A WHOLE LOT MORE ORIGINAL MUSIC FROM THE TELEVISION SERIES
Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and a chorus of Springfield's most sublime voices
(oh, and Jackson Browne, David Byrne and B-52s, too)
Features songs from seasons 10-18
In Stores September 18, 2007 from Shout! Factory
LOS ANGELES, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- A soundtrack so highly anticipated
that even Homer would get off the couch to celebrate its arrival, THE
SIMPSONS: TESTIFY is finally here! Set for release on September 18, 2007
from Shout! Factory, The Simpsons: Testify music CD spotlights material
culled from award-winning composer Alf Clausen and features the
unmistakable voices of America's most beloved TV family: Homer (Dan
Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa
(Yeardley Smith), and Springfield's various townsfolk (Hank Azaria and
Harry Shearer). The soundtrack kicks off with Danny Elfman's unforgettable
main title theme, and continues with a collection of the best songs from
the last nine seasons of the longest running primetime comedy on TV today.
The album arrives just in time to accompany the premiere of Season 19 of
THE SIMPSONS on FOX.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/LAM028)
Only on THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY can you find a range of great talents
from Jackson Browne to "Weird Al" Yankovic, both willing to engage in
self-parody that reflects the show's uncanny irreverence. And then there is
David Byrne, who while hearing a list of his vast musical accomplishments,
adds with pride "And I used to wrestle under the name 'El Diablo!'" It is
Byrne who helps Homer realize the full odious potential of "Everybody Hates
Ned Flanders," even contributing an extended salsa remix, "No Me Gusta
Flanders." We're also treated to the lyrical styling of the endearingly
homicidal Sideshow Bob (as voiced by Kelsey Grammar) as he reexamines his
overwhelming loathing of Bart Simpson on "The Very Reason That I Live."
THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY puts the music front and center, as the songs
featured were mixed specifically for this new album. For the first time,
the brilliant re-imagining of Broadway hits Evita, My Fair Lady, and The
Sound Of Music can be fully appreciated for all of their satirical nuance.
In "My Fair Laddy," Groundskeeper Willie plays Eliza Doolittle to Lisa's
Henry Higgins, as Willie learns both elocution and manners to the refrain
of "What flows from the nose, does not go on my clothes." And in "Yokel
Chords," Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel and his hillbilly brood take the
place of the von Trapp family, with Lisa again playing the role of teacher.
In this memorable parody from the most recent season, the Sound Of Music
line "I am sixteen going on seventeen" becomes "I have eight teeth, going
on seven teeth." Of course.
Any SIMPSONS fan will no doubt remember Ricky Gervais memorable
appearance as the Marge-obsessed Charles Heathbar, who serenades Marge with
"Lady," which spends more time explaining its lyrics (in song) than
actually saying anything romantic, with the possible exception of the
closing exhortation, "don't die."
For those of us with a love of musical theater and the American popular
songs, THE SIMPSONS has certainly carved out an iconic place in musical
history by communicating in song at the highest level. Never in recent
memory has a television series made such effective use of both songs and
underscore to advance plot points, support the characters' emotions and put
a lasting smile on the viewer's face.
Now entering its nineteenth season, THE SIMPSONS, a modern cult classic
created by Matt Groening, remains one of TV's most popular programs -- in
all demographics. The show premiered on FOX as a half-hour comedy series
January 14, 1990, and received numerous Emmy(R) awards for Outstanding
Animated Program. Nearly all of the music for this weekly animated
half-hour series is composed or arranged by composer Alf Clausen, who has
received 2 Emmy(R) awards and 20 Emmy(R) nominations for his Simpsons
music.
THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th
Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the
executive producers. Film Roman is the animation house.
For complete track listing, please visit:
http://www.shoutfactory.com/press/214/the_simpsons_testify_a_whole_lot_more
_or iginal_m.aspx
|
