Details : Napoleon Dynamite - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack\n2004 LakeShore Records, LLC\n\nOriginally Released October 5, 2004\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Napoleon Dynamite's soundtrack works on the same mix of awkward and sweet that typifies the film. It's sprinkled liberally with soundbites of Napoleon himself (Jon Heder) and those in his life, such as quotable comebacks like "Yeah right, who's the only one who knows the illegal ninja moves from the government?," or Kip's (Aaron Ruell) declaration of his plans to become a cagefighter. Napoleon Dynamite also takes a page from the Rushmore soundtrack by sequencing composer John Swihart's suitably quirky score amidst the handful of indie pop and 1980s faves that anchor the set. Rogue Wave fans will note a live version of the Out of the Shadow standout "Every Moment," and Figurine's "New Mate" is a gem from the trio's 1999 revivalist synth pop album Transportation + Communication = Love. Though the music here is united by a certain offbeat quality, relationships -- family, friends, love, self -- are the real focus. It gives listeners the range, from the swagger of Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy" to the crackling soul-jazz and bootstraps message of Money Mark's "Sometimes You Gotta Make It Alone." There's also a touchingly heartfelt cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," and less often heard '80s standouts from Yaz ("Only You") and Alphaville ("Forever Young"). With its movie quotes, endearing score (including Swihart's version of "The A-Team Theme"), and well-chosen musical cues, Napoleon Dynamite is a comprehensive keepsake of a film likely destined for cult favorite status. -- Johnny Loftus\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nIn a promising filmmaking debut, young BYU grad Jared Hess informs this indie tale of an aggressively nerdy backwater teen's foibles with the bittersweet dimensions of the director's own small-town upbringing, making it the dry comic hit of Sundance. Its soundtrack picks up on that earnest awkwardness via dollops of '80s new wave, both underexposed (Yaz's "Only You", Alphaville's "Forever Young") and otherwise (Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy," a faithful cover of "Time After Time" by Sparklemotion), as well as moodier contemporary cuts by Rogue Wave (a live take on "Every Moment"), Figurine in full synth-pop revivalist mode, and the nuevo-soul of Jamiroquai and Money Mark. Interspersed with a generous sampling of dialogue snippets, John Swihart's shrewd, intimate underscore runs the gamut from "The A-Team Theme" to geek-friendly exotica and nervous cocktail jazz, stitching the score's disparate parts into a memorably quirky whole. --Jerry McCulley \n\nHalf.com Album Notes\nComposer: John Swihart.\nA surprise hit cult film in the summer of 2004, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE presents a story--told in vaguely connected, staccato vignettes--about the exploits of a lanky, maladroit teen. The singular Napoleon wanders through a desolate, surreal Idaho, doing "whatever [he feels] like," be it defiantly telling tall tales to jocks, studying hip-hop dance moves, or helping a newcomer win a student council race.\nNAPOLEON DYNAMITE's soundtrack mirrors the movie's charming, quriky unpredictability, bouncing around from sound to sound, mixing in memorable lines from the movie and bites of John Swihart's Esquivel-esque score. While the film exists outside of time, there are clues that the 1980s are going on somewhere near Napoleon 's universe, not least of which are the New Wave classics in the background, from Yaz's "Only You" to Alphaville's "Forever Young," played fittingly at the big dance. However, the soundtrack also moves from the indie-pop of Rogue Wave ("Every Moment") to the retro-dance of Jamiroquai ("Canned Heat") to a Latin ballad from Trio Los Panchos ("Solamente Una Vez"). The gleefully strange NAPOLEON DYNAMITE can't be easily described, and its soundtrack is just as enchantingly obtuse.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNapoleon Dynamite- That's what's up!, June 5, 2006\nReviewer: L. Fitzgerald "Lady Fitz" (Jersey)\nVery funny movie. I've watched it several times. I began searching for the soundtrack because I wanted the More Bounce to the Ounce track that Pedro's cousins rocked in the car. Although it is not on the CD, I listened to all the samples, including the dialogue pieces and decided it was worth it. \n\nFYI - Folks seem to keep asking for the track that played while Napoleon was on the bus...it's called Bus Rider by John Siwart. Hope this helps.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nReply to Song Help by The Bear "Sam", March 27, 2006\nReviewer: A. Jabry "Tizsen" (Greece)\nThis soundtrack is very original, very soothing and seriously funky! \n\nThe song that The Bear was asking about should probably be 'Music For A Found Harmonium' performed by Penguin Cafe Orchestra. This was playing when Napolean got a standing ovation after his performance and Pedro had this sweet dazed smile while viewing the audience! Other scenes appear, including Kip and Lafawndah at the bus station. \n\nHope this helps!\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nGreat soundtrack but missing a song, November 16, 2005\nReviewer: S. Williams\nI love this soundtrack because it's like you get to watch all your favorite parts of the movie, without having to actually drag it out and watch the whole thing. The dialogue tracks are great and highlight some of the best lines in the movie. But it's missing a very important song, and I'm not sure why they left it out. The music that's playing in the car when Pedro's cousins give Napoleon a ride to the dance is "More Bounce To The Ounce" by Zapp & Roger. I guess with 42 tracks they probably couldn't squeeze in just one more, but that was my only complaint with the whole album. Overall, it's a must-have for any true Napoleon Dynamite fan!\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nYou're mom goes to college!, August 31, 2005\nReviewer: M. Fuhriman (Salt Lake City, UT)\nAs whimsical and fun as the movie. Our favorite is the track of Kip's "Always and Forever" at the end (I don't think it's listed).\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAwesome! Incredible! Indespensible! (but incomplete). Buy This CD!, August 8, 2005\nReviewer: Bryan E. Leed "Jesus says, 'Go and Sin No More!" (Dayton, OH USA)\nThis CD is a "must have" item for any NAPOLEON DYNAMITE fan. It is the only place to get the fun, cheezy organ music that is played throughout the film. There are also plenty of little sound bites of dialogue from the film. Unfortunately, there are some major songs that did NOT make it onto this CD, so you will have to get those tunes separately. \n\nI tried to gather them up, based on the end credits from the DVD listing. The missing songs are: \n\n* "We're Going to be Friends" by the White Stripes, on their album "White Blood Cells." This song is played during the opening credits, written in food. \n\n* "The Rose" by Bette Midler, I got from her Greatest Hits CD. It is also on the soundtrack for the old movie "The Rose," but that version has some audience applause in the background, at the very beginning of the song. In Napoleon, it is the song that the Happy Hands Club performs in class with Napoleon. \n\n* "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper. I got it from "The Essential Cyndi Lauper." This is played while Napoleon and Deb dance together at the school dance. The Napoleon Soundtrack has this song on the CD, but it is performed by a different artist. The movie credits say it is the Cyndi Lauper version used in the film. \n\n* "Larger Than Life" by the Backstreet Boys, I got from their "The Hits--Chapter One." This is played during Summer Wheatly's skit, onstage with the Happy Hands Club. \n\n* "Music of a Found Harmonium" by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. This is played at the end of the film, as they show how everybody ends up, before Napoleon plays tetherball with Deb. CAUTION: This song appears on many different Penguin Cafe Orchestra CDs, in different versions. The closest version I found is on the CD "Preludes Airs and Yodels (A Penguin Cafe primer)," which contains two different versions. It is the Patrick Street version, track 11, that sounds the most like the Napoleon movie version used, in my opinion. I COULD BE WRONG, but this is my best pick of which version the movie used. \n\n(...) \n\nThere may still be some other music to find, but I don't know the names; like the music from Pedro's cousins' car when they pick up Trish, and the heavy metal music during the Rex Kwon Do commercial...? \n\nEven though the CD is incomplete, I still highly recommend this Napoleon Dynamite soundtack CD for anybody who liked the movie!\n\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nthe soundtrack with a bit of everything, May 9, 2005\nReviewer: David Evans (Santa Monica, CA USA)\nThis CD has it all, from some delicious 80s pop favorites (The Promise, Only You, and Forever Young) to the A-Team theme (not just a clip; the whole thing!) to funky dance music. It also has dialogue clips from several of the funniest scenes of the movie, such as Napoleon's homage to the Loch Ness Monster ("our underwater ally") and his creative compliment to Deb's figure ("Are you drinking 1% because you think you're fat? 'Cos you're not!"). \n\nThis unusual effort, bringing together the musical score (remember that funky organ music?), the pop soundtrack, and the most memorable clips, has the very fun effect of letting you enjoy your favorite parts of the movie whether you're driving or pretending to work. What it doesn't provide is a consistent mood (which, if you want, you should get the Garden State soundtrack instead). But this CD is so full to chuckles and smiles that I don't mind. As Napoleon might say, It's pretty sweet. It's awesome. It's...it's incredible.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nGosh! Frickin' Idiot!, April 25, 2005\nA Kid's Review\nI saw at least two reviews that complained that the song Napoleon dances to is missing. Look at track 31 of the disc (make sure you click on the "See all 42 tracks" link). The songs that were in the movie but are not on the soundtrack are: \n\nWe're Going to Be Friends - The White Stripes \nThe Rose - Bette Midler \nLarger Than Life - Backstreet Boys \nMusic for a Found Harmonium - James Galway & Phil Coulter \n\nAll (and I mean ALL) of the other songs from the movie are on the album. Basically, my opinion has already been said. The soundtrack is great because it flows, it's quirky and fun, it's complete, and (most importantly) it contains snippits of the best dialogue in the movie. That said, if you didn't like the movie (...)then you won't like the soundtrack either. For everyone else: Buy it.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThis disc is awesome! It's incredible!, March 4, 2005\nReviewer: Deborah Scherer "Cincinnati Rules!" (Seattle, WA United States)\nThis is one of the best put-together soundtracks I've seen in awhile, throwing in soundbites always "makes" a soundtrack for me (remember Reservoir Dogs?) I listen to this CD all the time, whenever I feel like it! It's sweet! \n\nA side note to those complaining about the songs that are missing--The White Stripes and Music for a Found Harmonium-- BELIEVE ME, the producers of this album would have LOVED to have had those songs on the disc!!! They didn't leave them off because they didn't care or "didn't think anyone would notice" To put songs on a soundtrack album, you have to have the permission of the song's publisher. They couldn't get the rights for these two songs, so legally, they could not include them \n\nThe White Stripes apparently NEVER put their music in film... N. Dynamite did not have the opening credit sequence at Sundance, that was added later after the film was purchased for wider distribution. The filmmaker's figured, "what the hey?" and sent the movie to the White Stripes, who loved the movie and allowed them to use the song... apparently they did not want to go the extra bit of also letting them put it on the soundtrack album... \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNumerous Reasons To Love This Soundtrack!, February 27, 2005\nReviewer: K. Brown "El Rudo Lucky Pierre!" (Walnut, Ca USA)\nLike the film "Napoleon Dynamite," you can totally love this soundtrack from so many different angles. Not only does this movie contain music that will bring you visions of Napoleon bicycling into town with Kip in tow, it also contains soundbytes of the film's most memorable quotes. \n\nThe music here is such an enjoyable mix of tunes from the nostalgic pop groups like Bow Wow Wow and Alphaville to the musical score by John Swihart. When I first listened to Swihart's music on this CD, it hit me just how much he contributed to the atmosphere of the film. On top of that, over the past few years I unexpectedly discovered the joys of listening to The Moog Synthesizer music of the 1960s and 70s. Intentional or not, Swihart's music beautifully captures and salutes the spirit of great Moog pioneers like Stan Free, Jean-Jacques Perrey, Gershon Kingsley and, of course, Bob Moog. I am so glad the Moog fad has never faded! My favorite amongst Swihart's tunes arrives on track #29, a pretty & exotic piece called "Nap Store Video." \n\nThere are so many great sound bytes from the film, including a hysterical scene that did not make the theatrical cut but found new life on the DVD in the "deleted scenes" department. Amongst other classic lines on the soundtrack include Napoleon's current event report on Nessie, Kip talking about Internet babes and Cage Fighting, and Napoleon telling his classmates about hunting wolverines in Alaska! \n\nAt the end of track #42, don't be in a hurry to rip the CD from the player... there is the hidden track afterwards, which is Kip's awesome "technology wedding song!" \n\nNot every tune in the film made it to the soundtrack. While the missing tunes are noticeable, I cannot honestly say the CD is any worse off for it. The combination of tunes & quotes makes this soundtrack sheer pleasure for even the most finicky Napoleon Dynamite fan. Napoleon Dynamite is my favorite film of 2004, and I am enjoying the soundtrack just as much as I did the film!\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBeware of lawsuits., February 13, 2005\nReviewer: Rob Ez (Chicago)\nI'm not going to write an opinion since so many other have done so. The CD is almost the entire movie on compact disc audio \n\nBut I'd like to inform the producers of this compilation of the plagirism they've just allowed. The track "Summer's Cake" on this CD is an instrumental of an extremely known song by legendary Mexican composer Agustin Lara titled "Solamente Una Vez", yet it does not give Mr. Lara compser credit!. He is almost like the Mexican Cole Porter, his compositions are all standards of music, and before his family gets ahold of this information, someone should credit him as a songwriter. \n\nWatch out.\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nMissing Songs Listed, January 19, 2005\nReviewer: T. Parry "Music Man" (USA)\nI would have given this 5 stars, but there were some songs missing I had to go track down--freakin idiots! :) \n\n1. So Tuff, So Ruff - Zapp & Rogers (Pedro's Cousins bump music going to the dance) \n2. More Bounce to the Ounce - Zapp & Rogers (Pedro's Cousins music when kid's bike getting borrowed) \n3. The Rose - Amanda McBroom (Helping Hands song) \n4. Larger Than Life - Backstreet Boys (Summer's skit) \n5. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper (different version than on CD) \n6. Music For A Found Harmonium - Penguin Cafe Orchestra \n7. We're Going to be Friends - The White Stripes
