Sassy soundtrack
It might have been four years since the curtains
came down on the hugely successful series but I can guarantee
you the closing scenes of Sex and the City (where Carrie
struts down a Manhattan street and looks at her phone to see Big
calling) 
are
etched in peoples minds because of the song bringing in the fade
to black, “You’ve got the love” by Candi Staton.
This is for many the unofficial theme song popular for years since
the series ended.
The release of the eagerly anticipated Sex in
the City Movie, this month, not only means a return to New
York City and catching up with our favourite girls as they navigate
through their life hurdles but it also brings with it a soundtrack
to remember the experience by.
The first thing which struck me when I was listening
to the assembly of tracks is how truly authentic in positioning
you with location, setting and ambience the tracks are.
As stand alone tracks they work but the ordered
arrangement means they tell a story too. The story to the film.
Salaam Remi is the producer who was charged with
interweaving these tracks and he’s worked hard to ensure
that each selection offers a certain je ne sais quoir, to leave
you with the feeling you were listening to it in a Manhattan bar.
The soulful elements of NYC heartache and love are
captured by the powerful and poised Jennifer Hudson. Her song
“All dressed in love” was written especially for her
voice by dynamic duo Mc Jack Splash (lead singer to the soulful
Plantlife) and Cee Lo Green from Gnarls Barkley. The lyrical loveliness
of Jess Stone is coupled with Al Green’s dulcet tones to
bring a heart wrenching duet and one of the two Bee Gee covers
on this soundtrack “How can you mend a broken heart”.
Which I can only gather features in the break-up scenes of the
movie as it’s a really sad version of this song.
The lighter side of the album offers ‘Fergilicious’
wonder with her special reworking of “Labels or Love”.
A fairly hip hoppy version of the theme song from the series but
fun none the less. As well as what I’m sure must be the
girl’s have got power anthem of the unlikely but quite likeable
Run DMC’s “Walk this way”.
Another clever aspect to the composition of this
album is I believe in the variety of styles Remi has opted for
too. Stringing this soundtrack together is a very strong thread
of house. Upbeat, or chilled beats, Bliss’ “Kissing”
and Kaskade’s “I like the way” envelope you
in merriment and mystique at the twilight hour of Manhattan life.
My two very favourite tracks happen to follow on
from each other. I thought it was fitting to have the Bee Gee’s
“How deep is your love” and in the acoustic and eerily
beautiful cover rendition by The Bird and the Bee, the timelessness
of this track is reignited. It could possibly give rise to usurping
“You’ve got the Love” from it’s all-time
soundtrack song posting. But I’ll have to reserve judgement
till I’ve seen the movie.
India Arie has also donated a piece of her own heart
with “Heart of the matter” a beautiful vibey tune
that gives birth to imagined New York summers spent sipping cocktails
with fabulous girlfriends in my mind.
For this is its purpose, the soundtrack to the Sex
in the City feature film is best enjoyed listened to with your
own good girlfriends a glass of bubbly or vino in your hand, perhaps
even a cosmopolitan for true die hard fans.
Sex and the City Soundtrack is out now
through Universal Music.
Ruth
Bailey
