The Power of One

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Hans Zimmer is one composer of most surprising results, and The Power of One is one of the best examples to proof this fact. While The Lion King, A World Apart, Tears of the Sun and Millennium all had African influences, The Power of One is completely African based without real music except the one underscoring all the African singing and lyrics. Simply this is music like heard on The Wings of a Film compilation, as heard on occasions on The Lion King soundtrack. And this is what makes it so special, and special in the case of Zimmer most definitely. I for one wanted the sole instrumental music and not the songs but after time I appreciated it more and more. And The Power of One is one example where it succeeded. Unlike Frida where Mexican songs dominated the CD and briefly snippets of Goldenthal's score were heard, this score is completely dominated by these African songs. But you still hear the underscore of Zimmer through it, synthesizer effects he would use in The Lion King for instance and for the Zimmer fan this could work in the greatest effect or the largest disappointment. Still, you have to give credit and most of all dare to the situation in which Zimmer presented this score. He didn't fail and that shows that the remarkable research didn't go to waste. Of course, A World Apart was the sign he could do it with more synthetic tones. Here the keyboards are second background material to the large African Choral based signing. And it works!

The score opens with the best song in my eyes, 'The Rainmaker' in fact was used with large effect in the trailer of Amistad and it also captures astounding choral washes where basically nothing is repeated for more then two minutes, and the song theme reappears with the best possible effect. And the central song of The Power of One is also good to hear, ending the score with a larger expanded track namely 'Mother Africa Reprise', especially the first minutes shows the music used in the first trailer of The Fellowship of the Ring, remember there were 2 trailers and I'm not even talking about teasers. Its a sign that Zimmer knew what he was doing with this and his keyboarding underscores magnificently the choral effect of the choir. The other score by Zimmer and Lebo M is 'Of Death & Dying', capturing more the sorrowful spirit of The Lion King, with flute solos more reminding us of that. 'Woza Mfana' is more of that Lion King spirit and 'Penny Whistle Song' is a playful flute and choral presentation that doesn't go to waste. The problem I have and had from the first try was the non composed material by Zimmer. Tracks 4, 7, 10 and 11 are African choral songs but without the voice of Zimmer and maybe one works, but not all of them. The pop version in the middle that carries the name of the movie and album is better, and even fits in nicely with the rest of the material. Altogether, The Power of One is a stunning balled of African signing and tracks 1, 2 and 12 are all working to please any fan, even though they are of course a taste to like and love. The rest is not that successful but still fits in well. A different score where non instrumental material rules the score of Zimmer, and if people love more that, then Millennium is a stunning recommendation. But for an African twist and boogie, The Power of One can do no harm!

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. The Rainmaker + (7.48) Excellent Track

2. Mother Africa + (6.19)

3. Of Death & Dying + (4.12)

4. Limpopo River Song * (1.55)

5. The Power Of One: Teddy Pendergrass (5.16)

6. Woza Mfana + (1.56)

7. Southland Concerto (2.26)

8. Senzenina (1.48)

9. Penny Whistle Song + (2.13)

10. The Funeral Song * (1.42)

11. Wangal Unozipho * (3.24)

12. Mother Africa Reprise + (8.02)

* Performed by the Bulawayo Church Choir

+ Written by Hans Zimmer & Lebo M

Total Length: 47.15

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Hans Zimmer ===