Hotel Rwanda [Soundtrack]

Afro Celt Sound System (Artist), Dorothee Munyaneza (Artist), Wyclef Jean (Artist), Deborah Cox (Artist), Yvonne Chaka Chaka (Artist), Tilly Key (Artist), Bernard Kabanda (Artist), Rupert Gregson-Williams (Composer), Andrea Guerra (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 11, 2005)
• Original Release Date: February 4, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Commotion
• ASIN: B0006SST9A
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,674 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mama Ararira (Medley): Mama Ararira, Pt. 1/Mama Ararira We!, Pt. 2

2. Mwali We!

3. Million Voices

4. Interhamwe Attack

5. Nobody Cares

6. Umqombothi (African Beer)

7. The Road to Exile

8. Whispered Song

9. Finale

10. Ambush

11. Ne Me Laisse Pas Seule Ici (Don't Leave Me Here by Myself)

12. Mwari Sigaramahoro [#]

13. Olugendo Lw'e Bulaya (The Journey to Europe)

14. Children Found

15. Icyibo

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The true-life account of Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) and his courageous efforts to shield a thousand refugees from the genocide that swept his country in 1994 features a soundtrack that evokes both a range of rich African musical traditions and the horror of ancient tribal tensions pushed to a murderous breaking point. Afro Celt Sound System's "Mama Ararira" medley sets the tense, haunting dramatic tone, while a pair of contributions from group vocalist Dorothea Munyaneza underscore the innocent humanity at the heart of the tragedy. Elsewhere, South Africa's Yvonne Chaka Chaka offers up a lively homage to African beer, while the solo voice and guitar of Uganda's Bernard Kabanda detail a "Voyage to Europe." Offering a tasteful bridge to Western tastes is the rich, Golden Globe-nominated ballad "Million Voices" by the Fugees' Wyclef Jean as well as strong contributions from megastar writer/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (Debroah Cox's lament "Nobody Cares," the wistful "Ne Me Laisse Pas Seule Ici" ["Don't Leave Me Here By Myself"]). Equally disparate, the film's underscore cements it all into a compelling whole via the dark electro-atmospherics of Rupert Gregson-Williams and Andrea Guerra's melancholia-charged orchestral cues. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Hotel Rwanda: Music From The Film, features "Million Voices," a Golden Globe nominated original song performed by Wyclef Jean (Fugees front man), two new songs produced by legendary writer-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, "Nobody Cares," (performed by Deborah Cox) and Ne Me Laisse Pas Seule Ici (Don’t Leave Me Here By Myself performed by Tilly Key). Rounding out this fusion of world and pop music, the album includes original songs by the highly touted Afro-fusion Afro Celt Sound System. Music from South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Uganda's Bernard Kabanda are woven throughout, alongside the score from Rupert Gregson-Williams and prolific Italian composer Andrea Guerra (Che Ne Sara Di Noi, Le Barzellette). All of which, propel the powerful, moving soundtrack for the critically acclaimed film HOTEL RWANDA, starring Don Cheadle, Joaquin Phoenix and Nick Nolte.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars United states of Africa..., June 26, 2007

By 

Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hotel Rwanda (Audio CD)

I (finally) saw the powerfully touching movie "Hotel Rwanda'" some months ago and was deeply affected by the true story depicted there.

Also moving was the accompanying music, particularly the music playing when a stream of refugees, including some nuns and orphans, raced into the hotel, as well as the song playing over the closing credits.

That convinced me to get the CD and after months of hunting, I finally got it this week.

It's actually filled with a diverse array of musical styles; from Rupert Gregson-Williams' two electronic instrumentals (with strings, slashing rock guitar over electro beats), orchestral pieces (the melancholic but beautiful "Finale"), and soulful dirges ("Nobody cares" by Deborah Cox, "Ne Me Laisse Pas Seule Ici (Don't Leave Me Here by Myself)" by Tilly Key, both lush, string swathed beauties).

The highlights are definitely the African songs; The catchy, upbeat South African bounce of "Umqombothi (African Beer)" by Yvonne Chaka Chaka (which was a massive radio hit in parts of Africa, up to West Africa in the late 80s), the two pieces by Afro Celt System, the haunting "Children found" by Andrea Guerra (with a children's chorus singing "Ni ryari izuba, Rizagaruka, Hejuru yacu, uzaricyeza translated "When will the sun return above us? Who will reveal it once again to us?"), and the acoustic (with minimal percussion) "Olugendo Lw'e Bulaya (The Journey to Europe)" by Bernard Kabanda, with rythmic guitar similar to what obtains in African Highlife music, or even Afro Cuban (acts like Orchestra Baobab or Buena Vista Social Club).

My favourite song, by far, is also (in my opinion) the best song that Wyclef Jean has ever done; "Million voices", which starts off with a children's chorus singing the same lyrics from "Children found", before launching into a midtempo lament for Rwanda, with lyrics asking why we can't have a United States of Africa, or a United Kingdom of Africa. Beautiful guitar solo at the end too. This was the song playing over the closing credits.

Presently, there is peace in Rwanda, with an attempt to right the wrongs and move on from the horror of 1994. This music (and movie) is a fitting memorial to the estimated 1 million lives lost then. Hopefully, one day, there will truly be a United States of Africa.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Children Found, July 10, 2005

By 

Black Diamond "Black Diamond" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hotel Rwanda (Audio CD)

The song Children Found is so enchanting. It's the main reason I wanted the soundtrack. The movie itself is phenomenal!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars touching, March 15, 2005

By 

Anijsje (Leuven, België) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hotel Rwanda (Audio CD)

i heard "million voices" at the end of the movie and it touched my heart. luv it.