The American President

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Alright, we all know it. Marc Shaiman can write some truly great themes. You know, the ones that don't need a second introduction to sweep you off your feet. Patch Adams is one example, the sentimental thing just did it for me you know, City Slickers then otherwise gave the listener that western feel but patriotism ahead and so far his best with all the emotional love trademarks in The American President. The score no doubt shines a lot more in the collection of soundtracks when you hear such a main theme with those magic proportions. And especially the whole commotion was that this solemn main theme did more for the trailer of Saving Private Ryan then the score of Williams did on its CD. Surely this is flattering for Marc Shaiman but he simply didn't wrote the theme for Ryan, he wrote it for The American President. So don't forget that Williams' theme works equally well in the context of its initial movie. Still, while others embrace it like it is the best of Shaiman, I feel that only the main theme does wonders on disc. This doesn't mean that I don't approve what The American President brings. Trust me, I find the whole score a satisfying listening experience. But I believe that the main theme makes the score strong, not the entire score itself. Simply take the main theme out of there and I believe a lot of people will find it less appealing, not so special anymore.

Of course luckily that glorious main theme is there and we receive the full blown versions of it in three tracks, and those light up the sky with its heavenly performance. 'Main Titles', 'President Shepherd' and 'End Titles' become without question the best tracks of the score. The rest, which includes a instrumental dance piece that appeared when the President and his date danced is nice, but not so interesting taken out of its context. I find that the rest makes the impression more in the movie then on CD, but of course they are good for a listen. The better moments of that rest are witnessed in 'Make the Deal'. Marc Shaiman didn't capture those that love film music alone, but he also made Saving Private Ryan even better. Because we all know what a good trailer (scene and music) can do for its anticipation. But again, it doesn't appear in Spielberg's movie, its just for the Rob Reiner film with Michael Douglas and Annette Bening. The overall mood becomes distinctly Patch Adams' like when the piano starts to twinkle, which is good but then again the material isn't as stimulating as that in Adams, being my favorite of Shaiman's career so far. The American President was rewarded for its performance with a Golden Globe nomination but did not win. Of course, put the theme in a blockbuster of epic proportions a la Saving Private Ryan and Marc Shaiman would have gotten a statue like that, Golden Globe or Oscar like. Maybe he could've had it also, if the score existed from that same potential of magic.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Main Titles (2.23) Excellent Track

2. Call Me Andy (1.38)

3. I Like Her (1.47)

4. It's Meatloaf Night (0.40)

5. The First Kiss (2.21)

6. The Slow Down Plan (1.12)

7. The Morning After / Meet The Press (2.10)

8. Politics As Usual (0.57)

9. Never Have an Airline Strike At Christmas (0.35)

10. "I Have Dreamed" (The State Dinner) (2.57)

11. Camp David (1.30)

12. Gathering Votes (2.36)

13. Make The Deal (3.42)

14. Decisions (1.45)

15. President Shepherd (7.27) Excellent Track

16. End Titles (5.04) Excellent Track

Total Length: 39.06

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=== Link to Composer Site: Marc Shaiman ===