Midnight in Paris (soundtrack)

Midnight in Paris: Music from the Motion Picture
Soundtrack album by
various artists
ReleasedDecember 9, 2011
Genre
Length46:41
LabelMadison Gate

Midnight in Paris is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen, and starred Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard. The film featured no original music, but mostly incidental source music from the 1920s French jazz music, which Allen had used as an integral part of the film, similar to his previous ventures.[1] The album Midnight in Paris: Music from the Motion Picture was released on December 9, 2011 by Madison Gate Records and won an award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards in 2013.[2][3]

Reception

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Matt Collar of AllMusic wrote "Swooning and romantic in tone with a breezy, swinging jazz vibe throughout, the Midnight in Paris soundtrack is a must-have souvenir for traditional jazz lovers and any fan of the film."[4] Michael V. Tueth of America Magazine wrote that the soundtrack is "a brassy jazz tune" instead of "Gershwin rhapsody".[5] Jonathan Jones of The Guardian wrote "This is also the jazz age, signalled by some of Allen's favourite jazz on the soundtrack as well as appearances by legendary dancer Josephine Baker, a hero to modern artists, and the era's definitive songwriter, Cole Porter."[6]

David Salazar of OperaWire had addressed on the use of Offenbach’s Barcarole being crucial for the film's plot saying "Music plays a vital role in establishing time period with Gil’s first interaction of the 1920s featuring Cole Porter at the piano with one of his compositions. When the time comes for the “Belle Epoch,” the couple’s arrival at Maxim’s is marked by the Barcarolle performed by musicians. Despite the fact that it is clear that their playing is not in sync with the music they are supposedly playing, the famed tune helps contextualize the time period. We believe the time period because we recognize the music as being of that era."[7]

Track listing

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No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Si tu vois ma mere"Sidney Bechet3:14
2."Je suis seul ce soir"Swing 415:50
3."Recado"Original Paris Swing4:07
4."Bistro Fada"Stephane Wrembel3:05
5."Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love"Conal Fowkes2:57
6."You've Got That Thing"Conal Fowkes1:44
7."La conga blicoti"Josephine Baker2:25
8."You Do Something to Me"Conal Fowkes2:00
9."I Love Penny Sue"Daniel May3:17
10."Charleston"Enoch Light & The Charleston City All Stars2:19
11."Ain't She Sweet"Enoch Light & The Charleston City All Stars2:29
12."Parlez-moi d'amour"Dana Boule3:00
13."Barcarolle from "The Tales of Hoffman""Conal Fowkes, Yrving & Lisa Yeras2:21
14."Can-Can from "Orpheus in the Underworld""Czech National Symphony Orchestra2:27
15."Ballad du Paris"Francois Parisi3:14
16."Le parc de plaisir"Francois Parisi2:12
Total length:46:41

Chart performance

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Chart (2011) Peak
position
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)[8] 80

Accolades

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Award Category Result
Grammy Awards[9] Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media Won

References

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  1. ^ "Midnight in Paris (Music from the Motion Picture)". iTunes. Apple Music. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Bronson, Fred (February 10, 2013). "'Once,' Woody Allen's 'Midnight In Paris' Rewrite Grammy Record Books". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ^ Eggertsen, Chris (February 10, 2013). "Grammys: Trent Reznor, 'Midnight in Paris,' Taylor Swift and Civil Wars win film categories". UPROXX. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Collar, Matt. "Review: Midnight in Paris". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Moveable Feast: Woody Allen's 'Midnight in Paris'". America Magazine. July 4, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Jones, Jonathan (October 11, 2011). "Midnight in Paris: a beginner's guide to modernism". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  7. ^ Salazar, David (July 19, 2018). "Opera Meets Film: How Offenbach Classics Immerse The Audience In 'Midnight in Paris'". OperaWire. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  8. ^ "Mexican Charts: Albums". Mexican Charts. AMPROFON. September 11, 2011. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  9. ^ Brooks, Brian (December 6, 2012). "'The Hunger Games' And 'The Muppets' Top Grammy Awards Movie Nominees". Movieline. PMC. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2012.