Customer Reviews

Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(338)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(25)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(44)

 

 

The soundtrack for Titanic, has been one of the best soundtracks yet made. Many will not agree but when you listen to it closely, the rhythm, words or no words, touch deep within the heart. These can even bring tears to your eyes. When I first saw the movie, I didn't think of it much but sad, now that it's been a few years since I saw it, I can relate to the movie, not with the experiences but with the music that was made for it. It really makes a connection. This has been so far, the best soundtrack I have ever heard, and the movie, is my all time favorite. I really hope that once, when you get a chance to listen to the item played, you can hear their meaning.

The very first soundtrack composed by James Horner that i listened to was Braveheart. It captured emotions perfectly and was also a great inpirational and background album. 1 year later i watched the movie 'Titanic' and apart from the the extremely emotionally impacting story, the music just amazed me the first time. 1 week later i bough the soundtrack and it is nothing short of amazing. The emotions that the music brings up in these pieces is immense and i would even say i prefer it over Braveheart. My four favourits are numbers 4,7,11 and 13.They capture the action and the emotion all the way through and remind you greatly of the movie and the tragedy that the disaster caused. This is a must have even if you dont like classical music. James Horners orchestral version of "My Hear Will Go On" is the best version of the song ive heard. Go and get the album today - you wont regret it!

THIS ALBUM IS AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE! I am sure that I will never here a better movie soundtrack in my lifetime! The music, alone, is incredible. It would be beautiful music, even if it didn't have a movie to follow. Each track provides me with such a clear visual image that I would not have to see the movie, to have a good idea as to what is happening in the movie. I listen to the SouthHampton track and I visualize the hustle and bustle of a tiny harbor city. I listen to the Leaving Port track and I visualize the grandeur of a massive ship leaving port, with all eyes on it. The track where the iceberg is spotted is really a work of genius. You can hear where they are trying to reverse engines. It is also very clear in this piece of music where the crew has done all they can, and they watch skittishly as they attempt to clear the large piece of ice. Believe me, Mr. Horner placed countless hours matching the music to the scenes. I can not say enough about the music, and the perfect matching of music and scenes. James Horner uses every modern sound device, chorus voices, and a beautiful orchestra to portray scenes from almost a hundred years past. I enjoy every minute of this album. I can honestly say "this piece of music is a must". It is 5 star material

I really don't understand why people hate this soundtrack. The music is so powerful and strong... This is clearly James Horner's greatest album.

4/5- "Never an Absolution": I'm not really sure where this played into the movie, but the vocals really give boost to the instruments.

4/5- "Distand Memories": This isn't my favorite, but I love the beginning sounds. They're very calming...

5/5- "Southampton": This is one of my favorites. Plain and simple.

5/5- "Rose": One of the best songs on the soundtrack. The vocals and instruments mix wonderfully. Not only is it played in one of the best scenes of the movie [the flying scene], but it is very well written.

5/5- "Leaving Port": Again, one of my favorites. What else is there to say?

3/5- "Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch": I usually don't really pay attention to this song, since it sounds similar to "Leaving Port", but nonetheless, it is still moving.

4/5- "Hard to Starboard": This song leads into the sinking part of the movie, and it is where the soundtrack starts to turn darker. It fits very well with the scene, although it is a little long...

5/5- "Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave": This is my favorite track. The vocals are so haunting, and they really make tears come to your eyes. It is very moving and powerful, and it fits well in the different scenes it is played in, very smooth.

4/5- "The Sinking": This is a track that is really dark. It shows true emotion, and that is one of the reasons why it fits so well...

3/5- "Death of Titanic": The title just makes me sad. The instruments are loud and clear, full of emotion, but the song drags on.

4/5- "A Promise Kept": This song sounds dark, too. Darker than the others. Guess it symbolizes Jack's death...

5/5- "A Life So Changed": This is one of my favorites. The vocals are haunting, and it can brings tears to your eyes as well. Just watch the scene that it is played in during the movie, and you'll see what I mean...

3/5- "An Ocean of Memories": This is another track that I skim through. I still enjoy it though, and it is very calming and softer.

5/5- "My Heart Will Go On" performed by Celine Dion: What can I say... Amazing voice, Celine. She is so powerful getting her message across, and it fits perfectly with Jack and Rose.

5/5- "Hymn to the Sea": My second favorite to "Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave". This song finishes the album off sadly, hauntingly, but at the same time, nice. A perfect way to conclude a perfect soundtrack.

I'd advise you to purchase this CD. Take it from me, you won't regret it. James Horner did a splendid job. He probably worked his butt off, and the result of it is amazing. In all, I give this CD five stars, because it really deserves it. If you don't believe me, read some of the other reviews that gave this CD high stars!

As a fan of classical-styled film scores, I've developed an affinity for the works of various composers who work mostly in this genre. Topmost among these artists is, of course, John Williams, but as moviegoers and music lovers know so well, there are other, just as equally talented composers who enhance the moving images we see on those theater screens with their compositions.

I first became aware of James Horner when Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan premiered in June of 1982. Director Nicholas Meyer, anxious to give his entry in the Star Trek franchise its own identity apart from the less-than-acclaimed first motion picture, commissioned the young Horner to write a score that evoked the nautical traditions Meyer wanted to infuse into his vision of Starfleet and the starship Enterprise. He asked for, and got, music that calls to mind seagoing sailing frigates and the age of Horatio Hornblower, albeit with a 23rd Century backdrop of dueling starships.

Considering Horner's penchant for composing scores with nautical or exploration-adventure themes (Clear and Present Danger, Apollo 13), it's not surprising that director James Cameron would ask the now-established composer to write the music for his 1997 tale of star-crossed love aboard the even more star-crossed Titanic.

And why not? Horner uses all his expertise with seafaring and action-adventure themes in creating one of the most popular film scores in history and the one that would earn the composer an Academy Award for Best Original Score in March of 1998. Starting with Celtic-inspired motifs that evoke both the nautical theme and the haunting realization that the Titanic went to the bottom on that cold April night in 1912, Horner's score runs the gamut from excitement and wonder (track 3, Southampton) to love and romance (track 4, Rose, which is the melody for My Heart Will Go On), confidence and exuberance (track 6, Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch), and finally to disaster and doom (track 10, Death of Titanic) after the fatal collision between the late, great White Star liner and that iceberg.

Horner strived mightily to give the music a certain level of timelessness, avoiding overuse of period-music in the film except when absolutely necessary, yet steering away from styles that place the material in the late 1990s. Here it worked very well, except for the inclusion of Celine Dion's syrupy rendition of My Heart Will Go On. Yes, it was played only during the end credits, and yes, it was wildly popular and helped this album become THE top-selling original soundtrack record of all time, but (a) I think it was overexposed, and (b) Celine is a nice singer but she's not one of my favorite chanteuses. She tends to over-emote at times, so for me My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic) is sheer torture.

My other quibble is that for a film that lasts over three hours, Sony Classical's initial Titanic soundtrack album is relatively skimpy. Obviously no one involved in the making of this very expensive film imagined just how successful it would become, so a barebones soundtrack was released shortly before the film premiered in December of 1997. Later, realizing that there was gold in dem dere CD bins and watching this album's sales go through the roof, Sony Classical released Back to Titanic, a one-disc supplement with unreleased cues by Horner and source music (material that would have been heard by the film's characters) such as the Irish jig played in steerage and the hymn Nearer My God to Thee.

Many people hate this score with a passion. So, who cares if the song was played to death on the radio. That's just not enough, at least for me to hate it. I still treasure this soundtrack after many years of it's release and will for many years to come. Sissel possess one of the most beautiful voices in the world. She does a fantastic job. The themes are exquisitely beautiful. It touches deep within in the heart. I can't stress that enough. They capture emotions perfectly and I couldn't of imagined anyone else composing the music. The synths are there for a reason and they're perfect for the movie. James horner didn't want a church choir sound in the movie, and I must say I like and prefer the synths. Since the purpose of the music is to be haunting and timless, without sounding like a period piece as said by Mr. Horner and Cameron, a full orchestra would've seemed contradicting to the purpose and out of place; it would've sounded like a sweeping conventional score. The whole purpose of the music is to sound unconventional for time in which the film is set so that it can bridge the gap of time and make emotions immediate. Like many have stated, the result is just unequivocally lush and excellent. This is an emotional masterpiece that everyone should own. Period.

I have listened to this score a lot since I first did in 1997. This is one of my favorite scores of all time! James Horner mangages to go from glory to heart-Wrenching Failure in his score for Titanic in only 70 or so minutes. Even though that not a whole lot of music from the movie is on this soundtrack, that in a way makes it unique. Cameron was willing to do a very special score seperatly for this CD. Even though it is not quite like the music from the film it is still great as in my opinion it is unique! Here is my track to track review:
01. Never an Absolution (3/5) This song isn't really very good. It is an awfully slow start to the soundtrack. It doesn't even sound like a prelude. Luckily it gets better from here.
02. Distant Memories (5/5) Now it gets good! This is the track that reflects when Rose is starting to tell the people about her memories on the 'Titanic'. I am going to say that the way it leaps off after the chimes and softness is such a marvelous time turner of the soundtrack.
03. Southampton (3/5) Not a whole lot to say about this track. It is kind of like the grand opening of the whole Idea of the Docking of the ship. Kind of the 'Boarding track' of the Movie.
04. Rose (5/5) Beautiful Music! This track stands out from the rest of tracks 1-6! It is wonderfully played. In a way it fits perfectly into the soundtrack and seems to be one of the few musical piecies in the film. It is a wonderful suit to the love story between Rose and Jack, as one sundown Jack lifts her onto the railing and tells her to open her eyes. A
05. Leaving Port (3/5) Realistically when I think of the music and the it's title it doesn't make sence why this track is called 'Leaving Port' It doesn't seem very grand.
06. Take her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch (4/5) Not great, but not bad. For once it comes out of the movie. The first time I read this title, I thought it meant to take Rose to the see the sea. LOL!
07. Hard to Starboard (5/5) This is where it gets really good! This track symbolizes the Iceburg hitting the Ship. From here to track 10 is absolute havoc and absolutly dramatic music! The metal bangs you hear in this track make it very dramatic.
08. This is a somewhat very heart-wrenchingly beautiful yet desperate track. It is a sudden cry for help as Rose runs away from Jack and Cale, as Jack chases her and holds her close. But this music doesn't last too long. This track also starts the drama again with the music of Cale chasing Rose and Jack with a gun! PS: If no one has noticed, this track contains the music from the end of the movie in the 'Heaven' sequence.
09. The Sinking (5/5) This track starts with a dramatic piano roll up that sounds the gong that starts the finale of the Titanic ship! The Music symbolizes the heart wrenching fright in which Rose and Jack are fleeing the ship as it sinks! The gongs and loud clangs symbolize drama, as does the music that makes the track seem like its tilting. You can almost see the Ship tilting as you listen to this track.
10. Death of Titanic (5/5) This is basically the grand finale of the whole Titanic Ship! Gongs and Metal clangs are here again! As are the running type music. You hear the 'Rose' theme so alot as do you hear a choir. Near the end of the track you can hear heart wrenching beauty as Jack some what holds onto Rose as the ship gets ready for its final plunge! This music begins at the 05:26 time mark of this track! Suddenly a huge gong symbolzes the end of the music as a 'Seagull' like sound fills the music. A tense wait follows the music of 5:26. Then it starts to build up greatly for the final plunge. It's intensity builds up imensly as the ship sinks beneath the sea! Cymbos build the intensity as they do finish it when at the 8:07 mark they symbolize that the Titanic is dead...
11. A Promise kept (5/5) After a long dramatic score from tracks 7-10 it is nice to hear the smooth calm tracks from 11-15. This music takes place after the death of Titanic. But sadly another death awaits in the cold waters. A Promise is made and Jack and Rose hold hands sweetly awaiting death. Then sadly but surely Jack dies and his hands let go of Roses as he sinks beneath the sea. This music is again a very relaxing track after the drama of 7-10.
12. A Life so Changed (5/5) Alone in the water Rose thinks about Jack. Suddenly a boat appears and rescues her from the cold waters. Alone Rose looks bravely ahead to New York. Her life has been changed forever. The music I think finishes this whole idea. It is beautifully told.
13. An Ocean of Meomories (5/5) A bittersweet track, 'Ocean of Memories' does what 'Distant Memories' did. It transports us in time. As Old Rose thinks about what happened to Jack. A single laugh and the heart of the Ocean falls into the sea. 'An Ocean of Memories' concludes the Main Score.
14. My Heart will Go on (5/5) This famous Celine Dion song is here. It strongly represents the whole. Not much to say here, but Celine dion sings this song terrifically, but it is heard just too much, and has been killed by overplay on the radio at the time of this movie. Still a Great song though!
15. Hymn to the Sea (5/5) I love this track. Its pipes are absoultely beautiful! It is a sweet salute to those who died on the Titanic.

I was drawn to the music of Titanic because of its singular quality: when watching the movie, I got the impression that the soundtrack was simply one long score with recurring themes popping up time and again (such as the haunting nautical pipes nobody can forget). Instead of the movie music being chopped up and handed out piecemeal to artists of different styles, James Horner made a consistent score that always seemed to be lingering just under the action, ready to pump up the volume and jerk some real emotion out of you. I hear a lot of good and okay soundtracks, but this one really just blew me away. A masterpiece like this takes a lot of patient crafting. It's very obvious from the start that this is not just some songs thrown in with a trillion dollars of special effects. It's not just some songs patched in at the last minute to reflect the tension of a few action scenes. This soundtrack actually guides the movie and pushes it forward and dares you to feel what it feels. It's... personal. Well done.

This CD is a great gift. As I listen to the soundtrack, it sometimes makes me feel like i'm sitting in the theater watching the movie all over again. Anyone that can listen to track #8 and #15 without shedding a few tears is stronger than I'll ever imagine. It is wonderfully sequenced (sequenced in the most part by appearance of the songs in the movie.Its only flaw is the abscense of the piano solo of "My Heart Will Go On" played (in the movie) during the famous scence of Jack drawing the portrait of Rose. However, you can find that track on "Back to Titanic". Overall, it is the best CD i own, and i recommend this CD for everyone, young or old, male or female, and especially for Titanic movie lovers.

James Horner would surpass the likes of John Williams if "Star Wars" has never happened. However, this lush and romantic soundtrack befits the grand scale of the epic, from romance to tragedy. Somehow the Celine Dion song fits right into the mix.

A cautionary note for audiophiles. Make sure that if you order the DTS version, you truly get DTS. Lots of mix-ups have been happening. Cheers!