RIO - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2011)

How we wish we could bask in the tropics with the fowls in this 3D computer animated film, in the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, no less. Imagine, hours of singing and dancing (swing those hips, ladies!) in the second largest city of Brazil. Till the day we can enjoy the company of the blue macaws Blu and Jewel, we would have to make do with this swing-a-licious soundtrack album.

Get into the rhythm of things with “Real in Rio”, the first track that kicks off the 30 minute album. The ensemble cast (Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, will.i.am and Jaime Foxx) sings their hearts out in this infectious tune that will have you tapping your feet and bobbing your heads – bring out those percussion instruments to play along, we say! The tracks that follow are fun and carefree too, as you’d find out in “Let Me Take You To Rio (Blu’s Arrival)” and “Mas Que Nada (2011 Rio Version)”.

And was it will.i.am and Jaime Foxx’s voices you heard earlier? Yes, The Black Eyed Peas’ member and the Oscar winner team up in this movie to voice a redheaded bird and a yellow canary respectively. Their showcase “Hot Wings (I Wanna Party)” is a must listen, and for the two odd minutes of the song, we found ourselves shamelessly imagining that the spotlights are shining on us at the party’s dance floor. Things are made better with Hathaway’s (the3 actress was trained in musical theatre during her student days) lovely voice in an almost ethereal accompaniment.

The resident villain voiced by Jemaine Clement is hilarious in “Pretty Bird”, an anthem spoken/ sung by the cockatoo as he chronicles his rise and fall as a celebrity fowl. Elsewhere, R & B singer Taio Cruz performs the radio friendly “Telling the World”, Brazilian artiste performs the contemporary “Balanco Carioca”, while the album’s executive producer Sergio Mendes rounds up the eclectic collection of music with the relaxingly enjoyable “Copacabana Dreams”.

One thing which we feel could have been included is John Powell’s (How to Train Your Dragon, Mars Needs Mums) energetic score. But that doesn’t prevent this soundtrack from being a highly recommended album – get ready to spin it in your player to bring on the culture, the music, the colours and the fun of Rio!

ALBUM RATING:

Recommended Track: (4) Hot Wings (I Wanna Party) – will.i.am, Jaime Foxx & Anne Hathaway

Reviewed by John Li

Posted on 9 April 2011