One of my favourite movie soundtracks is Evita: Music from the Motion Picture.
Funnily enough I didn’t really enjoy the film all that much when I went to see it at the cinema back in 1996. Maybe I was too young to appreciate it, or perhaps my viewing experience was marred by needing the toilet for most of the film but being too scared to get up and disturb those sat either side of me (that was a painful 2 hours I can tell you).
Either way, over time I came to love the music and have listened to this soundtrack more times than I can recall. It has a strange effect on me. I might not listen to it for a year or more but I’ll suddenly get an overwhelming urge to put it on. When I do I get so immersed in it that I’ll listen to it, and not a lot else for days until it’s out of my system.
I think part of the appeal is that the story of Eva Perón (Evita) is such a tragic one. I find it really moving.
The music behind the songs that makes up the soundtrack/musical is so beautiful, and the lyrics paint such a vivid picture that the film I see in my head while I’m listening to it is better than the one I remember watching all those years ago.
The movie of course is a big-screen adaptation of the multi-award winning West End musical of the same name that first opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in London in 1978. The music was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice.
The story itself is about the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón. It documents her rise from impoverishment, to becoming the First Lady of Argentina until her tragic and premature death at the young age of 33 from cervical cancer.
Although I’ve never been a huge fan of Madonna she’s superb on this soundtrack. Surprisingly though, Antonio Banderas who plays the character, Ché is my favourite thing about it. He essentially narrates the entire story and his accent brings a real authenticity to the whole thing making it an absolute treat on the ear drums.
I’ve recently come out of one of my Evita phases and it’s made me consider watching the movie again. I’ve only seen it once and I’m worried that watching it again and perhaps not enjoying it will change the way I listen to the soundtrack. I'm not sure what I should do...
Have you listened to this soundtrack? Are you a fan of the film? Let me know below.