THE FIFTH ELEMENT

The film

Besson had been working on this story since his childhood and in 1997 finally was able to film and release it. One of the biggest European productions ever, loaded with Hollywood special effects and Hollywood actors. It's technically an amazing production, with stunning cinematografy, set design, costumes and sound, but the result turns out very peculiar with a childish storyline, quirky humour, and a bizar mix of clichees and tribute references to popular science fiction from past and present. Undeniably highly enjoyable, but not suited for everyones tastes.

The music

Musically this seems a mix of elements from Serra's previous film scores, including Leon, Goldeneye, Subway yet it still manages to sound completely original. Serra got enough practice over the years and superbly produces this soundscape, filled with music from different styles, absorbing ethnic, techno, bluess, symponic and opera influences.

Notable are the rock song "Little Light of Love" song (originally written for the RXRA album) that appeared in the films endtitles, and the Diva Dance, a dynamic, swinging synthtrack featuring prosessed operatic singing. Impressive. Lucia Di Lamermoor is an aria from Donnizetti's famous opera.

The Aknot! Wot? bonustracks seems to have been pressed on all versions of this CD (so what makes it a bonustrack then?) and contains a mix of dialogue from the film, as Serra often likes to include on albums.

There was a special limited edition of this album, only for sale in French shops in the first weeks of the soundtrack's release. It was packaged in a special black plastic box with the movie's element symbols embossed.

Released in 1997
Virgin Records America Inc. . . . 7243 8 / 44203 2 1
Virgin France SA. . . . 7243 8 44290 2 7
Virgin . . . 7423 8 44290 2 7 [Limited edition, photo]
Virgin . . . 7243 8 44291 2 6 [Limited edition, plastic package]
Epic / Sony Records . . . ESCA 6748 (Japan) 

   1. Little Light of Love                     4:50
   2. Mondoshawan                              4:01
   3. Timecrash                                1:49
   4. Korben Dallas                            1:43
   5. Koolen                                   0:55
   6. Akta                                     1:51
   7. Leeloo                                   4:56
   8. Five Millenia Later                      3:13
   9. Plavalaguna                              1:47
  10. Ruby Rap                                 1:55
  11. Heat                                     2:54
  12. Badaboom                                 1:12
  13. Mangalores                               1:06
  14. Lucia Di Lammermoor                      3:10
  15. The Diva Dance                           1:31
  16. Leeloominai                              1:41
  17. A Bomb In The Hotel                      2:14
  18. Mina Hinoo                               0:54
  19. No Crash No Trash                        1:04
  20. Radiowaves                               2:32
  21. Human Nature                             2:03
  22. Pictures Of War                          1:19
  23. Lakta Ligunai                            4:14
  24. Protect Life                             2:33
  25. Little Light Of Love (Endtitles Version) 3:29
  26. Aknot! Wot? (Bonus Track)                3:35

Singles

The "Little Light of Love" track was released on several different promo CD-singles, all with the same cover, but with different track selections or edits. Some include a shorter edit of 3:50 (1track version: The X-plorians Visa 3981, 2track version: The X-Plorians Visa 3998). The most interesting single is labeled "Tirage Special / 6 Fevrier 1998" and features a "Skyrock" logo (Visa 4289). This particular promotional represents the only way to hear the "Version Longue Inedite" of the track, in other words the long, uncut version. The track has a duration of a full 7:49 and has a slightly extended intro and ending, outlasting even the 7 minute version on the later RXRA album.

   
     

In Japan a single was released with remixes of the Diva Dance track. The CD, cased in an album's jewelbox contains remixes by the Shooshoos, but Serra's name is much bigger on the cover and there's a picture of him on the back. The single contains 3 versions: Radio Cosmos Mix (3:34), Bubble Duck Mix (6:16) and Astrobus Mix (6:15), all slightly rearranged versions with samples from the film added (Epic/Sony records ESCA 6857). The same selection was released in France as a promo single in a cardboard sleeve with the titular Diva pictured (Gaumant Visa 4071).

   


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