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This score is definitely getting blasted because of it not including Pink's version of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit". I think the reason for not including the song is because it was used as music for the trailer and not the actual movie itself. We see this happen a lot in score releases where many will ask, "Where is the song used in the trailer"? Usually, these are done by different artist and are not included as part of the original film score. Fortunately, the missing trailer music often appears on iTunes or Amazon as downloadable singles. My guess is that Pink will eventually release the song in an upcoming release of her own. You can't blame her for doing this actually...especially since the song has garnered such popularity and demand. Why not use it to bring fans to her own album? Whatever the reason, it all revolves around $$$. You can watch an online video of Pink performing the song outside Jimmy Kimmel's studio however. I have to admit that she sounds great and does an excellent job with the classic song. There is one song included by the artist on the score, "Just Like Fire", and I can only assume (since I haven't seen the film yet) that this was the music used during the closing credits. It sounds great and reminds me of some of the artist's earlier material. Although "White Rabbit" would of been awesome to include on the score as a bonus track, I'm quite positive it is being reserved for an upcoming Pink release in 2016.
I, however, appear to be the opposite of the majority interested in this score. I was looking forward more towards Elfman's material for the movie rather than Pink's rendition of a classic song. So, I am going to turn my attention to Danny Elman's music for the film.
There are two artist that have dominated my movie score collection. One being Jerry Goldsmith and the other is Danny Elfman. Both of these composers have made some wonderful music over their careers and some of their scores could be easily considered as some of my favorites. Elfman has always had a very distinctive style about him, especially when working with Tim Burton. There have been a few wild cards in Elfman's work like his scores for "The Kingdom" and "Wanted", but the composer has always demonstrated a true knack for fantasy scores, comedy, and the macabre. Usually we find all three of these elements mixed in within Elfman's work and it has arguably produced some of the composer's best material. My personal favorites have always been the Batman and Edward Scissorhand scores. One of the big successes that Elfman has had over his career is the ability to produce some very memorable themes. It was in the liner notes of Elfman's "Music for a Darkened Theatre Vol. 2" that he mentioned that he "could of done variations on Edward's theme forever". If you go back and listen to Elfman's sequel scores, he essentially does just this. Listen to the Batman, Spider-Man, and Men in Black scores and you hear how he toys with his developed themes throughout. If Elfman were to do a sequel to Edward Scissorhands, you can bet that he would give us those variations on that wonderful theme as well. Now, is this necessarily a bad thing? In Elfman's case, I think not. When you've got the ability to produce such memorable themes and the skill to use them in so many storytelling/emotional variations, then why not? This is not to say that we are basically listening to the same song over and over again either because that would get annoying. Elfman has always decorated his scores will ample amounts of entertaining and connecting music that fits right in with the onscreen action. This is essentially what he has done with "Alice Through The Looking Glass". The theme established from the first film is used extensively within this new adventure. The opening track, "Alice", is a much bigger treatment however. It sounds much grander and contains more movements than what can be found from the first film. It connects us to the first story and seems to announce that this is definitely a return to that strange and fantastical world where Alice first journeyed. While Elfman continues to develop the fantasy of Wonderland through bells, chimes, chorus, and other tricks...there is a greater emphasis on sadness and that of time within this score. Pieces like "Hatter House" (track 6) and "Goodbye Alice" (track 19) really show Elfman's skill at creating some very emotional and lovely moments with his music. Elfman's familiar choral work elegantly weaves throughout the score providing moments of sadness, as well as, times of reflecting Alice's determination. While the first movie's score was somewhat darker and mysterious, this one to me appears more adventurous. Both scores do a great job of painting the exotic locale and imagery of the story and this has always been a strongpoint found within Elfman's music. The Burton/Elfman films have always been unique visually and the music created for these stories have complimented them superbly. The score closes with "Story of Time" (track 27) and I especially like the use of chimes and bell strikes at the end of the music. It's as everything is winding down slowly with these slightly out of tune clock strikes within the final moments before it ends.
Elfman has a real knack for developing a theme and he uses it extensively here within this score. He certainly isn't scared to use it in "endless" variations but the good news is that he is very skilled in doing so. The score, from it's opening to closing moments, takes you on a journey and Elfman never lets you forget that he is taking you on a musical tour through the looking glass. I found the score to be bigger, grander, and slightly more adventurous as well. It marks a return to this world of fantasy and not just a revisit to more of the same. While Elfman has developed a memorable theme for Alice it would of been interesting if he could of found a way to create a more significant theme for the issue of time as well. Especially since it plays such a big part in this particular story. I hear within the music some references of this through the use of bells and chimes, but I wish that it could of been developed a bit more in that uniquely Elfman sort of way. The exclusion of "White Rabbit" by Pink is a big disappointment for many, and I agree that it would of been great to include it too. There is still a lot to enjoy from this Elfman score however, especially for those who loved the music and theme developed from the first film.
The CD version is released through Walt Disney Records and contains 28 tracks with a running time of around 1 hour and 17 minutes. There is a 16 page insert that contains concept art, lobby card like photos of the characters, track listings, production credits, and the lyrics to Pink's "Just Like Fire" song.
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Fort`y too
A theme upon Batman Returns???
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 6, 2016Sophie
Absolutely love this. Brilliant soundtrack great for listening to whilst ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 23, 2018Andrew
Goes really well with the movies
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 31, 2019
