1. AMÉLIE – YANN TIERSEN
When I think about soundtracks of the last 10 years that best define a film, the first one that springs to mind is “Amélie”. Amélie Poulain (Audrey Tatou) is a “fille triste”. A sad and peculiar girl in appearance but, sometimes, she is doused in enthusiasm and new ideas invade her. For her, illusion is something more than sheer feeling. It involves taking action and carrying it out in an original and creative way. And this is simply the plot of the movie: a melancholic and dreamer of a character wants to change the world through good deeds. The film is full of moving, bittersweet and funny moments and the soundtrack is just the best companion for this tour through Amélie’s daily life. The French musician Yann Tiersen was the creator of this jewel where the accordion is one of the main protagonists. Its sound, blissful sometimes, gloomy others (like Amélie’s changeable character), reminds us of the bohemian Paris and perfectly fits with all the movie scenes (“J’y suis jamais allé”, “La Valse d’Amélie” or “Les jours tristes” are some of the compositions that shape this great connection). String instruments like violins, cellos or others like metallophone, harpsichord or piano shine in this delirious and charming story. As I said before, soundtracks and movies should enjoy perfect marriages. Like watching fifty ballerinas on stage and forgetting they are actually fifty people and not a whole mass moving. Well, Amélie is a clear example of that. God bless these ideal marriages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb1oJwD_Ktk1
Tracklist:
- “J’y suis jamais allé” – 1:34
- “Les Jours Tristes” (Instrumental) – 3:03
- “La Valse d’Amélie” (Original version) – 2:15
- “Comptine d’un autre été: L’après-midi” – 2:20
- “La Noyée” – 2:03
- “L’Autre valse d’Amélie” – 1:33
- “Guilty” (All Bowlly) – 3:13
- “À quai” – 3:32
- “Le Moulin” – 4:27
- “Pas si simple” – 1:52
- “La Valse d’Amélie” (Orchestral version) – 2:00
- “La Valse des vieux os” – 2:20
- “La Dispute” – 4:15
- “Si tu n’étais pas là” (Fréhel) – 3:29
- “Soir de fête” – 2:55
- “La Redécouverte” – 1:13
- “Sur le fil” – 4:23
- “Le Banquet” – 1:31
- “La Valse d’Amélie” (Piano version) – 2:38
- “La Valse des monstres” – 3:39
2. INTO THE WILD – EDDIE VEDDER
“Into the Wild” has involved a double debut. Firstly, the one of Sean Penn as film director and secondly the solo album of Eddie Vedder (singer of Pearl Jam and composer of the soundtrack). And sincerely, we would wish that all the debuts were like these ones. “Into the Wild” (based on the novel of John Krakuer) is a story about running away from the routine. Running away from the ethos that our contemporary society marks that sometimes can become a bit stifling and retrograde. “Study, go to University, get a good job, work harder, be honest, get married, have two kids and die without having done any insanity in your life”. Have you ever thought about being detached from all of this and just do what you feel like? The protagonist of the film, Christopher McCandless, did it. After his studies in College he started a trip in communion with Nature and his more spiritual side. By car, by foot or hitchiking he finally reached his goal: Alaska.Reminding us a bit of the “On the Road” (Jack Kerouac) characters, he encounters many anecdotes on his way: meeting new people and coping with new situations that enrich his personal values and his vision of life.
And this wandering trip is accompanied by the songs of Eddie Vedder. Pure, acoustic, melancholic, harsh and philosophical. Just as Christopher’s experiences. “Society” makes us reflect about what are the values we, the society, have created. “Rise” dresses the film with an inch of illusion and motivation: “Gonna rise up burning back holes in dark memories. Gonna rise up turning mistakes into gold”. Others like “Long nights” relate the fear, loneliness and frustration that the protagonist experimented during the trip. In “Tuolumne” Eddie Vedder’s Indian moan rises while the protagonist wanders in the cold American lands. A great and graphic soundtrack that completes the body of the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRUGvArWXLk1
Tracklist:
- “Setting forth” – 1:37
- “No Ceiling” – 1:04
- “Far Behind” – 2:15
- “Rise” – 2:36
- “Long Nights” – 2:31
- “Tuolumne” – 1:00
- “Hard Sun” – 5:22
- “Society” – 3:56
- “The Wolf” – 1:32
- “End of the Road” – 3:19
- “Guaranteed” – 7:22
3. THE PIANO – MICHAEL NYMAN
It is difficult to choose only one soundtrack within the vast and rich Michael Nyman’s career, but if I had to pick one that would be: “The Piano”. This drama tells the story of Ada, a mute female pianist who is sold by his father into marriage with a New Zealand frontiersman and has to move there with her daughter and of course her inseparable piano. Her way of expression is the piano, the keys and its sound. Her daughter acts as an interpreter to communicate with people. The piano is her most valuable personal belonging. It is more than a belonging indeed. It is her way of life. A life that for her is nothing more than a mundane one. During her difficult time in New Zealand she experiences frustation, hate, sorrow and yes, there is also time for a bit of love and hope. A blend of contradictory feelings she expresses through her piano. And Michael Nyman’s fingers are the ones that help us to understand Ada’s vision of life and her innermost thoughts. “The heart asks pleasure first” or “The Scent of Love” are just one of those compositions that talk from the heart. No one like Nyman’s has that special sensitivity to create pieces like these ones. As you will have noticed, the piano is the great protagonist of this magnificent soundtrack, accompanied by a moving string orchestra. It is senseless and imposible to immerse yourself in the plot of the movie without Nyman’s music. This film could not exist without Nyman’s work. So I will dare to say that we are witnessesing a genuine soundtrack that has given, intentionally or not, a great film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dPS-EHl-FE1
Tracklist:
- “To the Edge of the Earth” – 4:06
- “Big My Secret” – 2:51
- “A Wild and Distant Shore” – 5:50
- “The Heart Asks Pleasure First” – 1:33
- “Here to There” – 1:02
- “The Promise” – 4:14
- “A Bed of Ferns” – 0:46
- “The Fling” – 1:28
- “The Scent of Love” – 4:16
- “Deep Into the Forest” – 2:58
- “The Mood That Passes Through You” – 1:13
- “Lost and Found” – 2:24
- “The Embrace” – 2:36
- “Little Impulse” – 2:11
- “The Sacrifice” – 2:46
- “I Clipped Your Wing” – 4:34
- “The Wounded” – 2:26
- “All Imperfect Things” – 4:03
- “Dreams of a Journey” – 5:30
