Track Listing

1. Hunger
2. Barra Barra - Rachid Taha
3. Vale Of Plenty
4. Chant
5. Still
6. Mogadishu Blues
7. Synchrotone
8. Bakara
9. Of The Earth
10. Ashes To Ashes
11. Gortoz A Ran - Denez Prigent
12. Tribal War
13. Leave No Man Behind
14. Minstrel Boy - Joe Strummer And The Mescaleros
15. Still Reprise

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8620 in Music
• Released on: 2002-01-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Original language: English, Somali
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 67 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Black Hawk Down is the fifth collaboration between composer Hans Zimmer and director Ridley Scott, and following Gladiator (2000) and Hannibal (2001), their third in fewer than two years. Though set two millennia after Gladiator, Black Hawk Down's unrelenting African warfare has much in common with the former blockbuster. Zimmer opens with comparable Arabic flavoured atmospherics leading to his trademark pulsating percussion and razor-sharp digital production values. The Andalusian colours of his Mission: Impossible 2 inflect the catchy world music/dance ballad "Barra Barra" before the score diversifies through textures that blend moody American (blues) and African folk elements with passages of programmed suspense underscore and electronic, sequenced fury. With so many elements fused into polished, perfectly organised musical landscapes, the result is occasionally like a compilation of elements from all Zimmer's recent hit scores. In battle cues such as "Tribal War", relentless rhythm takes over, but it is for the hymnal "Gortoz a ran", the haunted pure beauty of "Still", and the lament of "Mogadishu Blues" that this release is more likely to be remembered. As with Pearl Harbor, Zimmer concentrates on emotion over action, though here his work is influenced by the real folk music of the people involved, and hence the more moving for it.--Gary S Dalkin

Customer Reviews

Haunting memories
Hans Zimmer has created a beautiful soundtrack for a film that represented human fear, sacrifice, pain and courage. From the first moment of listening I was moved and immersed completely in the music. From my living room I was pulled into the very land where the action took place. I could almost hear the cries, the gunfire and the helicopters crashing around me. He was able to create a very contemporary and at the same time exquisite ethnic soundtrack, that really represented the recent warfare it was depicting. There are some tracks, such " Synchrotone " which for the fans of his Gladiator soundtrack may be too modern, however they truely show which century we are now in and how far we have come since Roman times. The evoking and haunting " Still ", " Mogadishu Blues " and " Gortoz A Ran ", show the pain and fear that were felt by every person. " Black Hawk Down " truely has become one of my favourite soundtracks, which does not require you to watch the film in order to relive the scenes. Congratulations to Mr Zimmer, on another job very well done!

Moving & Haunting Background to a True Story
I bought the CD after watching the film Black Hawk Down - a film that I have to admit I wasn't attracted to on its original release. I cannot say that I usually notice music tracks in the background on films, but Hans Zimmerman's music is so extraordinary that it cannot be marginalised.
There were 2 or 3 tracks that stood out from the film and so I was immediately drawn to these once I played the CD. However, once you listen to all the tracks on the CD in context you can see how Zimmerman has woven his magical theme of 'modernised, powerful americans' v 'ethnic somalians' throughout, to produce a scintillating musical collection.
"Barra Barra" has such a fantastic modern beat to it, yet still manages to give the impression of being a traditional african tune. This is followed by "Vale of Plenty" which conjures up blue grass hills of Kentucky with its mellow fiddle vibes. One of my favourite tracks is "J'Attends" which is so haunting - like a lament - with the chant at the end of the track raising the hairs on the back of your neck.
Joe Strummer from the Clash makes a fanstatic special cover of "Minstrel Boy" and obviously with the military theme in mind -and appearing at the end of the original film - helps to bring the curtain down on the true story of the military campaign going wrong ... with the drum beats fading into the distance as the credits role.
My favourite track, however, is the superb "Leave No Man Behind". If you have never seen the film, then this track will not have the same significance. It is a truly moving track, conjuring up the vision of fallen comrades in battle. This tune is woven into the fabric of the film several times, and just pulls at the heart strings whenever it is heard. Although Zimmerman wrote this track especially for the film and CD, it gives the impression of being a much older and traditional lament for the pointless loss of young men in battle.
If you haven't watched the film, you will enjoy the CD. If you have watched the film, the CD could move you to tears.

A good ecelectic mix that captures the mood of the film
This soundtrack differs from many of Zimmer's previous works in that it draws heavily from regional music to capture the mood of the story. In that respect it is unlikely to appeal to people who prefer the more orchestral-based scores of films like Pearl Harbour. I found the work interesting because it includes, for example, electronic phases that convey the sound of helicopter rotors and street fighting, as well as moody tracks which offer a feel of the heroism and indeed ultimate sadness of the combatants. In addition, the tracks involving Baaba Maal and Rachid Taha provide an accessible introduction to African styles. A good eclectic mix.