Kubo and the Two Strings (soundtrack)

Last updated

Kubo and the Two Strings
Kubo and the Two Strings (soundtrack).jpg
Soundtrack album by
Dario Marianelli
ReleasedAugust 5, 2016
Recorded2015–2016
Venue London
Studio
Genre Film score
Length53:11
Label Warner Records
Laika film soundtrack chronology
The Boxtrolls
(2014)		Kubo and the Two Strings
(2016)		 Missing Link
(2019)
Dario Marianelli chronology
Everest
(2015)		Kubo and the Two Strings Ali and Nino
(2016)

Kubo and the Two Strings (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2016 film of the same name. The album featured original score composed by Italian composer Dario Marianelli, with a cover rendition of The Beatles-band member George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" performed by Regina Spektor. The score consisted of traditional Japanese music blended with Western and Eastern sounds, was recorded using ethnic instruments from Japan, in addition to modern instruments and orchestra, in order to create that feel.

Contents

The score was released on August 5, 2016, by Warner Records. It received critical acclaim with praise directed on Marianelli's compositions and called it as "one of his best film scores of the career". [1] The score itself was considered as "one of the best film scores of 2016", [2] [3] despite failing to receive nomination for Original Score category, at the major award ceremonies, including Academy, Golden Globe and BAFTA.

In October 2016, Mondo released a vinyl edition of the soundtrack — 2LP-disc sets, featuring the tracks pressed on a 180-gram coloured vinyl and a special artwork based on the film. [4] It was later re-issued in 2018.

Development

In November 2015, Dario Marianelli was hired to score the film's music. [5] [6] The score had a cultural significance to feudal Japan, and to incorporate it, Marianelli used ethnic Japanese instruments such as shakuhachi, taiko and koto in addition to the shamisen (a Japanese stringed instrument, which is an integral part of the film's plot). [lower-alpha 1] Besides that, he also infused western and eastern music tendencies, with the use of contemporary instruments. Marianelli said, "What we know of our very crude perception of western music is the pentatonic scale that you find on the black keys of the piano [...] But in fact there is a wealth of variety of scales in the east, so just digging a little deeper and learning about Japanese scales brought into the music much more depth". [7] The cues for Kubo, were delivered using rock-and-roll and soul music, to bring "an action film vibe" and "experimental, when played with a typical instrumentation". Marianelli opined that "It was a combination of very delicate, at times, and very soulful playing, but other times he can really unleash hell with his instrument and can be a proper rock and roller." [7] [8]

The usage of contemporary and distinctive Western instrumentation and its blending with traditional Japanese, according to director Travis Knight, was "a really beautiful combination of east and west in terms of the score and had these things melding together". He appreciated Marianelli's composition, further saying "the music that he did in this movie is the best thing that he has ever done. I think it’s absolutely exquisite. We’re feeling exactly what we need to be feeling, we’re hearing exactly what we’re feeling. And it really is an expression of understanding and emotion through music, I think it’s just a beautiful piece of work." [9] Two music consultants from the United Kingdom and Japan were hired for the film, while Kevin Kmetz from Estradasphere, played the western and traditional Japanese cues through his Monsters of Shamisen band.

The Beatles' track "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (1968) was performed by Regina Spektor which was included in the soundtrack. [10] [11] Speaking to an interview to Entertainment Weekly , Spektor added that "The way Travis described to me his idea for the boys’ choir — the Asian instruments carry the song through, and then this orchestra sweeps in and then there's this boys’ choir that comes in at the very end. He said it's almost like the children taking on the song of the mother and being the ones to carry on the story, and I really loved that he saw it all." [10] The music video was released on August 8, 2016, that featured snippets from the film. [12] [13] Rolling Stone described the song as: "Marianelli’s arrangement weaves a dense tapestry of string instruments – including a solo performed on the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese lute – before closing with a reflective piano coda." [13]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."The Impossible Waves"2:37
2."Kubo Goes to Town"1:25
3."Story Time"2:10
4."Ancestors"2:07
5."Meet the Sisters!"2:22
6."Origami Birds"3:25
7."The Giant Skeleton"3:30
8."The Leafy Galleon"4:36
9."Above and Below"3:59
10."The Galleon Restored"1:06
11."Monkey's Story"2:57
12."Hanzo's Fortress"5:45
13."United-Divided"3:01
14."Showdown with Grandfather"7:04
15."Rebirth"1:33
16."While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (performed by Regina Spektor)5:23

Reception

James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "There is an elegance to most of it which is typical of the composer, but it is largely written in a style which certainly isn’t.  It’s so nice to hear Marianelli have such fun in a score and the tightly-produced album hasn’t a dull moment." [14] Jonathan Broxton wrote "Everything about Kubo and the Two Strings works; there has been something of a misconception recently about Dario Marianelli, especially regarding his capacity to write good action music, but this should finally be put to rest by his work on Kubo. However, as good as the action music is – and it is excellent – it is surprising that Marianelli has been able to bring together so many potentially stymieing elements and make them work as a cohesive whole. The shamisen, the other aspects of Japanese folk music, the two central themes, and of course the emotional content of the film all needed to blend together perfectly to make Kubo and the Two Strings resonate with audiences and allow them to empathize with Laika’s stop-motion puppets." [15] Christian Kolo of Soundtrack.net said "Marianelli provided this film with an absolutely outstanding score. The creative musical elements, ethnic fusion, and melodic ingenuity all come together to formulate a masterful soundtrack." [16]

Dirk Libby of CinemaBlend wrote "Academy Award winner Dario Marianelli's score is lovely and beautiful when it needs to be, and jarring when it is required. The highlights, however, are the eastern inspired tunes played by Kubo himself in the film. Music is magic in Kubo and the Two Strings, and the music played by Kubo is the most transportive in the film. The up-tempo shamisen lead pieces of music will draw you into the story as much as the visual style. Although, the real ear worm you won't be able to get out of your head will be Regina Spektor's cover of The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" played over the closing credits." [17] David Ehrlich of IndieWire stated "Dario Marianelli’s lush and lively score helps sell the small-scale spectacle of Kubo’s gift". [18] Wendy Ide of The Guardian called the score as "gorgeous" and "surging". [19]

The score was hailed as one of Marianelli's best works, followed by Pride & Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007) and The Boxtrolls (2014). [20] Several websites such as Empire, [21] Collider, [2] IndieWire [3] and The Film Stage. [22] It has been shortlisted as one of the 145 scores being eligible for the Best Original Score category at the 89th Academy Awards, [23] [24] but was not selected. The score further snubbed from various categories at major award ceremonies, despite critical acclaim.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)LabelEditionsCatalog codeRef.
VariousAugust 5, 2016 Warner Records Standard— [25]
United StatesAugust 26, 2016 CD 556454-2 [26]
October 7, 2016 Vinyl MondoMOND-097 [27]
May 4, 2018 Limited [28]
JapanSeptember 7, 2016 CD Giza Studio JapaneseWPCS 13744 [26]

Personnel

Credits adapted from CD liner notes [26]

Notes

  1. ↑ the instrument was originated in China, before being re-introduced in Japan.

Related Research Articles

<i>Shamisen</i> Japanese plucked stringed instrument

The shamisen, also known as sangen or samisen (all meaning "three strings"), is a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument derived from the Chinese instrument sanxian. It is played with a plectrum called a bachi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">While My Guitar Gently Weeps</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. It was written by George Harrison, the band's lead guitarist. Harrison wrote "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" as an exercise in randomness inspired by the Chinese I Ching. The song conveys his dismay at the world's unrealised potential for universal love, which he refers to as "the love there that's sleeping".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Shimabukuro</span> American musician (born 1976)

Jake Shimabukuro is a Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso and composer known for his fast and complex finger work. His music combines elements of jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, classical, folk, and flamenco. Shimabukuro has written numerous original compositions, including the entire soundtracks to two Japanese films, Hula Girls (2007) and Sideways (2009), the Japanese remake of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regina Spektor</span> American musician

Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian–born American singer, songwriter, and pianist.

Dario Marianelli is an Italian composer.

<i>Pride & Prejudice</i> (soundtrack) 2005 film score by Dario Marianelli

Pride & Prejudice is the soundtrack to the 2005 film of the same name and was composed by Dario Marianelli and performed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) and the English Chamber Orchestra. The movie Pride & Prejudice is a screen adaptation of the 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

<i>Atonement</i> (soundtrack) 2007 soundtrack album by Dario Marianelli

Atonement (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album from the 2007 film Atonement, composed by Dario Marianelli and performed by the English Chamber Orchestra, French classical pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and cellist Caroline Dale. This was their second collaboration with director Joe Wright, following the soundtrack for his 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.

<i>Ratatouille</i> (soundtrack) 2007 film score by Michael Giacchino

Ratatouille (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2007 Disney/Pixar film of the same name composed by Michael Giacchino. The film marked Giacchino's second Pixar film after The Incredibles, which was also directed by Bird and also the second Pixar film not to be scored by Randy Newman or Thomas Newman. The album features original score cues, with an original song "Le Festin" written by Giacchino and performed by Camile, and was released by Walt Disney Records on June 26, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(I Want to) Come Home</span> 2010 single by Paul McCartney

"(I Want to) Come Home" is a song written and recorded by Paul McCartney for the 2009 film Everybody's Fine.

<i>Kubo and the Two Strings</i> 2016 film by Travis Knight

Kubo and the Two Strings is a 2016 American stop-motion animated action fantasy film produced by Laika. It is directed by Travis Knight with a screenplay by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler from a story by Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes, and it stars the voice roles of Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Ralph Fiennes, George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Vaccaro, Rooney Mara, and Matthew McConaughey. Set in feudal Japan, the film revolves around Kubo, a young boy who wields a magical shamisen and whose left eye was stolen during infancy. Accompanied by an anthropomorphic snow monkey and beetle, he must embark on a quest to defeat his mother's evil twin Sisters and his power-hungry grandfather, the Moon King, who is responsible for stealing his left eye.

Bumblebee (Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2018 film of the same name directed by Travis Knight. The film, which is the sixth installment in the Transformers live-action film series, serves as a spin-off and prequel to the 2007 film. The soundtrack to the film consisted of several popular songs from the 1980s, which were released by Republic Records on the same day, as the film's release on December 21, 2018. Bumblebee (Motion Picture Score), an album consisting of the film's original score composed by Dario Marianelli was released by Paramount Music on the same date.

<i>The Jungle Book</i> (2016 soundtrack) 2016 soundtrack album by John Debney

The Jungle Book (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2016 eponymous Disney film, which is a live-action/CGI adaptation of the 1967 animated film of the same name. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film features musical score composed and conducted by his frequent collaborator John Debney, mostly drawing from George Bruns' original music. Few of the tracks were incorporated from the 1967 film's soundtrack written by Sherman Brothers and Terry Gilkyson. The score was recorded at Los Angeles, California and New Orleans, with prominent players and large orchestral members recording the score. Walt Disney Records released the film's soundtrack on April 15, 2016. It received positive reviews for the musical score, as well as incorporated songs from the 1967 film, being well received. John Debney missed the nomination for Academy Award for Best Original Score, though at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, he won Best Original Score – Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film as well as receiving a Satellite Award for Best Original Score nomination.

<i>Inside Out</i> (soundtrack) 2015 soundtrack album by Michael Giacchino

Inside Out: Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to Disney/Pixar's 2015 film of the same name, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Pete Docter, the film featured musical score composed by Michael Giacchino. This is the second collaboration between Giacchino and Docter, after previously working on Up, which fetched the former, an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Giacchino termed the score as "more emotional in comparison to the score for Up" and also being "more personal" due to his experience on parenthood. The score was recorded within January and May 2015, and featured more orchestral and symphonic music accompanied by a range of instruments, from piano, guitar, drum, organ and harp.

Under the Skin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2014 film of the same name. Released digitally on 28 March 2014 by Rough Trade Records, the soundtrack was composed by Mica Levi and produced by Peter Raeburn. The score consists of dark ambient music, primarily written and recorded over a span of 10 months, with the pitch of the score being altered at several intervals for "listeners to make them feel uncomfortable". While the score consisted of viola, several instruments such as strings and percussions were accompanied in the cues. The album was physically released in CDs on 18 April 2014, and a vinyl edition was released on 10 October by Warner Records and Milan Records, which re-issued the album twice: the first re-issue was released on 12 June 2020 by Mondo and a second re-issue is scheduled for release on 8 July 2022 by Juno Records.

<i>Jurassic World Dominion</i> (soundtrack) 2022 film score by Michael Giacchino

Jurassic World Dominion (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score album to the 2022 film of the same name composed by Michael Giacchino. The sixth film in the Jurassic Park franchise, it is also the sequel to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and the final film in the Jurassic World trilogy, while also serving as a conclusion to the storyline started in the original Jurassic Park trilogy. It is directed by Colin Trevorrow, who co-wrote the script with Emily Carmichael and story with Derek Connolly, and produced by Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, who also produced the predecessors, with Steven Spielberg, who directed Jurassic Park (1993), served as the executive producer.

<i>Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol</i> (soundtrack) 2011 film score by Michael Giacchino

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is the score album to the 2011 film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. The fourth installment in the Mission: Impossible film series, starring Tom Cruise, and the sequel to Mission: Impossible III (2006), the film is directed by Brad Bird and featured musical score composed by Michael Giacchino, who scored for Mission: Impossible III (2006), and also for Bird's previous animated films, The Incredibles (2004) and Ratatouille (2007). Varèse Sarabande released the soundtrack on December 13, 2011.

<i>Lion</i> (soundtrack) 2016 film score by Dustin OHalloran and Hauschka

Lion (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2016 film Lion. The album mostly features musical score composed by Dustin O'Halloran and Volker Bertelmann, known by the stage name Hauschka. This film marked their joint collaboration together in scoring films. The score consisted of piano, accompanied by strings, percussions and a minimal orchestra, to produce the score in a "subtle and restrained manner", to convey the emotions of Saroo, the film's protagonist. The score album, also featured a promotional single, "Never Give Up" by Sia. The album was distributed by Sony Classical Records and released in digital formats on 25 November 2016, and through CDs on 23 December. A vinyl edition of the album also released on 17 March 2017.

The Invisible Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album to the 2020 film The Invisible Man, inspired by H. G. Wells' novel of the same name. Composed by Benjamin Wallfisch, the album was released on February 21, 2020 by Back Lot Music, a week before the film's release. Wallfisch used string orchestra to compose for the film, mimicking Bernard Herrmann's technique for the score of Psycho (1960), while blending synth and electronic music. It was released on vinyl editions by Death Waltz Recording Company and Mondo on June 5, 2020.

<i>Jane Eyre</i> (soundtrack) 2011 film score by Dario Marianelli

Jane Eyre (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2011 film Jane Eyre directed by Cary Fukunaga based on Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel of the same name. The album featured the original score written and composed by Dario Marianelli and featured performances by classical violinist Jack Liebeck. Hans Zimmer's protégé Benjamin Wallfisch conducted and orchestrated the score. It was released by Sony Classical Records on 8 March 2011.

<i>Anna Karenina</i> (2012 soundtrack) 2012 soundtrack album by Dario Marianelli

Anna Karenina (Original Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album composed by Dario Marianelli for the 2012 film Anna Karenina.

References

  1. ↑ "Hitting the Right Note: Dario Marianelli's Unforgettable Film Scores". Focus Features. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Chitwood, Adam (December 30, 2016). "Best Film Scores of 2016: From La La Land to Arrival". Collider. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Ehrlich, David (December 19, 2016). "The 10 Best Movie Scores of 2016". IndieWire. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  4. ↑ Giroux, Jack (August 24, 2016). "Mondo Will Release The 'Kubo And The Two Strings' Soundtrack On Vinyl". SlashFilm.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Dario Marianelli to Compose the Score for LAIKA's 'Kubo and the Two Strings'". Rotoscopers. November 12, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Dario Marianelli". www.prsformusic.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Tapley, Kristopher (January 9, 2017). "Composer Dario Marianelli Details the 'Rock and Roll' Spirit of His 'Kubo' Score". Variety. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  8. ↑ Foutch, Haleigh (June 30, 2016). "Kubo and the Two Strings: Tour the Sets of LAIKA's Latest". Collider. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  9. ↑ Glennon, Christopher (August 16, 2016). "Two Strings Tuesday: An Interview With Travis Knight, Director of "Kubo and the Two Strings"". Anime Superhero News. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Regina Spektor explains how she covered the Beatles for 'Kubo' soundtrack". EW.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  11. ↑ "The "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" Cover In 'Kubo & The Two Strings' Is A Touching Take On A Classic". Bustle. August 18, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  12. ↑ Goldberg, Matt (August 12, 2016). "Kubo and the Two Strings: While My Guitar Gently Weeps Music Video". Collider. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Reed, Ryan (August 5, 2016). "Hear Regina Spektor's Haunting 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' Cover". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Kubo and the Two Strings soundtrack review | Dario Marianelli | movie-wave.net". August 21, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  15. ↑ "KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS – Dario Marianelli". MOVIE MUSIC UK. September 14, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Kubo and the Two Strings Soundtrack (2016)". www.soundtrack.net. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  17. ↑ Dirk Libbey (August 18, 2016). "Kubo And The Two Strings". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  18. ↑ Ehrlich, David (August 12, 2016). "Review: 'Kubo And The Two Strings' Is A Stop-Motion Masterpiece". IndieWire. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Kubo and the Two Strings review – lyrical stop-motion tale". the Guardian. September 11, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  20. ↑ Chitwood, Adam (October 14, 2016). "Best Film Composers: 23 Most Exciting Musicians Working Today". Collider. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  21. ↑ "The best soundtracks of 2016". Empire. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  22. ↑ Raup, Jordan (January 2, 2017). "Listen to the Best Scores and Soundtracks of 2016". The Film Stage. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  23. ↑ Staff, T. H. R. (December 14, 2016). "145 Original Scores Eligible to Compete at 2017 Oscars". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  24. ↑ Nordine, Michael (December 14, 2016). "Oscars 2017: Best Original Score Category Whittled Down, with 'La La Land' and 'Jackie' Moving Forward". IndieWire. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  25. ↑ Kubo and the Two Strings (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Dario Marianelli & Regina Spektor, August 5, 2016, retrieved May 30, 2022
  26. 1 2 3 Dario Marianelli & Regina Spektor, Kubo and the Two Strings , retrieved May 30, 2022
  27. ↑ "Kubo and the Two Strings – Original Soundtrack 2XLP". Mondo. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  28. ↑ "New Music Release: KUBO & THE TWO STRINGS and CORALINE". Mondo. August 23, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.