BURBANK, CA. (Warner Bros. Records) - The Flaming Lips, Wilco, and
Avril Lavigne are among the cutting-edge artists highlighted on the soundtrack of the season's most absorbing new motion picture "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie," opening nationwide November 19th, 2004 from Paramount and Nick Movies.
Set for release November 9th 2004 on Sire Records, "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Music From The Movie And More" spotlights material both heard in and inspired by the film. Included are tracks from some of the most acclaimed young bands and artists in modern music, as well as performances from the international cartoon superstar and his best friend Patrick, along with many other artists, live and animated.
Among the new songs written and performed for "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" is "The SpongeBob SquarePants Theme" performed by punk-pop teen idol Avril Lavigne whose latest release, "Under My Skin," is one of the current season's smash hits. Also featured is "SpongeBob & Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall Of Energy" by the Grammy®-winning group The Flaming Lips, whose latest release "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" is one of the critically acclaimed albums of recent years. Remarked The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne, "SpongeBob is the mutant offspring of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine without the acid-hippie damage. Having spent most of my youth working at a fast-food fish joint, I can totally relate, without any irony, to the nobility of SpongeBob's dream to someday be the restaurant manager."
Also highlighted is "Just A Kid" by Wilco, whose latest Nonesuch Records release, "A Ghost Is Born," has earned rave reviews internationally and is rapidly approaching gold status. Comments Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, "I fell in love with SpongeBob when I heard him describe the darkness at the bottom of the sea as 'advanced darkness.' Besides, how could I not write a song for the movie? It automatically makes me the coolest dad on the block."
Other selections heard in the movie include "The Goofy Goober Song" by Mike Simpson of The Dust Brothers, along with SpongeBob and Patrick; the previously released "Ocean Man" from Ween; "Goofy Goober Rock" derived from Twisted Sister Dee Snider's "I Wanna Rock" and performed by Tom Rothrock featuring Jim Wise; "You Better Swim" by heavy metal legends Motorhead and an orchestrated rendition of the TV show theme song, performed by The Pirates. SpongeBob and Patrick also join forces with The Monsters on "Now That We're Men."
"The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Music From The Movie And More" also features bonus tracks inspired by the film, including the above-mentioned "The SpongeBob SquarePants Theme" performed by Avril Lavigne; "Prince Paul's Bubble Party" as performed by The Waikikis, Prince Paul and Wordsworth; and "Bikini Bottom," written especially for the film by German electro-garage duo Electrocute. The album additionally spotlights "They'll Soon Discover," written for the movie by indie rock faves The Shins, whose latest SubPop Records LP, "Chutes Too Narrow" has been called "a leftfield pop genius stunner." Both "The Best Day Ever," sung by SpongeBob SquarePants, and "Under My Rock," the solo by Patrick Starfish, are heard for the first time on the album, as is "The Jellyfish Song by the Jellyfish Band" as performed by Japanese pop sensations Plus Tech Squeezebox.
A Nick Movies and Paramount Pictures release, "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" is directed and produced by Stephen Hillenburg. Julia Pistor serves as Producer and Karyn Rachtman is the Executive Music Producer on the film which is based on characters created by Stephen Hillenburg, who also co-wrote many of the songs on the soundtrack.
The film features the voices of Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Starfish), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs) and Rodger Bumpass (Squidward). Additionally, Scarlett Johansson makes her animated film debut as the voice of Mindy, the daughter of King Neptune (Jeffrey Tambor). Alec Baldwin provides the voice of undersea hitman Dennis.
"The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie: Music From The Movie And More" is produced by Stephen Hillenburg and Karyn Rachtman.
