A Star is Born Analysis
Saw this yesterday and thought I'd do a track by track analysis cause I loved this movie |
1 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Intro
This opening is just a fun little skit of tuning guitars and such. |
2 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Black Eyes
The opening riff on this hooks it's teeth into the audience immediately and immensely. This was an insanely catchy hard rock track with plenty of beef to it and serves as a perfect introduction into Bradley Cooper's vocal stylings, which carry a wonderful southern charm. Our Introduction to Jackson. |
3 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Just a taste of the smooth and lush vocals of Lady Gaga that introduce us to the talent of her character Ally. |
4 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Fabulous French (Dialogue)
A humorous talk which leads into Jackson's first listen of Ally's vocal capability. |
5 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
La Vie en Rose
The French sung Γdith Piaf cover is sung in marvelous fashion with some classical piano and jazzy horns that really highlight Gaga's vocalizations. |
6 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
I'll Wait for You (Dialogue)
This scene was both humorous and sweet and our first official meeting of the main characters. |
7 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Maybe It's Time
Upon reading about this, Jason Isbell took up writing this track and it served as a springboard for the rest of the music on this movie. It's easy to see why considering how well written and heartfelt it is. Cooper's delivery does the song a lot of justice and really gives you a view into his character's passion for music. |
8 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Parking Lot (Dialogue)
Ally's first time truly singing her own lyrics to a song she envisioned after meeting Jackson and getting a real first impression. |
9 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Out of Time
A southern hard rock instrumental with killer guitar work from Lukas Nelson, who performed majority of the guitar work for this movie. Bradley Cooper did however learn to play the songs so that it would be real on screen, not camera trickery. The bumping melody is a real head nodder and the solo is technically stunning. |
10 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Alibi
More catchy southern hard rock with true classic rock tone to it. The crooning and crusty vocal work here melds well with the songwriting. Clearly Lukas can play guitar insanely well. |
11 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Trust Me (Dialogue)
Jackson's pushy way of making Ally perform for the first time on stage in front of hundreds of people. |
12 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Shallow
The first song that Jackson and Ally complete together improvised on stage. There's a ton of sincerity of the lyrics and the message that even in doubt you just have to let your fears go and dive in. The vocals from both Cooper and Gaga meld effortlessly together. |
13 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
First Stop, Arizona
Jackson's invitation is extended to Ally to join him on tour. |
14 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Music to My Eyes
It's a marvelous piece with heartfelt ballads and dangling acoustic guitar melodies and some loving harmonies. |
15 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Diggin' My Grave
A much more southern-fried track which didn't actually accompany the film. A track that stayed on the soundtrack alone and serves as southern rock track with guitar melodies with soul and punch and yet again some killer vocal harmonies. The crusty vocals of Cooper balanced the high pitch vocal work of Gaga. |
16 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
I Love You (Dialogue)
One of the only moments these three words are used in this movie, a special moment in the film. |
17 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Always Remember Us This Way
It's only to be expected that after such a loving moment that a touching ballad would follow. Gaga tugs at our heartstrings with her extended vocal range and emotional energy. |
18 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Unbelievable (Dialogue)
Ally's introduction to a major label. |
19 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
How Do You Hear It? (Dialogue)
More of the cutesy interplay of Ally and Jackson |
20 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Look What I Found
A piano track with jazzy tunes interplayed throughout the track. This is an upbeat and vitalizing affair that was highly entertaining to listen to. |
21 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Memphis (Dialogue)
Jackson comforts Ally that she has a lot to say with her music. |
22 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Heal Me
The first straight up pop track here. Some real interesting synth textures and vocal work from Gaga. The atmosphere is expansive and cloudy and Gaga vocals glaze through like a butter knife. |
23 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
I Don't Know What Love Is
Another piano ballad exercising more of Gaga's vocal control and stability. This time we get some harmonies from Cooper that show how well they connected in the music for this movie. |
24 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Vows (Dialogue)
One of the other times I love you is said, but not quite as special as the first time. |
25 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Is That Alright
A stunning vocal performance from Gaga unfortunately slightly watered down by it's cheesiness. Still wonderful nonetheless. |
26 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
SNL (Dialogue)
Performance time for Ally on SNL. |
27 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Why Did You Do That?
A texturally interesting pop track with great production that is only hindered by it's at times silly lyrics. |
28 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Hair Body Face
Another song fairly similar to the last but not quite as silly. I preferred this one. |
29 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Scene 98 (Dialogue)
The worst fight between Ally and Jackson in the film. |
30 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Before I Cry
A pop track that blends in some of the piano balladry in the mixture. This was a sonically interesting track and the vocals are impressive here. |
31 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Too Far Gone
Contrasting the previous track, this country-oriented track from Cooper that is short and sweet with emotional lyrics. |
32 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
Twelve Notes (Dialogue)
This is my favorite quote from the film. "Music is the same story being told over and over again β just 12 notes between each octave, all of them eventually repeating." Seeing the movie is what truly increases your appreciation of this quote. |
33 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
I'll Never Love Again (Film Version)
An emotionally heart-wrenching song which ends the movie on the highest possible note it possibly could (I won't give away how it ends here). |
34 | | Soundtrack (Film) A Star is Born
I'll Never Love Again (Extended Version)
As if the film version wasn't intense enough, here it is expanded upon in grandiose fashion. |
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