The filmLuc Besson managed to surpass the success of "Subway" with his crowd pleasing "Le Grand Blue", a mystifying film that combines humor and drama to reflect on passion for the sea. Although the critics weren't as pleased as they were with "Subway" the audiances couldn't get enough of it, and the film became a popular classic almost instantly. The story focusses on two excentric individuals who compete in a free diving competition. The remarcable story about two men who devote their lives to their passion, and the poor woman who tries to win one of them. The success of the film inspired Hollywood execs to buy the rights and edit it into a more American film for release in the USA, replacing Serra's score by a replacing Bill Conti score, and chopping off the end in favor of a more happy finale. Interesting to note about this new score is that it is almost a rip off of Serra's original. One could speculate that the new score was only needed to synchronize with the new editing, because the atmosphere was quite literally mimicked, while some of the themes reappeared almost unaltered. The American cut of the movie was no success, and its alternative soundtrack was never released. Due to the film's success in France a second version of the film was released there including scenes which had been cut from the first version. This new print was called the "Version integrale", giving a more complete vision on the events the film follows. The music
Serra's music was perhaps an even bigger hit than the film, selling millions of soundtrack albums in France alone. The stunning opening theme, the beautiful and inventive underwater music managed to capture audiences even without Besson's visual spectacles. Synthesizers dominate the recording, accompanied by piano, guitar, bass guitar, as well as brass and wind performances. One of the more melodious works by Serra, with definitely less funk and rhythm compared to the previous works, but no sign yet of the orchestral aspirations that featured so prominently on later work like Atlantis or Leon. For the endtitles Serra sang himself for the first time for a Besson soundtrack. The song "Lady Blue" builds on themes introduced in the movie, transforming them into a peculiar ballad to the oceans. Although the French film awards mainly passed the movie by, the score won both the "Victoire de la Musique" and "Cesar" awards for best French film score of the year. Ten years after the release of the film and soundtrack album, the music lived a second life by means of a 10th Anniversary album, which was well promoted in the French CD stores. "The Big Blue"
The 'normal' international release, on one CD. Notice that this version differs from the French version in track selection. Getting this one, plus the "volume 2" disc will not get you the complete music, because you'd miss a few tracks, like the instrumental version of "Let Them Try", "Much Better Down There" and also "The Second Dive". Get either the double disc version, or the French version of the first album with the volume 2, to get every piece of music released. Released in 1988Virgin, CDV 2541 . . 0777 086450 2 3 1. The Big Blue Overture 4:43 2. Deep Blue Dream 1:27 3. Sailing to Death 2:18 4. Rescue in a Wreck 2:35 5. La Raya 2:02 6. Huacracocha 5:20 7. Waterworks 3:07 8. Between the Sky-Scrapers 1:02 9. Remembering a Heart Beat 1:08 10. Spaghetti del Mare 1:58 11. Let them Try 3:20 12. Synchronised Instant 2:05 13. Homos Delphinus 8:02 14. The Monastery of Amorgos 1:12 15. For Enzo 2:46 16. Cruise of the Dolphin Tribe 0:55 17. Virgin Islands 2:10 18. The Third Dive 2:46 19. Leaving the World Behind 2:23 20. My Lady Blue 4:25 [Actually lasts 5:00] "Le Grand Blue"
The 'normal' French release, on one CD. This one differs in track selection from the international version and is identical to the first disc in the integral 2CD version. Released in 1988Virgin . . 30145 1. The Big Blue Overture 4:43 2. Deep Blue Dream 1:27 3. Sailing to Death 2:18 4. Rescue in a Wreck 2:35 5. La Raya 2:02 6. Huacracocha 5:20 7. Waterworks 3:07 8. Between the Sky-Scrapers 1:02 9. Remembering a Heart Beat 1:08 10. Spaghetti del Mare 1:58 11. Let them Try (inst) 3:30 12. Synchronised Instant 2:05 13. Homos Delphinus 8:02 14. The Monastery of Amorgos 1:12 15. Much Better Down There 1:28 16. Cruise of the Dolphin Tribe 0:55 17. Second Dive 1:50 18. Leaving the World Behind 2:23 19. My Lady Blue 5:00 "Le Grand Blue - version integrale"
The release of the version integrale of the film inspired the record companies to release more of the music from the film, which includes amongst others the Italian themes, the instrumental version of "Let them Try" and "Leaving Peru", which is the synthharp version of "la Raya". Also added is some music which can only be heard in the version integrale of the film. Together with all the music of the first album this was released on a double CD: Released in 1988Virgin France SA . . . 0777 7877902 V o l u m e 1: 1. The Big Blue Overture 4:43 2. Deep Blue Dream 1:27 3. Sailing to Death 2:18 4. Rescue in a Wreck 2:35 5. La Raya 2:02 6. Huacracocha 5:20 7. Waterworks 3:07 8. Between the Sky-Scrapers 1:02 9. Remembering a Heart Beat 1:08 10. Spaghetti del Mare 1:58 11. Let them Try (inst) 3:30 12. Synchronised Instant 2:05 13. Homos Delphinus 8:02 14. The Monastery of Amorgos 1:12 15. Much Better Down There 1:28 16. Cruise of the Dolphin Tribe 2:43 17. Second Dive 1:50 18. Leaving the World Behind 2:23 19. My Lady Blue 5:00 V o l u m e 2: 1. Let Them Try 3:20 2. A Walk In Taormina 0:48 3. Watergames 2:10 4. Fatal Dive 1:13 5. Platform 2:50 6. Leaving Peru 1:50 7. Virgin Islands 2:12 8. Strange Feelings 3:20 9. Sicilia 1:23 10. Such a Family 1:19 11. The Third Dive 2:45 12. Do You Like This Place 1:04 13. For Enzo 2:46 14. Leaving the World Behind 3:15 "The Big Blue - Volume 2"
For people who had allready bought the first album, but want all the music from the double CD they released a seperate volume 2. This album however does NOT feature the instrumental version of "Let Them Try", which makes it all the more advisable to go for the double album to begin with. Released in 1988Virgin France . . . 07777 860782 3 1. Let Them Try 3:20 2. A Walk In Taormina 0:48 3. Watergames 2:10 4. Fatal Dive 1:13 5. Platform 2:50 6. Leaving Peru 1:50 7. Virgin Islands 2:12 8. Strange Feelings 3:20 9. Sicilia 1:23 10. Such a Family 1:19 11. The Third Dive 2:45 12. Do You Like This Place 1:04 13. For Enzo 2:46 14. Leaving the World Behind 3:15
|
