Gigli
John Powell
" Light, fluffy entertainment, more than you can say about the movie it accompanies "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Gigli is one of the biggest flops in recent history, especially because it was trying to use the celebrity fame of the relationship between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck as a commercial publicity stunt. Sadly for Martin Brest (man where is the man who gave us Scent of a Woman) it went downhill because moviegoers weren't interested to see the exploits of 2 lovers together in a dumb idea for a film anyway. Sadly for that, John Powell's score was forgotten in the end, if it was not for the herds of fans who need to hear everything he composes.
Because truthfully, the short 40 minute score is a breezy and extremely relaxing listen. It actually is one of those easy going, tuneful scores that uses various motifs to make its way towards the end, delivering you at that very end even surprising and wonderful conclusive music.
Apart from the solo instruments such as the organ, piano, guitar and bass, John Powell only needed the Hollywood Studio Symphony's string section to tie it all together. And basically, it doesn't require more. "Opening Titles" begins with the organ theme, creating a light and bouncy feeling that soothingly moves forward to a brief but lovely string theme. Another returning theme is a guitar theme and this one pops up a lot during the score, most notably during "Dinner", "Tai Moi Chai", "Yoga Music" and "Friends of Yours?".
The string theme of track one returns lovely on organ and guitar in "Read to Me" while getting a lovely variation during "Cut It Off". Considering all this fluffy music appears in 1 minute tracks, the album could become quite abrasive. But luckily it doesn't happen because Powell ties all his various little themes together in the most charming way, just think of the lovely piano version of the guitar theme in "God Bless You / You With Me?". The organ main theme itself reappears during tracks 6 and 10.
The "Love Scene" brings another variation of the guitar theme and "Some Place Clean" tries to state it one more time through lovely piano versions and organ assistance. So Gigli remains as fun and as charming as it began.
But all positive remarks aside, it's nothing remotely special. Charming yes, lovely absolutely and fluffy ever so, but special no. For that we have to wait for a rhythmic guitar version performance in "Pro Perogative" or for the lovely music in "Goodbye". This leaves the door open for "Nice Weather" and "Rochelle" to fully deliver the listener the unexpected climax. In "Nice Weather" the playful flutes give the drama theme another meaning. And another meaning does unravel itself too in "Rochelle" when we hear all 3 themes together, followed by a wonderful gospel choir taking this track to great heights. Yes, welcome to one of the greatest highlights of John Powell's career.
Considering the album was charming from start to finish, and considering Gigli ends remarkably wonderful, it is very easy for me to say that Gigli is quite worth your time and patience. In fact, what does nothing remotely special mean if you receive wonderful fluffy music that doesn't do a bloody thing wrong? So, Gigli might pass its time in one of this decade's biggest duds, it nonetheless melts your heart on CD remarkably easy.
Tracklisting
1. Opening Titles (3.28)
2. Can I Go? (1.27)
3. Dinner (1.31)
4. Read to Me (1.35)
5. Tai Moi Chai (0.55)
6. Mum's Arse (0.51)
7. Yoga Music (2.21)
8. Cut It Off (1.23)
9. God Bless You / You With Me? (2.16)
10. The Morgue (1.36)
11. Friends of Yours? (1.19)
12. Love Scene (2.09)
13. Some Place Clean (1.22)
14. Pro Perogative (1.45)
15. Step Up (1.27)
16. Drive To Baywatch (1.42)
17. Goodbye (4.23)
18. Nice Weather (2.23)
19. Rochelle (3.30) Excellent track
Total Length: 37.33
Because truthfully, the short 40 minute score is a breezy and extremely relaxing listen. It actually is one of those easy going, tuneful scores that uses various motifs to make its way towards the end, delivering you at that very end even surprising and wonderful conclusive music.
Apart from the solo instruments such as the organ, piano, guitar and bass, John Powell only needed the Hollywood Studio Symphony's string section to tie it all together. And basically, it doesn't require more. "Opening Titles" begins with the organ theme, creating a light and bouncy feeling that soothingly moves forward to a brief but lovely string theme. Another returning theme is a guitar theme and this one pops up a lot during the score, most notably during "Dinner", "Tai Moi Chai", "Yoga Music" and "Friends of Yours?".
The string theme of track one returns lovely on organ and guitar in "Read to Me" while getting a lovely variation during "Cut It Off". Considering all this fluffy music appears in 1 minute tracks, the album could become quite abrasive. But luckily it doesn't happen because Powell ties all his various little themes together in the most charming way, just think of the lovely piano version of the guitar theme in "God Bless You / You With Me?". The organ main theme itself reappears during tracks 6 and 10.
The "Love Scene" brings another variation of the guitar theme and "Some Place Clean" tries to state it one more time through lovely piano versions and organ assistance. So Gigli remains as fun and as charming as it began.
But all positive remarks aside, it's nothing remotely special. Charming yes, lovely absolutely and fluffy ever so, but special no. For that we have to wait for a rhythmic guitar version performance in "Pro Perogative" or for the lovely music in "Goodbye". This leaves the door open for "Nice Weather" and "Rochelle" to fully deliver the listener the unexpected climax. In "Nice Weather" the playful flutes give the drama theme another meaning. And another meaning does unravel itself too in "Rochelle" when we hear all 3 themes together, followed by a wonderful gospel choir taking this track to great heights. Yes, welcome to one of the greatest highlights of John Powell's career.
Considering the album was charming from start to finish, and considering Gigli ends remarkably wonderful, it is very easy for me to say that Gigli is quite worth your time and patience. In fact, what does nothing remotely special mean if you receive wonderful fluffy music that doesn't do a bloody thing wrong? So, Gigli might pass its time in one of this decade's biggest duds, it nonetheless melts your heart on CD remarkably easy.
Tracklisting
1. Opening Titles (3.28)
2. Can I Go? (1.27)
3. Dinner (1.31)
4. Read to Me (1.35)
5. Tai Moi Chai (0.55)
6. Mum's Arse (0.51)
7. Yoga Music (2.21)
8. Cut It Off (1.23)
9. God Bless You / You With Me? (2.16)
10. The Morgue (1.36)
11. Friends of Yours? (1.19)
12. Love Scene (2.09)
13. Some Place Clean (1.22)
14. Pro Perogative (1.45)
15. Step Up (1.27)
16. Drive To Baywatch (1.42)
17. Goodbye (4.23)
18. Nice Weather (2.23)
19. Rochelle (3.30) Excellent track
Total Length: 37.33