Now Available on CD and Digital Download -- Beauty and The Beast Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent the digital version of this new CD release from the vendor in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

ALBUM FEATURES CLASSIC SCORE AND NEW ORIGINAL SONGS BY COMPOSER ALAN MENKEN AND LYRICIST TIM RICE

The Deluxe 2 Disc Audio CD is only $14.99 from Amazon

MP3 Version from Amazon is only $15.49

BRAND NEW RECORDINGS BY ARIANA GRANDE AND JOHN LEGEND,

CELINE DION, AND JOSH GROBAN

My girls and I can't wait until this Friday.  We have tickets to the 12 PM showtime of the new Beauty and the Beast movie.  I know we are not alone in the excitement of this new Disney movie, as my Facebook feed blows up every day with either new movie clips, friends commenting and sharing the John Legend and Ariana Grande music video, or just leaving comments about counting down like we are until the movie's release.  This is the one movie my girls and I couldn't wait to see for 2017.  I was going to keep the movie this Friday a secret, but the girls have been keeping a countdown chain so they knew when the movie would be in theaters.  And, they have been good with chores and doing their schoolwork, so instead of an allowance they asked last month to see this movie instead.  :-)  I couldn't say "No," as I really wanted to see this movie.  If you were a fan of the original Beauty and the Beast movie released in the 90's, then you will definitely want to check out this new version.  

I know what you are thinking...remakes of classic films are never good.  But, if you haven't seen the trailer for this new release, you really have to check it out.  I was a fan of Emma Watson in the Harry Potter films, so knew she would be a great Belle when I heard them talking about the movie being made.  She is simply stunning in the infamous dress at the end of the movie.  

The other day I surprised the girls with the Beauty and The Beast Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which released back on 3/10. I was sent the digital copy of the CD to preview.  As soon as I started to play the tracks, the girls were quick to run to their dress up station to put on their Belle gowns.  Then, they took to the middle of the living to dance and sing along to the CD.  They especially loved the track Evermore by Josh Groban, as well as the duet “Beauty and the Beast” by GRAMMY® nominated and multi-platinum selling artist Ariana Grande and 10-time GRAMMY, Oscar®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/ musician John Legend. But, if you asked them if they had a favorite of all the 19 tracks we were sent to preview, they would say them all.  I have lost count of how many times we have listened to this soundtrack.  And, I know that once we see the movie on Friday, they will want to listen to it more. :-)

The CD contains the following tracks...

  1. Overture (From Beauty and the Beas/Score) (Alan Menken)

  2. Main Title: Prologue Pt. 1 (From Beauty and the Beast/Score) (Alan Menken)

  3. Aria (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Audra McDonald)

  4. Main Title: Prologue Pt. 2 (From Beauty and the Beast/Score) (Alan Menken)

  5. Belle (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Ensemble - Beauty and the Beast)

  6. How Does A Moment Last Forever (Music Box) (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Kevin Kline)

  7. Belle (Reprise) (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Emma Watson)

  8. Gaston (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Josh Gad, Luke Evans, Ensemble - Beauty and the Beast)

  9. Be Our Guest (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Gugu Mbatha-Raw)

  10. Days In The Sun (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Emma Thompson, Emma Watson, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Audra McDonald, Adam Mitchell, Stanley Tucci, Clive Rowe)

  11. Something There (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Emma Thompson, Emma Watson, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Dan Stevens, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nathan Mack)

  12. How Does A Moment Last Forever (Montmartre) (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Emma Watson)

  13. Beauty and the Beast (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Emma Thompson)

  14. Evermore (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Dan Stevens)

  15. The Mob Song (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Emma Thompson, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Luke Evans, Ensemble - Beauty and the Beast, Stanley Tucci, Nathan 

Mack)

  16. Beauty and the Beast (Finale) (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Audra McDonald, Ensemble - Beauty and the Beast, Emma Thompson)

  17. How Does A Moment Last Forever (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Celine Dion)

  18. Beauty and the Beast (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (John Legend, Ariana Grande)

  19. Evermore (From Beauty and the Beast/Soundtrack Version) (Josh Groban)

And, here is more about the new Beauty and The Beast Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which is a must have for all Beauty and the Beast fans, and lovers of Disney movie soundtracks...

" Available now wherever music is sold and streamed, the “Beauty and the Beast” original motion picture soundtrack features an unforgettable score from eight-time Oscar®-winning composer Alan Menken along with new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and two-time Academy Award® winner Howard Ashman. Also included are three new songs written by Menken and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice.

The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast,” a stunning, cinematic event celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told. Directed by Bill Condon from a screenplay by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos based on the 1991 animated film, “Beauty and the Beast” stars: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Audra McDonald with Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson. “Beauty and the Beast” opens in U.S. theaters on March 17, 2017.

From early on, one of Condon’s key objectives was to build upon the story from the animated classic, and the Oscar-winning director realized music could play a significant role in making that happen. By finding interesting variations on beloved songs like “Be Our Guest” and “Gaston” and with the addition of new songs, music could help push the story forward while elevating its emotional content at the same time.

New songs featured in the film and included on the soundtrack are: “Evermore,” a soaring ballad performed by the Beast (Dan Stevens); the heartwarming “Days in the Sun,” sung by Belle (Emma Watson), the Beast and the castle’s enchanted staff; and “How Does a Moment Last Forever,” sung by Maurice (Kevin Kline) and in a reprise, by Belle.

The soundtrack also features three brand new recordings including the duet “Beauty and the Beast” by GRAMMY® nominated and multi-platinum selling artist Ariana Grande and 10-time GRAMMY, Oscar®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/ musician John Legend. The iconic song originally recorded by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson, features Alan Menken’s haunting melody and Howard Ashman’s memorable lyrics, and, upon its release in 1991, went on to receive an Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and GRAMMY Award. The music video for “Beauty and the Beast” was directed by Dave Meyers (P!nk’s “Just Like Fire,”  Katy Perry’s “Firework”) and can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axySrE0Kg6k.

In addition, five-time GRAMMY winning and best-selling recording artist Celine Dion performs “How Does A Moment Last Forever” and multi-platinum international recording artist and songwriter Josh Groban performed the third track, “Evermore.”

The “Beauty and the Beast” original motion picture soundtrack features 19 tracks and is available wherever music is sold and streamed (http://disneymusic.co/BeautySndtrkP, http://disneymusic.co/BeautySndtrk, http://disneymusic.co/BeautySndtrkWS). The Beauty and the Beast two-disc deluxe edition and the digital deluxe edition soundtrack, which are also available March 10, feature additional tracks including score, demos and outtakes."

Disclosure:  I was sent the digital version of this new CD release from the vendor in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.