembering You". Perhaps that's because I already like his music, though. And I liked the lyrics for Rebecca St. James' song, which I thought captured the Narnia feel, but her voice ruined it for me.

[rusmeister]

Finally, 5-10 years later they release a "collector's edition" with most of the music for twice the price. So in the end, the music lovers pay 3 or 4 times for the music they want.

So the soundtrack that's out now (not the "Inspired By") doesn't actually have most of the music?

"Music Inspired By" stuff is despicable.

I'm inclined to disagree. ;) I didn't buy the CD, just got it from our library, and while majority of it was despicable (imo) and I was glad I didn't buy it, I really liked Steven Curtis Chapman's "Remembering You". Perhaps that's because I already like his music, though. And I liked the lyrics for Rebecca St. James' song, which I thought captured the Narnia feel, but her voice ruined it for me.

Regarding the first question - right. The film is 2 hrs 15 or so minutes. So it probably has 100-110 minutes of music. How much total time on the soundtrack? Usually from 40-65 minutes. You'll get the rest in a few years if the movie is popular enough for them to rate a special edition release. Star Trek the Motion Picture is still out there, if you're willing to pay $30-40 for it, for example. Likewise Superman, just for a couple of examples that have "matured"

As to "Music Inspired By", you have to like that kind of music in the first place. After 20 years of listening, all pop (and similar genres) begin to sound the same. Why else are old folks more into classical/symphonic stuff anyway? That's simplistic, but I can understand why some people would like that sort of thing. I just resent getting it on a symphonic soundtrack that I'm paying for. I will acknowledge, however, that an exception may come along, because of the specific nature of the film. Queen's "Flash Gordon" and the more recent "Shrek" come to mind. But usually, the genres don't mix well.

[wood-maid]

You'll get the rest in a few years if the movie is popular enough for them to rate a special edition release.

I see...well, considering I'm a poor college student anyway, I might as well wait.

After 20 years of listening, all pop (and similar genres) begin to sound the same. Why else are old folks more into classical/symphonic stuff anyway?

Lol, you have a point...I must say I haven't been listening to it quite that long.
As for genres not mixing, that was my thought when I heard the TobyMac song....oh my.

[carol]

Sadly this music is still not available in the country where the film was made (at least, I haven't seen it!)

[Pete]

When do they play Wonderkind, anyway? Is it played during the credits? I thought everything during the film was fine.

Wunderkind is not only played during the credits (as has already been mentioned) but it was also played near the beginning of the movie, when the kids are on the train (I think).

I'm wanting to get the soundtrack, however, unfortunately, the two music shops I've recently been to it was all sold out there and people were ordering it in!

Esther, if you're reading this - I love your review of Wunderkind. I at first wasn't so keen on it, but you've given me a different light to see it in!

[Esther]

Esther, if you're reading this - I love your review of Wunderkind. I at first wasn't so keen on it, but you've given me a different light to see it in!

Oh, good! It's always fun to know that one's own enjoyment of something has helped to increase someone else's.

[AslansGirl]

For me, the movie music (especially a movie like Narnia that is set in another world) should bring you into the world and be as much part of the world as the locations you visit in the story. I wanted to hear Narnian music like Narnian air. The music in the movie did not do that for me. The Narnian lullaby was pretty good. I thought it sounded too digital. Too modern. Maybe my expectations were too high. Subconsciously, I think music was the thing I was looking forward to the most. I wanted a deep, stirring theme for Aslan, one of those lovely melodies that can be played with triumph or despair and be equally beautiful. I might have liked the music if it was on another movie. It just was not a good fit for Narnia.