Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 2008 film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the second installment in the Madagascar franchise. Released on November 4, 2008, by Interscope Records, the album featured original score written by Hans Zimmer, who collaborated with American rapper and singer will.i.am to produce the score and songs. will.i.am also wrote five new songs specifically for the film, while other incorporated songs were included in the film's soundtrack. The music received generally favorable critical response.
Development Hans Zimmer collaborated with American rapper and singer will.i.am to produce the score and songs for Escape 2 Africa. To record for the film, Zimmer and will.i.am, had travelled to Africa (where the film was set) for the musical ideas and teamed up with the African musicians on the album. In the process, they had written four songs together for the film. While writing the track "The Travelling Song", will.i.am felt that "It's about being stripped away from your home, and not knowing really where you come from. But wherever you are — because of your friends — that is your home now. Those lyrics really sum up my life, a black guy in a Mexican neighborhood, and apl.de.ap's life, being placed for adoption at 14 and coming to America not knowing English. We made it our home because of our friendship, and that's what 'Madagascar' is about." will.i.am also recorded his cover version of "I Like to Move It" in the end credits.
Track listing
Enhanced videos
Reception Filmtracks.com wrote "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa remains the best entry for the infectiously cute main escape theme. In an ideal world, the best score material from all three films would be combined into one rollicking album." Andrew Leahey of AllMusic wrote "The Madagascar series relies heavily on music, often injecting songs directly into the movies' plot lines, and that emphasis helps fine-tune this soundtrack into a lighthearted, pleasant album." In contrast, Jonathan Broxton gave a negative review, calling it as the "worst soundtrack written for any major animated film of recent years".
Personnel Credits adapted from AllMusic.
Ryeland Allison – arranger Gretchen Anderson – producer Slamm Andrews – music editor, recording Lorne Balfe – additional music Chris Barrett – scoring engineer John Barrett – scoring engineer Becky Bentham – score coordinator Jeff "Bucko" Biggers – recording Thomas Broderick – technical engineer Julie Butchko – music clearance Dan Butler – music business affairs Carmen Carter – vocals Alvin Chea – vocals Al Clay – recording, vocals Jim Dooley – additional music Dylan Dresdow – mixing Fred Ebb – composer Jack Feldman – composer Mark Ford – choir conductor Geoff Foster – scoring recordist Gavin Greenaway – score conductor Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor Richard Harvey – woodwind Rand Hoffman – music business affairs Luis Jardim – percussion John Kander – composer Andrew Kawczynski –technical assistance Steven Kofsky – music production supervisor Kaita Lewin – recording Abie Lister – score assistance Barry Manilow – composer, vocals Craig Marshall – music business affairs Liz McNicoll – music business affairs Alan Meyerson – mixing Perry Montague-Mason – orchestra Leader Erick "More" Morillo – composer Ennio Morricone – composer Wendi Morris – score coordinator Phil Orescan – marketing Sunny Park – executive in charge of music Heitor Pereira – composer, vocals Lori Perry – vocals Sharon Perry – vocals Purcell Singers – choir/chorus Mark Quashie – composer Frank Ricotti – marimba Ryan Rubin – assistant music editor Czarina Russell – studio manager Jennifer Schiller – music coordinator Tom Scholz – composer Tony Seyler – music business affairs Jacob Shea – arranger Ken "Kaz" Smith – music soordinator Peter Oso Snell – technical engineer Bruce Sussman – composer Louie Teran – mastering Vin Villanueva – music coordinator Greg Vines – mixing assistant Matt Ward – recording Oren Waters – vocals Lucy Whalley – orchestra assembly Mark Wherry – digital processing will.i.am – composer, engineer, soundtrack producer, vocals Andrew Zack – score coordinator Geoff Zanelli – additional music Ianthe Zevos – creative consultant Hans Zimmer – composer, soundtrack producer
Chart performance Chart (2008)PeakpositionUS Billboard 200100US Top Internet Albums (Billboard)32US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)18
Certifications
References