Black Widow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score for the 2021 Marvel Studios film Black Widow. The score was composed by Lorne Balfe, with the soundtrack album being released by Hollywood Records on July 9, 2021.
Black Widow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
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Film score by | ||||
Released | July 9, 2021 | |||
Genre | Film score | |||
Length | 79:53 | |||
Label | ||||
Lorne Balfe chronology | ||||
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Marvel Cinematic Universe soundtrack chronology | ||||
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Background
editAlexandre Desplat was revealed to be composing the music for Black Widow in January 2020.[1] Late in the film's post-production, Lorne Balfe replaced Desplat as composer, which Desplat confirmed in May 2020.[2][3] Balfe's score was released digitally by Marvel Music and Hollywood Records on July 9, 2021.[4] Black Widow director Cate Shortland believed Balfe had created a "soulful score that is really Russian".[5]
Balfe employed London's Metro Voices for a 118-piece orchestra and a 60-voice choir singing Russian lyrics, with a 40-voice male choir and 20-voice female choir, doing takes with and without lyrics. These lyrics were adapted from Russian poetry by Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy and Mikhail Lermontov. Balfe said that "the music of the Red Army was also a massive influence", and that he "wanted to give Yelena that Red Army robustness with her theme." Balfe avoided more cliché Russian instruments like balalaikas as they "didn't fit the film" and could "become a parody".[6]
Track listing
editAll music composed by Lorne Balfe.[4]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Natasha's Lullaby" | 3:24 |
2. | "Latrodectus" | 2:40 |
3. | "Fireflies" | 3:13 |
4. | "The Pursuit" | 2:53 |
5. | "The First Bite Is the Deepest" | 3:05 |
6. | "Last Glimmer" | 4:19 |
7. | "Dreykov" | 3:34 |
8. | "You Don't Know Me" | 2:01 |
9. | "Yelena Belova" | 3:36 |
10. | "From the Shadows" | 3:44 |
11. | "Hand in Hand" | 2:46 |
12. | "Blood Ties" | 2:54 |
13. | "Whirlwind" | 3:28 |
14. | "Arise" | 2:13 |
15. | "Natasha's Fragments" | 1:55 |
16. | "A Sister Says Goodbye" | 4:14 |
17. | "I Can't Save Us" | 1:51 |
18. | "Red Rising" | 3:57 |
19. | "The Betrayed" | 5:38 |
20. | "The Descent" | 2:05 |
21. | "Faces to the Sun" | 1:51 |
22. | "Natasha Soars" | 2:19 |
23. | "Last Love" | 1:59 |
24. | "Into the Past" | 4:55 |
25. | "Broken Free" | 3:09 |
26. | "A Calling" | 2:10 |
Total length: | 79:53 |
Charts
editChart (2023) | Peak
position |
---|---|
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[7] | 37 |
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[8] | 18 |
Additional music
editA cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Think Up Anger, featuring Malia J is used in the film's opening credits.[9][10] Also featured are "American Pie" by Don McLean, Yelena Belova's favorite song as a child, "Cheap Thrills" by Sia and Sean Paul, "Bond Fights Snake" by John Barry, "Atshan Ya Zeina" by Ahmed Mohamed El Gaml, and "Rise Ye Soldiers of Salvation". Alan Silvestri's Avengers theme is also referenced in Balfe's score.[10][11]
References
edit- ^ Gemmill, Allie (January 14, 2020). "Alexandre Desplat to Score 'Black Widow', a Fact Casually Revealed in the Latest Trailer". Collider. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Lorne Balfe Scoring Marvel's 'Black Widow'". Film Music Reporter. March 31, 2020. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ Ehrlich, David (May 21, 2020). "Alexandre Desplat on Wes Anderson's Amazing 'French Dispatch' and del Toro's Musical 'Pinocchio'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ a b "'Black Widow' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. July 5, 2021. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ Mottram, James; Shepherd, Jack (June 2021). "From Russia With Love". Total Film. pp. 48–49. – via @CreamOrScream (May 28, 2021). "Total Film - Black Widow (Pages) - June Issue 2021 #BlackWidow #MarvelStudios" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Burlingame, Jon (July 15, 2021). "'Black Widow' Composer Reveals How Russian Poetry Influenced the Film's Score". Variety. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 16/7/2021". Official Charts Company. July 16, 2021. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart on 16/7/2021". Official Charts Company. July 16, 2021. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (June 29, 2021). "'Black Widow' Review: A Superhero Movie That's Grittier, More Layered With Feeling, Than You Expect". Variety. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ a b Gallagher, Sean (July 8, 2021). "Black Widow Soundtrack Guide - Every Song In The Movie". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ Dinh, Christine (July 14, 2021). "Black Widow: Every Song Featured in the Film". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.