MX 2007’s Top 5 Score Soundtracks List

Compiled by: John Li

Alexandre Desplat is one talented musician to watch out for. Besides composing the hauntingly beautiful theme for that poor girl Wong Chia Chi in “Lust, Caution”, he has also touched the hearts of judges of Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards to award him with the Best Original Score trophy. His works for 2007 also include “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” and “The Golden Compass” (both which I haven’t heard), proving his versatility in different genres. Also breaking my heart this year is Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’s melancholic score for “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”. The unforgettable cue for Robert Ford is poignantly forlorn to listen to. On a cheerier note, Rupert Gregson-Williams’s upbeat score for “Bee Movie” is a perky work that is bright and jovial despite feeling as busy as a, err, bee. British composer Ilan Eshkeri did not forget to have fun too, with his enjoyable score for the fantasy adventure “Stardust”. And who knew Gabriel Yared could creep us out with his score for “1408”? The Oscar-winning composer proves to us that a competent music score can make a good film better, or in this case, a scary movie scarier.

MX 2007’s Top 5 Song Soundtracks List

I know I’m no Hugh Grant, but since everyone else is crooning to “Way Back into Love”, why can’t I pretend that I’m the charismatic songwriter in “Music and Lyrics” and sing along too? I know I’m no Zac Efron either, but the catchy songs in “High School Musical 2” are so infectiously jolly, I’ve been imagining that I’m part of the gang in Disney Channel’s wildly popular television movie. And although John Travolta is a hoot in “Hairspray”, swinging his body and hips to the buoyantly bubbly songs, I wouldn’t be able to take the humiliation of being laughed at for cross-dressing in a fat suit. Hence, I shall be more realistic and play the romantic tunes on the soundtrack of “Paris, Je T’aime” should I ever bring a date to any candlelight dinner. I can also consider playing songs written by everyone’s favorite pop and rock band The Beatles. Reinterpreted by today’s artistes, classic titles like “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “All My Loving” should melt the girl’s heart and have her travel “Across the Universe” with me.