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Music/AudioSuperheroes

Joker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Hildur Guðnadóttir (film soundtrack review).

While ‘Joker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ is billed as the original motion picture soundtrack, you need to be aware of what your buying here. It is the musical score of the movie composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir and does not include the many other songs played in the movie. You will have to go looking elsewhere for those.

Now that we have covered what the CD is not, let’s talk about what it actually is. Guðnadóttir has opted for a classical style orchestra for this soundtrack, although there are occasionally some sound effects thrown in amongst the traditional strings, percussion and woodwind instruments. The accompanying material says that the composition ‘features the cello as the centerpiece of the score, leading string-based melodies played by a symphony orchestra of 90 musicians’.

As you can see from the track listing below most tracks are quite short. The two longest tracks are probably pivotal moments in the film and possibly Joker’s life.

1 Hoyt’s Office 01:24

2 Defeated Clown 02:39

3 Following Sophie 01:33

4 Penny in the Hospital 01:18

5 Young Penny 02:01

6 Meeting Bruce Wayne 04:35

7 Hiding in the Fridge 01:23

8 A Bad Comedian 01:28

9 Arthur Comes to Sophie 01:39

10 Looking for Answers 00:51

11 Penny Taken to the Hospital 01:49

12 Subway 03:33

13 Bathroom Dance 02:08

14 Learning How to Act Normal 01:17

15 Confession 01:29

16 Escape from the Train 02:31

17 Call Me Joker 04:48

All told we have 17 tracks giving a running time of only 37 minutes which seems a little short to me.

I should have said that the tone of the score is somewhere between sombre, melancholy and ominous depending on which track your listening to. One of the things you can’t say about it is ‘it’s a jolly little tune’. I have to say though that I thought it was very well done given the subject matter of the film.

That last sentence brings me to point out that to get the very best out of this soundtrack you really need to see the film. It will give you goosebumps. The ‘Subway’ track always makes me nervous. Perhaps that’s why the CD is short on running time, any longer could lead to a breakdown.

This is the first of Hildur Guðnadóttir’s work that I have actually listened to and I am very impressed. For any fan of the film who is not of a nervous disposition, then you really should treat yourself and get a copy. You can get the CD or Vinyl picture disc or even a coloured vinyl configuration whatever that is.

Andy Whitaker

December 2019

(pub: WaterTower Music, 2019. 1 CD 17 tracks 37 minutes. Price: £15.56 (UK). ASIN: B07YMGJL58)

check out website: www.watertower-music.com/

AndyWhitaker

I live in deepest darkest Essex where I enjoy photography, real ales, walking my dog, cooking and a really good book. I own an e-book reader which goes with me everywhere but still enjoy the traditional paper based varieties. My oriental studies have earned me a black belt in Suduko and I'm considered a master in deadly Bonsai (there are very few survivors).

One thought on “Joker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Hildur Guðnadóttir (film soundtrack review).

  • Andy,
    You might want to check out her soundtrack to “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” as well. She seems to be specializing in dark orchestral works for the cinema.

    Reply

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