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Enchanted

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How Does She Know You Love Her?

A review by jesi on Enchanted
Jun 16, 2008

Author's product rating: Enchanted - rated by jesi

Advantages:	Hear the songs and specially written score again ! Sing along !
Disadvantages:	Songs separated from the score; you need to program CD player to relive experience .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

When you really enjoy a musical you have seen at the cinema, you are likely to want to see or even hear it again. In fact, you probably wouldn't want to re-watch it too many times, even though you might want to hear the soundtrack and the songs over and over again as background music while you do housework. Even if you do want to purchase the DVD for further viewing, you might not want to watch the whole movie again if all you really want to hear is the music, particularly not if you haven't got the time to pay attention. Apart from the fact that the DVD wasn't even due for release in the USA until 18th March 2008, after watching ENCHANTED at the cinema on my birthday, 14th February 2008, (and, on my husband's suggestion, watching the film again, on Saturday the 16th), I decided to order the soundtrack.

As it happens, I decided to buy the Official Book of the Movie, the OST (Original Sound Track) which I am reviewing here, the Movie Storybook (for children), and the "Read-Along" Audio CD plus 24-page Book ~ thus qualifying for Amazon's "Free Super-Saver Delivery".

l wanted the soundtrack to listen to the full sequence as if l was watching the film without the dialogue, as it was so good in moving you through the emotional nuances of what was happening in front of you, with certain portions indicating which characters are involved by their 'theme' coming into play. l never visualized this as being individual tracks, but rather in relation to their position in the film, and l will be discussing the tracks in this light.

* Did it live up to Expectations? *

Looking up soundtrack details on IMdB gave a possible list of songs, although IMdB did mention that their list might be different than what would be available on the OST, as they derive their list of songs from the film credits, and some songs would not be available on OST due to copyright restrictions.

When my package arrived, I took out the CD and put it on to play.

The beginning was delightful, with the introduction to TRUE LOVE'S KISS starting with a "mini-overture" and the half-talking, half-singing, discussion between the animated character Giselle (voiced by Amy Adams) and her animated woodland friends, before breaking fully into the song. She is joined in the final duet of the song by Prince Edward (James Marsden) as they sing together
". . . Since first we knew love
Through true love's kiss!"

When the next thing I heard was the HAPPY WORKING SONG I thought, "hang on here ~ whatever has happened to the soundtrack? We've not been off to the palace for the wedding, nor been pushed into the 'wishing well' which took Giselle to the land where '...there ARE no Happily Ever Afters...' ~ the real world."

This song just didn't fit there for me . . . it wasn't in context.

At this point, I looked at the back of the CD case and realized that the songs DID indeed appear before Alan Menken's original score, and, as intimated on IMdB, the three songs not written by Stephen Schwartz were not included.

* Next Step? *

I stopped the CD. It's a good thing that my CD player can be programmed. I re-arranged the order of the play list to more accurately mirror the film sequence.

I could not bear to listen to the songs in sequence; then to go back to the beginning of the original score and play through WITHOUT hearing the songs in order; then finishing with the sixth song, which really belonged somewhere in the middle. That hadn't been my intention when l bought the soundtrack.

It might be that someone who has never seen the film might not mind just listening to the three songs performed by Amy Adams, then SO CLOSE performed by Jon McLaughlin, and EVER EVER AFTER performed by Carrie Underwood, bunched together; these followed by the nine instrumental pieces, and then the final song THAT'S AMORE performed by James Marsden (and Various artists). I must admit that my daughter certainly didn't seem to mind playing the CD as background music on "repeat all", listening with half an ear while decorating two birthday cakes and looking after her 2 year old daughter while we took her three boys to the swimming baths last Tuesday. It was still playing when we got home to collect the two of them, after swimming, to take everyone to McDonalds in Towcester for a double party for the boys (6) and (8). She certainly appeared to have enjoyed it!

The problem was that I minded. I had wanted to re-live the musical, re-visualize the film while listening to the soundtrack, and as this CD was organized, it wasn't possible to do it. Of course I could sing along with the first five songs, as the words were included in the insert leaflet, but that was hardly the point, was it?

So l programmed my CD player to alter the track order.

lncidentally, if you have never done this ~ programming a CD player is relatively simple if you have a simple player (like mine) with a 'program' button, 'skip forward' and 'skip back' buttons: press 'program' skip forward or back to the track number, press 'program' and skip to next chosen track, press 'program' ~ remembering to press 'program' again after final chosen track. Pressing 'program' one further time should make the CD player display track numbers chosen (in order) if you want to make sure you have included what you want, although you don't need to do this step. Pressing the 'Play' (or 'Play/Pause') button should play the chosen tracks in order ~~~ of course, if your player is more complicated and technologically advanced, l cannot help you ~~~

In the end, I tried several variations of song/score order before deciding on the final arrangement that suited my memories and moods.

This was the order I decided suited me:
1, 6, 7, 2, 8, 3, 9, 10, 15, 11, 12, 4, 13, 14, 5

~ ENCHANTED ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ~

Songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; Score by Alan Menken

I was brought up in a family dominated by classical music, hymns, songs and tunes from Gilbert and Sullivan; nursery rhymes and barbershop quartets; Burl Ives and Spike Jones. Everything was always a cue for a song, or one of us was practicing the piano.

I am not very good at describing music, as l mostly let it pass over my head, but l felt that in the context of the film, the entire soundtrack as performed in the film really carried the show, setting moods excellently. l really don't understand genre ~ this is a Disney fairytale ~ but any attempt to classify genre is an over-simplification, as the different moods and themes, like life, are a combination of genres, and don't really pigeon-hole easily.

As Ciao.com doesn't have Product Information for this soundtrack, l will mainly list the track names/numbers IN MY PEFERRED ORDER for your information.**

The film centers around the character of Giselle, voiced and then played beautifully by Amy Adams.

Track 1~ TRUE LOVE'S KISS performed by Amy Adam mirrors the film's animated beginning.
Track 6 ~ Original Score ANDALASIA
Track 7 ~ Original Score INTO THE WELL This is where the film really begins, when fantasy and reality collide.
Track 2 ~ Giselle (Amy Adams) sings HAPPY WORKING SONG The lyrics are cheerful and very catchy, and she finishes off with, "Aaah, Wasn't this fun?"
Track 8 ~ Original Score ROBERT SAYS GOODBYE
Track 3 ~ Giselle sings THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW. This song was nominated for 2008 Critics' Choice Award. ln the film, this is THE big number with the whole screen eventually filled with a happy singing dancing throng.

The song and dance work together here ~ there is a portion of it as video on You Tube which is worth seeking out and watching.

Track 9 ~ Original Score: NATHANIEL AND PIP
Track 10 ~ Original Score: PRINCE EDWARD'S SEARCH ~ Prince Edward's theme is full of self importance.
Track 15 ~ Performed by James Marsden, THAT'S AMORE is a Latin-beat serenade-like song.
Track 11 ~ Original Score: GIRLS GO SHOPPING
Track 12 ~ Original Score: NARISSA ARRIVES is an evil triumphal orchestral piece which is confident and forceful.
Track 4 ~ SO CLOSE is performed by Jon McLaughlin as couples dance at the Ball. As a song, it is deep and evocative; had it not been billed as a waltz in the film, l'd have enjoyed it more.
Track 13 ~ Original Score: STORYBOOK ENDING was certainly a twist on traditional 'storybook' endings.
Track 14 ~ Original Score: ENCHANTED SUITE ties all the positive themes together with nothing left of Narissa's theme, finishing with "Ever Ever After" ~ this was very expressive and led beautifully into the final (for me) track.
Track 5 ~ Carrie Underwood singing EVER EVER AFTER.

~~ Missing Tracks ~~
There are three tracks credited to the film (listed on IMdB) not included on the OST ~ PART OF YOUR WORLD and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: both of which have music by Alan Menkin and lyrics by Howard Ashman; also PINK ELEPHANTS ON PARADE written by Frank Churchill & Oliver Wallace.

* Presentation and Case *

The single CD comes in a standard plastic case with a booklet/front cover. The front picture is of a changing Giselle twirling in her journey to our terrifying world as she becomes three-dimensional.

The middle spread of the leaflet shows a montage of still photographs from the film: a lost-looking Giselle in fairytale wedding dress emerging from the man-hole; Susan Sarandon as a scornful Queen Narissa; Patrick Dempsey (as Robert Philip) with Giselle (who is wearing a dress clearly cut out from his lounge curtains); Robert with his daughter Morgan riding on his back; Robert and Nancy dressed up for the Ball; Giselle transformed for the Ball; Prince Edward; Giselle in 'How Does She Know' in Central Park; the old crone with a Poisoned Apple; and Prince Edward arriving fantastically in our world through the man-hole.

The remaining five blue flower-print design pages with tiny white writing feature the lyrics of the first five tracks, with copyright and production credits; Titles of the nine tracks of Original Score Composed and Produced by Alan Menken; title and production lists for track 15 ("That's Amore"); and a list of names of the 'Various Artists" who made up the Chorus Vocals, with full musical credits and special thanks on the back page

The Back Cover Insert of the Plastic box has inset portraits of Amy Adams as Giselle, James Marsden as Prince Edward, Patrick Dempsey as Robert Philip, and Carrie Underwood.

The pack is attractive without really being anything special.

* Further Comments and Recommendations? *

Although l loved the music, and the way it was presented in the film, l took off one star because l had to programme the CD to play the tracks in the order l wanted to hear them.

The Soundtrack lasts for just under an hour, but there is no indication just how long each track lasts, which to me is another slight disappointment with this CD.

This is a simple CD with Simple, Joyous songs and Possibilities.

l find myself bursting into song at the oddest moments, and this CD suits my moods. l like to believe in true love's kiss, happy working songs, romantic gestures and the healing of relationships. But then, my life is like a musical, and I'm occasionally embarrassingly like Giselle, with a song to fit any occasion (usually worship songs and scripture set to music . . . ) and a belief things can become positive. As a Valentine's Day child, I like clean, loving relationships, and simplicity rather than over-complication.

If underneath it all, you are an over-grown kid and not ashamed of it, this CD will suit you, as will the film.

PS: l have bought the DVD after it was released.

Although my order isn't quite correct ~ Ever Ever After was sung after the Storybook Ending while the story finishes; and Enchanted Suite plays over the credits; certain pieces play (with slight variations) more than once; and That's Amore is sung BEFORE Prince Edward's Search not after ~ l still think the order l chose suits me best.

** (note: I have also published a version of this on Ciao UK, with more discussion of the individual tracks.)