Oz the Great and Powerful (soundtrack) explained

Oz the Great and Powerful (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Type:Film
Artist:Danny Elfman
Cover:OzTheGreatandPowerfulAlbumCover.jpg
Recorded:2012–2013
Studio:Sony Scoring Stage
Genre:Film score
Label:Walt Disney
Producer:Danny Elfman

Oz the Great and Powerful (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2013 film of the same name, produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is directed by Sam Raimi, and featured musical score composed by Danny Elfman. The score was recorded at Sony Scoring Stage and the album featured 27 tracks with a promotional single titled "Almost Home" performed by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. The soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records on March 5, 2013,[1] [2] followed by a physical CD release in association with Intrada Records on March 26.

Development

In June 2011, composer Danny Elfman was chosen to score for Oz the Great and Powerful, in his fifth collaboration with Raimi on Darkman (1990), A Simple Plan (1998), Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004).[3] It also marked Elfman's re-union with Raimi,[4] as due to their creative differences on scoring Spider-Man 2 Elfman decided not to collaborate with Raimi on his forthcoming projects, this meant that Elfman did not compose for the third instalment Spider-Man 3.[5] He noted that the film's score was accessibly quick to produce, with a majority of the music being written in six weeks.[6] Regarding the tonal quality of the score, Elfman stated, "We're going to take an approach that's old school but not self-consciously old-fashioned. Let the melodrama be melodrama, let everything be what it is. I also think there's the advantage that I'm able to write narratively, and when I'm able to write narratively I can also move quicker because that's my natural instincts, I can tell a story in the music."[7] Elfman did not adapt any of the musical influences from The Wizard of Oz (1939), despite having pop-culture references "visually and musically". Raimi insisted Elfman, that the team were working on L. Frank Baum's early 20th century Oz novels and not from the film. He decided to create a "fresh music for the setting", but also wanted to pay homage to the 1939 film.[8]

American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey recorded a promotional single called "Almost Home" written by Carey, Simone Porter, Justin Gray, Lindsey Ray, Tor Erik Hermansen, and Mikkel Eriksen (a.k.a. Stargate) for the soundtrack of the film.[9] [10] The song was recorded at February 6, 2013 at New York City at Roc The Mic Studios.[11] In a statement, Carey said that the song has "a message that works beautifully with the film. It's a feel-good record; it gives you the feeling of reaching your home and being with people that you love."[12] The single was released on February 19, 2013, by Island Records, despite being leaked a day before.[13] [14]

Reception

Gregory Heaney of AllMusic wrote "the score of Oz the Great and Powerful feels like an avenue of escape for dreamers looking for something to break up the monotony of their humdrum days, and while it might lack the catchy musical numbers of its predecessor, it's nevertheless a solid outing from Elfman." Filmtracks.com wrote "Oz the Great and Powerful is one of those great ambient listening experiences in the genre that doesn't stand up to focused analysis upon a closer look. For many listeners, such details won't matter, but that is what distinguishes a solid, workmanlike score from one destined to be a classic."[15] A review from Beyond the Marquee stated "Of particularly high merit are the delicate emotional chords of Oscar’s character arc from con man to wizard hero.  Luckily the emotional range missing from Franco’s performance is conveyed in the nuance of Elfman’s leitmotif.  This would be even better had Franco’s acting skills matched the melodies in quality but, to quote comedian Steven Wright, 'you can’t have everything… where would you put it?'"[16] ClassicFM wrote "Danny Elfman's soundtrack gets off to a fantastically glitzy start, with orchestral and choral bombast to spare - perfect vintage Hollywood fare. Another corking soundtrack from one of the modern masters of the genre."[17]

Personnel

Credits adapted from CD liner notes

Musicians
Orchestra and choir
Production

Awards

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient and nomineesResult
BMI Film & TV Awards[18] April 13, 2014Film MusicDanny Elfman
Georgia Film Critics Association[19] January 8, 2014Best Original Song"Almost Home" – Mariah Carey
Saturn AwardsJune 2014Best MusicDanny Elfman
World Soundtrack Awards[20] October 27, 2014Film Composer of the YearDanny Elfman

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oz the Great and Powerful: Soundtrack. Amazon.com. February 22, 2013.
  2. Web site: Intrada and Walt Disney Records to Release Danny Elfman's 'Oz the Great and Powerful' Score. Film Music Reporter. March 9, 2013.
  3. Web site: Lyttelton . Oliver . 2011-06-20 . Danny Elfman Makes Peace With Sam Raimi To Score 'Oz The Great and Powerful' . 2022-05-27 . IndieWire . en.
  4. Web site: Chitwood . Adam . 2011-06-20 . Danny Elfman to Score Sam Raimi's OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL; In Talks for THE HUNGER GAMES . 2022-05-27 . Collider . en-US.
  5. Web site: Elfman vs. Raimi: Round II . Devin . Faraci . Daniel Robert . Epstein . October 13, 2005 . Chud.com . February 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130218003347/http://www.chud.com/4718/elfman-vs-raimi-round-ii/ . February 18, 2013 . live.
  6. News: McIntyre. Gina. 'Oz': Teaser, character posters hint at Sam Raimi's lavish vision. January 31, 2013. Los Angeles Times. January 29, 2013. February 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130219010709/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/oz-teaser-character-posters-hint-at-sam-raimis-lavish-vision/#/0. live.
  7. News: McIntyre. Gina. Composing wizard Danny Elfman talks sweeping, gigantic 'Oz' score. January 31, 2013. Los Angeles Times. January 10, 2013.
  8. Web site: 2013-03-18 . Danny Elfman interview: Oz, Sam Raimi, Burton, Batman & more . 2022-05-27 . Den of Geek . en-US.
  9. News: Clark . Cindy . February 6, 2013 . Mariah Carey Records Song for Oz . . February 20, 2013.
  10. Updated Release: Global Superstar Mariah Carey Records 'Almost Home' For Disney's 'Oz The Great and Powerful' . . February 6, 2013 . February 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130219011400/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/06/updated-disneys-oz-idUSnPnNY55543+160+PRN20130206 . February 19, 2013 . dead .
  11. Web site: Halperin . Shirley . February 16, 2013 . Mariah Carey to Release New Song on Tuesday (Exclusive Audio) . The Hollywood Reporter.
  12. Web site: Siegel . Tatiana . February 6, 2013 . Mariah Carey Adds Track to Disney's 'Oz The Great and Powerful' . February 23, 2013 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. Web site: February 19, 2013 . Almost Home - Single by Mariah Carey . February 23, 2013 . .
  14. Anderson . Kyle . February 18, 2013 . Mariah Carey's new single 'Almost Home': Hear it here . February 23, 2013 . Entertainment Weekly.
  15. Web site: Filmtracks: Oz the Great and Powerful (Danny Elfman) . 2022-05-27 . www.filmtracks.com.
  16. Web site: OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL SCORE (Soundtrack Review) BEYOND THE MARQUEE . 2022-05-27 . en-US.
  17. Web site: Danny Elfman: Oz The Great And Powerful - an album guide . 2022-05-27 . Classic FM . en.
  18. Web site: Event 2013 BMI Film & TV Awards . 2022-05-27 . BMI.com . en.
  19. Web site: Georgia Film Critics Association 2013 Awards . 2022-05-27 . en.
  20. Web site: Chagollan . Steve . 2014-10-27 . Alexandre Desplat Proves a Perennial Fave at Ghent's World Soundtrack Awards . 2022-05-27 . Variety . en-US.

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