Bridget Jones's Diary (Music From The Motion Picture) - Original Soundtrack > Reviews > Could any soundtrack compete with that film?

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Great mixture of songs to suit everyone
Disadvantages:	No - one would like all the songs .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The Bridget Jones sountrack. Well, it's made up of 19 songs. Some are older than me, (though I am only 16, so it's not that amazing). Some are from the late 90s, early 00s (do you call is 00s? I never know). Some are fast, some slow. Some about being happily in love; others about coping with a broken heart. It is a mixture of everything, really. Because of that, it suits everyone a little. There are songs on the album that I know and love, but there are still some that my Nana would sing along to. I class that as an advantage, but in some ways it isn't. I don't know if there is anyone who likes Robbie Williams, Artful dodger, Chaka Khan, Dina Carroll AND Sheryl Crow. If it was an album of classic songs, then maybe it would suit a lot of people. But, again, it's a mixture. Some are classics like 'It's raining men' but then how many people know all the words to 'Woman trouble'?

I would say really it's a cd suitable for playing in the background at parties (as I think you need a good mix - maybe I'll play it at my 18th), or maybe for someone with a very varied music taste. As for your normal person, nah I wouldn't advise you buy it. Though if you read on and like the songs then go for it.

As I said, 19 songs. Here they are:
1. Gabrielle - out of reach
I don't want to insult anyone's intelligence by explaining this song too much - I am sure the vast majority know it well. I don't know if you'd call it a classic - it doesn't seem old enough. It is a really good song; a sad one, a bit slow, but not a proper slow song. The best thing about is Gabrielle's voice. She really shows it off in this song and it sounds amazing - there are some really high notes. Hasn't got great lyrics, but I don't think it does any harm in this song, as the singing outweighs it all.

2. Aretha Franklin - Respect
'R-E-S-P-E-C-T find out what it means to me' Another great voice, but different as it isn't soothing like Gabrielle's; it's just incredibly strong. It's one of those songs that I could really see myself doing on kareoke (Ican't sing a note, but hey) as it's so strong and it is one that loads of people know the words to. One of the best songs on the album - it never gets annoying.

3. Geri Haliwell - It's raining men
I do think this one can get annoying - it shoudl be saved for parties only. Either that or dancing round your room :) The Geri version isn't half as good as the weathergirls one, I am afraid, but the song is such a good one - it really gets everyone going on the dancefloor! - that it can survive a bad voice singing it, I reckon. It's gotta be a definite classic!

4. Robbie Williams - Have you met Miss Jones?
Another cover version, but I think this one is as good as the original. For a start, Robbie has a good voice, and also, I think it is an easier song to sing - it doesn't need power, like 'it's raining men' does.This is a classic, I think, and would be good for a slower dance at a party or just to listen to at home.

5. Chaka Khan - I'm every woman
Another kareoke one! Gets the women dancing, definitely. Unusual voice, but it sounds like Chaka really means what she says in this song - it's sang so enthusiastically. I, like a lot of people, know all the words to this one.

6. Pretenders - Don't get me wrong
A soft, gentle voice, feminine voice makes a nice change from the last few songs. A lesser know song too. It's fairly slow, has good lyrics like 'Upon a sea where a mystic moon is playing havoc with the tide'

7. Sheryl Crow - Kiss that girl
Simialr to the last song. I wouldn't say this was well-known, but again a feminine, soft voice but with not-so-great lyrics as the last one. It's about kissing a girl goodbye.

8. Shelby Lynne - Killin' kind
This song is talking about someone's love being the killin' kind of love, as it's killing them. I don't know Shelby Lynne, but maybe that's just me. Wouldn't say it's an amazing voice, but it's ok. As for the lyrics, they're mediocre. Not very catchy. I would say it's one on the worst on the album.

9. Dina Carroll - Someone like you
Sounds like Gabrielle, but softer. Basically, it's a love song, saying they'd been waiting to meet someone like the person they've met. Really applies, more than the others, to Bridget and Mark. They were both waiting to meet someone like the other one, and then they did. It's a slow song - good for a slow dance, and it's very romantic.

10. Robbie Williams - Not of this earth
A slow song for Robbie and I don't really think it shows the amazing voice he has. Not one of the best songs on the album, as the lyrics aren't great and the tune is poor, as well. It is slow and romantic though - another slow-dance one really.

11. Andy Williams - Can't take my eyes off you
'You're just too good to be true; can't take my eyes of you. You feel like heaven to touch. I wanna hold you some much. At long last love has arrived and I thank God I'm alive. You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off you. Da da, da da, dun de da da, de dun dun dun dun dddddddduuuuuuunnnnnnnn..... I love you baby and if it's quite alright I need you baby..........' Self explanatory I would say. Great song, great version. Great lyrics, great to dance to, great to listen to, to sing along to. I love this song and it has to be one of the latest songs to become a classic.

12. Rosey - Love
This is one of the 3 songs on the album that I skip. It's so slow and dull.If you like really slow songs then yeah you will like this, but generally I don't think it fits in with the rest of the soundtrack.

13. Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye - Stop, look, listen (to your heart)
When I 1st bought the album, I thought 'wow Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye singing together must make an amazing song, as they;re both so talented.I do think it's a good song, but not as good as I thought it'd be. Neither fast nor slow, but very catchy. The voices aren't great and the lyrics are nothing to write home about.

14. Shelby Lynne - Dreamsome
This is the 2nd one I skip. Lyrics are quite bad in this song as it just says 'Did you miss me' a lot. The voice is good, but the tune isn't great. Again, if you love slow songs then you will like it, but I think, for most people, it will be a skipped one.

15. Patrick Doyle - It's only a diary
The only instrumental on the cd. I hate instrumentals so I skip this one too. Really, if you like fairly sow instrumentals, then yeah this is a good one as the music is good. But if you are like me and don't then it's another skipped one, I'm afraid.

16. Alisha's attic - Pretender got my heart
A fairly slow song. Not great lyrics, but the voice is really nice so it kind of makes the song average.

17. Jamie O'Neal - All by myself
Another classic and definitely one for kareoke, as Bridget herself does in the film. Makes me cray as it is so sad. Like Chaka Khan, the voice is so strong and enthusiastic. Good lyrics too.

18. Artful dodger and Robbie Craig (featuring Craig David) - Woman trouble
I had never heard of this song or of Robbie Craig, but I love the song. One of the fastes on the cd, not an amazing voice, but it doesn't really make much of a difference. The lyrics are pretty good, in particular 'I feel fantastic, bombastic, ecstatically astounded' - one line you may find yourself singing a few hours later. Craig David seems to be in it quite a lot. Talks about the problems between a man and woman.

19. Aaron Soul - Ring, ring, ring
I would say nearly the same for this one as I said for the song above; it's really good and speeds up as you go through. Another one where you end up singing it later.

It's going for £5.97 on Amazon (new) but that's the cheapest I have seen it. Every time HMV has a sale it seems to be in it, so you could just wait until then. Considering it has 19 songs on, it's not bad really.

The album, I would say, is best bought for a family or a party, as there's something for everyone then, and there are a lot of dance/kareoke tracks. However, a person on their own could by it as even if they only like half the songs, it's still 9 or 10 songs which is what you expect on a cd.

Overall, I think it's a pretty good album - does have some bad songs, but has so many good that it's a good cd.