Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture

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Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture
File:VA - Titanic - OST.JPG
Film score by James Horner
Released November 18, 1997
Recorded 1996–1997
Length 72:29
Label Sony Classical/Sony Music Soundtrax
Producer James Horner
James Horner chronology
Titanic
(1997)		 Deep Impact
(1998)Deep Impact1998
Singles from Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture
  1. "My Heart Will Go On"
    Released: December 8, 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4/5 stars
Film Score Reviews 5/5 stars
Filmtracks 5/5 stars
Movie Wave 3/5 stars

Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture, or Titanic soundtrack, is the soundtrack to the film of the same name composed, orchestrated and conducted by James Horner. The soundtrack was released by Sony Classical/Sony Music Soundtrax on November 18, 1997.[1]

Riding the wave of the film's immense success, the soundtrack shot to the top of the charts in nearly two-dozen territories,[2] selling over 30 million copies, making it one of the top 100 best-selling album in the United States.[3] It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, and the highest-selling primarily orchestral soundtrack ever.[4]

In 2012, the album, along with its successor Back to Titanic (1998), was re-issued as part of the Collector's Anniversary Edition set for the 3D re-release of the film.

Album information

Director James Cameron originally intended Enya to compose the music, and in fact put together a rough edit of the film using her music as a temporary soundtrack. After she declined, he approached James Horner. Their relations were cold after their first cooperation in Aliens, but the soundtrack of Braveheart made Cameron overlook it. Horner composed the soundtrack having in mind Enya's style; Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø performed the wordless vocals on the soundtrack.

Horner knew Sissel from the album Innerst i sjelen and he particularly liked how she sang the song Eg Veit I Himmerik Ei Borg ("I Know in Heaven There Is a Castle"). Horner had tried 25 or 30 singers and, in the end, he chose Sissel to sing the wordless tune.[5]

Céline Dion, who was no stranger to movie songs in the 1990s, sang "My Heart Will Go On", the film's signature song written by James Horner and Will Jennings. At first, Cameron did not want a song sung over the film's ending credits, but Horner disagreed. Without telling Cameron, he went ahead and wrote the song anyway, and recorded Dion singing it. Cameron changed his mind when Horner presented the song to him. "My Heart Will Go On" became a worldwide smash hit, going to the top of the music charts around the world. "My Heart Will Go On" also ended up winning the 1997 Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1998.

Other artists were invited to submit songs for the movie including contemporary Christian artist Michael W. Smith. He mentions in the liner notes to the song "In My Arms Again" from his 1998 album Live the Life;[6] "Inspired and written for the movie Titanic, grateful for the opportunity to send them a song; grateful it landed on this record."

For the choral background of certain tracks, Horner made use of a digital choir instead of a real one; after the orchestral music was recorded, Horner personally performed the synthesized choir over a playback of the recording.[7][8] The idea behind using electronics, rather than a real choir, stemmed from Horner wanting to avoid a 'church'-like sound.[9]

Principal leitmotifs

File:Hymntothesea.ogg
(Hymn to the Sea) This recurring theme is usually associated with the tragic elements of Titanic.
File:Southamptontheme.ogg
(Southampton) This rapturous, cheerful theme is associated with the joyous elements of Titanic.
File:Rose'stheme.ogg
(Rose) This romantic cue is associated with the love story. It's a recurring theme in the film.

Throughout the film, the composer created themes for particular characters, events, locations, and ideas.[10]

  • Never an Absolution — A sorrowful, melancholic theme which expresses the tragic side of the Titanic. It's also featured prominently in Hymn to the Sea. This theme features uilleann pipes and vocals by Sissel Kyrkjebø.
  • Southampton — Uplifting, adventurous and rather heroic-sounding theme which signifies the spectacle of the Titanic. This melody features an electronic choir and snare drum clumps.
  • Distant Memories — This leitmotif contains synth choir vocals and an aquatic, chiming tone. It represents the Heart of the Ocean and the history of Titanic.
  • Rose — The sentimental theme of the film that is associated with the romance between between Jack and Rose. Whilst in the major key for the most parts, this leitmotif's rousing chorus modulates to the relative minor key. The theme features orchestral violin, strings and piano. Electronic choir intrudes at times. Sissel Kyrkjebø performs the wordless vocals of this theme. Celine Dion sings this leitmotif in lyrical form (My Heart Will Go On).
  • Hard To Starboard/Death Of Titanic — Both of these tracks contain recurring, suspenseful leitmotifs (i.e. "Iceberg Theme") that correspond to the peril and danger the characters endure during Titanic's sinking. Anvils are conspicuously used in these two tracks.

Track listing

Standard Edition

All music composed by James Horner.

Titanic: Music From The Motion Picture
No. Title Length
1. "Never an Absolution"   3:03
2. "Distant Memories"   2:23
3. "Southampton"   4:01
4. "Rose"   2:52
5. "Leaving Port"   3:26
6. "Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch"   4:31
7. "Hard to Starboard"   6:52
8. "Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave"   3:56
9. "The Sinking"   5:05
10. "Death of Titanic"   8:26
11. "A Promise Kept"   6:02
12. "A Life So Changed"   2:13
13. "An Ocean of Memories"   7:57
14. "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic)" (Lyric by Will Jennings, vocals by Céline Dion, produced by James Horner, Walter Afanasieff, and Simon Franglen) 5:11
15. "Hymn to the Sea"   6:26

Two Discs Anniversary Edition

All songs written and composed by James Horner. 

All songs written and composed by various composers. 


Four Discs Anniversary Edition

All songs written and composed by James Horner. 

Chart success

Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture became the highest-selling primarily orchestral film score in history, with worldwide sales surpassing 30 million copies. The success led to the release of a second volume, called Back to Titanic which contained a mixture of previously unreleased soundtrack recordings and newly recorded performances of some of the songs in the film, including one track recorded by Clannad (of which Enya is an ex-member) singer, Máire Brennan. Back to Titanic was certified platinum by the RIAA.[11]

The soundtrack quickly moved up the US Billboard 200, going from number eleven to number one on the chart in January 1998, keeping Shania Twain's Come On Over and Madonna's Ray of Light from reaching the top spot. It would remain at the top for sixteen straight weeks until it was replaced by the Dave Matthews Band album Before These Crowded Streets. No album since has spent at least ten consecutive weeks at number-one. The soundtrack has been certified 11× Platinum for 11 million copies shipped in the United States,[12] becoming the best-selling album of 1998, and the fastest-certified soundtrack album ever.[13][14]

The soundtrack also hit number-one in at least 14 other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The soundtrack was certified 5× Platinum by the ARIA in Australia for 350,000 copies shipped.[15] It was certified 3× Platinum in the United Kingdom for over 900,000 copies shipped;[16] and was certified diamond by the CRIA in Canada for 1 million copies shipped.[17] The soundtrack is the best-selling foreign repertoire in Taiwan with 1.1 million copies sold, and is the only foreign album to have sold more than one million copies, being certified 22× Platinum.

Charts and certifications

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Titanic: Anatomy of a Blockbuster Google Books. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Film Score OSTMovie.com. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  5. ↑ The Wall Street Journal: In Titanic's Wake: A Voice to Remember . . .
  6. ↑ Live the Life
  7. ↑ Scoring, Not Sinking. Hornershrine.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  8. ↑ Q & A with James Horner 12/97. Hornershrine.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  9. ↑ National Public Radio Interview 12/97. Hornershrine.com (1997-12-28). Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ RIAA. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  12. ↑ Gold & Platinum – January 19, 2011. RIAA. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  13. ↑ The Titanic Hits Eight Million Sales in RIAA Awards RIAA. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
  14. ↑ Information Not Found. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  15. ↑ ARIA. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  16. ↑ Certified Awards Search
  17. ↑ CRIA. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
  18. ↑ Australian Record Industry Association. Aria.com.au. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  19. ↑ Gold & Platin IFPI Austria. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  20. ↑ Soundtrack / James Horner – Titanic. ultratop.be. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  21. ↑ Soundtrack / James Horner – Titanic. ultratop.be. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  22. ↑ Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Gold & Platinum. Cria.ca. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Soundtrack / James Horner – Titanic. dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  25. ↑ Soundtrack / James Horner – Titanic. finnishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  26. ↑ Disque en France. Disque en France. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  27. ↑ Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Aktuell. Musikindustrie.de. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ >> IRMA << Irish Charts - Singles, Albums & Compilations >>. Irma.ie (2011-01-13). Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Soundtrack / James Horner – Titanic. charts.org.nz. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  34. ↑ Soundtrack / James Horner – Titanic. norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  35. ↑ Soundtrack / James Horner – Titanic. swedishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  36. ↑ Soundtrack / James Horner – Titanic. hitparade.ch. Retrieved on 2011-01-19.
  37. ↑ Template:BillboardEncode/J/chart?f=305 Billboard 200
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Soundtrack in the field Interpret. Enter Titanic in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "FinlandElokuvamusiikkiaTitanicalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Titanic - OST in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album (sixteen weeks)
January 24 – May 15, 1998		 Succeeded by
Before These Crowded Streets
by Dave Matthews Band
Preceded by UK number one album (three weeks)
February 14, 1998 – February 20, 1998
February 28, 1998 – March 13, 1998		 Succeeded by
Urban Hymns by The Verve
Ray of Light by Madonna
Preceded by Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
February 1–14, 1998
February 22 – March 14, 1998
March 22 – May 2, 1998		 Succeeded by
Yield by Pearl Jam
Awards
Preceded by Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score
1997		 Succeeded by
La vita è bella
(Life Is Beautiful)
Preceded by Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
1997		 Succeeded by
The Truman Show
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