| The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou | |
| Type: | Soundtrack |
| Artist: | various artists |
| Cover: | The Life Aquatic soundtrack.JPG |
| Released: | December 14, 2004 |
| Length: | 59:58 |
| Label: | Hollywood |
| Producer: | Mark Mothersbaugh Robert Casale Wes Anderson |
| Chronology: | Wes Anderson film soundtrack |
| Prev Title: | The Royal Tenenbaums |
| Prev Year: | 2001 |
| Next Title: | The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions |
| Next Year: | 2005 |
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is a 2004 soundtrack to the Wes Anderson film of the same name.
Several songs are featured in the film but do not appear on the soundtrack, including "Starálfur" by Sigur Rós (from the climactic Jaguar shark scene), and some of Seu Jorge's performances of David Bowie songs. A more complete compilation of Seu Jorge's performances can be found on The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions Featuring Seu Jorge (released by Hollywood Records on November 22, 2005). The two-disc Criterion Collection release of the movie also features his performances as a special feature.
The soundtrack includes several instrumental pieces by Australian composer Sven Libaek – originally written for the 1970s Australian TV documentary series Inner Space by Ron Taylor and Valerie Taylor – which Anderson reportedly selected at the suggestion of actor Noah Taylor. "Shark Attack Theme" is a variation on the series' main title music; "Open Sea Theme"'s original title is "Thatcherie".
In addition to the use of both original David Bowie recordings and Bowie covers by Seu Jorge, the soundtrack includes two songs – "Search and Destroy" by The Stooges, and "Gut Feeling" by Devo, that had been produced or co-produced by Bowie.
Although Anderson worked with Devo cofounder Mark Mothersbaugh for the soundtrack for this and all of his prior movies, this soundtrack marks the first time one of Devo's songs, "Gut Feeling," was used in a Wes Anderson film. Mothersbaugh's Devo bandmate Bob Casale (aka "Bob 2") co-produced the soundtrack with Mothersbaugh.