Track Listing

1. J'Y Suis Jamais Alle
2. Les Jours Tristes (Instrumental)
3. La Valse D'Amelie (Version Originale)
4. Comptine D'Un Autre eTe
5. La Noyee
6. L'autre Valse D'Amelie
7. Guilty
8. A Quai
9. Le Moulin
10. Pas Si Simple
11. La Valse D'Amelie (Version Orchestre)
12. La Valse Des Vieux Os
13. La Dispute
14. Si Tu N'etais Pas La (Frehel)
15. Soir De Fete
16. La Redecouverte
17. Sur Le Fil
18. Le Banquet
19. La Valse D'Amelie (Version Piano)
20. La Valse Des Monstres

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1305 in Music
• Released on: 2001-10-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack

Amazon.co.uk Review
The film Amelie depicts Paris as a magical paradise for lovers and so needed music of the utmost tenderness but with a quirky edge befitting the title character. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet chanced upon the music of Yann Tiersen one day and bought his entire catalogue. That ultimately translated into this gloriously upbeat soundtrack largely culled from four of Tiersen's albums. Half the cues have been previously released, but arguably never in such splendid context. Accordion and piano are the score's instruments of choice and are woven into a beautiful whole none of the individual albums achieved before. The Neil Hannon collaboration ("Les Jours tristes" from L'Absente) is a big bouncy number that expands upon itself incessantly. It's about as big as the music gets, since this accompanied one of the jolliest moments in the film. The greater part is concerned with Amelie's innocent infatuations and is therefore subtler. A couple of nice examples of the album's overall style are "Sur le Fil", a lovely melancholy piano melody, and "La Dispute" where mournful solo accordion switches tone by piano. At the heart of it all is the best of Tiersen's new material for the film with "La Valse d'Amelie". It has three variations, but is most affecting in its original incarnation for accordion and small ensemble. It makes the film's finale, this disc and the idea of a trip to Paris utterly charming. --Paul Tonks

Customer Reviews

Delightful
Very nice cd, that brings many pleasant memories of the film. It captures the spirit of France and "paints" a musical landscape of France with the small villages, cabares, cafes and much much more.

Enjoyable in its own right - but better if you've seen the film,
If you have seen 'Amelie' you will undoubtedly have been struck by the clever and charming use of music throughout its length. If you buy this CD because you liked the film, then you will not be disappointed. Everything is here and, as other reviewers have said, it is harmonious, very 'Gallic', uplifting and gentle. The two songs jar slightly if you haven't seen the film because they suddenly seem to transport you back to a mythical Paris of the 1930' or 1940's, but even then, there isn't much of a problem.

If you haven't seen Amelie, then this music is probably best thought of as a mixture of 'the best of Yann Tiersen' and a pastiche of the type of music that we in the UK often think of as being 'typically French' (accordions, tinkling pianos, tangos, breathily repetitive themes ...).

My reason for not awarding 5 stars is that because this is a soundtrack CD, there are two minor problems:

(1) several of the tracks just end as if they've been cut off a few seconds too soon.
(2) there is a little bit too much 'sameness' about some of the chosen tracks BUT, there is also a reasonable range of instrumentation and styles, so this doesn't become too much of a problem unless you actually sit down and concentrate on listening in detail to every track. Played ambiently, it is wonderful and if you know the film, it will bring back all the joys and sorrows that were so wonderfully brought to life.

Delightful music
This is a must see film and a must listen sound track. It will accompany you for any kind of moment and mood in your life. A must buy!