Search - Various Artists :: True Romance: Motion Picture Soundtrack

Mike W. from IRVINE, CA
Reviewed on 8/31/2020...

From the mellow new age'y'-ness of Hans Zimmer to the driven hard rock of Soundgarden 'Outshined' with some Charlie Sexton and Shelby Lynne thrown in for good measure.

True Musica: Zimmer v. Orff, "True Romance" v. "Badlands"

Robert J. Thomas | 12/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of my favorite CDs from one of my favorite movies! The only improvement would be the inclusion of the 8 missing songs seen in the movie song credits, especially the Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace" (Hell-o-o-o, Baby!) and Burl Ive's "Little Bitty Tear". At least this CD is so much more complete with the inclusion of the Hans Zimmer homage to the 1973 movie "Badlands" main theme music "Gassenhauer" Street Song from Carl Orff and Gunild Keetman's "Musica Poetica - Orff-Schulwerk". Zimmer did NOT "rip off Orff" as some reviewers assert.



Now for the truth: The main theme "Gassenhauer" was composed by Orff's associate Gunild Keetman BASED ON A 1536 WORK FOR LUTE BY HANS NEUSIEDLER! Orff's stated goal for the Schulwerk: "Improvisations which encourage further improvisation". This is precisely what Hans Zimmer did when he PRODUCED (no writing credits on soundtrack CD) 3 pieces loosely based on "Gassenhauer" for the film "True Romance", written by Quentin Tarantino as his tribute to the Terrence Malick movie "Badlands": "You're So Cool", "Stars At Dawn", & "Amid The Chaos Of The Day". These are a fine & fitting tribute to Malick, Keetman/Orff, and, yes, especially Nuesiedler - Zimmer did NOT "rip off Orff". Is not imitation the sincereist form of flattery? Just as Patricia Arquette's Alabama narration evokes comparison to Sissy Spacek's Holly ongoing commentary, the two recurring musical themes are marked by their differences as well as their similarities: Gassenhauer is menacingly prophetic and languid as it traces Kit & Holly's diverging paths to doom & gloom, while "You're So Cool" is promisingly upbeat as it steers Clarence & 'Bama to follow the sun to their ultimate destiny with Elvis. Thank our lucky "Stars At Dawn" that Tony Scott didn't choose the alternate ending that surely would have bombed "Amid The Chaos Of The Day".



Note for "Badlands" music fans: Unfortunately, there never was a soundtrack album produced for "Badlands". The five (5!) "Badlands" songs from Musica Poetica can, however, be found on the 1994 BMG release (RCA Victor Red Seal) 6-CD box set version of the original Orff/Keetman recordings done between 1963 & 1975 on 10 LPs. There are at least 4 other "Badlands" pieces!



vv - Update As of August 9, 2009 - vv

The six (6!) "Badlands" songs from Musica Poetica can be found on the 6-CD box set (09026 68031 2) and the 10 LPs. There are at least 5 other "Badlands" pieces!

^^ - Update As of August 9, 2009 - ^^



vv - temp Update As of August 15, 2009 - vv

[ADDITION] See my eB@y auctions ending soon under seller ID thedoorsguy for both the 6-CD set & the 10-LP set w/ Buy-It-Now Bonus mp3s of the 6 "Badlands" pieces!

^^ - temp Update As of August 15, 2009 - ^^"

For lovers of the "Hans Zimmer Music"

MR J MC HUGH | Northern Ireland | 03/08/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those who enjoyed the wonderful orchestral pieces from "True Romance", I suggest you take a listen to "Carl Orff Schulwerk Vol.1/Musica Poetic". This is much better. The music on the True Romance cd, as good as it is, is merely a rip off."