Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
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Free Music Notes for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
Free Music Review: The Goblet is full
Hit: 5 Stars
We start off with "The Story Continues", which happens to be my favorite cue from the score. Yeah, it's only a minute-and-a-half long, but it sets the mood quite early, and perfectly, and it let me know right away that Doyle's efforts weren't going to be synonymous with bust. The twist that Doyle puts on John Williams' trademark theme gives me the shivers: sweepingly tragic - pretty much, gangsta. "Quidditch World Cup" is another nice track, with cues for the Irish and Bulgarian teams. The "Rita Skeeter" cue is just as flamboyant and charismatic as she is... "Golden Egg" is the most exciting, energetic - yet not bombastic, cue on the score. We are then treated to a triplet of waltzy cues in "Neville's Waltz", "Harry in Winter", and "Potter Waltz", followed by the seductive "Underwater Secrets".
I want to jump ahead and say a few words about the standout track, "Voldemort". Here, Doyle accomplishes something that I don't think Williams would have been able to - a truly dark, brooding, suspenseful, heartbreaking piece of tragedy. To his credit, Williams did accomplish this feat in "The Immolation Scene" featured on this year's "Revenge of the Sith" score; however, that was not even three minutes long - "Voldemort" is almost an epic ten minutes in length. I just think Williams would have fallen into his usual "noise" and general "confusion" for a cue like this. Instead, we are blessed with Doyle's abilities - "Voldemort" is outright painful for me to listen to, especially the last two minutes or so; a wonderful job. After "Voldermort" comes the "Death of Cedric", which is another moving track, as its name suggests.... In closing, Doyle ends with a couple of beautiful, hopeful tracks in "Another Year Ends" and "Hogwarts' Hymn" - the latter which closely rivals John Williams' "Reunion of Friends" cue from "Chamber of Secrets". In closing, although I was one of many who made a weird face when I heard that Doyle would be replacing Williams for the fourth Potter, I am presumably one of the few who gives this man the praise he deserves - top praise. Still, this doesn't take away from the marvelous groundwork Williams introduced in creating Harry's wondrous world for the first film, nor does it harm the surprising, innovative work Williams gave us for "Prisoner of Azkaban".
* This was a review of the score portion only. The appended tracks at the end of the CD are basically vocal fanfare, but I'm not a fan of them.
Free Music Review: It's Different and Different is Good --- Believe That Magic Works
Hit: 5 Stars
For the first three "Harry Potter" movies, John Williams ("Star Wars" and numerous other films) composed the music and it awesome. Poignant, touching, entertaining, everything that you could want. John Williams didn't do the music for this movie. Patrick Doyle was called to the task and personally, I think that he performed admirably.
"Goblet of Fire" is a far different film from the first three "Potter" movies. There are some big things happening, which you almost certainly know about if you're reading this. These demand strong themes and music and Patrick Doyle delivered.
I'm not going to give a blow-by-blow track review, but I will touch on some of my favorite tracks. These are "The Quidditch World Cup," "Golden Egg," "Neville's Waltz," "Underwater Secrets" "Hogwarts' March" and "Magic Works."
Some thoughts on a few of these pieces --- "The Quidditch World Cup" evokes the passion of this great sport and has wonderful Irish music in it as well. There's also the chanting --- "Krum... Krum... Krum," it really works. "Golden Egg" is a partly vocal piece encompassing the song about the mermaids' task and they got a nice female singer to perform it. "Neville's Waltz" evokes a classical feeling and is also just funny. And then there's "Magic Works," a sort of ballad that was played during the closing credits. After listening to it a few times ("Believe, that magic works / Don't be afraid / Of being there / Don't let this magic die...") you too might just believe that magic works --- if you didn't already! :)
I couldn't end this review without mentioning the soundtracks two other vocal pieces --- "Do the Hippogriff" and "This is the Night." "Do the Hippogriff" is a wild punk rock theme with crazy lyrics like "I spin around like a crazy elf, dancin' by himself / I put me down like a unicorn..." As long as you don't mind this sort of song, it's good fun. "This is the Night" is another sort of rock/metal theme and it's decent too. I read that Daniel Radcliffe is a fan of this style of music, so I'm sure he was pleased by those tracks (although, unfortunately for him, I also read that they filmed his scenes separately from all that.)
Free Music Review: Splendid
Hit: 5 Stars
I don't much see what the merits of this soundtrack have to do with John Williams' absense (taking nothing away from him - he's been great). The real question is: 1.) Is the music good?, and 2.) Does it compliment the movie? It's not much more difficult than that, really.
Most bloggers/reviewers thus far see this as a two-part disc and critique it thusly: the first part Patrick Doyle's stuff, the second, Jarvis Cocker's. I understand that and will follow suit.
I happen to think the Patrick Doyle arrangements are gorgeous, foreboding, enchanting, ethereal, and adroitly crafted for what each setting calls for. They sound good, so there.
As for Jarvis Cocker, who is the primary reason I bought this thing. If you are one who happens to be laughing at, instead of with him, I hate to bear bad news, but the joke is most certainly on you. If you don't like the way the songs sound, fine. I can't imagine that, but it happens. As for lyrics, the refreshing thing about Cocker's allusions to the Harry Potter world is that they're humorous without being cynical. And it's his deadpan, minus the cynicism, that earns him criticism from dour-faced types who "take their music seriously" (even the stuff that's supposedly unserious.) Jarvis Cocker takes the making of good music seriously, and recognizes that good music is, sometimes, mirthful. That's the difference between him and them.
But how does it sound?
"Do The Hippogriff". I laugh out loud every time I hear this song and it's litany of references. It sounds like a cross between Billy Idol and The Cult, I swear - it's hilarious.
"This Is the Night" has a macabre tone with a very quirk-jerky beat. It reminds me of something from their Masters of the Universe collection.
"Magic Works". If this song had been written then, I would have danced to it at my wedding. It is perfect Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) ala, "Happy Endings", "The Birds In Your Garden", and "Bad Cover Version".
I'm thoroughly impressed with his offerings, and those of the ones who helped him. I suspect I'll be listening to this for many future nights, unless the Deatheaters come and get me in my sleep.
Free Music Review: Shake your booty like a Boggart in pain
Hit: 5 Stars
I initially bought this soundtrack album for a number of reasons:
1 - I own the first 3, so, for the sake of a complete collection, the 4th was a must.
2 - I enjoyed "the music during the arrival of the Durmstrang lot, and at the beginning of the 3rd task" (btw, being "The Quidditch World Cup" and "Hogwarts' March")
3 - I'm a Harry Potter obsessive, so I just had to get it.
Once I bought this album, I slapped it into my computer to give my verdict.
The official soundtrack items on the disk (the first 21 tracks) are very well conducted, suiting the mood of the movie. However, despite the fact that I still love "The Quidditch World Cup" and "Hogwarts' March" with the addition of "Underwater Secrets", "Potter Waltz", "Rita Skeeter" and "The Story Continues", I do very much prefer John Williams' music on the whole; it being slightly more magical (which, of course, is a necessity when it comes to the soundtrack of a "Harry Potter" movie).
I would liken this part of the soundtrack to that of "The Mummy" and the ITV News. --x-- I was over-the-moon to discover that "Hedwig's Theme" from the previous movies (yes, the official "Harry Potter Theme") appears in more than one track on "Goblet of Fire" (2, for those who didn't notice).
However, that being the case, I still very much enjoy the album and would recommend it to everyone.
I simply cannot review this soundtrack album without mentioning the final 3 tracks, by the Weird Sisters. As this music is very much to my taste anyhow, I fell in love with it immediately. "Do The Hippogriff" is a track to which one can go crazy to, turn up loud and act the Fool! "This Is The Night" is just as good, though nowhere near as humourous. And as for "Magic Works", I would certainly use this as the final track to any dance - it's perfect ... and I noticed that the lyrics interlink with the love/hate relationship between Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
A cracking soundtrack, despite the obvious downsides. Big up to Patrick Doyle! o_O
Free Music Review: Harry Potter moves on.. and so does the music
Hit: 5 Stars
As a collector of movie soundtracks, it was unthinkable not to get this fourth album of the Harry Potter series. After reading the mixed reviews, I was apprehensive as to whether it would sit on my shelf collecting dust or get a good workout in the CD player.
I own all four albums, and as avid a fan as I am of John Williams, I would have to say "The Goblet of Fire" rates up there with "The Philosopher's Stone" (which really did set the standard for the rest of the following albums). In fact, I would have to say that "The Goblet of Fire" is my favourite. The music is quite simply beautiful and atmospheric. Standouts are "Harry In Winter" (this particular track I can't help but have on repeat mode in the car), "Death of Cedric" and "Foreign Visitors Arrive". "The Quidditch Cup" makes me want to catch the next plane to Ireland! And call me old-fashioned, but "Neville's Waltz" and "Potter Waltz" are pleasant and lovely to the ear.
As for the rock songs at the end, I usually bypass them. Some complain about the jarring disconnect between the orchestral aspect of the soundtrack and the loud rock of the end - well, at least they're at the end and not in the middle! And let's face it. How many people would have grumbled that those songs that featured at the Winter Ball were left out?
I've always loved the work of Patrick Doyle (e.g. "Sense and Sensibility" and "Much Ado About Nothing"), and this soundtrack is no exception. He didn't 'fill' John Williams' shoes on this score. He pretty much created a new pair. Harry's story and personality have shifted on. It would be remiss of us to think the music wouldn't evolve as well.
So has this soundtrack lost that feeling of magic? I would have to say a resounding 'no'. It's certainly a lot more listener-friendly than "Chamber of Secrets"!