Moulin Rouge with all its dark flair (Moulin Rouge 2 - Soundtrack)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Moulin Rouge 2 - Soundtrack
Date:	04/03/08 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very good cabaret

Disadvantages: Too cabaret for comfort

Moulin Rouge is the 2001 musical film directed by Baz Luhrman. It tells the tale of Christian, a young writer who has made his way to Paris and fallen in love with the lead performer at the Moulin Rouge, the world famous cabaret act.

The soundtrack accompanies the film brilliantly for the most part. It is quite a dark film and thus a dark soundtrack, and will not be to everyone's liking. It is a compilation of what is essentially cabaret music, although there are some tracks which resonate commercially such as the arrangement of Elton John's 'Your Song', the hit 'Lady Marmalade' and the released track 'Come What May', sung by the impressive Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, two actors not normally known for their singing prowess. When asked if he knew they could sing before he cast them, Luhrmann replied, 'Of course I did, it's a bloody musical!'

These are the tracks:

1. Nature Boy - David Bowie
2. Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink
3. Because We Can - Fatboy Slim
4. Sparkling Diamonds - Cast
5. Rhythmn of the Night - Valeria
6. Your Song - Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman
7. Children of the Revolution - Bono, Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer
8. One Day I'll Fly Away - Nicole Kidman
9. Diamond Dogs - Beck
10. Elephant Love Medley - Ewan McGregor, Nicoled Kidman and Jamie Allen
11. Come What May - Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman
12. El Tango De Roxanne - Ewan McGregor, Jose Feliciano and Jacek Koman
13. Complainte de la Butte - Rufus Wainwright
14. Hindi Sad Diamonds - Nicole Kidman, John Leguizamo and Alka Yagnik
15. Nature Boy - David Bowie and Massive Attack
16. Lady Marmalade (Thunderpuss Radio Mix) - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink

As you can see, there is a whole host of talent offered here, and it does not disappoint, albeit in a quirky way. There are a couple of good covers of tracks such as 'One Day I'll Fly Away' and 'Your Song'. 'Hindi Sad Diamonds' features lines from the hit 'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend', and then there is the hit song 'Lady Marmalade', by four solo artists together on top form. Rufus Wainwright has lent his musical skills to many productions, including Shrek, and his mix of French and English in 'Complainte de la Butte' sets a nice tone.

The quality of the Moulin Rouge CD is undeniable, yet the album is quirky, as I have already mentioned. It is not to everyone's taste, but it is a soundtrack that avoids over-filling itself with instrumentals in the defence that it was in the film! With Bowie, Beck and Bono lending their considerable talents, the level of music is exceptionally high, but the thing that will swing the popularity is the cabaret style of the tracks.

For me, this is not a CD I can pick up on a regular basis and just play from beginning to end. The intensity of such a soundtrack is too much, and I don't feel able to relax and enjoy listening to it. Yet I can appreciate the skill involved and how cleverly the style is in keep with the film, having watched it a few times. I rate this CD at a high 3 stars, as I do like some tracks, but don't wish to play it on a regular basis.

The album is available from amazon.co.uk for £5.98 new, £2.40 used.

This review may also be posted on ciao.co.uk.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Soundtrack to the 2001 film 'Moulin Rouge'