The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack)
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Free Music Notes for The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack)
Free Music Review: The angel of music really visited Emmy Rossum
Hit: 5 Stars
I was really surprised by actress Emmy Rossum, she really sings like an angel (or the angel of music taught her greatly!)
About the soundtrack let me tell you that I just loved it! and I will give you personal opinion about each track:
1.- OVERTURE: Wow this is the kind of song that makes your heart bit faster and faster and automatically your mind flies into a sea of images of this great movie.
2.- THINK OF ME: This song really surprised me and is one of my very own favorites, here Emmy Rossum (Christine) shows the wonderful voice she has, and I think as in the movie we just discovered one of the best singers in the world
3.-ANGEL OF MUSIC: This song is a classic, and they had to do something great with this one and they did, the duet between Christine and Meg is deep, I mean is abonus watching them on screen but only by listening to them you understand the topic of the song.
4.- ANGEL OF MUSIC (MIRROR): Even though the title is the same as in track 3 it talks about different things here is the encounter of Christine and the phantom, this song is great
5.- THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: Oh my God!! this is the scene we all wait for while watching the movie, the "journey" inside the mirror, I mean this song has everything Emmy`s (Christine) angelical voice singing with the handsome (finally) The Phantom and they go inside to the dark place of the phantom, I JUST LOVE THIS SONG.
6.-MUSIC OF THE NIGHT: In this one while I was watching the movie I couldn`t move, though I think is kind of long (for just listening) but I mean is the Phantom`s solo.
7.- PRIMA DONNA: no comments
8.- ALL I ASK OF YOU: This is it!! my favorite song of them all I almost cry with this one ha ha it so romantic and Raoul (Patrick Wilson) and Christine (Emmy Rossum) their voices are just great, this is the moment we (girls) love, because it is what we would like to hear from the person we love, and here let me tell you again that Emmy is wonderful
9.-ALL I ASK OF YOU: This is the clear image of a broken heart, they made it so we (the audience) could understand how exactly the phantom was feeling and when he listens Raoul and Christine singing the part of "say you'll share with me one love one lifetime...." it is so sad but at the same time you feel happy for Christine and Raoul.
10.- MASQUERADE: This song I would compare it with Disney's "be our guest" because is the classic broadway style song that would be like the happiest moment for all the people in the play as for the main actors (Raoul and Chrsitine made their secret engagement) but when they all thought it was happiness something unexpected happen.
11.- WISHING YOU WERE SOMEHOW HERE AGAIN: This is Christine's sentimental moment and the song is very deep, I think it exactly express what a daughter feels when a special person is gone also I would say Emmy Rossum found the exact tone to sing this, because to sing this song you have to feel it.
12.- POINT OF NO RETURN: I just loved this scene in the movie, is the song of the last opera (play) in the movie and here starts the climax in the movie, and while listening to it you feel that and imagine the faces of the leading actors (christine and the phantom's specially)
13.-Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer : This is one of the longest song but is goes in a snap because it so emotive, here is when Christine is very dissapointed of her Angel when the phantom threaten her to kill her beloved Raoul and Christine kisses the phantom to save Raoul. But I think that the most important thing here is when the phantom feels for the first time love and decides to dissappear from Christine's life also is interesting listening to Raoul (Patrick Wilson) Christine (Emmy Rossum) and the Phantom (Gerard Butler)singing together.
In conclusion you have to buy it if you liked the movie or if you like the broadway musical all actors-singers are great specially Emmy Rossum of who I am a huge fan she deserved to be nominated for the Oscar but anyway the music in this soundtrack is wonderful
Free Music Review: Anywhere You Go, Let Me Go Too...That's All I Ask Of You!
Hit: 5 Stars
I own the Special 2 disc Edition CD from the film version, the single disc edition/highlights from the film version, the Original Canadian Cast Highlights CD, and the Original Cast Recording Highlights and the 2 disc Original Cast Recording and I must say, overall, I actually happen to love the music and singing from the 2004 movie just a tad bit more than the Original Cast Recording and The Original Canadian Cast. Don't get me wrong, I love all of them! All of them I listen to all the time, and in their own way, are very unique!
When I first heard Emmy sing, I just totally fell in love with her voice even though it may not be as powerful as Sarah Brightman's or Rebecca Caine's, it has this innocence to it and emotion that I don't hear in Sarah's or Rebecca's voice. There are a few parts that I honestly feel that Emmy Rossum did a better job than Sarah and Rebecca did. It doesn't mean I don't like Sarah's or Rebecca's voice. I love all three of them but I feel like Emmy did a better job when Emmy was singing "When Will The Flames At Last Consume Us?" and her voice hits that low register. I totally love that part!! Emmy sings in all these different registers. At the very beginning of Point Of No Return when Emmy first sings "No Thoughts Within Her Head, But Thoughts Of Joy! No Dreams Within Her Heart, But Dreams Of Love" there is that really high note that Emmy does and it's so beautiful!! Emmy's voice sounds like an angel!! There is this other part right before All I Ask Of You where Emmy sings "But His Voice Filled My Spirit With A Strange, Sweet Sound...In That Night, There Was Music In My Mind...And Through Music My Soul Began To Soar!" and it's when she sings "Soar" that her voice hits that high note and it's totally breathtaking!!! Emmy shows a lot more emotion through her singing than Sarah and Rebecca did also like especially at the very end when Emmy sings "The Tears I Might Have Shed For Your Dark Fate, Grow Cold And Turn To Tears Of Hate", you can hear the hatred in Emmy's voice, I love it!!! Gerard Butler might not have as good of voice as Michael Crawford or even Colm Wilkinson overall, but there are a few parts where I feel Gerard did a better job because Gerard's voice sounds so natural and I can hear his emotion in his voice as well. When it comes to just having the best voice overall, I'd say Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman have it but when it comes to having a voice that let people hear the emotions, Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler have it! Emmy and Gerard are incredible singers and a lot of times I just listen to the soundtrack to hear Emmy's voice!
Another thing that I feel is slightly better is the actual orchestral music. The movie had about a 100 piece orchestra which makes it much fuller and it is amazing!! I love everything from The Overture to Track Down This Murderer, even Learn To Be Lonely is good, although I like the orchestral version of Learn To Be Lonely best!! My favorites on here are The Overture, The Phantom Of The Opera, All I Ask Of You and Masquerade but I love the whole CD! I really like the music to the Swordfight as well, it's a very nice addition to the original music!
The Phantom Of The Opera is now my favorite musical of all time because of the Orchestral and Operatic music! The Highlights Edition of the Film Soundtrack are just the actual songs like The Overture, Think Of Me, Angel Of Music, The Phantom Of The Opera, Music Of The Night, Prima Donna, All I Ask Of You, Masquerade, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, The Point Of No Return, Track Down This Murderer and Learn To Be Lonely. I recommend this CD and also the film 2 disc CD which I also have because there are times when I just want to hear the actual songs or the whole thing depending on my mood. This is a must buy for anyone who likes Orchestral or Musicals!
Free Music Review: People need to get over it. This is a great CD
Hit: 5 Stars
To anyone reading the reviews posted here, please do not pay any attention to the negative comments. People have to stop their whining about this recording. Let's not forget that last years big Oscar winner CHICAGO had terrible vocal performances (Richard Gere and Renee Zelwegger comes to mind) but nobody seemed to care. These people are upset because there beloved duo- Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman are not in the film or it's soundtrack.
I would first like to state that just because Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman were the original leads, that does not necessarily mean that they were the best. I watched the show over 10 times during it's 10 year run in Toronto and I must state that Colm Wilkinson and Rebecca Caine were superior in all aspects. And for the ardent Sarah Brightman fans (the millions of you out there), let's not forget that her performance left alot to be desired. The woman couldn't act her way out of a paper bag and as for her voice. Yes it's true she has an outstanding range but the texture and sound of her voice is an acquired taste. A critic stated she sounded like "Minni Mouse on Quaaludes". I personally think she sounds more like one of the chipmunks. Her voice is very thin, and she doesn't seem to know how to control her out-of-control vibrato. Michael Crawford fares much better and the POTO London Cast recording is his best vocal performance on record. His vocals are rich and poignant and I was extremely impressed by him. However, after listening to his other recordings I have to frankly state that his voice is rather bland. However Mr Crawford is a terrific actor and that combined with his voice made him an outstanding phantom. But let's not forget that he is much too old for the part as is Ms. Brightman. It appears that the die hard fans do not want to give anyone a chance when it comes to portraying the title character and Christine and that's not fair.
This soundtrack is lovely and it qualifies as one of the best movie soundtracks I have ever heard. It is very loyal to the stage production and the singers voices are elegant and lovely. Gerard Butler is an excellent Phantom who does the part justice and Emmy Rossum's voice personifies youth, beauty and purity. Granted, her voice may not be strong enough to compete with a true opera diva but the only time this is really apparent is during THINK OF ME. Otherwise, her voice is lovely. My only disappointment was with Minnie Driver who does not do her own singing as the grand diva Carlotta. That may hurt her performance reviews kind of like a Jennifer Beals-in-FLASHDANCE kind-of-way which is a shame because she is an outstanding actress and I can't wait to see her in the film. I am eager to see what she brings to the role.
This recording is an outstanding piece of work. The voices are great and the orchestrations are sumptuous. As for the music, the OVERTURE is spellbinding, the hauntingly beautiful ANGEL OF MUSIC never sounded better, MASQUERADE is majestic and the new song LEARN TO BE LONELY adds further depth to the score. This is one of LLoyd Weber's greatest scores and this CD more than does it justice. Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: "The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind"
Hit: 5 Stars
Though vastly under-looked and over-scrutinized by critics and longtime enthusiasts of the original play, with all comparisons aside I personally feel that 'The Phantom Of The Opera' is one of the greatest cinematic experiences ever, and musically it is absolutely breathtaking. This is the type of film I always dreamed of being made. It's a beautiful, tragic tale of love, madness and seduction all rolled up into one. Thus, it is a romantic Gothic horror story unlike anything I've seen done before it and I, anyway, think that it is a masterpiece (and perhaps, even, a future classic?).
If you wish to hear the entire production, as not to miss anything, you'd be better off buying the two-disc deluxe edition, but if you simply want to hear the best tracks from the movie, this collection of highlights does just that. Of course, if you cherish the music as much as I do you might as well buy them both.
The melodies/lyrics in this soundtrack emit many different emotions, such as joyous confessions of love during "All I Ask Of You" that quickly changes into sadness as the Phantom, hurt and betrayed, sings the reprised version full of heartache and rage. On the other hand, "The Phantom Of The Opera" sends chills throughout my body as the orchestra, hauntingly beautiful organ and electric guitar play feverishly to the Phantom saying "sing, my angel of music" in a demanding yet hypnotizing tone while Christine obeys, singing higher and higher as if in some kind of trance. "The Music Of The Night" is another favorite of mine, along with "Prima Donna", "Masquerade", "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", and "The Point Of No Return". I was also pleasantly surprised to enjoy the brand new studio track written specifically for the closing credits, "Learn To Be Lonely", which is sung by Minnie Driver who plays the hilarious opera diva, Carlotta. I only wish it were longer...
The lovely Emmy Rossum may be no Sarah Brightman but I think she lived up to the expectations Sarah left us with rather well (and, remember, she was only 17 during filming). She's able to be both a lustful temptress as well as sweet and innocent when needed. As for Gerard Butler, he may not have the world's greatest voice but, to me, his dark and rugged style fits his imperfect character perfectly. Now, for a complete turn around, I think most will agree with me when I say that Patrick Wilson (Raoul) has the most gorgeous voice of them all. But what did you expect? He's a 'pretty boy'.
'The Phantom Of The Opera' may still be out in theaters but I am already waiting with bated breath for the DVD to become available. Until then I at least have the soundtrack to replay certain scenes in my mind. The only gripe I have is, by listening to this, it makes me want to see the movie every time I do...
Free Music Review: Much more emotional Phantom, although some challenges
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm not going to blindly say that Gerard Butler is the end-all, be-all Phantom. He just needs a TINY bit more training, I think. Some of his songs were perfect--Point of No Return, for instance, simply could not get any better. It was so alluring and sensual and full of yearning. But then, tragically, in Down Once More, something seemed to have happened to his face that affected the way he pronounced his words. I wonder if this was intentional. He even sounds more like a beast--he's a lot more off-key...flat...has a stuffed nose...sounds like he has wax stuffed under his lips. It's so annoying when throughout the rest of the CD his voice has been so clear. One thing I must say, though--after listening to Butler's version, I cannot go back to Michael Crawford without thinking that Crawford sounds VERY effeminate and weak and slimy and robotic, although, in a way this makes the ending so much more bearable! I wish that Butler had been given a few more months of voice lessons. It's so obvious that he has the voice and the talent (not to mention the acting ability and everything else.) His emotion ends up carrying the entire production.
I think Emmy Rossum and Sarah Brightman are similar, although in the end I prefer Rossum's versions. Hers seem simpler and cleaner. Her "Phantom of the Opera" is absolutely thrilling--I get chills every time I hear the end, although maybe that's a combination of Butler's rough voice against her high soprano. And "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" is filled with so much sadness.
Patrick Wilson is the best Raoul I have ever heard, without a doubt. I've never liked the character, but whenever I hear him sing in this production, I take him more seriously and can at least begin to see why Christine would maybe consider him. His duet with her, "That's All I Ask Of You" is flawless. He doesn't sound at all affected; he's strong; his breathing is right on. I love listening to that track, until I realize that the poor Phantom has heard it!
I know so many other people ask why you need to compare, but I think it's only natural. If you hear two different people singing the same song, you will naturally compare the two. You may very well like both of them for different reasons, and I do like the original cast version very much. I thought at first that the 2004 version would not live up to it, but I think in many, if not most ways, the 2004 version surpasses it. I appreciate emotion over technical perfection (to a certain degree) and Butler carries you off into his world.