Romeo + Juliet, Vol. 1 (Special Edition) (1996 Film) [Soundtrack, Import]

Craig Armstrong, Garbage | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 25, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 1, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack, Import
• Label: Emi
• ASIN: B0000088ZS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,413,961 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best things about the movie, February 4, 2001

By 

yarden "yarden" (portland, or) - See all my reviews

This review is from: William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet: Music From The Motion Picture, Volume 2 (1996 Version) (Audio CD)

One of the most important parts of "Romeo + Juliet" was the soundtrack, and I'm not talking about the pop soundtrack (songs mostly found on Vol. 1). I was ecstatic when this volume was released, because it had the music I REALLY wanted to hear on it: the Wagnerian "O Verona" has such audio impact and sets such a tone for the movie, and the "Young Hearts Run Free (Ballroom Version) is a great techno song performed by Kym Mazelle.

The real gold on this album, however is in Quindon Tarver's choral-pop performance of Prince's "When the Doves Cry" -- wow, what a voice, and what a great arrangement! Another bonus, the instrumental track from Des'ree's "Kissing You" is absolutely beautiful with its longing piano and the achingly scored strings. (When I first heard it, I wanted to play it at my wedding. Now I just settle for singing to it karaoke-style everytime I hear it).

In total, this volume really is more of a treasure than Volume One from "Romeo + Juliet" (who can stand to hear "Lovefool" one more time??) It has great instrumentals, and creates the real feeling of the movie.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, April 23, 2001

By 

P. Bozek (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet: Music From The Motion Picture, Volume 2 (1996 Version) (Audio CD)

When I heard that they were putting out a modern opera-style soundtrack to Romeo + Juliet, it immediately went to the top of my list of CD's to buy. It was a great addition to my music library, and to this day gets listened to often. The music is awesome, the kind that grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go. All the tracks are fantastic, but the best sequence starts with track 20 - Mantua, and continues through 21, 22, and 23. For a great experience, turn off the lights, close your eyes and listed to those 4 tracks. I still jump every time the gun shot echoes out in "Death Scene"... Heartbreaking, that scene, both in the movie, especially with Claire Danes' wonderful acting, and on the CD, where you get to hear the music and see it in your mind's eye. Buy it today, or borrow it from a friend, listen to it, and then buy it!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great companion to the first volume, July 17, 2003

By 

S.R.W. Phillips "StevieRae5" (Lexington, Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet: Music From The Motion Picture, Volume 2 (1996 Version) (Audio CD)

The first volume of this soundtrack was definitely one of my favorite purchases of a CD, ever. I was disappointed that some of the instrumental songs and also the version of "When Doves Cry" was left off, so, by the same token, I was overjoyed when this one came out.

The weeping strings on most of the songs for the love scenes captures the mood of the greatest love story ever told perfectly, and the dialogue involved is a great complement to the music. Also included is the aforementioned version of "When Doves Cry" (inferior to the original Prince version, of course, but still great), which showcases the enormous talent the young boy who sings it has. They also stuck in the more upbeat, techno pieces that accompanied the more intense scenes in the movie for good measure, making the soundtrack eclectic and unlike anything I have ever heard to date.

This is definitely some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard, and some of the coolest. It is a great addition to a CD collection and a definite if you already own the first volume.