Wikipedia

Shame (soundtrack)

Shame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2011 film Shame directed by Steve McQueen and starring Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. The soundtrack was released through Sony Classical Records on 6 December 2011 and featured songs from Glenn Gould, Tom Tom Club, Blondie, Chic, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Howlin' Wolf along with few original score themes composed by Harry Escott.

Shame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
various artists
Released6 December 2011 (2011-12-06)
Genre
Length80:13
LabelSony Classical

Background

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Shame features an original film score composed by Harry Escott.[1] Escott revealed that his involvement was very set even before he came on board, and there were numerous pre-existing compositions ranging from classical to post-modern. Escott revealed that he had to compose two pieces of music that summarizes the soul of the protagonist Brandon, and which was not a traditional scoring, but capturing the mood of the piece and the urge within the protagonist. Escott noted on Steve's clarity about the musical landscape and environment he wanted the film to be in, where he demand pure orchestra and devoid of any synth music.[2]

Editor Iain Canning noted that the theme represented of a ticking clock, reminiscent of the idea that Brandon had a process and a way of waking up, where life was a sort of a rotation. Canning liked the ticking clock aspect which served an importance in the film, attributing that the music would serve as a character.[2] Besides the original compositions, which appeared only in few instances, the soundtrack primarily featured classical, periodic and contemporary film compositions, including a "New York, New York "Theme"" performed by Carey Mulligan.[3][4]

Reception

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William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote "A viewing of Shame is required to understand how all this music works together, but the individual recordings are classics in their own right."[5] Daniel Schweiger of AssignmentX wrote "A sex addict's greatest hits will do anything but turn you off".[6] Calum Marsh of Coke Machine Glow wrote "Shame, despite what its detractors say, is a deceptively old-fashioned project, stylized and artful, and its soundtrack follows suit, offering style but sounding classically good as an album."[7] Justin Chang of Variety described it a "resonant, largely cello-based score."[8] Amy Biancolli of San Antonio Express-News called it a "disgruntled, murmuring strings" score.[9] David Edelstein of Vulture described it a "plaintive drone of a score".[10] Oliver Lyletton of IndieWire called it as one of the best soundtrack of 2011, saying "With "Shame," the images are cold and atmospheric, but never distant, thanks in part to Escott's stellar work."[11]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)ArtistLength
1."Brandon"Harry EscottHarry Escott8:28
2."Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria"Johann Sebastian BachGlenn Gould3:04
3."Genius of Love"
Tom Tom Club3:26
4."Rapture"
Blondie5:32
5."I Want Your Love"
Chic6:54
6."My Favorite Things"
John Coltrane13:39
7."New York, New York "Theme""
Carey Mulligan and Liz Caplan (piano)4:55
8."Let's Get Lost"
Chet Baker3:40
9."Prelude & Fugue No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 855: Prelude"BachGlenn Gould2:49
10."Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15 a 1 Clav. Canone alla quinta. Andante"BachGlenn Gould5:00
11."Unravelling"EscottHarry Escott9:35
12."You Can't Be Beat"Chester BurnettHowlin' Wolf3:05
13."The Problem"Mark LouqueMark Louque5:14
14."Prelude & Fugue No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 885: Praeludium"BachGlenn Gould3:09
15."End Credits"EscottHarry Escott1:43
Total length:80:13

Accolades

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In additon to the following awards, the score was shortlisted as one among the 97 contenders for the Best Original Score category at the 84th Academy Awards, albeit not receiving a final nomination.[12][13][14]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
Black Reel Awards 12 February 2012 Outstanding Original Score Harry Escott Nominated [15]
[16]
Houston Film Critics Society 14 December 2011 Best Original Score Harry Escott Nominated [17]
[18]
[19]
[20]

Personnel

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Credits adapted from liner notes:[21]

  • David Butterworth – orchestration (1, 11, 15)
  • Rolf Wilson – leader (1, 11, 15)
  • Nick Wollage – engineering, recording, mixing (1, 11, 15)
  • Pete Hutchings – assistant engineering (1, 11, 15)
  • Manfred Melchior – mastering
  • Ian Wood – score editor (1, 11, 15)
  • Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor (1, 11, 15)
  • Lucy Whalley – assistant orchestra contractor (1, 11, 15)
  • White Label Productions – design
  • Steve McQueen – liner notes

References

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  1. ↑ "Shame". iTunes. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 "SHAME | FILM INTERVIEW". Buzz Magazine. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 May 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  3. ↑ Jagernauth, Kevin (16 November 2011). "'Shame' Soundtrack Features Blondie, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Carey Mulligan's "New York New York" & More". The Playlist. Archived from the original on 6 May 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Raup, Jordan (16 November 2011). "Sizzling UK Poster For 'Shame'; Soundtrack Details Released". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on 6 May 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Shame Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  6. ↑ Schweiger, Daniel (22 January 2012). "CD Review: SHAME soundtrack". Assignment X. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  7. ↑ Marsh, Calum (10 March 2012). "Various Artists: Shame | Records". Cokemachineglow. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  8. ↑ Chang, Justin (4 September 2011). "Shame". Variety. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Biancolli, Amy (17 January 2012). "Review: 'Shame'". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Edelstein, David (2 December 2011). "Movie Reviews: On Shame and A Dangerous Method, the Michael Fassbender Double Feature". Vulture. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Lyttelton, Oliver (14 December 2011). "Hope You Like Synths: The Best Scores & Soundtracks Of 2011". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  12. ↑ Sartor, Ryan (23 December 2011). "Thomas Newman & Alexandre Desplat Lead The Pack Of The 97 Scores In Contention For The Oscars". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  13. ↑ Finke, Nikki (23 December 2011). "OSCARS: 97 Original Scores in 2011 Race". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  14. ↑ Stone, Sasha (23 December 2011). "97 Original Scores in Oscar Race". Awards Daily. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  15. ↑ ""Pariah" And "The Help" Lead 2012 Black Reel Awards Nominations". Hot 100.9. WHHH. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  16. ↑ "The Help Cleans Up At the Black Reel Awards". Black Reel Awards. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  17. ↑ Adams, Ryan (10 December 2011). "Houston Film Critics Society Nominees". AwardsDaily. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  18. ↑ Berkowitz, Lana (14 December 2011). "Houston Film Critics Society chooses best of 2011". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  19. ↑ Tapley, Kristopher (14 December 2011). "'The Descendants' takes Best Picture from Houston critics". HitFix. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  20. ↑ Labrecque, Jeff (14 December 2011). "Houston critics honor 'The Descendants,' Toronto prefers 'Tree of Life'". Inside Movies. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  21. ↑ Various. Shame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Media notes). Sony Classical Records.
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