Twilight Original Soundtrack
Considering the Hot Topic-branded hype and the involvement of Paramore, this soundtrack is remarkably successful in elevating the story beyond its source.
The original soundtrack to the hugely anticipated vampire teen flick Twilight features new numbers written exclusively for the film by acts such as Paramore and Perry Farrell. Music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, who's worked on Gossip Girl and The O.C., is on hand for the selection of the remainder of the tracks, and proves to have a magic touch. With the original novel an unashamedly gushing modern teenage romance set against the drama of creatures of the night, director Catherine Hardwicke by all accounts seems to have injected some much needed anti-nausea relief. She is ably abetted by Patsavas and the inspiration and contributions of the film's cast.
As the novel's author Stephenie Meyer thanks Muse for her inspiration in every one of her books (there are three more of the Twilight saga), it stands to reason the trio make an appearance in the film with 'Supermassive Black Hole'. Of the specially selected songs, the obvious highlights are from Black Ghosts, Collective Soul and Iron & Wine. Evoking the potential chills of the film's misty, gloomy setting in Washington State, Black Ghosts' otherworldly 'Full Moon' is both unsettling and uplifting, capturing our human protagonist Bella's fate. Collective Soul's soft rock 'Tremble For My Beloved' is pure high school fodder, but is incredibly effective if you are in fact submersing yourself in this world. 'Flightless Bird, American Mouth' by Iron & Wine, was reportedly chosen by Bella herself, actress Kristen Stewart, and brings some much needed balance to the punk of a lot of the album, as seen in the inclusion of a Linkin Park number.
So what of the new material? Paramore take charge with two exclusive tracks; 'Decode' is everything a Paramore fan would expect, but you would think with frontwoman Hayley Williams being such a huge fan of the book, they could've come up with something a little more out of the ordinary. However, 'I Caught Myself' is the stronger of the two; subtler, more melodic, less angsty, and far more in tune with the story, with its talk of being "hypnotic" and left "breathless". Perry Farrell decided to bring out the inner teenager in him with 'Going All The Way (Into The Twilight)', which despite lyrical immaturity, is hugely enjoyable, and a lighthearted moment in all the drama with its adrenaline-rushing electro-pop.
The one that everyone's been waiting for is the song written and performed by the star himself, Rob Pattinson. No stranger to singing, the actor who plays Edward has been known to get out the acoustic guitars and put on shows now and then. His original contribution, 'Never Think', is surprise, and a pleasant one. Not imagining that our movie star hero would turn out to sound like Jeff Buckley, the gentle acoustic track - just Pattinson and a guitar - meanders along, and is barely decipherable as a melancholy love song.
Score composer Carter Burwell's 'Bella's Lullaby' closes the 12 track album, and is a disappointment considering Burwell recently admitted he was sent (and rejected) ideas from Matt Bellamy himself. The nondescript two-minute piano and strings piece feels flat considering the sparks that fly between the characters, although nails the feeling the pair are not altogether destined for an easy ride. Considering the Hot Topic-branded hype surrounding Twilight and the involvement of Paramore, this soundtrack is remarkably successful in elevating the story beyond its source.
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