Mona Lisa Smile [SOUNDTRACK]

Various Artists (Composer)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 21, 2003)
• Original Release Date: December 19, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000DG06V
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,079 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Includes the Bonus Track "Suite" by Rachel Portman --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strolling Down Memory Lane, November 16, 2004

By	Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

If you enjoyed the movie, you'll absolutely enjoy this soundtrack. Listening to Seal's "Mona Lisa" reminds me of Nat King Cole. Tori Amos' superb rendition of "You Belong To Me" reminds me of Jo Stafford's version with its intro, it's typical '40s style of singing. Mandy Moore's "Secret Love" reminds me of Doris Day's version. The same with Alison Krauss' interpretation of "What'll I Do?" which reminds me of Patti Page's version. It's definitely contemporary artists trying to sound like the singers of yesteryears and they perfectly succeeded. A friend of mine once asked me why I know a lot of songs and singers of yesteryears and why I like them? My short answer was, "reincarnation of somebody who lived in that era!" No, seriously, from my parents' collection of albums. I belong to a musically-inclined family and grew up listening to countless albums of different genre. I learned to appreciate the standards at an early age. I remember whenever my father brought home new records, I was always excited to listen and read the back covers for the track listings, titles, composers, lyricists and notes about the recordings. Records then came in different sizes and colors... 33s and 78s, the singles were 45s, black vinyls and sometimes red or orange.

The tracks that really stand out and my favorites are "You Belong To Me," "What'll I Do," "Secret Love," "Mona Lisa," Lisa Stansfield's "I've Got The World On A String," Chris Isaak's "Besame Mucho," Kelly Rowland's "I'm Beginning To See The Light" and The Trevor Horn Orchestra's "Sh Boom" (Life Could Be A Dream). Barbra Streisand, Elton John and Celine Dion are the more seasoned performers in the group covering "Smile," "The Heart Of Every Girl" and "Bewitched" respectively.

This will be a wonderful addition to your collection of motion picture soundtracks. Highly recommended!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters, January 19, 2004

By	Mike Vegas King (Taunton, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This soundtrack is a very classy collection of standards, without a single clunker. It also has the added bonus of an outstanding new song. "The Heart Of Every Girl" is one of the most romantic songs ever written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The arrangement, featuring lush strings and brass, perfectly compliments Elton's piano. Elton's voice has deepened with time, and his singing and piano playing have never sounded stronger or more assured.

The musical arrangement and Seal's vocals on the song "Mona Lisa" sound so similar to Nat King Cole's original that its scary. Chris Isaak croons a passionate rendition of "Besame Mucho," making this cheesy standard sound sophisticated. Tori Amos particularly impressed me, turning in two great performances. Her vocals on the ballad "You Belong To Me" are perfectly understated, while she playfully sings the bouncy "Murder He Says." After listening to this soundtrack, I would urge Tori Amos to record a whole album of standards.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As a concept album, this soundtrack's excellent., December 3, 2003

By	Riley McCarthy (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

When I first heard this in the bookstore where I work, I didn't know that Seal was the person singing the first track on the album, "Mona Lisa." I thought it was Nat King Cole because, as an act of impression or as a tribute, Seal's voice is amazingly like Cole's on the track.

Looking at the rest of the album and seeing that it allowed several modern musicians an opportunity to channel singers from the 1950's, I was impressed at how dead-on a lot of the songs were.

Tori Amos' "Murder, He Says," originally performed by Betty Hutton in one of the old MGM musicals, is an amusing, catchy tune. Celine Dion manages, with "Bewitched," to remind me of how talented she is - though her solo albums are frequently overproduced, tacky and annoying. Kelly Rowland and Mandy Moore offer up stunning, period-evoking covers of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" and "Secret Love," respectively. Chris Isaak's "Besame Mucho" is lush and romantic. And Macy Gray's "Santa Baby" catches the right mood, echoing sensuality and good humor.

I've recommended this to all sorts of people. With the flux of swing-revival albums coming out lately, from Rod Stewart's to Cyndi Lauper's, the soundtrack to "Mona Lisa Smile" deserves special attention. It's spectacular.