Detective Pikachu (soundtrack)

Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Henry Jackman
Released	May 8, 2019 (digital) May 10, 2019 (physical)
Studio	Air Studios, London, England
Genre	Film score
Length	58:15
Label	WaterTower Sony Classical
Producer	Henry Jackman
Henry Jackman chronology
Io (2019) Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) American Skin (2019)

Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album to the 2019 film of the same name, based on the Pokémon franchise, and the loose adaptation of the 2016 video game series of the same name. The score, composed by Henry Jackman, featured 27 tracks and was released digitally by WaterTower Music and Sony Classical Records on May 8, 2019, and in physical formats on May 10, coinciding with the film's United States theatrical release.^[1] The film also features an original single "Carry On" by Kygo and Rita Ora, served as the standalone track and not featured in the score album, it was independently released by RCA Records on April 19.^[2] The score is included as a part of Jackman's score catalog acquired by Reservoir Media in March 2022.^[3]

Development[edit]

Henry Jackman composed the film's score, in his third collaboration with Rob Letterman on Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) and Gulliver's Travels (2010).^[4][5] He called the music writing process as "immensely fun" and further added "The film itself was a unique invitation to create a new musical world representing all the wonderful and colorful characters of the Pokémon universe. I really enjoyed using many different sonic colors so, if you listen carefully, you can hear everything from the full symphony orchestra to analog vintage synths",^[6] although Bustle called the soundtrack as "heavy on electronic dance music".^[7] Letterman helped Jackman to bring his Roland TR-808 drum machine for the film score, but they could not use it as it "was faulty and damaged".^[6] Besides composing the score, Jackman arranged Junichi Masuda's "Red & Blue Theme" (used from previous Pokémon media) for the film's end credits, but was not included in the score soundtrack.^[8]

Kygo and Rita Ora released a standalone single for the film,^[9] titled "Carry On".^[10][11] The song and its accompanying music video were released on April 19, 2019.^[12] A remixed version of the song, is performed by Dutch DJ Nicky Romero.^{[citation needed]} Honest Boyz also collaborated with Lil Uzi Vert to make another song for the film, titled "Electricity" and produced by Pharrell Williams, which also plays over the end credits.^[13] Reservoir Media acquired all of Jackman's score in March 2022, including his work for Detective Pikachu.^[14]

Track listing[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[15]

Additional music[edit]

Additional songs that were played in the film, are "Le Fantôme de Saint Bechet" performed by Glenn Crytzer's Savoy Seven, "Payin No Mind" by Glen Crytzer And His Syncopaters, "GOH" featuring What So Not, Skrillex and KLP, "Kyoto Mist" by David Wahler, "Jigglypuff" by Rachael Lillis and the Pokémon main theme "Gotta Catch 'Em All", performed by Ryan Reynolds.^[16]

Reception[edit]

Casey Cipriani, writing for Bustle, called the soundtrack as "fun and boppy" while also adding "it keeps you in Ryme City long after you leave the movie theater".^[7] Karen Han of Polygon called it as "a rollicking, riotously fun soundtrack, as befitting the surprisingly terrific movie."^[17] Filmtracks.com criticised the score, saying "it lacks the cohesive narrative and genuine heart of the far more effective Wreck-It Ralph scores, seeming like a cheap knock-off of the same environment whenever the electronics are incorporated. Those looking for robust orchestral action may be moderately intrigued by the suspense and action sequences here, but they are too few and too disjointed to merit a recommendation."^[18] CNET called Jackman's score as "catchy",^[19] while Umesh Punwani of Koimoi wrote that Jackman's "absorbing background score matches up to the dazzling visuals on screen".^[20]

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from CD liner

Chart performance[edit]

Release history[edit]

References[edit]