Speed Racer: The Video Game Composed by Winifred Phillips
Promo Release (2008)
Rating: 5/10
*This promo is not available for purchase
“WINIFRED PHILLIPS
drops the pedal from the onset of track 1 and doesn't let up until
the race finishes with track 12. No pit stops either.”
Music at the Sound of Speed
Review by Christopher Coleman
As Nintendo's new Wii gaming system was continuing to light up cash
registers around the globe and bolstering up its fairly meager gaming
library, Warner Brothers Interactive developed and then released it's
tie-in game for the feature film SPEED RACER. Of course, much discussion
was had regarding the look of the film being very "video game" like
itself. The original trailers for the film also employed high-energy,
electronic dance music, which seemed to seal the deal. We were going to
get a high-octane, principally synthesized score to match the synthesized
visuals. Rectifying that expectation with the hiring of MICHAEL GIACCHINO
as the film's score composer remained quite the quandary, but in the end,
GIACCHINO's penchance for jazz-influenced, orchestral music won out. The
combination of the film's hyper-visuals but organic score, made for an odd
pairing; however, from the stand point of pure musical-appreciation,
Giacchino's choices were welcome ones.
When it comes to racing game scores, there aren't a ton of options; that
is, if the producers care about optimizing this very specific gaming
environment. In a word, both the visual and audio components are most
likely going to have to convey one thing: speed! Little needs to be said
about the visuals of the game...it's all about speed, and reckless
abandon, and loop-de-loops,...and "Car-fu!" In truth, almost everything in
SPEED RACER: THE VIDEO GAME is to the extreme. Employing the Wii's unique
wireless control system (this title is one of the first to be compatible
with the Wii's special steering-wheel controller) or using the standard
Wii remote in the horizontal configuration, the gamer already set to
experience a racing extreme like no other. You can choose to battle-race
with 1 of some 19 cars and characters including: Speed Racer, Trixie, and
(my all time favorite) Racer X. While some gamers found the lack of track
variety to be sorely "unextreme," the game's musical score certainly helps
to keep the driver extremely invigorated no matter how many times they run
a particular track.
When it came to SPEED RACER: THE VIDEO GAME game's original score, veteran
game composer WINIFRED PHILLIPS was brought on. Having already experienced
the unique challenges that movie tie-in games present, especially in terms
of schedules and deadlines, the choice of PHILLIPS would seem to be a
natural. She has delivered noteworthy scores for other feature-film tie-in
games like: THE DA VINCI CODE, SHREK THE THIRD, and CHARLIE AND THE
CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This time out, it was likely a double-edged sword for
PHILLIPS in that no licensing was obtained for the music used from the
film or the original theme by NOBUYOSHI KOSHIBE from the late 1960s. On
the one hand, this opened up the door for much more creative freedom.
But even that "perk" can have its share of challenges - the dreaded, blank, musical notation paper (or computer
screen) casting its menacing glare, daring her to write the first
notes of music. As thrilled as I was to hear GIACCHINO's employment of the
classic SPEED RACER theme and other segments from the TV series, I have to
say I was almost as disappointed in not hearing them in the game - simply
because the musical brand of SPEED RACER is burned into my
music-consciousness. If a film or game based on the series doesn't use the
theme...aside from re-runs, when would I ever hear it again? Having said
that, I would have no interest in hearing a techno-version of the famous
theme either and I can certainly understand why (legalities aside) the
producers and PHILLIPS chose the direction they did. In short, WINIFRED
PHILLIPS' score is a perfect match for the game...and might have worked
equally as well in the film...although I have doubts that my senses would
have been able to handle the dual extremes on the big screen.
SPEED RACER: THE VIDEO GAME is an adrenaline-fest. If you are like me and
don't find yourself attending the local rave scene, participating in the
X-Games, or (insert extreme sport here), then you might find the perfect
mood and opportunity to experience this score a bit hard to come by. This
promotional release contains 42 minutes on 12 tracks of mindblowing,
hair-raising, psychoaural, musical hallucinogen, which is none to kind to
the more sensitive demographic of music lovers. WINIFRED PHILLIPS drops
the pedal from the onset of track 1 and doesn't let up until the race
finishes with track 12. No pit stops either.
This type of game music is always fiendishly difficult to review. The
dilemma lies in the fact that this music works perfectly within the
game...matching the visual intensity on nearly every level. If high-speed,
xenon lights had a sound, I think this might just be it. So while the
player's envelopment into the SPEED RACER: VIDEO GAME is made absolutely
complete by the vibrant score, and Phillip's primary responsibility met,
evaluating the experience of this music outside of its gaming context is
more challenging than playing the game itself in Championship mode.
Listening to the twelve tracks straight through can be taxing experience.
There is just so much coming at the ears and brain to process...without
the blinding visuals and frantic motioning of a Wii remote to help
distract, the music commands every bit of attention a body has to give it.
Still, amidst the genre-blending layers of synths, samples, vocals, and
percussion, it is possible to apprehend some musical ideas. In track 1,
Speed Racer: Opening Cinema" we are introduced to a number of important
elements. Firstly, the broad and deep musical palette employed for this
score is immediately evident. We hear electric guitars - featured in one
form or another, in just about every track. We perceive the break-neck
tempo, orchestral accents, radical rhythm shifts, simulated sound effects,
dramatic choral element, and retro synths. In the tracks first moments we
hear a "vocodorized" statement "Speed Racer" which is reprised later and
turns out to be an important motif, as it were. We also hear another
element which becomes a reoccurring motif of sorts. Most will recognize it
as vaguely reminiscent of the iconic rhythm from Queen's "We Will Rock
You" rock anthem. Now way around it. That's quite a lot for one track to
deliver, but its all in there and more.
Truth be told, elaborate break downs of every track presented here could
be done, as each one is crafted to represent a specific track or
environment of the game. Most of which are super-high-energy like:
"Thunderhead" (3), "Rev it Up" (7), and Move It (9). Then there are those
tracks that play as comparative breathers: "Onuris" (4), "Chick Chick
Chick-Ah" (5), "Fuji Helexicon" (6). That "rock-anthem" sampling is one of
the few easily identifiable through-lines of the score. After track 1, it
can be found in subsequent tracks, "Thunderhead" (3), and "End Credits
(12). Track 6 is the first time we can easily hear any musical connection
to the existing SPEED RACER franchise whatsoever. The track begins in a
very familiar fashion: quick, rising notes on strings. Things change
rapidly though as we hear a brand new theme for Mr. Racer. Returning is
the "Speed Racer" statement made in track 1, this time as choral element
and then later vocodorized again. The lead vocals of the track (as well as
all other vocals: choir, vocoder, etc.) are performed by WINIFRED PHILLIPS
herself. As Phillips sings these new verses, the piece turns into a
wonderful homage to classic Anime, rock themes of decades past. Tucked in
the track are a number of previously used vocal samples: "Go!" "Let's Go!"
and even the guitar hook from "Onuris" (played at nearly double time).
This soundtrack is then begun and ended with the most this score's most
iconic material.
Early on, I was less than ecstatic about this score, but as I continued to
listen, I began to appreciate the effort that went into this and how it
compliments the game-play so well. WINIFRED PHILLIPS' work here is not
going to appeal to many of the "give me symphony or give me death" crowd,
but for the younger generation who thrive in these days of "Rock Band",
"Guitar Hero" and 24-hour-Cartoon stations, I can see much appeal. SPEED
RACER: THE VIDEO GAME is a interesting musical experience, to say the
least. Within the game itself, there could hardly be anything more
fitting. As a stand alone listening experience; however, it would be wise
to set any A.D.D. meds aside for about 42 minutes and prepare oneself to
move at the sound of speed. The rating for this promo release is a
"Mach 5."
