Customer Reviews

Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack

5 star:		(213)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD is a must-have just for the simple unadulterated pop culture value. This isn't one of those dramatic instrumental soundtracks with titles like "Wedding March" or "The Emperor is Dead", but instead is a lot of fun, especially for people who have grown up singing every word that ABBA ever wrote.

The eighteen songs (17 + hidden track) are all familiar ABBA hits, and you'll find yourself singing along with the likes of Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Christine Baranski, Amanda Seyfried and others.

Some of these unlikely songbirds can actually carry a note (albeit not too far), and others will make you smile (You're a brave man Pierce), but there's no denying that this soundtrack would make a great stocking stuffer or just-because gift for your favorite baby boomer.

Tracks not to be missed (whether good or just rather ambitious) are:

"Honey, Honey" - Amanda Seyfried

"Mamma Mia!" - Meryl Streep

"Dancing Queen" - Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters

"Our Last Summer" - Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgaard

"Lay All Your Love on Me" - Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried

"Super Trouper" - Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters

"SOS" - Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep

"Does Your Mother Know" - Christine Baranski and Philip Michael

"Take a Chance on Me" - Julie Walters and Stellan Skarsgaard

"I Have a Dream" / "Thank You for the Music" (Hidden Track) - Amanda Seyfried


Buy this for one just for fun



Amanda Richards, July 24, 2008

Would have given this 5 stars without a doubt, except for those missing songs!!! I get REALLY tired of these marketing ploys that victimize customers. Now we all know that, in the near future, there will be an expanded edition of the soundtrack with the deleted songs and maybe some incidental music added as inticement. So ABBA fans, Meryl Streep fans, and fans of musical theater will shell out another 15 - 20 bucks to buy it. It angers me!!!

Many know or are familiar with the music; "Mama Mia!" is all ABBA; fun, whimsical, outright blissful and enjoyable. The question is how does this movie soundtrack hold up? The answer is that it's pretty good. Right off hand, I felt some of the movie versions of these songs were a bit too campy and lacked the hard-to-capture spirit of the original. The songs where Pierce Brosnan sings on made me cringe, really taking me as a listener out of the song and making me feel thankful that he isn't featured on many songs. On the other hand, the Meryl Streep songs are actually really good. Her voice is well suited for the music, playing into the simplicity and able to capture the innocence and vibe of the songs.

For me, stand out tracks are "Our Last Summer", "Dancing Queen", "Lay All Your Love On Me", and the real stand-out on the soundtrack, "The Winner Takes It All" that features Meryl Streep really stretching her vocals. In all, it's an enjoyable soundtrack but it's always hard to rate this and not compare it to the original or even the broadway version. Check it out.

Had the soundtrack before I saw the movie, and just saw the movie tonight, and off the top of my head, songs that are missing from the soundtrack are: Chiquitita, "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" (although it plays a very minor role in the film) and Waterloo (sung during the encore performance). Of course, I'd still rather listen to the original flawless Abba recordings than this version, but it does more truly bring back memories of the movie.

One star because it's a sexy comedy, it's a romantic story, it's a musical bonanza, and it's one of the best films for 2008, mark that down. Awards will come.

Star two, for the ABBA music. It is amazing how the writers have used the words of the famous ABBA songs and turned them into the plot and almost the complete story of "Mamma Mia!" Or did they change some of the words to fit the story? If you love ABBA music, this movie is a must. If you don't know about ABBA music, you'll want the DVD and the CD soundtrack by the time you leave the theater.

Star three, for...okay, it's a bit of a chick-flick. Lots of ladies doing a sterling performance. Meryl Streep will have you laughing off the theater seat at times. And Julie Walters and Christine Baranski, conspirators of the older trio of goofy gals are close behind the anticipated award lineup. Streep sings, dances, bounces on a bed, and even caulks with a caulking gun--does it all, and well. A second trio of young girls led by Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), try to out-shine the older trio in performing ABBA songs written likely prior to their birth. They leave the male viewers drooling in their popcorn. Yes, the male stars get their own chance with dancing and music. Regardless of who is the star performer for any given number, you listen and have to sing along, dance, laugh, or at least chuckle while toe tapping.

Star four represents the line dancing, chorus-line, or long pier choreography done first by a large ladies group and later another tune by men pier-dancing in flippers. Both ABBA numbers done over the inviting blue water's edge is worth the price of the movie. If "Mamma Mia!" DVDs were available at the exit door, everyone would be buying a copy on the way out.

Star five is for Greece and the setting for this dream of a wedding, as well as a perfect set for such a fantastic rendezvous with ABBA songs.

Star six is because "Mamma Mia!" has done with ABBA music, what "Yellow Submarine" did with Beatles music. Or because it is the first movie in recent years worth a theater return/rewatch while waiting for the DVD release. Can't wait? Try the soundtrack for appetizers.

Though I was never really an ABBA fan, I certainly knew who they were and I knew a few of their songs ("Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia!", etc.) I knew when MAMMA MIA! hit the stage that it was based on the songs of ABBA but never saw it.

When I saw the movie trailer, though, I thought: This is going to be good. And I promised myself I wouldn't miss it.

I have now seen the film three times (in 10 days); my husband has seen it twice; and my two sons (ages 13 and 10) just saw it with us. And we ALL loved it. (My 10-year-old asked me anxiously, WHILE he was watching it, if we could PLEASE buy the DVD ... the day it comes out!)

It's the first time I've felt joyous in a movie since GREASE in 1978. I'd forgotten that movies were supposed to feel this good -- but MAMMA MIA! reminded me in a rush.

Meanwhile, though, I bought CD to tide me over. And it's WONDERFUL.

I usually have a preference for soundtracks of musicals over Broadway cast recordings, for one reason: The voices aren't always as good, but the orchestrations are usually much richer and fuller (ex: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which had a 50-piece orchestra for the show, had a 100-piece orchestra on the soundtrack -- yeah, it DOES make a difference!)

Here the orchestrations stuck close to the ABBA originals, but with, of course, far more voices on the choral numbers. And what amazes me, after playing the CD for over a week (yeah, night and day, just like other reviewers), is that I'm discovering new songs I really love, that I hadn't been as crazy about to start with.

I started out loving "Honey, Honey" (which I'd never heard before -- fantastic!), "Mamma Mia!" and "Dancing Queen" -- now I'm also in love with "Our Last Summer", "Super Trouper" and "Voulez-Vous", with "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" coming in for its own share of my attention.

My sons have added the songs to their mp3 players. My husband insisted I burn him a copy of the CD for his car. I've uploaded the score to my computer and the original CD is in MY car. And though I have a CD changer that holds 6 discs, this is the only one I'm playing ... and I suspect it will be for some time to come.

Meryl Streep has a fine voice, though not a strong one (not surprisingly, as she's not a professional singer). But she does full justice to her songs and dances in the film ... a bravura performance. I love Amanda Seyfried's voice -- she really has a singing future, if she wants one. And Julie Walters and Christine Beransky are terrific. I give Pierce Brosnan major points for doing something he's just not equipped to do, and giving it his best shot. Nice try, Pierce. And the other men, IMO, did just fine.

My only word of caution: If you tend to have an addictive personality, you might want to stay away from this CD. I won't be responsible for the many hours you'll lose singing and dancing along to this wonderful score ... after all, I warned you!

Meryl Streep is a great American actor and now she has leaped feet-first into musical comedy and she is abba-solutely wonderful. Just by listening to her on this soundtrack it's obvious she is having the time of her life.

The London and Broadway show performed some of the songs as close as possible to ABBA(Dancing Queen-Super Trouper-Voulez-Vous and Mamma Mia)and happily the movie,with a few tweaks,has done the same.

"The Winner Takes It All" one of the few downbeat songs from ABBA does NOT belong in this tissue-thin,somewhat silly story, but Ms Streeps' plaintive and touching rendition MAKES it belong. I am sure Meryl Streep will not be over-looked at Oscar nomination time.

Just when you are about to throw your arms up in exasperation at vocally challenged Pierce Brosnan, he sneaks in with "When All Is Said And Done" and it's not bad at all.

The rest of the cast including Christine Baranski and Julie Walters all join in the fun and here's hoping the movie fleshes out the story-line somewhat.

I kinda missed "Thank You For The Music" but it it a hidden track following "I Have A Dream" but it is performed by Sophie accompanied by a single piano and i can bet the piano player was Benny Andersson.

This CD is hugely satisfying and exuberent and I can't wait to see the movie.

Just a small footnote; Anyone familiar with Meryl Streeps' films may notice the coincidence that the name of her daughter in the story is Sophie.

My major complaint with the CD is that it is missing music from the film - Overture, Chiquitita, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do; - and it can't be because there isn't room on the CD since other CDs are way longer in content. Thank You for the Music is added at the end although it isn't on the index. Take a Chance on Me is also edited down on this recording... inexplicably so. I think part of the reason most of us buy soundtracks is to relive the performance, so why not include the best part of Walters' performance of the song? Still the soundtrack is great for re-experiencing the fun of the film.

As for the review of Brosnan's and Firth's voices - I've seen the stage show at least a half dozen times and there were a couple of guys in those parts who shouldn't have been singing, either. Firth's voice is actually quite sweet and works perfectly for Our Last Summer. Brosnan should have had a better vocal coach (or more training) because there is a bit of braying in there; however, his performance is emotionally committed.

There were some stage numbers missing from the film so naturally they're
not on the film CD.

This was great until i got to the end. that fabulous finale - Waterloo - was not included. There was a photo for Waterloo on the cover, but no music. I think this just plain dishonest and i'm sorry i bought it.

The best thing about the Mamma Mia! movie (aside from the wonderful cast, lush setting, heartwarming scenes on family and friendship) are the wonderful songs of ABBA which have been recorded anew by Benny & Bjorn for the movie and is a marked improvement from the original ABBA versions. This is not to undermine the versions of ABBA which are classics in their own right but tracks like "Money, Money, Money" "Mamma Mia" "Super Trouper" "Gimme Gimme Gimme" sound even better than the originals because the new recordings have been improved instrumentally while still maintaining the original arrangements. Of course, Meryl Streep's interpretation of "The Winner Takes it All" is a masterpeice in
vocal interpretation and is the movie's highlight. People can not imagine Meryl singing and some people even want to believe that someone dubbed her singing voice. But in my book, there isn't anything this great actress can not do. My favorite ABBA song, however, will always be "Dancing Queen" and the version in this soundtrack is even better than the original. I bought a 2-cd copy today of ABBA's No. 1s and was kinda disappointed that the tracks were not remastered to give better sound. I sure hope that the "Thank You For the Music" boxed set which I recently ordered at Amazon will sound better...
My only complaint about this CD is that some songs in the movie were not included like "Chiquitita" and the encore "Waterloo" plus "Thank You For the Music" is a hidden track and comes after "I Have a Dream" on Track 17.
There is also a track in this cd by Amanda Seyfried "Name of the Game" which was probably a deleted scene because it was not in the movie. Amanda Seyfried sounds really good and is truly a discovery. She was in "Mean Girls" and I think her career has been given a huge boost with this film and puts her ahead of co-stars Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams. Other ABBA songs which I discovered in this CD to be gems are "One Last Summer" and "When All is Said and Done." This will surely be one of my favorite musicals of all time."Mamma Mia" is already no. 1 in Amazon's Top CDs and is ranked at No. 3 in Billboard's Top 200 albums this week and is the greatest gainer. No ABBA album ever reached this high on the Billboard chart before. The movie has also been doing well (inspite of mixed reviews) and had the biggest opening weekend ever for a musical (compared to Chicago, Dreamgirls, Sweeney)so it is on track to hit the $100 MM mark - not bad for a musical...Bravo to the cast!