Soundtrack for The Shipping News?

Subject: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 12:15 PM

Anyone have any information on it?

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Noreen
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 12:27 PM

Les Barker's version of the BBC radio Shipping forecast?

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 12:41 PM

Actually, it is a film just released Stateside, based upon a (American) Pulitzer Prize winning book by the title above. About a man who works for The Shipping News.

The soundtrack score is lovely (by Christopher Young I think), but I'm wondering about the traditional music and musicians who performed some stuff in it. The majority of the film is set in Newfoundland.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 12:59 PM

I wondered if the movie has its own website, as so many do now, and found:

SOME INFO ABOUT THE MOVIE

MORE INFO ABOUT THE MOVIE

This has some clips, I think-- Soundtrack Cinema, which says: Listen to Soundtrack Cinema... NEW RELEASES 12/01: On this show we feature new releases including "The Shipping News" with music by Christopher Young, "The Majestic" with score by Mark Isham, music from "A Beautiful Mind" and "Iris" by James Horner, and Harry Gregson-Williams' score to "Shrek."

So there ya go. Couldn't find a soundtrack available yet, or a website for the movie.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 01:04 PM

Maybe I "submitted" too soon-- see this:

Movie Soundtracks

New and Coming Soon: The Shipping News (1/15/2002) on Miramax Records

Track listing HERE

Seems you can buy it there.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 01:12 PM

I am hoping to make time to see "The Shipping News" this week. The book is one of my favorites.

How does the soundtrack compare to "Songcatcher"? Or should I start a new thread to cover that?

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 01:27 PM

It isn't clear from the listing I found, but I think the soundtrack may focus more on the score Young composed, and less on the trad music Guest notes, above. I think one would have to have seen the movie to make a fair call on that, from the track list.

But then that should not deter the making of a number of threads.... plus maybe a link at the end of each Songcatcher thread about the SN music? *G*

~Susan

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 07:10 PM

Here is the soundtrack listing according to IMDb. (See the first link given by WYSIWYG above.)

"Bad As I Am," written by Bob Hallett and Sean McCann, performed by Great Big Sea.
"Goin Up," written by Alan Doyle, performed by Great Big Sea.
"Dancing with Mrs. White," performed by Great Big Sea.
"Billy Peddle," performed by Great Big Sea.
"The Jolly Butcher," performed by Great Big Sea.

This list should correspond to the credits at the end of the film, not necessarily what will be in the soundtrack CD.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: curmudgeon
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 07:53 PM

In a PBS interview, author Proulx allowed as the soundtrack should have been of fiddles and accordians, and not the aetherrial compositions actually used.

Here's to codfish in the spring of the year -- Tom

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 08:51 PM

Interesting comments from Proulx. Readers of the book seem to have been unhappy with the film. I've not read the book, but am familiar with some traditional music of Newfoundland. I think Great Big Sea was a good choice for the trad stuff, which is used to good effect. I thought the soundtrack worked pretty well--much better than most soundtracks with traditional music in fact.

It appears from info on-line about the soon-to-be-released soundtrack, that the music done by Great Big Sea may not be included. That happened with the Rob Roy soundtrack too, as I recall.

I was hoping someone here might know if the Great Big Sea stuff made it onto the soundtrack, or if anyone familiar with the band knows if their tunes included in the film are on any of their CDs.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 10:13 PM

I saw the film 2 days ago. I'm not familiar with the band Great Big Sea, but I presume they play traditional music. The only music that made any impression on me was the music playing softly in the background in several scenes that took place in a café. The music sounded tinny, as if it was coming from a cheap radio somewhere in the café. I think it was meant to represent the kind of music these characters might actually listen to. It sounded like traditional Irish. I think I even recognized one familiar Irish tune, but I don't know the name of it. (I always have difficulty remembering names of tunes anyway.) I'll bet this music was played by Great Big Sea.

As for the rest of the sound track – I don't remember it at all!

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 12:02 AM

Thanks for the links Susan I can barely wait for the 18. Thats when the movie opens nationally in the USA. I enjoyed the trailor. Gordon Pincent does a fine job and it is fun hearing Scott Glenn and Judy Dench doing their Newfoundland accents.

It seems that they have changed a lot from the book. Wavey running the Daycare, instead of the kids staying with Dennis Buggit. In the three clips I have seen so far almost nothing is the same.

The Newfoundland coast can seem desolate. but the Photeographer cas made it look even more so. Amazing! I hope there is a soundtrack with Newfoundland tradition performers, and Great Big Sea. The world should hear that music.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 12:13 AM

Hey, how about bookmarking (or Tracing) this thread so that when you have heard the soundtrack, you can add the review here in this thread-- maybe we can avoid having 23 similar threads like we did with Songcatcher and O Brother.

~S~

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 12:30 AM

Anyone know how to pronounce "Proulx"? In the movie, Julianne Moore plays a character named "Wavey Prowse." Prowse = Proulx perhaps?

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Peg
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 12:57 AM

Proulx = Proo.

I saw the film, have never read the book. I liked the soundtrack okay. I though the film was really great; good story and very good acting. I'd like to read the book now.

Great Big Sea is a sort of Celtic rock band that hails from Newfoundland. All guys, six of them I think. I have seen them in concert twice. they put on a great show; half traditional stuff (including an amazing a cappella version of General Taylor), half pop-style originals.

peg

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 01:12 AM

Reading the book for the second time, six years later. I recall less than 01%. Most is a blank. I do not have alzhiemer's so the text is less than memorable, dispite the grant from the "National Endowment for the Arts," which made the book possible, or the Pulitzer Prize which made the movie possible.

No substance, just visions of incest, cod, and incompetance. A little like the mudcat.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 03:38 AM

I thought the book was one of the best I've ever read. Loved Accordian Crimes too. Hope the film does it the justice it deserves.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 08:20 AM

There has been some controversy on the GBS list over the authenticity of both the book and film. Apparently, some recall a member(s?) of GBS denouncing the book at one point, for not depicting Newfies "authentically enough"--

and then turning around and contributing music for the film score.

Some on that list who also hail from the area where the story takes place, said Proulx had nailed the characters beautifully.

I loved the songs used in the O Brother soundtrack, but I really didn't care for the film score--I found it quite off-putting, in fact. A number of films which use traditional music I've seen (Brothers McMullen comes immediately to mind), which literally just slap the tune over the footage, and call it a soundtrack. O Brother had that feel to me too. Also, I found the whole story to be a bit too condescending--much too Hollywood. And of course, I thought George Clooney was absolutely awful.

Haven't seen Songcatcher yet, so can't comment on the soundtrack to that one. But I really enjoyed the soundtrack on The Shipping News. It was one of the better aspects of the film, which I thought was good, but not great. I felt the script and the editing could have been better. But the art direction, the acting, and the overall direction of the film was very good.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 08:44 AM

I liked Accordion Crimes, like you Sarah, but have yet to read Shipping News. It was lent to me by a lady mate in Italy, in August, and it is still bedside awaiting consumption. Will start tonight!

I've got a GBS tape, bootlegged I'm afraid, but I, ahem, thought they were a pub band that the bootlegger was raving about, not Hollywood material.

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Nerd
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 02:28 AM

Great Big Sea have come a long was in the seven years I've known them. Back then, they were a pub band, not Hollywood Material. But when they unexpectedly got a buzz going and got national attention, they "borrowed" the talents of better musicians to fill out their albums and tours, much like the Clancy Brothers used to do with Arty McGlynn, Nollaig Casey et al. But the GBS boys then kept on learning to play and write (they were always real good singers) and now they're very good all around, a polished and interesting band doing rock music based in NF trad songs and tunes.

To answer the questions above, the songs from the film do appear on Great Big Sea albums. It should be pretty easy to search for this stuff on the web!

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 05:25 AM

It's a great book! I think it's might be better to see the movie first, if you're going to do both, but my recommendation would be forget the movie and just read the book, whatever book we're talking about. "The shipping news" is out on audio tape too: get it from your library, it's a really good listen (the book, not the soundtrack!).

Just checked out the cast list: Judi Dench and Pete Postlethwaite ... maybe I'll go and see it after all! I see only Bunny Quoyle is listed--what happened to the other girl?

Steve

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 05:36 AM

Thanks, Steve. I spend long, long hours on the beastly M62, so I'll direct Mrs S to hire me the tape. Good on yer, mate.

Skipjack

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 06:40 AM

I don't think that any Newfoundlander would say that Annie has put us in a good lite. In the book she exaggerates our faults and even seems to make some of our virtues look like faults. But she does seem to have captured some of the bleakness of life on the rock.

I'm not sure what guest 09-Jan-02 - 08:20 AM is talking about in nailing the characters from a particular area. The area described is obviously an amalgum. There aren't any towns like those described on that part of the Northern Peninsula. Proux seems to have taken aspects and incidents from the entire island over quite a number of years and centered them around her characters in the couple of years in which the story occurs. And I would love to visit here very unlikely restaurants. Hot Turkey Sandwiches and Chips Dressing and Gravy are more usual fare than "Squidburgers" and cod cheeks.

I've traveled most of the island and had done some work for local papers. If you are looking for an accurate portrayal of Newfoundland life look elsewhere. Read some Jack Hambling. Although it contains a lot of folklore and interesting tidbits. Shipping News is a purposely dark depiction. It obviously is also not intended to be taken too literally or seriously. Many of the events depicted stretch credibility.

Much as "O'Brother Where Art Thou?" greatly exaggerated some aspects of southern life for Humour, "Shipping News" Exaggerates some of the faults of Newfoundland to paint its bleak picture. And perhaps for a certain dark humour as well.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 07:59 AM

Jack, I don't know if Proulx nailed character traits of the culture or not. I referred to what some people on the Great Big Sea message board, who are from the area, have said about the book and film.

I was curious to find out if GBS' songs used in the film made it onto the soundtrack CD. I haven't found any information on-line that says they have. I also haven't found any information on-line which lists the tunes used by GBS in the film, despite there being lots of information about GBS and the film out there.

So, to be even more specific, does anyone know what the names of the tunes by GBS used in the film are, and if any of them are on the soundtrack CD?

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 12:57 PM

Damn! I was going to say it's called 'Sailing By' until I realised you were talong about a film.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 01:36 PM

Guest, try reading my first post in this thread.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:57 PM

Well done Manitas - I think my policy for a while will be to read the book (~again) at approx 00.45 GMT. With a light dessert of "German Bight, Swiss roll, as far as the ring road..."

Subject: RE: Soundtrack for The Shipping News?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 07:33 PM

Jim--you can't see me blushing, but...

Apologies for not thanking you for the list! I couldn't get WYSIWYG's link to work (I have a terribly old, slow laptop). I don't know why I didn't see your first post listing the songs. I mean, why would I ask a *second* time, after the answer was already provided? Duh!

And thanks to all the rest of you for your help too! I'll just slink away into that dark corner over there now.