StreamingSoundtracks.com - Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Once More, With Feeling - Joss Whedon, Christophe Beck, Nerf Herder

#	Track Listing	Length	Played
01	Overture / Going Through The Motions Joss Whedon	2:55	119
02	I've Got A Theory / Bunnies / If We're Together Joss Whedon	2:22	119
03	The Mustard Joss Whedon	0:17	23
04	Under Your Spell Joss Whedon	2:53	52
05	I'll Never Tell Joss Whedon	3:59	83
06	The Parking Ticket Joss Whedon	0:42	27
07	Rest In Peace Joss Whedon	2:43	79
08	Dawn's Lament Joss Whedon	1:17	24
09	Dawn's Ballet Christophe Beck	1:11	12
10	What You Feel Joss Whedon	2:59	35
11	Standing Joss Whedon	2:10	43
12	Under Your Spell / Standing- Reprise Joss Whedon	1:33	22
13	Walk Through The Fire Joss Whedon	3:41	180
14	Something To Sing About Joss Whedon	4:38	88
15	What You Feel - Reprise Joss Whedon	0:43	9
16	Where Do We Go From Here Joss Whedon	1:52	33
17	Coda Joss Whedon	0:38	6
18	End Credits (Broom Dance/Grr Arrgh) Joss Whedon	0:29	25
19	Main Title Nerf Herder	0:22	39
20	Suite From "Restless": Willow's Nightmare / First Rage / Chain Of Ancients Christophe Beck	4:59	27
21	Suite From "Hush": Silent Night / First Kiss / Enter The Gentlemen / Schism Christophe Beck	6:49	59
22	Sacrifice (From "The Gift") Christophe Beck	2:52	155
23	Something To Sing About (Demo) Joss Whedon	4:24	13

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Reviewers Rating

2 reviews done for this album.

Not as Bad As Everyone Seems to Think It Is.

By:	ladylark
Date:	24 Sep 2008
Rating:

The majority of this album is taken from the Buffy Musical Once More With Feeling which took place as an actual plotty episode in the sixth season. Joss Whedon wanted to do a musical episode as early as the first season but could not convince network heads to go for it. Then, according to the DVD commentary, the idea really took flight when Joss realized that several of the cast members were accomplished singers, specifically James Marsters, Anthony Head, and Amber Benson.

Joss Whedon wrote all of the songs himself - melodies and lyrics and Christophe Beck fleshed out the rest. Each song is a tribute to some musical quality or staple.

Track Breakdown:

1. Overture / Going Through The Motions - The Overture is a mixture of the main melodies of the musical that plays while setting up the episode. Going Through the Motions sung by Buffy sets up many of the themes for the coming season - mainly her desire to feel something, anything, after being brought back from the dead. The song is sung in a style similar to the typical Disney "I want" song like "Belle" or "Part of Your World."

2. I've Got A Theory / Bunnies / If We're Together - This song sung by most of the cast, and it is really just one song, sets up the problem of the episode along with various solutions to the problem. The stand out part is when Anya breaks out into her rock opera rant about bunnies.

3. The Mustard - done in the style of old 1940s musicals this is a little blurb to show that the rest of the town is affected. It is sung by David Fury, one of the shows producers.

4. Under Your Spell - the sweetest song of the album and very double entendre filled. It is sung by Tara to Willow and is a pure love song. It is most similar to the love songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

5. I'll Never Tell - Xander and Anya's "Book Number that will never be a break away pop hit." This song is also done in the style of the old 1940s musicals and sets up one of the main subplots of the season.

6. The Parking Ticket - sung by Marni Noxon, another producer of the series, it is the "protest" song of the episode similar to the various reprises of the "I want" songs in Disney.

7. Rest In Peace - Sung by Spike in the style of a power ballad the song lays on the table his feelings for Buffy and how he feels used and abused by her. Setting up their relationship for the rest of the series.

8. Dawn's Lament - this is a hint back to the "I Want" song. But is cut off. Interestingly the actress playing Dawn did not want to sing but rather Dance leading into...

9. Dawn's Ballet - If anyone has seen "Funny Face" with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn then they should recognize the similarities.

10. What You Feel - The Bad Guy appears and reveals his plans. Sung by Tony award winning actor, Hinton Battle, this song is very fifties/sixties.

11. Standing - Sung by Giles this is a Lament similar to several found in Les Miserables or Miss Saigon. The song immediately leads into...

12. Under Your Spell / Standing- Reprise - Both Giles and Tara have come to a realization about their loved ones and have decided that they need to leave them. The song is heartbreaking and a beautiful counter point of two voices blending.

13. Walk Through The Fire - Similar to "Tonight" from West Side Story or "One Day More" from Les Mis, this is the climax song. All of the pieces are in place for the great fight and there are several counterpoints and melodies being rehashed here.

14. Something To Sing About - Buffy's confrontation with Sweet, the villain, it shows her despair and it also leads into the big reveal that Buffy was in heaven and her friends pulled her out of it.

15. What You Feel - Reprise - Before he leaves, Sweet reveals what the whole spell was about, having the characters admit their secrets, fears, and feelings. The good guys won, but at what price?

16. Where Do We Go From Here - Wrapping up the story but nothing is resolved. They still haven't worked through the issues that the episode revealed. But the curtains close on kiss between Buffy and Spike setting up the next arc of the story.

17. Coda - this is just what it says it is.

18. End Credits (Broom Dance/Grr Arrgh) - different credit music with Joss singing the Grr Arrgh at the end Opera Style.

Thus Endeth the Musical. The remaining 5 tracks on the album include the opening theme and a demo of Something to Sing About Sung by Joss Whedon and Marni Noxon.

The two suites are a mix of music from their respective episodes. The Hush suite is very creepy and great for a lead up to Halloween. The Restless Suite is kinda there.

The final track The Sacrifice from The Gift is very poignant and when taken in context can be a tear jerker.

It doesn't get full stars from me - because while I appreciate what Joss did not everyone is a great singer and a lot of the tracks are kinda just there.

Still this isn't as bad as people seem to think it is. ^_^

4 of 5 found this review helpful

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Why read the review?

By:	LadyInque
Date:	9 Jan 2009
Rating:

Most listeners at SST have already decided that they love or hate this album. Since you’re reading my review, I have to assume that either you are one of the two who haven’t made up their minds, or you are truly interested in my opinion. Either, way, here it is. I like this album, but I am also a fan of the show, and I think that’s what divides people.

If you like Buffy, then you probably remember this episode, and fondly. It was a brilliant bit of television. You probably liked seeing your favorite character sing a song about his or her feelings.

If you don’t like the show or aren’t familiar with it, then the simple fact is, you are not in on the joke, as it were, or invited to the party. You don’t know who these characters are or why they’re singing, and it’s unlikely that you’ll care. All you can hear are mostly untrained voices doing songs by someone you’ve never heard of, and I can understand how that grates on some listeners. I can’t say I approve of the Buffy-bashing that happens in chat every time this plays, but that’s just because I think it’s tacky.

I like this album not just because I liked the show, but because I was raised on musicals, and to me they are natural. And what I especially like about this musical is that the songs are not generic. They are specific to the plot, and the characters, which means that if you don’t know about either, they might not work for you. No, not all the voices are good. But contrary to what the haters will tell you, some of them are quite good. Amber Benson is very good (“Under Your Spell”) and Anthony Steward Head is exceptional (“Standing”). The one ringer in the cast, so to speak, is Hinton Battle, who has won a Tony (“What you Feel”). So this is not a case of a total lack of talent. But as I said above, if you don’t get the songs, then it won’t matter who sings them for you.

Tracks 9 and 18-22 are pure score, no vocals. There is an instrumental version of the Main Title, and the others are suites from their respective episodes. Aside from “Sacrifice,” I don’t really care for them. But if you want to keep the haters off your back, request away.

My recommendations below show off the best singers and my favorite instrumentals. Have fun.

Request: “Standing” “What you Feel” “Broom Dance” “Sacrifice”
Avoid: “Dawn’s Lament” “The Parking Ticket” “Something to Sing About (Demo)”

4 of 4 found this review helpful

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