Music, like staging, lighting, acrobatics and choreography, is just one part of a larger artistic wheel that turns the creative juices of Cirque du Soleil. It is one of the most important aspects of a show, especially to fans. Over the years Cirque du Soleil has released the music to its creations to an appreciative audience across various physical and digital forms. But like most companies, however, some of those releases have fallen into obscurity, been re-released multiple times, or re-cataloged as divisions within morph and change with the times.
In this series we attempt to make order out of the chaos that is the Cirque du Soleil Musique Catalog, first by giving you its history, showing how to recognize a CD from the catalog, and what currently makes up that catalog. Now we continue with music associated with Cirque du Soleil (shows) but not released by the Cirque du Soleil Musique label (for obvious reasons), remixed music and other promotional Singles.
/// ASSOCIATED MUSIC
By now you might have noticed that there were certain titles we left out of our listing: Journey of Man, The Beatles LOVE, Viva Elvis, and the Single and Deluxe editions of Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL. Is this an error on our parts? No, it’s not a mistake we promise. Although those albums are associated with Cirque du Soleil – as music to an IMAX presentation (in the case of Journey of Man) and as music to a special type of production (in the case of LOVE, Viva Elvis and The Immortal) – they are not part of the Cirque du Soleil Musique Catalog because Cirque du Soleil didn’t release them.
In most cases (The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Elvis), Cirque du Soleil does not own the rights to the music nor the right to re-distribute or re-release the music, even on albums associated with their own shows. For The Beatles that falls to Capitol/Apple Records, for Elvis it is Sony/Legacy, and for Michael Jackson it’s EPIC Records. Journey of Man is the only oddity in this case, as it’s a release by Sony/Legacy, but as Sony Pictures financed and produced the film it’s not hard to understand; Cirque du Soleil doesn’t have the rights.
Journey of Man (Sony/Legacy) Catalog # = SK 89097 Released = May.02.2000 Run Time = 46:15 The Beatles LOVE CD (Capitol/Apple) Catalog # = CDP-0946-3-79808-2-8 Released = Nov.21.2006 Run Time = 78:37 The Beatles LOVE CD/DVD (Capitol/Apple) CD Catalog # = CDP-0946-3-79810-2-3 DVD Catalog # = C9-046-3-79810-9-2 Released = Nov.21.2006 Run Time = 81:03 (DVD) VIVA ELVIS (Sony/Legacy) Catalog # = 8-86978-04472-3 Released = Nov.07.2010 Run Time = 42:33 MJ IMMORTAL Single CD (Epic) Catalog # = n/a Released = Nov.21.2011 Run Time = 76:00 MJ IMMORTAL Deluxe 2CD (Epic) Catalog # = n/a Released = Nov.21.2011 Run Time = 50:00/52:00
But Journey of Man isn’t the only oddity here: recall that Capitol released two editions of LOVE on November 21, 2006 — a 78-minute CD and an 81-minute music DVD. Wait, what? Where are the three minutes? Therefore, with a little time on my hands I decided to do a quick time-comparison between the two.
Where are those extra minutes hiding? You’ll find them in tracks 20 and 21 – “Revolution” and “Back in the U.S.S.R.” respectively. Those with a keen eye will discover that both “extended” track times equal their original “White Album” (in the case of “Back in the U.S.S.R.”) and/or “single” (in the case of “Revolution”) durations and, therefore, feature a more complete version of the song in question.
Using “Revolution” as an example, the DVD version features all three verses of the classic song, whereas the CD omits the third and final verse (”You say you’ll change the Constitution…”) You’ll find similarities with “Back in the U.S.S.R.” as well.
So, there you have it.
Goo Goo G’Joob!
Below are the results of my time-comparison between the DVD and CD versions of LOVE. Please ignore the difference in seconds in some of the tracks, as these are errors in track start/stop times from the DVD and are minor. The three minutes are marked with ** below:
Trk CD DVD Start DVD Fin DVD
# Time Time Time Time
==============================================
1 2:44 00:00:00 - 02:43:00 2:43
2 2:05 02:43:00 - 04:48:00 2:05
3 1:20 04:48:00 - 06:09:00 1:21
4 3:05 06:09:00 - 09:15:00 3:06
5 4:28 09:15:00 - 13:43:00 4:28
6 1:22 13:43:00 - 15:05:00 1:22
7 1:54 15:05:00 - 17:00:00 1:55
8 0:55 17:00:00 - 17:54:00 0:54
9 3:29 17:54:00 - 21:24:00 3:30
10 3:22 21:24:00 - 24:46:00 3:22
11 2:18 24:46:00 - 27:04:00 2:18
12 2:31 27:04:00 - 29:36:00 2:32
13 4:31 29:36:00 - 34:07:00 4:31
14 3:07 34:07:00 - 37:15:00 3:08
15 4:10 37:15:00 - 41:25:00 4:10
16 3:18 41:25:00 - 44:43:00 3:18
17 2:56 44:43:00 - 47:40:00 2:57
18 4:18 47:40:00 - 51:57:00 4:17
19 4:45 51:57:00 - 56:42:00 4:45
20 2:14 56:42:00 - 60:06:00 3:24**
21 1:53 60:06:00 - 62:41:00 2:35**
22 3:46 62:41:00 - 66:27:00 3:46
23 5:08 66:27:00 - 71:34:00 5:07
24 3:58 71:34:00 - 75:33:00 3:59
25 1:22 75:33:00 - 76:55:00 1:22
26 3:38 76:55:00 - 80:34:00 3:39
/// CIRQUE DU SINGLES
Have you ever wondered whether or not Cirque du Soleil music ever reached terrestrial radio in the past? Believe it or not in many parts of the world they did! Although today hearing music by Cirque du Soleil is easier than ever – there’s satellite radio, internet radio and multiple CD releases to satisfy any Cirque du Soleil fan – but that wasn’t the case in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. The only way Cirque could reach potential spectators in markets such as Europe would be to release some of its music to radio markets through CD Promo “Singles”. Though generally created for the European market in small quantities – and therefore hard to find – below is a list that is by no means comprehensive, but has been assembled over the years through exhaustive online searching, and cataloging of what has appeared through auction sites. So, here’s a quick list of what you can expect to find if you search for Cirque du Soleil music singles…
o) Cirque du Soleil - "Les Pingoins"
Catalog #: Naga #CS-1188 (CAN)
Tracks:
A1. "Les Pengoins" (3:20)
o) Saltimbanco - "Kumbalawe"
Catalog #: BMG #74321-26040-2 (EU)
Catalog #: BMG #74321-27393-2 (GER)
Tracks:
1. "Kumbalawe" [5:34]
2. "Saltimbanco" [5:19]
3. "Pokinoi" [5:08]
o) Alegría - "Irna/Alegría"
Catalog #: BMG #74321-46703-2
Catalog #: BMG #74321-47661-2 (Europe)
Tracks:
1. "Irna" [4:48]
2. "Alegría" (Album Version) [5:49]
o) Alegría - "Querer"
Catalog #: BMG #74321-48491-2 (1997-Europe)
Catalog #: BMG #43214-84915-2 (1997-Holland)
Tracks:
1. "Querer" [4:34]
2. "Jeux d'Enfants" [4:40]
o) Quidam - "Quidam"
Catalog #: BMG #BQP-62 (1996-Canada)
Tracks:
1. "Quidam" (Radio Edit)
o) Quidam - "Quidam"
Catalog #: BMG #64635-27432-1 (1999-Europe)
Tracks:
1. "Quidam" (Radio Edit)
2. "Quidam" (Album Version)
o) Quidam - "Let Me Fall"
Catalog #: BMG #74321-60499-2 (Holland)
Tracks:
1. "Let Me Fall" (Radio Edit) [3:36]
o) «O» - "Gamelan"
Catalog #: BMG #BQP-89
Tracks:
1. "Gamelan" (Radio Edit) [3:11]
o) «O» - "Tzelma":
Catalog #: n/a
Tracks:
1. "Tzelma" [3:00]
o) Alegria Le Film - "Love Leaves Someone Behind"
Catalog #: n/a
Tracks:
1. "Love Leaves Someone Behind" [4:03]
o) Alegria Le Film - "Child in His Eyes"
Catalog #: BMG #74321-67537-2
Tracks:
1. "Child in his Eyes" (Edit) [3:40]
2. "Alegria" (New Arrangement) [4:20]
o) Dralion - "Stella Errans"
Catalog #: BQP-107
Tracks:
1. "Stella Errans" [4:37]
o) KÀ - "If I Could Reach Your Heart"
Catalog #: CDSMCP1-20024-2
UPC #: 4-00005-08150-7
Tracks:
1. "If I Could Reach Your Heart" [3:33]
o) Delirium - "Kumbalawe: Roger Sanchez"
Release: 2004 (This CD corresponds to Vinyl "Volume 5")
Catalog #: CDSMCP1 20020-2
Tracks:
1. Kumbalawe - Release Mix (8:33)
2. Kumbalawe - Release The Dub (7:47)
o) Delirium - "Emballa: Louie Vega Feat. Jaffa"
Release: 2004 (This CD corresponds to Vinyl "Volume 4”)
Catalog #: CDSMCP2 20020-2
Tracks:
1. Emballa - Album Mix (6:23)
2. Emballa (Ritual Mix) (6:23)
3. Emballa (Sun Dub) (5:54)
o) Delirium - "Aborigenes Jam: Francois K & Eric Kupper"
Release: 2004 (This CD corresponds to Vinyl “Volume 3”)
Catalog #: CDSMCP3-20020-2
Tracks:
1. Aborigenes Jam - Vocal Mix (8:15) [8:07]
2. Aborigenes Jam - Dub Mix (7:45) [7:33]
o) Solarium/Delirium
Release: 2004
Catalog #: CDSMCP1-10021-2
Tracks:
1. "Le Rêveur" - Thievery Corporation Remix (5:09)
2. "Emballa" - Louie Vega/Jaffa "Album Mix" (6:24)
3. "Aborigenes Jam" - FK/EK "Vocal Mix" (8:08)
4. "Lubia Dobarstan" - Ian Pooley Remix (6:55)
o) Tapis Rouge Remixed
Release: 2004
Catalog #: CDS-Remix
Tracks:
1. "A Tale" - Chilluminati Remix
2. "Rumeurs" - John Beltran Remix
3. "Gamelan" - Cantoma Remix
4. "Africa" - Banzai Repubic Remix
o) Zarkana “Wherever” (Ralphi Rosano Remix)
Release: Jun.28.2011
Catalog #: CDSMCP-10035-2
Tracks:
1. “Whenever” Big Mix (8:55)
2. “Whenever” Big Mix Radio Edit (4.07)
3. “Whenever” Big Mix Dub (8.54)
o) Zarkana “Wherever”
Release: Jun.28.2011
Catalog #: CDSMCP-10041-2
Tracks:
1. “Whenever” (3:29)
2. “Whenever” Pnau Mix (4:27)
3. “Whenever” Pnau Mix Radio Edit (3:26)
/// TAPIS ROUGUE REMIXES
Billed as a “look into the heart of Cirque du Soleil through the eyes of the world’s foremost electronic music producers,” in 2004 Cirque du Soleil embarked on a music revolution not seen since. Cirque du Soleil Musique (CDSM) released six 12″ vinyl installments, primarily in European markets, as a preview to “20 Years under the Sun”, a two-CD/DVD package released in the fall of 2004 that commemorated the 20th anniversary of Cirque du Soleil (released as “Solarium/Delirium”). Showcased are some of the world’s most influential DJs and electronic music producers who have remixed tracks from Cirque du Soleil soundtracks such as Dralion, Saltimbanco, “O”, and Varekai.
Volume #1 – “Africa” Catalog #: CDSM001 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12001 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00041-7 A1. Africa (CottonBelly Remix) [4:35] A2. A Tale (Chilluminati Mix) [6:14] B1. Le Reveur (Thievery Corp Remix) [5:08] B2. Emballa (Llorca Remix) [5:46] Volume #2 – “Ombra” Catalog #: CDSM002 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12002 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00042-4 A1. Ombra (Afterlife Remix) [5:03] A2. Gamelan (Cantoma Remix) [6:02] B1. Africa (Banzai Republic Equator Bound) [6:12] B2. El Pendulo (Fenomenon Northern Comfort Mix) [4:32] Volume #3 - "Aborigenes Jam" Catalog #: CDSM003 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12003 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00033-2 A1. Vocal Mix (Francois K & Eric Kupper) [8:15] B1. Dub Mix (Francois K & Eric Kupper) [7:45] Volume #4 – “Emballa” Catalog #: CDSM004 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12004 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00034-9 A0. Album Mix (Louie Vega feat. Jaffa) [6:23] B1. Ritual Mix (Louie Vega feat. Jaffa) [6:23] B2. Sun Dub (Louie Vega feat. Jaffa) [5:54] Volume #5 – “Kumbalawe” Catalog #: CDSM005 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12005 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00035-6 A. Release Mix (Roger Sanchez) [8:33] B. Release The Dub (Roger Sanchez) [7:47] Volume #6 - "Mer Noire / Africa" Catalog #: CDSM006 (CAN) Catalog #: CDSM-12006 (UK) UPC #: 8-74751-00036-3 A. Mer Noire (Tiesto Remix) [8:55] B. Africa (Quicksound Remix) [8:55] Volume #7 - "Tapis Rouge Remixed" Catalog #: CDS-Remix UPC #: none A1. A Tale (Chilluminati Remix) A2. Rumeurs (John Beltran Remix) B1. Gamelan (Cantoma Remix) B2. Africa (Banzai Repubic Remix)
You’ll find the following tracks from the vinyl releases on three Cirque du Soleil Musique CD releases. Not all of the tracks released on vinyl made it to CD and thus are only available on that medium. All tracks listed are the same length as their vinyl counterparts unless otherwise noted:
o) On the "Tapis Rouge: Solarium" album:
- Africa (CottenBelly Remix)
- Ombra (Afterlife Remix)
- Gamelan (Cantoma Remix)
- Africa (Banzai Republic Equator Bound)
- El Pendulo (Fenomenon Northern Comfort Mix)
o) On "Varekai (Bonus CD/DVD set)" album:
- Emballa (Llorca Remix)
NOTE: This album includes a remix not found anywhere else.
o) On "Solarium-Delirium" remix album
- Aborigenes Jam (Vocal Mix) [as 6:42]
- Emballa (Album Mix) [as 6:22]
- Kumbalawe (Roger Sanchez Release Mix) [as 7:51]
- Mer Noire (Tiesto Remix) [as 6:44]
- Africa (Quicksound Remix) [as 8:48]
# # #
So far we’ve discussed the history of the Cirque du Soleil music catalog, provided a listing of the current options in that catalog, discussed briefly what we left out (and why), and pushed into the realm of other interesting releases, such as Singles and Remixes. What’s left? Employee pressings, White Labels and Other Promotional releases – that’s next time!
