Search - Peter Gabriel :: Birdy

Fantastic mood music

Tom Benton | North Springfield, VT USA | 10/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Peter Gabriel ventured into the realm of soundtracks in 1985 after being asked to score Alan Parker's film BIRDY, starring Nicolas Cage. Parker wanted to use instrumental versions of Gabriel's songs as the soundtrack for the film; Gabriel decided that the film needed some original material to accompany the recycled material. Thus we have BIRDY, and album that is about 40% recycled and 60% original.



The album belongs to a trio of experimental Gabriel albums inspired by tribal music (the other two albums being Gabriel's fourth self-titled release, a.k.a. SECURITY, and PASSION, the soundtrack for Martin Scorsese's controversial drama THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST). BIRDY is the most lonely and cold of these albums, at times exuding a childlike innocence that seems chilling among the harsh soundscape. The music is largely synthesized, with some eerie woodwinds popping up frequently throughout. The original material has an isolated, distant, and oddly peaceful sound to it.



The recycled material includes instrumental sections from "Family Snapshot" and "Not One Of Us" (from PETER GABRIEL 3, a.k.a. MELT), "Wallflower" and "San Jacinto" (from SECURITY), and an instrumental version of "Rhythm Of The Heat". This material is good, but it's just not as powerful without Gabriel's passionate singing and full arrangements.



The big problem with BIRDY is that it's just powerful enough to be moving, but it offers no strong emotional attachment or power, unlike Gabriel's 1988 masterpiece PASSION. Nonetheless, BIRDY is fantastic mood music, and while it may not appeal to the general public, it's a delicious snack for hungry Gabriel fans.



TRIVIA: The opening from "Birdy's Flight" was also used in a pivotal scene from John Woo's 1986 action masterpiece A BETTER TOMORROW."

The only Gabriel's album that I don't like

Guy Campeau | Stoneham, Québec Canada | 08/07/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Yes the music is great but I am a long time fan of PG and one thing I like is his voice ! This album is for really die hard fans or completist.

I am a die hard fan and I still don't like it. I'll give this one to a good friend of mine, hope he'll listen to it more than I did."