The Last Emperor [Soundtrack]

the last emperor [soundtrack]

Track Listings
1. First Coronation
2. Open the Door
3. Where Is Armo?
4. Picking up Brides
5. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 1]
6. Rain (I Want a Divorce)
7. Baby (Was Born Dead)
8. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 2]
9. Last Emperor (Theme)
10. Main Title Theme (Last Emporer) - David Byrne
11. Picking a Bride - David Byrne
12. Bed - David Byrne
13. Wind, Rain and Water - David Byrne
14. Paper Emporer - David Byrne
15. Lunch - Cong Su
16. Red Guard
17. Emporer's Waltz
18. Red Guard Dance

The Last Emperor,Original Soundtrack,Atlantic / Wea,Soundtrack,Soundtracks & Film Scores

The Last Emperor [Soundtrack]
The Last Emperor
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Masterly
  • The Last Word on "The Last Emperor"
  • Overrated movie, but nice soundtrack.
  • A Little Contrived...
  • The Last Emperor: tragic story told through music
 The Last Emperor
David Byrne , and Ryuichi Sakamoto
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000DR52
Release Date: 1991-09-09

Tracks:

  1. First Coronation
  2. Open The Door
  3. Where Is Armo?
  4. Picking Up Brides
  5. The Last Emperor (Theme Variation 1)
  6. Rain (I Want A Divorce)
  7. The Baby (Was Born Dead)
  8. The Last Emperor (Theme Variation II)
  9. The Last Emperoror (Theme)
  10. Main Title Theme (The Last Emperor) - David Byrne
  11. Picking A Bride - David Byrne
  12. Bed - David Byrne
  13. Wind, Rain And Water - David Byrne
  14. Paper Emperor - David Byrne
  15. Lunch - Cong Su
  16. Red Guard - The Red Guard Accordion Band
  17. The Emperor's Waltz - The Ball Orchestra Of Vienna
  18. The Red Guard Dance - The Girls Red Guard Dancers

Amazon.com

The Last Emperor, director Bernardo Bertolucci's epic tale of Pu Yi, the exiled final potentate of China's 3,000-year old Qing dynasty, was the big winner at the 1988 Academy Awards, taking Oscars for (among others) Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Score. The composing trio of Sakamoto/Byrne/Su was an unusual one to be sure, but it's clearly Sakamoto who carries the day here. The avant-garde trained/former Yellow Magic Orchestra pop mastermind crafted a seamless fusion of grand Western themes, Asian shadings, and his own deliciously distinct timbrel sensibilities; an accessible if deceptively modern classicism. Not surprisingly given his Talking Heads roots, Byrne's efforts are more rhythmic and minimal, yet his consuming passion for world music thoroughly evidences itself as well. His lyric and lilting "Main Title Theme" (one of the film's unusual elements was its use of two main themes by separate composers) may offer a pleasant surprise to listeners overly familiar with his pop work. The composer Cong Su is represented by just one cut; but it's a gentle, ethereal spin on Chinese folk influences that fits well with his fellow composers' work. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Masterly.......2007-02-09

This is Ryuichi Sakamoto at his best. I must confess that I never play the David Byrne tracks. They're just not in the same league.

5 out of 5 stars The Last Word on "The Last Emperor" .......2007-01-18

Rather than this being a "word of mouth" review and purchase, it is a "word of another CD". First, I love Chinese traditional music and the Western approximation instruments, pipa [lute], gu-zheng [zither], erhu [violin] and diza [flute]. The deep spiritual, mystical sound is hypnotic and moving. I recently discovered the Asian music company, Pacific Moon and its range of artists. One artist is Jiang Xiao-Qing and her CD, "Breathing Spaces." [Such a quiet joy] The last cut, # 11 is the Theme from the Last Emperor, and it is so haunting and beautiful, it led me to wonder about the actual soundtrack. In both CDs the magic of Ryuichi Sakamoto's writing and arranging will take your breath away with where it takes you. Both are to be played during a time you really want to simply think, drift and drop back into your own sense of self. Now that part of my Chinese music section is complete--If you like to close the door and simply relax, give yourself a real treat! It's worth the trip to the computer to buy this treasure from Amazon.com. Kathleen Rand Reed

4 out of 5 stars Overrated movie, but nice soundtrack........2005-11-08

'The Last Emperor' is a very overrated movie, but this is a nice and soothing soundtrack that accompanies the film. I was surprised David Byrne composed a few of the tracks. Listen to it before going to bed. One will have an easier time falling asleep.

4 out of 5 stars A Little Contrived..........2001-09-28

...but entertaining, none-the-less.

It is always fun to track down anything David Byrne has worked on, but this soundtrack is a wee disappointing. While listening to the soundtrack (as opposed to watching the movie which it underscores) you always have a sense that this is somehow a synthetic interpretation of what you expect when you look at the forbidden city...almost westernized.

It's great music, and a great and cohesive effort, but many of the repetitive melodies sound as if they might be more at home in Broadway hit than a period piece about the declining days of Chinese aristocracy.

If you saw the movie and enjoyed the music (as I did) there is no reason not to pick this disc up. If you are buying this because you think you are getting some authentic Chinese music...keep shopping.

5 out of 5 stars The Last Emperor: tragic story told through music.......2001-07-24

After seeing the film for the first time, I was stunned by the amazing beauty and emotional content that could be created by simply telling a tragic real-life story. But it wasn't until buying the soundtrack that I realised, although the film would have been incredible and artistic on its own, it was the music that created the depth of mood that made the film so poignant. The tracks are hauntingly beautiful, and reflect all aspects of the film; the culture, the sorrow and the reminiscence of another era long gone. I recommend the soundtrack for anyone who has seen and loved the film. The combination of traditionally Chinese instruments with "a Western touch" is brilliantly skillful, and will appeal even to those who haven't had a preference for classical music before. Although the last couple of tracks may falter with Red Guard music and chants, the vast majority are instantly recognisable and deeply touching.
The Last Emperor
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		The Last Emperor
    David Byrne
    Manufacturer: EMI Japan
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00005GOA1
    Release Date: 1995-05-31

    Tracks:

    1. First Coronation
    2. Open the Door
    3. Where Is Armo?
    4. Picking up Brides
    5. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 1]
    6. Rain (I Want a Divorce)
    7. Baby (Was Born Dead)
    8. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 2]
    9. Last Emperor (Theme)
    10. Main Title Theme (Last Emporer) - David Byrne
    11. Picking a Bride - David Byrne
    12. Bed - David Byrne
    13. Wind, Rain and Water - David Byrne
    14. Paper Emporer - David Byrne
    15. Lunch - Cong Su
    16. Red Guard
    17. Emporer's Waltz
    18. Red Guard Dance
    The Last Emperor
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		The Last Emperor
      Original Soundtrack
      Manufacturer: Virgin Movie Music
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B000092A1A
      Release Date: 1988-01-01

      Tracks:

      1. First Coronation
      2. Open the Door
      3. Where Is Armo?
      4. Picking up Brides
      5. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 1]
      6. Rain (I Want a Divorce)
      7. Baby (Was Born Dead)
      8. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 2]
      9. Last Emperor (Theme)
      10. Last Emperor (Main Title Theme) - David Byrne
      11. Picking a Bride - David Byrne
      12. Bed - David Byrne
      13. Wind, Rain and Water - David Byrne
      14. Paper Emperor - David Byrne
      15. Lunch - Cong Su
      16. Red Guard
      17. Emperor Waltz
      18. Red Guard Dance
      The Last Emperor
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		The Last Emperor
        The Girls Red Guard Dancers
        Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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        ASIN: B00008EQ07
        Release Date: 1991-07-01

        Tracks:

        1. First Coronation
        2. Open the Door
        3. Where Is Armo?
        4. Picking up Brides
        5. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 1]
        6. Rain (I Want a Divorce)
        7. Baby (Was Born Dead)
        8. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 2]
        9. Last Emperor (Theme)
        10. Main Title Theme (Last Emporer) - David Byrne
        11. Picking a Bride - David Byrne
        12. Bed - David Byrne
        13. Wind, Rain and Water - David Byrne
        14. Paper Emporer - David Byrne
        15. Lunch - Cong Su
        16. Red Guard
        17. Emporer's Waltz
        18. Red Guard Dance
        Films of the Century (Filmscore Anthology)
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        ASIN: B00005173T
        Release Date: 2000-11-21

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        6. Gone With The Wind: 'Gone With The Wind' - RIAS Jugendorchester/Mark Fitz-Gerald
        7. Casablanca: 'As Time Goes By' - Claude Bolling Big Band
        8. West Side Story: 'Main Theme' - Claude Bolling Big Band
        9. Dr. Zhivago: 'Dr. Zhivago' - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Maurice Jarre
        10. Love Story: 'Main Theme' - Erick Berchot/Sophie Christofari
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        15. A Fish Called Wanda: 'End Titles' - Films Of The Century
        16. The Pink Panther: 'The Pink Panther Theme' - Bobby McFerrin

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        The Last Emperor
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • A fine sampling of what movie music is all about
        		 The Last Emperor
        Original Soundtrack
        Manufacturer: Indent Series
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B000005JKC
        Release Date: 1996-07-23

        Tracks:

        1. First Coronation
        2. Open the Door
        3. Where Is Armo?
        4. Picking up Brides
        5. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 1]
        6. Rain (I Want a Divorce)
        7. Baby (Was Born Dead)
        8. Last Emperor [Theme Variation 2]
        9. Last Emperor (Theme)
        10. Main Title Theme (Last Emporer) - David Byrne
        11. Picking a Bride - David Byrne
        12. Bed - David Byrne
        13. Wind, Rain and Water - David Byrne
        14. Paper Emporer - David Byrne
        15. Lunch - Cong Su
        16. Red Guard
        17. Emporer's Waltz
        18. Red Guard Dance

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars A fine sampling of what movie music is all about.......1998-06-03

        If anyone's seen the movie, they'll remember the score. It is the story of the China's last emperor whose life appeared to be a struggle between the changing world and the ancient traditions of China. Composers Ryuki Sakamoto and ex-Talking Head David Byrne, match the brilliance of director Bernardo Bertolucci, the end result being a fabulous film with a very powerful score. I particularly liked piece, "I want a Divorce," and the classic Chinese strings. A must-have for those who like movie music.

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