Sassy soundtrack

It might have been four years since the curtains came down on the hugely successful series but I can guarantee you the closing scenes of Sex and the City (where Carrie struts down a Manhattan street and looks at her phone to see Big calling) are etched in peoples minds because of the song bringing in the fade to black, “You’ve got the love” by Candi Staton. This is for many the unofficial theme song popular for years since the series ended.

The release of the eagerly anticipated Sex in the City Movie, this month, not only means a return to New York City and catching up with our favourite girls as they navigate through their life hurdles but it also brings with it a soundtrack to remember the experience by.

The first thing which struck me when I was listening to the assembly of tracks is how truly authentic in positioning you with location, setting and ambience the tracks are.

As stand alone tracks they work but the ordered arrangement means they tell a story too. The story to the film.

Salaam Remi is the producer who was charged with interweaving these tracks and he’s worked hard to ensure that each selection offers a certain je ne sais quoir, to leave you with the feeling you were listening to it in a Manhattan bar.

The soulful elements of NYC heartache and love are captured by the powerful and poised Jennifer Hudson. Her song “All dressed in love” was written especially for her voice by dynamic duo Mc Jack Splash (lead singer to the soulful Plantlife) and Cee Lo Green from Gnarls Barkley. The lyrical loveliness of Jess Stone is coupled with Al Green’s dulcet tones to bring a heart wrenching duet and one of the two Bee Gee covers on this soundtrack “How can you mend a broken heart”. Which I can only gather features in the break-up scenes of the movie as it’s a really sad version of this song.

The lighter side of the album offers ‘Fergilicious’ wonder with her special reworking of “Labels or Love”. A fairly hip hoppy version of the theme song from the series but fun none the less. As well as what I’m sure must be the girl’s have got power anthem of the unlikely but quite likeable Run DMC’s “Walk this way”.

Another clever aspect to the composition of this album is I believe in the variety of styles Remi has opted for too. Stringing this soundtrack together is a very strong thread of house. Upbeat, or chilled beats, Bliss’ “Kissing” and Kaskade’s “I like the way” envelope you in merriment and mystique at the twilight hour of Manhattan life.

My two very favourite tracks happen to follow on from each other. I thought it was fitting to have the Bee Gee’s “How deep is your love” and in the acoustic and eerily beautiful cover rendition by The Bird and the Bee, the timelessness of this track is reignited. It could possibly give rise to usurping “You’ve got the Love” from it’s all-time soundtrack song posting. But I’ll have to reserve judgement till I’ve seen the movie.

India Arie has also donated a piece of her own heart with “Heart of the matter” a beautiful vibey tune that gives birth to imagined New York summers spent sipping cocktails with fabulous girlfriends in my mind.

For this is its purpose, the soundtrack to the Sex in the City feature film is best enjoyed listened to with your own good girlfriends a glass of bubbly or vino in your hand, perhaps even a cosmopolitan for true die hard fans.

Sex and the City Soundtrack is out now through Universal Music.

Posted: October 11th, 2008 under ALBUMS.
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