Oz the Great and Powerful (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score by
Danny Elfman
ReleasedMarch 5, 2013 (2013-03-05)
Recorded2012–2013
StudioSony Scoring Stage
GenreFilm score
Length1:05:19
LabelWalt Disney
ProducerDanny Elfman
Danny Elfman chronology
Promised Land
(2012) 		Oz the Great and Powerful
(2013) 		Epic
(2013)

Oz the Great and Powerful (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2013 film of the same name, produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is directed by Sam Raimi, and featured musical score composed by Danny Elfman. The score was recorded at Sony Scoring Stage and the album featured 27 tracks with a promotional single titled "Almost Home" performed by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. The soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records on March 5, 2013,[1][2] followed by a physical CD release in association with Intrada Records on March 26.

Development

In June 2011, composer Danny Elfman was chosen to score for Oz the Great and Powerful, in his fifth collaboration with Raimi on Darkman (1990), A Simple Plan (1998), Spider-Man (2002) and Spider-Man 2 (2004).[3] It also marked Elfman's re-union with Raimi,[4] as due to their creative differences on scoring Spider-Man 2 Elfman decided not to collaborate with Raimi on his forthcoming projects, this meant that Elfman did not compose for the third instalment Spider-Man 3.[5] He noted that the film's score was accessibly quick to produce, with a majority of the music being written in six weeks.[6] Regarding the tonal quality of the score, Elfman stated, "We're going to take an approach that's old school but not self-consciously old-fashioned. Let the melodrama be melodrama, let everything be what it is. I also think there's the advantage that I'm able to write narratively, and when I'm able to write narratively I can also move quicker because that's my natural instincts, I can tell a story in the music."[7] Elfman did not adapt any of the musical influences from The Wizard of Oz (1939), despite having pop-culture references "visually and musically". Raimi insisted Elfman, that the team were working on L. Frank Baum's early 20th century Oz novels and not from the film. He decided to create a "fresh music for the setting", but also wanted to pay homage to the 1939 film.[8]

American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey recorded a promotional single called "Almost Home" written by Carey, Simone Porter, Justin Gray, Lindsey Ray, Tor Erik Hermansen, and Mikkel Eriksen (a.k.a. Stargate) for the soundtrack of the film.[9][10] The song was recorded at February 6, 2013 at New York City at Roc The Mic Studios.[11] In a statement, Carey said that the song has "a message that works beautifully with the film. It's a feel-good record; it gives you the feeling of reaching your home and being with people that you love."[12] The single was released on February 19, 2013, by Island Records, despite being leaked a day before.[13][14]

Track listing

All music is composed by Danny Elfman

No.TitleLength
1."Main Titles"2:57
2."A Serious Talk"2:23
3."Oz Revealed"1:58
4."A Strange World"1:48
5."Where Am I? / Schmooze-a-Witch"2:05
6."Fireside Dance"1:19
7."Meeting Finley"1:57
8."The Emerald Palace"0:47
9."Treasure Room / Monkey Business"2:56
10."China Town"3:07
11."A Con Job"1:47
12."Glinda Revealed"1:43
13."The Munchkin Welcome Song"0:41
14."Bad Witch"4:32
15."The Bubble Voyage"2:48
16."Great Expectations / The Apple"4:58
17."Meeting the Troops"1:18
18."What Army"0:29
19."Theodora's Entrance / Puppet Waltz"1:51
20."A Threat"2:07
21."Bedtime / The Preparation Montage"7:00
22."Call to Arms"2:13
23."Destruction"2:38
24."Oz the Great and Powerful"1:25
25."Fireworks / Witch Fight"1:39
26."Time for Gifts"5:54
27."End Credits from Oz"1:59
Total length:1:06:19

Reception

Gregory Heaney of AllMusic wrote "the score of Oz the Great and Powerful feels like an avenue of escape for dreamers looking for something to break up the monotony of their humdrum days, and while it might lack the catchy musical numbers of its predecessor, it's nevertheless a solid outing from Elfman."[15] Filmtracks.com wrote "Oz the Great and Powerful is one of those great ambient listening experiences in the genre that doesn't stand up to focused analysis upon a closer look. For many listeners, such details won't matter, but that is what distinguishes a solid, workmanlike score from one destined to be a classic."[16] A review from Beyond the Marquee stated "Of particularly high merit are the delicate emotional chords of Oscar’s character arc from con man to wizard hero.  Luckily the emotional range missing from Franco’s performance is conveyed in the nuance of Elfman’s leitmotif.  This would be even better had Franco’s acting skills matched the melodies in quality but, to quote comedian Steven Wright, 'you can’t have everything… where would you put it?'"[17] ClassicFM wrote "Danny Elfman's soundtrack gets off to a fantastically glitzy start, with orchestral and choral bombast to spare - perfect vintage Hollywood fare. Another corking soundtrack from one of the modern masters of the genre."[18]

Personnel

Credits adapted from CD liner notes[19]

Musicians
Orchestra and choir
Production

Awards

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient and nominees Result
BMI Film & TV Awards[20] April 13, 2014 Film Music Danny Elfman Won
Georgia Film Critics Association[21] January 8, 2014 Best Original Song "Almost Home" – Mariah Carey Nominated
Saturn Awards June 2014 Best Music Danny Elfman Nominated
World Soundtrack Awards[22] October 27, 2014 Film Composer of the Year Danny Elfman Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Oz the Great and Powerful: Soundtrack". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  2. ^ "Intrada and Walt Disney Records to Release Danny Elfman's 'Oz the Great and Powerful' Score". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  3. ^ Lyttelton, Oliver (June 20, 2011). "Danny Elfman Makes Peace With Sam Raimi To Score 'Oz The Great and Powerful'". IndieWire. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  4. ^ Chitwood, Adam (June 20, 2011). "Danny Elfman to Score Sam Raimi's OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL; In Talks for THE HUNGER GAMES". Collider. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  5. ^ Faraci, Devin; Epstein, Daniel Robert (October 13, 2005). "Elfman vs. Raimi: Round II". Chud.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  6. ^ McIntyre, Gina (January 29, 2013). "'Oz': Teaser, character posters hint at Sam Raimi's lavish vision". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  7. ^ McIntyre, Gina (January 10, 2013). "Composing wizard Danny Elfman talks sweeping, gigantic 'Oz' score". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  8. ^ "Danny Elfman interview: Oz, Sam Raimi, Burton, Batman & more". Den of Geek. March 18, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  9. ^ Clark, Cindy (February 6, 2013). "Mariah Carey Records Song for Oz". USA Today. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  10. ^ "Updated Release: Global Superstar Mariah Carey Records 'Almost Home' For Disney's 'Oz The Great and Powerful'" (Press release). Walt Disney Pictures via Reuters. February 6, 2013. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  11. ^ Halperin, Shirley (February 16, 2013). "Mariah Carey to Release New Song on Tuesday (Exclusive Audio)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  12. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (February 6, 2013). "Mariah Carey Adds Track to Disney's 'Oz The Great and Powerful'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  13. ^ "Almost Home - Single by Mariah Carey". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. February 19, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  14. ^ Anderson, Kyle (February 18, 2013). "Mariah Carey's new single 'Almost Home': Hear it here". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  15. ^ Danny Elfman Oz the Great and Powerful [Original Soundtrack] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved May 27, 2022
  16. ^ "Filmtracks: Oz the Great and Powerful (Danny Elfman)". www.filmtracks.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  17. ^ "OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL SCORE (Soundtrack Review) | BEYOND THE MARQUEE". Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "Danny Elfman: Oz The Great And Powerful - an album guide". Classic FM. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  19. ^ Danny Elfman - Oz The Great And Powerful, February 19, 2013, retrieved May 27, 2022
  20. ^ "Event | 2013 BMI Film & TV Awards". BMI.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  21. ^ "Georgia Film Critics Association 2013 Awards". Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  22. ^ Chagollan, Steve (October 27, 2014). "Alexandre Desplat Proves a Perennial Fave at Ghent's World Soundtrack Awards". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
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