The Shape of Water (soundtrack) explained

The Shape of Water (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Type:soundtrack
Artist:Alexandre Desplat
Cover:The Shape of Water Soundtrack.jpg
Released:December 1, 2017
Studio:
    • Studio De La Grande Armée (Paris)
Genre:Soundtrack
Length:76:23
Label:Decca
Producer:Dominique Lemonnier

The Shape of Water (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the Academy Award-winning film of the same name. It featured 26 tracks — most of the tracks were from the original score composed by Alexandre Desplat and some tracks are incorporated songs, being originated from the 1940s and 1960s as the film is set during the Cold War period. The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro, who also co-wrote the script with Vanessa Taylor, stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Octavia Spencer.

Desplat initially intended to collaborate with del Toro for the stop-motion animated film Pinocchio, based on The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) by Carlo Collodi in late-2012, which went on development hell months after. The following year (or by early-2014), del Toro narrated the film's premise to Desplat and was shown a preview of the finished film, which left Desplat impressed and finding similar to a musical, he agreed to score for the film. Desplat took six weeks to write the film's music, which was a "tender, warm and fragile" score like love. Desplat extensively captured the sound of water for the film, and used piano and flutes, to create the "blurred underwater sound". Desplat, who thought the film as a "masterpiece", complimenting del Toro's filmmaking, said that "when the movie's that beautiful, it makes your life much easier. You just have to put your hands on it and it takes you anywhere you want."

The album was released on December 1, 2017 by Decca Records in digital and physical formats, and was released on October 5, 2018 in vinyl.[1] The score received critical acclaim praising Desplat's minimalistic approach and melodious underscore. Desplat won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work in the film,[2] his second win after The Grand Budapest Hotel.[3] He further won the BAFTA Award, Critics Choice Award and Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Score", in addition to receiving numerous awards and nominations, including nominations for three Grammy Awards and a Satellite Award for Best Original Score.

Development

The Shape of Water marked the first collaboration between Desplat and del Toro. Both the director and composer, initially wanted to collaborate on the "darker adaptation" of the 1883 Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, being planned as a stop-motion animated film, with American musician Nick Cave confirming Desplat's inclusion in the project.[4] But the film, went into development hell in late-2012. By late-2013 or early-2014, del Toro met Desplat to talk about the film's premise. In January 2017, Desplat was shown a rough cut of the finished film, and finding it similar to a musical, he agreed to compose a score. Desplat felt "shocked by the beauty of the film" and appreciated del Toro's direction, which he felt that "the most difficult thing, interweaving reality and imagination and bringing the audience into that world with no effort. It effortlessly takes you into his world, and that’s very rare."

Desplat tried to capture the sound of water extensively to have audiences experience a "warm feeling" that is also caused by love. He also opined that "love has no color and no texture" and just "goes everywhere" comparing love to water.[5] In an interview, he said the melody from the opening scene was "actually made of waves. I did not do that on purpose, but by being completely immersed in this love and these water elements, I wrote a melody that plays arpeggios like waves."[6] The score was not composed chronologically, but "finding the opening was the key to find the entry to the film. What is the soul of the film? It’s all there at the beginning. And actually it’s the same thing we hear at the end. Because we’re underwater, it’s a dream, everything’s floating in the room." Desplat said that "the music is already giving us audience a touch of what the story is, which is warm, a bit fragile, a bit melancholy but not too much". He took six weeks to write the film score.

The score was purposely composed to create the sense of immersion and to give the "sense that you, yourself, are floating". The two melodies, one titled "Elisa's Theme", are heard at the beginning of the film and later merge into a single piece of music by the end of it. To emphasize this effect and its final result, Desplat changed the sounds of the accompanying flutes, accordions, and whistles to "something blurred". For the accordions, he chose the bandoneon, played most frequently in South American music, rather than playing the accordions in a more french manner, as the "amphibian man" (or sea creature), originated from south america and is musically represented with "flourishes and scales like a tango master would do". Several instruments ranging from Fender piano, electric piano, and over 12 flutes, were played for the opening scene to create that "blurred underwater sound".[7] He did not approach for a big orchestral score for a "tender" film and created the sounds with bass flutes, alto flutes, along with strings and accordions.[8]

On composing the score overall, he said that it was "a matter of sculpting the music and making it take the shape of the storyline." As a result, Desplat opted out of giving Shannon's character a melody. He also avoided giving an underscore for the "amphibian man" as a monster from any horror film, as he felt that "he was not a monster" and have to "keep the organic nature of these characters."

Reception

The score for The Shape of Water was met with critical acclaim, with Rogerebert.com's calling it as "wistful and bittersweet".[9] Ben Sachs of Chicago Reader called Desplat's score as "fanciful" and "maintains an ambience of wonderment".[10] Calling it as a "sumptuous" and "creative fantasy of music", James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "The Shape of Water is so impressive but actually not even the most impressive score the composer wrote during 2017 is further testament to his quality."[11] Filmtracks.com wrote "Desplat's music will delight his ardent enthusiasts with its intelligence, but others will remain unconvinced by his questionable choices when confronted by what they may perceive as oddly disconnected precision. The score will either melt your heart or make you scratch your head."[12] Marcy Donelson of AllMusic praised the instrumentation and his efforts in creating the "sound of water", while also adding that "Whether intentional or by unconscious influence, one may hear references to film composers from the era of the story's setting as well, including [Henry] Mancini and [Bernard] Herrmann."

Track listing

For Your Consideration track list

As with all award seasons, a For Your Consideration album was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in late-2017. This album consists of 33 tracks which are varied from the general release album, including the exclusion of songs, alternate cues of the original underscores and cues that are not featured in the original album.

  1. The Shape Of Water
  2. Elisa's Bath
  3. Going To Work
  4. Clock & Cleaning Pt. 1
  5. The Creature
  6. Blood Stains
  7. Fingers
  8. Corridor
  9. Egg
  10. Going Home
  11. Spy Meeting
  12. Clock & Cleaning Pt. 2
  13. Torture
  14. Bob Spots Elisa
  15. Count These Stars
  16. Now It's A He
  17. The Escape
  18. General Calls
  19. Going To Strickland's Office
  20. What Is She Saying?
  21. Watching Ruth
  22. A Lead
  23. Cake Knife
  24. No Bonanza For You
  25. Overflow Of Love
  26. The Rainy Day
  27. Decency
  28. Thet Isn't Good
  29. They Clean
  30. He's Coming For You
  31. Without You
  32. You're A God
  33. Underwater Kiss

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Academy AwardsMarch 4, 2018Best Original Score[13]
Austin Film Critics AssociationJanuary 8, 2018Best Original Score[14]
[15]
Boston Society of Film CriticsDecember 10, 2017Best Use of Music in a Film
[16]
British Academy Film AwardsFebruary 18, 2018Best Film Music[17]
Chicago Film Critics AssociationDecember 12, 2017Best Original Score[18]
Critics' Choice Movie AwardsJanuary 11, 2018Best Score[19]
[20]
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics AssociationDecember 13, 2017Best Musical Score[21]
Detroit Film Critics SocietyDecember 7, 2017Best Use of Music[22]
Florida Film Critics CircleDecember 23, 2017Best ScoreAlexandre Desplat[23]
Georgia Film Critics AssociationJanuary 12, 2018Best Original Score[24]
Golden Globe AwardsJanuary 7, 2018Best Original Score[25]
Grammy AwardsFebruary 10, 2019Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media[26]
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A CapellaAlexandre Desplat – "The Shape of Water"
Best Instrumental Composition
Hollywood Music in Media AwardsNovember 16, 2017Best Original Score – Fantasy/Horror/Sci-Fi FilmAlexandre Desplat[27]
Houston Film Critics SocietyJanuary 6, 2018Best Original Score[28]
[29]
Los Angeles Film Critics AssociationJanuary 13, 2018Best Music[30]
San Diego Film Critics SocietyDecember 11, 2017Best Original Score[31]
[32]
San Francisco Film Critics CircleDecember 10, 2017Best Original Score[33]
Satellite AwardsFebruary 10, 2018Best Original Score[34]
Saturn AwardsJune 27, 2018Best Music[35]
[36]
St. Louis Film Critics AssociationDecember 17, 2017Best Score[37]
[38]
Venice Film FestivalSeptember 9, 2017Soundtrack Stars Award – Best Soundtrack[39]
[40]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics AssociationDecember 8, 2017Best Score[41]
World Soundtrack AwardsOctober 17, 2018Soundtrack Composer of the Year[42]

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Catalog NumberNotes
United StatesDecember 1, 2017CDB0027674-02[43]
United KingdomDecember 8, 20176712461[44]
00602567124610Digipak[45]
October 5, 2018LP0602567399476
Unofficial Release
6739947Test Pressing
PolandFebruary 25, 2018CD6743548
JapanMarch 7, 2018UCCL-1201[46]

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic

Production
Management
Instrumentation
Orchestration
Technical

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ALEXANDRE DESPLAT: The Shape Of Water (Soundtrack) LP . 2022-07-11 . TWO HEADED DOG . en.
  2. News: Phillips . Michael . March 5, 2018 . Oscars can still surprise us . . live . limited . March 5, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180305091653/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-ent-oscars-2018-phillips-0305-story.html . March 5, 2018.
  3. Web site: Sharf . Zack . 2018-03-05 . 'The Shape of Water' Wins Oscar for Best Score, Making Alexandre Desplat A Two-Time Winner . 2022-07-11 . IndieWire . en.
  4. Web site: Radish . Christina . August 23, 2012 . Screenwriter/Composer Nick Cave Talks LAWLESS, Transitioning into Screenwriting, Guillermo del Toro's PINOCCHIO, THE THREEPENNY OPERA, and More . October 19, 2019 . Collider.
  5. Newman . Melinda . 2017-12-09 . Alexandre Desplat on Creating His Golden Globe-Nominated Score for Guillermo Del Toro's 'The Shape of Water' . 2022-07-11 . Billboard . en-US.
  6. Web site: 'The Shape Of Water' Composer Alexandre Desplat On The Sounds Of Love & Water. December 30, 2017. Matt. Grobar. Deadline Hollywood. July 6, 2021. January 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190124041733/https://deadline.com/2017/12/the-shape-of-water-alexandre-desplat-oscars-interview-1202220056/. live.
  7. Web site: 2017-11-26 . Interview: Alexandre Desplat on Creating the Music of Love in The Shape Of Water . 2022-07-11 . Awardsdaily . en-US.
  8. Gormley . Aedín . 2018-02-19 . Liner Notes: Scoring The Shape Of Water . . en . 2022-07-11.
  9. Web site: O'Malley . Sheila . The Shape of Water movie review (2017) . 2022-07-11 . RogerEbert.com . en.
  10. Web site: 2017-12-14 . The Shape of Water is wondrous, but woefully narrow-minded . 2022-07-11 . Chicago Reader . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2018-01-06 . The Shape of Water soundtrack review . 2022-07-11 . Movie Wave . en-GB.
  12. Web site: Filmtracks: The Shape of Water (Alexandre Desplat) . 2022-07-11 . www.filmtracks.com.
  13. News: The 90th Academy Awards (2018) Nominees and Winners . May 5, 2020 . Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) . March 5, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180305111625/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2018 . live .
  14. Web site: Best of 2017: Film Awards & Nominations Scorecard . Metacritic . July 12, 2021 . January 6, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180106201007/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/2017-film-awards-and-nominations-scorecard . live .
  15. News: Gross . Joe . 'Get Out' wins Best Film, Best Original Screenplay and Best First Film from Austin Film Critics Association . September 17, 2021 . . January 8, 2018 . September 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210922095058/https://www.statesman.com/entertainment/20180108/get-out-wins-best-film-best-original-screenplay-and-best-first-film-from-austin-film-critics-association . live .
  16. News: 'Phantom Thread' Named Best Film by Boston Society of Film Critics. The Hollywood Reporter. December 10, 2017. December 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171214161042/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/boston-society-film-critics-2017-winners-list-full-1066067. December 14, 2017. live.
  17. Web site: Film in 2018 . British Academy of Film and Television Arts . July 12, 2021 . February 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212181029/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2018/film . live .
  18. Web site: Call Me By Your Name and The Shape of Water lead 2017 Chicago Film Critics Association Nominees. Chicago Film Critics Association. December 10, 2017. December 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171213092421/https://chicagofilmcritics.org/blog/2017/12/10/call-me-by-your-name-and-the-shape-of-water-lead-chicago-film-critics-association-nominees. December 13, 2017. live.
  19. Web site: 'Shape of Water' Leads Critics' Choice Film Nominations. Variety. December 6, 2017. December 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120041829/http://variety.com/2017/film/awards/critics-choice-film-nominations-list-1202631789/. January 20, 2018. live.
  20. News: Critics' Choice Awards 2018 winners' list: 'Shape of Water' owns the night . January 12, 2018 . January 12, 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180112145534/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/01/11/critics-choice-awards-2018-winners-list-shape-water-owns-night/1027166001/ . January 12, 2018 . live .
  21. Web site: DFW Film Critics Name 'The Shape of Water' Best Picture of 2017. Jorgenson. Todd. December 13, 2017. Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association. December 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171214150935/http://dfwcritics.com/dfw-film-critics-name-the-shape-of-water-best-picture-of-2017/. December 14, 2017. live.
  22. Web site: The 2017 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards. Detroit Film Critics Society. December 7, 2017. December 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171207160900/http://detroitfilmcritics.com/the-2017-detroit-film-critics-society-awards/. December 7, 2017. live.
  23. News: 'The Shape of Water' Leads 2017 Florida Film Critics Awards Nominations. Florida Film Critics Circle. December 21, 2017. https://archive.today/20171223033106/http://www.floridafilmcritics.com/2017/12/20/the-shape-of-water-leads-2017-florida-film-critics-awards-nominations/. December 23, 2017. live.
  24. Web site: 2017 Awards. Georgia Film Critics Association. January 8, 2018. January 8, 2018. https://archive.today/20180113112325/http://www.georgiafilmcritics.org/p/2017-awards.html. January 13, 2018. live.
  25. Web site: The Shape of Water . Hollywood Foreign Press Association . March 23, 2021 . February 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210225211918/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/shape-water . live .
  26. Web site: Grammy Awards Results for Alexandre Desplat . . December 15, 2021 . November 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211120112840/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/alexandre-desplat/12345 . live .
  27. News: Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Full Winners List. The Hollywood Reporter. November 11, 2017. November 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043803/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/hollywood-music-media-awards-full-winners-list-1057748/item/original-score-animated-film-1057703. December 1, 2017. live.
  28. News: Darling . Cary . 'The Shape of Water' Inundates Houston Critics' Film Awards Nominations . December 13, 2017 . . December 13, 2017 . April 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200412130015/https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies_tv/article/The-Shape-of-Water-inundates-Houston-critics-12423977.php . live .
  29. Web site: The Houston Film Critics Society Award Winners for 2017 . . July 12, 2021 . November 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109104323/https://houstonfilmcritics.com/the-houston-film-critics-society-award-winners-for-2017/ . live .
  30. News: Los Angeles Film Critics 2017 Awards: 'Call Me By Your Name' Named Best Film. The Wrap. December 3, 2017. December 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171218121339/https://www.thewrap.com/los-angeles-film-critics-2017-awards-call-me-by-your-name-best-film/. December 18, 2017. live.
  31. Web site: 2017 San Diego Film Critics Society's Award Nominations. San Diego Film Critics Society. December 9, 2017. December 9, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171210072120/http://www.sdfcs.org/2017-award-nominations/. December 10, 2017. live.
  32. Web site: 2017 San Diego Film Critics Society Award Winners. San Diego Film Critics Society. December 11, 2017. December 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216212210/http://www.sdfcs.org/2017-san-diego-film-critics-society-award-winners/. December 16, 2019. live.
  33. Web site: 2017 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards. San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle. December 10, 2017. December 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180119111601/http://sffcc.org/. January 19, 2018. live.
  34. Web site: 2017 Winners . . July 12, 2021 . February 21, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190221000100/https://www.pressacademy.com/2017-winners/ . live .
  35. News: 'Black Panther,' 'Walking Dead' Rule Saturn Awards Nominations. McNary. Dave. Variety. March 15, 2018. March 22, 2018. March 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180316023438/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-nominations-2018-black-panther-walking-dead-1202727752/. live.
  36. News: McNary . Dave . 'Black Panther' Reigns at Saturn Awards, 'Better Call Saul' and 'Twin Peaks' Top TV Field . September 22, 2021 . July 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180728045649/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/saturn-awards-2018-black-panther-better-call-saul-twin-peaks-1202860077/ . live .
  37. Web site: 2017 StLFCA Annual Award Winners . . March 23, 2021 . October 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201022023457/http://www.stlfilmcritics.org/2017 . live .
  38. Web site: Neglia . Matt . The 2017 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Winners . NextBestPicture.com . March 23, 2021 . December 17, 2017 . January 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210128024021/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2017-st-louis-film-critics-association-stlfca-winners . live .
  39. Web site: Official Awards of the 74th Venice Film Festival . September 9, 2017 . . March 23, 2021 . February 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210221052913/https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/official-awards-74th-venice-film-festival . live .
  40. Web site: Collateral Awards of the 74th Venice Film Festival. Venice Film Festival. December 3, 2017. December 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170909190115/http://www.labiennale.org/en/news/collateral-awards-74th-venice-film-festival. September 9, 2017. live.
  41. Web site: The 2017 WAFCA Awards . . December 6, 2017 . December 6, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130127175058/http://www.wafca.com/awards/ . January 27, 2013 . live .
  42. News: Carras . Christi . 'Shape of Water,' 'Star Wars,' Kendrick Lamar Nab World Soundtrack Awards Noms . July 12, 2021 . Variety . August 13, 2018 . August 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180813175601/https://variety.com/2018/music/news/shape-of-water-star-wars-kendrick-lamar-world-soundtrack-nominees-1202903166/ . live .
  43. Web site: The Shape of Water (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Alexandre Desplat (CD, 2017) for sale online . 2022-07-11 . eBay . en-us.
  44. Web site: The Shape Of Water Soundtrack . 2022-07-11 . Decca Records . en.
  45. Web site: The Shape of Water [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [Digipak] (CD) NEW! 602567124610 ]. 2022-07-11 . eBay . en-US.
  46. Web site: The Shape Of Water (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Original Soundtrack (Music by Alexandre Desplat) CD Album . 2022-07-11 . CDJapan . en.

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