Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Once More, with Feeling
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Free Music Notes for Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Once More, with Feeling
Free Music Review: Incredible But For Fans of The Show/Episode Only
Hit: 5 Stars
Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, outdid himself when he came up with "Once More With Feeling. For those who don't know, this episode came in the middle of the dark sixth season. Her friends, thinking they were saving her from eternity in hell, resurrected Buffy, leaving her feeling torn out of the heavenly dimension she was really in. Buffy turns to Spike (James Marsters), who was in love with her (much to Buffy's disgust) for comfort and in attempt to feel something real. Meanwhile, Xander (Nichloas Brendon) and former-vengence-demon Anya (Emma Caulfield) face fears about their upcoming wedding and Giles (Anthony Head), Buffy's Watcher, feels he is no longer needed to help Buffy. Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg), Buffy's sister suffers from feeling neglected but the main relationship focused upon is Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson), who dealing with Willow's magic addiction. After an argument in the previous episode, in which Tara confronted her girlfriend about using too much magic, Willow cast a spell to make Tara forget their fight. Also, Xander accidentally summons a demon called Sweet (Hinton Battle) to get everyone's feelings out in the open but ends up putting Dawn in danger when Sweet claims her as his bride.
"Overture/Going Through The Motions" starts things off with the wonderful instrumental featured in the very beginning of the episode followed by Buffy's first song, "Going Through The Motions". This song talks about Buffy's feelings about life after she's been resurrected. It establishes that she does not think she feels anything real. Sarah Michelle Geller does not have the best voice, but she remains in character so it fits. "I've Got A Theory/Bunnies/If We're Together" is basically three songs in one. The first part, "I've Got A Theory", discusses the group's theories about what's causing the spontaneous singing. "Bunnies" is sung only by Anya, who is terrified of rabbits. The part is probably not necessary but is a nice touch. "If We're Together" has excellent harmonies from the group, though it mostly focuses on Buffy, who states that it doesn't matter what happens because they will find a solution. "The Mustard" is a quick song that really does not make sense without the episode.
"Under Your Spell" is a stunning, lyrical ballad sung by Tara to Willow. Amber Benson has an incredibly beautiful voice that fits perfectly with the song. Unfortunately, the lyrics serve a double meaning because in this episode, Tara literally was under one of Willow's spells. Nonetheless, it is a stunning song heightened even further by Amber's performance. "I'll Never Tell" is a funny duet sung by Xander and Anya. In it, the two list all of their fears about getting married. Nicholas Brendon is not really a good singer, but like Sarah Michelle Geller, he completely remains in character. Emma Caulfield on the other hand has a great voice. "The Parking Ticket" is similar to "The Mustard", as it also makes little sense without watching the episode. "Rest In Peace" is Spike's main song in the episode, in which he tells Buffy that he loves her, but if she won't love him back, she should leave him alone. James Marsters sounds incredible and expresses the emotions behind the song impeccably.
"Dawn's Lament" has great music, but only really has two lines in the end, which shows Michelle Trachtenberg's extremely underdeveloped voice, although that may be because of her age. "Dawn's Ballet" is a wonderful instrumental track that fits a little better with the episode than the CD, but is good nonetheless. "What You Feel" is sung by Sweet after kidnapping Dawn, The lyrics are slightly incoherent, but Hinton Battle has a great voice that fits wonderfully with the jazzy-style. "Standing" is another major song in the episode, and is sung by Giles. This song expresses exactly how he feels unneeded and how Buffy would be better off if he left. Anthony Head is also one of the better singers on the cast so the song is extremely well-done. "Under Your Spell/ Standing Reprise" is sung after Tara discovers Willow's spell on her. In this song, both Tara and Giles decide to leave even though they wish they could stay. The two singers sound absolutely stunning together.
"Walk Through The Fire" is somewhat confusing, because the characters often sing over each other but it does emphasize the whirlwind of emotions expressed in the episode. Almost every character sings in this track, and they all bring ideas from their solo (or at least previous) songs, making an overall great track. "Something To Sing About" is a real turn-point-song because it is in this one that Buffy's friends discover that they have taken her out of Heaven. Buffy sounds weak on the bridge, but otherwise sounds great. "What You Feel" ties up Sweet's character, exiting him from the episode. "Where Do We Go From Here" sets the group up nicely (from an emotional perspective) for the rest of the season as it shows they're confusion at their situation. "Coda" brings the episode to a close, with Buffy and Spike sharing their first kiss. As additions to this album, there is the Main Title/End Credit song from the episode, which is not really necessary but a nice addition. The three instrumental tracks from different episodes are all stunning and extremely emotive. Lastly, there is a demo version of "Something To Sing About" which is just as good as Buffy's version.
Overall Mark: 5/5
Overall, this album is stunning even with the actor's varying degrees of vocal talent. Obvious standouts are Amber Benson, Anthony Head and James Marsters. Sarah Michelle Geller and Emma Caulfield are pretty good as well however Nicholas Brendon and Michelle Trachtenberg are pretty weak. Alyson Hannigan cannot really carry a tune, thus she has about five lines on the entire album. Despite all this, all actors manage to stay in character while singing. The songs themselves were incredibly written and suited the actors and characters perfectly. Joss truly outdid himself.
Free Music Review: An essential companion to the incredible episode.
Hit: 5 Stars
Episode number 107 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Once More, With Feeling - was an episode breakthrough for international television. It was a musical, so daring and bold, where the cast did all their own singing and the creator wrote all the music and lyrics. It was an amazing achievement and as a big Buffy fan I have to admit I was not disappointed by the episode. The CD is also brilliant, and as well as all the songs from the episode, it has some scores and suites from other episodes, like Hush and Restless, two of my other favourite epiodes beside OMWF.Here's my track-by-track guide to ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING...
TRACK 1 - OVERTURE/GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS
Nice overture, and Going Through the Motions is one of the many comedic highlights of the episode while also showing Buffy's discontentment with her life. A great song, but would've worked better with the sound effects from the episode.
TRACK 2 - I'VE GOT A THEORY/BUNNIES/IF WE'RE TOGETHER
Awesome track, and still very funny on CD. I've Got A Theory has a cool little ring to it, and is so fitting for the Scoobies. Emma Caulfield's Bunnies is hilarious, and If We're Together is a touching track sung brilliantly by Sarah Michelle Gellar.
TRACK 3 - THE MUSTARD
This doesn't quite fit in the CD. It's hilarious in the episode though.
TRACK 4 - UNDER YOUR SPELL
Amber Benson proves she has an amazing voice. This is a great song with excellent guitar work and stunning vocals. I listen to it a lot.
TRACK 5 - I'LL NEVER TELL
Another really funny song, which shows Anya and Xander's nervousness before their wedding. Their complaints about each other are hilarious and always entertaining to listen to.
TRACK 6 - THE PARKING TICKET
I was happy they inclduded this, it was hilarious in the episode. It was nice to hear the full version.
TRACK 7 - REST IN PEACE
One of the more darker songs in the album. James Marsters is a member of the band Ghost of the Robot and he proves here why. He has an awesome voice and his Billy Idol-like song is a great addition to the episode and sounds great spinning on the CD.
TRACK 8 - DAWN'S LAMENT
Short but nice collection of little orchestrals. Lets you know how Dawn might be feeling at the time, and the scary music at the end is really cool. Would've worked better hearing Dawn's scream.
TRACK 9 - DAWN'S BALLET
A very short but brilliantly played ballet tune. The music here is exciting, fairy-tale like and memorable.
TRACK 10 - WHAT YOU FEEL
Jazzy, catchy and entertaining tune to listen to, it sounds almost better on CD. I think it would've ben just that tad bit better with the conversations between Sweet and Dawn. Hinton Battle is a great singer!
TRACK 11 - STANDING
Anthony Stewart Head is a great singer! This is the first of the very depressing songs on the album. It was written very well and shows the reason why Giles must leave and make Buffy stand on her own two feet. Just as great on CD.
TRACK 12 - UNDER YOUR SPELL/STANDING Reprise
Amber Benson and Anthony Stewart Head's voices just mesh really well together! They sound amazing as they are probably the strongest singers of the cast. Excellent stuff, and I loved hearing the two tunes of Standing/Under your Spell mixing together.
TRACK 13 - WALK THROUGH THE FIRE
On screen and on CD, this track brings a tear to my eye. It's brilliant. Sarah Michelle Gellar's singing here is very strong and the lyrics are heartbreaking. This is probably my favourite song on the track, I cherish it and listen to it a lot.
TRACK 14 - SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT
Brilliant lyrics and brilliant singing. Sarah Michelle Gellar hits all the right notes here, she rocks. This is just behind Walk Through the Fire for my favourite track on the album.
TRACK 15 - WHAT YOU FEEL - REPRISE
Wonderfully theatrical exit for Sweet. Great music and catchy tune.
TRACK 16 - WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
A short song but I love it all the same. One of my favourite songs on the album, it's very sad and the music is great. Loved hearing the full version.
TRACK 17 - CODA
Nice little exit for the episode with Sarah and James' voices meshing well.
TRACK 18 - END CREDITS
Another jazzy tune and a very happy note to go out on such a depressing episode. Very cool.
TRACK 19 - MAIN TITLE
Altered Nerf Herder music especially for the musical. Very cool remix!
TRACK 20 - SUITE FROM RESTLESS
Loved all of the tunes here, Willow's Nightmare is a scary one, while First Rage is awesome and action packed.
TRACK 21 - SUITE FROM HUSH
A great collection of music from a brilliant epiode. I love the track Enter the Gentlemen, it's very creepy and brings back memories of the Gentlemen demons. First Kiss is lovely.
TRACK 22 - SACRIFICE (FROM THE GIFT)
I love this music, it is so sad. It brings back acute memories of seeing Buffy jump into the portal to save the world in the season 5 finale. Brilliant, tearfully sad music.
TRACK 23 - SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT (DEMO)
A lovely touch to end the CD, Joss' wife Kai sings Something To Sing About. Great voice Kai, and nice to know what the song would sound like with just the piano.
**
TOP 5 TRACKS
1. Walk Through the Fire
2. Something to Sing About
3. I've Got A Theory/Bunnies/If We're Together
4. Under Your Spell
5. Suite from Restless
**
This is an essential item for any Buffy fan. I just love this album and I love all the songs on it. Perhaps it would've worked better with some more sound effects but Joss probably wanted to made the episode individual with those and have the CD with JUST the music. That works fine with me! I don't really know what else to say, oh, wait this - BUY IT!
NOW!
:)
Free Music Review: Oh my GOD - I am under your spell, Tara!
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard that Joss Whedon was making a musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I was excited yet nervous wondering if it was going to be good or not. So on Thursday 14th February 2002, I sat down and watched Once More, With Feeling on SKY One and witnessed one of the greatest hours of TV I have ever seen in my whole life! The episode was first broadcast on Tuesday November 6th 2001 in the US and was adored by critics and fans alike - they called it "the greatest Buffy episode ever", "A classic in TV history" and "thoroughly enjoyable - there isn't anyway Buffy can get any better." I thought it was inevitable that a soundtrack to Once More, With Feeling would be released as the episode was such a hit. The album contains a worthy 19 tracks from the episode and an extra 4 songs from other classic Buffy episodes written and directed by Joss Whedon such as The Gift, Hush and Restless. There are some amazing songs on here such as Going Through The Motions sung entirely by Buffy as she's out in the cemetery doing the usual - slaying the vamps. She manages to kill the demons and slay the vampires while singing away to her heart's content! Another highlight is I'll Never Tell. Xander and Anya are waking up one morning and just burst out into song! They dance and sing their way around the kitchen and dining room while climbing onto tables and "dancing crazy!" Nicholas Brendon and Emma Caulfield give surprisingly good vocal performances as the two love birds. But the absolute highlight of this episode turns out to be I'm Under Your Spell. Willow and Tara are walking along merrily in a park as Tara burst out into song. Amber Benson is fantastic as Tara and has a phenomenal voice! Who would've guessed that the stars of Buffy could sing better than most full-time singers, even though they're full-time actors?! Tara's lyrics turn out to be true in more ways than one - in the previous episode, Willow put Tara under a spell to make her stop going on about how Willow is using too much magic. Even on a light tone, the episode manages to set the dark tone for the remainder of the season.
There isn't much singing from Willow, however. Alyson Hannigan admitted to Joss Whedon she was a terrible singer and didn't want people to hear her voice. She only has small parts on songs such as Walk Through The Fire and I've Got A Theory/If We're Together. Rest In Peace is sung by Spike. James Marsters also has a rather impressive voice. Buffy visits his crypt to see if he knows anything about why everyone is Sunnydale keeps bursting out into song when he bursts out into song himself! Buffy just rolls her eyes waiting for it to end. "So since I'm only dead to you, I'm saying stay away and let me rest in peace. Let me rest in peace, let me get some sleep. Let me take my love and bury it in a hole 6 foot deep. I can lay my body down but I can't find my sweet release. So let me rest in peace," he sings - being rather upfront and more revealing than usual. It really is truly amazing; Joss Whedon is supposed to be a writer and director of Buffy. He does this to the best of his ability yet wrote every single lyric to every song on Once More, With Feeling - he even composed the music and wrote/direct the episode! He truly is a God amongst us Buffy fans! He never stops pulling through and surprising the millions and millions of Buffy fans. Another great song is Dawn's Ballet. Dawn is captured and taken to the Bronze by the man who is making everyone sing and dance. Dawn dances around with the people who captured her to a brilliant instrumental before singing along with the main Bad Guy. Michelle Trachtenberg's voice is a little cringe-worthy, but she still gets credit for using her real voice. Anthony Stewart Head who plays Giles is a real-life singer, so it was a bonus for him to be able to sing in Once More, With Feeling. His main song is Standing. While training with Buffy in the Magic Box, he sings about how he is just standing in Buffy's way and that he has to leave her and return to England. His voice is just fantastic. Something To Sing About is a phenomenal song. Buffy confronts the Bad Guy to rescue Dawn with the rest of the Scoobies. She accidently reveals while singing that she thinks she was in heaven when her friends brought her back from the dead in Bargaining Parts 1 and 2. Willow is racked with guilt, as are Xander, Anya, Giles and Tara. The episode ends with a kiss - between Buffy and Spike! There are also other mini songs on here such as The Mustard and The Parking Ticket - even the Mutant Enemy monster that goes "Grrr....Arghh!" at the end of every episode gets in on act! All the songs are fantastic!
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10 (what else did you expect?!)
The fans loved Once More, With Feeling as the episode won the biggest viewing ratings of Season 6's entire run in the UK. People who had never watched an episode of Buffy in their lives were tuning in and loving it - finding themselves addicted to the show like most of all Buffy's viewers. I hope you found this review helpful and buy this CD now! This truly is essential for Buffy fans everywhere...
Free Music Review: In the great tradition of American musicals
Hit: 5 Stars
The astonishment at finding that Joss Whedon, who authored all these songs, can hardly play, diminishes when you remember that neither Irving Berlin nor Paul McCartney ever learned to read music. And comparison with such giants is not exaggerated. These songs are really in the great tradition and worthy of being mentioned with the greats (with one exception - which I'll get to); and, on their evidence, the talk of a Buffy musical which I heard is by no means a bad idea.Whedon's music is theatrical in the best meaning of the word. Great theatre musicians, from Mozart to Lloyd Weber, must produce music that is not only fine in itself but capable of developping the drama it describes; and Whedon's music does exactly that. When, in the ensemble WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, Emma Caulfield breaks in with "She came from the grave much graver" and James Marsters interjects the nonsensical "First I'll kill her, then I'll save her", these items both add to the story, round out the characters, and are beautifully melodic in themselves. Whedon, at any rate, did not just get a fancy and go for it head-first: when he started composing his songs, the first thing he did - according to the booklet in the CD - was to find out the ranges and vocal abilities of his cast, with the result that each of these songs fits very precisely the person it is written for: which is what great theatre musicians like Verdi did. This is music of which nobody need feel ashamed.
Sarah Michelle Gellar sings rather like I imagine the great Katharine Hepburn must have when, in her seventh decade, she undertook to perform in the musical COCO: I mean that she sings like an actress. Her voice is not trained to sing, and her tones lack fullness and grace: but she gives every word its value and emotional power, and the result is powerful and convincing on its own terms. She is one of the greatest living actresses, and on the evidence of this performance I am astonished that her CV does not include much stage work, because her measured and calculated approach to voice production just screams "THEATRE!" to me. When, like every American actor of note, she comes to London to tread the boards, she is sure to be a great success.
The revelation of this record is Amber Benson. Why on God's green earth is this lady not a professional singer, and why is she not a great star, is more than I can imagine. Her voice is not only ravishing, but exactly right for the role and emotions she has to produce: it races across the upper reaches of the soprano range to produce an effect of soaring magic shot through with joyful excitement. The effect is deliberate, since elsewhere, in the duet with Anthony Stewart Head, she shows that she has lower registers as well - which were just not used here, because they did not suit the effect Whedon wanted.
Emma Caulfield also has a lovely voice, though some of her tones do tend towards shrillness; and Anthony Stewart Head, who is apparantly capable of doing anything, sings with authority and almost excessive sweetness. James Marsters is a bit of a disappointment: I like him as an actor, and I knew that he is a professional musician, but his range seems rather narrow and his tones dull. Joss Whedon manages a decent song for him within an octave, though the Beatles, faced with a similar problem with Ringo, managed it rather better. Nicky Brandon is amateurish as a singer, though the DVD cannot show that he is a surprisingly excellent dancer; and Hinton Battle sings his sensuously threatening line like the old pro he is.
All told, the only serious disappointment is, unfortunately, the climactic song SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT: bathetic in its sentiments and singularly unresolved in its music, it leaves the spectator flat and suggests that Mr.Whedon really has no particular idea why living should be better than its opposite. But the episode ends up staging a great recovery with the excellent, emotionally charged and ambiguous conclusion WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?, which also boasts another memorable tune.
The rest of the album is filler, though pleasant enough. Instrumental soundtracks are rarely strong enough to carry a CD by themselves, and the ones presented here are no exception; and given the way I feel about SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT, you will not be surprised to hear that a second version of it does not increase my pleasure one iota. Nevertheless, this is a superb album in its own right, and one that any lover of musicals should own.
Free Music Review: go out and buy it now
Hit: 5 Stars
NOT ONLY IS THIS THE BEST SOUNDTRACK EVER, BUT IT IS ALSO THE BEST CD EVER. I bought this cd 2 weeks ago and i have already listened to it 20 times at least. If you are a Buffy fan this is definitely a "must" to add to your collection. Everyone in the show can definitely sing, which is apparent from this soundtrack. James Marters, Amber Benson and Sarah Michelle Gellar stand out most for their talents, though.
The first song "Overture/Going through the motions" is better understood when viewing the episode. But even if you have never seen the episode before you can still get the gist of the song.
"I have a Theory/Bunnies/If were together" is a song where all of the Scoobies are trying to figure out why it is that they are singing. Emma Caulfield stands out in this sound with her rendition of Bunnies. You have to have seen the Halloween episode where she dressed up as a bunny in order to understand this one.
"The Mustard" is a pointless addition to the soundtrack and is just trying to show that the whole town is under the singing and dancing curse.
"Under Your Spell" is a very well written song sung by Amber Benson. She has a lot of talent.
"I'll Never Tell" is my second favorite song on this soundrack. Nicholas Brendon and Emma Caulfield's characters share their fears about their upcoming marriage and it is very funny. Especially the line that comes from nowhere about when Xander was cursed with syphillus in the 5th season.
"Parking Ticket" is just as pointless as "The Mustard"
"Rest in Peace" is an exellent song by James Marsters. It is very apparant why he is in a band.
"Standing" by Anthony Stewart Head is a rather sad song about why his character is leaving Buffy and her friends.
I dont really care too much for the next two songs. One is where Dawn thinks that no one cares about her and the next one has no words at all.
The song after that explains why everyone is singing and dancing and what the demon plans on doing to the town. It is amusing at best.
"Under Your Spell/Standing" is very well put together and it is after Tara realizes that Willow put her under a spell messing with her memory. It is a song where bother Tara and Giles say their goodbyes.
"Walk Through Fire" is by far the best song on this soundtrack. It has every single character singing in it. It is funny how Spike keeps fighting with whether or not he wants to help Buffy or kill her and it shows how everyone is banding together to defeat the demon and save Buffy. It also has a little foreshadowing of the next song when Buffy says that none of her friends know why she froze.
"Something to Sing About" is also quite sad because it is then revealed to the rest of the characters that Buffy was pulled from heaven when Willow did a spell and the beginning of that season. Spike is telling her that she should continue living and that that was the only way to get rid of the pain.
The next song is a farewell from the demon Sweet.
"WHere do we go from here" is an interesting although short song that sort of sums up everything that had happended thus far in the episode.
"Coda" leads up to the first kiss between Spike and Buffy and it sort of explains why their relationship starts.
I didn't really listen the the last couple of songs on this CD because I dont really care for songs without words with the one exception of the regular theme song of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Well, I hope that my review was useful and I would recommend going out and buying this cd right now.