Tag Archives: Sigur Ros

A Playlist Shortlist

Comments Off

Cameron shares some of his favorite songs from his own films for the March issue of Shortlist magazine. Without further adieu…

Film: Fast Times At Ridgemont High

Track: “We Got The Beat” by The Go-Go’s

“It says many things about life, love, hormones and the power of a mighty groove.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: Say Anything…

Track: “Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns” by Mother Love Bone

“I also used it again in Singles. It’s like a recurring character.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: Singles

Track: “Drown” by Smashing Pumpkins

“Corgan’s reaction was, ‘Sh*t! That’s the one I wanted to keep for myself.’”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: Jerry Maguire

Track: “The Horses” by Rickie Lee Jones

“This gets me feeling the emotion on Renée’s face.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: Vanilla Sky

Track: “Freur” by Doot Doot

“This had lived in so many of my mixes, it deserved to reach the big screen.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: Vanilla Sky

Track: “Nothing Song (aka njósnavélin) by Sigur Rós

“Found on a bootleg.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: Almost Famous

Track: “Cabin In The Air” by Nancy Wilson

“Never on an album, but I’m always asked for an MP3.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: Elizabethtown

Track: “Come Pick Me Up” by Ryan Adams

“One of the best songs from the past 30 years.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: We Bought A Zoo

Track: “Go Do” (Remix) by jónsi

“jónsi is the Brian Wilson of his era, and this is proof.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Film: Vanilla Sky

Track: “Rez” by Underworld

“Every mix needs a song that says ‘keep driving’.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Filed under News
Mar 25, 2012

We Bought A Zoo – Soundtrack – Liner Notes

Comments Off

Both with Sigur Rós, and in his solo work, Jónsi has always made music that captured the human adventure. Early on, it was obvious that this music would have a profound effect on the making of “We Bought A Zoo.” In preparation for making the movie, we gave all the actors and crew members a copy of Sigur Rós transcendent documentary, “Heima,” (Icelandic for “home”). We all watched the film and listened to the music, and it quickly seeped into our own journey in filming the real-life story of Benjamin Mee’s book. The actors listened to the music during their takes; it was immediately part of the film’s DNA. Even the signs guiding our crew members to the set revealed our inspiration “Heima.” During filming, I sent Jónsi a photo of one of the signs. He wrote back with characteristic enthusiasm. On our last day of shooting in April, I contacted Jónsi again and asked him if he was interested in scoring the film. I sent him a copy of the script, and a Quicktime of one of the scenes. The story affected him. He’d already begun composing new music for the film when he arrived from Iceland with his toy sampler keyboard and a headful of ideas.

His first theme for the movie fit perfectly. Within a week, Jónsi had composed a series of themes that would reflect everything we’d hoped for. In his music were all the highs and lows and passionate in-betweens of the film itself. Over the course of several visits to Los Angeles, Jónsi sculpted and orchestrated a soundscape with elements I’d never had in a movie before: bells, strings, cymbals, toy pianos, even melodies played through a small Dictaphone. The instinct that began the movie had come full circle. On a warm fall night in October, we finished. The e-mail he sent last night before boarding the plane back to his home in Iceland says it all: “It was such a blast.” And so it was. Here, with thanks from an inspired director, and special gratitude to Alex Somers, who helped shine it through a prism of love and wonder, is Jónsi’s first score for film. This is his music for “We Bought A Zoo.”

October 2011

Filed under News
Jan 28, 2012

We Bought A Zoo – Complete Soundtrack

Comments Off

 

In addition to jónsi’s score, we thought you might like to see the entire soundtrack listing for We Bought A Zoo. If the movie hasn’t arrived in your country yet, you might want to avoid if want to be surprised.

  • “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Tom Petty
  • “Do It Clean” – Echo & The Bunnymen
  • “Airline To Heaven” – Wilco
  • “Don’t Be Shy” – Cat Stevens
  • “Go Do” – jónsi
  • “Living With The Law” – Chris Whitley
  • “Last Medicine Dance” – Mike McCready
  • “Buckets of Rain” – Bob Dylan
  • “No Soy Del Valle” – Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno
  • “Sinking Friendships” – jónsi
  • “Like I Told You” – Acetone
  • “Ashley Collective” – Mike McCready
  • “For A Few Dollars More” – The Upsetters
  • “Hunger Strike” – Temple Of The Dog
  • “Ævin Endar” – jónsi
  • “Mariachi El Bronx” – Mariachi El Bronx
  • “Haleakala Sunset” – CKsquared
  • “Boy Lilikoi” – jónsi
  • “Cinnamon Girl” (Live) – Neil Young
  • “Holocene” – Bon Iver
  • “Throwing Arrows” – Mike McCready
  • “Work To Do” – The Isley Brothers
  • “All Your Love (I Miss Loving)” – Otis Rush
  • “I Think It’s Going To Rain Today” – Randy Newman
  • “Hoppípolla” – Sigur Rós
  • “Gathering Stories” – jónsi
Filed under News
Dec 29, 2011

Listen: Jónsi’s “Gathering Stories”

Comments Off

NPR premiered the brand new song from We Bought A Zoo entitled “Gathering Stories”. The song is a collaboration from both Jónsi and Cameron. Have a listen, we hope you like it.Here’s Cameron discussing how Jónsi and his music inspired the film and how he ultimately became involved. These are part of the liner notes for the soundtrack which will be released on December 13th. (Amazon.com or iTunes)

Both with Sigur Rós, and in his solo work, Jónsi has always made music that captured the human adventure. Early on, it was obvious that this music would have a profound effect on the making of “We Bought A Zoo.” In preparation for making the movie, we gave all the actors and crew members a copy of Sigur Rós transcendent documentary, “Heima,” (Icelandic for “home”). We all watched the film and listened to the music, and it quickly seeped into our own journey in filming the real-life story of Benjamin Mee’s book. The actors listened to the music during their takes; it was immediately part of the film’s DNA. Even the signs guiding our crew members to the set revealed our inspiration “Heima.” During filming, I sent Jónsi a photo of one of the signs. He wrote back with characteristic enthusiasm. On our last day of shooting in April, I contacted Jónsi again and asked him if he was interested in scoring the film. I sent him a copy of the script, and a Quicktime of one of the scenes. The story affected him. He’d already begun composing new music for the film when he arrived from Iceland with his toy sampler keyboard and a headful of ideas.

His first theme for the movie fit perfectly. Within a week, Jónsi had composed a series of themes that would reflect everything we’d hoped for. In his music were all the highs and lows and passionate in-betweens of the film itself. Over the course of several visits to Los Angeles, Jónsi sculpted and orchestrated a soundscape with elements I’d never had in a movie before: bells, strings, cymbals, toy pianos, even melodies played through a small Dictaphone. The instinct that began the movie had come full circle. On a warm fall night in October, we finished. The e-mail he sent last night before boarding the plane back to his home in Iceland says it all: “It was such a blast.” And so it was. Here, with thanks from an inspired director, and special gratitude to Alex Somers, who helped shine it through a prism of love and wonder, is Jónsi’s first score for film. This is his music for “We Bought A Zoo.”

Cameron Crowe
October 2011

Filed under News
Nov 15, 2011

Sigur Rós Frontman Jónsi Scoring We Bought A Zoo

Comments Off

It’s official! Sigur Rós lead singer/guitarist, Jónsi (Jón Þór Birgisson) is composing the score for We Bought A Zoo.  Here’s Cameron on the choice:

“Jónsi has been a part of the making of We Bought A Zoo from the very beginning, as we played his Go album often for inspiration and scene-setting for the performances.  It seemed only natural to ask him to join us officially, as our composer.  He said yes, and we’ve been cheering our good forture ever since.  The movie is brimming with his new music, and his one-of-a-kind sonic heartbeat.  He’s a natural at film composing, and we can’t wait to share it with you in the coming months.”

What do you think about the news? Are you surprised? Share your thoughts.


Filed under News
Aug 1, 2011

  • Almost Famous- Paramount+, AMC+
  • David Crosby: Remember My Name- Starz
  • Elizabethtown- FUBO
  • Say Anything...- Disney+, Hulu, AMC+
  • Vanilla Sky- Paramount+,Showtime
  • We Bought A Zoo- Disney+, Roku