FIFTY SHADES DARKER - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2015)

When the world was first introduced to the first of the Fifty Shades film series in 2015, audiences were, ahem, sex-cited to see how kinky the movie would be. While it wasn’t Oscar material, it did become the fourth highest grossing R rated movie of all time.

The sequel came along earlier this year, and critics still can’t find the chemistry and passion to feel fired up. The kinkiness of the movie became unintentionally funny, and things fell, ahem, limp.

Send the soundtrack album to the rescue – this is one CD that you can put on loop if you are planning a romantic evening with your other half. The lead single "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" is a suggestive duet by Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik. The mood gets a little naughty with Nick Jonas and Nicki Minaj’s lusty “Bom Bidi Bom” (the purring and panting in the song will get couples in the mood of things).

Elsewhere, there are soulful songs from well known artistes like John Legend (“One Woman Man”), Sia (“Helium”) and Corrine Bailey Rae (she performs a cover of Coldplay’s “The Scientist”). Each seems to be mourning the hurt and heartache that love brings along.

The second official single "Not Afraid Anymore" by Halsey is a thumping song which takes listeners to the darker realms of a romantic relationship. The 19 track album also includes performances by other artistes like Tove Lo (“Lies in the Dark”), Jose James (“They Can’t Take That Away from Me”), JP Cooper (“Birthday”) and Anderson East (“What Would It Take”). Each brings his or her own flavour to this eclectic of music.

There are also two score cues by composer Danny Elfman. Although brief, the suggestively named tracks “On His Knees” and “Making It Real” close the album nicely.

Who can’t wait for the last film of the series, “Fifty Shades Freed” to, ahem, come in 2018? 

ALBUM RATING:

Recommended Track: (11) The Scientist - Corinne Bailey Rae

Review by John Li