{"id":2671,"date":"2015-04-04T18:58:56","date_gmt":"2015-04-04T23:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~reviewing\/?page_id=2671"},"modified":"2015-04-04T18:58:56","modified_gmt":"2015-04-04T23:58:56","slug":"50-shades-soundtrack-outperforms-film","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=2671","title":{"rendered":"’50 Shades’ soundtrack outperforms film"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted April 4, 2015<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By EMILY JOSEPH<\/p>\n

With all the hoopla surrounding the release of the film \u201cFifty Shades of Grey,\u201d the so-called background noise of the movie, the soundtrack, should be getting more of the attention. That\u2019s where the talent lies.<\/p>\n

A compilation of newly written songs and covers of classic hits, the 16-track album features artists normally too established for a movie soundtrack. When Annie Lenox sings the first track on the album, you know you\u2019re in for a treat. Her cover of the 1956 classic \u201cI\u2019ll Put A Spell On You,\u201d is, well, spellbinding. Her voice conveys a desperate yet elegant tone, mirroring the mood of the movie.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most well-known and well-done song to come from the soundtrack is Ellie Goulding\u2019s \u201cLove Me Like You Do.\u201d It claimed a spot on the top 40 charts soon after its release and has hung in the top 10 in the seven weeks since. It\u2019s your typical catchy pop song, but Goulding adds just enough soul and passion to make you want to play it on repeat.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t play it yourself, FM radio will fill your void.<\/p>\n

The up-and-coming R&B band The Weeknd, if not already a household name, is sure to become one after the success of their two original tracks on the album. Both \u201cEarned It\u201d and \u201cWhere You Belong,\u201d are commercial radio staples. \u201cEarned It\u201d the more passion-filled, steamy song and \u201cWhere You Belong,\u201d a cooler, heavy-beat song.<\/p>\n

While the soundtrack brings back many classic favorites, the new renditions aren\u2019t entirely gold. Yet book author E.L. James reportedly hand picked every song and artist, so maybe there was a method to her madness.<\/p>\n

Two odd additions to the mix: The Rolling Stones\u2019 1978 \u201cBeast of Burden\u201d and Frank Sinatra\u2019s \u201cWitchcraft.\u201d The former sounds outdated and weak instead of conveying the haunting feeling it did 35 years ago.<\/p>\n

The electric trio AWOLNATION covers Bruce Springsteen\u2019s 1985 \u201cI\u2019m On Fire\u201d and gives a slow, lifeless performance. But to Springsteen\u2019s good fortune, the release of the new rendition has brought his original classic track to the top of the iTunes charts.<\/p>\n

Beyonc\u00e9 makes two appearances, slowing down her upbeat hit, \u201cCrazy in Love\u201d and adding a haunted background beat to the aptly named \u201cHaunted.\u201d These covers are a mix of sexy, emotional and spooky. Much to the dismay of listeners, these most coveted tracks are not sold individually. Listeners must purchase the entire $12 album for Queen B\u2019s tracks.<\/p>\n

The soundtrack may be just supplemental to the movie, but it more than does its job. The songs are mysterious, alluring and have the potential to leave a lasting mark on the franchise. Even if you never read the book or see the movie, the album is worth the listen.<\/p>\n