Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time is now playing nationwide and to celebrate, Walt Disney Records has released the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. A few weeks ago, they announced that the release would contain artists like Sia, Demi Lovato, DJ Khaled, and Sade. In addition to six new songs written for the film, the soundtrack also features elements of the score by Ramin Djawadi.
The soundtrack opens with “Flower of the Universe” by Sade, although track one is the “No I.D. Remix” while track seven presents it as originally recorded. The remix adds a base beat, but maintains the same smooth tempo. The original version places more of an emphasis on the strings in the arrangement and loses the percussion. Both versions are hauntingly beautiful.
The end credit anthem is “I Believe” by DJ Khaled featuring Demi Lovato, which is the most pop heavy track on the album. Lovato’s iconic belt is ever present as she pours her heart into the chorus. The lyrics feature themes that supports the film’s overall narrative, including the line “I’ve got the light inside of me.”
I’ve been a huge Sia fan since her indie days and “Magic” is a beautiful pop ballad that could have been a single off of “This is Acting.” It’s upbeat, uplifting, and belongs in the next Disney Parks ad campaign. While it is more in line with her recent brand of pop ballads, it has those uniquely Sia touches that harken back to the pre-“Titanium” days.
Second to Sia’s “Magic,” which is my personal favorite track, I’m also a big fan of “Warrior” by Chloe x Halle. It’s got a really fun beat and an inspiring message. “Let Me Live” by Kehlani is another fun uptempo song from an artist I was not previously familiar with. The only song on the soundtrack not written or recorded for the film is “Park Bench People” by Freestyle Fellowship, which is a jazzy track that completely shifts tone and style.
Fifteen score tracks from Ramin Djawadi follow the seven songs. I was familiar with his work for the first Iron Man film and he is perhaps best known for composing HBO’s Game of Thrones, the theme for which is inescapable despite the fact that I’ve never seen an episode. His score for A Wrinkle in Time takes a big departure from his usual action-heavy work.
The first track, called “A Wrinkle in Time,” almost reminds me of BGM you’d expect to hear in Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The overall tone of the score is etherial, light, and whimsical. It’s beautiful and I will be playing it on repeat when I need to lift my spirits. Other stellar tracks are “Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which,” “Uriel,” and “The Universe is Within All of Us.” The film also has it’s sadder moments, which are conveyed on tracks like “Darkness Across the Universe” and “Home,” and Djawadi’s signature action score elements can be found on “Camazotz” and “Be a Warrior.”
While other critics seem mixed, I thoroughly loved A Wrinkle in Time and was really looking forward to hearing the songs and score outside of the film. This Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from Walt Disney Records offers some fun new pop songs and a collection of beautiful score tracks that will allow you to spread your light wherever you and your music go. Enjoy!