Hollywood Soundtracks I Remember

25 Million New & Used CDs / Vinyl Records

Music Forum

My Account / Login

Hollywood Soundtracks I Remember
by Alexis Andrews - November 19, 2008

Kevin Costner in the romance thriller, Bodyguard (1992)

I don’t know if I should be embarrassed to say this, but one of the first CDs that I ever owned – and then listened to over and over – is the soundtrack album to the movie Bodyguard. I remember listening to the Whitney Houston records before seeing the movie on Betamax – and then singing along to the songs whenever they played in the background of one of the scenes. “And I –eeyah--- will always love you....” I think I even cried a few tears during the scene in which the bodyguard was shot, but that remains a story to be told another day. (Or maybe not ever.)

With that said, I have come across many other memorable soundtracks that came before and after the Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner starrer. I’ll name a few here. I have to say, though, that in general my favorite ones, being that I am a sucker for love stories and tearjerkers, are soundtracks and music CDs from Hollywood romance films. Non-orchestral, too, I suppose; but then again one cannot ignore the commercial and critical impact of such soundtracks as those to the films Star Wars (I get as excited as any other sci-fi geek upon hearing the work of orchestral composer John Williams during the credit rolls), Indiana Jones (also by Williams), Psycho (the soundtrack composed by Bernard Herrman in this film sent chills down my spine, even before the shower curtains in that hotel room got bloody), and Braveheart (the music here, by James Horner, was hair-raisingly inspiring).

Of course orchestral composers aren’t limited to the action/ thriller movie genre. Hans Zimmer, for example, is responsible for the soundtrack to a personally favorite flick of mine, Green Card. The romantic comedy stars Gerard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell. In the film’s soundtrack album, the unique and incredible Zimmer style is showcased, as is his joyous and energetic melodies mixed with ethnic music influences. There is also an interpretation of Mozart – his Clarinet Concerto in A Major: Adagio – which I have found can calm me at the most turbulent, loveless times.

My second pick might be more familiar to the general audience: the soundtrack to Sleepless in Seattle. The movie is romantic enough, but the compilation of songs in the film’s soundtrack album can make a heart grow profoundly fonder. With records by Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Durante, Nat King Cole, Gene Autry, Harry Connick, Jr., and Celine Dion, the soundtrack has got to be one of my most precious music CDs. I fall in love every time I listen to it.

To me, one of the finest and most memorable soundtracks is from a movie that came before my time: Mike Nichols’ 1967 flick, The Graduate. I own an album that has compiled the songs by Simon & Garfunkel and jazz musician Dave Grusin for this film. The collection of tracks brilliantly blends folk, foxtrot, cha-cha, soft-core 60s hippie sound, blues, and jazz – all of which, if one saw the film, were perfectly used in context for the story. Of course, who would forget “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel? In this soundtrack album, the song was accompanied by lyrics written by Paul Simon: a definite bonus, since in the film only an instrumental version of the song was used.

Subscribe to Latest Articles

Recent Postings

New Music Releases – November 24, 2009 - Nov 24

New Music Releases – November 17 - Nov 16

New Music Releases – November 10, 2009 - Nov 9

New Music Releases – November 3, 2009 - Nov 2

New Music Releases - October 27, 2009 - Oct 27

New Music Releases - October 20, 2009 - Oct 19

Happy 40th Birthday To Abbey Road - Oct 1

New Music Releases – September 29, 2009 - Sep 29

Ask Mr. Music - September 29, 2009 - Sep 29

Bird and Animal Names In Rock and Roll History-part thirty-two - Sep 27

Categories

Recent Postings

Recent Comments