Nine (soundtrack)

Nine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedDecember 22, 2009
RecordedSeptember 2008
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length57:37
LabelGeffen Records
Producer

Nine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2009 film Nine released on December 22, 2009, through Geffen Records. The film, directed by Rob Marshall, was loosely based on the musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the film , and featured an ensemble cast that includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren.

The album featured tracks from the Broadway musical performed by the cast members, and three original songs written and composed by Maury Yeston. Two of the songs—"Cinema Italiano" and "Take It All"—were respectively nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Background

"It was incredibly important to understand that film is a director’s art, that (Marshall) be able to adapt this stage musical and make a film independent of an overcontrolling Broadway author looking over his shoulder [...] That’s the very first thing I said to Rob."

Maury Yeston, composer of the original Broadway musical Nine[1]

The film's soundtrack accompanied songs based on the original Broadway musical. Around 16 tracks were featured in the album, with a bonus track released specifically for digital platforms.

According to music supervisor Sullivan, Marshall's idea of a musical is that people does not sing to each other in real life, and he did not want such. Hence, they designed a stage, which all happens through the inside of Guido's mind and his fantasies and how he sees the world through theatrics and music.[2] Music director Paul Bogaev assigned all of the actors to prepare them and record the songs before filming. As Day-Lewis have not done anything musically except singing in choirs, Bogaev worked with the actor for several days before recording the score.[1]

The recording commenced during September 2008, and Bogaev conducted a 50-piece orchestra at the Abbey Road Studios on London. Italian composer Andrea Guerra was assigned to write the incidental underscore.[1]

Original songs

The original composer Maury Yeston had recorded three original songs for the film, which were:[1]

  1. "Guarda La Luna" (Look at the Moon) — a lullaby sung by Sophia Loren as Mamma. Yeston tailored this song specifically for Loren's voice, though he based the melody on the song Waltz from Nine from the Broadway score.
  2. "Cinema Italiano" — a number which Kate Hudson performs as Stephanie. This has "a retro feel" with "elements of '60s pop" that demonstrate how important Italian cinema was in that era and to illustrate the shallowness and vanity of Stephanie.
  3. "Take It All" — originally written as a trio for Claudia, Carla, and Luisa, but, just before shooting, rearranged as a solo for Luisa, according to music supervisor Matt Sullivan.

Removed songs

These are songs that appeared in the musical, but were not included in the film nor in the soundtrack.

  1. "Not Since Chaplin", by Company
  2. "The Germans at the Spa", by Company
  3. "Not Since Chaplin – Reprise", by Company
  4. "Movie Themes", by Guido
  5. "Only with You", by Guido
  6. "The Script", by Guido
  7. "Nine", by Mamma
  8. "Ti Voglio Bene", by Saraghina
  9. "The Bells of St. Sebastian", by Guido, Little Guido and Company
  10. "A Man Like You", by Guido and Claudia
  11. "Unusual Way – Duet", by Guido and Claudia
  12. "Contini Submits", by Guido
  13. "The Grand Canal" (Every Girl in Venice/Amor/Only You/Finale), by Guido, Claudia, Lilli, Luisa, Stephanie, Carla, Mamma, Company
  14. "Simple", by Carla
  15. "Be on Your Own", by Luisa
  16. "Not Since Chaplin – Reprise", by Company
  17. "Getting Tall", by Little Guido
  18. "Long Ago – Reprise/Nine – Reprise", by Guido, Little Guido and Luisa

Release

Geffen Records released the soundtrack on December 22, 2009, through physical formats.[3] The soundtrack was exclusively released through iTunes and Amazon, a week prior, with two bonus tracks for specific platforms.[4][5]

Track listing

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Overture Delle Donne"Female Ensemble4:07
2."Guido's Song"Daniel Day-Lewis3:41
3."A Call from the Vatican"Penélope Cruz3:40
4."Folies Bergère"Judi Dench4:42
5."Be Italian"Fergie4:12
6."My Husband Makes Movies"Marion Cotillard4:48
7."Cinema Italiano"Kate Hudson3:13
8."Guarda La Luna"Sophia Loren3:10
9."Unusual Way"Nicole Kidman3:26
10."Take It All"Marion Cotillard3:03
11."I Can't Make This Movie"Daniel Day-Lewis2:11
12."Finale"Orchestra3:35
13."Quando, Quando, Quando" (*)Fergie feat. will.i.am3:15
14."Io Bacio... Tu Baci" (*)The Noisettes3:24
15."Cinema Italiano" (the Ron Fair remix) (*)Kate Hudson3:25
16."Unusual Way" (*)Griffith Frank3:42
Total length:57:37

(*) Songs not featured in the film, bonus tracks.

iTunes Store Only
No.TitleRecording artist(s)Length
17."Be Italian" (club version)Fergie2:48
Amazon mp3 Store Only
No.TitleRecording artist(s)Length
17."Cinema Italiano" (the Ron Fair remix club version)Kate Hudson3:26

Reception

Adrian Edwards of BBC wrote "In the song stakes Nine doesn’t measure up to Chicago, but the high professional gloss from all concerned in this audio presentation makes one forget that for a while. And if the object of a soundtrack is to tempt the listener into the cinema then the invitation on offer here is irresistible."[6] William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote "All of this ephemera serves to make the soundtrack album for Nine as much of a train wreck as the movie itself."[7] Philip French of The Guardian wrote "All the songs were unfamiliar to me and moderately tuneful, though I didn't leave the cinema humming them, and the lyrics are not exactly in the Stephen Sondheim class."[8]

Chart performance

Chart (2010) Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP)[9] 139
Greek Albums (IFPI)[10] 9
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[11] 62
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[12] 3
Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[13] 62
UK Compilation Albums (OCC)[14] 74
UK Soundtrack Albums (OCC)[15] 11
US Billboard 200[16] 26
US Top Soundtracks (Billboard)[17] 5

Accolades

Award Category Recipients Result Ref.
Academy Awards Best Original Song "Take It All" – Maury Yeston Nominated [18]
[19]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Song "Cinema Italiano" – Maury Yeston Nominated [20]
[21]
Golden Globe Awards Best Original Song "Cinema Italiano" – Maury Yeston Nominated [22]
[23]
Houston Film Critics Society Awards Best Original Song "Cinema Italiano" – Maury Yeston Nominated [24]
[25]
Satellite Awards Best Original Song "Cinema Italiano" – Maury Yeston Nominated [26]
[27]
[28]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards Best Music Nine Won [29]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Burlingame, Jon (August 24, 2009). "Oscar winners abound in 'Nine'". Variety. Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "The Cast of Nine". Oprah.com. November 18, 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ^ ""Nine" Soundtrack Will Hit Stores in December". Playbill.com. October 26, 2009. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  4. ^ "Nine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. December 15, 2009. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  5. ^ "Nine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Amazon. December 15, 2009. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  6. ^ Edwards, Adrian (2009). "Review of Various Artists - Nine: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". BBC. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  7. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Review: Nine [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  8. ^ French, Philip (December 20, 2009). "Nine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  9. ^ "Lescharts.com – Soundtrack / Maury Yeston – Nine". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  10. ^ "Top 50 Ξένων Αλμπουμ" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  11. ^ "Mexicancharts.com – Soundtrack / Maury Yeston – Nine". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  12. ^ "OLiS – Official Retail Sales Chart". ZPAV. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
  13. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Soundtrack / Maury Yeston – Nine". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  14. ^ "Official Compilation Albums Chart Top 100 – 10 to 16 January". Official Charts Company. January 10, 2010. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  15. ^ "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50 – 10 to 16 January". Official Charts Company. January 10, 2010. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  16. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of January 16, 2010". Billboard. January 16, 2010. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  17. ^ "Soundtracks: Week of January 16, 2010". Billboard. January 16, 2010. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  18. ^ Cieply, Michael (February 2, 2010). "'Avatar' and 'Hurt Locker' Lead the Oscar Field". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  19. ^ "The 82nd Academy Awards (2010) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  20. ^ "The 15th Critics' Choice Awards Nominees". Broadcast Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  21. ^ Kilday, Gregg (December 14, 2009). "'Basterds', 'Nine' lead Critics' Choice noms". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  22. ^ "Golden Globes nominations: the 2010 list in full". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. December 15, 2009. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  23. ^ "67th Annual Golden Globes winners list". Variety. January 17, 2010. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  24. ^ Leydon, Joe (December 19, 2009). "Houston critics salute 'Locker'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved July 17, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  25. ^ Dansby, Andrew (December 18, 2009). "Houston film critics announcing awards Saturday". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  26. ^ "2009 14th Annual Satellite Awards". Satellite Awards. International Press Academy. Archived from the original on September 28, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  27. ^ "2009 Satellite Awards nominees: Off-beat or Oscar predictor?". Los Angeles Times. November 30, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  28. ^ Pond, Steve (December 21, 2009). "'Hurt Locker,' 'Nine' Win Top Satellite Awards". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 16, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
  29. ^ "2009 St. Louis Film Critics' Awards". St. Louis Film Critics Association. December 21, 2009. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2010.