Justin Hurwitz's Babylon (2022)

[DangerMotif 1,038]

 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I am very excited for this score and film.

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,433]

Damien Chazelle, Justin Hurwitz, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie... how could it go wrong? I'm looking forward to this

[JNHFan2000 2,969]

 

 

[Jay 37,376]

The OST album arrives Friday, December 9th, and is 97 minutes long across 48 tracks

 

https://music.apple.com/nz/album/babylon-music-from-the-motion-picture/1653477795

 

 

 

 

1. Welcome (4:00)
2. Manny and Nellie’s Theme (0:53)
3. King of the Circus (2:28)
4. Jub Jub (0:56)
5. Coke Room (2:31)
6. My Girl’s Pussy (2:29)
7. Idaho (0:55)
8. Voodoo Mama (3:59)
9. Gold Coast Rhythm (Wallach Party) (1:41)
10. Ain’t Life Grand (1:38)
11. Babylon (0:30)
12. Morning (2:00)
13. Kinescope Ragtime Piano (0:35)
14. Kinescope Erhu (Orientally Yours) (1:28)
15. Kinescope Circus Music (0:49)
16. Kinescope Organ Music (0:45)
17. Night on Bald Mountain (2:08)
18. Herman’s Hustle (2:02)
19. Gold Coast Sunset (2:00)
20. Champagne (2:55)
21. Wild Child (3:03)
22. New York (2:02)
23. See You Back in LA (0:48)
24. Red Devil (1:56)
25. I Want a Man (2:02)
26. Orientally Yours (2:11)
27. Gimme (1:32)
28. Singin’ in the Rain (1:22)
29. Pharoah John (0:39)
30. Meet Miss LaRoy (0:39)
31. Call Me Manny (3:37)
32. Hearst Party (6:41)
33. Damascus Thump (2:10)
34. All Figured Out (0:55)
35. Nea Smyrni (2:03)
36. Waikele Tango (3:38)
37. Toad (2:01)
38. Blockhouse (2:10)
39. Jack’s Party Band (1:34)
40. Gold Coast Rhythm (Jack’s Party) (1:42)
41. Levántate (0:34)
42. Señor Avocado (2:23)
43. Heyo (3:00)
44. Gold Coast Rhythm (Juan Bonilla) (2:56)
45. Te Amo Nellie (1:31)
46. Gold Coast Rhythm (Sidney’s Solo) (2:47)
47. Manny and Nellie’s Theme (Reprise) (0:45)
48. Finale (3:51)

 

 

Two singles are already out:
 

 

 

 

 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Oh no I don't like those....  

[DangerMotif 1,038]

Wish he would go for the Hollywood Golden age string vide

[TheUlyssesian 2,478]

Pretty sure they are source cues.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Very anachronistic source cues if so!

[Jay 37,376]

Does anybody know what the OST album with the most amount of tracks is?  For single films, not TV series.

48 tracks has got to be up there, though admittedly just last week we had Weird with 46 tracks (not all by the score composer, however)

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Yeah, I feel like the modern streaming OST tends to top out around 25-30 tracks.

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,356]

The longest in recent memory was probably Reznor & Ross' score for Mank at a generous 52 (albeit mostly short) tracks. Certainly stuck out as an anomaly upon release. 

 

2 hours ago, Gibster said:

Wish he would go for the Hollywood Golden age string vide

 

Amen. He absolutely has the compositional chops to pull that off, and then some. Sadly not feeling these singles. 'Twould be a real shame if we don't get anything symphonic out of this, and looking at the tracklist I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being 95% uproarious party music in the same vein. Won't speak too soon but I'd hate to have to start counting down the days until the next, *next* Hurwitz-Chazelle for the chance at hearing another Planetarium/Epilogue/The Landing (since he apparently doesn't work with/get hired by anyone else).

[TheUlyssesian 2,478]

The name theme is just 53 seconds? Like no concert setting or concert track?

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I do actually already know the 1930s raunchy novelty song "My Girl's Pussy" via the old timey string band R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders.  It certainly fits the raunchy vibe this movie seems to have.

 

There's one pet I like to pet

And every evening I get set

I stroke it every chance I get

It's my girl's pussy

 

and so on...

 

 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Initial social media reactions for this movie are very mixed apparently.  We might have a fiasco on our hands, sadly.

 

One Variety editor does say "Margot Robbie and Justin Hurwitz are your stars" meaning that Hurwitz's music is very prominent I assume.

 

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/babylon-first-reactions-damien-chazelle-margot-robbie-1235432626/

[MaxMovieMan 273]

I’ve been hearing from the reactions that the score is the best part of the film which is a good thing to me. I obviously want the movie to be good but lowkey I am more excited for the score than the movie itself. Just because it’s been so long since I’ve heard some new Justin Hurwitz music and that guy is a goat.

[TheUlyssesian 2,478]

I’ve seen the film - some impressions about the score

 

 

 

[thestat 348]

Who knows - Hurwitz composed the Landing, still one of the greatest pieces of music, ever?

 

[MaxMovieMan 273]

We’ll see how the album sounds I guess. I’ve always seen a lot of his scores as containing tracks that are essentially bebop jazz that I can add to my jazz playlist or subtle blues jazz that I can add to my poker playlist (First Man excluded). So the music being over the top and loud is not a huge complaint for me considering how I already view Hurwitz. Bring on the jazz!

[DangerMotif 1,038]

Just got out of a early screening. The score is great. Manny and Nellie’s theme is the motif from Call Me Manny, it’s mostly played on some sort of out of tune piano. It’s the heart of the score and gives LLL vibes. The source music and score are fully blended. I don’t know if it’s LaLaLand or First Man but it definitely has shades of both of them. Hurwitz does his best with what he’s given. I don’t remember hearing it but there is a theremin credited in the score.

probably the craziest music over the titles in a while.

happy to answer any questons

[Edmilson 7,474]

1 hour ago, Gibster said:

happy to answer any questons

Is the movie any good? I'm kinda curious for this one. The trailers made it look like a rowdy version of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

[DangerMotif 1,038]

4 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Is the movie any good? I'm kinda curious for this one. The trailers made it look like a rowdy version of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

I’m still embargoed on the movie side but people will definitely have strong thoughts, interesting movie.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

My prediction: this movie will bomb at the box office and receive relatively little awards attention.  I hope I'm wrong!

 

This is no prediction of its quality (I'm still hoping to like it a lot) but the vibe I've gotten from early reactions is "Audacious, takes big swings that won't work for everyone" which does not usually translate to either $$$ or awards.

[DangerMotif 1,038]

I doubt they’re gonna check this site so i’ll just say.

the movie is pretty graphic

the first hr and 45 is amazing, funny and sad. Some of the most fun i’ve had in a while in theaters 

 

the last hour and 15 is really weird and wasn’t for me. The last 20 minutes is soo odd.  It could have ended 15 different times. 
sadly the score gets messed over a bit towards the end due to this stuff. Most of the criticism is probably from how graphic it gets and about the last half

Spoiler

The final 4 minutes is a compilation of iconic films over the past 100 years with the score blasting a crazy amount of colors flashing that is hard to look at

 

The score is great though. 

it's not 100% and the timing is a little off but here's how manny and Nelly's theme plays in the movie. it's on some sort of out of tune piano in the movie I think and goes to guitar a little bit

 

 

 

[TheUlyssesian 2,478]

4 hours ago, Gibster said:

I doubt they’re gonna check this site so i’ll just say.

the movie is pretty graphic

the first hr and 45 is amazing, funny and sad. Some of the most fun i’ve had in a while in theaters 

 

the last hour and 15 is really weird and wasn’t for me. The last 20 minutes is soo odd.  It could have ended 15 different times. 
sadly the score gets messed over a bit towards the end due to this stuff. Most of the criticism is probably from how graphic it gets and about the last half

  Reveal hidden contents

The final 4 minutes is a compilation of iconic films over the past 100 years with the score blasting a crazy amount of colors flashing that is hard to look at

 

The score is great though. 

it's not 100% and the timing is a little off but here's how manny and Nelly's theme plays in the movie. it's on some sort of out of tune piano in the movie I think and goes to guitar a little bit

 

 

 

 

I didn't find it all that graphic to be honest.

 

It's tamer than advertised.

 

Maybe not in Hollywood movies anywhere but you see these thigns and much more on TV all the time these days.

 

So I did not find it to be graphic.

[Edmilson 7,474]

Wait, how graphic is the movie anyway? Does it have explicit sex scenes? Do we get to see Brad Pitt's cock? Tobey Maguire's peen? Margot Robbie's tits? Not exactly a Christmas movie for the whole family 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Yes, Christmas is an odd time to release this.

[TheUlyssesian 2,478]

19 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Wait, how graphic is the movie anyway? Does it have explicit sex scenes? Do we get to see Brad Pitt's cock? Tobey Maguire's peen? Margot Robbie's tits? Not exactly a Christmas movie for the whole family 

 

You see a flash of a single tit of Margot's that's in close-up so I think might have been a double.

 

All the nudity is completely in the background by extras. Nothing related to the actual characters or storyline.

[DangerMotif 1,038]

28 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Wait, how graphic is the movie anyway? Does it have explicit sex scenes? Do we get to see Brad Pitt's cock? Tobey Maguire's peen? Margot Robbie's tits? Not exactly a Christmas movie for the whole family 

Spoiler

A lot of Nudity and a woman peeing on a guy 5 minutes in

 

[MaxMovieMan 273]

Just listened to the album. Not bad but definitely my least favorite of Hurwitz’s scores. I’m not a big fan of the weird electronic/bassy jazz of “Call Me Manny” and unfortunately a lot of the score is in that style. The rest of the score that is not that style and is a more traditional jazz is awesome and makes me wish he made all the music like that.

 

Overall there’s some great jazz stuff in here but still disappointed with a lot of these tracks because to me they’re practically unlistenable.

[JNHFan2000 2,969]

 

[publicist 4,643]

This sounds as if Hurwitz never really understood the musical eras he was dabbling in. Deliberate maybe, but unsuccessful anyway.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Yeah the vibe I'm getting from the film and the score is "make a film set in the 1920s but treat it like it's the 1970s" which is pretty disappointing.  I take in a lot of pop culture from the 1920s and 1930s so I was hoping for something more true to the era.  I think there's a way to veer away from boring period drama without being completely anachronistic in style.

[MaxMovieMan 273]

My main disappointment is that I’ve been waiting SO long for another Hurwitz score and this is what we get. Time to wait another four years!

[JNHFan2000 2,969]

23 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Yeah the vibe I'm getting from the film and the score is "make a film set in the 1920s but treat it like it's the 1970s" which is pretty disappointing.  I take in a lot of pop culture from the 1920s and 1930s so I was hoping for something more true to the era.  I think there's a way to veer away from boring period drama without being completely anachronistic in style.

 

 

https://variety.com/2022/music/awards/babylon-score-justin-hurtwitz-damien-chazelle-1235451912/

 

“The last thing in the world I wanted to do was write 1920s jazz,” says composer Justin Hurwitz about “Babylon,”

[publicist 4,643]

Which is his good right - but his alternative is half-assed 2020 pop and hip hop impressions. And since the movie obviously is set in that older era, it's kinda hard to connect the dots here - except you're in love with that shallow Baz-Luhrmann-let's just do something hip and trendy and hoping that no one cares anyway-vibe.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

Baz Luhrmann is definitely the vibe from the music and marketing.  Not a positive association for me at least

[Mr. Who 919]

Based on a few tracks that I listened to from the OST this score is really noisy. I don't care if it sounds like 1920s jazz or not but the couple of cues I listened to were just plain abrasive. 

[JNHFan2000 2,969]

Thought this was an interesting, and sometimes funny read.

 

https://www.sfgate.com/streaming/article/babylon-movie-review-17672587.php

[Alex 2,835]

Interesting to read the thoughts of my fellow forum members here. This score is exactly my kind of thing hahah. I love it!

[filmmusic 1,843]

Babylon wins best original score at the Golden Globes

https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/justin-hurwitz-2023-golden-globes-best-original-score-babylon-1235196887/

 

edit: Oh, I see it was mentioned elsewhere.

[Edmilson 7,474]

Damien Chazelle Says It’s Good ‘Babylon’ Divided Audiences: ‘More Movies Should Do That’
Chazelle also said that he doesn't pay attention to his films critical reception after release, believing it becomes "the audience's" film.

[crocodile 8,020]

Just watched it. It was an interesting film. Funny thing is that all its lack of subtlety and artistic hubrus are exactly the kind of ingredients that make it work. Even if you dismiss it as a failure, and it genuinely might be one, the movie is never boring. It's pretentious as hell but I'll still take it. 

 

Karol

[Knight of Ren 789]

Yeah, I was finally able to watch it, since in my country just got released, and I must say that I really liked it. I had read so many mixed reviews, so I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, even being a big fan of Chazelle's previous work. Sure not everything he tries works, but I found it to be a fantastic film that serves both as a critic and a homage to the wonderful world of movies, with all the upsides and downsides.

 

It's really a shame that none of the stars got a nomination, not even the cinematography editing or directing, but at least Hurwitz's score is there. His music is a bit wild and hard to listen to on its own, but works wonderfully in the film, and the main theme is such an ear-worm in its apparent simplicity, and I love how the composer plays with it, as well as incorporating some subtle references to his La La Land score here and there.

 

Great movie, it's the best of the bunch of Oscar-nominated ones, above Banshees of Inisherin, Everything Everywhere All at Once or All Quiet On the Western Front, altought I have yet to watch others like The Fabelmans or Tar.

[Benhip 21]

I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I like the soundtrack. The main theme is really fun, I love the « Coke Room » version, and some other cues like « Voodoo Mama » are absolutely delightful, but I think it is way too long and it lasts variety. I think it deserved its nominations, but winning the Golden is maybe too much. It is imo the weakest of Hurwitz’s scores.

[JNHFan2000 2,969]

Film comes out on digital in a few days, I'll wztch it then. I'm very curious about both film & score in picture, because on both I've heard a lot of mixed things.

[thestat 348]

A beautifully mad piece of work from Chazelle and Hurwitz. Totally no restrictions, Coppola 1977 but lucikly with an unrestrained great work by Hurwitz doing ANYTHING musical......