The soundtrack of the movie "Practical Magic" features a collection of songs that perfectly complement the enchanting and mystical atmosphere of the film. The songs chosen for the soundtrack represent a range of genres, from pop and rock to country and folk, adding to the overall magical and whimsical feel of the movie. One of the standout songs from the soundtrack is "Put the Lime in the Coconut" by Harry Nilsson. This catchy and upbeat tune is played during a pivotal scene in the movie, where the characters perform a spell to rid themselves of a curse. The song's playful lyrics and tropical vibes add a fun and lighthearted element to the enchanting world of "Practical Magic." Another memorable song from the soundtrack is "Black Eyed Dog" by Nick Drake.

Search - Various Artists :: Twister: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack

"I bought this CD (which is getting harder to find) strictly for the Van Halen song "Respect the Wind". That song, to my knowledge, cannot be found anywhere else. It's really done by Edward and Alex Van Halen so it's not "technically" a Van Halen song. Regardless, that song alone made the CD worth buying."

"It is Deep Purple. it is not the song A200. The song is "Child In Time". The only thing is he is playing song at about half way (not from the beginning)and it is a live version."

"Just like the film, this soundtrack of "Twister" has you experiencing all the action and adventure of chasing the storm, to the stormy and unpredictable love affair admist it. Feel the excitment of the chase and the coming of the tornado with songs like "Humans Being" by Van Halen, and "Virtual Realty" by Rusted Root. Experience the hearbreak and the joys of love with romantic ballads "Love Affair" by K.D. Lang and Shania Twain's "No One Needs To Know".Then you'll be thrilled once again by the forces of nature to the tunes of "Twisted" by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham and "Respect the Wind" by Edward and Alex Van Halen.

This album has something for everyone.It's a great mix, including music by Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mark Knopfler.(see buying info for complete list) If you haven't seen the film, you'll want to after listening to it and if you've already seen it, the album will make you want to watch it again (and vice versa!).

Other great sounds from the screen:Con Air: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Set It Off: Music From The New Line Cinema Motion Picture [Edited Version]

The "Twister" soundtrack is great to listen to in the car as well as at home. Chase YOUR dreams. Laurie"

"I really like this cd, but then I love all types of music. Because there is such a diverse range of styles, it may not appeal to everyone. People who love the country sounds of Alison Krauss and Shania Twain may not like the hard rock/alternative tracks by Van Halen, Soul Asylum and Rusted Root, and vice-versa. But if you too, are a lover of all types of musical genres then I am sure you will like this."

"I liked this CD.I mainly bought it for the Highlight song "Twisted" by Stevie Nicks. which I like very much.I just couldn't give this CD 5-Stars because there aren't enough good songs on it.~Chris~"

O is for Sally Owens

I watched Practical Magic for the first-time last October and loved it – it’s definitely going to be a film I watch on the run up to Halloween each year going forward. I loves everything about it, the story, the clothes, the music, that amazing house, and all the characters but my favourite (as the title suggests) was Sally.

Sally is a witch and she and her sister Gillian (like all the Owens women) are cursed so that any man who they fall in love with will die. Sally is determined not to fall in love and have children because her father died when she was young, and her mum left her and her sister with their aunts due to her grief and she doesn’t want to go through that. Life doesn’t always work out that way though.

While her sister is a bit of a wild child, Sally is the sensible, responsible one who likes to keep things pretty ordinary. She has her little shop, she has her daughters, and she is quite content with all that. Naturally things don’t stay that way, but she impresses herself with how resourceful she can be and the lengths she’ll go to, to protect her sister and the rest of her family.

Sally is a very talented witch and she’s quick-thinking when it comes to magic and potions. I just love how Sally deals with things. Sometimes she bottles up her emotions and pushes people aware because she thinks it’s safer for her, but she has such a big kind heart. She and Gillian are the best sisters I’ve seen on screen for a while and just generally Sally’s relationship with the different members of her family are so strong and important.

REVIEW: Practical Magic (1998)

There’s said to be a curse on the Owens women – any man who they fall in love with will surely die. Witch sisters Sally and Gillian (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) are unlucky in love and just trying to get by in a town that’s scared of them and their family. But after Gilliam’s boyfriend dies suddenly and a detective (Aidan Quinn) starts asking questions, things get more difficult for them.

Practical Magic is just a delight and the fact that it has a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is a travesty! Do these people not appreciate and love the power of sisterhood, love and female relationships?! Because this is what Practical Magic is. It’s like a love letter to sisters and family and the power women can have, even when things go a bit wrong, and it’s brilliant.

Sally and Gillian were raised by the eccentric aunts, Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest), and the relationships these four women have are the heart and the soul of this film. The aunts are funny and weird, but they love their nieces so much and try to teach them all they know about magic. Sally has more of innate gift for it, but Gillian has some powers too, but their biggest gift is how in tune with one another they are. Bullock and Kidman have amazing chemistry and they feel like sisters, they argue and laugh and know each other better than anyone. If I’m being honest the tone of Practical Magic is kinda all over the place, but this film definitely wouldn’t have worked so well without these two leads.

Speaking of tone; there’s comedy, horror, romance, crime – it’s a mix of so many things but it works! The whole aesthetic for Practical Magic is peak 90s witchy vibes. The costumes, the setting (especially the house where the majority of the film takes place), the fact that Sally’s job involves creating plant-based remedies – to coin a popular internet term, it’s all very cottagecore. The soundtrack is very 90s too but there’s so many good songs on it from Stevie Nicks, Faith Hill, Joni Mitchell and more. The score by Alan Silvestri is great too. A lot of it feels homely and suits the setting of a small town on a small island where everyone knows each other.

Honestly Practical Magic was so much fun and so heart-warming. I often found myself with a huge smile on my face because of these women and their love and respect for one another. Yeah, the “big bad” of the film is them apparently not being able to have a lasting relationship with a man, but the driving force for the Owens family, and even some of the other women in the town, is love for one another and the lengths they’ll go to keep each other safe. 5/5.

Practical Magic – Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman

I saw a lot of movies in the theater during the summer of 1998. I remember seeing the still promos for “Practical Magic” while waiting for movie after movie and slowly building up anticipation for it. I like Sandra Bullock and have enjoyed most of the movies I’ve seen her in. I’m not so much a Nicole Kidman fan, but I figured she would do a pretty good job and had no dim expectations.

So imagine my surprise when the movie started showing and I began to read bad reviews. I went to see “Practical Magic” in the first week and really enjoyed it. There are a number of memorable scenes which left an enchanted impression upon me. How could these critics not see a good movie for what it was? Well, they’re critics. I ignored them and went back to see the movie again and again. I even started to develop a Web site for it, but Real Life ™ invaded my privacy and I had to let that project drop for a few months.

One of the best aspects of the movie is the soundtrack. A soundtrack can hurt a movie if the music doesn’t suit the theme of the story or the characters. Throughout “Practical Magic” I couldn’t help but appreciate the selections made for the various scenes, my favorite of which is the scene where Sally falls under the aunts’ love spell and runs into town looking for Michael. They couldn’t have picked a better song than Faith Hill’s “This Kiss” as a backdrop. It sets the mood for the intensity of their love and just sort of makes their eyes glow as they stare at one another.

Another scene I enjoyed was “Midnight Margaritas”. I never dreamed I’d see a movie which made use of Harry Nilsson’s “Coconut”, a song I fell in love with way back in 1972. Nilsson has been dead a long time and I don’t often hear his songs on the radio any more, so I had come to feel he’d been forgotten. Anyone who has heard the charming “Me and my arrow”, about a round-headed boy living in a land where everone has a pointed head, or “Everybody’s Talkin'”, from “Midnight Cowboy”, or the haunting “Without You”, knows what a great talent Nilsson had for writing songs.

The movie plays to nostalgic audiences in utilizing Willie Nelson’s immortal “You are always on my mind” more than once. Although I could do without the drunken Jimmy Angelo’s rendition of the classic hit, I liked the way the aunts began to sing it during the “Midnight Margaritas” scene. As a theme song for Jimmy, it does underscore his obsession with Gillian.

I don’t usually watch or enjoy contemporary fantasy movies. I like action films (movies made for guys who like movies, as TNT would say) and only occasionally get into syrupy character dramas. But there is a nice mixture of comedy, drama, and fantasy in “Practical Magic”. A lot of the movie is very soft, in the sense that the actors play down their parts. The scenes with Aidan Quinn (Gary Hallot) and Sandra Bullock are particularly interesting for me because there is an undercurrent of something stronger than mere human emotion. Of course they’re implying that Sally’s childhood love spell may be at work, but there is a natural chemistry between the two which makes them an appealing couple. It’s not the usual “hot sexy guy falls for hot sexy girl” scenario.

The magic is not overdone. One of the complaints I’ve read is that it was underdone. Not enough magic in the movie? It virtually oozes magic in every scene. What were people looking for, bolts of lightning flying from Sandra’s fingers, ala the Emperor in “Return of the Jedi”? I liked the way the spoon stirs itself in the cup, not once, but twice. I like the way the aunts have a spell or herb for everything. Some of their practical magic is what J.R.R. Tolkien would have called the “everyday sort of normal magic”, the same quality we should be able to find in all of us. Call it attitude. Call it passion. I think one of the movie’s underlying themes is that we can each make our own magic in some special way.

Another complaint I’ve come across is that the movie leaves out so much of the story from Alice Hoffman’s book. Well, yeah, movies do that. But people also miss a great deal in movies if they don’t see them more than once. The critic who complained that the aunts were not portrayed as very old missed the fact that Gary was told all sorts of stuff about them while investigating Sally and Gillian in the village. And, yes, someone makes the comment that they never age. It’s a very subtle testimony to the agelessness of the aunts. The movie shouldn’t dwell on the fact. It has a story to tell.

I must have seen this movie in the theater a half dozen times. I wish I could have seen it more often. I’ve watched it on pay-per-view, and now I’ve rented the video. When I can finally purchase my own copy I’ll add it to my collection and enjoy it for years to come.

Practical Magic Links

The official movie Web site – This is one of the best “Official” Web sites I’ve ever come across. You can see pictures and read background notes about how the movie was made. I hope they don’t ever take this site down. (Editor’s Note: They did take the site down. The link points to an Archive.Org version.)

Coming Soon — Practical Magic Starring Sandy and Nicole Kidman – This is one of the first fannish sites I found for the movie. The main page hasn’t been updated since before the movie was released to the theaters, but there are some pictures here.

BethD’s Sandra Bullock page – Site contains Sandra B. info, news, quotes, and more.

Entertainment Weekly’s review of the movie (October 18, 1998) – This is a very thorough and in-depth look at the movie. (Archive.Org copy dated Dec-05-1998)

San Juan Island update – A bit of news from the period of April 3 through May 25, 1998, when they were working on the movie in the San Juan area.

Sandra Bullock bio and filmography – The Online Movie Club’s Sandra Bullock page. (Archive copy dated Jun-27-2001)

Hollywood Online’s review of the movie – (Archive copy dated Jan-27-1999)

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" Another memorable song from the soundtrack is "Black Eyed Dog" by Nick Drake. This haunting and melancholic tune perfectly captures the mood of the film, providing a sense of mystery and darkness. The ethereal quality of the song adds depth to the emotional journey of the characters, highlighting their struggles and inner turmoil.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Stevie Nicks-Songs that were held back and used on later albums

One of the drawbacks of being a member of a group with multiple songwriters is that sometimes there is not room on albums for all the songs you write. However, that means that is always going to be material to bring out of the drawer, when you are looking for material for a new project. Few artists have gone to that mythical song drawer as much as Stevie Nicks has. She has released over 40 of these drawer songs that she finished years after she wrote them. She even released a whole album of new versions of mostly old unreleased songs called 24 Karat Gold in 2014. The advantage of the later versions is that they are often more polished, the earlier demo versions benefit from having Stevie's younger, richer voice.

This list does not include Stevie Nicks songs recorded during album sessions (such as "Violet and Blue") that were released unaltered soon afterwards on soundtrack albums or B-sides, nor does it include unreleased songs that she has not gotten around to releasing or recording yet. (Note: As I am not a Stevie Nicks expert, this list may be incomplete)

• "Cathouse Blues"was written in 1969 not recorded til 2014's 24 Karat Gold.
• " Candlebright " (also known as "Nomad" ) The song was recorded by Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham in demo form, and was almost used on the 1975 Fleetwood Mac album Instead it was not used till 2001's Trouble in Shangri-La.
• "I Don't Want to Know". Written during the Buckingham Nicks era, and performed live during that time. It was dragged up for Fleetwood Mac's 1977 Rumours album as a replacement for "Silver Springs", a better song which unfortunately was too long to fit on the album.
• "Lady" (Also known as "Knocking On Doors") was written in the early 1970's and finally recorded on 24 Karat Gold.
• "Without You' -a Buckingham Nicks song that did not see release til it was recorded in a new version for the 2013 Fleetwood Mac digital EP, Extended Play. This record was the last recordings made by Stevie Nicks with Lindsey Buckingham.
• "That's All Right " used on 1982's Fleetwood Mac album, Mirage. It was written in 1974 during the Buckingham-Nicks era, and intended for their never made second album.
• "Crystal" Released on Buckingham Nicksbut recorded again for the 1975 Fleetwood Mac album, and recorded yet again by Stevie Nicks for the 1998 Practical Magic soundtrack album.
• "Sorcerer" also dates back to the "Buckingham-Nicks" era and was recorded by them as a demo, as well as being performed on the subsequent tour. It was also considered for some Fleetwood Mac projects, in particular 1979's Tusk,it was given to Marilyn Martin to record in 1984 for the Streets of Fire soundtrack. It was also recorded for album "The Wild Heart"- and released as a bonus track for a 2016 reissue of that album. "Sorcerer" was finally was recorded and released by Stevie Nicks in an excellent version produced by Sheryl Crow for the 2001Trouble in Shangri-Laalbum.

The original working tapes for "If You ever did Believe" and for "The Dealer" . Both of these not used and left off the Tusk album. Great stuff .

• "Think About It' written around 1974, considered for Rumours, but recorded for Bella Donna
• "The Highwayman" written around 1975, but recorded for Bella Donna.
• "Kind of Woman" written around 1975, recorded for Bella Donna.
• "Leather and Lace" written in 1975 for (but not used by) Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings, it of course, ended up on Bella Donna.

• "After the Glitter Fades" Said to be written in 1975, but finally used on 1981's Bella Donna.
• "Planets of the Universe" was written during the Rumours period while Nicks and Buckingham were separating, which was Nicks' inspiration for the song. A rough demo (performed by Fleetwood Mac) ended up on the remastered and expanded release of Rumoursin 2004. Nicks chose to include a edited version of the song on Trouble in Shangri-La, omitting a verse . The full-length 2001 version of this song, with the extra verse (as originally demo-ed on the expanded release of Rumours), did appear on a 6 track single release in late 2001.
• "If You Ever Did You Believe" started as in 1976 as a coda to "The Chain" , it was first released as independent song given to Louise Goffin in 1981. It was finally used by Stevie Nicks in a version recorded with Sheryl Crow for the 1998 Practical Magic soundtrack album.
• "Secret Love" wrote the song in 1976 and recorded a demo for Fleetwood Mac's 1977 album, Rumours, but was not finished and released until the In Your Dreamsalbum in 2011.
• "Silver Springs" was recorded for Rumours in 1977 and released as a B-side, but found commercial success in a new live version recorded for 1996 Fleetwood Mac album The Dance.
• "Dealer" written for Tusk, tried for Bella Donna but not used until a new version on 24 Karat Gold.
• "Blue Water" written in 1978 but finally recorded for 24 Karat Gold.
• "How Still My Love" written in 1979 but recorded for Bella Donna.
• "Belle Fleur" written in 1979, considered for Bella Donnabut not used till 24 Karat Gold
• "Smile at You" was written for Tuskbut not finished until 2003's Say You Will.
• "Fireflies" recorded during the Tusksessions, but not used and released instead in live version on the Fleetwood Mac Live album in 1980.

• "If You Were My Love", considered for Bella Donnaand recorded for Miragebut not used until 2014's 24 Karat Gold.
• "Starshine" written and demoed in 1980 but not released til the 24 Karat Goldversion.
• "24 Karat Gold" was recorded in 1980 as demo for Bella Donna but not used till 24 Karat Gold
• "I Don't Care" written in 1981, finally recorded for 24 Karat Gold.
• "Watch Chain" written in 1981, finally recorded for 24 Karat Gold.
• "Wild Heart' was written in a early version in 1981 but finished for the 1983 album TheWild Heart.
• "Gypsy " written for the her own Bella Donna album but held back and used on 1982's Fleetwood Mac album, Mirage.
• "All The Beautiful Worlds" written in 1982, finally recorded for 24 Karat Gold.
• "She Still Loves Him" written with Mark Knopfler in 1984,finally recorded for 24 Karat Gold.
• "Destiny" was demoed in 1983 for The Wild Heartbut not used until the Street Angelalbum
• "Mabel Normand" was written in 1984, but not recorded til 24 Karat Gold.
• "Running Through the Garden" written but not used for "1985's Rock A Little would resurface in completed form in 2003 on the Fleetwood Mac album Say You Will.
• "Reconsider Me" is a song by Warren Zevon that was recorded originally for 1995's Rock a Little but not used and rerecorded for the Enchantedbox set.
• "Thousand Days" recorded for Rock A Little, not used then recorded again for Street Angel, but only released as a B-side. It appears on the Enchantedbox set.
• "Greta" considered for Rock a Little were recorded for her 1994 album, Street Angel.
• "Love Is Like A River" considered for Rock A Little , was used for, Street Angel.
• The 1987 Fleetwood Mac B-side "Book of Miracles" is an earlier, instrumental version of the song "Juliet" from 1989's Other Side of the Mirror .
• “Ooh My Love” had been demo-ed for 1987 Tango in the Night but was ultimately shelved and rerecorded for 1989's Other Side of the Mirror.
• "Hard Advice" was written in 1995 but not used until 24 Karat Gold
• 
  

• THESE ARE THE ALBUMS THESE SONGS APPEAR

"Amas Veritas" by Alan Silvestri is another noteworthy song from the soundtrack. This instrumental piece serves as the main theme of the movie, playing during pivotal moments and evoking a sense of wonder and magic. The beautiful orchestration and melodic motifs contribute to the overall enchantment of the film, enhancing the viewer's experience. Other songs included in the "Practical Magic" soundtrack include Stevie Nicks' "Crystal," Faith Hill's "This Kiss," Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You," and Jimmy Webb's "The Highwayman," among others. Each song brings a unique sound and energy to the film, contributing to its overall charm and mystical aura. In conclusion, the songs featured in the "Practical Magic" soundtrack play a crucial role in creating the magical and enchanting world of the film. From catchy pop tunes to haunting ballads, each song adds depth and atmosphere to the movie, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience for audiences..

Reviews for "The Role of Music in Creating the Atmosphere of Practical Magic"

1. John - 1 star

I found the soundtrack songs in "Practical Magic" to be extremely dull and uninteresting. None of them stood out to me or left any lasting impression. They all blended together into a forgettable background noise. I was hoping for some catchy tunes or emotionally charged music that would enhance the movie, but unfortunately, I was left disappointed. The lack of variety in the songs made the entire soundtrack feel repetitive and monotonous. Overall, I believe the soundtrack songs in "Practical Magic" lacked originality and failed to create an immersive experience.

2. Emily - 2 stars

The songs in the "Practical Magic" soundtrack were far from memorable. I was expecting some captivating tunes that would draw me into the movie and add depth to the scenes. However, most of the songs felt generic and uninspired. It seemed like the producers chose songs that would simply fill the space, rather than complement the storyline. I was hoping for a soundtrack that would create an emotional connection with the characters, but sadly, it fell short. The lackluster selection of songs in "Practical Magic" left me feeling underwhelmed and disconnected from the film.

3. Amy - 2 stars

I was disappointed by the soundtrack songs in "Practical Magic." The music felt bland and lacked the magic and intrigue that the movie aims to convey. None of the songs stood out or captured my attention. They seemed like afterthoughts rather than carefully selected pieces that complemented the storyline. I was hoping for a soundtrack that would transport me into the enchanting world of the movie, but instead, I found myself disengaged and uninterested. The lack of emotional resonance in the soundtrack songs was a missed opportunity to enhance the overall viewing experience.

The Evocative Songs of the Practical Magic Soundtrack