The Last Emperor (album)
Encyclopedia
The Last Emperor is the soundtrack album for the movie of the same name
. It features nine songs composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto
, five by David Byrne
, one from Cong Su
, and a few incidental pieces of source music. The album won the Best Original Score
award at the 1987 Academy Awards
.
The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor is a 1987 biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures...
. It features nine songs composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ryuichi Sakamoto
After working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
, five by David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
, one from Cong Su
Cong Su
Cong Su is a Chinese composer.He studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, then in Germany. He has lectured on music theory, music analysis, film music and ballet music at the Musikhochschule in Munich...
, and a few incidental pieces of source music. The album won the Best Original Score
Academy Award for Best Original Score
The Academy Award for Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Superlatives:...
award at the 1987 Academy Awards
60th Academy Awards
The 60th Academy Awards were presented April 11, 1988 at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was the first to be held there since the 20th Academy Awards...
.
Track listing
All compositions by Ryuichi Sakamoto, except where noted.- "First Coronation" – 1:46
- "Open the Door" – 2:54
- "Where Is Armo?" – 2:26
- "Picking Up Brides" – 2:39
- "The Last Emperor – Theme Variation 1" – 2:19
- "Rain (I Want a Divorce)" – 1:49
- "The Baby (Was Born Dead)" – 0:55
- "The Last Emperor – Theme Variation 2" – 4:28
- "The Last Emperor – Theme" – 5:54
- "Main Title Theme" (The Last Emperor) (Byrne) – 4:01
- "Picking a Bride" (Byrne) – 2:00
- "Bed" (Byrne) – 5:00
- "Wind, Rain, and Water" (Byrne) – 2:18
- "Paper Emperor" (Byrne) – 1:49
- "Lunch" (Cong Su) 4:54
- "Red Guard" (Performed by the Red Guard Accordion Band) – 1:20
- "The Emperor's Waltz" (Performed by the Ball Orchestra of Vienna) – 3:06
- "The Red Guard Dance (The Girls Red Guard Dancers)" – 0:39