‘Battle Royale’ OST coming to iTunes on July 22nd

The music of Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle Royale is probably as memorable as the film itself, setting the mood for just about every scene. Amazingly, Masamichi Amano only had one week to compose all the music for the film. Not an easy task, considering music is constantly prevalent in the film and he needed to fill 90 minutes. Working without sleep, Amano conducted a symphony orchestra of 120 musicians for two days while continuing to compose during breaks. Unfortunately the film’s soundtrack, originally distributed by Culture Publishers Inc. in Japan, went out of print a long time ago and has been difficult to track down ever since. Amazon currently has 2 copies of the import CD in stock and they’re priced at a staggering $63.99 USD. Well from now on there will be no need to scour Ebay or pay jacked up import prices because Milan Records is releasing the OST exclusively through iTunes on July 22nd. Full track details below.

[Track 1] Requiem (Verdi) - Prologue
The film kicks off with Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem” which breaks into more mellow music used throughout the film in several scenes.

[Track 2] Millennium Education Reform Act (BR Act)
This song plays when Kitano’s helicopter lands and the military officers storm into the classroom. Sets an appropriately frantic, confusing tone for the scenes that follow, mellows out when Kitano is talking, and concludes with the shock of revealing the teacher’s corpse—probably the first thing that clues the kids in that the situation is completely serious.

[Track 3] Teacher
This track plays when Kitano murders Fujiyoushi, first setting a mood of panic before transitioning into a methodical countdown for Nobu’s collar.

[Track 4] The Game Begins
The kids have resigned themselves to the fact that they have no choice but to take their backpacks of equipment and go out to the island. This music starts off somber and gradually increases in tension leading up to the first game kill.

[Track 5] Memory
This track plays during flashbacks of Nanahara’s life, especially his friendship with Nobu. Gentle piano music transitions into an appropriately tear-jerky orchestral piece.

[Track 6] Slaughters
This music introduces just how evil and inhuman Kiriyama is. Lots of deep bass and creepy vocals during his theme. Later transitions into more of a ghostly tone.

[Track 7] Radesky’s March (J.Strauss)
Kitano’s morning announcement music. Totally upbeat and peppy—appropriately inappropriate given his mental state.

[Track 8] Those Who Play the Game and Those Who Give Up
Full-on action track with brief interludes for dialogue before kicking into Kiriyama’s theme again.

[Track 9] Blue Danube Waltz (J.Strauss)
Nothing like a classic waltz tune for announcing deaths tolls!

[Track 10] Nanahara and Noriko’s Escape
Nanahara carries Noriko to the clinic and meets up with Kawada. Low-key, somber tune to match her physical condition.

[Track 11] Friendship-Listening In
Noriko laments the fact that she’ll probably never get a chance at a normal life. Quiet strings that seem a little sad at first but eventually ramp into a more uplifting mood as more instruments join in.

[Track 12] Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen (Schubert)
Used in Chigusa’s flashback. Fluttering piano music sets a dream-like tone.

[Track 13] The Winner of Sadness
Kawada remembers his dead girlfriend Keiko. Another orchestral tune specifically composed for a tear-jerking scene. A chorus joins in toward the end to great effect.

[Track 14] Kiriyama’s Attack
Kiriyama confrontation at the clinic. Another frantic action song.

[Track 15] Mimura’s Determination
Trumpets and oboes kick in as Mimura talks about his uncle. Sounds kind of like something out of a Rambo movie, but it fits his attitude throughout the film perfectly.

[Track 16] Utsumi and Nanahara - Poison Medicine
This song starts off whispy as Nanahara wakes up with Utsumi looking after him and later transitions into a playful string piece.

[Track 17] Girls’ War, Without Faith or Law
This track plays when things go really bad in the lighthouse. Fierce pounding drums are sporadically interweaved with high-pitched strings to denote paranoia before all hell breaks loose. Ends with a bang.

[Track 18] Reunion
Nanahara meets back up with Noriko and explains the situation. Really nice choral accompaniment here. Sad but somehow uplifting at the same time when he talks about wanting to protect her even though he’s weak and useless.

[Track 19] Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major (Bach)
Bach provides the theme to the overriding sadness of Mitsuko’s existence.

[Track 20] The Third Man
More fierce determination music for Mimura as he hacks the BR systems. Eventually leads into Kiriyama’s theme for the final time.

[Track 21] Teacher and Students - Final Battle
Easily my favorite track on the entire OST. This is the music that plays when Kitano reveals his painting of Noriko. Angelic-yet-haunting choral music.

[Track 22] Bitter Victory
A happier version of the previous track as the remaining survivors escape.

[Track 23] A New Journey
This music plays during the final death scene and leads up to the very end. Sad, but hopeful for the future.

I’m not normally much of a soundtrack guy. Every once in a while I buy a CD for 1 or 2 specific songs that get stuck in my head after watching a movie. But Battle Royale is totally different; the soundtrack is actually an integral part of the movie instead of a clever marketing ploy thrown together by the PR department right before release. I have no idea how Amano managed to match each scene so perfectly with only a week to work, but the end result is nothing short of incredible.

Update:
The Battle Royale OST is now available! Click here to find its listing at iTunes.

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