Why the Shrek Soundtrack SLAPS
We explore how the Shrek soundtracks snatched my wig before I was old enough to know what that meant. Strap yourself in and get ready for layers.
In Media and Music, our writers take a deep dive into how movies use scores and songs to engage viewers, give new meaning and tone to some of our favorite scenes, and establish themes. It almost goes without saying, but there are spoilers abound.
Written by Eileen Bau
Photo courtesy of Dreamworks with added design by Eileen Bau
I’m not a big movie soundtrack person. So, apologies to the guys wearing wire-framed glasses who probably just felt an inexplicable shiver as they gripped their mason jars full of cold brew a little bit closer, but I will likely never understand why the Pulp Fiction soundtrack just really, like, gets it.
However, even to someone as uncultured as I am, there is one movie series whose soundtrack is unforgettable. Not only does it elevate and accentuate the feature films, but it has also withstood the test of time and, to this day, is a force to be reckoned with. It has a stunningly diverse track list, is a near-ubiquitous part of the American childhood experience, and its titular character’s name is derived from the German word schreck that means “fright” or “terror.”
Yes, you guessed it — I’m talking about Shrek. The movie was released in 2001, and its sequel Shrek 2 was released in 2004. Over a decade later, the Shrek soundtrack still slaps. I’ve picked a total of five tracks from both films to illustrate just why I still haven’t gotten ogre it.
Warning: if for some inexcusable reason, you’ve never watched Shrek or Shrek 2, there are spoilers ahead.
Shrek (2001)
This soundtrack was actually nominated for both a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award and Grammy but lost out to Moulin Rouge! and O Brother, Where Art Thou? respectively (which, if you ask me, are inferior films to Shrek).
1. “All Star” - Smash Mouth
We’ll start with a song memorialized forever within meme culture. Rewatching the classic opening scene, it’s easy to see why “All Star” is the perfect opener (skip to 1:32 if you’re in a hurry, but I advise watching the clip in its entirety).
“All Star” by Smash Mouth is bouncy and peppy — a spot-on accompaniment for Shrek’s morning routine, which is an important part of his introductory characterization. Right off the bat, we can see that Shrek, who lives in a swamp and brushes his teeth with slug slime, truly does not care what others think about him. He’s authentic, weird, and proud of it. “All Star” carries that same I-don’t-give-a-f--- vibe. With lyrics like “so what's wrong with taking the back streets?/ You'll never know if you don't go/ You'll never shine if you don't glow” and “only shooting stars break the mold,” it’s just goofy enough to make the viewer laugh while encouraging them to love something as gross as an ogre.
2. “Hallelujah” - John Cale
Fast-forwarding to the latter half, we now find ourselves at the most emotionally-charged song in the film. Leonard Cohen originally performed the track, but the John Cale version plays in the movie. Due to licensing issues, the Rufus Wainwright version is what appears on the soundtrack album. The song itself is plenty heart-wrenching, but the post-breakup montage it’s used for absolutely tears people apart. I distinctly remember watching that montage as a five-year-old and crying because it was heavier than my little baby heart could handle.
We see Shrek dealing with the fallout of his relationship with Fiona, his one true love who is now marrying another, and the disintegration of his friendship with his best friend Donkey. He wanders around his swamp, his former sanctuary now an emotional wasteland composed of abject loneliness, betrayal, self-loathing, and loss.
“Hallelujah” echoes this emptiness and takes the place of any dialogue — the only sound in the montage is this song. This deliberate choice leaves viewers room to draw their own conclusions while empathizing with Shrek. 10 out of 10 American teens reportedly cite this formative experience as their first brush with the concept of angst.
Shrek 2 (2004)
In fact, the Shrek 2 soundtrack was a powerhouse: it breached the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. Some scholars say that Beyonce’s Lemonade likely would not have existed without Shrek 2 to pioneer the way.
3. “Accidentally in Love” - Counting Crows
We’ll begin with the lead single, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Another example of a fantastic introductory sequence, the opening montage to Shrek 2 happily details Shrek and Fiona’s honeymoon and their newlywed bliss, featuring domestic scenes like the two shaving together and running away from angry villagers hand-in-hand. “Accidentally In Love” carries the montage by providing an upbeat, relatable tune for the audience to jam out to. It’s ridiculously catchy and straight-to-the-point. The song is easy to learn: the refrain “accidentally in love” is repeated ten times, and the refrain “I’m in love” is repeated twelve times in a row. By itself, this song is a good pop-rock song. Paired with Shrek’s honeymoon, it’s positively unforgettable.
4. “Changes” - David Bowie
Another central reason I love the Shrek series is because of the humorous, yet sharp social commentary embedded in the plot. Here’s a song that goes much deeper than you first realize: “Changes” by David Bowie and Butterfly Boucher. It plays when the “hot” versions of Shrek (and Donkey) are revealed as they urgently bound down the boulevard to the royal castle. At its core, Shrek 2 is a film about self-acceptance and being loved for who you are. Shrek changes his outward appearance in a bid to earn the approval of Fiona’s family but ultimately learns that Fiona is in love with him, ogre and all, and not with who others think he should be. “Changes” is a sweet-sounding tune whose outside masks the grim message exemplified in the lyrics “time may change me, but I can’t trace time.”
Shrek has changed himself, and he cannot very well undo that act of self-betrayal. At first, everything seems amazing — people love the new Shrek, but the mirage quickly deteriorates when it becomes apparent that Shrek’s personality is still the same. “Changes” deals with the repercussions of social “othering” and complex issues of public and private self-expression and identity, a struggle understood by anybody who has felt like they don’t belong.
5. “Holding Out For a Hero” - Jennifer Saunders
She needs no introduction. Originally by Frou Frou but performed by Jennifer Saunders’ character in the film, this song is my personal favorite from Shrek 2. It kicks off with a wonderful diva moment — Fairy Godmother whips on a bangin’ red dress and sprawls across the surface of a grand piano while soulfully crooning the opening lines — and only escalates from there. It is perhaps the most supercharged piece of confessional pop I have ever heard, making it a fitting choice to accompany Shrek’s speedy infiltration of the castle in order to stop Fiona from falling in love with another man. This is the desperate victory run, the last intense stretch of buildup before the climax of the film.
“Holding Out For A Hero” musically expresses these sentiments by using a very quick switch in between the first verse and the rest of the song. The first verse features only Fairy Godmother’s soft voice and the piano. In the split second after it’s over, an entire gospel choir, rapid-fire percussion, synth, more vocal reverb, and string instruments are added. The sheer drama of the song makes the scene deliciously urgent. I cannot stress enough the importance of this song during my formative years; it was probably one of my first introductions to the concept of being extra.
These five songs are only a small glimpse into the brilliance behind the Shrek soundtracks. They influenced a generation and made for some of the best movie-watching experiences I’ve ever had. In retrospect, the soundtracks really didn’t have to go that hard but they did, and we are all collectively reaping the benefits.