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Elemental (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Thomas Newman
Released	June 16, 2023
Recorded	2023
Studio	Newman Scoring Stage Fox Studio Lot
Genre	Score
Length	1:13:48
Label	Walt Disney
Pixar soundtrack chronology
Lightyear (2022) Elemental (2023) Inside Out 2 (2024)
Thomas Newman chronology
A Man Called Otto (2022) Elemental (2023) White Bird: A Wonder Story (2024)
Singles from Elemental
"Steal the Show" Released: June 2, 2023

Elemental (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2023 Disney/Pixar film of the same name. The original score is composed and conducted by Thomas Newman in his fourth Pixar film, following Finding Nemo (2003), WALL-E (2008), and Finding Dory (2016). Elemental is Newman's first Pixar film not to be directed by Andrew Stanton. Director Peter Sohn collaborated with Newman to tell an emotional story of a character caught between two worlds to musically bring Elemental to life. Newman used cultural influences from across the globe using Chinese and Indian instruments by incorporating elements to reflect the global story. The instruments of sitar, mandolins and brass all fit his search for scoring the film, though the electronic wind instrument can be heard throughout.

The scoring was held at Newman Scoring Stage and Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles. In addition to instrumental tracks, the soundtrack included an original song called "Steal the Show" performed by Lauv, who wrote music alongside Newman and lyrics alongside Michael Matosic. The song was released on June 2, 2023, two weeks ahead of the release of the movie and soundtrack. The score was released by Walt Disney Records on June 16, 2023, the same day as the film's theatrical release.

It received mostly positive reception for incorporating many elements of cultural influences from eastern countries, particularly Indian music.

Production

Background

"I think they are different and therefore yeah, there's a different approach. But it's still here's a bit of music. Maybe in terms of pace and shape, animation changes a lot more mood shifts a lot quicker. In live action, there can be extended moods that you can kind of hide behind. Here's just a vibe that goes on for two minutes. Where in animation, it can be a vibe that goes on for 10 seconds, and then changes to something else. So it's more action oriented. Forgetting action, live action, that it may be a psychological drama, where music is just doing less. Music is doing a lot in an animated movie, it's being asked a lot."

On February 7, 2023, Thomas Newman was confirmed to compose the score for Elemental. It marks Newman's fourth collaboration with Pixar after Finding Nemo (2003), WALL-E (2008), and Finding Dory (2016), as well as his first film with the studio not to be directed by Andrew Stanton. Director Peter Sohn noted that Pixar brought back Newman to collaborate with Sohn to tell an emotional story of a character caught between two worlds to musically bring Elemental to life. Sohn stated, "It was a dream to just get to work with Thomas Newman; he's just been someone that I've always admired. I say that because I used a lot of his music as temp and when making the reels."

One of the biggest challenges for scoring the film was the opening montage where Bernie and Cinder Lumen immigrate to Element City. To ensure that Elemental was a global story, Newman used cultural influences from across the globe using Chinese and Indian instruments by incorporating elements. The sitar, mandolins and brass instruments all fit his search, although the electronic wind instrument can be heard, which is accompanying a male vocalist for Newman by saying, "It was about taking certain sounds from the EWI and the vocals and combining them... it gave that sense of color and spirit".

On June 2, 2023, it was announced that Lauv performed the original song called "Steal the Show" that played during Ember and Wade's first date as well as end credits, which was released that day. On writing the song, Lauv sat down with Newman, who gave him a couple of sounds that he was working with.

Track listing

All music is composed by Thomas Newman, except as noted

Additional music

The track "Hell n Back" by Bakar was featured in the first trailer of the film, and "High Five" by Astral was featured in the second trailer. The track "Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry was also featured in some TV Spots for the film. The tracks were used for promotional purposes, and was neither featured in the soundtrack, nor in the film. Although it was not included from the soundtrack, the song "Kernkraft 400" (credited as "Kernkraft 400 - Sport Chant Stadium Remix") from Zombie Nation plays during the airball game at Cyclone Stadium. Sohn had suggested using the song which is a fixture at sporting events around the world because Gale Cumulus does not have a cue or motif.

Reception

Qualbert praise for incorporating many elements of Indian music, saying "Does the soundtrack steal the show? Well with Thomas Newman (Finding Nemo, WALL-E) as composer, it might just be my highlight of the film. His score is as beautiful and full of warmth as the flame elements that it represents, with much of the music taking a distinctly Indian tone. Sitar and Tabla are key instruments throughout the soundtrack, representing Ember and her family, and can even be heard alongside Konnokol (Indian vocal percussion)." Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture stated: "Thomas Newman's soothing score is magnificent and easily the best he's composed yet for a Pixar film, as it incorporates many cultural influences from eastern countries (but never anything too specific so as not to stereotype the Lumen family) to create a soundscape that is playfully cordial and appealing." He also praised original song, stating: "The song 'Steal the Show' by Lauv, which plays during Wade and Ember's first date, is a winning track that should enjoy some decent radio play and also aids in giving the film its feel-good vibe."

Accolades

In December 2023, the score was shortlisted for Best Original Score at the 96th Academy Awards.

References

1. Tyrrell, Caitlin (August 27, 2023). "Elemental Composer Thomas Newman On Scoring An Original Pixar World". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
2. "Thomas Newman to Score Pixar's Elemental". Film Music Reporter. February 7, 2023. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
3. Graves, Sabina (April 10, 2023). "Director Peter Sohn on How Pixar's Elemental Creates Its Own Cultures". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
4. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (June 27, 2023). "Composer Thomas Newman on Why the Opening Montage of Elemental Was the Hardest Section to Score". Variety. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
5. "Lauv's Original Song "Steal the Show" from Pixar's Elemental Released". Film Music Reporter. June 2, 2023. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
6. "Elemental Soundtrack Details – "Steal the Show" by Lauv & Thomas Newman". Pixar Post. June 3, 2023. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
7. Phillips, Patrick (November 17, 2022). "What Is The Song In Pixar's Elemental Teaser Trailer?". Looper. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
8. "Chasing Dreams". Musou Music Group.
9. Sohn, Peter (May 24, 2023). "Elemental" (Credits). Getty Images. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
10. "Elemental Review". Qualbert. June 14, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
11. Neglia, Matt (May 27, 2023). "Elemental". Next Best Picture. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
12. Bergeson, Samantha (December 21, 2023). "2024 Oscar Shortlists Unveiled: 'Barbie,' 'Poor Things,' 'Maestro,' and 'The Zone of Interest' Make the Cut". IndieWire. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
13. Grein, Paul (November 16, 2023). "Billie Eilish's Barbie Song, Robbie Robertson's Scorsese Score Honored at 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
14. Anderson, Erik (December 7, 2023). "'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
15. Anderson, Erick (January 7, 2024). "'Barbie' Wins 8 Astra Awards from Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA)". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
16. Flores, Terry (January 11, 2024). "Netflix's 'Nimona' Leads Annie Awards 2024 Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 20, 2024.

• 2020s film soundtrack albums
• 2023 soundtrack albums
• Animated film soundtracks
• Elemental (2023 film)
• Film scores
• Pixar soundtracks
• Thomas Newman albums
• Thomas Newman soundtracks
• Walt Disney Records soundtracks