Let the Right One In – soundtrack review
I finally found a second-hand copy of this soundtrack just before Christmas – I had been looking for one for YEARS (not kidding) as it’s not an easy one to buy unless you’re willing to pay mega bucks. Now I was willing to pay mega bucks, but my bank balance wasn’t.
I first realised it was an ‘interesting’ soundtrack when I saw it on Amazon – brand new – for £350. The price has shifted around since then, see below for today’s second-hand prices – but always been fairly high.
High for a fucking compact disc anyway! And certainly higher than is realistically reasonable for music I can listen to on Spotify and YouTube when I have rent to pay.
But still – I really, really wanted it. In fact I LONGED for it. And further investigation on its Wikipedia page showed that only 500 copies of the actual CD were ever released. Like loads of soundtracks it was available in crappy and weird and too-techno-for-me-unless-its-for-my-mobile-ringtone MP3 format but hard copies were alas, limited. Well some of us still live in the stone age (circa 1997) and enjoy buying CDs. Plus I’ve accumulated a pretty cool soundtrack collection by now. And I damn well wanted it.
So in December I was browsing online music shops for soundtracks (like I often do) and low and bloody behold, I spied a second-hand copy (described as being in ‘excellent condition’) for sale for £6.99. I can only assume this particular shop never bothered to check the value and of course I ordered it – if it wasn’t the real thing nothing major lost.
When it arrived I had to make sure it was real, but everything checked out. Gosh, will you listen to me! I’m saying that like I’m some kind of ‘expert’ antiques dealer on the History channel – of course really I have no idea what I’m talking about but I managed to look up its bar code, which confirmed it as being a ‘high value’ CD and the inlay and disc itself were printed with details of MovieScore Media – the production company that eventually released the 500 limited copies. It does look good, right?
Yay! So now I’ve droned on about my exciting time purchasing a CD, I can get to the real nitty gritty – the music. Oh wouldn’t that be nice, if I talked about the music?
Swedish composer Johan Söderqvist wrote the score and it’s performed by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra. Weirdly both had collaborated before on the other Swedish vampire film Frostbiten – it’s kind of like 30 Days of Night, but funny.
Now it must be said that much of this soundtrack is rather bleak sounding but at the same time, it’s so genuinely beautiful that it’s hard to think of it as ‘sad’ music. It’s not uplifting but it’s……what’s that word people use? Achingly – I think that’s it. It’s not uplifting but it’s achingly lovely. Melancholy perhaps. But that non-threatening stage of melancholy we all secretly enjoy.
There is certainly hope in the music – but darkness too. And let’s remember this was written for a horror movie and I’m happy to report that among all the sadness and all the beauty, there are also genuinely frightful scores as well, which – if alone at home without many lights on – are quite scary to listen to.
For example, the track ‘Virginia in Flames’ (ouch) has a very dark and disturbing sound to it. It’s honestly quite scary to listen to – which is perfect, given the nature of the scene. And then there are tracks such as ‘Death of Håkan’ which aren’t as flat out scary sounding, but are very eerie and atmospheric. Spooky.
But my favourite track is (and always has been) ‘Eli’s Theme’. This was the first score from the movie I ever listened to outside of the movie.
It’s sooo very pretty – heartbreaking of course but full of hope and dare I say, some romance. A gorgeous and lovely score which surely has to be written from Oskar’s point of view – and by that I mean it’s not scary in the slightest. Just like Eli.
And the best thing is there are variations of Eli’s Theme throughout the whole film (or album – whatever way you want to look at it). Choosing the same approach as many other composers, Söderqvist has written his real theme of the movie in this one track – and the rest is built around it.
So, anyway, I will leave you with a thought from the said man himself – Johan Söderqvist. I’ve wittered on for quite long enough. Cool I own it though, right?
emmakwall (explains it all) 
Great post! I’m just wondering do you have any blog recommendations for me? All things music is right up my street! Thanks
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Thanks so much! I really need to do more soundtrack reviews, I haven’t done one in ages! (lazy)
I can definitely recommend:
https://returntothe80s.wordpress.com/ – a great site dedicated to all things 80s, but mainly the music. There’s usually a daily lyrics challenge which is fun too!
And – https://mikeladano.com/ – a real mix though lots of emphasis on classic rock music. Funny stories too!
If you’re into film music at all try – https://filmmusiccentral.com/
And both of these blogs have a lot of cool musical based posts –
https://table9mutant.wordpress.com/
https://alexraphael.wordpress.com/
https://vinnieh.wordpress.com/
🙂
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Wow….thanks for all then recommendations! I’m really excited about starting my blog and I hope people like it. Thanks again, enjoy your day, Cillian
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Sorry Cillian, I thought I was being all clever there sussing your name was Gav! 🙂
Not at all, my pleasure! I’ve been looking at your blog and love your style so far! Can’t wait for more posts 🙂
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Lol, Gavin is my surname so everyone including my mother sometimes calls me Gav. Ya I think I have a few good ideas for it! Any recommendations about how often to blog? I like your (explains it all) after your name….very smart!
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Haha, I’ll stick with Cillian for now = reminds me of Mr Murphy and his Peaky Blinders 🙂
Oh thank you! I literally thought of that in about 2 seconds and just stuck. Do you remember Clarissa Explains It All?!
I guess posting as much as possible is the best way forward though I would prize good written content higher than ‘tons of posts’ but everyone is different. I try for 2 posts per week but I’m lazy lol.
Are you on twitter? That’s quite a popluar platform for sharing posts. And make sure you keep commenting people and replying when they comment you, it’s hard work but it’s also a lot of fun and a good way to secure friends etc. And what about blogathons? I know there’s one coming up soon about the music of Star Trek if that was your thing at all?
Sorry quite a long answer there lol!!
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Never heard of Blogathons! Is that really bad? Haha Peaky Blinders is quality alright! I hope to post 300-500 words twice a week. What’s a blogathon? Havn’t a clue about Star Trek!
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No that’s not bad!! 🙂 it’s just when a few bloggers come together and post similar reviews over a couple of days. So there’s a topic (such as Star Trek music – though it could be literally anything) and then everyone posts reviews etc around the same date and it’s a good way to meet new bloggers.
300-500 words sounds good to me!
I will be posting a top 10 of cover songs soon btw, if that interests you!
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Blogathons sound like fun lol! Top 10 covers songs is a good one. Did you ever hear London Grammarians doing Wicked Game by Chris Issak….it’s quality!
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No! But I’ll look it up now!! 🙂
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Such a lucky find! The score is amazing and is always so striking to me when re-watching the film. So great.
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I’m so glad you like the score Anna! And noticed it 🙂 it was a very, very lucky find. I’m hoping to have more luck like that one day!
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Thanks so much for following http://fonzandcancer.wordpress.com I really do appreciate it – Fonz
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Not at all, it’s my pleasure. I’m just looking through your posts now with interest and in awe.
It’s lovely to meet you Fonz 🙂 and thank you for taking the time to follow me also!
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I just want to inspire and encourage, it’s all I can do. So it’s everything I can do really isn’t it… 😊
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