Amelie [Original Score]

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0724381123928 Format: Soundtrack Label: Virgin Manufacturer: Virgin Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Virgin Release Date: 2001-10-01 Studio: Virgin
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Editorial Reviews: The film Amelie depicts Paris as a magical paradise for lovers and so needed music of the utmost tenderness but with a quirky edge befitting the title character. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet chanced upon the music of Yann Tiersen one day and bought his entire catalogue. That ultimately translated into this gloriously upbeat soundtrack largely culled from four of Tiersen's albums. Half the cues have been previously released, but arguably never in such splendid context. Accordion and piano are the score's instruments of choice and are woven into a beautiful whole none of the individual albums achieved before. The Neil Hannon collaboration ("Les Jours tristes" from L'Absente) is a big bouncy number that expands upon itself incessantly. It's about as big as the music gets, since this accompanied one of the jolliest moments in the film. The greater part is concerned with Amelie's innocent infatuations and is therefore subtler. A couple of nice examples of the album's overall style are "Sur le Fil", a lovely melancholy piano melody, and "La Dispute" where mournful solo accordion switches tone by piano. At the heart of it all is the best of Tiersen's new material for the film with "La Valse d'Amelie". It has three variations, but is most affecting in its original incarnation for accordion and small ensemble. It makes the film's finale, this disc and the idea of a trip to Paris utterly charming. --Paul Tonks
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Delightful Comment: Very nice cd, that brings many pleasant memories of the film. It captures the spirit of France and "paints" a musical landscape of France with the small villages, cabares, cafes and much much more. Customer Rating: Summary: Enjoyable in its own right - but better if you've seen the film, Comment: If you have seen 'Amelie' you will undoubtedly have been struck by the clever and charming use of music throughout its length. If you buy this CD because you liked the film, then you will not be disappointed. Everything is here and, as other reviewers have said, it is harmonious, very 'Gallic', uplifting and gentle. The two songs jar slightly if you haven't seen the film because they suddenly seem to transport you back to a mythical Paris of the 1930' or 1940's, but even then, there isn't much of a problem. If you haven't seen Amelie, then this music is probably best thought of as a mixture of 'the best of Yann Tiersen' and a pastiche of the type of music that we in the UK often think of as being 'typically French' (accordions, tinkling pianos, tangos, breathily repetitive themes ...). My reason for not awarding 5 stars is that because this is a soundtrack CD, there are two minor problems: (1) several of the tracks just end as if they've been cut off a few seconds too soon. (2) there is a little bit too much 'sameness' about some of the chosen tracks BUT, there is also a reasonable range of instrumentation and styles, so this doesn't become too much of a problem unless you actually sit down and concentrate on listening in detail to every track. Played ambiently, it is wonderful and if you know the film, it will bring back all the joys and sorrows that were so wonderfully brought to life. Customer Rating: Summary: Delightful music Comment: This is a must see film and a must listen sound track. It will accompany you for any kind of moment and mood in your life. A must buy! Customer Rating: Summary: Brilliant Comment: An album that is enjoyed by all our family, it sooths and calms all journeys and is absolutly brilliant. Customer Rating: Summary: Sublime soundtrack to a modern masterpiece... Comment: Here we have not only a great soundtrack that can conjure both the magic of the film and work as an excellent album in it's own-right, but also, we have a perfect introduction to one of the greatest young composers world music has to offer. Yann Tiersen had already produced three albums before he was approached by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet to compose the music to his new film Amelie (which had juxtaposing themes of playful giddiness and bitter melancholy that seemed perfectly suited to the kind of music that Tiersen creates so effortlessly), and the recording of these songs overlapped with the writing and recording of his forth solo-album proper, L'Absent. As a result of this, a number of tracks found in instrumental versions here (Les Jours Tristes, A Quai, Le Moulin) can be found fleshed out on L'Absent (...Tristes for example is turned into a great melancholic pop song with vocals from Neil Hannon). If you have heard any of these Tiersen solo-albums or, in fact, seen Jeunet's film, you will undoubtedly have a good idea what to expect from the style of music featured. Tiersen creates tuneful, melodious little pieces thick with atmosphere & grace, employing a wide range of both contemporary and traditional instrumentation (all of which he plays himself) from guitars, drums and bass, to strings, accordions, pianos, harpsichord, music-boxes, & more. The compositions are practically overflowing with the feelings of ecstatic excitement or downbeat romanticism, as Tiersen manages to convey a mood that captures the essence of the film and holds the listener in a trance for it's entirety. This is one of the best soundtrack albums available (up there with some of Michael Nyman's very best) and, if you appreciate the musical greatness of this, then might I suggest that you track down Tiersen's other studio albums, and his soundtrack to that excellent German film, Goodbye Lenin! ...all of which, are excellent. More Reviews