Month: January 2023

SUMMARY:                RUNNING TIME: 1 Hour, 18 Min.

In late 2018, Disney released the Mary Poppins Returns movie soundtrack, with a total of twenty-seven tracks.  In addition to composer-conductor Paul Gemignani’s instrumental score, nine original tunes are featured.  The album’s track listing is as follows:

1. (Underneath the) Lovely London Sky {3:46}    

Performer: Lin-Manuel Miranda

2. Mary Poppins Returns (Overture) {2:28}           

Performer: Paul Gemignani

3. A Conversation {2:42}                                     

Performer: Ben Whishaw

4. Can You Imagine That? {4:22}                                   

Performers: Emily Blunt; Pixie Davies; Joel Dawson, & Nathaniel Saleh

5. The Royal Doulton Music Hall {3:01}

Performers: Emily Blunt; Lin-Manuel Miranda; Pixie Davies; Joel Dawson; Nathaniel Saleh, etc.

6. Introducing Mary Poppins {0:31}                     

Performers: Lin-Manuel Miranda & Emily Blunt

7. A Cover is Not The Book {4:25}

Performers: Emily Blunt; Lin-Manuel Miranda; Pixie Davies; Joel Dawson; Nathaniel Saleh, etc.

8. The Place Where the Lost Things Go               

Performer: Emily Blunt

9. Turning Turtle {4:20}

Performers: Meryl Streep; Emily Blunt; Lin-Manuel Miranda; Pixie Davies; Joel Dawson; & Nathaniel Saleh

10. Trip a Little Light Fantastic {7:02}

Performers: Emily Blunt; Lin-Manuel Miranda; Pixie Davies; Joel Dawson; Nathaniel Saleh, etc.

11. The Place Where the Lost Things Go – Reprise {1:30} 

Performers; Joel Dawson; Nathaniel Saleh; & Pixie Davies

12. Trip a Little Light Fantastic – Reprise {0:46}

Performers: Dick Van Dyke; Emily Blunt; Ben Whishaw; Lin-Manuel Miranda; Pixie Davies; Joel Dawson; & Nathaniel Saleh, etc.

13. Nowhere to Go But Up {5:45}

Performers: Angela Lansbury; Ben Whishaw; Colin Firth; Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathaniel Saleh, etc.

14. (Underneath the) Lovely London Sky – Reprise {1:52}     

Performer: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Tracks 15-27 Performer: Paul Gemignani

15. Mary Poppins Returns (Closing Theme) {1:38}

16. Kite Takes Off {2:40}                                        

17. Mary Poppins Arrives {1:41}                            

18. Magic Papers {1:33}                                         

19. Banks in the Bank {0:43}                                  

20. Into the Royal Doulton Bowl {1:58}                   

21. Rescuing Georgie {4:01}                                    

22. Off to Topsy’s {2:53}                                        

23. Chase Through the Bank {1:11}                       

24. Lost in a Fog {0:59}                                         

25. Goodbye, Old Friend {2:32}                              

26. Race to Big Ben {4:55}                                     

27. Mary Poppins Returns (End Suite) {5:12}          

Notes: The tracks are not in sequential order to the film.  Further, some tracks include excerpts of dialogue.

REVIEW:

In 2018, Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns faced a conundrum: either opt for an original identity – a commendable notion, or undisguised copycat-ism of the original 1964 classic – a potentially surefire win, if handled correctly.  It can be surmised that Disney tried bridging generational gaps to simultaneously entice both fans of Julie Andrews and those of the earliest Harry Potter films.  Given the film’s preoccupation with overcoming grief as one of its major themes, it’s no surprise that the soundtrack skews toward a more mature target audience.      

Given how children’s tastes are far more sophisticated now than their mid-1960’s counterparts, Disney likely deemed that replicating songs, such as “Supercalifraglisticexpialidocious,” wouldn’t hold up today.  More so, the inevitability of being accused of creative laziness, if the company had, surely was a factor, too.  Even if such conclusions make good sense on paper, the result proves mixed for mass audiences. 

Case in point: conveying an epic stage musical, Paul Gemignani’s grand instrumental score dominates much of the album.  The problem is that it won’t likely leave a lasting impression.  In the overture, for instance, Gemignani’s most whimsical (and even zaniest) moments welcome Emily Blunt’s take on ‘Mary Poppins.’  Unfortunately, listeners (especially kids) are hard-pressed to link such musical cues as being synonymous with the iconic British nanny.  One instrumental, however, is spot-on: Track 17’s “Mary Poppins Arrives,” could just as easily introduce Julie Andrews’ incarnation.

In terms of new tunes, the tracks closest to the original film’s spirit are Track 4: “Can You Imagine That?” and Track 7: “The Cover is Not the Book,” as both are welcome treats.  The same applies to the ever-reliable Angela Lansbury and Ben Whishaw leading the cast’s rendition (absent Emily Blunt) of Track 13: “Nowhere to Go But Up.” 

Best of all is Blunt’s compassionate lullaby, Track 8:“The Place Where the Lost Things Go.” Still, as an answer to Whishaw’s heartbreaking Track 3: “A Conversation,” its poignant subject matter obviously won’t leave anyone humming with delight.        

That is where the melancholic Mary Poppins Returns soundtrack regrettably falters.  Given the 1964 film’s timeless charm, one reasonably expects Blunt and the supporting ensemble (aside from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s grating fake Cockney accent) to channel a catchy batch of kid-friendly songs – in the beloved Julie Andrews tradition.  For a classy soundtrack lasting nearly eighty minutes, there isn’t nearly enough innocent fun to keep Disney’s youngest core audience enthralled.    

Despite Disney’s good intentions and such a talented cast, the soundtrack’s reliance on slickly-written, Broadway-style showtunes (i.e., Track 10: “Trip a Little Light Fantastic”) presents an inadequate substitute.  While unimpressed kids will likely move on fast, the Mary Poppins Returns album best appeals to adults appreciating its musical sophistication. 

PACKAGING:

The slipcover CD wallet is well-manufactured.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   6½ Stars