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Rent (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by cast of Rent
Released	September 23, 2005 (2005-09-23)
Recorded	2004–2005
Genre	Musical, soundtrack
Length	95:00
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Rob Cavallo
Singles from Rent (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"Seasons of Love" Released: August 2, 2005

Rent (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2005 musical drama film Rent, based on Jonathan Larson's 1996 Broadway musical of the same name, in turn based on Giacomo Puccini's 1896 opera La bohème. The musical numbers performed by the cast including Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Tracie Thoms and Rosario Dawson. The soundtrack to the film was released by Warner Bros. Records on September 23, 2005.

Background

Chris Columbus admitted that he was a fan of the original cast album. However, he felt that as the cast album was recorded in three days and the show was ongoing, hence they had a lot of technical problems with the album. He was unhappy with the tracks "Rent" and "Out Tonight" as they are of poor quality and are stronger rock and roll numbers which would have much power if being stemmed. He further thought it leaned slightly "a little too far to the Broadway side of it" which was closer to a really strong rock and roll record. He collaborated with Green Day's record producer Rob Cavallo after listening to the band's 2004 album American Idiot, which he called it as "one of the best sounding rock records I've heard in the last ten years". He further met Cavallo and asked whether he would be interested in doing the film, which he agreed to do so. Jonathan Larson's "Love Heals" was included in the film as well as in the soundtrack as it was not used in the Broadway production.

Reception

The music was well received by critics. William Ruhlmann of AllMusic felt that "the soundtrack takes a close second to the original cast recording", praising the vocals, production and recording and rated 4 out of 5 to the album. The Harvard Crimson writer Maura A. Graul also gave 4 out of 5 stars admitting that the soundtrack "delivers a fresh sound from a group of refreshed veterans, as good as they have ever been".

Calling the soundtrack as a "potent mixture of show-tune pop, rock, funk, even tango", Orlando Sentinel called "Seasons of Love", "La Vie Boheme" and "Love Heals" as "clear standouts" of the album. Writing for Today, John Hartl criticised the film's music, saying "A musical lives or dies on the strength of its songs, and the late Jonathan Larson’s rock tunes for Rent simply don’t measure up. The music is more bombastic than melodic; the lyrics are banal and gratingly predictable — an affliction they share with much of the dialogue. Despite its Pulitzer and its Tonys, and despite one catchy number ("Seasons of Love"), it fails to soar."

Track listing

Chart performance

Rent (Selections from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Rent (Selections from the Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the second album featuring selections of the original tracks used in the film. It was released on October 21, 2005 by Warner Bros. Records.

Track listing

Charts

Extended plays

To promote the film, Warner Bros. Records had dance remixes of several of the songs commissioned. Two extended plays of the remix albums were sent to clubs and also made available for purchase on digital download.

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.

References

1. Pareles, Jon (August 14, 2005). "Punk Rock Doesn't Belong in a Museum". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
2. ^ Head, Steve (November 24, 2005). "Interview: Chris Columbus". IGN. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
3. BWW News Desk (August 29, 2005). "Larson Song 'Love Heals' Included on Rent Soundtrack". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
4. Ruhlmann, William. "Review: RENT [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
5. A. Graul, Maura (December 8, 2005). "Rent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
6. "Movie soundtracks put some jingle into CD collection". Orlando Sentinel. December 23, 2005. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
7. Hartl, John (November 23, 2005). "'Rent' needs a fresh lease". Today. Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
8. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of December 17, 2005". Billboard. December 17, 2005. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
9. ^ "Current Album Sales: Week of December 17, 2005". Billboard. December 17, 2005. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
10. ^ "Soundtracks: Week of October 15, 2005". Billboard. October 15, 2005. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
11. ^ "Soundtracks – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
12. "Rent (Selections from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. October 25, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
13. "Seasons of Love (Remixes)". Apple Music. December 13, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
14. "Take Me or Leave Me (Remixes)". Apple Music. December 13, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
15. "Credits – RENT [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 12, 2023.

• 2005 soundtrack albums
• Warner Records soundtracks
• Works based on Scenes of Bohemian Life
• Musical film soundtracks
• Cast recordings
• Albums produced by Rob Cavallo
• LGBTQ-related soundtrack albums