Shrek 2
Harry Gregson-Williams
" Lacking the highlights of the first score, yet giving us a much smoother listen in the process "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
It's not hard to determine where the success of Shrek is going at. To the ultimate top! It's simple really, computer animated movies are hot stuff nowadays, Shrek has become an icon easily recognizable over the world, and the fact everyone loves fantasy tales (since we were young) are basically some of the facts that keep the money train going. And you know what? I even adore the second one more. By now, you know the characters, by know you've been blown away by the visual style of the movie and by now you've realized that the end battle is one of the most brilliant unisons between music and visual storytelling. In a nutshell, Shrek 2 rules.
As a score assignment, the first was handled by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams, you know the duo that gave us Chicken Run and before that Antz. Now, it is Harry Gregson-Williams that handless the assignment alone, probably due to the popular score Sinbad for DreamWorks he composed a few months earlier. Considering it's a sequel, it is understandable that themes and moments return as the way we heard them in the first score, even those written or co written by John Powell.
The album opens with Fiona's theme and a heroic variation on the main theme in "Prince Charming", there's a piece of baroque music in "Far Far Away", a comedic waltz in "Family Dinner", a spark of fantasy in "The Factory" and a dash of Spanish flair in "By the Ol' Oak" (introducing our cat Puss). But how lovely these moments appear to be, they are short, diverse and yet nothing more than playful underscore. In fact you'll realize soon enough that Shrek 2 holds hardly any action music whatsoever, not like say occasionally Shrek offered the listener.
There's a bit of adventure in "The Potion Room" (after a sneaky opening), loud Shrek theme statements in "The Mission" and "Muffin Man". But hardly the statements like we discovered in the first Shrek score. In between all this don't forget though the lovely moment of Shrek's theme on piano and cello in "Not Meant to Be", Fiona's jazzy version in "The Ball" and Organ on a beat in "Tonight on Knight". And it is the lovely (though exact same copy) of the conclusion of the first that ends "All is Revealed".
Yet all this didn't make an impact on me like "Holding out for a Hero" did. I think I speak for everyone that this will be the most magical musical moment you'll remember of the film, and rightfully so. Sung brilliantly by Jennifer "Fairy Godmother" Saunders, it creates actual movie magic when we see a large muffin walking towards the castle, trying to get Shrek and his friends inside. It is in this moment you receive the most magical moments of the music, with a wonderful Shrek statement from the choir near the end.
Sadly this version isn't found on the score but on the actual song soundtrack of the film. And I'm betting this one will have sold a bunch of copies just because of that breathtaking moment. This makes Shrek 2 the more lovable listening experience, but not the better one. Because what Shrek 2 misses is the highlights. Sad considering Shrek 2 sounds a lot better in this form of recording.
Tracklisting
1. Prince Charming (2.03)
2. Leaving Home (1.10)
3. Far Far Away (1.43)
4. Family Dinner (2.08)
5. Fiona's Room (0.59)
6. We Need to Talk (1.30)
7. The Poison Apple (1.18)
8. The Factory (1.38)
9. By The Ol' Oak (2.00)
10. Annoying Talking Animal (2.54)
11. The Potion Room (3.07)
12. Deep Fried (2.01)
13. Not Meant to Be (2.47)
14. The Ball (1.07)
15. The Prince of her Dreams (2.14)
16. Tonight on "Knights" (0.46)
17. Magic Tea (1.48)
18. The Mission (1.28)
19. Muffin Man (1.07)
20. Get the Wand (2.07)
21. All is Revealed (3.15) Excellent track
22. Dragon! (0.38)
Total Length: 40.35
As a score assignment, the first was handled by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams, you know the duo that gave us Chicken Run and before that Antz. Now, it is Harry Gregson-Williams that handless the assignment alone, probably due to the popular score Sinbad for DreamWorks he composed a few months earlier. Considering it's a sequel, it is understandable that themes and moments return as the way we heard them in the first score, even those written or co written by John Powell.
The album opens with Fiona's theme and a heroic variation on the main theme in "Prince Charming", there's a piece of baroque music in "Far Far Away", a comedic waltz in "Family Dinner", a spark of fantasy in "The Factory" and a dash of Spanish flair in "By the Ol' Oak" (introducing our cat Puss). But how lovely these moments appear to be, they are short, diverse and yet nothing more than playful underscore. In fact you'll realize soon enough that Shrek 2 holds hardly any action music whatsoever, not like say occasionally Shrek offered the listener.
There's a bit of adventure in "The Potion Room" (after a sneaky opening), loud Shrek theme statements in "The Mission" and "Muffin Man". But hardly the statements like we discovered in the first Shrek score. In between all this don't forget though the lovely moment of Shrek's theme on piano and cello in "Not Meant to Be", Fiona's jazzy version in "The Ball" and Organ on a beat in "Tonight on Knight". And it is the lovely (though exact same copy) of the conclusion of the first that ends "All is Revealed".
Yet all this didn't make an impact on me like "Holding out for a Hero" did. I think I speak for everyone that this will be the most magical musical moment you'll remember of the film, and rightfully so. Sung brilliantly by Jennifer "Fairy Godmother" Saunders, it creates actual movie magic when we see a large muffin walking towards the castle, trying to get Shrek and his friends inside. It is in this moment you receive the most magical moments of the music, with a wonderful Shrek statement from the choir near the end.
Sadly this version isn't found on the score but on the actual song soundtrack of the film. And I'm betting this one will have sold a bunch of copies just because of that breathtaking moment. This makes Shrek 2 the more lovable listening experience, but not the better one. Because what Shrek 2 misses is the highlights. Sad considering Shrek 2 sounds a lot better in this form of recording.
Tracklisting
1. Prince Charming (2.03)
2. Leaving Home (1.10)
3. Far Far Away (1.43)
4. Family Dinner (2.08)
5. Fiona's Room (0.59)
6. We Need to Talk (1.30)
7. The Poison Apple (1.18)
8. The Factory (1.38)
9. By The Ol' Oak (2.00)
10. Annoying Talking Animal (2.54)
11. The Potion Room (3.07)
12. Deep Fried (2.01)
13. Not Meant to Be (2.47)
14. The Ball (1.07)
15. The Prince of her Dreams (2.14)
16. Tonight on "Knights" (0.46)
17. Magic Tea (1.48)
18. The Mission (1.28)
19. Muffin Man (1.07)
20. Get the Wand (2.07)
21. All is Revealed (3.15) Excellent track
22. Dragon! (0.38)
Total Length: 40.35