Drive (soundtrack)
{{short description|2011 soundtrack album by Johnny Jewel and Cliff Martinez}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| cover = Drive (soundtrack).jpg
| type = soundtrack
| artist = Cliff Martinez
| released = September 19, 2011
| recorded = 2011
| genre = {{hlist|Film soundtrack|synthwave|electronic|ambience|atmospheric|retro}}
| length = 70:18
| label = Lakeshore Records
| producer = Cliff Martinez
}}
Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2011 American film of the same name. Initially, Johnny Jewel was hired to compose the film's score, but producers ultimately hired Cliff Martinez to replace Jewel. The album consists of songs which is a blend of electronic, ambient and retro music.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-20 |title='Drive' at 10: the story behind the film's iconic soundtrack |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/film-features/drive-soundtrack-score-how-it-was-made-3050476 |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=NME |language=en}}
Prior to the release of the soundtrack, the album topped iTunes charts after the highly positive critical response for the film as well as its musical score. The album was released on CD on September 19, 2011, by Lakeshore Records, which was followed by a vinyl edition of the soundtrack, marketed by Mondo, was released in June 2012. Coinciding the film's fifth anniversary, Lakeshore and Invada Records, in September 2016, released the special edition of the soundtrack. It peaked at 30th position on the US Billboard 200, and topped the soundtrack list from Billboard. Incidentally, the album also topped the soundtrack list in Official Charts Company (United Kingdom). The soundtrack also received several awards and nominations.
Development
Refn chose Johnny Jewel of Desire and Chromatics to score the film. He wanted electronic music and to have it be abstract, on occasion, so viewers can see things from the Driver's perspective.{{cite web|url=http://pro.boxoffice.com/articles/2011-09-johnny-jewel-on-developing-the-unique-soundtrack-for-drive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107200955/http://pro.boxoffice.com/articles/2011-09-johnny-jewel-on-developing-the-unique-soundtrack-for-drive |archive-date=November 7, 2014 |title=Johnny Jewel on Developing the Unique Soundtrack For Drive |first=Todd |last=Gilchrist |work=Box Office |date=September 18, 2011 |access-date=September 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }} As Refn was going through mixer Jewel's catalog, he picked out "Under Your Spell" and "Tick of the Clock" because he thought of Drive being a fairy tale. During Drive{{'}}s climax, "A Real Hero"'s keynote melody, about becoming "a real human being, and a real hero", refrains because that is when the Driver displays both those characteristics.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/08/nicolas-winding-refn-interview |title=Nicolas Winding Refn: 'Film-making is a fetish' |first=Catherine |last=Shoard |work=The Guardian |date=September 8, 2011 |access-date=October 9, 2011 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023190615/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/sep/08/nicolas-winding-refn-interview |archive-date=October 23, 2013 }} At first, Jewel worried that "Under Your Spell" might be too literal, but soon realized it is used in Drive "in the exact same way that I was feeling it when I wrote it. He definitely got the nuance of the song, and understood what it was supposed to mean, and he wanted to give that emotion to the viewer, that same feeling."
Thinking of music in terms of basic elements, Jewel would tell the director that for certain scenes, it should not have bass since, as an earth tone, it is usually used for a more emotional or ominous part. Jewel thought the music should be in the upper register and relaxing for the "dreamlike" scene. To help himself with the music composition process, and to conjure up melodies, the producer would highlight many phrases from the novel, then print those words in large font, and hung them on his walls or draw pictures during viewings of Drive.
Although Jewel's music was used in the score, at the last minute the studio hired composer Cliff Martinez to imitate the style and feel of Jewel's bands Chromatics and Glass Candy.{{cite web|url=http://decoy.tvpassport.com/q_a/q-i-saw-movie-drive-ryan-gosling-and-i-was-wondering-who-did-very-80s-sounding-music-soundtrack?subid=national-00001|title=Q: I saw that movie Drive, with Ryan Gosling, and I was wondering who did the very '80s-sounding music on the soundtrack?|last=Thomlison|first=Adam|website=TV Tabloid|access-date=January 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512194024/http://decoy.tvpassport.com/q_a/q-i-saw-movie-drive-ryan-gosling-and-i-was-wondering-who-did-very-80s-sounding-music-soundtrack?subid=national-00001|archive-date=May 12, 2013}} Refn gave him a sampling of songs he liked and asked Martinez to emulate the sound, resulting in "a kind of retro, 80ish, synthesizer europop". Editor Mat Newman suggested Drive{{'}}s opening credits song: "Nightcall" by French electronic musician Kavinsky.{{cite news |last=Lim |first=Dennis |date=May 22, 2011 |title=Cannes Q. and A.: Driving in a Noir L.A. |work=The New York Times |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/cannes-q-and-a-driving-in-a-noir-l-a |url-status=live |access-date=June 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528053035/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/cannes-q-and-a-driving-in-a-noir-l-a/ |archive-date=May 28, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2011/08/empire-big-screen-11-nicolas-winding-refn-says-wonder-woman-a-go-if-he-does-logans-run-right-116894/|title=Empire Big Screen '11: Nicolas Winding Refn Says Wonder Woman A Go If He Does Logan's Run Right|work=IndieWire|first=Oliver|last=Lyttelton|date=August 16, 2011|access-date=August 26, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506012323/http://www.indiewire.com/2011/08/empire-big-screen-11-nicolas-winding-refn-says-wonder-woman-a-go-if-he-does-logans-run-right-116894/|archive-date=May 6, 2017}} Most of its ethereal electronic-pop score was composed by Martinez.{{cite web|last=Martinez|first=Cliff|title=Cliff Martinez|url=http://cliff-martinez.com/|access-date=February 29, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303000808/http://www.cliff-martinez.com/|archive-date=March 3, 2012}} Refn was a particular fan of his ambient music on the Sex, Lies, and Videotape soundtrack.{{cite news |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=September 15, 2011 |title=Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn share the ride |page=1 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-sep-15-la-ca-drive-20110911-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004084348/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/15/entertainment/la-ca-drive-20110911 |archive-date=October 4, 2011}} The score contains tracks with vintage keyboards and bluntly descriptive titles.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/at-the-movies/a340357/drive-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-album-review.html|title=Drive: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' {{ndash}} Album review|website=Digital Spy|first=Mayer|last=Nissim|date=September 14, 2011|access-date=September 30, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929175547/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/at-the-movies/a340357/drive-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-album-review.html|archive-date=September 29, 2011}}
Jewel reworked his unused soundtrack for the film into Themes for an Imaginary Film, the debut album by his side-project Symmetry.{{cite web|last1=Howe|first1=Brian|title=Johnny Jewel Talks Symmetry, Drive Music, Glass Candy and Chromatics LPs {{!}} Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/45098-johnny-jewel-talks-symmetry-drive-music-glass-candy-and-chromatics-lps/|website=Pitchfork|date=January 13, 2012|access-date=May 5, 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109041659/http://pitchfork.com/news/45098-johnny-jewel-talks-symmetry-drive-music-glass-candy-and-chromatics-lps/|archive-date=January 9, 2017}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = Nightcall
| note1 = Vincent Pierre Claude Belorgey, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
| extra1 = Kavinsky featuring Lovefoxxx
| length1 = 4:19
| title2 = Under Your Spell
| note2 = Johnny Jewel
| extra2 = Desire
| length2 = 3:52
| title3 = A Real Hero
| note3 = David Grellier, Austin Garrick, Bronwyn Griffin
| extra3 = College featuring Electric Youth
| length3 = 4:27
| title4 = Oh My Love
| note4 = Riz Ortolani, Rina Ranieri
| extra4 = Riz Ortolani featuring Katyna Ranieri
| length4 = 2:50
| title5 = Tick of the Clock
| note5 = Jewel
| extra5 = Chromatics
| length5 = 4:48
| title6 = Rubber Head
| extra6 = Cliff Martinez
| length6 = 3:08
| title7 = I Drive
| extra7 = Cliff Martinez
| length7 = 2:03
| title8 = He Had a Good Time
| extra8 = Cliff Martinez
| length8 = 1:37
| title9 = They Broke His Pelvis
| extra9 = Cliff Martinez
| length9 = 1:58
| title10 = Kick Your Teeth
| extra10 = Cliff Martinez
| length10 = 2:40
| title11 = Where's the Deluxe Version?
| extra11 = Cliff Martinez
| length11 = 5:32
| title12 = See You in Four
| extra12 = Cliff Martinez
| length12 = 2:37
| title13 = After the Chase
| extra13 = Cliff Martinez
| length13 = 5:25
| title14 = Hammer
| extra14 = Cliff Martinez
| length14 = 4:44
| title15 = Wrong Floor
| extra15 = Cliff Martinez
| length15 = 1:31
| title16 = Skull Crushing
| extra16 = Cliff Martinez
| length16 = 5:57
| title17 = My Name on a Car
| extra17 = Cliff Martinez
| length17 = 2:19
| title18 = On the Beach
| extra18 = Cliff Martinez
| length18 = 6:35
| title19 = Bride of Deluxe
| extra19 = Cliff Martinez
| length19 = 3:57
}}
Reception
Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) was released on CD on September 19, 2011, by Lakeshore Records.{{cite news|last=Ford|first=Rebecca|date=September 6, 2011|title=Drive Soundtrack To Be Released|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/drive-soundtrack-released-231737|url-status=live|access-date=September 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930152004/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/drive-soundtrack-released-231737|archive-date=September 30, 2011}} Prior to that, owing to viral reviews such as those found on Twitter, the soundtrack sold well on iTunes, climbing as high as number four on the sales charts.{{cite news |last=Powers |first=Lindsay |date=September 12, 2011 |title=Drive Soundtrack Climbs iTunes Charts on Strong Viral Reviews |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/drive-soundtrack-climbs-itunes-charts-237175 |url-status=live |access-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927032542/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/drive-soundtrack-climbs-itunes-charts-237175 |archive-date=September 27, 2011}} The album was released on vinyl on June 21, 2012, by Mondo.{{cite news|last=Ishmael|first=Justin|date=March 5, 2012|title=We Are Releasing The Drive Soundtrack on Vinyl!|work=The Mondo Blog|url=http://blog.mondotees.com/2012/03/05/we-are-releasing-the-drive-soundtrack-on-vinyl/|url-status=dead|access-date=March 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310064342/http://blog.mondotees.com/2012/03/05/we-are-releasing-the-drive-soundtrack-on-vinyl/|archive-date=March 10, 2012}} A re-scored soundtrack for the film was produced for the BBC by Zane Lowe for its television broadcast in October 2014. The soundtrack included original music from Chvrches, Banks, Bastille, Eric Prydz, SBTRKT, Bring Me the Horizon, The 1975 and Laura Mvula.{{cite web |last=Carley |first=Brennan |date=October 20, 2014 |title=BBC Will Re-Score Drive With CHVRCHES, Banks, Bastille, SBTRKT, and More |url=https://www.spin.com/2014/10/chvrches-drive-bbc-soundtrack-get-away-zane-lowe-stream/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024144204/https://www.spin.com/2014/10/chvrches-drive-bbc-soundtrack-get-away-zane-lowe-stream/ |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |access-date=November 3, 2014 |work=Spin}}
The album received positive reviews. James Verniere of the Boston Herald graded it an "A", stating, "The cool crowd isn't just watching Drive; they're listening to it, too ... The Drive soundtrack is such an integral part of the experience of the film, once you see it, you can't imagine the film without it."{{cite news|last=Verniere|first=James|title=Drive soundtrack is worth hot pursuit|work=Boston Herald|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/2011/09/%E2%80%98drive%E2%80%99_soundtrack_worth_hot_pursuit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113223952/http://www.bostonherald.com/2011/09/%E2%80%98drive%E2%80%99_soundtrack_worth_hot_pursuit|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2017|access-date=September 28, 2011}} AllMusic reviewer James Christopher Monger selected opening track "Nightcall", "I Drive", "Hammer" and "Bride of Deluxe" as soundtrack's highlights.{{cite news|last=Monger|first=James Christopher|title=Drive [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] – Cliff Martinez|website=AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/drive-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0002181261|url-status=live|access-date=September 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703025541/http://www.allmusic.com/album/drive-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0002181261|archive-date=July 3, 2012}} Mayer Nissim of Digital Spy gave it a four out of five star rating, finding it as important as the film itself. She stated the album's sequence, beginning with non-Martinez songs instead of mixing it up for a more enjoyable listening experience, cost it a star.
In September 2016, Lakeshore and Invada Records released a fifth anniversary special edition pressing of the soundtrack, featuring new liner notes and artwork. That same month, Johnny Jewel, college, Electric Youth, and Cliff Martinez discussed the impact of the soundtrack and film on their lives and contemporary music culture. Jewel told Aaron Vehling that Drive{{'}}s "blend of sonic and visual nostalgia with a contemporary spin is always deadly."{{cite news|last=Vehling|first=Aaron|date=September 7, 2016|title=Drive at Five: Revisiting the Neon-Noir Masterpiece|work=Vehlinggo|url=https://vehlinggo.com/2016/09/07/drive-movie-fifth-anniversary-feature/|url-status=live|access-date=December 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214021221/https://vehlinggo.com/2016/09/07/drive-movie-fifth-anniversary-feature/|archive-date=December 14, 2016}} The soundtrack was listed on Spin magazine's list of 40 Movie Soundtracks That Changed Alternative Music.{{cite news|date=February 12, 2013|title=40 Movie Soundtracks That Changed Alternative Music|page=41|work=Spin|url=http://www.spin.com/2013/02/best-movie-soundtracks-list-scores-alternative-music/130208-drive/|url-status=live|access-date=May 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042441/http://www.spin.com/2013/02/best-movie-soundtracks-list-scores-alternative-music/130208-drive/|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Drive: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
| scope="col"| Chart (2011–2012)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Austria|33|artist=Soundtrack / Cliff Martinez|album=Drive|rowheader=true|access-date=September 6, 2012}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|28|artist=Soundtrack / Cliff Martinez|album=Drive|rowheader=true|access-date=September 6, 2012}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|24|artist=Soundtrack / Cliff Martinez|album=Drive|rowheader=true|access-date=September 6, 2012}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|12|artist=Soundtrack / Cliff Martinez|album=Drive|rowheader=true|access-date=September 6, 2012}} |
| {{album chart|France|13|artist=Soundtrack / Cliff Martinez|album=Drive|rowheader=true|access-date=September 6, 2012}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|59|id=175562|artist=Soundtrack / Cliff Martinez|album=Drive|rowheader=true|access-date=May 21, 2017}} |
| scope="row"| Irish Compilation Albums (IRMA){{cite web |url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240003&arch=t&lyr=2011&year=2011&week=40 |title=Top 20 Multi-Artist Compilation Album, Week Ending 6 October 2011 |publisher=Chart-Track |access-date=September 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105062309/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240003&arch=t&lyr=2011&year=2011&week=40 |archive-date=November 5, 2013}}
| 2 |
| {{album chart|Norway|35|artist=Soundtrack / Cliff Martinez|album=Drive|rowheader=true|access-date=September 6, 2012}} |
| {{album chart|Poland|8|id=731|rowheader=true|access-date=September 6, 2012}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|72|artist=Soundtrack / Cliff Martinez|album=Drive|rowheader=true|access-date=September 6, 2012}} |
| {{album chart|UKComp|12|date=20111002|rowheader=true|access-date=May 6, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|UKSoundtrack|1|date=20111002|rowheader=true|access-date=November 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|31|artist=Soundtrack|rowheader=true|access-date=November 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|4|artist=Soundtrack|rowheader=true|access-date=November 11, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardSoundtrack|1|artist=Soundtrack|rowheader=true|access-date=November 11, 2021}} |
{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}