Track Listing

1. Fog Bound
2. The Medallion Calls
3. The Black Pearl
4. Will and Elizabeth
5. Swords Crossed
6. Walk The Plank
7. Barbossa is Hungry
8. Blood Ritual
9. Moonlight Serenade
10. To The Pirates Cave!
11. Skull and Crossbones
12. Bootstrap's Bootstraps
13. Underwater March
14. One Last Shot
15. He's A Pirate

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66206 in Music
• Released on: 2003-08-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack

Amazon.co.uk Review
One might expect a modicum of good-natured "Yo-ho-ho-ing"--or maybe a little rousing Korngold/Errol Flynn/Captain Blood orchestral romanticism--on Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, what with its being loosely based on the popular Disney theme-park audio-animatronic ride. Instead composer Klaus Badelt initially entices us with some sparing Celtic folk charm, then unleashes a furious broadside of symphonic and choral thunder to rival his ominous score for K-19. The composer's fellow German mentor is an obvious influence throughout (the album is credited, with a wink, as "Score overproduced by Hans "Long John" Zimmer") but Badelt brings his own muscular instincts to bear throughout. Perhaps shrewdly realising that genre clichés are nothing if not for reinventing, Badelt delivers his rhythmically nervous Eurocentric sensibilities--sort of Holst duels Shostakovich on the Spanish Main--with the subtlety of a scorching cannonball. It's seasoned with a little romantic respite in the final act, if a bit gingerly, and could no doubt profit by some of Korngold's sparkling melodic verve. But it's a loud, unabashed Summer Blockbuster score at heart; alert the neighbours. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Worth its weight in Aztec Gold
After seeing a film, I do not usually feel compelled to rush out and buy the soundtrack. When heard without any visual accompaniment the effect of the music is often found to be greatly diminished. That was certainly not the case with Pirates of the Caribbean.

Listening to the soundtrack after already seeing the film (Twice and wanting to go again!), resulted in the action being replayed clearly in my minds's eye. Every clash of pirate steel and every cannon fired is brilliantly brought to life in a musical feast that Captain Barbossa himself would have no problem devouring. Klaus Badelt's musical score builds up into a crashing, crescendo of a wave that leaves you feeling both exhilarated and exhausted. Hear this music and you can feel the sea breeze in your hair and taste the salt in the wind.

This is certainly the most dynamic orchestral arrangement that I have heard in a very long time. Buy the CD and relive the adventures on the high seas.

It's just good, savvy?
On having seen the film 'Pirates of the Caribbean', I decided to buy the soundtrack. (The fact that it was on sale notwithstanding...) I got it home and it didn't leave my stereo for almost two weeks! It's just that good.

As well as brilliant orchestration (Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer at their best, I believe), the tracks provide an amzing compliment to the film itself. Each piece has an element of pirate in it, which makes it stand apart from any other pieces of classical music. 'He's A Pirate' makes a fittingly dramatic end to the soundtrack.

'Barbossa is Hungry' is arguably one of the best tracks from this album. Starting off with quite slow and suspensful strings, the piece builds up into a dramatic piece fitting of a film of such high standards.

It is a little difficult to separate the film from the pieces, so trying to listen to the soundtrack as a stand alone is complicated. I believe however, that even those who were not fortunate enough to see the film, or didn't like it (sacralige!) will still like this soundtrack. it offers amazing, breath-taking excitement, heartfelt romance, fun and frolics, pilfering, comandeering and other pirately exploits all in just 15 tracks.

A must have for those fans of the film itself, or of classical music in general. Two big thumbs up, and a bottle of rum!

"But why is the rum gone?!"

A must have for fans of the film!
This is a great soundtrack for anyone who enjoyed the film. With its central theme 'The Black Pearl' echoed in every track, you get a wonderful sense of unity of the whole album. It is very evocative and takes you back to some of the key moments in the film - the first track 'Fog Bound' is very eerie and sets the mood. This is contrasted brilliantly by 'The Black Pearl' (during which Captain Jack arrives in style on his sinking ship!) and you can visualise the swordfight in the smithy during track 4!! If you enjoyed the film, this is definately a must have CD - you can almost taste the rum!!