We Were Soldiers [Soundtrack]

we were soldiers [soundtrack]

On this CD:

We were soldiers, film score
Composed by Nick Glennie-Smith
Performed by Isobel Griffiths, Gavyn Wright
with Karen Han, Peter Lale, Anthony Pleeth, Maurice Murphy, Catherine Bott
Conducted by Nick Glennie-Smith

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Since Francis Coppola's epochal Apocalypse Now helped reinvent the scope of what a war film could be, the music of the battlefield epic has logically shifted as well, from heroic martial themes to Platoon's introspective strains of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and the fusion of Hans Zimmer's electronic-tribal soundscapes for The Thin Red Line and Black Hawk Down.

Composer Nick Glennie-Smith seems to have taken his tip from Barber, composing and arranging an orchestral score of pensive grace and quiet, dramatic power for this Mel Gibson-Randall Wallace Vietnam war dramatization. It's music that underscores the point that the true heroism of war is often more about personal survival than it is about battlefield victory. The Spartan strains of Joseph Kilna Mackenzie's "Sgt. Mackenzie" (originally written as a tribute to Mackenzie's grandfather, a WWI vet) occasionally percolate up in the arrangements, giving the score a battle-weary sense of spirituality that spans the ages. The composer's solo-trumpet denouement "Final Departure" is as emotionally powerful as it is antiheroic, leading to a gospel-infused end-credit sequence that further underscores the story and scores a compellingly human sense of scale. The talented Glennie-Smith has toiled in middling comedies and actioners for years, but this powerful work promises exceptional things to come. --Jerry McCulley

We Were Soldiers: Original Motion Picture Score,Nick Glennie-Smith,Sony,Pop,Soundtrack,Soundtracks & Film Scores

We Were Soldiers [Soundtrack]

Average customer rating:

Faithful To The Movie
Glennie-Smith's "The Thin Red Line"
Check MacKenzie's band!
Great A-Typical War Score
Truly a moving sound track

We Were Soldiers: Original Motion Picture Score
Nick Glennie-Smith
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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We Were Soldiers
Saving Private Ryan: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Band of Brothers
Black Hawk Down
We Were Soldiers (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000063WDM
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Tracks:

Prelude
What Is War?
Look Around You
Flying High
First Step
NVA Base Camp
Telegrams
More Telegrams
I'll Go With You
Horrors
Photo Montage
That's A Nice Day
Jack
Jack's Death
Final Battle
Final Departure
End Credits

Amazon.com

Since Francis Coppola's epochal Apocalypse Now helped reinvent the scope of what a war film could be, the music of the battlefield epic has logically shifted as well, from heroic martial themes to Platoon's introspective strains of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and the fusion of Hans Zimmer's electronic-tribal soundscapes for The Thin Red Line and Black Hawk Down.

Customer Reviews:

Faithful To The Movie.......2007-07-12

I found 'We Were Soldiers' to be an excellent movie. It portrays the emotion of what the ground pounders faced in SE Asia early in the war, to any audience. The soundtrack is faithful to the movie. Those who have seen We Were Soldiers will feel the same emotional rollercoaster when listening to the soundtrack.

Glennie-Smith's "The Thin Red Line".......2006-02-08

Zimmer wrote The Thin Red Line with assistance from John Powell. Now Glennie-Smith writes an orchestral score for a Vietnam War drama.

"What is War?" starts with low strings then transitions to militaristic percussion and a soft French horn playing the main theme.

"Look Around You" starts off a bit emotional with low strings sounding almost funeral like with distant-sounding bell clangs. Around 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the low strings grow silent and are replaced by a ticking clock with soft, high-pitched stings and slowly builds tension with low strings as the soldiers are leaving their homes to go off to war. The track ends with high strings and soft brass blows.

"Flying High" is another good track which is dominated by vocals. A male voice sings the opening of the track then the songs tenses up with high strings and a female voice as the helicopters carry the soldiers to the battlefield.

"Final Battle" is the only action song of the bunch, if I can even call it "action". It starts with the same male voice from "Flying High" then turns into a tense, electronic percussion section before fading into a long, quiet solo of the male voice.

"Final Departure" is the most heartbreaking song. It's very mournfully played mainly by strings. It ends with a solo trumpet salute to the troops for their sacrifice.

Wonderful score. Sadly, Glennie-Smith hasn't done anything big in the States since then. I eagerly await his next big project with Randall Wallace. Until then, pick this one up with The Thin Red Line, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and The Great Raid. If you're fortunate enough to find it, pick up U-571 as well.

Check MacKenzie's band!.......2005-12-10

As most reviewers are fond of Joseph K. MacKenzie's tune dedicated to his grandfather in this soundtrack, I would strongly recommend MacKenzie's band called Clann an Drumma. It is really cool tribal celtic music! Unfortunately, their cds are not available in amazon, but you can order them through their web page: [...]. You won't be disappointed at all!!!

Great A-Typical War Score.......2005-03-10

Vietnam has been considered America's dirty little war and for many is a low point in American military history. However people tend to ignore the heroic behavior of American soldiers, an idea is countered by the Randall Wallace film we were soldiers. To score this movie, Wallace turned to Nick Glennie-Smith, a protege of Hans Zimmer and the composer of the score for Wallace's first film, Man in the Iron Mask. Glennie-Smith did a fine job on that score, but his score for We Were Soldiers far outdoes Man in the Iron Mask. He brings a different look to a war film. There are plenty of military sounding drumbeats, but its the themes that are different. Rather than have a theme that is strident and bombastic, Glennie-Smith went for a combination of mournful yet respectful music bolstered by a beautifully rendered hymn. Glennie-Smith's music is great and is so well thought of that it was used during President Reagan's funeral, an apt choice I though. Overall, I highly recommend this film.

Truly a moving sound track.......2004-07-07

I first became aware of "Mansions of the Lord" as it was sung at President Reagan's funeral recessional, and I was tremendously moved by its beauty. I purchased the sound track from "We Were Soldiers" and found the CD to be just as beautiful and meaningful as the final track. I was able to find download print music for "Mansions of the Lord" on a download site and have used it as an organ postlude at church.

Average customer rating:

The Passion of Mel Gibson
This cd reflects true emotions of soldiers and families affected by war
Mansions of the Lord, as used in Reagan Funeral Recessional
Only two songs from the movie!
Excellent compilation

We Were Soldiers
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

We Were Soldiers: Original Motion Picture Score
Saving Private Ryan: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Black Hawk Down
We Were Soldiers (Widescreen Edition)
Band of Brothers

ASIN: B00005Y6PN
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

For You - Johnny Cash & Dave Matthews
Some Mother's Son - Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Fall Out - Train
Soldier - Steven Curtis Chapman
Good Man - India.Arie
The Beautiful - Five For Fighting
My Dear Old Friend - Mary Chapin Carpenter
I Believe - Tammy Cochran
The Widowing Field - Jars Of Clay
Not So Distant Day - Jamie O'Neal & Michael McDonald
Didn't I - Montgomery Gentry
The Glory of Life - Rascal Flatts
Sgt. McKenzie - Joseph Kilna McKenzie
The Mansions of the Lord - United States Military Academy Glee Club and Metro Voices

Amazon.com

The "music from and inspired by" the Mel Gibson Vietnam film is a full slate of new recordings by a wide range of mainstream stars, along with bagpipe and glee-club pieces that convey the movie's sobriety. Quiet, detailed vignettes by Mary Chapin Carpenter (Patty Griffin's "My Dear Old Friend") and India Arie ("Good Man") express the human losses inherent in the conflict, while the pop-country duo Montgomery Gentry offer "Didn't I," the plaint of the returning vet. Much of the rest is inspirational pop of various stripes. Johnny Cash and Dave Matthews team for the ethereal "For You," while Five for Fighting's "The Beautiful" recalls Matthews's most radio-ready tracks. Atmospheric moments from Christian-poppers and up-and-coming Nashville stars complete the package, which is sure to appeal both to fans of the film and those who'll apply the patriotic sentiments to present-day realities. --Bob Roget

Customer Reviews:

The Passion of Mel Gibson.......2006-03-05

This collection of songs seems to be more a testimonial to our military than entertainment for our jaded ears. We need only contemplate those involved to see that it's another gift of a sort from Mel Gibson, et al. Sure, they make the money - but we have the profound experience of listening, and of hearing what these songs say to us about war, love, and sacrifice. The first cut, "For You", in the gravelly, aged, tired, and marvelous voice of Johhny Cash, with a bit of sweet balance from Dave Matthews isn't, as someone earlier commented, a "rockabilly duet" - this is a song done in the first-person tense, of that ultimate sacrifice made 2000 years ago on a cross outside of Jerusalem, and it reminds us that our military - in whatever wars - have been ready to sacrifice their lives as well. An outstanding musical performance, followed by 12 more good-to-excellent pieces which all, in one way or another, reflect the experience of war. The biggest goose-bumps are saved for last with "The Mansions of the Lord". Who would have guessed that in this age of hip-hop and half-dress a pair of contemporaries would reach into their souls and present to us a hymn truly of the Grand Tradition: the words were written today/the words were written 2000 years ago; the melody is simultaneously anguish and triumph. The composer (Nick Glennie-Smith) and the lyricist (Randall Wallace - who wrote Gibson's film "Braveheart") have given to every fallen soldier's loved ones a glimpse of that soldier's Easter Day. This hymn is now being performed during military funerals - a tradition begun in Ronald Reagan's funeral at the National Cathedral. So - this album is great listening, with a good mix of performers, and styles - but beyond that, it's music that speaks to the soul.

This cd reflects true emotions of soldiers and families affected by war.......2006-01-07

Coming from a family member of one of the soldiers that served and died under Gen Moore's command in the Ia Drang Valley, I must say that this cd fully captures the wide range of emotion that everyone involved has felt along the way. A big thank you to the artists that participated. Your music brought me to tears!

Mansions of the Lord, as used in Reagan Funeral Recessional.......2004-06-14

Many millions were moved to tears by the dramatic conclusion of the funeral of President Ronald Reagan, in which a powerful piece of choral and instrumental music was played while the honor guard marched in, lifted the casket, and recessed down the aisle with the cross and candles and priests leading the way. That music was an arrangement of the last cut on this album, and the album is worth it if only to be able to have this music handy for future reference. I remember thinking, as the tears streamed uncontrollably down my face, that I'd have maintained my composure but for the music. Indeed, I never shed a tear during the funeral until that music began to play over the scene of the handsome young soldiers bearing their commander-in-chief to his final resting place. I remember thinking that this music had a cinematic quality to it, deeply sad but carrying a strength and resilience that perfectly matched the image of the President as he was recalled by the eulogies of those who loved him. A powerful piece of music indeed, and one that should be remembered even if the rest of the album is less memorable.

Only two songs from the movie!.......2004-06-13

I gave this one star because it winds up with the amazing piece "Mansions Of the Lord" which is a soaring chorus, yet also includes a few seconds of the beautiful orchestral "Final Departure." The rest of the CD is worthy of zero stars. I bought this in a store because it was in the soundtrack section and if you don't look closely to see the fine print you'll miss the words "music .. inspired by.." I wanted the score and quickly picked it up thinking that was what it was. I think the record company did this on purpose (and they wonder why everyone despises "record" companies!) so people like me would buy it, and not find out that they were suckered until they get home!

Aside from the final piece, and "Sgt MacKenzie" (which is good in the film, but not something I'd listen to on a CD), this is nothing but a country music (which I despise) CD and the songs have nothing to do with the movie! I paid $15.00 for a CD with ONE good song (which is another reason why I rarely buy CDs)!

The soundtrack score of the movie is breathtaking. Spend your money on that. Save your hard earned money and don't bother buying this country music CD which has almost nothing to do with the movie!

Excellent compilation.......2004-05-16

This "songs inspired by the movie" soundtrack is one of the best put together albums of it's type that I have ever listened to. While most of the music on this album was not in the movie, the general themes and emotions are evocative of the movie "We Were Soldiers," and yet, this album can stand on it's own two feet and appeal to someone who has yet to see the film. As a wife and sister of military personnel, this album moves me because it's able to tap into the psychology of what soldiers and their families go through, not just in Vietnam, but also in the present day situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Perhaps the most haunting songs on the album are those by Mary Chapin Carpenter, India.Arie, Train, Montgomery Gentry and the duet between Dave Matthews and Johnny Cash. Carpenter's "My Dear Old Friend", written by Patty Griffin, is haunting in its introspection of a friendship torn by war. Arie's "Good Man" manages to eloquently portray the grief of a wife left behind to raise the children when the husband/soldier dies in war. The duet between Cash and Matthews is a stirring look at the bond between fellow soldiers.

Perhaps the weakest of the songs (in my opinion) are those by Rascal Flatts, Tammy Cochran, and the duet between Michael McDonald and Jamie O'Neal. They were much to upbeat and sugary pop-music feeling for my tastes, and they didn't seem to fit with the compelling, introspective nature of the rest of the songs. Overall, however, these songs aren't bad, and it's easy enough to press the skip button on your CD player to get past them.

This is an excellent CD, and well worth the listen.

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