Search - Various Artists - Soundtracks :: Songs of Almodovar

Sad to see someone has no appareciation for this music

Ignacio Rodriguez | 06/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is sad to read a review calling this collection of popular classical songs a tragic selection. The songs in Almodovar movies are so carefully inbreeded in the day to day drama, that by itself they represent a triumph of taste and human sensibility. Some of the songs in the CD were written for the movies. I have not had the opportunity to see those. But those songs that have been extracted from a wide selection of old popular world renown artists collections, represent segments of the history of the music that over the years fancied humanity in different areas of this small world. I am sad that this collection has been rated so poorly and carelessly, it shows that we need to show more Almodovar movies, or other than made-for-the-American-mid movies for which we pay so much money to see, and do not receive a cultural injection after viewed. Please go back and listen to the songs again and ask someone to tell you who Bola de Nieve, Chavela Vargas, La Lupe, Luz, Mina, Monna Bell, Lucho Gatica, Lola Beltran Maysa Mataraso Miguel de Molina, Los Panchos were or are! Then come back and tell people more about what you learned, God knows we need to learn more..."

Unbelievable Variety of Music on this disc...

ewomack | MN USA | 02/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc was issued around 1997, so it does not include music from the films "Live Flesh", "Todo Sobre Mi Madre", and the latest "Talk to Her". Nonetheless, it contains enough music to soothe the most virulent lust for the songs of Almodóvar's films. This disc was a revelation to me: over the years as I watched Almodóvar's movies, I kept asking "What are these songs and where can I get the soundtracks?" I didn't look very hard, but now I don't have to. This disc has everything. Much of the music here has a very "Spanish" feel to it, particularly the last Flamenco-flavored track, "Se Nos Rompió El Amor". Other songs feature thick strings, open-throated singing and gentle guitar work. Other songs are rougher, poppier, and synth-enfused. Many of these latter songs were either written or sung by Almodóvar himself (these tend to be from his earlier films). This can make for some rough transitions on the disc: the change from the melodic and swaying "Piensa En Mí" to the staccato grunge of "Suck It To Me" can almost be disorientating. Nonetheless, the CD is meant to be an eclectic collection from various movies, so some roughness is to be expected, especially since the songs are grouped by film, and not necessarily by musical mood. It doesn't detract greatly from the CD in general.The CD booklet contains some cursory information, including movie posters in some cases, about each of the films represented on this disc. There's not much information there, but you'll definitely know which songs came from which movie. The only real thing missing is the original language lyrics. Possibly I have the "American" version of this disc, and the manufacturer concluded that Americans (particularly North Americans) are just too stubbornly monolingual to include the Spanish and French lyrics - or even the translations. Maybe the import version has them. Still, it's a small complaint; the music makes up for everything."

A collector's treasure

Ignacio Rodriguez | 06/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pedro Almodovar is one of the best spanish - and i'd dare to say world - director's today. His bold, agressive and sometimes scandalous films have given him notoriety, while his style and story-telling has matured. One of the best things from his films are their well-crafted soundtracks. Here you can find almost - and I say almost because I missed "Guarda che luna" from "Law of desire" - all the great songs of his films. most of the songs of the album are performed by legends such as Bola de Nieve, Lucho Gatica, Chavela Vargas, La Lupe, Lola Beltran and Mayra Mataraso. From the heart-breaking "Ne me quitte pas", the breath-taking "Déjame recordar", the angry "Teatro", to the hopeful "Resistiré", this CD is the essence of the emotions portraited in Pedro's movies, making of this jewel a must have for any Almodovar's fan or latin music lover."