Notes & Personnel Info |  | This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | Original score composed by Shaun Davey. | | This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | Audio Mixers: Dan Hetzel; Dave Reitzas; Bob Kraushaar. | | Recording information: Cove City Studios, Glen Cove, NY; EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; WindMill Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland. | | Arrangers: James Brett; Shaun Davey. | | If the soundtrack to Ella Enchanted is anything to go by, then Anne Hathaway is one of the luckiest girls in the world: she gets to be a princess in the movie and a pop singer on its soundtrack. Though the film is technically a Miramax offering, the soundtrack is downright Disney, gathering songs from the studio's stable of prefab teen pop singers, including Kari Kimmel's "It's Not Just Make Believe," Raven's "True to Your Heart," and the Beu Sisters' "Once Upon a Broken Heart." However, Kelly Clarkson out-sings them all on "Respect," which, despite its canned-sounding accompaniment, makes the most of her voice. Appropriately enough for a film about an enchanted girl who must save a princess, the soundtrack focuses on songs with romantic and magical themes; however, the results are mixed, ranging from Stimulator's lackluster cover of Olivia Newton-John's early-'80s gem "Magic" to Darren Hayes' version of Electric Light Orchestra's "Strange Magic," which has nearly as much syrupy soft rock appeal as the original. Hathaway is a decent singer: her duet with Jesse McCartney, "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart," shows off the pretty tone and personality of her singing. Later, she's saddled with the difficult task of covering Queen's "Somebody to Love," which is just too much song for her voice; the results sound like she's singing at a high-school talent show. Indeed, most of the Ella Enchanted soundtrack plays like a souped-up school musical, although that does give it sort of an awkward charm. ~ Heather Phares | | This soundtrack to the popular fantasy movie ELLA ENCHANTED captures all the film's freshness and wit. It hits the ground running with a peppy rendition of the old Elton John & Kiki Dee hit "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," here performed by ALL MY CHILDREN child actor Jesse McCartney and ELLA ENCHANTED's bewitching and bewitched heroine, Anne Hathaway, and never looks back. That is, unless you count 1980s salutes to ELO in the form of Darren Hayes's version of "Strange Magic," Hathaway's homage to Queen with "Somebody to Love," and a similar nod to Olivia Newton-John with Stimulator's similarly titled "Magic." | | Providing some relief from the supernatural theme, American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson performs her own special voodoo on Aretha Franklin's "Respect," and the quintessential '80s singer Bryan Adams croons wonderfully in his duet with the beguiling Andrea Remanda on the country-tinged "If You Believe." Hathaway makes a welcome reappearance on a remake of Leo Sayer's '70s hit "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," which is all gussied up in hip-hop threads for the occasion. For a spellbindingly giddy finale, the entire cast performs the show-biz chestnut "Let Me Entertain You." |
Producer: Wes Quave; Geoff Tyson; Karl Kimmel; James Brett; Guy Roche; Adrian Gurvitz; Mark Hammond; Mike Mangini; Randy Spendlove; Ric Wake; Richie Jones; Robbie Buchanan; Shaun Davey; Steve Greenberg; Steve Lipson |
Engineer: Dave Scheuer |
|
CD
