The Iron Lady
Thomas Newman
" The Iron Thomas "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
One historical figure after another received their own story through the medium of film or series. The Iron Lady or Margaret Thatcher got Meryl Streep another Oscar and Golden Globe in 2012. Nothing was awarded to Thomas Newman, nonetheless no stranger to the Oscars and definitely considering the movie he was underscoring. Then again, Newman's score was functional if nothing more. Thatcher isn't exactly the most emotional person nor the sweetest, and therefore Newman's music feels a lot colder and determent than his sweet tinkling nominees of old. This is easily heard throughout the entire score. Cold piano ("Eyelash") or determination ("Swing Parliament"). Occasional classical pieces are spotted too, delivering a little upbeat-ness or grandeur to the character or situation ("The Great in Great Britain" and "Discord and Harmony"). The second piece by the way is quite a stirring choral one, and the most powerful cue of the entire disc. But in general there is nothing remotely amazing about The Iron Lady (if you don't consider that quite stirring cue "Discord and Harmony"). The movie or character wasn't asking for a lovely and beautiful Thomas Newman score, it was asking for a more urgent and colder sound instead. In terms of effectiveness this is then also spot on Newman. And if you approach it like that, you can rather appreciate it (even though the second part is a little less interesting).
Music fits the character like a glove (urgent and rather cold).
Thomas Newman's own take on classical music for most of the time, and not the use of actual classical music.
The color is coming from the more classical sounding music, not the colder or emotionless character music.
Second part lost me more and more.
Track Listing
1. Soldiers of the Queen * (0.50)
2. MT (0.49)
3. Grocer's Daughter (2.18)
4. Grand Hotel (0.47)
5. Swing Parliament (3.42)
6. Eyelash (1.45)
7. Shall We dance? ** (4.24)
8. Denis (1.56)
9. The Great in Great Britain (2.22)
10. Airey Neave (0.48)
11. Discord and Harmony (2.36)
12. The Twins (1.05)
13. Nation of Shopkeepers (1.46)
14. Fiscal Responsibility (1.48)
15. Crisis of Confidence (4.05)
16. Community Charge (2.03)
17. Casta Diva (from "Norma") *** (5.35)
18. The Difficult Decisions (1.34)
19. Exclusion Zone (4.14)
20. Statecraft (3.41)
21. Steady the Buffs (4.51)
22. Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846 **** (1.53)
* Performed by The Military Band of the Queen's Regiment
** Performed by Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner (recording from the motion picture The King and I (1956)
*** Performed by Maria Callas & Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala
**** Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Total Length: 54.52
Music fits the character like a glove (urgent and rather cold).
Thomas Newman's own take on classical music for most of the time, and not the use of actual classical music.
The color is coming from the more classical sounding music, not the colder or emotionless character music.
Second part lost me more and more.
Track Listing
1. Soldiers of the Queen * (0.50)
2. MT (0.49)
3. Grocer's Daughter (2.18)
4. Grand Hotel (0.47)
5. Swing Parliament (3.42)
6. Eyelash (1.45)
7. Shall We dance? ** (4.24)
8. Denis (1.56)
9. The Great in Great Britain (2.22)
10. Airey Neave (0.48)
11. Discord and Harmony (2.36)
12. The Twins (1.05)
13. Nation of Shopkeepers (1.46)
14. Fiscal Responsibility (1.48)
15. Crisis of Confidence (4.05)
16. Community Charge (2.03)
17. Casta Diva (from "Norma") *** (5.35)
18. The Difficult Decisions (1.34)
19. Exclusion Zone (4.14)
20. Statecraft (3.41)
21. Steady the Buffs (4.51)
22. Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846 **** (1.53)
* Performed by The Military Band of the Queen's Regiment
** Performed by Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner (recording from the motion picture The King and I (1956)
*** Performed by Maria Callas & Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala
**** Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Total Length: 54.52