Veronica Guerin (Original Soundtrack) [Soundtrack]

Harry Gregson-Williams (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Hollywood Records
• ASIN: B0000C7PV2
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,657 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. One More Day (as used in the film Veronica Guerin) - Harry Gregson-Williams

2. Dublin 1966 - Harry Gregson-Williams

3. Driving - Harry Gregson-Williams

4. Preparations

5. The Killing

6. Research

7. Traynor Lies

8. The Beating

9. Conversations

10. First Warning

11. Bad News (includes Fields of Athenry by Pete St. John)

12. Second Warning

13. Deceit

14. Never Show Your Fear

15. The Funeral (as used in the film Veronica Guerin)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars O'Connor makes it worth the price, October 17, 2003

By 

"troytron" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Veronica Guerin (Original Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

This is an excellent soundtrack to grace the upcoming Cate Blanchette vehicle, 'Veronica Guerin,' which chronicles the true-crime story of the film's namesake heroine -- an intrepid Irish reporter who tackles the Emerald Isle Mafia in an attempt to get the ultimate story...and tragically loses her life. I realize this is a bit of a spoiler, but if the film details all of Ms. Guerin's incredible adventures while on her *way* to death, then the film will be superb. Let's face it, anything Cate Blanchette touches with her thespian wand is turned into some form of gold. The same applies to this wonderful soundtrack: any project Sinead O'Connor deems worthy enough to lend her archangelic pipes to has got to be pretty solid. The album opens and closes with one of her most affecting and gut-wrenching songs ever...the stunning "One Day," which, if it is not a massive hit at least in Ireland, I'll eat a bowl of Lucky Charms -- and trust me: I don't DO Lucky Charms. She ends the record with "The Funeral," an apparently gaelic version of the first song which, given the fact she's already wrenched your guts out with the opening track, decides to go the whole hog and remove your very heart as well. In between, we have mood music fit for an exciting and melancholy true-crime story -- lots of broody strings ideal for a fog-swagged day, probably like the one in which Veronica Guerin, poor soul, was murdered at a stoplight by the evildoers who were intent upon silencing her forever. This is a soundtrack to make you very sad, with those little bits of triumph hanging, ghost-like, at the edges of your feelings. Buy it and listen to it in the rain, or as you go to bed. Your dreams will be loaded with phantoms.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly beautiful, August 15, 2004

By 

Kathleen A. (Bridgewater, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Veronica Guerin (Original Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

Having heard of Veronica Guerin's death but knowing little about her life or work, I was very interested in seeing the film. Having Cate Blanchett in the title role was great casting and she is a treat to watch! She's so extremely talented and I don't think she's ever been better than in this role. Watching the movie and hearing the music, I knew I had to purchase the soundtrack and I'm very glad I did. Harry Gregson-Williams has created a memorable, hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and I can't help but play it over and over again. Listening to young Brian O'Donnell's SMASHING performance can send chills running down your spine and makes me think of the innocence and youth of those young people in the film whose lives were shattered by drugs. I loved reading the story of the monumental efforts it took to track down Brian after Mr. Gregson-Williams heard him singing on the streets of Dublin - it was well worth it! Sinead O'Connor's contributions should be applauded as well and greatly add to the success of the soundtrack. Unfortunately, and maddingly, it took Ms Guerin's death for the authorities to quickly change the regulations that led to increased exposure in the press and the authorities being able to apprehend the drug lords and bring them to justice. She should be honored for her tenacity and sacrifice and both the film and soundtrack are worthy memorials to her.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very solid soundtrack - plus Sinead O'Connor, February 7, 2005

By 

Just Pat (NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Veronica Guerin (Original Soundtrack) (Audio CD)

This soundtrack contains some really nice work based on traditional Irish folk music that really hit the perfect mood for the film. It is bookended by Sinead O'Connor's performances on "One More Day" and "The Funeral" (the same tune - but in the the latter the lyrics are entirely in Gaelic). I bought the CD for those alone.

I can only describe the impact of the song in terms of its effect in the film. For someone outside the Irish culture in which it took place, Veronica Guerin's story does not have the impact that it did in Ireland. By the end of the film, though I was saddened by what I had seen, I was mostly left wondering what had really motivated this woman to pursue her expose of the Irish drug trade to the point of sacrificing her life. The film never makes this clear, probably because no one really knows. In any case, I think this is why it didn't fare well popularly in the U.S.

What was made clear was the impact of Veronica Guerin's murder in Ireland. It gripped the nation in a wave of grief and outrage that I imagine can only compare to the Kennedy assassination in America. Again, as an outsider, this was just an interesting fact - until Sinead O'Connor's performance of "The Funeral" in the final scene made it a visceral reality! As the scene of the funeral procession unfolded, my heart heard the lament of a nation in this haunting melody and I was effectively drawn in to share in their grief, suddenly no longer a mere dispassionate observer. For me it was an unusually affecting moment in film that I will not soon forget, and it made this CD a must-have.

The song stands very well on its own and is well supported by the rest of the soundtrack. Highly recommended for its own sake - but do see the film if you haven't!