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Shall We Dance? - Soundtrack
Label: Casablanca / Universal
Rating: 

Review By: Zane Ewton
 

Tracks: Sway - Pussycat Dolls Santa Maria - GoTan Project Happy Feet Espana Cani I Wanna (Shall We Dance) - Gizelle D'Cole/Pilar Montenegro Perfidia Under The Bridges Of Paris Moon Rivfer Andalucia Book Of Love, The - Peter Gabriel L Train, The I Could Have Danced All Night - Jamie Cullum Wonderland - Rachel Fuller Shall We Dance Let's Dance - Mya

A movie about dancing is one that needs good music more than anything else.  Movies from “Singing in the Rain” to “Dirty Dancing” become memorable because of the music.  A film has the benefit of being able to put music and picture together to create a remarkable moment.

The soundtrack to Shall We Dance? is guilty of being unremarkable.  The album is a mixture of instrumental standards and a few new compositions that blend around the edges.

What stands out the most about this soundtrack that accompanies a movie about dancing is how sterile and obviously un-sexy the whole album feels.

We begin with the Pussycat Dolls and “Sway”.  This is the first song I have ever seen where someone received a credit for running Pro Tools on the track.  Pro Tools may have been used to make the whole album as each track blends with the last on a wave of drum machines and understated musicianship.

The middle of the album is reserved for short instrumentals, most of which have a light Latin flare, including “Happy Feet”, “Espana Cani”, “Perfidio” and “Moon River”.

A highlight is in the Peter Gabriel performance of “The Book of Love.”  It is the one lone track where the understatement and grace is evident.

The finale is a cover of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” by Mya and featuring some rapper.  Where Bowie’s version is tense and sexy, Mya’s is not.

There lies the major weakness of this compilation; it is just one big piece of dry white bread.
 

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