Opening the album with "The Name Of The Game" (The Crystal Method's "Big A** T.T. Mix) — which you can hear for Windows, QuickTime, and Real Audio — the track blends some of the most hilariously unspeakable yet quotable lines the cast delivered from the film with a head-bobbing beat, not only sets you up for the film but the rest of the disc’s eclectic offerings as well.
Serving up everything from typical war fare, including protest songs of the 60’s to a hip toe-tapping techno driven piece by Ben Gidsjoy called “Ready Set Go,” the album further deviates from standard fare with bizarre inclusions such as a power ballad, a New Age track by Enigma, classic MC Hammer, the theme song from The Jeffersons and the commercial jingle for his fictitious Booty Sweat soft drink line called “I Love Tha P***y,” by cast member Brandon T. Jackson.
As crazy as it sounds, as cast member Robert Downey Jr.’s Kirk Lazarus would say, "Crazy's better than nothin'," and the soundtrack manages to capture the spirit of the freewheeling film. While we’ve all heard Edwin Starr’s "War" and the music of Credence Clearwater Revival played in countless war films, “Run Through The Jungle” still sounds as great as it ever did and I defy anyone to listen without turning up the volume. In the same spirit of the era, by choosing the great protest themed “Ball of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today),” which is one of the funkier tracks by The Temptations helps reintroduce the group to audiences who best remember them from their sweeter and far more overplayed hits like “My Girl.”
And while I admittedly did giggle the first three times I played Mc Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” on the fourth listen I was ashamed that not only was I on play-count number four but also that I do remember each and every word from that song when it was initially released. And what's more, I’ll even be brave enough to say it’s aged particularly well and still manages to hook listeners in.
Article comments
1 - dani
Just list the music credits so we all can get the music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 - Jen
Hi Dani,
Thanks for reading. In the 4th paragraph of the review, there's a link to click for the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack which takes you to the film soundtrack's official MySpace page, offering lots of goodies like sound clips and a track listing. Or you can click here.
Enjoy!
- Jen
3 - Derek Fleek
As you know, I didn't like the movie. However, the soundtrack was great.
4 - Jen
Thanks, Derek. I know-- some of it really cracked me up but I do think you and I were in sync. Film-wise we both preferred Pineapple Express!
5 - ferdinand
what is the name on the intro song in tropic thunder?
6 - Jen
On the soundtrack it's Crystal Method's "Name of the Game" remix. If you mean in the film itself, it would depend on the scene. I could be wrong but I believe one of the first songs we hear in that epic opening with all the explosions is "O Fortuna" which was recently used in those Gatorade "League of Clutch" ads last spring which featured Kevin Garnett but there's quite a few songs that play near the start of the film. Note: it's arriving on DVD in a few weeks so the final credits would be the ultimate resource (I'm reviewing Ben Stiller's 2-Disc Director's Cut soon on my site in the URL line).