I remember seeing this (I think between Stargate and Bond even though it was released in 1993) and really liking the score. Arnold wrote a beautiful melodic title song Play Dead with Bjork too, as well all know, but I would like to know if the score was ever released and if not, might it be in the future?
I seem to remember Arnold in an interview stating that the score was a mix of synth cues and I think one or two wholly orchestral cues.
The album has several cues by Arnold on it - but the album is mostly pop songs. I have it at home, its a sublime listen (admittedly, I like most of the pop songs on it) though the snippets of movie dialouge are bothersome. Heres the track listing with Arnold's material marked...
1. Cathode Ray 0:27 2. Gave Up 3:51 3. Opening Titles 3:59 * 4. Don't Let Up 4:31 5. Explosion 0:46 * 6. Uberman 5:43 7. He's Watching Me 3:01 * 8. Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury 4:36 9. Christian's Requiem 5:24 * 10. Stop The Confusion (Music Mix) 3:06 11. 15 Minutes Of Fame 3:54 12. Leaving London 1:17 * 13. Play Dead 3:44 *
The film features a piece of score that is a direct predecessor to the First Lady theme from "ID4", which itself led to the basis of the song 'Surrender' from "Tomorrow Never Dies": Whenever you hear K.D. Lang sing the words "Tomorrow Never Dies" themselves, she is singing that melody, also used for the ending of the film's finale cue "All in a Day's Work".
So since that piece is missing on the album, it's safe to assume others might be as well. It's been many years since I've seen it, but that moment stuck out because it's something of an Arnold trademark theme.
Also, the score doesn't feature a lot of electronics, at least in the cues on the album. The opening theme is just pure despair. It's so bleak. Wonderfully bleak, though.
I have never seen the film but was listening to the album today and really like the Arnold cues including the Bjork vocals. Rest of the songs I've little interest in apart from 'Don't Let Up'.... and I'm also less than keen on the dialogue clips. However there's 20+ minutes of good Arnold tracks here. Will try to catch the movie....
I picked up this CD many years ago from a used CD bin (on a lark - not having seen the film) and from the first Arnold track, I knew I was listening to the successor of John Barry. I was right in that he was scoring Bond a few years later. This score is begging for a deluxe release, free of the intrusive dialogue snippets that are actually blended into the beginning of most tracks.
The movie isn't bad. It's a tight, dirty little film. The score is stupendous though.
IIRC, they only had enough studio time for one shot at Play Dead. If Bjork didn't get it in one take, the first time, they would cut it from the film. Thankfully, she nailed it.
THE YOUNG AMERICANS has never been released on home video or in any other format in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio - which is a shame, since it's worth a look. Excellent cast with Harvey Keitel and Viggo Mortensen.
THE YOUNG AMERICANS has never been released on home video or in any other format in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio - which is a shame, since it's worth a look. Excellent cast with Harvey Keitel and Viggo Mortensen.
There were a few laserdiscs released overseas that were in widescreen.
