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Mona Lisa Smile Soundtrack
2003 Epic/Sony Music
SQ Issue:  Summer 2004, Volume 14, Issue 3

The Bands:
seal; Tori Amos; Celine Dion; Elton John; Macy Gray; Chris Isaak; Mandy Moore; Alison Krauss; Trevor Horn Orchestra; Kelly Rowland; Lisa Stasfield; Barbra Streisand

I first heard about this CD from a swing dancer who asked if I had it.   I had never heard of the movie and could only shudder to think what these pop singers could possibly do to America’s greatest music.

Well, I finally procured the CD and discovered that, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!”  This CD has some fabulous gems on it and I kick myself to think that I dragged my feet on getting it.   After all, When Harry Met Sally had some good jazz, too!

There are some throw away pop songs on here.  Yeah, they’re fine but they’re pop.  Elton John’s song is like any other Elton John song and Barbra Streisand’s Smile contains all her schmaltz and sounds like she’s trying to be cheered up after finding out that George W. Bush was re-elected.

The best of this CD belongs to the Trevor Horn Orchestra.   They have two submissions:  Istanbul (Not Constantinople) and Sh Boom (Life Could be a Dream).  Both of these songs are my favorites.  The first is a fantastic big band piece done at a danceable 158 beats per minute.  The second is a jazzy remake of a ‘50s bubble gum song.  But it is done with just the right balance of schmaltz and seriousness. 

Not far behind in the favorites column is Tori Amos.  Amos also has two submissions:  You Belong to Me and Murder, He Says.  The first is a nice ballad to dance with your sweetie.  The second is a fantastic version of a lesser known classic.   In my mind, Amos beats out Anita O’Day as my favorite singer of this song.  It’s got great energy and Amos handles the singing and phrasing like a jazz pro.

There are a couple more swing tunes you can dance to, including I’m Beginning to See the Light by Kelly Rowland and I’ve Got the World on a String by Lisa Stansfield.  Santa Baby by Macy Gray is a little on the slow side but is jazzy and fun to dance to.  The one thing of note on this song is that intentional or not, Gray seems to capture the essence of Carol Channing…Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

This is a fun CD.  You can get some dancing in and enjoy a mixture of jazz and pop.  Pick it up if it’s on sale.