BRENTWOOD, TN. (Sparrow Records) - EMI CMG, in partnership with Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media, will release MUSIC INSPIRED BY: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE to stores nationwide
September 27, 2005, featuring new songs from today's top Christian artists.
The inspirational project is the first of two major soundtracks sparked by the most anticipated film of 2005, a live action adaptation of the best-selling C. S. Lewis classic, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Five-time Grammy Award winner Steven Curtis Chapman performs the first NARNIA single and video, "Remembering You," which goes to Christian radio stations August 5. Other artists who contribute new recordings to the first set include Jars of Clay ("Waiting For The World To Fall), Jeremy Camp ("Open Your Eyes"), tobyMac, Nichole Nordeman ("I Will Believe"), Rebecca St. James ("Lion"), Bethany Dillon ("Hero"), Delirious ("Stronger"), Kutless, Chris Tomlin ("You're The One"), and David Crowder Band.
The second NARNIA soundtrack, featuring mainstream pop and rock artists, is scheduled to release October 25 through EMI CMG. Details are forthcoming.
Regarding his participation, Steven Curtis Chapman said, "So much has already been brilliantly communicated by C. S. Lewis with this story, so writing for it was an overwhelming task. This story leaves me wanting to remember what it means to experience spring or new life. 'Remembering You' is a song from the perspective of a lot of the characters at the end of the story, saying, 'Whenever I see the first signs of spring, I'll be remembering you, Aslan, the story and what is to come.'"
Promotion of the soundtracks is already under way, in association with movie's advance trailer being shown at major Christian music festivals around the United States this summer. Bethany Dillon was also on hand to perform her new song from the inspirational soundtrack in New York this month at an American Booksellers Association event. Currently in development, www.NarniaMusic.com will feature artist interviews, song samples, promotions, and more. vThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was first published in 1950 and is the second and best-known novel in the seven-part Chronicles of Narnia series written by C. S. Lewis. Published in 29 languages, the allegorical series about the life of Jesus Christ has sold over 85 million books to date.
See a preview of the film, to be released worldwide December 9, at Narnia.com.
