Shrek

Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell

 
" Your fairytale like we have heard and seen it before, ...... NOT "

Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release

In 1998 the world was shocked when Harry and John mixed their brains together to create Antz, '2000 was no different and Chicken Run stands today probably as one of the most fun scores ever composed. So why would people not scream months after one another to get that third installment in their houses! Shrek was a big success at the cinema, and people only got the chance to hear the songs of the film on a soundtrack CD.

The movie as some people know was filled with tons of them and the musical release had just one lousy score track. Varèse Sarabande heard the cry and put the fans out of their misery when they announced the release of Shrek, the original score of Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell. The date was set and the fans couldn't wait anymore, until that special day ... The day they received that package containing the Shrek release. Anyway it was that feeling I had when I received it, and with all of my expectations I came to one conclusion. It was good, it had the highlights and after the film it gave me the spirit, but no way was this a second Chicken Run, no way another Antz. No, Shrek with all the hoopla surrounding it remained the third choice in the line of collaborated efforts between Harry and John.

But don't get me wrong, Shrek is still very good. But there are some moments that simply don't connect. First of all it is the various short length of several tracks that keeps destroying the magic, and secondly it are the various short songs. While funny in context, they don't really mingle well with the composed score, at least not to create this amazing listening experience. Ah well, this is one of its production flaws which we cannot blame Varèse for (heck we should thank them for the rest of our lives).

The quality of the score is another matter though. Harry and John are 2 amazing composers when you put them together. Yet with Shrek it's not always that brilliant, if we're comparing of course. Still, we have our gems right here with us: For instance "Fairytale" and "Ogre Hunters / Fairytale Deathcamp" has enough magic to start this score on the right note.

"Uninvited Guests" has some spectacular use of magical fantasy, and a good deviant march with dark choral menace and organ is all what stand for little "March of Farquuad", both the track time as his height. The comical entries are "Welcome to Duloc", "Singing Princess" and "Merry Men". They are not bad but work better in the film than on disc. But what especially works on disc is the main heroic theme of Shrek himself. The James Bond inspired "'Escape from the Dragon" is energetic as brimstone, and "Ride the Dragon" contains its most spectacular performance through the assistance of an almighty choir (sadly during the film you can't hear the choir at all). "Transformation / The End" by then closes the score with a good old magical finale.

Though no matter how good these moments are, Shrek is still the weakest of the three. Usually a score liked this should make me feel happy, but knowing what I expected and knowing what they achieved before, there is still that negative feeling of "what if". Of course back then it wasn't an issue whatsoever, because Varèse gave us a great Christmas present in 2001, enough for us to sing "Merry Christmas Varèse" whilst listening to "Ride the Dragon" (still one of the greatest tracks ever composed).

Tracklisting

1. Fairytale (1.26)
2. Ogre Hunters / Fairytale Deathcamp (1.35)
3. Donkey Meets Shrek (2.37)
4. Eating Alone (1.17)
5. Uninvited Guests (2.09)
6. March of Farquuad (0.38)
7. The Perfect King (1.17)
8. Welcome to Duloc (0.34)
9. Tournament Speech (0.51)
10. What Kind of Quest (2.22)
11. Dragon! / Fiona Awakens (2.06)
12. One of a Kind Knight (1.19)
13. Saving Donkey's Ass (0.43)
14. Escape From the Dragon (1.58) Excellent track
15. Helmet Hair (2.08)
16. Delivery Boy Shrek / Making Camp (0.47)
17. Friends Journey to Duloc (2.42)
18. Starry Night (0.58)
19. Singing Princess (1.35)
20. Better Out Than In / Sunflower / I'll Tell Him (2.10)
21. Merry Men (0.43)
22. Fiona Kicks Ass (0.28)
23. Fiona's Secret (3.02)
24. Why Wait to be Wed / You Thought Wrong (1.58)
25. Ride the Dragon (1.36) Excellent track
26. I Object (1.51)
27. Transformation / The End (3.26) Excellent track

Total Length: 44.30
(click to rate this score)  
 
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(total of 30 votes - average 4.12/5)

Released by

Varèse Sarabande 302 066 308 2 (regular release 2001)

Conducted by

Harry Gregson-Williams & Gavin Greenaway

Orchestrations by

John Bell, John Coleman, Elizabeth Finch, Bruce Fowler, Walt Fowler, Ladd McIntosh & Yvonne S. Moriarty

Performed by

The Metro Voices