Once Upon A Time In Mexico - Various Artists

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away...a teenage boy sat down with his family to watch Once Upon A Time In Mexico on DVD. The dashing, young chappy had never seen or heard of this film before, although his parents said they enjoyed it very much. He sat down with some pringles and a glass of orange squash and enjoyed the whole film. The next following days he couldn't help but talk about it to all his friends, many who hadn't seen it were persuaded ...
...to the album at least once a day, playing it as background music while he worked or browsed online. For, each track had either a beautiful, traditional Spanish theme or was a stylised action song representing the powerful story in the film.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Once Upon A Time is a film about assassins living in Mexico, starring the likes of Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Willem DaFoe and Mickey Rourke. The soundtrack ... more

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away...a teenage boy sat down with his family to watch Once Upon A Time In Mexico on DVD. The dashing, young chappy had never seen or heard of this film before, although his parents said they enjoyed it very much. He sat down with some pringles and a glass of orange squash and enjoyed the whole film. The next following days he couldn't help but talk about it to all his friends, many who hadn't seen it were persuaded to do so by the boy. One of the main things he liked about the film, besides the story and acting, was the music that accompanied the film. So, he set out to buy the soundtrack for just £6.99 from HMV. As soon as he got home he played the CD and was amazed by how brilliant each song was. From that day on he constantly listened to the album at least once a day, playing it as background music while he worked or browsed online. For, each track had either a beautiful, traditional Spanish theme or was a stylised action song representing the powerful story in the film.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Once Upon A Time is a film about assassins living in Mexico, starring the likes of Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Willem DaFoe and Mickey Rourke. The soundtrack was also scored by Robert Rodriguez and features songs written by Johnny Depp and performed by Salma Hayek amongst other well established flamenco and Spanish musicians.

The soundtrack has 17 tracks and one bonus track. The songs range from traditional flamenco songs to modern electric guitar pieces, or pop rock to orchestral tracks. However, each song keeps to the Spanish theme and are each equally as good.

*~* Track Listing *~*
1. Brian Setzer - Malaguena
2. Patricia Vonne - Traeme Paz
3. Eye Patch
4. Marcos Loya - Yo Te Quiero
5. Guitar Town
6. Church Shootout
7. Juno Reactor - Pistolero
8. Manu Chao - Me Gustas Tu
9. Tonto's Giant Nuts - Sands Theme
10. Del Castillo - Dias De Los Angeles
11. The Man With No Eyes
12. Mariachi Vs. Marquez
13. Tito Larriva and Steven Hufsteter - Flor De Mal
14. Chicle Boy
15. Coup D'Etat
16. El Mariachi
17. Salma Hayek - Siente Mi Amor

Bonus Track
18. Chingon - Cuka Rocka

***Brian Setzer - Malaguena ***
The opening to this song will remind fans of the Kill Bill films. It has a similar rhythm and sound. This is quite a sharp, jerky piece with a good guitar tune. The track becomes slightly more mellow towards the middle and then jolts back to action and continues to follow this pattern throughout. Can definitely compare this track to the main theme tune for Kill Bill and parts are similar to Nancy Cartwright - Bang Bang, Baby Shot Me Down.
Track Length: 4 minutes 22 seconds.
My Rating: 8/10

***Patricia Vonne - Traeme Paz***
This is a really nice song performed by Patricia Vonne. The song lyrics aren't english and provide a Spanish theme with good accompanying music. Towards the middle of the piece there is a brilliant use of a spanish guitar similar to what can be heard in some of the great Santana's songs.
Track Length: 2 minutes 56 seconds
My Rating: 9/10

***Eye Patch***
Another great opening for a song. Very traditional Spanish theme with a Spanish guitar and good backing vocals by a male singer. Good feel to the song and tamborine sounding instrument in the background as well as Bongos and the spanish guitar. This track is a piece made for the film and represents a particular scene.
Track Length: 1 minute 52 seconds
My Rating: 9/10

***Marcos Loya - Yo Te Quiero***
Great opening to this song, less serious sounding than some of the others. Quite a fun, laid back piece. To fans of Sex and The City the opening of this song will sound extremely familiar to the opening of the TV Series. There's, yet again, great Spanish guitar in this song with a great, feel good tune that will make you want to get up and dance. Also spanish vocals.
Track Length: 3 minutes 48 seconds
My Rating: 8/10

***Guitar Town***
A serious opening with use of an electric guitar. Really atmospheric piece, evokes images of quite a serious, tragic scene. A shootout for example, or looking over the result of a war/battle. Quite an emotional piece but still keeping to the traditional sounding Spanish theme. Used for a particular scene in the film.
Track Length: 2 minutes 4 seconds
My Rating: 10/10

***Church Shootout***
Another serious opening used in a memorable scene in the film. Drums and guitars used amongst other powerful instruments that build up to make the piece quite dramatic sounding.
Track Length: 1 minute 38 seconds
My Rating: 9/10

***Juno Reactor - Pistolero ***
A really fun tune that makes you smile and nod your head when you listen to it. When the women sing "Pistolero" in the song it does remind you of European songs entered for the Eurovision song contest, but not quite AS cheesy. But this doesn't stop the song being brilliant. The music isnt cheesy at all and is also atmospheric, but less Spanish sounding as many of the others.
Track Length: 3 minutes 38 seconds
My Rating: 9/10

***Manu Chao - Me Gustas Tu***
One of the best songs on the soundtrack. Definitely a Spanish song with Spanish lyrics. A song you would love to sing along to if you knew the lyrics, so you pretend you know Spanish and sing along anyway. When i persuaded a friend to buy the soundtrack they said this song was "Amazing! Very sexy".
Track Length: 3 minutes 59 seconds
My Rating: 10/10

***Tonto's Giant Nuts - Sands Theme***
Brass instruments make this opening very strong and sharp. Electric guitar also used. Together all the instruments make this song very atmospheric, create a mood and create tension and DRAMA!!! The brass instruments can be compared to what might be heard in a James Bond piece. The song definitely has the correct sound for a film about deadly assassins.
Track Length: 3 minutes 24 seconds
My Rating: 8/10

***Del Castillo - Dias De Los Angeles***
A gentle opening, very atmospheric and soft. Soon changes to a more upbeat, traditional Spanish track. An energetic sounding performance by Del Castillo. Good song to have a dance to. Definitely influenced by flamenco dancing songs. Once again, great use of a spanish/electric guitar.
Track Length: 5 minutes 8 seconds
My Rating: 9/10

***The Man With No Eyes***
Dramatic opening, slowly building up in power. Good song to listen to. It slows down and becomes very gentle and then bursts back into action immediately.
Track Length: 2 minutes 9 seconds
My Rating: 8/10

***Mariachi Vs. Marquez***
Song used in an important scene where Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) confronts Marquez. Another dramatic, atmospheric sounding piece. Definitely portrays an action scene.
Track Length: 1minute 33 seconds
My Rating: 7/10

***Tito Larriva and Steven Hufsteter - Flor De Mal***
Traditional Spanish themed song. Nice, easy to listen to song, very laid back. Great vocals, very Spanish. Brilliant song.
Track Length: 3 minutes 14 seconds
My Rating: 9/10

***Chicle Boy***
Introduction slowly grows and gets louder, more powerful and dramatic. The next few tracks on the soundtrack are action related songs taken from powerful/important scenes in the film.
Track Length: 1 minute 30 seconds
My Rating: 7/10

***Coup D'Etat***
Another dramatic, action scene that definitely relates to the film. However, in several parts there is a mellow Spanish guitar playing before it errupts back into a powerful song representing a military coup.
Track Length: 3 minutes 2 seconds
My Rating: 8/10

***El Mariachi***
A soft, emotional opening through use of a Spanish guitar. Lovely tune that you could rest all day to. Just close your eyes when listening to this and relax. Its beautiful and amazing.
Track Length: 1 minute 22 seconds
My Rating: 10/10

***Salma Hayek - Siente Mi Amor***
This is a really, really nice song. The vocals are by Salma Hayek who also acts in the film. She has a really nice, soft voice. The backing music is also very traditional Spanish music. The lyrics are also Spanish. Another song to just relax too. It's another emotional song with brilliant music and guitar playing.
Track Length: 4 mintes 24 seconds
My Rating: 10/10

***Chingon - Cuka Rocka***
The final, bonus track on the CD. The song is really fun and great to listen to. Great song to finish on as it pulls you away from the previous, emotional songs and wraps up the whole soundtrack for you.
Track Length: 1 minute 44 seconds
My Rating: 9/10

The soundtrack is fantastic and for anybody who likes ethnic, Spanish, flamenco music...this album is for you. It is filled with delightful treats and also tells the story and journey of the characters experiences and feelings throughout the film. I could listen to the CD again and again, keep the whole thing on repeat. It really relaxes you and there isn't a single flaw, in my opinion, with any of the songs featured on the album.

 

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