Past Lives (soundtrack)

Last updated

Past Lives
Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen - Past Lives (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).png
Film score by
Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen
ReleasedJune 9, 2023
Genre Film score
Length39:53
Label A24 Music
Producer

Past Lives is the soundtrack album to the 2023 film of the same name, composed by Grizzly Bear drummer Christopher Bear and singer-songwriter Daniel Rossen. [1] It marked their film scoring debut as the band's music have been licensed for films in their past, and never scored film music. [2] [3] The soundtrack to the film consisted of 15 instrumental tracks from their score, and an original song "Quiet Eyes" by Sharon Van Etten. [4] [5] It was released on June 9, 2023 by A24's music division, a week after the theatrical release of the film. [6] [7]

Contents

Development

Bear and Rossen wanted to capture the passage of time with their music, as the film travels from time periods and cities. They used cellos and keys to guide a scene during a montage where the characters communicate intercontinentally, which would be further guided by strings and synth. Although the band worked remotely in their respective studios, they built a matrix of emotions for plotting out sounds, where the themes would reappear into a color-coded graph which they confirm their relationships that drive the story. There are certain cues that focus on one of the themes but maybe related to the characters' relationship in their childhood and present, and inter-connect at the same time. Rossen complimented that Bear took a strong lead in lot of the score, when compared to his band experience, who complimented it as one of an important role. [8]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."If You Leave Something Behind"1:20
2."Crossing"1:28
3."You Gain Something Too"1:06
4."Do You Remember Me"1:17
5."I Remember You"2:24
6."Across the Ocean"4:32
7."Crossing II"2:03
8."In Yun"2:18
9."We Live Here"1:38
10."Why Are You Going to New York"2:54
11."Staring at a Ghost"3:18
12."Bedroom"2:33
13."An Immigrant and a Tourist"2:22
14."Eight Thousand Layers"2:58
15."See You"4:05
16."Quiet Eyes" (Sharon Van Etten)3:37
Total length:39:53

Reception

Tim Grierson of Screen International wrote "Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen’s lilting, mediative score is as finely calibrated as the film, piano and guitar offering lovely counterpoint to the onscreen drama." [9] David Fear of Rolling Stone complimented that the score "lays the swooning string section over everything just right". [10] Tatsam Mukherjee in his review for The Wire wrote "Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen’s music never intrudes upon the film." [11] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote "The score practically bubbles with potential during the scenes where Nora and Hae Sung are video chatting — a youthful sound, compared with later, when strings speak to what they might have missed out on." [12] Jacob Oller of Paste said that composers Bear and Rossen "nudge and prod our tear ducts, as if they needed it". [13] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter said that the duo's "delicate chiming synth" score complimented Song's "visual command to match her emotional and philosophical insights". [14] Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair wrote "The invaluable score, gracefully lilts around Hae Sung and Nora as they drift toward and away from one another." [15] David Ehrlich of IndieWire wrote "Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen’s crystalline score allows the movie to find its proper time signature right from the start." [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grizzly Bear (band)</span> American rock band

Grizzly Bear was an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2002. For most of its tenure, the band has consisted of Edward Droste, Daniel Rossen, Chris Taylor, and Christopher Bear. The band employed both traditional and electronic instruments, and their sound has been categorized as psychedelic pop, folk rock, and experimental. The band was known for their use of vocal harmony, with all four members contributing vocals and lead vocals alternating between Rossen and Droste.

<i>Yellow House</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Grizzly Bear

Yellow House is the second studio album by American rock band Grizzly Bear, released on September 5, 2006, by Warp Records. Produced by bass guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Taylor, the album's title refers to vocalist Ed Droste's mother's house where the majority of recording took place.

Department of Eagles is an American duo formed in New York in 2000, consisting of Daniel Rossen and Fred Nicolaus.

<i>Friend</i> (EP) 2007 EP by Grizzly Bear

Friend is an EP by the Brooklyn-based band Grizzly Bear, their first release following the critically acclaimed Yellow House. It was released on November 5, 2007 on Warp Records. The EP has tracks recorded during sessions for the Yellow House album, as well as covers of their songs by Band of Horses, CSS and Atlas Sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Droste</span> American musician

Edward Droste is an American singer-songwriter and musician, formerly of the rock band Grizzly Bear. The group began as the solo effort of Droste with the release of 2004's Horn of Plenty, originally released on Kanine Records. All songs were written and performed by Droste. By 2005, the group expanded into a four-piece, with Droste still as a contributing songwriter. He left the group in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Rossen</span> American singer-songwriter

Daniel Raphael Rossen is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the indie rock band Grizzly Bear.

Christopher Robert Bear is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist member of the Brooklyn-based indie-rock group Grizzly Bear.

<i>In Ear Park</i> 2008 album by the Department of Eagles

In Ear Park is the second album by Department of Eagles. It was released by 4AD on October 7, 2008. The inspiration for the album is noted to come from Daniel Rossen's childhood experiences, most notably memories of those related to his father. The album is dedicated to his father, who died in 2007. In an interview for a 4AD DUMBO Session, Rossen reflected on the inspiration for the title of the album, quoting, "It was a nickname for a park that I used to go to with my dad, when I was a kid, and there was an interactive statue that looked like a giant ear...so we called it In Ear Park".

<i>Veckatimest</i> 2009 studio album by Grizzly Bear

Veckatimest is the third studio album by American rock band Grizzly Bear, released on May 26, 2009, by Warp Records. The album is named after Veckatimest Island, a small island in Dukes County, Massachusetts. Produced by bassist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Taylor, the album entered the US Billboard 200 at #8, selling 33,000 copies in its first week of release. By September 2012, the album had sold around 220,000 copies in the US. In 2010. It was awarded a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 100,000 copies throughout Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin Pecknold</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1986)

Robin Noel Pecknold is an American singer-songwriter, who serves as the principal songwriter and vocalist for indie folk band Fleet Foxes, with whom he has recorded four studio albums. He is known for his distinct baritenor voice and introspective lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Weeks (Grizzly Bear song)</span> 2009 single by Grizzly Bear

"Two Weeks" is a song by the American indie rock band Grizzly Bear, and the first single from the band's third studio album, Veckatimest. Featuring backing vocals from Victoria Legrand, singer and organist for the dream pop duo Beach House, it was released as a single on June 1, 2009. The song's debut live performance was on the Late Show with David Letterman in July 2008.

<i>Shields</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Grizzly Bear

Shields is the fourth studio album by American rock band Grizzly Bear, released on September 18, 2012, by Warp Records. Written and recorded following a six-month hiatus from band activities, the album was produced by bassist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Taylor. Preceded by the singles, "Sleeping Ute" and "Yet Again", an expanded version of Shields, entitled Shields Expanded, was released on November 12, 2013, featuring additional tracks recorded during the sessions, demo recordings and remixes. The eight additional tracks were issued as a separate mini-album, entitled Shields: B-Sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleeping Ute (song)</span> 2012 single by Grizzly Bear

"Sleeping Ute" is a song by American indie rock band Grizzly Bear, and the first single from the band's fourth studio album, Shields (2012). The song features lead vocals by guitarist Daniel Rossen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A24</span> American independent entertainment company

A24 is an American independent entertainment company that specializes in film and television production, as well as film distribution. The company is based in Manhattan.

<i>Past Lives</i> (film) 2023 film by Celine Song

Past Lives is a 2023 American romantic drama film written and directed by Celine Song in her feature directorial debut. Starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro, it follows two childhood friends over the course of 24 years while they contemplate the nature of their relationship as they grow apart, living different lives. The plot is semi-autobiographical and inspired by real events from Song's life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celine Song</span> Korean-Canadian director and writer

Celine Song is a Korean-Canadian director, playwright, and screenwriter based in the United States. Among her plays are Endlings and The Seagull on The Sims 4. Her directorial film debut Past Lives was nominated for several accolades including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 96th Academy Awards.

<i>Blue Valentine</i> (soundtrack) 2011 soundtrack album by Grizzly Bear

Blue Valentine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2010 film Blue Valentine, released by Lakeshore Records on January 25, 2011, nearly a month after the film's release. It featured original songs composed by Grizzly Bear and the instrumental pieces of the tracks underscored the film.

<i>Beau Is Afraid</i> (soundtrack) 2023 film score by Bobby Krlic

Beau Is Afraid (Original Score) is the score album to the 2023 film of the same name directed by Ari Aster and starring Joaquin Phoenix. The film's original score is written and composed by Bobby Krlic whom he collaborated with Aster in Midsommar (2019). The score was released by A24 Music on April 14, 2023.

<i>Cmon Cmon</i> (soundtrack) 2021 film score by Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner

C'mon C'mon (Original Motion Picture Score) is the film score to the 2021 film of the same name directed by Mike Mills. Featuring original score composed by The National's Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner, the film also marked Aaron's feature film scoring debut. The soundtrack was released on November 12, 2021, through A24's music division, to positive reviews and fetched an award for Best Original Score in an Independent Film at the 12th Hollywood Music in Media Awards.

References

  1. ↑ "Grizzly Bear's Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen Announce Soundtrack for Celine Song's New A24 Movie Past Lives". Pitchfork. May 17, 2023. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Grizzly Bear Members Reunite For 'Past Lives' Soundtrack: Hear Two Songs". Stereogum. May 17, 2023. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  3. ↑ Raup, Jordan (June 23, 2023). "Listen to the Soundtracks for Asteroid City and Past Lives". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Sharon Van Etten's "Quiet Eyes": Stream the Past Lives Song". Consequence. June 7, 2023. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ Ramkumar, Kat. "Sharon Van Etten and Zachary Dawes Share New Song "Quiet Eyes" for A24's "Past Lives"". Under the Radar Magazine. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Grizzly Bear Members Announce Soundtrack for Past Lives". Consequence. May 17, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Grizzly Bear announce soundtrack for A24's 'Past Lives'". Far Out. May 18, 2023. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "'Past Lives' Score: Grizzly Bear Members Interview". UPROXX. June 14, 2023. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ Grierson, Tim (January 22, 2023). "'Past Lives': Sundance Review". Screen. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  10. ↑ Fear, David (June 2, 2023). "'Past Lives' Is Already the Best Movie of the Year". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Unresolved Romances and the Other Dilemmas of Love in 'Past Lives'". The Wire. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  12. ↑ Debruge, Peter (January 22, 2023). "'Past Lives' Review: Celine Song's Understated Sundance Stunner Will Have Art-House Audiences Swooning". Variety. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ "The Brilliantly Bittersweet Past Lives Is Impossibly Romantic". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ Rooney, David (January 26, 2023). "'Past Lives' Review: Playwright Celine Song Makes a Stunning Move Into Features With This Decades-Spanning Romantic Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  15. ↑ "'Past Lives' Is a Note-Perfect Directorial Debut". Vanity Fair. January 21, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  16. ↑ Ehrlich, David (January 22, 2023). "'Past Lives' Review: Celine Song's Transcendent Debut Is Destined to Be One of 2023's Best Films". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
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.