Mona Lisa Smile

Includes the Bonus Track "Suite" by Rachel Portman Album Details

Great CD, many great songs and versions

It's nice to see a good soundtrack to a good (though not brilliant) movie.
Tori Amos is great and the songs are really nice to hear. I bought this CD after seeing the movie and I hear it all the time.
July 18, 2007

One of the best movie soundtracks around!

I don't even know where to start. Very much enjoy the whole collection. At the very start, Seal's rendition of "Mona Lisa Smile" is a stunner.

Macy Gray's "Santa Baby" almost rivals Eartha Kitt's. It's all good--great music to put on when you're in a vintage mood. December 15, 2006

Smile in Warmth!

Relaxing and romantic music, this soundtrack sounds like something you would listen to in this sixties and seventies. Most soundtracks aren't like this which gives this soundtrack the "center stage" if you know what I mean. This soundtrack captures the warmth of the movie and is highly recommended!

1. Mona Lisa Smile - Seal 4/5
2. You Belong To Me - Tori Amos 5/5
3. Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered - Celine Dion 5/5
4. The Heart Of Every Girl - Elton John 4/5
5. Santa Baby - Macy Gray 5/5 (Go Macy!)
6. Murder, He Says - Tori Amos 4/5
7. Besame Mucho - Chris Isaak 3/5
8. Secret Love - Mandy Moore 5/5
9. What'll I Do - Alison Krauss 4/5
10. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - Trevor Horn Orchestra 3/5
11. Sh Boom - Trevor Horn Orchestra 4/5
12. I'm Beginning To See The Light - Kelly Rowland 5/5
13. I've Got The World On A String - Lisa Stansfield 4/5
14. Smile - Barbra Streisand 5/5
15. Suite 5/5

If you liked this, you may like
1. Le Divorce original soundtrack
2. The Lake House original soundtrack
OR
3. Under The Tuscan Sun original soundtrack

Hope you enjoy!

Jordan
Overall grade* A- July 30, 2006

Deliciously retro tunes from today's hottest stars

As someone who grew up on Sinatra, Lawrence Welk, and crooners, I love any and all modern covers of classic standards from the Great American Songbook, so when Mona Lisa Smile came along, I counted my blessings. Most of the fourteen songs on Mona Lisa Smile appear in the movie, either as background music (Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered, Celine Dion, Santa Baby, Macy Gray, Mona Lisa Smile, Seal) or as cameos (a sultry Tori Amos on Murder, He Says). Sir Elton John's contribution on The Heart of Every Girl appears as a music video on the DVD.

So how do the standards hold up to modernization? I found the "updating a classic" treatment of De-Lovely to be awful, so I was wary of Mona Lisa Smile's list of pop stars (Sir Elton John, Mandy Moore, Kelly Rowland) tackling songs that are near and dear to my stodgy, traditional heart. I needn't have worried--Mona Lisa Smile takes great efforts to sound vintage, and succeeds.

The album kicks off with Nat King Cole's classic anthem Mona Lisa Smile, sung by a smooth, barely-recognizable Seal (better known for Kiss For A Rose), who does an uncanny impersonation of Nat. Next, Tori Amos's You Belong To Me (originally sung by Jo Stafford). The background horns have been softened on the remake, and this is a beautiful song perfectly suited for slow dancing. Celine Dion's Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered is stunningly executed, from the oboe solos, sweeping strings, and background chorus; in fact, I didn't even guess that this was my favourite diva until I looked at the tracklisting.

Elton John's The Heart Of Every Girl did nothing for me, but to be fair, I've never been a fan of his singing style, with one exception: Sir Elton recorded two standards for a British soundtrack (Shoreditch), Makin' Whoopee (which he recently duetted with Rod Stewart on his latest standards album) and Ain't Misbehavin'. A pity that one of these songs wasn't featured instead; when Sir Elton belts a showtune, he transforms. Macy Gray's Santa Baby is even scratchier than Eartha Kitt's sexy original, with a nearly-identical soundtrack that will put any Grinch or Scrooge into the holiday spirit. Tori Amos's second contribution, Murder He Says, is featured in the film. It's a rollicking swing tune with a killer horn section and a saucy delivery. Next, Chris Isaak (Wicked Game) charms on Besame Mucho.

Mandy Moore's Secret Love is surprisingly strong vocally; I remember Mandy's earlier pop releases, and can't believe this is the same singer. Allison Krauss's What'll I Do is a breathy, haunted love song that seems to have stepped out of WWII. Trevor Horn's Istanbul (Not Constantinople) and Sh Boom put the swing in the `40s with girl group glee. Kelly Rowland's I'm Beginning to See the Light is a very bluesy, jazzy number, Lisa Stanfield's I've Got The World On A String is an ode to sultry jazz. The album closes with Barbara Streisand's Smile.

Kudos to the producers to sticking closely to the original background instrumentation and vocal stylings of the original hits. The roster of current pop stars carry these tunes with grace, wit, and their own styles while staying true to the longevity of standards that have been around for fifty years or more. This will appeal to fans of the Great American Songbook, 1940's tunes, and Wink Martindale's The Music of Your Life. Don't waste your time on the horrid De-Lovely soundtrack looking for updated takes on vintage tunes; opt for the excellent Mona Lisa Smile OST instead!
October 23, 2005

Mona Lisa Smile

Great Soundtrack! It's fun to hear the old songs re-made by today's artists. Very Good!! September 28, 2005

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