Wonka (soundtrack) explained

Wonka (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Type:soundtrack
Artist:Neil Hannon (songs) and Joby Talbot (score)
Cover:Wonka 2023 Soundtrack.jpg
Released:8 December 2023
Recorded:2021–2023
Studio:
Genre:
Length:56:31
Label:WaterTower Music
Producer:
Chronology:Joby Talbot
Prev Title:Sing 2 (Original Motion Picture Score)
Prev Year:2021

Wonka (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2023 musical fantasy film of the same name co-written and directed by Paul King, and co-written by Simon Farnaby. Based on the origin story of Willy Wonka, a character in the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, the film stars Timothée Chalamet in the lead role, with an ensemble cast. The album features seven original songs composed by Neil Hannon and written by King and Farnaby, further accompanied by the cues from the original score composed by Joby Talbot. The songs are performed by the cast members, including Chalamet (in his singing debut). The soundtrack was released by WaterTower Music on 8 December 2023.

Background

Neil Hannon, frontman of the Divine Comedy, provided seven original songs for the film in his Hollywood debut.[1] [2] The songs were composed in mid-2021 and were recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London.[3] Joby Talbot scored the incidental music for the film which was recorded at the Abbey Road and Air Studios in May 2023.[4] The soundtrack also featured Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley's "Pure Imagination" and "Oompa Loompa" from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971).[5] [6]

Wonka marked Chalamet's debut as a singer on-screen, who said he felt "out of his league" recording at Abbey Road.[7] [8] King's casting of Chalamet was attributed to his musical theatre performances at high school, which he found on YouTube having thousands of views, knowing that he could sing and dance really well.[9] [10] [11] King, who appreciated Chalamet's singing voice, called it reminiscent of Bing Crosby;[12] [13] in an interview in The Hollywood Reporter, he said, "There's quite a range because it does go from a couple of bigger, showstopper-y sort of things, to moments of real, pure emotion, and he can do it all... I'm going to sound like a crazed fan."[14]

Release

Although the full track list was not revealed, in November 2023, Warner Bros. submitted the original song "A World of Your Own" performed by Chalamet, composed by Hannon and written by King and Farnaby, as a contender for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 96th Academy Awards.[15] On 14 November 2023, a sneak peek of Chalamet singing "Pure Imagination" from the 1971 film was released, further revealing that it would be featured in the film and the album.[16] [17] The soundtrack was released by WaterTower Music on 8 December 2023, a week prior to the United States release. The album is planned to be released on CD and vinyl in 2024.[18]

Reception

Ross Bonaime of Collider wrote "Music was key to bringing Willy Wonka to the screen in 1971, and while the songs here aren’t quite to the level of that original film, they are toe-tapping fun in the theater and Hannon does a solid job with the musical numbers throughout."[19] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called Neil Hannon's musical numbers being "serviceable" but "there’s little of the sophisticated lyrical wit of the Northern Irish orchestral pop band's best work" with the catchiest being "A World of Your Own"; he reviewed Talbot's score as "playful" and "smoothly integrated with the songs".[20] Tim Grierson of Screen International wrote that Talbot's "wistful score cannily weaves in trace elements of" the track "Pure Imagination" from the 1971 film connecting the prequel.[21] Also opining the same, Entertainment Weekly critic Mauren Lee Lenker also addressed that the first film's "Pure Imagination" and "Oompa Loompa" are the "best musical moments from the film".[22] Julian Roman of MovieWeb wrote "Kudos to composer Joby Talbot (Sing franchise) and songwriter Neil Hannon, from Irish band The Divine Comedy, for a swinging soundtrack [...] The music wisely hearkens back to the styling of Mel Stuart's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The songs aren't edgy and dark like Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation."[23]

Track listing

Charts

Chart (2023–2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[24] 48
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[25] 18

You've Never Had Chocolate Like This reached 78 on the UK Official Chart.[26]

Accolades

Award! scope="col"
Date of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Hollywood Music in Media Awards15 November 2023Original Song — Sci-Fi/Fantasy FilmNeil Hannon, Simon Farnaby, and Paul King ("A World of Your Own")[27]
[28]
[29]
Neil Hannon, Simon Farnaby, and Paul King ("You've Never Had Chocolate Like This")
Best Song – Onscreen Performance (Film)Timothée Chalamet ("A World of Your Own")

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Campbell . Lee . 2023-12-03 . Neil Hannon on his dream Wonka project . en . The Times . 2023-12-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231206144927/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/neil-hannon-on-his-dream-wonka-project-f2cr5vmtg . 2023-12-06 . 0140-0460.
  2. News: Larman . Alexander . 2022-01-31 . Neil Hannon on the Troubles, his songs for Wonka, and why he 'can't stand' The Frog Princess today . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2023-12-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217031625/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/neil-hannon-troubles-songs-wonka-cant-stand-frog-princess-today/ . 2022-02-17 . 0307-1235.
  3. Web site: Corcoran . Nina . 2021-10-12 . Timothée Chalamet Talks Willy Wonka, Recording Music at Abbey Road . https://web.archive.org/web/20211013070235/https://consequence.net/2021/10/timothee-chalamet-willy-wonka-abbey-road/ . 2021-10-13 . 2023-12-08 . Consequence . en-US.
  4. Web site: Joby Talbot Scoring Paul King's 'Wonka' . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531012838/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/05/26/joby-talbot-scoring-paul-kings-wonka/ . 2023-05-31 . 2023-12-08 . Film Music Reporter . en-US.
  5. Web site: 'Wonka' Soundtrack Album Details . https://web.archive.org/web/20231208121327/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/12/07/wonka-soundtrack-album-details/ . 2023-12-08 . 2023-12-08 . Film Music Reporter . en-US.
  6. Web site: Wonka soundtrack: What songs are in new Timothée Chalamet film? . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205065227/https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/wonka-soundtrack/ . 2023-12-05 . 2023-12-08 . Radio Times . en-GB.
  7. Web site: Landwehr . Amanda . 2021-10-13 . Timothée Chalamet Recording Songs For Wonka Movie . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117014604/https://screenrant.com/willy-wonka-prequel-movie-songs-timothee-chalamet/ . 2021-11-17 . 2023-12-08 . ScreenRant . en.
  8. 2021-10-11 . The Promise of Timothée Chalamet . https://web.archive.org/web/20211027204951/https://time.com/6103203/timothee-chalamet-profile/ . 2021-10-27 . 2023-12-08 . Time . en.
  9. Web site: Piña . Christy . 2023-07-16 . 'Wonka' Director on How Many Sweets Were Eaten on Set, Creating a Massive Vat of Chocolate for Timothée Chalamet . https://web.archive.org/web/20230717075504/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wonka-director-on-chocolate-consumed-on-set-huge-vat-of-chocolate-1235537924/ . 2023-07-17 . 2023-12-08 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  10. Zemler . Emily . 2023-07-11 . 'Wonka' Director Can't Wait for You to See Hugh Grant's Sassy Oompa Loompa . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823022920/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/wonka-trailer-paul-king-timothee-chalamet-hugh-grant-oompa-loompa-youtube-1234785386/ . 2023-08-23 . 2023-12-08 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  11. Kaufman . Gil . 2023-07-13 . 'Wonka' Director Says Timothée Chalamet Didn't Have to Audition Because His High School Rapping Videos Sealed the Deal . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714154300/https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/timothee-chalamet-wonka-director-no-audition-high-school-rap-videos-1235371073/ . 2023-07-14 . 2023-12-08 . Billboard . en-US.
  12. Web site: Sharf . Zack . 2023-09-11 . Timothée Chalamet's Singing Voice Is 'Beautiful' and 'Reminded Me of Bing Crosby,' Says 'Wonka' Director: He Has 'Quite a Range' . https://web.archive.org/web/20230925155434/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/timothee-chalamet-singing-voice-wonka-1235719923/ . 2023-09-25 . 2023-12-08 . Variety . en-US.
  13. 2023-10-12 . Show Us Timothée Chalamet Singing in 'Wonka,' You Cowards . https://web.archive.org/web/20231114224031/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/10/timothee-chalamet-wonka-movie-musical . 2023-11-14 . 2023-12-08 . Vanity Fair . en-US.
  14. Web site: Piña . Christy . 2023-09-11 . Wonka Director Praises Timothée Chalamet's Singing Voice, Says the Movie Isn't a Musical . https://web.archive.org/web/20231014193652/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wonka-director-timothee-chalamet-singing-voice-paul-king-1235587508/ . 2023-10-14 . 2023-12-08 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  15. Web site: Davis . Clayton . 2023-11-11 . Warner Bros. Plans to Submit Two Original Songs From The Color Purple, Plus One Wonka Tune Sung by Timothée Chalamet . https://web.archive.org/web/20231125223256/https://variety.com/2023/film/awards/the-color-purple-original-songs-halle-bailey-blitz-bazawule-1235787904/ . 2023-11-25 . 2023-12-08 . Variety . en-US.
  16. Web site: Timothée Chalamet sings enchanting 'Pure Imagination' in new sneak-peek at Wonka movie . https://web.archive.org/web/20231118184111/https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/film-tv/timothee-chalamet-sings-pure-imagination-wonka/ . 2023-11-18 . 2023-12-08 . Classic FM . en.
  17. Web site: Hendrickse . Kelly . 2023-11-20 . Timothée Chalamet's Wonka Song Proves He Can Handle The Iconic Role . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121160048/https://screenrant.com/timothee-chalamet-wonka-song-proves-character/ . 2023-11-21 . 2023-12-08 . ScreenRant . en.
  18. Wonka (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Now Available from WaterTower Music . 8 December 2023 .
  19. Web site: Bonaime . Ross . 2023-12-04 . 'Wonka' Review: Timothée Chalamet Presents a World of Pure Imagination . https://web.archive.org/web/20231208123438/https://collider.com/wonka-movie-review/ . 2023-12-08 . 2023-12-08 . Collider . en.
  20. Web site: Rooney . David . 2023-12-04 . 'Wonka' Review: Timothée Chalamet Sings, Dances and Gets Gooey in Cloying Musical Prequel . https://web.archive.org/web/20231206145522/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-paul-king-1235708988/ . 2023-12-06 . 2023-12-08 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  21. Web site: Grierson . Tim . 2023-12-04 . 'Wonka': Review . https://web.archive.org/web/20231206145527/https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/wonka-review/5188255.article . 2023-12-06 . 2023-12-08 . Screen . en.
  22. Lee Lenker . Mauren . 2023-12-04 . Timothée Chalamet leans into sense of pure imagination in 'Wonka' prequel . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205174713/https://ew.com/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-pure-imagination-8410023 . 2023-12-05 . 2023-12-08 . Entertainment Weekly . en.
  23. Web site: Roman . Julian . 2023-12-04 . Wonka Review Timothée Chalamet Dazzles in a Spectacular Origin Story . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205143637/https://movieweb.com/wonka-review/ . 2023-12-05 . 2023-12-08 . MovieWeb . en.
  24. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: December 25, 2023. Oricon. ja. 20 December 2023.
  25. Sweet Success: A History of Willy Wonka Music on Billboard Charts. Gary. Trust. 5 January 2024. Billboard. 7 January 2024.
  26. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts . .
  27. Grein . Paul . November 2, 2023 . Songs from 'Barbie' Pace 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations (Full List) . . https://web.archive.org/web/20231107020008/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2023-hollywood-music-and-media-awards-nominations-full-list-1235461801/ . November 7, 2023 . November 3, 2023.
  28. Web site: Brew . Caroline . November 2, 2023 . Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo Nominated for 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20231106124439/https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/billie-eilish-olivia-rodrigo-hollywood-music-in-media-awards-2023-1235777903/ . November 6, 2023 . November 3, 2023 . Variety.
  29. Grein . Paul . November 16, 2023 . Billie Eilish's 'Barbie' Song, Robbie Robertson's Scorsese Score Honored at 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20231119220910/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2023-hollywood-music-in-media-awards-billie-eilish-robbie-robertson-win-1235473365/ . November 19, 2023 . November 16, 2023 . Billboard.