Music Review: Sex and the City - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Soundtracks are a tricky thing. Sometimes they're done very well, like a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes or a swanky Cosmo (with Grey Goose and Rose's lime juice, of course). Other times, they're tantamount to botched plastic surgery (see the latest facial alterations of Sex and the City co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris "Mr. Big" Noth).

So where does the new Sex and the City: The Movie soundtrack rank?

Consider the first Original Soundtrack and the Original Score (both to the original HBO series) as the latter and this new film soundtrack the former. After fans were hustled out of their fifteen bucks twice-over, the film's producers finally decided to give the fans what they wanted — a much tighter, smarter and sexier audio companion that actually matches the mood and means of the film. In other words, their money's worth.

With a track list that offers every bit of cosmopolitan cool, the Sex soundtrack offers succulent cuts from Nina Simone ("The Look of Love"), Morningwood ("New York Girls"), and Jem ("It's Amazing") – along with a slate of dynamite covers by India.Arie (Don Henley's "Heart of the Matter") and The Bird & the Bee (doing the Bee Gee's "How Deep is Your Love"). The opening track by Fergie called "Labels or Love," as director Michael Patrick King once suggested, is gene-spliced from the original Sex theme song (also on the disc).

Covers of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" (Al Green featuring Joss Stone) and "Walk This Way" (the Run-DMC/Aerosmith pairing) round out the release. But the highlight is clearly Jennifer Hudson. In addition to co-starring in the film as Carrie Bradshaw's assistant, she does a remarkable job on "All Dressed in Love," a track written by MC Jack Splash and Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo, which runs during the film's end.

This reviewer never thought he'd tout the pipes of an "American Idol" contestant, but after Dreamgirls and this outing? That's right. Cue the air conditioning in Hades and those flying pigs. In all, this Sex outing is quite fabulous for the ears... and likely to be as big of a smash as the film.

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Article Author: Peter Chakerian

Peter Chakerian is the Managing Editor of CoolCleveland, a free, subscription-based "e-blast" newsletter in Northeast Ohio. His work has appeared in The Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal, Northern Ohio Live, Scene Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, Sun …

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  • 1 - Louise

    Jun 05, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    I love the SATC soundtrack sooo much!! All the songs fit the movie perfectly!! I love love love The Weepies song All This Beauty! It's amazing. I found this cool ecard if anyone wants to listen to it!! I love my SATC!!

  • 2 - OtterKim

    Jun 10, 2008 at 1:35 pm

    I rounded up a group of my gal-pals for a fun Ladies Night Out! Cosmos all around. I now have the soundtrack so I can enjoy the music beyond the movie theater. The songs are an eclectic mix of pop, techno, classic rock, and fun theme music all set to a seductive, city vibe. There's a typical music soundtrack, and then there's a Sex And The City soundtrack - this doesn't disappoint. The offerings from Fergie, India.Arie, and Jennifer Hudson (who also has a role in the movie!) lead off a great list of talented musical storytellers. Just checking out the sampler is a great appetizer to the movie....

  • 3 - jonbonjovious

    Jun 13, 2008 at 11:40 am

    I love the soundtrack. I think the music is diverse and it compliments any mood or occassion. My favorite song is "All This Beauty" by the Weepies. I just think the song is beautiful with its lyrics and the heartfelt singing.

    I'm not crazy about the remake of the Bee Gees, "How Deep is Your Love" by the The Bird and The Bee. I love the original and wish they would have used it instead.

    I think each song selected complimented the scene in the movie very well...and I LOVE the theme song on steroids!

  • 4 - Talitha

    Sep 20, 2010 at 1:13 am

    Yeah first Sex and the City is AMAZING! Second Jennifer Hudson is a BEAUTIFUL singer! She is great at what she does and is a very strong woman! She has been trough a lot of shit! So props on her!

    A soundtrack is very important for a movie. It sets the mood of the movie. The soundtrack list is very improtant as well! If there is a bad choice of song than can the scene be horrible!

  • 5 - Jennifer

    Feb 18, 2011 at 5:06 am

    Adored the SATC soundtracks!=)

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