1 |
Once
Upon a Time in Africa |
2 |
The Traveling Song |
3 |
Party! Party! Party! |
4 |
I
Like to Movie It |
5 |
The
Good, The Bad and the Ugly |
6 |
Big and Chunky |
7 |
Chums |
8 |
New
York, New York (Polka Version) |
9 |
Volcano |
10 |
Rescue
Me |
11 |
More
Than a Feeling |
12 |
She
Loves Me |
13 |
Rescue
Me |
14 |
Copacabana
(At the Copa) |
15 |
Monochromatic
Friends |
16 |
Best
Friends |
17 |
Alex
on the Spot |
SOUNDTRACK REVIEW:
This is one soundtrack which screams "Fun! Fun! Fun!"
from beginning to end. With Alex the well-liked lion, Marty
the instigating zebra, Melman the hypochondriac giraffe, Gloria
the sassy hippopotamus and the rest of the wide eyed animals
staring at you on the album cover, it’s difficult not
to be affected by the upbeat party mood this 49 minute promises.
Hans
Zimmer returns to score this follow up to the successful 2005
animated feature. He kick starts the soundtrack with the infectious
"Once Upon A Time In Africa", a playful homage to
legendary composer Ennio Morricone’s famous masterpiece
for “Once Upon A Time In America”. This four minute
track starts off with a catchy light woodwinds and strings
introduction before launching into a grand orchestration of
action adventure score. The energetic vocals in the African
influenced "Party! Party! Party!" reminds us of
Zimmer’s Oscar winning work for The Lion King (1994),
with an extra dosage of zesty fun. Elsewhere, the Germany
born composer reprises the familiar main theme in the subdued
"Rescue Me", the romantic "Foofie" and
the cheerful "Monochromatic Friends". It is a pity
only seven (a substantial portion using material from the
first movie, nonetheless) out of the 17 tracks on this album
are original score material from the versatile composer.
Morricone’s
signature tune "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"
is given a cute twist in "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"
(Polka Version”, which is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Another familiar tune to expect is "New York, New York
(Polka Version)", a cue to chase away those Monday blues.
And don’t forget to bring your cha-cha with Barry Manilow’s
rendition of "Copacaban (At The Copa)".
If
you don’t already know your jungle friends’ favourite
dance move, you may want to practise those hip swinging moves
with Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am’s performance
of "I Like To Move It". As if voicing the chest
twitching hippopotamus Moto Moto isn’t enough for him,
will.i.am performs other amusingly catchy songs like "Big
and Chunky" and "She Loves Me" on the soundtrack.
In
case you would like to learn his suave moves to impress your
date, also included on this enhanced CD are two music videos
for you to enjoy and practise, practise, practise. So go out
there and get this album to bring out the animal in you.
ALBUM
RATING:
Recommended Track: (3) Party! Party! Party!
Review
by John Li
|