A League of Their Own
Hans Zimmer
" THERE'S DEFINITELY CRYING IN ZIMMER'S BASEBALL SCORE! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the expanded release
A League of Their Own is a film that stands the test of time. Even after all these years, the beloved AAGPBL are still a wonderful watch. Courtesy of the warm comedy heart of the late Penny Marshall, and the actors who all poured their sentimental comedic vibe into each character. Hans Zimmer became the umpire who had to bring all that talent to a musical rhythm. And boy has he done so. Many Zimmer fans don't know the composer like this. When he was still writing emotional music, melodic music. When he was making tunes and jam sessions and let the emotion do the talking. The funny escapades in "Sibling Rivalry", the funny (unused) "Plucking Cows" that underscores Jon Lovitz's character entering the scene. They offer the zest and spunk that would fuel the excitement ten fold in latter tracks. And in between their's heart and real felt emotion. "Marla's Goodbye" has both. The typical Zimmer warmth and the Americana for entering the field.
And on the field is where it all happens. Like swinging jazz for "Tryouts", underscoring every little funny moment that happens on screen. Just like D3: The Mighty Ducks that underscores every little detail melodically, Zimmer keeps using melody, rhythm and panache to keep the vibe as electrifying as experiencing it firsthand. This all gets an outragous five minute encore in "Life Magazine Montage". Same deal, musical ideas depict what's happening on screen, from funny sliding moments to bats hitting balls. It all climaxes once Zimmer gives those trumpets a whirl at the end, and probably your heart with it. This is music where emotion reaches energy and amusement. This is when music gives the scene a new elevation of meaning.
Emotional moments do come aplenty after that. "Not Happy / Kit's Frustrated" and "The Telegram", a specific sad scene in the film. But all things must have an ending, a climatic battle. And this time it's 2 sisters against each other. And you literally feel this tension when they both face each other on the pitch for the first time. "Final Game" has that moment, the moment Kit needs to face her inner demons. The moment Dottie enters the field to make her sister lose the point (5:07), and sister Kit not able to cope with her inner struggles (5:24), it's an amazing story told through subtle drums and horn solos. I always adored this in the film, and now it's here to finally experience it outside the film. The real finale is when we go to present time and hear the amazing duo track "Hall of Fame" and "Final Goodbyes and Hellos". The themes return here and give each character their send off. Again try to hear this. The emotion is not underscore, but overscore. It overpowers the scene but it actually enhances it. It enhances the funny encounters and the sad goodbyes of characters. Give me music like this any time, music that dares to say: I'm here.
A League of Their Own is so many things, stylish, cool, energetic, comedic and heartbreaking. But above all it's memorable. Because Zimmer probably was a jazz artist in his previous life and channeled his inner gods to deliver something so amazing. The score is a testament that old school Zimmer delivered so much greatness back in those days. It's tacky because it dares to address the emotion so overblown, but that's what filmmusic needs to do. Not be the silent partner but be the star on screen who dares to speak up loud. A League of Their Own is simply put Jazztastic!
!!! Take me home momma and put me to bed. I have heard enough to know I have heard too much !!!
A League of Their Own 1992 release: ****
A League of Their Own Expanded 2025 Release: *****
Why did it take such a long time to get it released? Music as marvelous as this needs to be heard for generations to come.
From someone who doesn't know jazz, this is a jazztastic score.
Score has a bunch of themes and shows everything is better when themes enhance the idea behind it.
"Life Magazine Montage" is by far the most explosive track I've heard in a long time.
The Newsreel montages are fun marching musical moments as well.
The theme of the song that gets some attention in "Final Goodbyes and Hellos".
Score has so many styles and identities of Zimmer's old school voice, we don't hear this from him anymore.
Track Listing
1. Prologue (2.12)
2. Newsreel (1.08)
3. Sibling Rivalry (1.04)
4. Plucking Cows (1.58)
5. Marla's Goodbye (3.07) Excellent track
6. Tryouts (2.32) Excellent track
7. Take Me Out to the Ballgame / Jimmy Manages (1.15)
8. Black and White Into Color (1.42)
9. Batting Practice (1.05)
10. Mixed Signals / No Crying (1.53)
11. Life Magazine Montage (5.35) Excellent track
12. Not Happy / Kit's Frustrated (2.21)
13. Telegram (4.38) Excellent track
14. Dottie Leaves / Newsreel Montage (2.25)
15. The Prayer (1.17)
16. Final Game (13.00) Excellent track
17. Locker Room (2.49)
18. Hall of Fame (3.10) Excellent track
19. Final Goodbyes and Hellos (5.44) Excellent track
Total Length: 58.55
And on the field is where it all happens. Like swinging jazz for "Tryouts", underscoring every little funny moment that happens on screen. Just like D3: The Mighty Ducks that underscores every little detail melodically, Zimmer keeps using melody, rhythm and panache to keep the vibe as electrifying as experiencing it firsthand. This all gets an outragous five minute encore in "Life Magazine Montage". Same deal, musical ideas depict what's happening on screen, from funny sliding moments to bats hitting balls. It all climaxes once Zimmer gives those trumpets a whirl at the end, and probably your heart with it. This is music where emotion reaches energy and amusement. This is when music gives the scene a new elevation of meaning.
Emotional moments do come aplenty after that. "Not Happy / Kit's Frustrated" and "The Telegram", a specific sad scene in the film. But all things must have an ending, a climatic battle. And this time it's 2 sisters against each other. And you literally feel this tension when they both face each other on the pitch for the first time. "Final Game" has that moment, the moment Kit needs to face her inner demons. The moment Dottie enters the field to make her sister lose the point (5:07), and sister Kit not able to cope with her inner struggles (5:24), it's an amazing story told through subtle drums and horn solos. I always adored this in the film, and now it's here to finally experience it outside the film. The real finale is when we go to present time and hear the amazing duo track "Hall of Fame" and "Final Goodbyes and Hellos". The themes return here and give each character their send off. Again try to hear this. The emotion is not underscore, but overscore. It overpowers the scene but it actually enhances it. It enhances the funny encounters and the sad goodbyes of characters. Give me music like this any time, music that dares to say: I'm here.
A League of Their Own is so many things, stylish, cool, energetic, comedic and heartbreaking. But above all it's memorable. Because Zimmer probably was a jazz artist in his previous life and channeled his inner gods to deliver something so amazing. The score is a testament that old school Zimmer delivered so much greatness back in those days. It's tacky because it dares to address the emotion so overblown, but that's what filmmusic needs to do. Not be the silent partner but be the star on screen who dares to speak up loud. A League of Their Own is simply put Jazztastic!
!!! Take me home momma and put me to bed. I have heard enough to know I have heard too much !!!
A League of Their Own 1992 release: ****
A League of Their Own Expanded 2025 Release: *****
Why did it take such a long time to get it released? Music as marvelous as this needs to be heard for generations to come.
From someone who doesn't know jazz, this is a jazztastic score.
Score has a bunch of themes and shows everything is better when themes enhance the idea behind it.
"Life Magazine Montage" is by far the most explosive track I've heard in a long time.
The Newsreel montages are fun marching musical moments as well.
The theme of the song that gets some attention in "Final Goodbyes and Hellos".
Score has so many styles and identities of Zimmer's old school voice, we don't hear this from him anymore.
Track Listing
1. Prologue (2.12)
2. Newsreel (1.08)
3. Sibling Rivalry (1.04)
4. Plucking Cows (1.58)
5. Marla's Goodbye (3.07) Excellent track
6. Tryouts (2.32) Excellent track
7. Take Me Out to the Ballgame / Jimmy Manages (1.15)
8. Black and White Into Color (1.42)
9. Batting Practice (1.05)
10. Mixed Signals / No Crying (1.53)
11. Life Magazine Montage (5.35) Excellent track
12. Not Happy / Kit's Frustrated (2.21)
13. Telegram (4.38) Excellent track
14. Dottie Leaves / Newsreel Montage (2.25)
15. The Prayer (1.17)
16. Final Game (13.00) Excellent track
17. Locker Room (2.49)
18. Hall of Fame (3.10) Excellent track
19. Final Goodbyes and Hellos (5.44) Excellent track
Total Length: 58.55