Music Review: Happy Feet Soundtrack
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this delightful collection of
songs doesn't include every tune in the popular animated movie,
and some of the songs are performed by different lead singers.
The song "Jump 'N Move" has a nearly unintelligible drug
reference or two. But overall, content is safe and familiar and
unlikely to offend.
Families can talk about the covers of older songs on this
soundtrack, and compare them to the original versions. Which
group actually gets to sing one of their own songs? Who do you
like better singing "My Way" -- Frank Sinatra or Robin Williams
(in Spanish)? Why?
Thirteen upbeat tracks feature an inspired variety of popular singers and musical arrangements on the HAPPY FEET soundtrack. There's k.d. lang on a dreamy-soft Beatles medley ("Golden Slumbers/The End"), Robin Williams singing "My Way" in Spanish, and a spectacular Patti LaBelle rendition of Stevie Wonder's "I Wish." There are also appearances by Pink, Prince, the Beach Boys, Brittany Murphy, Nicole Kidman, and Jason Mraz.
Although some of the terrific songs in the movie aren't on this album and will be missed by fans, there's still a lot here to have fun with. Playing against type and vocal expectations on many of the tunes makes for a delicious, riskier-than-usual collection. Who would have thought that Murphy could nail a Queen song, for example? But "Somebody to Love" (backed by a full choir) is powerful. So is lang crooning her Beatles medley as though it were a torch song. LaBelle can't help stealing the show on "I Wish." Backed by a gospel choir and a percolating rhythm section, she gives this familiar tune a shot of brand-new energy.
Shark Tale Movie SoundtrackOriginal versions of the cover songs performed in Happy Feet
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