Loading AI tools
1997 soundtrack album by James Horner From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack to the film of the same name composed, orchestrated, and conducted by James Horner. The soundtrack was released by Sony Classical/Sony Music Soundtrax on November 18, 1997.[1]
Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture | |
---|---|
Soundtrack album by | |
Released | November 18, 1997 |
Recorded | 1996–1997 |
Length | 72:31 |
Label | Sony Classical/Sony Music Soundtracks |
Singles from Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture | |
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Film Score Reviews | |
Filmtracks | |
Movie Wave |
Riding the wave of the film's immense success, the soundtrack shot to the top of the charts in nearly two-dozen territories,[2] selling over 27 million copies worldwide, making it one of the top 100 best-selling albums in the United States,[3][4] one of the best-selling albums of all time, and the highest-selling primarily orchestral soundtrack ever.[5]
In 2012, the album, along with its successor Back to Titanic (1998), was re-issued as part of the Collector's Anniversary Edition set for the 3D re-release of the film. In 2017, La-La Land Records released the 20th Anniversary Edition in a limited edition 4-disc release.
In 2022, on the film's 25th anniversary, the album was released on LP in a limited edition of 7,500 copies. The set included 2 LPs in a gatefold sleeve, an 8-page booklet, an XL poster, and a print replica of the historical New York Times frontpage.[6]
Director James Cameron originally intended Enya to compose the music, and in fact put together a rough edit of the film using her music as a temporary soundtrack.[7] After she declined, he approached James Horner. Their relationship was strained after their first collaboration in Aliens, but the soundtrack to Braveheart made Cameron overlook it. Horner composed the soundtrack having in mind Enya's style; Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø performed the wordless vocals on the soundtrack.
Horner knew Sissel from the album Innerst i sjelen and he particularly liked how she sang the song Eg Veit I Himmerik Ei Borg ("I Know in Heaven There Is a Castle"). Horner had tried 25 or 30 singers and, in the end, he chose Sissel to sing the wordless tune.[8]
Céline Dion, who was no stranger to movie songs in the 1990s, since her contribution to "Beauty and the Beast" from Walt Disney's Beauty and the Beast, sang "My Heart Will Go On", the film's signature song written by James Horner and Will Jennings. At first, Cameron did not want a song sung over the film's ending credits, but Horner disagreed. Without telling Cameron, he went ahead and wrote the song anyway, and recorded Dion singing it. Cameron changed his mind when Horner presented the song to him. "My Heart Will Go On" became a worldwide smash hit, going to the top of the music charts around the world. "My Heart Will Go On" also ended up winning the 1997 Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1998.
Other artists were invited to submit songs for the movie including contemporary Christian artist Michael W. Smith. He mentions in the liner notes to the song "In My Arms Again" from his 1998 album Live the Life;[9] "Inspired and written for the movie Titanic, grateful for the opportunity to send them a song; grateful it landed on this record."
For the choral background of certain tracks, Horner made use of a digital choir instead of a real one; after the orchestral music was recorded, Horner personally performed the synthesized choir over a playback of the recording.[10][11] The idea behind using electronics, rather than a real choir, stemmed from Horner wanting to avoid a 'church'-like sound.[12]
Throughout the film, the composer created themes for particular characters, events, locations, and ideas.[13]
Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture became the highest-selling primarily orchestral film score in history, with worldwide sales surpassing 30 million copies. The soundtrack quickly moved up the US Billboard 200, going from number eleven to number one on the chart in January 1998, keeping Shania Twain's Come On Over and Madonna's Ray of Light from reaching the top spot. It remained at the top for sixteen straight weeks until it was replaced by the Dave Matthews Band album Before These Crowded Streets. No album would spend at least ten consecutive weeks at number-one until Adele's 21 in the winter of 2012. The soundtrack has been certified 11× Platinum for 11 million copies shipped in the United States,[15] becoming the best-selling album of 1998, and the fastest-certified soundtrack album ever.[16][17]
The soundtrack also hit number-one in at least 14 other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The soundtrack was certified 5× Platinum by the ARIA in Australia for 350,000 copies shipped.[18] It was certified 3× Platinum in the United Kingdom for over 900,000 copies shipped;[19] and was certified diamond by the CRIA in Canada for 1 million copies shipped.[20] The soundtrack is the best-selling non-Chinese CD album in Taiwan, selling 1.1 million copies.
The soundtrack's success led to the release of a second volume, called Back to Titanic which contained a mixture of previously unreleased soundtrack recordings and newly recorded performances of some of the songs in the film, including one track recorded by Clannad singer, Máire Brennan. Back to Titanic was certified platinum by the RIAA.[21]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Never an Absolution" | 3:03 | ||
2. | "Distant Memories" | 2:23 | ||
3. | "Southampton" | 4:01 | ||
4. | "Rose" | 2:52 | ||
5. | "Leaving Port" | 3:26 | ||
6. | "Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch" | 4:31 | ||
7. | "Hard to Starboard" | 6:52 | ||
8. | "Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave" | 3:56 | ||
9. | "The Sinking" | 5:05 | ||
10. | "Death of Titanic" | 8:26 | ||
11. | "A Promise Kept" | 6:02 | ||
12. | "A Life So Changed" | 2:13 | ||
13. | "An Ocean of Memories" | 7:57 | ||
14. | "My Heart Will Go On" | Will Jennings | Céline Dion | 5:11 |
15. | "Hymn to the Sea" | 6:26 |
All music is composed by and performed by James Horner, except where noted.
A two-disc edition comprised the original soundtrack as disc 1, and Gentlemen, It Has Been a Privilege Playing with You Tonight as disc 2.
A four-disc edition, released only in certain countries, moved Gentlemen to disc 3, with Back to Titanic as disc 2, and Popular Music From the Titanic Era as disc 4.
All tracks on Gentlemen, It Has Been a Privilege Playing with You Tonight performed by I Salonisti and produced by John Altman.
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Valse Septembre" | Felix Godin | 3:41 |
2. | "Marguerite Waltz" | Charles Gounod | 2:35 |
3. | "Wedding Dance" | Paul Lincke | 2:32 |
4. | "Poet and Peasant" | Franz von Suppé | 6:50 |
5. | "Blue Danube" | Johann Strauss II | 6:56 |
6. | "Song Without Words" | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | 2:38 |
7. | "Estudiantina" | 3:12 | |
8. | "Vision of Salome" | Archibald Joyce | 2:43 |
9. | "Titsy Bitsy Girl" | 1:37 | |
10. | "Alexander's Ragtime Band" | Irving Berlin | 2:29 |
11. | "Sphinx" |
| 3:49 |
12. | "Barcarole" | Jacques Offenbach | 3:32 |
13. | "Orpheus" | Offenbach | 8:41 |
14. | "Song of Autumn" | Joyce | 3:54 |
15. | "Nearer My God to Thee" | 2:50 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" |
| John McCormack | 3:10 |
2. | "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" | Halfway House Dance Orchestra | 3:05 | |
3. | "Vilia" | Franz Lehár | Guy Lombardo & His Orchestra | 2:44 |
4. | "My Gal Sal" | Paul Dresser | Chick Bullock & His Levee Loungers | 2:57 |
5. | "Oh! You Beautiful Doll" |
| Chuck Foster & His Orchestra | 2:53 |
6. | "Martha" | Friedrich von Flotow | Adrian Rollini Trio | 2:58 |
7. | "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" | Duke Ellington & His Orchestra | 3:11 | |
8. | "Waiting at the Church" |
| Beatrice Kay | 2:38 |
9. | "Frasquita Serenade" | Léhar | John Kirby & His Orchestra | 2:40 |
10. | "Shine On Harvest Moon" | Hal Kemp | 3:06 | |
11. | "From the Land of the Sky Blue Water" | Mildred Bailey & Her Orchestra | 2:47 | |
12. | "Loch Lomond" | Traditional | Maxine Sullivan & Her Orchestra | 2:57 |
13. | "A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" |
| Miff Mole's Molers | 2:46 |
14. | "Nearer My God to Thee" |
| Nelson Eddy | 3:10 |
Discs 1–3 composed and produced by James Horner, except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Logo/Main Title" | 2:28 |
2. | "2 1/2 Miles Down" | 10:33 |
3. | "To the Keldysh / Rose Revealed" | 1:43 |
4. | "Distant Memories" | 2:24 |
5. | "My Drawing / Relics & Treasures" | 1:52 |
6. | "Southampton" | 4:00 |
7. | "Leaving Port" | 3:27 |
8. | "Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch" | 4:31 |
9. | "First Sighting / Rose's Suicide Attempt" | 3:05 |
10. | "Jack Saves Rose" | 1:42 |
11. | "The Promenade / Butterfly Comb" | 2:40 |
12. | "Rose" | 2:54 |
13. | "The Portrait" | 1:58 |
14. | "Lovejoy Chases Jack and Rose[lower-alpha 2]" | 2:24 |
15. | "Lovemaking" | 2:26 |
16. | "Hard to Starboard" (extended version) | 7:42 |
17. | "Rose Frees Jack" | 2:41 |
Total length: | 58:29 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "A Building Panic" (film version) | 7:25 |
2. | "Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave" | 3:56 |
3. | "Trapped on 'D' Deck" | 8:46 |
4. | "Murdoch's Suicide" | 0:37 |
5. | "The Sinking" | 5:06 |
6. | "Death of Titanic" | 8:25 |
7. | "A Promise Kept" | 6:03 |
8. | "A Life So Changed" | 2:14 |
9. | "A Woman's Heart Is a Deep Ocean of Secrets" | 1:43 |
10. | "An Ocean of Memories" | 8:00 |
11. | "Post" | 2:44 |
Total length: | 54:59 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Never an Absolution" | 3:06 |
2. | "Trailer" | 4:12 |
3. | "The Portrait" (album version) | 4:43 |
4. | "Logo" (alternate extended version) | 2:10 |
5. | "2 1/2 Miles Down" (alternate) | 1:36 |
6. | "Southampton" (alternate) | 3:05 |
7. | "Leaving Port" (with alternate ending) | 3:00 |
8. | "Leaving Port" (alternate) | 2:15 |
9. | "Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch" (alternate) | 4:29 |
10. | "Rose" (alternate) | 2:58 |
11. | "Piano Theme—The Portrait" | 5:00 |
12. | "Lovejoy Chases Jack" (alternate) | 1:55 |
13. | "Hard to Starboard" (alternate) | 6:50 |
14. | "A Building Panic" (album suite) | 8:05 |
15. | "Death of Titanic" (alternate) | 8:29 |
16. | "A Promise Kept" (alternate) | 4:32 |
17. | "Hymn to the Sea" | 6:26 |
Total length: | 72:52 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Valse Septembre" | Godin | I Salonisti | 3:43 |
2. | "Marguerite Waltz" | Gounod | I Salonisti | 2:34 |
3. | "Wedding Dance" | Lincke | I Salonisti | 2:30 |
4. | "Poet and Peasant" | Suppé | I Salonisti | 6:48 |
5. | "Blue Danube" | Strauss | I Salonisti | 6:55 |
6. | "Song Without Words" | Tchaikovsky | I Salonisti | 2:37 |
7. | "Estudiantina" |
| I Salonisti | 3:11 |
8. | "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" |
| William Ross (cond.) | 2:12 |
9. | "Blarney Pilgrims" | Traditional | Gaelic Storm | 2:11 |
10. | "John Ryan's Polka" | Traditional | Gaelic Storm | 2:53 |
11. | "Kesh Jig" | Traditional | Gaelic Storm | 1:59 |
12. | "Drowsy Maggie Dance" | Traditional | Gaelic Storm | 1:22 |
13. | "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine" | William Ross (cond.) | 1:46 | |
14. | "The Merry Widow" | Lehár | William Ross (cond.) | 1:30 |
15. | "Méditation de Thaïs" | Jules Massenet | I Salonisti | 4:25 |
16. | "Vision of Salome" | Joyce | I Salonisti | 2:42 |
17. | "Titsy Bitsy Girl" |
| I Salonisti | 1:35 |
18. | "Alexander's Ragtime Band" | Berlin | I Salonisti | 1:46 |
19. | "Sphinx" |
| I Salonisti | 3:48 |
20. | "Barcarole" | Offenbach | I Salonisti | 3:31 |
21. | "Orpheus" | Offenbach | I Salonisti | 8:40 |
22. | "Song of Autumn" | Joyce | I Salonisti | 3:53 |
23. | "Nearer My God to Thee" (extended version) |
| I Salonisti | 3:14 |
Total length: | 76:30 |
Disc 4, tracks 1–7, 15–23 produced by John Altman. Tracks 9–12 produced by Randy Gerston. Tracks 8, 13, 14 arranged and conducted by William Ross.
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
|
Year-end charts
End-of-decade charts
Best of all time charts (Top 200)
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF)[60] | Platinum | 60,000^ |
Australia (ARIA)[61] | 5× Platinum | 350,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[62] | 2× Platinum | 100,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[63] | 3× Platinum | 150,000* |
Brazil | — | 650,000[64] |
Canada (Music Canada)[65] | Diamond | 1,000,000^ |
China | — | 1,000,000[66] |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[67] | Platinum | 73,509[67] |
France (SNEP)[68] | Diamond | 1,600,000[69] |
Germany (BVMI)[70] | 5× Gold | 1,300,000[71] |
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[72] | Platinum | 20,000* |
Italy | — | 800,000[73] |
Japan (RIAJ)[74] | Million | 1,410,000[75] |
Netherlands (NVPI)[76] | 7× Platinum | 175,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[77] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[78] | 2× Platinum | 100,000* |
Philippines | — | 230,000[79] |
Portugal | — | 100,000[80] |
Poland (ZPAV)[81] | 7× Platinum | 700,000* |
Singapore (RIAS)[82] | Platinum | 15,000[82] |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[83] | 4× Platinum | 650,000[84] |
Sweden (GLF)[85] | 2× Platinum | 160,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[86] | 4× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Taiwan (RIT)[87] | 21× Platinum | 1,164,229[87] |
Thailand | — | 300,000[88] |
United Kingdom (BPI)[89] | 3× Platinum | 1,002,000[90] |
United States (RIAA)[91] | 11× Platinum | 11,171,000[92][93] |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[94] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000* |
Worldwide | — | 30,000,000[95] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.