Madea's Family Reunion [Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 21, 2006)
• Original Release Date: February 24, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000E6UKL4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,821 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Motown Records reteams with Lions' Gate and groundbreaking director/actor/playwright Tyler Perry to release the soundtrack for his new movie, Madea's Family Reunion. Tyler Perry executive-produced the soundtrack, assuring that every song on the disc appears in the movie. The soundtrack features a sultry new single from Brian McKnight, "Find Myself in You," as well as 9 other new songs from talented artists such as LL Cool J featuring Mary Mary ("We're Gonna Make It"), Chaka Khan ("Keep Your Head Up"), Johnny Gill ("You for Me--The Wedding Song"), KEM ("Tonight"), and a rousing all-star ensemble comprised of Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert, Yolanda Adams, and Carl Thomas on "Everyday (Family Reunion)." Perry also tapped into soul classic favorites like Al Green's "Love and Happiness" and the O'Jays' "Family Reunion" to round out the soundtrack.

The movie revolves around the 68-year old southern matriarch Mabel Simmons ("Madea") (played by Perry). Madea's Family Reunion finds her using every tactic in her arsenal to keep the peace and hold her family together for a reunion. The all-star cast includes Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons, Maya Angelou, Rochelle Ayers, Jenifer Lewis, Cicely Tyson and many other familiar faces.

Last year, Perry took the entertainment industry by storm with the release of his #1 box-office hit Diary of a Mad Black Woman, which garnered over $22 million in its opening weekend.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Soundtrack, March 1, 2006

By 

Michael Brent Faulkner, Jr. "Brent Faulkner" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Madea's Family Reunion (Audio CD)

For the most part, I am a music fan who tends to disregard or ignore soundtrack releases. Soundtracks tend to be merely average in a number of cases and are easy to disregard. However, occasionally there is that soundtrack that is better than average. Tyler Perry's MADEA'S FAMILY REUNION soundtrack is a cut above the rest providing a brief but great mix of jazz, hip-hop, gospel, and smooth silky R&B.

Brian McKnight brings his smooth soul power on the opening track "Find Myself In You". It is the usual Brian McKnight performance that shows off the greatness of the unfairly fading McKnight (his last two albums have missed the 500,000 mark where album sales are concerned which is unfortunate). One can't help but to feel the groove of the beautiful mid-tempo R&B tune.

In a surprise hit, LL Cool J raps over a sample with the help of the powerhouse gospel duo Mary Mary. An initial listen may say to the listener that this is just an average track, but upon continual listen, you begin to feel the groove and begin to feel that passion of LL's rhymes and the soulfulness of sisters Mary Mary.

"Everyday (Family Reunion)" is a nice ensemble track featuring contributed vocals by Yolanda Adams, Chaka Khan, Gerald LeVert, and Carl Thomas. Perhaps the highlight track and the instant attention getter is the contribution by long lost R&B vocalist Johnny Gill who provides perhaps the star performance on the smooth, soulful "You For Me (The Wedding Song)". Gill shows that it is time for the Luther Vandross motivated singers to return with the quiet-storm approach of R&B. True, it isn't the best or most memorable R&B performance of the year, but it is definitely a great performance.

Kem shows off his smooth, throwback vocals on "Tonight", while Chaka Khan shows her sultry nature on "Keep Your Head Up". The vintage soul classic "Love and Happiness" is include here and adds a nice soulful touch to the album. Will Downing and Rachelle Ferrell also contribute smooth, soulful, if not truly extroardinary performances.

While in no ways is this soundtrack "the second coming" or the perfect album, it is definitely one of the best soundtracks released this year accompanying one of the best movie releases of the year. 4 stars.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Mix of Artists, March 8, 2006

By 

Dorrie Wheeler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Madea's Family Reunion (Audio CD)

If you enjoyed the movie Madea's Family Reunion you may want to go out and pick up the album's soundtrack. The soundtrack is a nice blend of old and new. The 10 track compilation brings together old school and new school. New R&B singer Kem brings the track "Tonight," to the set. Brian McKnight opens up the album with the song "Find Myself In You." The classic Al Green song "Love and Happiness" is featured on the soundtrack as is the super group song "Everyday (Family Reunion)." This song brings together Chaka Kahn, Carl Thomas, Gerald Levert, and Yolanda Adams. Gerald's father is also included on the set as The O'Jays song "Family Reunion" is featured on the set. The Madea's Family Reunion Soundtrack didn't get too deep into hip-hop, or as my son says, "they didn't rap it up." The only hip-hop star featured on the set is LL Cool J who is featured on the song "We're Gonna Make It," along with gospel duo Mary Mary. Overall, it's a nice compilation of songs that you could play at your own family reunion or anytime you want to listen to some nice music.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great soundtrack, but..., March 21, 2006

By 

Olivia T. (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Madea's Family Reunion (Audio CD)

...I'm pretty disappointed that the song that the lady in the restaurant was singing. Given she only had a small part, but her voice was beautiful and the song she was sing was too smooth. After doing a little research, I was able to pull up very little information on her. Her name is Philipa Williams and the song she was perfoming was 'Look In the Mirror'. Had this song been on the soundtrack, I would have definitely given it 5 stars.