Piranha 3D (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2010 film Piranha 3D directed by Alexandre Aja. The album was released through Lakeshore Records on August 10, 2010, which included a compilation of rap, dance, hip-hop and R&B music. Featuring artists include Shwayze, Envy, Flatheads, Amanda Blank, Public Enemy, Dub Pistols and Hadouken!.
Contents
Reception
The music was not favorably received well, with James McMahon of NME and Nick Schager of Slant Magazine describing it "awful" and "unexciting".
Additional music
The following songs are not included in the soundtrack:
"Show Me the Way to Go Home" by Mitch Miller & The Gang
"I'm Not a Whore" by LMFAO
"Fetish" by Far East Movement
"Girls on the Dance Floor" by Far East Movement
Original score
Background
Michael Wandmacher composed the film score, who received the opportunity after scoring a demo piece. The motif that utilizes col legno string sound was used to represent fish teeth which Aja liked as it sounded like a piranha teeth and utilized the four note motif on strings, which he combined into a piece of music that served as the main theme. Aja described the score as "Bernard Herrmann meets Megadeth" as the score represented "chaos and train wreck with attack music" and wanted inspiration from John Williams' score for Jaws (1975).
The score accompanied a huge brass and string section where the brasses were sampled and strings were recorded live. Around 60 players were associated to record the strings live. The score further implements electronic and rock elements with Wandmacher playing guitar, as well as electric cello, along with drums and double guitars played in lower registers. The rest of the musical elements were implemented by synthesizer programming, which also included the percussion sounds.
Reception
James Southall of Movie Wave called it a "very enjoyable album" which had similarities in terms of Brian Tyler's action film scores, in terms of approach. "The music isn't subtle, by any means, but that could hardly be expected given the subject matter." Bill Gibron of PopMatters wrote "Aja seems to be making a motion picture satire that, while loaded with splatter, also acknowledges the masters of the horror genre who came before [and] Wandmacher is a more than willing accomplice in this design."
Credits
Credits adapted from liner notes:
Music composer, producer, synth programmer, guitar, electric cello, percussion – Michael Wandmacher
Orchestrator – Chad Seiter, Michael Wandmacher, Susie Benchasil Seiter
Conductor – Susie Benchasil Seiter
Recording and mixing – Mark Curry
Music editor – Joshua Winget
Executive producer – Brian McNelis, Skip Williamson
A&R director – Eric Craig