Edward Scissorhands - Original Soundtrack > Reviews > Edward Scissorhands

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Elfman's most magical creation and a true masterpiece
Disadvantages:	The Tom Jones song at the end

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

By the turn of the 1990s, Tim Burton had already sealed his credentials as an imaginative and quirky director with films like Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice and Batman. Therefore it was only to be expected that his next film would be equally quirky and dark, and that it certainly was. Starring Johnny Depp along with Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, and Anthony Michael Hall, with Vincent Price as "The Inventor," Edward Scissorhands is a fairy-tale like fantasy about a strange artificial man with scissors for hands. From his lofty castle on top of a hill, he is whisked away by a cosmetic's saleswoman straight into the suburbs where he is greeted with interest and wonder. It won't be long however when people start turning against him due to his naïve trust in others and his sharp scissorhands that cause a few unintentional moments of danger, resulting in a rather depressing and poignant ending that is guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. To no small degree, the music of Danny Elfman is one of the key elements that really gives this film the magical and poignant feel of fantasy.

Danny Elfman was a relative newcomer to the film scoring scene in 1990. Having scored a few quirky and comedic scores, he hit it big time when Burton's Batman came about in 1989. His hugely orchestral and gothic approach made an instant impact with its grandiose gestures, powerful main theme, and a level of energy that made you notice its presence. After Batman, Elfman became the number one choice to score superhero and comicbook films, with Dick Tracy and Darkman following soon after during the following year. But both of these scores paled considerably by Elfman's last entry of the year, Edward Scissorhands. In between his darkly gothic and quirky early style, Edward Scissorhands amazes you with its sweetly dream-like and gentle quality. It is music that is at all times hauntingly beautiful and lyrical, never really becoming unbearable or unlistenable. It is the most touching and personal of Elfman's scores, imbued with a nostalgic sorrow of great beauty.

There are two elements in particular that really define this score and its fantasy elements. The first is the tingling celesta that underlies practically the entire score. It opens the score, appears often in the connection to Edward's theme, and it finally plings the final note of the score. This kind of twinkling has since become a standard staple in depicting magic, fairies, or dream sequences. The other notable element is the use of a boys' chorus which is one of Elfman's trademarks ever since Beetlejuice. The fact that Elfman doesn't use a full adult choir creates a sense of childlike innocence that personifies Edward perfectly as still being a child in essence due to the fact that he has lived alone in seclusion ever since the death of his creator in the cue "Death!". The dominating theme for Edward is one of a melancholy waltz introduced in "Introduction (Titles)." Apart from this more grandiose presentation of the main titles, Edward's music is most often heard in a more gently happy, yet touching presentation, first heard in "Storytime" and appearing throughout the score. The highlight moment for this theme comes in "Ice Dance," a moment of absolute magic where it is fully expanded upon for the first time, a beautiful and moving moment that unfortunately comes to an abrupt end as the scene is suddenly interrupted.

Apart from this more melancholy music, there are a few instances when the score is lifted from the sadness. "Beautiful New World/Home Sweet Home" features Edward arriving to the Suburbs accompanied by a chippy little tune, which however does not last long before Edward's theme appears again as he enters his new home. In a similar vein is the loungy "Ballet de Suburbia" that sounds more familiar Elfman, even taking a page from Beetlejuice. The bongo drums make for an interesting and amusing little detail among the orchestrations. "Edwardo the Barber" is another outlandish cue as Edward makes a number of unique haircuts with his hands. The Spanish elements that surface in the beginning and end have baffled some people but according to Elfman's commentary on the score, there really is absolutely no reason for the castanets and the Spanish melodies to appear here. "It was just a fun idea that remained in the film." Also the middle part of the cue features a Paganini-like virtuoso violin solo that must have required quite a lot of precision and virtuosity from the player.

On a more darker note comes "The Cookie Factory," a quirky cue of conveyor belt rhythms and a sense of the macabre that is echt Elfman. The lengthy "Castle on the Hill" features a recap of the main title music a shade more darker and featuring the choir in a little more harshly dissonant style. I could even hear a small trace of Batman's theme there which is only expected from the young Elfman. The second part of the album concentrates more on the darker material found from the latter half of the film. The cues "The Tide Turns" and "The Final Confrontation" are both in the vein of standard action music that is very dark indeed. As Elfman said, he was so captivated in writing this finale music that he descended in a state of depression and anguish, basically being submerged in the darkness of it all. However, the absolute highlight of the entire score comes at the very end. "The Grand Finale" brings us a grandiose and very emotional climax on Edward's theme, an emotional release that always makes my spine tingle. And when coupled with the film, it is a moment that will bring tears to your eyes, no doubt about it.

The original MCA album offers some 47 minutes of score and is still widely available today at very reasonable prices. There is a mention that the album has been transferred from analogue tapes and there might be some minor hiss. This however in not very noticeable, the only time really being in the final score cue "The End." The score is followed by an unfortunately horrific Tom Jones song "With These Hands," that completely destroys the magical feeling created by Elfman's music. It is another example of the stupidity of the producers who want to increase record sales by including these nonsensical songs that nobody really even cares about. Still there is no denying the beauty and poignant loveliness of Elfman's score. It is a masterpiece that continues to enchant 15 years later and remains, alongside Batman, possibly Elfman's best score ever, the beauty of which he has rarely managed to surpass. As Elfman said when scoring 1994's Black Beauty: "I love sad music;" and Edward Scissorhands truly is a great testament of this philosophy. A must-have in every single soundtrack collection and in many other CD collections as well. Highly and fondly recommended!

1. Introduction (Titles) (2:36)
2. Storytime (2:35)
3. Castle on the Hill (6:25)
4. Beautiful New World/Home Sweet Home (2:05)
5. The Cookie Factory (2:14)
6. Ballet de Suburbia (Suite) (1:17)
7. Ice Dance (1:45)
8. Etiquette Lesson (1:38)
9. Edwardo the Barber (3:19)
10. Esmeralda (0:27)
11. Death! (3:29)
12. The Tide Turns (Suite) (5:31)
13. The Final Confrontation (2:17)
14. Farewell… (2:46)
15. The Grand Finale (3:26)
16. The End (4:47)
17. With These Hands (horrible song performed by Tom Jones) (2:43)

Music Composed and Produced by Danny Elfman
Orchestrated by Steve Bartek
Conducted by Shirley Walker
Featured Boys' Choir: The Paulist Choirsters' of California
Chorus Master: Dr. Jon Wattenbarger
Recorded and Mixed by Shawn Murphy
Recorded at Columbia Music Scoring, Culver City, CA
Music Editor: Bob Badami
Assistant Music Editor: Margie Goodspeed
Additional Engineering by Dennis S. Sands and Bill Jackson
MCA Records, 1990 (MCD 10133)

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