CD review: “Mamma Mia!” soundtrack
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Soundtrack
Various artists “Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack” (Decca)
The enthusiasm of the stars compensates for a few unimpressive vocals on the soundtrack to the film version of “Mamma Mia!”
The movie is based on the worldwide smash stage musical, which is built on the 1970s hits of Swedish pop quartet ABBA.
Two-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep shows that she can both emote and sing on the title track, “Money, Money, Money” and “The Winner Takes It All.” Colin Firth’s wistful and surprisingly tuneful vocals hold together the group sing “Our Last Summer.”
Not surprisingly, the stars with stage training and experience put in the best vocal performances. Christine Baranski’s gender-switch version of “Does Your Mother Know,” a rare ABBA hit on which Bjorn Ulvaeus provided the lead vocals, is the highlight.
Dominic Cooper, best known for his stage role in “The History Boys,” and Amanda Seyfried, a Broadway and opera trained TV and film actress, pour the passion into “Lay All Your Love on Me.” Seyfried sparkles on “The Name of the Game,” the closer “I Have a Dream,” and bonus track “Thank You for the Music.”
Pierce Brosnan’s flat, amateurish contributions on “SOS” and “When All Is Said and Done” prove the weak spot.
The soundtrack doesn’t have quite the infectious effervescence of an ABBA album, but fans of the musical and movie will enjoy singing along with it.
- BAM
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