Album Review – Django Unchained OST
Quentin Tarantino has just released one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year Django Unchained with a star studded cast. A very controversial film about slavery set in the American deep south in 1859, which has sparked a lot of debate in the United States. This has even lead to him being called a racist. But that is the film, this article is about the original motion picture soundtrack and just like the film has a star studded line up of musicians from rappers Rick Ross and 2pac to soul legend James Brown, western classics and also with even some brand new tracks short listed for best original soundtrack at The Oscars and remixes just for the film.
Quentin Tarantino is known for bringing actors careers back to life with animated characters, the same tricked seem to have been pulled off when a very interesting track called ‘Unchained’ 2pac featuring the late James Brown on a track, two legendary names of their respective fields which no music fan would not expected to see together on the same song. The song is very high tempo, with classic James Brown screaming in the background and 2pac rapping the lyrics Get It On Till I Die. There are also spaghetti western classics from Ennio Morricone Un Monumento, and Django (Luis Bacalov) the theme song from the original TV series.
It would not be a Tarantino-associated work if it did not have his customary uses of the N word, according to reports the word is used in his film 104 times, and seven tracks that are dialogue excerpts from the film, reminding us of Tarantino’s witty dialogue and writing skills. After this film, maybe Tarantino will get inaugurated as an unofficial member of the NWA, his infatuation with the word dates back to his early work. But as the man says he love Blaxploitaion films and black culture, but if one track makes up for all the controversies well that track is Freedom; by the soulful duo Elayna Boynton and Anthony Hamilton. The track is a beautiful piece of song writing, very heartfelt and emotive.
Recently in an interview to promote the film, Tarantino, said that that the music is a crucial part of his film making process as the visuals because they set the mood for the scene. The soundtrack is laden with an eclectic mix of musicians all scaling the top echelons of their respected field of the music industry. One of the movie events of the year now has a matching soundtrack. The collection of music can be described as, bold, brave and very experimental. Tarantino influence can definitely be felt on this soundtrack.
Review by Chadwick Jackson