US Release
Label:  Warner Bros. / Hollywood
Catalogue:  9362481132

Japanese Release
Label:  Warner Bros. / Hollywood
Catalogue:  WPCR-10959

  01.  There You'll Be  (3:42)
  02.  Tennesse  (3:39)
  03.  Brothers  (4:04)
  04.  ..And Then I Kissed Him  (5:36)
  05.  I Will Come Back  (2:56)
  06.  Attack  (8:54)
  07.  December 7th  (5:08)
  08.  War  (5:14)
  09.  Heart Of A Volunteer  (7:05)
 

I have always maintained that Hans Zimmer is at his best scoring light romantic movies.  When the critics cited the film as being a "love story" as opposed to a conventional war film, I was naturally quite intrigued, and indeed excited by what Zimmer would do with the score.  Having thoroughly listened to the score for the last few weeks, I now believe it be among his best, and for good reason.

The opening of the film is something I could talk about for hours.  With a plane flying slowly against the silhouette of the sun, gliding heavenly across long and lush fields of green, it's easy to be drawn away from the chaos that will ensue.  It's a time in the past, where things were simple, passions were indulged, hearts were free.  This is where Hans' music speaks to us; it tells us of an intense longing for stability, peace, or love.  It strikes a deep personal chord because those that have loved and lost for the first time know the feeling, and clamour to be in its pressence again, in the arms of love.  Such is the effect of the opening scene- it's hard keeping those tears back. 

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is scored with a deep sense of a regret, loss, and sorrow.  Soprano soloist Julia Migenes (who did the vocals on Toys) makes a brief, but emotionally draining appearance; a country has lost her sons, her people, her innocence.  The high strings accentuate the pain, and hope seems lost.  A dark moment etched in history, forever.

The American attack on the Japanese also ends in tragedy.  Life will never be the same again; a deep bond is broken, and a love is lost.  The trumpets make their first solo appearance, and a heroic theme takes shape, coloured by the whole orchestra and choir.  A fitting tribute to the heroes of the past, and the future.

Where love is lost, it is reborn.  The score returns full circle to the theme of the past.  This time it sounds like a gorgeous dream- Migenes returns to accompany the orchestra in what is perhaps one of Zimmer's finest moments.  It's less longing, but more hopeful this time round.  We win some.  We lose some.  Life goes on.  Thank you Hans for reminding us all.

- Alain Phomphoukhao (tdap@hotmail.com) 
 

Credits

Music Composed by Hans Zimmer
Conducted by Gavin Greenaway
Supervising Orchestrator Bruce Fowler

Soprano Solos by Julia Migenes
Guitar performed by Heitor Pereira
Shakuhachi performed by Dan Kuramoto

Purchasing Options

CDNOW  -- US pressing
Arksquare  -- Japanese release

Interviews & Other Relevant Links

"Guilty Pleasures" (Tracksounds)
"All that Zimmer is Gold" (Cinemusic)
"Hans Zimmer..." (SoundtrackNet)

More Pearl Harbour Reviews

Cinemusic
Film Music on the Web
Filmtracks
Intrada
Music From the Movies
Score!
Soundtrack Express
SoundtrackNet
Tracksounds

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