Wedding Singer Vol.1, The - Original Soundtrack

...you already know that The Wedding Singer is my favourite film, indeed one of my early Ciao ops was on that very subject (it’s not recommended reading, I have to admit!) Now, hopefully to redeem myself, I thought I would review the soundtrack album, which is also a favourite of mine!

The Wedding Singer is set in 1985, so the majority of songs on the album come from that era. It is a “musical” film – not in the sense of The Sound of ...
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• 8. White Wedding – Billy Idol

Billy Idol actually has a cameo appearance in the film, so this song was deservingly included on the soundtrack. A great song which really epitomises the commercial rock scene of the early 80s!

• 9. China Girl – David Bowie

My favourite track on the album! I love David Bowie and this is my absolute favourite track – I don’t mind saying that his voice makes me go ... more

I am sure some of you already know that The Wedding Singer is my favourite film, indeed one of my early Ciao ops was on that very subject (it’s not recommended reading, I have to admit!) Now, hopefully to redeem myself, I thought I would review the soundtrack album, which is also a favourite of mine!

The Wedding Singer is set in 1985, so the majority of songs on the album come from that era. It is a “musical” film – not in the sense of The Sound of Music or anything like that, but as the name suggests it is about a singer, and music features prominently all the way through. Hence, the vast majority of tracks are easily recognisable for anyone who has seen the film, as opposed to many films where “fillers” are selected for soundtrack albums simply because they could be heard playing on a radio in the background for about five seconds during the film!

I am a big fan of 1980s music anyway, and have a number of 80s compilation albums, so purchased this as much as an addition to my collection as because I enjoyed the film. It has quite a few songs on it which are not the usual ones which crop up on every compilation going.

There are 14 tracks on the album, which are as follows:-

• 1. Video Killed The Radio Star – The Presidents of the United States of America

A cover version of the Buggles classic, interestingly it opens the soundtrack album despite playing during the closing credits of the film. It is an innovative cover version, and is so different in style from the original, The Presidents being a guitar band, as opposed to The Buggles being an electronic group, that it was definitely a worthwhile recording (unlike the majority of covers!) I wouldn’t say it is better than the original, but it is nonetheless a good song.

• 2. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? – Culture Club

I have never been a big fan of Culture Club, they were a bit too reggae influenced for my liking and overused that most heinous of instruments, the harmonica. However, this is probably their best and most well-known track. Although it is actually sung by one of the characters in the film, the original version is included here.

• 3. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police

Again, not one of my favourite bands, but this is without a doubt their best song. Sting actually sounds tuneful, as opposed to wailing and shrieking (think Roxanne, Message in a Bottle, Walking on the Moon etc.) and it is a great love song.

• 4. How Soon Is Now – The Smiths

Miserable Morrissey at his very best! The unmistakable guitar riff and Morrissey’s plaintive lyrics make this an absolute classic 80s track, and one which is not commonly included on 80s compilations, so I was pleased to get it on this album.

• 5. Love My Way – The Psychadelic Furs

Another one which doesn’t appear on any of my other albums. An average song, which to me is very reminiscent in places of “Getting Away With It” by Electronic, although the Furs one was out first, so it is probably the other way round!

• 6. Hold Me Now – The Thompson Twins

Another ubiquitous early 80s band, and this is probably their best song, a slightly depressing ballad!

• 7. Every Day I Write The Book – Elvis Costello

Probably my least favourite song on the album, simply because I don’t like Elvis Costello! Not a lot I can say about this one!

• 8. White Wedding – Billy Idol

Billy Idol actually has a cameo appearance in the film, so this song was deservingly included on the soundtrack. A great song which really epitomises the commercial rock scene of the early 80s!

• 9. China Girl – David Bowie

My favourite track on the album! I love David Bowie and this is my absolute favourite track – I don’t mind saying that his voice makes me go weak at the knees on this song! I also love the part of the film where this bit is played, so a definite highlight for me!

• 10. Blue Monday – New Order

This song was a dancefloor classic throughout most of the 80s, being in and out of the charts for a number of years, so its inclusion here is not surprising. However, I am sure the majority of people have it in their collection somewhere, and I actually prefer True Faith!

• 11. Pass The Dutchie – Musical Youth

Oh dear! I cringe to admit it, but Musical Youth were my favourite band when I was about 5 or 6 years old – I even have a school project (“My Favourite Things”!) to prove it. I hadn’t heard this song for years before I watched the film, and it is actually worse than I remember! One to skip!

• 12. Have You Written Anything Lately?

A spoken interlude, which leads into the next track. Robbie, the film’s main character, played by Adam Sandler, is talking to Julia, played by Drew Barrymore, who asks if he has written any songs lately. He explains that he has, but he wrote half of the song before splitting up with his fiancee Linda, and the other half after the split.

• 13. Somebody Kill Me – Adam Sandler

The aforementioned ode to Linda – Robbie warns us before he starts that he was listening to The Cure a lot when he wrote the song! It is a funny song, but you have to listen to the words, and it would probably be lost on anyone who hasn’t seen the film. It also contains swearing, hence the Parental Advisory sticker on the CD.

• 14. Rapper’s Delight (Medley) – Ellen Dow plus Sugarhill Gang

Another one which would be lost on anyone who hasn’t seen the film. Ellen Dow plays an old lady in the film, who takes singing lessons from Robbie in order to serenade her husband at their golden wedding. After performing “their song” she then breaks into a cover version of Rapper’s Delight – well known for being recognised as the first rap track ever to enter the charts. Ellen has a very “unusual” voice – she could have provided voices for Pinky and Perky without any electronic help at all, and although the song is funny at first it is not something I’d want to listen to a lot! After the first verse, the original version of the song kicks in, again not one I would choose to listen to because of its inane lyrics!

On the whole this is an excellent soundtrack album which successfully showcases a lot of the music from the film. Most of the tracks featured are, in my opinion, the best ones by the band or singer in question. As I said before, there is a lot of music in the film, so much so that there is also a soundtrack volume 2 available.

The album would definitely appeal to anyone who has seen the film, and indeed to anyone who is a fan of 80s music and wants to buy a compilation with some more unusual tracks on it. The only downside in this respect is that tracks 12 to 14 may not appeal to those who haven’t seen the film, and indeed may become tiresome after a while for those who have!
 

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