The Royal Tenenbaums (soundtrack)

The soundtrack to The Royal Tenenbaums features a score composed by Mark Mothersbaugh. Also featured are a variety of rock songs from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

There have been two soundtrack album releases for The Royal Tenenbaums. The first, in 2001, omitted some songs; notably, Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," Van Morrison's "Everyone," John Lennon's "Look at Me," Bob Dylan's "Billy (Main Title)," The Mutato Muzika Orchestra's version of The Beatles' "Hey Jude," two tracks by The Rolling Stones ("She Smiled Sweetly" and "Ruby Tuesday") and Erik Satie's "Gymnopédie no. 1".

In 2002, the soundtrack was re-released with three songs not found on the 2001 release, but the two songs by The Rolling Stones were not included, because, while the band allows their music to be used in films, they rarely allow the songs to appear on soundtracks. The Van Morrison track, which served as the closing credits song, was also still missing, as was the Dylan track. Additionally, the "Lindbergh Palace Hotel Suite," credited as original music by Mark Mothersbaugh on the 2001 release, was retitled on the 2002 soundtrack release as "Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Minor," performed by The Mutato Muzika Orchestra.

Releases

2001 soundtrack release

2002 soundtrack re-release

2001 Oscar Promo

A promotional CD featuring Mark Mothersbaugh's score for the film was released in 2001 in correspondence with the Academy Awards. It was available in limited quantity.

1. "The Royal Tenenbaums"
2. "The Lindebergh"
3. "Margot Returns Home"
4. ""I'm Dying""
5. "Something Brewing"
6. "Look At That Ol' Grizzly Bear"
7. "Mothersbaugh's Canon"
8. "Raleigh And Margot"
9. "You're True Blue, Ethyl"
10. "Heavy Duty"
11. "How Can I Help"
12. "To Be A Tenenbaum"
13. "It's A Divorce"
14. "Chas Chases Eli"
15. "I Need Help"
16. "Rooftop Talk"
17. "Lindeburgh"
18. "End Credits"

Production notes

• There are eight songs that appear in the film that do not appear on the 2002 soundtrack.
• "Everyone" by Van Morrison wasn't initially Wes Anderson's first pick as the closing credits track. He originally had The Beatles' demo version of "I'm Looking Through You," in mind, but was unable to secure rights because of tumult in the Beatles camp after George Harrison's recent death. Anderson was also unable to obtain his second choice, The Beach Boys' "Sloop John B."
• Many scenes were written specifically for certain songs. Gwyneth Paltrow walking in slow motion towards the camera was a scene that Wes Anderson had in mind soon after hearing "These Days" by Nico before he had even written the script.
• Wes Anderson was going to open the film with the original "Hey Jude" recording by The Beatles. Unfortunately, George Harrison had died during production of the film, making it difficult to acquire permission to use the track. Subsequently, plans for an Elliott Smith cover of the song fell through due to Smith's depression and drug problems. Eventually, Mark Mothersbaugh's orchestra recorded the track.
• The Mutato Muzika Orchestra's version of Enescu's "Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Minor" is a rather free one, having its first movement as a basis for orchestration adequate to the movie.