Watchmen Original Soundtrack Review

If you are one of the many people who anticipated the theatrical release of Watchmen, then I’m sure you’ve already seen it, but more importantly, you’ve already heard it. The sounds of the movie fit together so seamlessly that you find yourself immersed in a stunning audio experience that many movies lack. Between the kickass score by Tyler Bates and the vintage songs scattered throughout, you can’t help but feel like you are on an emotional and epic journey just as much as the characters in the film.

I’ve heard lots of people knock the choice of songs in the film as too old or overplayed, but let’s not forget that the movie does take place in the 1980′s. Even the older songs have a deeper meaning and purpose for being in the movie. This is not your typical “comic book turned movie” type flick. The story is dark, the emotions raw, and it delves into places like politics and cultural history that a lot of popcorn, made for screen superhero movies don’t. Just because Watchmen was released in 2009 does not mean that it needs 2009 sounds. Don’t get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with a little something new here and there as long as it’s relevant to what’s going on in the scene. However, I’m delighted and, quite frankly, amused that Zack Snyder chose what would best compliment the movie and not what was popular on the radio that day. He stayed true to the original graphic novel, and I have to give him some major props for that. Tyler Bates backed that up with presenting a score that intertwined the songs throughout and in my opinion, he did a damn good job.

The soundtrack that has been released for sale does not have all the songs that were featured in the movie. (Disappointing, I know). There are only 12 songs, one of which doesn’t even appear in the film, but we’ll get to that in a moment. I want to discuss the songs in order of appearance on the album soundtrack, but don’t fret! I am going to mention to songs that didn’t make the album cut and should have.

The Original Soundtrack

We begin with My Chemical Romance doing a punk anthem style cover of Bob Dylan’s Desolation Row. Thankfully this song was played in the end credits. I would have much preferred the original, but I think the cover by MCR was merely an attempt to give the younger moviegoers something to relate to, kinda like throwing them a bone for being “forced” to sit through some good standards, albeit older ones. I would have liked to see this swapped out for a song that didn’t make the release. If it had to make the cut,  the last track on the soundtrack would have been nice, but that’s what fast forward buttons were invented for.

If you chose to listen to the first song, going into Nat King Cole’s Unforgettable is so soothing on the ears that you don’t even care why it was in the movie to begin with. Unforgettable is timeless and beautiful, and I was happy to hear the original played versus the version that duets him with his daughter Natalie Cole. It gave an older feeling in line with the rest of the music in the movie,  and since it was played over a fight scene, hearing Natalie Cole’s voice would have just seemed out of place. The second time it is heard in the movie is when Laurie goes to Dan’s house, and here the romanticism of the song shines.

The third song? Bob Dylan’s original The Times They Are A-Changin’. As the title sequence, it gives us the feeling that is intended. The times were changing, and the lyrics alone give the viewer the feeling that something is about to happen. During the movie when the song plays, you see how the world is changing, but it leaves you with a sense that there is more to come.

Next is The Sound of Silence by Simon And Garfunkel. Yes, the song was played during a funeral, but it could have been worse. I mean, they could have chosen Dust In The Wind by Kansas instead. Besides, The Sound of Silence has a more significant meaning, since it was written shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The song was meant to reflect the emotional landscape that America was navigating. The funeral referred to of The Comedian, who during the title sequence assassinated the same John F. Kennedy. Coincidence? I think not.

Moving along, we have Me And Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin. Another oldie but goodie, and it felt at place when it was played at the bar in Vietnam. During the Vietnam war, Me And Bobby McGee was a number one hit and brings back memories to that period of time. The song’s inclusion in the scene was right on.

I’m Your Boogie Man by K.C. And The Sunshine Band was an eclectic choice of song, but it was pretty cool watching boogie man, The Comedian, unleash a can of whoop ass on the rioters in the streets. I admit,  it made me smirk at the irony of watching him rip through the crowd to such an upbeat song.

Coming in at number seven is You’re My Thrill by Billie Holiday. This song is definitely another nod to the graphic novel, when the song is played by the Nite Owl on the Owl Ship during the fire rescue. Even without the reference, the song alone is a classic that fits right in with the rest of the soundtrack.

Pruit Igoe & Prophecies by The Philip Glass Ensemble is actually a blend of two tracks from another movie Philip Glass worked on called Koyaanisqatsi. Just the word koyaanisqats in the Hopi Indian language itself means unbalanced life, which was a major point of the movie of the same name and could even be used to describe Dr. Manhattan at the moment Pruit Igoe & Prophecies was played in Watchmen. Either way, the song is great and deserves a spot on this soundtrack.

You could say Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah has been a bit overplayed in movies and shows, but playing while Laurie and Dan are having sex is more original since the song is usually heard during scenes involving death. Leonard Cohen is an awesome addition to the soundtrack and while there have been over 180 covers of Hallelujah, the original by Cohen himself finds itself right at home with all the other classics in Watchmen.

The third and final Bob Dylan song to appear on the soundtrack is All Along The Watchtower, performed here by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It’s an excellent version to choose, not because it’s the most popular, but Jimi Hendrix’ take on it is deserving since the sound of the song blends in with the rest of the overall movie soundtrack. The lyrics in the song “Outside in the cold distance/A wild cat did growl/Two riders were approachin’/And the wind began to howl” were playing as exactly those same scenes were appearing in the movie. You could argue the lyrics synchronized to the scene was somewhat lame, but isn’t that the point of placing a song in a film? The song should compliment the visual, and here it does so magnificently.

Ride Of The Valkyries, done here by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, does make you think of the movie Apocalypse Now. However, it’s placement in the movie is about Dr. Manhattan’s and The Comedian’s role during the Vietnam war, which is what the epic Apocalypse Now is about. Plus, in another nod to the novel, the first Nite Owl Hollis Mason mentions the song as “the saddest thing I can think of”. While he may not have been talking about the Vietnam war, I don’t think you can argue that war is a happy thing, can you? I will say that while Ride Of The Valkyries is a good song, it would not have been one of my choices for the album soundtrack.

Finally we get to the one song that wasn’t in the movie but is on the soundtrack. That song would be a live version of Pirate Jenny by Nina Simone. Pirate Jenny was released on the soundtrack because it is in reference to Tales of The Black Freighter, a fictional comic read by a character barely seen in the movie but heavily featured in the original novel. Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under The Hood are two stories that are being released on DVD and Blu-Ray to compliment the movie. Throughout the song Pirate Jenny, Nina Simone repeats “the ship, the black freighter”. If I were you, I’d totally pick up a copy of Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under The Hood. I know I am!

Songs That Just Didn’t Make The Cut (But Should Have)

I was disappointed that some tracks didn’t make it to the soundtrack. Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Nena’s 99 Luftballoons, and Leonard Cohen’s First We Take Manhattan were left out but shouldn’t have been. I would have loved to hear First We Take Manhattan in the movie itself, or at least the first song in the end credits and not the second after My Chemical Romance’s take on Desolation Row.

The End Is The Beginning Is The End… or is it?

Trivia alert! In the trailer for the movie, you can hear the Smashing Pumpkins song The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning, which is not their original song The End Is The Beginning Is The End. While the chorus remains the same, the verses have different lyrics.

For Your Listening Pleasure

Below is the soundtrack as it was released (tracks 1-12) and as an added bonus, the three  songs mentioned above that didn’t make the cut (tracks 13-15).

And for those of you who actually did like Desolation Row by My Chemical Romance, here’s the official video just for you.

 

I definitely recommend picking up the soundtrack and Tyler Bates score, as both are great pieces of work and would compliment any music collection. Even if you aren’t a fan of the movie, the music alone is enough to warrant a purchase.

Even in an alternate history, the classics remain classic.

So click here for the Tyler Bates score and here for the soundtrack.

Tags: 99 Luftballoons, Apocalypse Now, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan's Desolation Row, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, K.C. And The Sunshine Band, Koyaanisqatsi, Me And Bobby McGee, Nat King Cole, Pruit Igoe & Prophecies, Simon And Garfunke, Smashing Pumpkins, The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginnin, The End Is The Beginning Is The End, The Sound of Silence, Tyler Bates, Unforgettable, watchmen, Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter & Under The Hood, You're My Thril