Gigi: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A blockbuster movie in 1958, lovingly remastered and including of all the film's incidental music reminds us why modern Hollywood can at times be dismissed with the wave of a hand. This is a grand musical, with seeds sown for much of the movie music that would follow, with even hints of what John Williams would steal for Star Wars. Frederick Loewe's music is playful and engaging, but the highlight simply has to be Maurice Chevalier. His turns at "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," "It's a Bore" (with Louis Jourdan), and the hilarious "I Remember It Well" are timeless classics. The entire album has successfully incorporated a wonderful Parisian feel that lounge artists like Esquivel would go on to emulate. --Scott Wilson

Tracks:

Main Title
Opening
Interlude/And There Is The Future - Maurice Chevalier/M-G-M Studio Orch
Thank Heaven For Little Girls - Maurice Chevalier/M-G-M Studio Chor
Meet Gigi (Extended Version)
Gaston's House (Extended Version)
Armenoville/It's A Bore Prelude
It's A Bore - Maurice Chevalier/Louis Jourdan
After It's A Bore (Extended Version)
Aunt Alicia
Parisians Introduction
The Parisians - Betty Wand
Ice Skating Sequence (Extended Version)
Dissolve Maxim's/Gossip (Extended Version) - M-G-M Studio Orch & Chor
Introduction To Maxim's Waltz(Extended...)/... - Louis Jourdan/M-G-M Studio Orch
It's A Bore Reprise - Maurice Chevalier/Louis Jourdan/John Abbott
To The Inn (Extended Version)
Goodbye Madame
Bore Montage
The Night They Invented Champagne - Leslie Caron/Betty Wand/Hermione Gingold,...
Trouville (Extended Version)
I Remember It Well - Maurice Chevalier/Hermione Gingold
Panting Grandma (Outtake)
Lessons (Extended Version)
Upset
Gaston's Soliloquy - Louis Jourdan
Gigi - Louis Jourdan
Gaston With Flowers
You Never Told Me
I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore - Maurice Chevalier
I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore Reprise(Extended..)
Bracelet (Extended Version)
Aunt Alicia's March (Extended Version)
Say A Prayer For Me Tonight - Betty Wand
Gigi's Big Moment
Second Gossip (Extended Version/Vocal Outtake) - M-G-M Studio Orch & Chor
Waltz At Maxim's, Dance Version (Extended Version)
Gaston's Decision
Change Of Heart/End Title - Maurice Chevalier & M-G-M Studio Orch
The Parisians (Extended Version/Piano-Vocal...) - Leslie Caron & M-G-M Studio Chor
The Night They Invented Champagne (Piano-Vocal...) - Leslie Caron/Hermione Gingold/Louis Jourdan
Say A Prayer For Me Tonight (Piano-Vocal...) - Leslie Caron

Amazon.com

A blockbuster movie in 1958, lovingly remastered and including of all the film's incidental music reminds us why modern Hollywood can at times be dismissed with the wave of a hand. This is a grand musical, with seeds sown for much of the movie music that would follow, with even hints of what John Williams would steal for Star Wars. Frederick Loewe's music is playful and engaging, but the highlight simply has to be Maurice Chevalier. His turns at "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," "It's a Bore" (with Louis Jourdan), and the hilarious "I Remember It Well" are timeless classics. The entire album has successfully incorporated a wonderful Parisian feel that lounge artists like Esquivel would go on to emulate. --Scott Wilson

Customer Reviews:

a very catchy soundtrack from an equally infectious film.............2007-05-17

Though there were elements of GIGI that bothered me greatly, even as a little girl, before I knew what a courtesan was, the soundtrack is undoubtedly beautiful and the partnership of singer/songwriter duo Lerner and Loewe really succeeds in capturing the mood of this novella. Young Gigi (Leslie Caron) comes to live with her aunt (Hermione Gingold), a courtesan (definition: high-class prostitute or mistress, especially one associated with rich, powerful, or upper-class men who provided luxuries and status in exchange for her services. In Renaissance Europe, courtesans played an important role in upper-class society, sometimes taking the place of wives at social functions.). The hope is that Gigi will be trained in the fine art and tradition of this craft. But, fate may have other plans, when the man she is groomed for (Louis Jordan) finds himself falling for her.

Some of the most beautiful (and sweet) songs are featured here. They include "Gigi," "Say A Prayer For Me Tonight," and "She Is Not Thinking of Me." I couldn't end this review without mentioning the wonderful and incomparable Maurice Chevalier, who plays an old flame of Gigi's aunt, who sings "Thank Heaven For Little Girls" with such gusto and enthusiasm, that it's hard not to smile, even if you have only heard this soundtrack on vinyl, like I did, before ever seeing the movie from whence it was inspired.

Lerner and Lowe at the top of their game.......2007-03-09

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the movie - winner of more Academy Awards than any other musical - a new generation deserves an opportunity to hear Hollywood at its best. This cd set includes not only the many well-known hits from the show - The Night They Invented Champagne, Thank Heaven for Little Girls, I Remember it Well, and of course the title song - but also the incidental music so integral to the movie, and a couple of surprises (demo recordings by Leslie Caron.) Fritz Lowe is possibly the best unremembered composer of the 20th century, and Alan J. Lerner's gift with words here is surpassed only by his work on My Fair Lady.

"when did your sparkle turn to fire, and your warmth become desire?...".......2007-02-27

GIGI is for me the ultimate movie musical from M-G-M. So many wonderful characters, and so many classic moments. The soundtrack album (newly-expanded and restored from the fine people at TCM), is a great new way to remember this fine film.

Based on the novella by Colette, the story centers around a headstrong young tomboy called Gigi (Leslie Caron), whose childhood friendship with eligible bachelor Gaston (Louis Jourdan) takes an unexpected twist. Tired of the constant stream of gold-diggers and debutantes who want to marry him, Gaston decides to ask Gigi. Her grandmother and aunt (Hermione Gingold and Isabel Jeans), two of the most noteworthy of courtesans in their youth, insist that Gigi shouldn't be tied down by marriage. Gigi is faced with the task of becoming a glamorous courtesan, but Gaston wants a wife...

The gilded, sweeping score of GIGI was provided by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, still riding high on the success of "My Fair Lady" on Broadway. With such wonderful, character-driven numbers like "She is Not Thinking of Me" (a devilish waltz for Gaston and his latest feather-brained partner); "The Parisians" (Gigi's plea for understanding the ways of love); and "I Remember It Well" (a comical duet for Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold).

This soundtrack album features the entire score, newly-restored in true stereo for the very first time, plus extensive incidental music and background scoring. Leslie Caron was never a good singer, and her vocals were dubbed here by Betty Wand. Included are three bonus tracks of Caron in rehearsals, performing her own renditions of "The Parisians", "The Night They Invented Champagne", and "Say a Prayer for Me Tonight". While the songs of Gigi aren't especially demanding, listening to Caron on these tracks gives you a clear understanding of why she was later dubbed (despite the fact that she gives Gigi the youthful innocence so befitting of the character).

GIGI was the final hurrah for the M-G-M movie musicals. It won the 'Best Picture' Oscar plus nods for the composers, and 'Best Song' for "Gigi" sung by Louis Jourdan. It remains to this day one of the most enjoyable - and joyous - movies of all time. The soundtrack album is a must for all fans, and the overall quality and standard here is superb.

[TCM/Rhino 7243 8 38115 2 6]

Gigi Soundtrack Review.......2007-01-10

If you like My Fair Lady you probably will like Gigi. The songs have the same magic as the songs from My Fair Lady. Both of these shows are written by the same authors. Some recommended tracks are "Thank Heaven For Little Girls", "The Night They Invented Champagne" and "Say A Prayer For Me Tonight". But I think everybody's favorite is the title tune "Gigi".

Needs.......2006-08-26

This CD fulfilled my needs. I'm in the show and needed to hear the music.

Music:

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