Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (soundtrack)

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Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Music from the Motion Picture)
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedNovember 4, 2008
Recorded2008
Genre
Length49:33
LabelInterscope
Producer
Madagascar soundtrack chronology
Madagascar
(2005)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
(2012)
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
(2012)
Hans Zimmer chronology
The Dark Knight
(2008)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
(2008)
The Burning Plain
(2008)
will.i.am chronology
The Black Eyed Peas Family Best
(2008)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
(2008)
#willpower
(2013)

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 2008 film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the second instalment in the Madagascar franchise. Released on November 4, 2008 by Interscope Records, the album featured original score composed by Hans Zimmer, who teamed up with American rapper will.i.am to produce the songs and score. will.i.am also wrote five new songs specifically for the film, while other incorporated songs were included in the film's soundtrack. The music received generally favorable critical response.[1]

Development[edit]

Hans Zimmer collaborated with American rapper will.i.am to produce the score and songs for Escape 2 Africa.[2] To record for the film, Zimmer and will.i.am, had travelled to Africa (where the film was set) for the musical ideas and collaborated with the African musicians on the album. In the process, they had written four songs together for the film. While writing the track "The Travelling Song", will.i.am felt that "It’s about being stripped away from your home, and not knowing really where you come from. But wherever you are — because of your friends — that is your home now. Those lyrics really sum up my life, a black guy in a Mexican neighborhood, and apl.de.ap’s life, being placed for adoption at 14 and coming to America not knowing English. We made it our home because of our friendship, and that’s what ‘Madagascar’ is about."[3] will.i.am also recorded his cover version of "I Like to Move It" in the end credits.[3]

Track listing[edit]

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - Music from the Motion Picture[4]
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Once Upon a Time in Africa"Hans Zimmer3:44
2."The Traveling Song"will.i.am3:25
3."Party! Party! Party!"Hans Zimmer3:31
4."I Like to Move It"will.i.am3:41
5."The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (Polka Version)"Hans Zimmer0:54
6."Big and Chunky"will.i.am3:21
7."Chums"Heitor Pereira2:16
8."New York, New York (Polka Version)"Hans Zimmer1:30
9."Volcano"Hans Zimmer2:50
10."Rescue Me"Hans Zimmer3:36
11."More Than a Feeling"Boston4:45
12."She Loves Me"will.i.am1:45
13."Foofie"Hans Zimmer2:40
14."Copacabana (At the Copa)"Barry Manilow4:07
15."Monochromatic Friends"Hans Zimmer3:02
16."Best Friends"will.i.am2:26
17."Alex on the Spot"Hans Zimmer2:00
Total length:31:27
Enhanced videos
No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."I Like to Move It"will.i.am3:41
2."She Loves Me"will.i.am1:45
3."Big and Chunky (DVD only)"will.i.am3:21
Total length:8:47

Reception[edit]

Filmtracks.com wrote "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa remains the best entry for the infectiously cute main escape theme. In an ideal world, the best score material from all three films would be combined into one rollicking album."[5] Andrew Leahey of AllMusic wrote "The Madagascar series relies heavily on music, often injecting songs directly into the movies' plot lines, and that emphasis helps fine-tune this soundtrack into a lighthearted, pleasant album."[6] In contrast, Jonathan Broxton gave a negative review, calling it as the "worst soundtrack written for any major animated film of recent years".[7]

Chart performance[edit]

Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[8] 100
US Top Internet Albums (Billboard)[9] 32
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[10] 18

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[11]

  • Ryeland Allison – arranger
  • Gretchen Anderson – producer
  • Slamm Andrews – music editor, recording
  • Lorne Balfe – additional music
  • Chris Barrett – scoring engineer
  • John Barrett – scoring engineer
  • Becky Bentham – score coordinator
  • Jeff "Bucko" Biggers – recording
  • Thomas Broderick – technical engineer
  • Julie Butchko – music clearance
  • Dan Butler – music business affairs
  • Carmen Carter – vocals
  • Alvin Chea – vocals
  • Al Clay – recording, vocals
  • Jim Dooley – additional music
  • Dylan Dresdow – mixing
  • Fred Ebb – composer
  • Jack Feldman – composer
  • Mark Ford – choir conductor
  • Geoff Foster – scoring recordist
  • Gavin Greenaway – score conductor
  • Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
  • Richard Harvey – woodwind
  • Rand Hoffman – music business affairs
  • Luis Jardim – percussion
  • John Kander – composer
  • Andrew Kawczynski –technical assistance
  • Steven Kofsky – music production supervisor
  • Kaita Lewin – recording
  • Abie Lister – score assistance
  • Barry Manilow – composer, vocals
  • Craig Marshall – music business affairs
  • Liz McNicoll – music business affairs
  • Alan Meyerson – mixing
  • Perry Montague-Mason – orchestra Leader
  • Erick "More" Morillo – composer
  • Ennio Morricone – composer
  • Wendi Morris – score coordinator
  • Phil Orescan – marketing
  • Sunny Park – executive in charge of music
  • Heitor Pereira – composer, vocals
  • Lori Perry – vocals
  • Sharon Perry – vocals
  • Purcell Singers – choir/chorus
  • Mark Quashie – composer
  • Frank Ricotti – marimba
  • Ryan Rubin – assistant music editor
  • Czarina Russell – studio manager
  • Jennifer Schiller – music coordinator
  • Tom Scholz – composer
  • Tony Seyler – music business affairs
  • Jacob Shea – arranger
  • Ken "Kaz" Smith – music soordinator
  • Peter Oso Snell – technical engineer
  • Bruce Sussman – composer
  • Louie Teran – mastering
  • Vin Villanueva – music coordinator
  • Greg Vines – mixing Assistant
  • Matt Ward – recording
  • Oren Waters – vocals
  • Lucy Whalley – orchestra assembly
  • Mark Wherry – digital processing
  • will.i.am – composer, engineer, soundtrack producer, vocals
  • Andrew Zack – score coordinator
  • Geoff Zanelli – additional music
  • Ianthe Zevos – creative consultant
  • Hans Zimmer – composer, soundtrack producer

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Will.i.Am goes from hip to hippo for "Madagascar"". Reuters. November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Hans Zimmer and Will.i.am teaming up on Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa". Animated Views. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Will.I.Am. Talks 'Madagascar 2' score With Hans Zimmer". theplaylist.net. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa [Original Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  5. ^ "Filmtracks: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Hans Zimmer/Various)". www.filmtracks.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  6. ^ Various Artists - Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa [Original Soundtrack] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved November 14, 2022
  7. ^ "MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA – Hans Zimmer". MOVIE MUSIC UK. November 8, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  8. ^ "Soundtrack Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  9. ^ "Soundtrack Chart History (Internet Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  10. ^ "Soundtrack Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  11. ^ Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa [Original Soundtrack] - Various Artists | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved November 14, 2022