Burbank, CA (Top40 Charts/ Buena Vista Records) Buena Vista Records releases the original motion picture soundtrack for Captain America: The First Avenger on July 19, 2011. The soundtrack features the original score composed and conducted by Alan Silvestri and the original song "Star Spangled Man" written by Alan Menken and David Zippel, performed by The Metro Voices.
Alan Silvestri is an Oscar(R)-nominated and Grammy-winning composer who has written music for an extraordinary number of hugely successful films, including the Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Best Picture Oscar(R) winner Forrest Gump. Other recent films among his credits are The A-Team, A Christmas Carol, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, Beowulf, Night at the Museum, The Polar Express, Cast Away, Lilo and Stitch and many others. Silvestri collaborated with Glen Ballard on the song "Believe" for The Polar Express, which earned a Golden Globe and an Academy Award(R) nomination for Best Original Song. It won a Grammy(R) Award in 2005.
Helmed by Joe Johnston (The Wolfman, Hidalgo, October Sky), Captain America: The First Avenger will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America. As Captain America, Rogers joins forces with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) to wage war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull (Hugo Weaving).
Composer Silvestri's music mirrors the path of Steve Rogers. In the beginning the uncertainty of war and evils perpetrated by the enemy are reflected in the darker tone of the music. As our protagonist turns into Captain America, the music takes a bolder, more epic turn creating a fanfare for our heroes as they fight against HYDRA. The soundtrack culminates with "Star Spangled Man," a new song written in the style of 1940s World War II army musicals.
Alan Silvestri adds, "Captain America doesn't like bullies...and...he wants to do something about it. Whether that humiliating experience takes place planet-to-planet, country-to-country, or in a kindergarten classroom on the first day of school 'a bully is a bully;' we've all met one. Aside from the fact that Steve Rogers is a brave, kind, compassionate, selfless advocate for the bully's victims his story also parallels my father's early life. When WWII broke out young men in America from every walk of life felt the need to 'advocate.' It was a moral obligation as well as a cultural imperative. As a young man (age 15) my dad had been diagnosed with Pott's disease (a kind of tuberculous arthritis of the intervertebral joints). At 17 he was barely able to sit upright in a chair, let alone 'advocate.' But...just like Steve Rogers, he wanted to do his part and tried to enlist...and, just like Steve Rogers, he wasn't only rejected but laughed at to boot. Captain America's 'transformation' was my dad's dream and the dream of many who, then and now, 'just don't like bullies.' What an honor (and what fun) to be asked to salute these most honorable 'advocates' through music."
Commenting on his end credit track, Alan Menken said, "'Star Spangled Man' is a USO-style production number stylistically an homage to those great wartime songs of Irving Berlin. In it, we follow the on-stage development of Captain America from a nervous amateur to a confident showman. For this song, I reunited with my 'Hercules' collaborator and Tony Award winner, David Zippel."
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment Present A Marvel Studios Production Captain America: The First Avenger in theaters on July 22, 2011. One of a continuing slate of films being produced by Marvel Studios based on the Marvel characters, Captain America: The First Avenger joins The Avengers on May 4, 2012.
Captain America: The First Avenger original motion picture soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold on July 19, 2011. For more information on Buena Vista Records' and Walt Disney Records' releases, please visit Disney.com/music, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic.
