Shrek - Music From the Original Motion Picture [Soundtrack]

Harry Gregson-Williams | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 15, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 18, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Dreamworks
• ASIN: B00005CF9Y
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (220 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,958 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #40 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Punk-Pop

Editorial Reviews

SOUNDTRACK SHREK 1

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Where's that John Cale tune?, May 28, 2001

By 

The Headhunter (Lebanon, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shrek - Music From the Original Motion Picture (Audio CD)

Reviewer Milton Abrams has already pointed out that "Hallelujah" is performed by John Cale in the movie, but by Rufus Wainright on the CD. What a shame -- and what a fraud. Cale's rendition in the movie is truly memorable; his delivery is both haunting and dead-on. I won't critique Wainright's because it wasn't done for the movie, but suffice it to say it's nowhere near Cale's.

Abrams points out that this song, written by Leonard Cohen, is performed elsewhere by John Cale. If you liked it in the movie, you'll hear a rendition that's very close (with piano only, sung live by John Cale) on John Cale's "Fragments of A Rainy Season".

I was going to buy the soundtrack, but Dreamworks pulled a fast one and I won't take it with "modifications". Cale has written some excellent soundtracks over the years, and I was pleased to see that he was featured in such a good movie -- it's a shame he won't get the benefit of being on the soundtrack (and that listeners won't get to hear him do that lovely tune).

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What Happened to John Cale?, November 19, 2001

By 

Louis S. Patkin (Needham, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shrek - Music From the Original Motion Picture (Audio CD)

I greatly enjoyed watching Shrek. In fact, as the father of two young children, I believe I watched the movie seven times in one weekend after we purchased the video (I had not seen it in the theatre). While suitable for children, there was sufficient content for adults that neither my wife nor I were bored. In fact, I was astounded to hear the song "Hallelujah" in the soundtrack. While this Leonard Cohen song has been one of my favorites for many years, it is particularly dark and sardonic - not typical children's fare. However, it fit in well with the plot, and John Cale's version was moving, almost transcendent.

As has been pointed out, the soundtrack album replaces Cale's version with Rufus Wainwright's. I can only assume that John Cale, co-founder of the seminal 1960s band The Velvet Underground, and a well-known recluse and eccentric (who releases infrequent solo albums) consented to his version of the song being included in the movie, but not the soundtrack album. I could also understand if there were other legal or record label considerations preventing inclusion of his version. If, however, the considerations were esthetic, I think someone was badly mistaken. I've always thought that Cale's version of "Hallelujah" was the best cover, in some ways better than Cohen's original. Although neither man has a classic singing voice, Cale's is better, and more moving in this instance, than Cohen's. Others may think that the late Jeff Buckley's version is the best. In any event, Rufus Wainwright's take on the song, while good in itself, is hardly the equal of Cale's, Cohen's, or Buckley's. Rufus is a young singer of promise (and, I think, potentially more talented than his father, Loudon Wainwright, III), but one has a reasonable expectation, when buying a soundtrack album, of having the actual artists from the soundtrack appear on the album.

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fair soundtrack, but not complete... not even close!, July 17, 2001

By 

Dave Y. "nobody777" (Kennewick, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Shrek - Music From the Original Motion Picture (Audio CD)

The movie Shrek was a masterpiece! I loved it... Laughed my fool head off. And after seeing it three times, the fourth was just as good! Great characters, great voices, great story, great animation, great comedy, and most of all GREAT MUSIC SCORE!!! Unfortunately the movie soundtrack doesn't measure up to the expectations of the movie's fans and so I must give it a mere two stars.

I (along with many others who loved this movie) was really disappointed when I discovered there was only one track of actual score from the movie on this CD. Everyone I know who saw this film said, "I love the music in this movie!" In fairness I will say that there are some cool tunes on this CD that will conjure fond memories from the film (like "I'm On My Way" by the Proclaimers, "Like Wow" by Leslie Carter, "I'm A Believer" featuring Eddie Murphy and "Hallelujah" by Rufus Wainwright), but the glory of the movie's musical aspect (as most fans will certainly agree) was its orchestra score and the haunting, ethereal vocals that accompanied. Beautiful, original melodies that helped to create and enhance the atmosphere and emotion of this movie, drawing the audience into the story, sadly didn't make it onto the soundtrack. Major bummer indeed!

Perhaps a "sequel" to this soundtrack will follow. Fans can only hope. I know I will be one of the first to grab it! Until then, this CD is only an adequate passifier, but I still dig it. Two strong stars!