Bad Girls

Jerry Goldsmith

 
" Goldsmith in those days rarely disappointed, why would he do it with this crap movie?! "

Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release

Jerry Goldsmith in his prime time could score a motion picture like that, making it instantly fun. And while the movie perhaps turned out poorly, the score turned out lovely. Those were the years of the '80 and '90 that simply everything became as it should be. Even when Goldsmith scored lousy pictures, the score was average rarely, fun most of the time and classic from time to time. One of the examples that fell in the middle category was Bad Girls. A movie nobody remembers except for the four women doing manly stuff.

However, I always remembered it had a great main theme. And I'm glad my memory served me well, because through finding a copy of the score after such a long time, I was taken back to a time filmmusic could actually be fun and exhilarating. The score is fun overall, having that Goldsmith stamp of the '90. It may not be classic Goldsmith, but at least it is miles ahead of all the filler music we're getting nowadays.

As said, it is the main theme of Goldsmith that is the killer of the day, with a terrific performance in the second track "The Hanging" (which brings the pace and vigor of Explorers back to life). And since this theme is repeated through any variation in any track, it is fair to say that Bad Girls will not disappoint mainstream Goldsmith listeners.

The main theme opens with Poltergeist gentleness in "The John" before the killer statement is heard for the first time in the second track. Besides the Mexican influences in "Bank Job", it is action that arouses you with pure Rambo statements. "Jail Break" by then uses a different sound, meaning a playful piano giving it almost a comedic Dennis the Menace feel.

But when it concerned action, Goldmith was no slouch. Not even in the stupid pictures. Just listen to what he did with "Ambush", a thunderous effort revoking back the powerful clusters of Total Recall. This continues in "Josh's Death", with the exception he now adds layers of emotion and thrill in a bombastic and outstanding effort. Oh why can't we hear this anymore in the movie music of today? A final recapitulation of the main theme (soft and lovely) ends the score in "My Land", stating the obvious main theme of the score one more time.

Back then, Bad Girls was good old Jerry Goldsmith fun. Today it still is fun, but now good old Jerry Goldsmith class. Because Bad Girls once more ridicules today's movie music with a simple and easy strike. This score has one main theme and a couple of returning tunes, but it has development, strength and basic structure that we just seem to miss more and more today. I know why I'm enjoying these Goldsmith scores more today than in the past, because it takes me back to a time that filmmusic was able to state even in the smaller, dumber entries it had class and fun in a nutshell. So I say grab that nutshell, because it tastes a lot more delicious than today's crappy nuts.

Tracklisting

1. The John (2.19)
2. The Hanging (3.19) Excellent track
3. Bank Job (4.56)
4. Jail Break (3.27)
5. No Money (2.09)
6. Ambush (5.46) Excellent track
7. I Shot Him (2.37)
8. Josh's Death (3.43) Excellent track
9. No Bullets (3.53)
10. My Land (6.51)

Total Length: 39.24
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(total of 25 votes - average 4.02/5)

Released by

Fox Records 72445-11084-2 (regular release 1994)

Conducted by

Jerry Goldsmith

Orchestrations by

Alexander Courage

Performed by

The National Philharmonic Orchestra