A.I.: Artificial Intelligence [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

by John Williams

Overview

For his 17th collaboration with director Steven Spielberg, film composer John Williams finds himself in familiar territory. Though drawn from the unmade project pile of director Stanley Kubrick, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, with its science-fiction theme and central character of a child, is strongly reminiscent of previous Spielberg/Williams works, none more than E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, with which it even shares a similarity of title. Once again, Williams is able to explore his gentler and more lyrical musical nature, though he doesn't have as much of an opportunity for the kind of lush, heroic melodies he has enjoyed in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. Here, his major influences seem to be contemporary classical composer Philip Glass and new age music. Glass' style is heard in the film's main theme, "The Mecha World," which employs short, quickly repeated notes in percussive patterns running up and down the scale. Williams adds other elements to the pattern in "Abandoned in the Woods," and by the third track, "Replicas," has gone to an ambient sound that recalls much new age music. "Hide and Seek" is delicate and charming, and after the more demonstrative "The Moon Rising," there are several cues featuring the wordless vocals of Barbara Bonney. "For Always," a song with lyrics by Cynthia Weil that is presented in both a solo version sung by Lara Fabian and a duet version by Fabian and Josh Groban, is attractive but emotionally distant and unlikely to score a hit for the composer. Nevertheless, this is one of Williams' better scores, and all the better for managing to find such an appealing tone while remaining true to the film's remote, wistful themes. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	07/03/2001
Label:	Warner/Sunset / Warner Bros. / Warner Sunset
UPC:	0093624809623

Tracks

1. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~The Mecha World
2. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~Abandoned In The Woods
3. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~Replicas
4. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~Hide and Seek
5. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~For Always
6. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~Cybertronics
7. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~The Moon Rising
8. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~Stored Memories / Monica's Theme
9. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~Where Dreams Are Born
10. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~Rouge City
11. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~The Search For the Blue Fairy
12. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~The Reunion
13. A.I. (Artificial Intelligence), film score~For Always (Duet)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Williams   Primary Artist,Conductor
Josh Groban   Primary Artist,Vocals
Lara Fabian   Primary Artist,Vocals
Barbara Bonney   Primary Artist,Vocals
David Foster   Keyboards

Technical Credits

John Williams   Producer,Composer
Felipe Elgueta   Synthesizer Programming,Engineer
David Foster   Producer
Patrick Weber   Scoring Crew
Patricia Sullivan Fourstar   Mastering
Steven Spielberg   Liner Notes
Jason Lloyd   Scoring Crew
Keith Zajic   Album Administrator
Mark Eshelman   Scoring Crew
Andy Bass   Scoring Crew
Doug Frank   Executive in Charge of Music
Katherine Delaney   Package Design
Sue MacLean   Assistant Engineer
Sandy De Crescent   Music Contractor
Nick Marshall   Assistant
David James   Photography
Ken Wannberg   Music Editor
Cynthia Weil   Composer,Lyricist
Dave Reitzas   Mixing,Engineer
David Altschul   Album Administrator
Gary LeMel   Executive in Charge of Music
Danny Bramson   Executive Producer
Shawn Murphy   Mixing,Remixing,Recording