Mulan II
Joel McNeely
" It isn't as good as the first, but the tone sure does comes close "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
It's always nice to see Joel McNeely back, at least on CD considering we will not see him appearing anymore so frequently on a soundtrack release. Mulan II was then also a score we were looking forward at, especially considering its predecessor Mulan was considered to be one of Goldsmith's best, and that raises the bar even higher I think. So, Joel McNeely even with all his talents would fight an unfair battle, but its fair to say he succeeded where most would have failed. The brief 30 minute soundtrack was even sold for about 7 bucks, in stores just because Disney found it embarrassing to release just 30 minutes of music for the double normal prize, something other labels should do too considering we have to pay equally the amount for 30 minutes as for 70 minutes.
Anyway, the score is a good one. "Main Title" is a short but lovely theme's performance with Chinese violin and choir which makes it especially lovely on the ear for about a minute. "Journey Begins" sees the Chinese main theme return with the choir and violin, but moves to some brief comedic music and the song theme of "Like Other Girls".
"In Love and in Trouble" sees the theme being intermingled with the Chinese instruments and I would swear to hear brief snippets of Goldsmith's score in the track as well. Anyway that's good to know and also that "The Attack" makes up for the loss of running length with some rousing minutes of powerful orchestral music. The song themes are thrown in between the brass playing (which is nice to notice) and the fanfares overrule everything without question. "Shang Lives!" surely equals and overpowers that emotional firepower with some grand orchestral moments and the themes surely rise to the occasion.
"Here Besides Me' is the love theme by Joel McNeely and this is performed lovely by Hayley Westenra, showing especially the theme growing strongly from time to time, which it does nicely in the instrumental version as well. And for those who want more, there's a promo with more score and less songs floating around somewhere, giving you some lovely playful bonus material.
Together, it might make for just too less of that goodness, but it does show how good Joel McNeely really is. Mulan II might not be Mulan, but Jerry Goldsmith outdid himself with that one so why should we care. The sequel by Joel McNeely is equally rousing and beautiful in parts, and considering the price we have to pay for all this, it truly is a bargain. The score remains faithful to the concept and the orchestral touch is another accomplished McNeely effort. So seek out what you find is more important for you, the cheap commercial or the longer fulfilling promo.
Soundtrack: ***1/2
Promo: ***1/2
Tracklisting
1. Lesson Numer One (2.26)
2. Main Title * (1.09)
3. Like Other Girls (2.25)
4. Girls Worth Fighting For (Redux) (1.31)
5. Here Beside Me: Hayley Westenra (2.35) Excellent track
6. I (Wanna Be) Like Other Girls (2.50)
7. Journey Begins * (2.59)
8. In Love and in Trouble * (4.37)
9. The Attack * (4.06) Excellent track
10.Shang Lives! * (4.28) Excellent track
11. Here Besides Me (Instrumental) (2.35) Excellent track
* Composed by Joel McNeely
Total Length: 31.41
Anyway, the score is a good one. "Main Title" is a short but lovely theme's performance with Chinese violin and choir which makes it especially lovely on the ear for about a minute. "Journey Begins" sees the Chinese main theme return with the choir and violin, but moves to some brief comedic music and the song theme of "Like Other Girls".
"In Love and in Trouble" sees the theme being intermingled with the Chinese instruments and I would swear to hear brief snippets of Goldsmith's score in the track as well. Anyway that's good to know and also that "The Attack" makes up for the loss of running length with some rousing minutes of powerful orchestral music. The song themes are thrown in between the brass playing (which is nice to notice) and the fanfares overrule everything without question. "Shang Lives!" surely equals and overpowers that emotional firepower with some grand orchestral moments and the themes surely rise to the occasion.
"Here Besides Me' is the love theme by Joel McNeely and this is performed lovely by Hayley Westenra, showing especially the theme growing strongly from time to time, which it does nicely in the instrumental version as well. And for those who want more, there's a promo with more score and less songs floating around somewhere, giving you some lovely playful bonus material.
Together, it might make for just too less of that goodness, but it does show how good Joel McNeely really is. Mulan II might not be Mulan, but Jerry Goldsmith outdid himself with that one so why should we care. The sequel by Joel McNeely is equally rousing and beautiful in parts, and considering the price we have to pay for all this, it truly is a bargain. The score remains faithful to the concept and the orchestral touch is another accomplished McNeely effort. So seek out what you find is more important for you, the cheap commercial or the longer fulfilling promo.
Soundtrack: ***1/2
Promo: ***1/2
Tracklisting
1. Lesson Numer One (2.26)
2. Main Title * (1.09)
3. Like Other Girls (2.25)
4. Girls Worth Fighting For (Redux) (1.31)
5. Here Beside Me: Hayley Westenra (2.35) Excellent track
6. I (Wanna Be) Like Other Girls (2.50)
7. Journey Begins * (2.59)
8. In Love and in Trouble * (4.37)
9. The Attack * (4.06) Excellent track
10.Shang Lives! * (4.28) Excellent track
11. Here Besides Me (Instrumental) (2.35) Excellent track
* Composed by Joel McNeely
Total Length: 31.41