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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The film Amelie depicts Paris as a magical paradise for lovers and so needed music of the utmost tenderness but with a quirky edge befitting the title character. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet chanced upon the music of Yann Tiersen one day and bought his entire catalogue. That ultimately translated into this gloriously upbeat soundtrack largely culled from four of Tiersen's albums. Half the cues have been previously released, but arguably never in such splendid context. Accordion and piano are the score's instruments of choice and are woven into a beautiful whole none of the individual albums achieved before. The Neil Hannon collaboration ("Les Jours tristes" from L'Absente) is a big bouncy number that expands upon itself incessantly. It's about as big as the music gets, since this accompanied one of the jolliest moments in the film. The greater part is concerned with Amelie's innocent infatuations and is therefore subtler. A couple of nice examples of the album's overall style are "Sur le Fil", a lovely melancholy piano melody, and "La Dispute" where mournful solo accordion switches tone by piano. At the heart of it all is the best of Tiersen's new material for the film with "La Valse d'Amelie". It has three variations, but is most affecting in its original incarnation for accordion and small ensemble. It makes the film's finale, this disc and the idea of a trip to Paris utterly charming. --Paul Tonks
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This cd is a perfect companion to what was without doubt the best foreign film of last year. Yann Tiersen, the composer, has majestically conjured up a delightful album. He plays all the instruments himself to conjure up something magical. The tracks are so uplifting that listening to them I feel great.
I saw Amelie last November and fell in love with it. I've done the same with the soundtrack. I love the soundtrack because I feel swept away with its joyfulness and emotional aspect. There are nice touches with two songs from the 30's "Guilty" and "Si Tu N'etais Pas La". My favourite track is "Comptine D'un Autre Ete" because it says so much in such a short playing time and it epitamises the mood of the movie.
This soundtrack is possibly my favourite of all time. It is truly a wonderful musical world.
I saw Amelie last November and fell in love with it. I've done the same with the soundtrack. I love the soundtrack because I feel swept away with its joyfulness and emotional aspect. There are nice touches with two songs from the 30's "Guilty" and "Si Tu N'etais Pas La". My favourite track is "Comptine D'un Autre Ete" because it says so much in such a short playing time and it epitamises the mood of the movie.
This soundtrack is possibly my favourite of all time. It is truly a wonderful musical world.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Here we have not only a great soundtrack that can conjure both the magic of the film and work as an excellent album in it's own-right, but also, we have a perfect introduction to one of the greatest young composers world music has to offer.
Yann Tiersen had already produced three albums before he was approached by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet to compose the music to his new film Amelie (which had juxtaposing themes of playful giddiness and bitter melancholy that seemed perfectly suited to the kind of music that Tiersen creates so effortlessly), and the recording of these songs overlapped with the writing and recording of his forth solo-album proper, L'Absent. As a result of this, a number of tracks found in instrumental versions here (Les Jours Tristes, A Quai, Le Moulin) can be found fleshed out on L'Absent (...Tristes for example is turned into a great melancholic pop song with vocals from Neil Hannon).
If you have heard any of these Tiersen solo-albums or, in fact, seen Jeunet's film, you will undoubtedly have a good idea what to expect from the style of music featured. Tiersen creates tuneful, melodious little pieces thick with atmosphere & grace, employing a wide range of both contemporary and traditional instrumentation (all of which he plays himself) from guitars, drums and bass, to strings, accordions, pianos, harpsichord, music-boxes, & more. The compositions are practically overflowing with the feelings of ecstatic excitement or downbeat romanticism, as Tiersen manages to convey a mood that captures the essence of the film and holds the listener in a trance for it's entirety.
This is one of the best soundtrack albums available (up there with some of Michael Nyman's very best) and, if you appreciate the musical greatness of this, then might I suggest that you track down Tiersen's other studio albums, and his soundtrack to that excellent German film, Goodbye Lenin! ...all of which, are excellent.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was already familiar with Yann Tiersen due to his collaboration with the Divine Comedy (One of the tracks here is co-written by Neil Hannon), and having heard him on Radio 3. I already had one of his albums before buying this (which I did before seeing the film, which, incidentally, is the best cinematic experience I've had for a couple of years), and in fact a few of the tracks on this album are from previous albums, so it can serve as a nice compilation for those already familiar with his work, or indeed, those who aren't. If you're interested in finding out more about Tiersen, I'd encourage you to visit his website, which has plenty of audio material, and even interactive videos. As for the music, it ranges from the depths of despair and loneliness in 'Le Moulin' from the upbeat, energetic and joyous 'A Quai', and of course the Waltz of our eponymous heroine. A brilliant album to bring happiness to even the most weary of souls.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Relaxing
Lovely relaxing music reminiscent of lazy holidays abroad or watching French films whilst languishing in rainy England with a glass of red.....nice :)
Published 1 month ago by Ichabod
Evokes memories .....
I have loved the movie since it was released, and also the music. I have since purchased a number of Yann Tiersen's albums, and many of them have expanded versions of the music... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Neil Powell
Quirky, funny, brilliant
This is a beautiful album of entrancing music, played on quirky instruments (toy piano?!) as well as regular strings, accordion, harpsichord and so on. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Dave Holland
Simple and satisfying
This product came amazingly quickly, and at such a good price. Yann Tiersen's simple but enchanting melodies work very well alongside the backdrop of the busy London commutors... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Sian
Underwhelmed
Maybe it's my own fault but I was hoping for more piano music but there was only one track I really like. It was all very boring for me to listen to. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2009 by Ilie Adrian Catargiu
Lovely
This is a lovely cd. Real French 'cafe' music, I can just listen to it over and over again!
Published on 25 Aug 2009 by Mrs. S. C. Head
Delightful
Very nice cd, that brings many pleasant memories of the film. It captures the spirit of France and "paints" a musical landscape of France with the small villages, cabares, cafes... Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2007 by Aeneas
Enjoyable in its own right - but better if you've seen the film,
If you have seen 'Amelie' you will undoubtedly have been struck by the clever and charming use of music throughout its length. Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2007 by Alan Sturgess
Delightful music
This is a must see film and a must listen sound track. It will accompany you for any kind of moment and mood in your life. A must buy!
Published on 15 May 2006 by Dharma Rai
Brilliant
An album that is enjoyed by all our family, it sooths and calms all journeys and is absolutly brilliant.
Published on 16 Dec 2005 by Latisse
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