Search - Various Artists :: Moulin Rouge, Vol. 2 [Music from the Motion Picture]

An album no Moulin Rouge fan should be without

Daniel Jolley | Shelby, North Carolina USA | 06/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Moulin Rouge Volume 2 soundtrack was a necessary complement to the original soundtrack, for we fans of the movie were desperately crying out for the original film versions of the amazing songs from the movie; the first soundtrack, as great as it was, in no way satisfied us with its assembly of cover songs and alternate versions of the movie's most moving and memorable pieces. I love this album, but I admit that I am baffled and disappointed over the fact that it is an incomplete collection; all of the film versions of Moulin Rouge's fantastic songs should really be available on one album, but you will find a huge gap here with the absence of any version of the amazing El Tango de Roxanne as well as no vocal performance by Ewan McGregor of Your Song (versions of both songs are available on the first soundtrack, however). Another confusing aspect of this CD, at least to me, is the fact that the tracks fall just short of proceeding along a chronological basis; I can't help wondering why they just didn't put Meet Me in the Red Room in its proper place in the sequence of songs.The album opens with an instrumental version of Your Song taken from the "Rehearsal Montage" scene. This is followed by what is supposed to be the original film version of Nicole Kidman's amazing Sparkling Diamonds number, a song that was rather unabashedly edited and changed on the original soundtrack. However, the voice of Jim Broadbent cannot be heard during the sequence of the song preceding Satine's wardrobe change behind the skirts of the Can Can girls, so to my mind this is not truly the film version of the song. Nicole Kidman's singing of One Day I'll Fly Away is one of the most memorable moments of the film, yet sadly the original film version is not available on either Moulin Rouge soundtrack. Whereas Volume 1 features a track stripped of Ewan McGregor's delicately overlaying Your Song lyrics; this album features a remix of the song that robs it of much of its power. While The Pitch (Spectacular Spectacular) may be hard to get out of your head, its frivolous fun is an important part of the movie, and its inclusion here is most welcome indeed. The crowning glory of this Volume 2 soundtrack, however, is the original film version of the haunting Come What May. While the snazzier version included on Volume 1 still manages to give me chills, this film version is what the hearts of Moulin Rouge fans find themselves crying for in the night. In all honesty, the most memorable scene in Moulin Rouge is the highly unusual performance of Like a Virgin by Jim Broadbent and Richard Roxburgh; this completely unexpected scene does much to define the essence of director Baz Luhrmann's boldness and genius. While it can be an uncomfortable song to sit through, it absolutely belongs on this soundtrack. I am also quite happy that Amiel's Meet Me in the Red Room is included here; its short appearance in the movie, at the time Christian greets Satine up in the Giant Elephant, left quite an impression on my mind, and I was more than eager to hear the song in its entirety. The frivolity of this track is quickly subsumed by the four remaining songs included here. After a truly melancholy instrumental version of Your Song taken from the "After the Storm" scene, Nicole Kidman and Jim Broadbent present us with their meaningfully melancholy version of Queen's The Show Must Go On. This is followed by the Ascension/Nature Boy song from the "Death and Ascension" scene, and the extended Bolero track that plays during the film's closing credits.I am pretty much obsessed with Moulin Rouge, largely because of the incredible music it gave the world. Naturally, I love both Moulin Rouge soundtracks. I also recognize their faults. This Volume 2 CD fails to be a complete collection of the most significant original songs from the movie. I prefer it to Volume 1 just because I love the movie versions of the songs, but you really have to own both volumes, if for no other reason than the fact that only Volume 1 features a non-instrumental version of Your Song, the incredible Elephant Love Medley, and the unforgettable El Tango de Roxanne. Taken together, both soundtracks meet most of my Moulin Rouge musical needs with one exception: neither contains the brilliant, unprecedented medley of songs extending from Kylie Minogue's appearance as the Green Fairy through the uniquely mesmerizing first entrance into the Moulin Rouge. Even with the gaps and my small criticisms, however, both Moulin Rouge soundtracks will forever be helping to meet my obsessive need for all Moulin Rouge all the time."

Better Than The First CD

kidzi | PA, USA | 03/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this CD to be much more enjoyable than the first Moulin Rouge CD. I think that it's a more 'pure' CD, because with the exception of the "On Day I'll Fly Away Remix" everything has appeared in the film. On the other CD, I feel that there were just annoying promotional tie-ins such as the Beck version of "Diamond Dogs" and Bono's "Children Of The Revolution"
I basically like att of the songs on this CD. "The Show Must Go On" is one of the major pinacles of the movie, and it is sung beatifully. The movie version of "Come What May" on this disc is simply beautiful. I personally find it the most sentimental of the three versions. (There are three. One on the first CD, this, and a remix that was left out.) The movie version of "Sparkling Diamonds" is great. I love the big, brassy sound of the instruments. The orchastrations on this CD are beautiful. My favorite is the "Accesion/Nature Boy" It is very depressing, haunting, and beautiful. The only thing I have a problem with sometimes is the "One Day I'll Fly Away Remix" because it can get annoying after a while, but I still love it! "Mett Me In The Red Room" does appear in the film. It is where Christian is waiting outside of the elephant and Toulouse Lautrec says "Incredible! Straight to the elephant!" It's just a fun song. It has a very good backround instrumental that for some reason reminds me of "Puttin' On The Ritz" And, last but not least, "Bolero" When I first paid attention to the credits, I was shocked and happy. It freaked me out that right in the middle of a piano/new age style piece of music appeared a techno drumbeat. I loved it when I first heard it, and am so happy they put it on the CD!
I reccomend this to people like me who are obsessed with this film, or who just like it. People who haven't seen this film or don't like it shouldn't buy this CD. If you liked the first CD and want more of that, don't buy it eiter.
I agree with some of you that, yes, they should have put Coup D'Etat here. (That's the finale.) But this CD is as good as it can be without that. I(nstead of moping around wishing it were here, listen to what is availible. My Point: A great CD for people who like the film."

They redeemed themselves when they released this CD...

Elizabeth Darcy | Murray, UT USA | 08/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased the first Moulin Rouge CD with the same great expectations that I usually have when purchasing the soundtrack of a new beloved film, expectations which are usually shred to ribbons when I get the CD home to listen to it, only to find that many of my favorite moments from the film (songs or pieces of the score) have been inexplicably left off. This purchase was no exception to that rule. However, I was later very gratified to find that, like the makers of "Titanic" and "Back to Titanic", the music makers of Moulin Rouge had wised up and produced a companion CD which finally included a list of songs that only now can truly be called "the soundtrack album" of Moulin Rouge.
The first CD is a disappointment to movie soundtrack lovers. Not only were half the songs and score from the film left off the CD, but they took the remaining songs and made them into mainstream pop songs, blurring the integrity of songs' purpose in the film. Still, there are many good things about the first CD, such as a complete version of "Come What May" not found in the film, as well as other songs that were only snatched at, such as "Lady Marmalade" and Beck's version of "Diamond Dogs". Nonetheless, these good points can't make up for the gaping holes where the missing music from key moments in the movie should be.
However, they redeemed themselves when they released this CD. If you missed the hilarious "Pitch" and "Like a Virgin" on the first CD, which were both highlights of the film, you will find them here. Also included are the film's version of "Come What May", which is very nice to have along with the complete, pop version of the song on the first CD. I'm very glad to have the orchestral versions of the songs, including the end-credits music (Bolero), and the interesting remix version of "I'll Fly Away" which I actually prefer to the film version included on the first CD.
Having said this, though, I was still disappointed not to have the "Green Fairy/Absinthe" number, the Sound of Music bit, or the "Children of the Revolution" and Satine's "Come What May" reprise at the end of the show. I would deduct a half star for this oversight on an otherwise very satisfying collection of tracks. I guess I will continue waiting for the perfect movie soundtrack, but in the meantime, I recommend both Moulin Rouge soundtrack CD's to the true fan of the film."