Customer Reviews

Before Sunset and Before Sunrise

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

 

 

I've been waiting years for a Before Sunrise soundtrack album, so this is a very welcome release, but you should note that the labelling, with photos from the sequel Before Sunset is misleading. Of 11 tracks here, 8 are actually from Before Sunrise. Before Sunset just doesn't have that much music.

Sadly, the album producers don't seem to have been able to get the rights to the versions of the Purcell piece played at the opening of Before Sunrise or the Bach piece at the film's end. The versions on this album are alternates.

I can't find the film version of the Purcell anywhere, but you can get the film version of the Bach piece on the Yo-Yo Ma album "Bach: Sonata for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord." It's available here at amazon and is vastly superior to the version on the soundtrack album.

Also, it seems they couldn't afford the Nina Simone song, "Just In Time" which closes Before Sunset. It's a major omission, since we're left with just the three Julie Delpy songs from the film, which are already available on her self-titled album. They're sweet and enjoyable, but the Nina Simone song is a must-have. The version in the film is off Simone's album "Tomato Collection," which you actually see Ethan Hawke open in the film, as he removes the disc. It's available here at amazon.

Other than that, all of the best songs from Before Sunrise are here, if in a totally random order. For those, like me, who have to listen to their soundtracks in film order, here it is:

Before Sunrise:
5, 10, 7, 9, 11, 8, 4 - replace this with the Yo-Yo Ma version if you can, 2

Before Sunset:
6, 3, Nina Simone "Just In Time," 1

This album actually is music from both "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset," both of which are incredible movies. Much of the music is very enjoyable, however the album really doesn't flow well with the baroque pieces from the first movie interspersed with the other songs. Apparently these aren't even the same versions of the baroque pieces. I enjoyed Julie Delpy's songs because of their relationship to the movie (though I liked the acoustic "A Waltz for a Night" version from the movie better than this studio version). The last two grunge angst songs I don't recognize at all from either movie, why are they here? And unfortunately the Nina Simone song, "Just In Time," that ended "Before Sunset" isn't on here. If you really want it, it can be found on her album "At the Village Gate" or "Tomato Collection." So, taken as individual tracks there are good songs on this soundtrack, but the album as a whole isn't spectacular.

If you loved the the concoction of music that made their indelible marks in "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset", the soundtrack will come as a major let-down to you. While selective tracks were memorable and brought back fond memories of the movies' moving montages, the soundtrack which lasted a mere 34 minutes and 36 seconds was way too brief to afford the listener a chance to fully appreciate and relish the music that made these superbly-directed movies truly unforgettable.

The best tracks - "Purcell's Dido & Aeneas Overture*" (Track 5), "Bach's Andante from Sonata for Viola da Gamba in G Major" (Track 4) and "Bach's Goldberg Variations in G Major*" (Track 8) - played during the beginning and finishing sequences of "Before Sunrise" simply wasn't aired long enough, leaving one insatiated and yearning for more. The next best tracks are the ones featuring silky-voiced Julie Delpy as the solo songstress - "Je t'aime tant" (Track 1); "An Ocean Apart" (Track 6) and "A Waltz For a Night" (Track 3) - while not perfectly sung, these numbers were performed with great urgency and relevance, but sadly too few and far between.

All said, these six tracks are the sole redeeming grace of the soundtrack as it showcased Linklater's and his editors' ingenious edge in handpicking magical pieces not only in their own right (especially those chosen for "Before Sunrise") but music that worked cohesively in transcending the two movies from extraordinary to sublime. But the fact of the matter is: one inevitably feels the pinch of being ripped of and remorseful that the producers had to spoil what could have been a most tantalizing experience in owning the perfect soundtrack to the much loved movies. If only they had extended the repertoire by including Nina Simone's closing number; songs from Delpy's album (2003) or her unreleased works (either those accompanied by her guitar-playing or au naturel a cappellas would be fine); not least extended versions of the classical recordings to fill this skimpily tossed up soundtrack hastily rendered to milk the success of the movies. This would have made the soundtrack truly 5-star worthy.

*If you've enjoyed Purcell's Dido & Aeneas, one of the best renditions of the opera was performed by Christopher Hogwood's Chorus and Orchestra of The Academy of Ancient Music (Decca, 1994). For Bach's Goldberg Variations, check out Pierre Hantai's spectacular performance on the Harpsichord (Mirare, 2003).

I'll agree with many of the other reviewers: It's great to finally have access to many of these songs. But indeed, not including something by Nina Simone is a real error. Also, the order of the tracks on this disc diminishes the songs' effect. I expect a soundtrack CD to replicate the mood of the film, but this CD ends with the up-tempo, Euro-pop songs from "Before Sunrise," letting the listening experience end on a harsh note. To solve the problem I re-ordered the songs on my ipod, and added in the Ivy song from the trailer as well as a Nina Simone song. Problem solved! So yes, this is a good CD but not a great one. It requires some listener input to become great.

I'm pretty sure everyone thinking about buying this is probably a fan of these cute little movies. The movies work because they are intellgent with great characaters but also because they evoke that feeling that is pretty hard to describe but easy to recognize. This soundtrack is able to capture that "essence" to some degree and it is worth owning if you are a big fan of the movies but other wise you will probaby want to steer clear.

Julie Delphy sings three songs on the album and they are all good. Like the other reviewer said "Waltz For A Night" is OK but not as good as in the movie and after watching it again I decided the actors reactions to the song are what made it great. Living Life is really catchy and maybe the best song on the disc...I'm surprised it didn't get any radio play. The classical music is pretty good as well but sometimes feels out of place mixed in with the contemporary songs. The biggest flaw of the album is how uneven it is. Honestly the last three songs are pretty much garbage. I don't even recognize them from the movie and never listen to them.

Just for the record, I classified this CD as "coffe house" under the genre section of my ipod.

Bottom Line: If you liked the movies you might really enjoy the first half of this CD. Otherwise you can probably pass on this.

First off, Amazon is wrong. Nina Simone is not on this puppy (unfortunately, as it is key to the second film; you'll need to see it understand). All the music is interesting, though going back and forth with classical and pop is a bit unnerving at times. Julie Delpy's songs, however, are really very good. If you like the films, as I do, and enjoy how the music functions in them, I would recommend this CD; if not, I don't suppose you would get anything out of this, but then that's too bad for you.

I love "A Waltz for a Night" and was very disappointed that they only included a studio version of the song on this album. The acoustic version in the movie is far superior and doesn't have the bizarre sounding effects they included on the studio version. It really is quite different sounding so if that's a major concern for you, I recommend looking elsewhere.

It had been years since watching the first film, Before Sunrise, so I rented it and watched it again before watching Before Sunset. Watching them back-to-back is the way to go...it adds to the drama and passion. Loved both films. There seemed to be some prohetic statements and ideas in the first film that actually come to pass in the second. Music was great, scenery awesome. You really WANT these characters to connect again. I was especially moved by the way they had both matured in Before Sunset. I hope there will be a 3rd installment (maybe even more) of this wonderful story. I would love to see how/if their love endures through time.

I enjoyed this music in the film and I enjoy it even more in my bedroom. It is romantic, mellow and delicious. I am very pleased with it. It arrived quickly and in perfect condition.

I love the all the songs on here. Especially the one written for Jessie. you wont believe how many times ive put these songs on repeat on my Iphone.