Did you know Shrek has sold more albums than a lot of your favorite rappers and pop stars?
The soundtracks to his movies are legendary, and they always blow up on the charts. In 2004, the Shrek 2 soundtrack hit the top 10 of the Billboard albums chart, and it’ll go down as one of the most beloved movie soundtracks ever. (Not bad for an ogre, right?)
20 years later, it’s finally making its vinyl debut, available now on Complex. To celebrate, we’re jumping in the swamp and diving deep on the lore behind the Shrek 2 soundtrack.
Contributors:
Everybody wants to party with Shrek, and these soundtracks attract huge stars. In fact, the beat for Lil Wayne’s hit song “La La” was originally made for a Shrek soundtrack by David Banner, until Wayne decided to put it on Tha Carter 3 last-minute. Shrek didn’t mind, though, because he always has plenty of other hits to choose from.
Counting Crows recorded an original song called “Accidentally In Love” for the opening scene of Shrek 2, which became a Billboard Top 40 hit and was nominated for Grammys, Golden Globes, AND Oscars. This soundtrack also features contributions from David Bowie, Dashboard Confessional, Tom Waits, and more.
Lyrics:
Most of the songs on this soundtrack were written for very specific scenes in the movie.
When Counting Crows were approached to make a song for Shrek 2, they were asked to match the tempo and tone of Weezer’s “Island In The Sun.”
So with that in mind, they sat down and watched the opening sequence of Shrek and Fiona on their honeymoon, and wrote endearing lyrics about an unlikely couple who fell head over heels in love with each other.
They ended up with a song (“Accidentally In Love”) that was relatable to anyone who has fallen in love—not just ogres. Half a billion streams later, the song has transcended the movie itself. It’s a classic.
Vinyl:
If you love this soundtrack as much as we do, you’ll want it in your home. After two decades of anticipation, it’s been pressed on this cool blended blue and green vinyl, available now on Complex. Get yours before they’re gone.
