Customer Reviews

The American President: Original Score From The Motion Picture

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Movie soundtracks are some of my favorite recorded music, as it helps me relive a well-loved movie, and often provides a lovely background for me while I read or knit. The movie itself is wonderful, a romance you can really lose yourself in. The best music will do that, as this does. The main theme has become so popular in other movie trailers that it took me a long time to figure out where I'd originally heard it, so I'm delighted to be able to hear it whenever I like. I highly recommend this recording.

I loved the movie and the music lets me relive it, each time I listen to it! The main theme is beautiful and listening to old standards is a nice touch too. You will thoroughly enjoy this orchestration!

Marc Shaiman's soundtrack for the movie "The American President" is the perfect complement to this classy film. Eloquent and simple in its scoring, Shaiman's music is lovely throughout the CD. His style brings simultaneously to mind the purity of American values amid Washington politics, and evokes the music of the late Aaron Copland, composer of the score to the ballet "Billy the Kid" and the movie "The Red Pony."

His wonderful instrumentation helps to further the American ambience and backdrop to the story of the Widower President Shepherd who falls unwittingly in love with lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade. Shaiman's score features noble tunes accompanied by Revolutionary period-style music that might make the listener think of such legendary American figures as Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.

The album winds through the movie's plot in its presentation of the various themes and tunes, taking the listener for a musical journey reminiscent of the fine Romantic nature of the film. The soaring music of the final scene featuring President Shepherd entering an applauding Congress for his State of the Union Address brings tears to my eyes every time I see the movie, and pride to my heart as an American citizen, as I listen to this wonderful music.

Marc Shaiman has a knack for writing gorgeous themes and this is one of his best. The theme, while drawing similarities to Thomas Newman's theme for The Shawshank Redemption, is simply breathtaking. The music itself is fully scored for orchestra with lots of warmth and passion put into the performance. "Main Titles" launches the theme right from the start, as well as in "President Shepherd" and "End Credits", which leaves the listener simply breathless at the end. If the theme is so good, what is the rest of the music like? It is not just plain filler music like you would probably expect, droning in the background. It holds its ground and serves the film and as a standalone listening experience. "Call Me Andy", "I Like Her", "The First Kiss", and "Camp David" contain wonderfully played pianos, lush strings, and warm woodwinds, with subtle quotes of the theme popping up here and there. "Meet the Press", "Gathering Votes", and "Never Have An Airline Strike at Christmas" (don't we all wish!) are more driving in nature with the use of snare drums and frantic string passages. The total length of the album is 39 minutes, which is plenty and really serves its purpose well. If you haven't already guessed by now - get this soundtrack! You'll be glad you did!

There are few words to describe this CD. The theme is beautiful, and there are no parts in the music where you lose the feeling that says "This music is AWESOME." In the big moments when the strings swell up, and the horn rises over the top, i get that emotional tingly feeling all through my body, and it is amazing. BUY THIS CD!!!

This movie really took me by surprise. Having seen it just a few days ago, I immediately went out and purchased the soundtrack, and I must say that it was well worth the money. I thought the movie was excellent, and this soundtrack more than lives up to the standard set by its film counterpart. Rather than overwhelm the listener with raging melodies, Shaiman opts for a more personal feel, and the result is 40 minutes of absolute aural bliss. I guarantee that after you hear "President Shepherd" (Track 15) and it's awesome ending you'll leave with a feeling of appreciation for the great story which has just been told. Definitely 5-star caliber.

What a soundtrack! This CD is packed with emotion, it's as if you can feel what the movie is like and just by the music can understand the plot. Especially nice is the End Credits where everything is brought together into a moving piece of classical music. If your looking for a good soundtrack you have found one in The American President. P.S. - listen for it in the Saving Private Ryan previews (awesome)

I was getting married and my mom is terrible with music, so she asked me to find a song for the mother/son dance. The version of "I Have Danced" on this cd is great for that dance because it contains no words. I found most songs are about a man and a woman being in love and while I love my mom, I don't LOVE my mom. So I went instrumental, and she loved it. She continues to use the CD today because it has various other tracks that work well with moms or people with lighter taste. At the very least, if you are looking for a perfectly nice version of "I Have Danced" that you can't find anywhere else, as far as i can find, go for this CD.

Definitely one of Mark Shaiman's best [if not the best] compositions. Beautiful, dramatic melodies that added to the movie can stand equally well on their own.

I've always been a big fan of Marc Shaiman's score to "Heart and Souls," and his music for "American President" blows away his previous work. The music is nothing short of Incredible.

An earlier reviewer stated som incorrect information, however. Marc Shaiman did NOT write the music to the TV series "West Wing." All music on that show is composed by W.G. Snuffy Walden.