Rent (Highlights from the Original 2005 Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Soundtrack]

Jonathan Larson (Artist), Idina Menzel (Artist), Rosario Dawson (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 15, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000B7HZZ0
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,263 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Seasons of Love

2. Rent

3. One Song Glory

4. Light My Candle

5. Today 4 U

6. Tango: Maureen

7. Out Tonight

8. Santa Fe

9. I'll Cover You

10. La Vie Boheme A & B

11. I Should Tell You

12. Take Me Or Leave Me

13. Without You

14. I'll Cover You Reprise

15. What You Own

16. Finale B

17. Love Heals

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Yes, it's true that 90% of the time Broadway fans will want the original Broadway cast recording over any other version, and 95% of the time the full recording will beat any set of "highlights." But this collection of songs from the Rent movie may defy both trends. Rentheads surely have the two-disc Broadway version already, and this well-selected 65 minutes may satisfy their desire to have performances from the movie as well (and the movie has less music than the show anyway). On the other end of the spectrum, people who enjoyed the movie but don't feel the compulsion to own every note of what they heard might well be pleased with a single disc of highlights. Pick it up and live La Vie Boheme all over again. --David Horiuchi

Product Description

One of the longest-running shows in the history of Broadway, and one of its most beloved, Rent was the winner of the Pulizer Price for Drama and four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based on Puccini's classic opera "La Boheme," Jonathan Larson's revolutionary rock opera tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic in New York's gritty East Village. Now the powerful musical marks its tenth year on stage by coming to the big screen, acompanied by RENT Highlights From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Music...but lacking., December 1, 2005

By 

Rock_On_Till_Revolution (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rent (Highlights from the Original 2005 Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

I purchased The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and I love it (although, its not OBC) it holds its own on a different scale. If you're looking for a more broadway sound, obviously try the Original Broadway Cast, everyone's the same (except for Mimi - Rosario Dawson and Joanne - Tracie Thoms). If you're more rock and are THAT into showtunes, get the full length CD.
My friend purchased the Highlights after seeing the movie (which she LOVED) and she finds that some of the most moving songs like 'Another Day' aren't on there. SO, I'm just warning potential buyers...the original movie soundtrack may be more expensive, but its worth it. You can capture the FULL magic of it.
I love this musical and this cast, I would hate to see you miss out.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Broadway Rock, March 16, 2006

By 

Lonnie E. Holder "The Review's the Thing" (Columbus, Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rent (Highlights from the Original 2005 Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

I wish there was something I could use as a comparison for this CD. However, any such comparison would have weaknesses. Some of this music reminds me of "Jesus Christ - Superstar," and "Hair," but the music is different. The topics are more mundane, earthly and sad, and include AIDS and poverty among a group of bohemians in New York's East Village. There are moments when the vocals have a raw edge to them, but emotional power comes through these songs and I enjoy this music.

Friends have been living rent-free for a year in an apartment. Suddenly the landlord asks for a years worth of rent. The song "Seasons of Love" alludes to the one year and to the love that these friends have developed for each other, and perhaps the love they thought their landlord had for them. The entire cast opens this song, which later includes solos by Tracie Thoms as Joanne Jefferson and Jesse L. Martin as Thomas B. "Tom Collins." Tracie manages to competently hit notes that attempt and fall just short of Minnie Ripperton's upper vocal range.

The pace picks up a lot on substantially on the song "Rent," which is a fast-paced rock song with lyrics wondering how they will pay the rent. This song has a powerful beat and sound and feels like the introduction to the move, making the opening song a sort of prelude.

Adam Pascal as Roger Davis sings the song "One Song Glory." This song asks for just one moment of fame before succumbing to a virus. The song is downbeat, and a reminder of the fatal illnesses that stalk our society, especially those portions of our society that are perceived to be on the fringe. The song "Light My Candle" is more hopeful and reminds me of my younger years of pinching pennies and keeping all the lights out but one. The singing is sensual and the lyrics are filled with clever double entendres.

The friends have some interesting ways of picking up money. Wilson Jermaine Heredia singing as Angel Schunard tells the story of how he did away with a noisy Akita for a thousand dollars by doing a "Thelma and Louise" from a 23rd story balcony. While the topic of "Today 4 U" could be distressing, it is a funny song. The "Tango: Maureen" follows and does have a tango bit and more funny lyrics, and a four-letter word, so watch playing this one on your speakers at work!

"Out Tonight" is another power song that has powerful sexual content. The song is a fast paced, well-performed rocker, which is followed by a much better song, "Santa Fe." "Santa Fe" is the (probably) idle speculation of someone looking to get out from under their problems. Life anywhere else would be a pleasure cruise after living in New York.

Jumping through the love song "I'll Cover You," you reach the eight and a half minute epic "La Vie Boheme A&B." This song has content-loaded lyrics that mate with music that changes pace and styles more than once. The song is happy-sad, dealing with being carefree and simultaneously having to face reality. I had to read the lyrics carefully to try and grasp the content of this song, which is as subtle as it is overt. You need the lyrics for this one if you wish to comprehend its depth and complexity.

This abbreviated soundtrack keeps the negative theme, though more blatantly, with "I Should Tell You." The song is beautiful and chilling. The harmonies remind me of Seals and Crofts. This song is one of my favorites from this soundtrack, one I could hear over and over again.

"Take Me of Leave Me" is alternately a love song and a break up song. The song has some powerful vocals with jazzy music.

"Without You" allows Rosario Dawson, singing as Mimi Marquez, to show how much emotion she can put into a song. The lyrics are for a typically tepid love song, but Rosario makes this song magic, and the duet with Adam Pascal is just bonus. Here is yet another song on this CD that I think is one of the best, and one of my favorites.

The rocker "What You Own" follows a reprise of "I'll Cover You." I actually liked portions of the lyrics and the music, but the vocals were only fair. I could have replaced this song with others from the two-disc version of this soundtrack.

The CD begins to wrap up with "Finale B." This song has a lot of excellent harmony and is yet another song that I consider one of the better songs on this CD. This compilation excludes "Finale A," which may annoy some fans.

This CD finishes with a "bonus track," "Love Heals." This contains duets that are wonderful, and make this song an excellent addition to this CD and a great way to finish the CD. Again, some may complain that other songs could have been included rather than this particular song.

This music is powerful and compares favorably with rock music in general. I think I would have purchased this CD without the association with the play or movie "Rent." The music is sometimes downbeat, and yet hopeful. The only thing I wonder is whether both the single and dual CD should have been released. This CD is more like highlights. Given the vast array of opinions regarding which songs are best, this collection is most decidedly not a "best of." This CD does have a different color from the two-disc version to minimize errors.

I think this CD is a winner for fans of the play, the movie and those who like middle-of-the-road mellow rock. The vocals and subject matter may be occasionally gritty, but this CD makes a valuable addition to any discerning music fan's collection. You may take pause and determine whether this single disc version or the two-disc version meets your needs best. Enjoy!

This review is based on a copy of the CD provided to me for review.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Money on "Rent" is well spent., January 3, 2006

By 

H3@+h "Over 1500 reviews!" (thanks for the helpful review votes) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rent (Highlights from the Original 2005 Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

Some may not agree, but this is basically "The Best Of Rent". The biggest "Rent-heads" may want the complete 2-disc version, but casual fans should do fine with the highlights. I have seen the play, and these songs from the film rock just a tad more, yet are mostly the same. The opener "Seasons Of Love" is great, and is the song the cast always sang on TV appearances. The track "Rent" rocks, "One Song Glory" has a nice hook, and "Light My Candle" is sweet and flirty. "Out Tonight" is a full-on rocker, and sung very well by Mimi (Rosario Dawson). Other favorite tracks are "Santa Fe", "Without You", and the catchy and truthful "What You Own". Overall, anyone who even remotely liked the play or movie, or might enjoy the most rocking of show-tunes, should cough up the cash for "Rent".