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Maid in Manhattan, the soundtrack, aims straight for the territory established by modern romantic comedy albums with an anthology of songs that wouldn't be out of place in Bridget Jones's CD collection. The disc concludes with two cuts from Alan (
The Mexican (2001)) Silvestri's score, the title theme offering an attractive Latin groove in honour of Jennifer Lopez titular character and "At Last" providing the requisite romantic ending. Before these are a dozen songs, the Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards funk-liberation anthem "I'm Coming Out" providing the movie's theme in both vintage Diana Ross and new Amerie flavours. Elsewhere old and new rub shoulders too as the Pointer Sisters' funky 1973 hit "Yes We Can" contrasts with RES' drive-time melancholy "Miracles", Teena Marie's 1984 bubble-gum pop "Lovergirl" balances Norah Jones' sultry folk ballad "Come Away with Me" and Glenn Lewis Latin sentiments, "Fall Again", provide a glossy alternative to Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard". Meanwhile Eva Cassidy contributes a beautifully spare cover of Simon's "Kathy's Song" and Bread pay live homage to "The Guitar Man". Covering all bases this decade-spanning set is sure to earn a place in the charts to match the hit movie's box-office success. --
Gary S Dalkin
