This is a review of the motion picture score for Horton Hears a Who by John Powell.

I had the pleasure of watching Horton Hears a Who this weekend and this is one of those rare occasions I actually see the movie before I do the review. Soundtracks to animated movies are a different breed and you never quit know what you will get. Sometimes you get a mix of songs and instrumental songs, sometimes just songs and sometimes just instrumental ones. This one contains only instrumental songs, which might come as a surprise for people who haven’t seen the movie yet. John Powell loves scoring for animated movies. His previous efforts are Happy Feet, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Robots, Shrek, Chicken Run and Antz. Here is the track list of Horton Hears a Who:

1. Fall From Tree
2. Cave Of Destiny
3. Jungle Of Nool
4. Horton Takes A Luxurious Bath !
5. Enter The Kangaroo
6. Banana Wars
7. Saved
8. Into Whoville _ Breakfast With The Mayor
9. Club Nool
10. The Twon Council
11. Hello
12. Dr. Larue
13. The Quest
14. The Bridge Work
15. Horton Dance !
16. Handle With Care
17. Bedtime
18. Snow Day
19. Horton Tells Of The Kangaroo’s Duplicity
20. Vlad Attack
21. Power Grab
22. Kite Flying Day
23. Mountain Chase
24. Clover Field Search
25. Memory Game
26. For The Children !!!
27. Angry Mob
28. Roping & Caging
29. We Are Here
30. Symphonophone
31. Jojo Saves The Day
32. Hall Of Mayors
33. Horton Suite
34. A Big Ending

What’s great about John Powell is the massive amount of cues he manages to put in there, at least for his most recent scores. Happy Feet had 29 tracks and with Horton’s 34 tracks, I think we have a record. It must be so much fun making a score for an animated movie, because you have all the elements, drama, action and fun. John Powell takes advantage and he plays no small part in making the movie enjoyable. Like I said, I watched the movie this weekend and the music was just great (as well as the movie). It was very present and the music made me laugh sometimes accompanied with the antics on screen.

I really enjoy John Powell’s animated scores, it always does well even without the movie. That’s the hallmark of a great animated movie soundtrack, and I’ve heard a few. I can’t think of anyone who has yet matched Powell’s vivid imagination and sheer fun on a consistent basis. This score really has it all, and I don’t think it does anyone any harm listening to it between Atonement and Vantage Point. It is different, fun and so entertaining. Great stuff from John Powell. The only thing they miss from this score is the inclusion of the cast singing REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling”. I’ve included the teaser clip from Youtube where they perform it. Listen to Horton Hears a Who below:

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