Hidden Figures: The Album
Soundtrack album by
Pharrell Williams
ReleasedDecember 21, 2016
Recorded2016
Genre
Length33:07
Label
ProducerPharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams chronology
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
(2014)		 Hidden Figures
(2016)		 Despicable Me 3
(2017)

Hidden Figures: The Album is the soundtrack album consisting of 10 original songs, that accompanies the 2016 film Hidden Figures. The songs were written and produced by Pharrell Williams who scored much of the songs in late-2014. The album mostly consisted of gospel music, and featured involvement of various artists, mostly female vocalists performing the tracks, while Williams also featured as the primary artist and also accompanied the female artists in few tracks.[1] The album was released through William's i am OTHER label, Columbia Records and Sony Classical Records on December 21, 2016. The album spawned five singles: "I See a Victory", "Runnin'", "Surrender", "Crave" and "Able".

Background

Pharrell Williams acted as the co-producer of the film's soundtrack, and also wrote for most of the songs for the film.[2] All of the songs were inspired from music in the 1960s since the film and its events take place during that period.[2][3] The tracks were written even before the start of the production, since late-2014. Williams in a Facebook interaction with fans, said "I attempted to put something behind the music, and nothing ever really worked out. I just — nothing worked for it. Then when this project popped up it was like, 'Oh, that's what I was supposed to be doing."[4]

The first track "Runnin'" was composed on time to shoot for the scenes. The song was inspired by the scenes of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) having to dash across the Langley Research Center campus to the only bathroom that a black woman could use. Williams said "What must have gone through her mind? They lived in a gender-biased, racially biased matrix where the gravity was much heavier on a woman than it was on a man. So they were pulled down in a different way. But their math, and their ambition, superseded it."[2][5]

Another track "I See A Victory" consisted of gospel flavor music and also replicated the "classic Southern soul, zydeco sound". Williams stated it as "one of the uplifting tracks in the album", as it served as a "soaring motivational track", but also highlighted "the early '60s with what women are going through to today".[6][7][8] Gospel player Kim Burrell was hired to sing the track, after being insisted by singer-songwriter Kirk Franklin as replicate the "jazz inflections" in the track.[9] The album featured prominent artists such as Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Lalah Hathaway and Janelle Monáe, apart from Williams recording some of the solo tracks. Williams' songs were also used to draw in the film's score.[2] Williams stated to Deadline saying "We wanted to make sure there was a different offering, because when you listen to most scores, the chord progressions and the melodic direction usually has a Euro or Anglo basis to it".[6]

Promotion and release

On September 10, 2016, Pharrell Williams performed all the songs at a promotional concert held at the Toronto International Film Festival, where the film's special screening was held.[10][11] Along with Williams, artists who featured in the original soundtrack also performed the tracks.[11] The same day, the song "I See a Victory" was released as a promotional single from the album.[12] On October 20, 2016, the studio versions of the songs "Runnin'"[13] and "Surrender" was released as the second and third single from the album.[14][15] It was followed by two more singles, "Crave"[16] and "Able"[17][18] being released on November 16 and December 9. The full soundtrack was released by Columbia, i am OTHER and Sony Classical on December 21.[19]

A track inspired from the film "Anita" was produced and performed by Smino. It was released through Smino's SoundCloud channel on March 7, 2017.[20]

Track listing

All music is composed by Pharrell Williams

Hidden Figures: The Album
No.TitleWriter(s)Artist(s)Length
1."Runnin'"Pharrell WilliamsWilliams3:35
2."Crave"WilliamsWilliams2:53
3."Surrender"Williams
3:35
4."Mirage"WilliamsMary J. Blige3:15
5."Able"WilliamsWilliams3:01
6."Apple"
  • Keys
  • Williams
3:47
7."Isn't This The World"
Janelle Monáe4:12
8."Crystal Clear"WilliamsWilliams2:48
9."Jalapeño"Williams
  • Monáe
  • Williams
2:50
10."I See a Victory"
3:07

Apart from the original songs, some of the incorporated tracks are featured in the film, while not in the soundtrack. These tracks include:[21]

Reception

Bustle's Johnny Brayson said "The women featured in Hidden Figures are finally getting their moment in the sun after having their contributions to the Space Race swept under the rug for decades; and they've got some pretty great music to accompany their big arrival."[28] Andy Kellman of AllMusic had written "Though there are contemporary production touches, everything is based in '60s pop-soul -- an unflaggingly upbeat and positive sound with bobbing horn charts, finger snaps, and gospel-style refrains galore."[29] Litcritcpop stated the album as "worth listening to".[30]

Controversy

On December 31, 2016, Kim Burrell who worked on the film's soundtrack, received backlash after her sermon at the Love & Liberty Fellowship Church, where she was a senior pastor, received a backlash on condemning homosexuality, calling it as "perverted" and an "embarrassment".[31] She further stated homosexuality was a "spirit of delusion and confusion" and "has deceived many men and women, causing a strain on the body of Christ".[32][33] Her speech was condemned by several members, including Williams, Octavia Spencer, one of the film's main leads and Janelle Monáe, who also contributed two songs to the film's soundtrack.[34]

Williams posted a message in tweet, in response to Burell's speech, saying: "I condemn hate speech of any kind. There is no room in this world for any kind of prejudice. My greatest hope is for inclusion and love for all humanity in 2017 and beyond",[32] While Monáe at the 74th Golden Globe Awards had stated:[35]

"I've been very supportive of love, and at the end of the day, I think that no matter where you come from and who you love, you deserve to have a right to the American dream and to also have your story told ... I just think that anybody who is representing hate is a part of the problem and I hope we can learn from each other and be more empathetic of one another, and I hope we can all remember that at the end of the day we all bleed the same color."[35]

The film's promotion at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, was affected as the show host Ellen DeGeneres cancelled Burell's appearance, following her statements, where she was intended to sing a duet on one of the songs.[36] Instead, the show went on with Williams making an appearance.[33][37]

Accolades

Award/Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
African-American Film Critics Association February 8, 2017 Best Song "I See Victory" Won [38]
Black Reel Awards February 16, 2017 Outstanding Original Song "Surrender" – Lalah Hathaway and Pharrell Williams Nominated [39]
Grammy Awards January 28, 2018 Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Hidden Figures: The Album – Pharrell Williams Nominated [40]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 17, 2016 Best Song – Feature Film "Running" – Pharrell Williams Nominated [41]
Houston Film Critics Society January 6, 2017 Best Original Song "Running" – Pharrell Williams Nominated [42]
NAACP Image Awards February 11, 2017 Outstanding Song "I See Victory" – Kim Burrell and Pharrell Williams Won [43]
[44]
Satellite Awards February 19, 2017 Best Original Song "Running" – Pharrell Williams Nominated [45]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Allmusic[46]

  • Producer – Pharrell Williams
  • Music supervisor – Anton Monsted
  • Mastering – Tom Coyne
  • Mixing – Mick Guzauski
  • Music arrangements – Mike Larson
  • Music editing – Mike Larson
  • Vocal arrangements – Kirk Franklin
  • Recording engineers – Ben Sedano, Eric Eylands, Eric Weaver, Esteban Kralj, John Cranfield, Martin Giraldo, Funai Costa, Ward Kuykendall, David Kim, Andrew Coleman, Mike Larson, Tre Nagella, Dustin Higgins, Adam Harr, Eelco Bakker, Jordan Silva, Marcel Walvisch, Mike Ott, Ben Zushi-Rhodes, Ramon Rivas
  • Additional vocals – Angel Robinson, Andrea "Munchie" Simmons, Chelsea West, Darian Yancey, Deonis Cook, Michael Bethany, Myron Butler, Niya Cotton, Rhea Dummett, Whitney Jackson, Ai Shimatsu, Ambrya Underwood, Aye Hasegawa, Christina Chandler, Helen Williams, Mette Towley, Aaron Encinas, Alex Isley, Anthony Evans, Asaleana Elliott, Brandon Winbush, Chavonne Stewart, Kenyon Dixon, Missi Hale, Nicole Leonti, Shanika Bereal
  • Musicians:
    • Alto Saxophone – Jesse McGinty
    • Electric guitar – Brent Paschke
    • Horns – Arturo Sandoval
  • A&R – Mark Williams, Jerry Edouard, Mike Larson
  • Coordinator – Joann Orgel
  • Executive producer – Pharrell Williams, Mimi Valdés
  • Executive in-charge of music – Danielle Diego
  • Business affairs – Tom Cavanaugh
  • Music clearance – Ellen Ginsburg, Jessie Roberts
  • Music management – Johnny Choi
  • Executive management – Cynthia "Cactus" Lu*, Hana "Prana" Hollinger*, Jenn Yin
  • Artist management – Caron Veazey, Ron Laffitte
  • Publicity – Amanda Silverman
  • Music production supervisor – Rebecca Morellato
  • CCO – Mimi Valdés
  • Creative director – Phi Hollinger
  • Head of special projects – Loic Villepontoux
  • Project manager – Alexandra Depersia

References

  1. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (January 3, 2017). "Pharrell Williams, Making Noise for 'Hidden Figures' Everywhere". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Burlingame, Jon (January 4, 2017). "Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, Benjamin Wallfisch Bring 'Hidden Figures' Into the Light". Variety. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Watch Pharrell Williams Confess His Profound Love for Space". Time. February 14, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  4. ↑ "6 Things You Didn't Know About the 'Hidden Figures' Soundtrack". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  5. ↑ Hazel, Allison (January 3, 2017). "Pharrell Williams On Getting Hands-On for 'Hidden Figures' Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Utichi, Joe (December 3, 2016). "Pharrell Williams On His 'Hidden Figures' Contribution: "It Made Sense For Everything We Stand For"". Deadline. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Pharrell Williams Says Writing Music for 'Hidden Figures' Was 'No-Brainer' (Video)". The Wrap. December 29, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Pharrell Williams on Hidden Figures film: 'It made sense for everything we stand for'". NME. December 4, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Pharrell Williams got in touch with the feminine to help chronicle NASA's forgotten heroines in 'Hidden Figures'". Los Angeles Times. December 25, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Stars' tears over space-race drama Hidden Figures". BBC News. September 11, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Buckley, Cara (September 11, 2016). "Songs and Tears for 'Hidden Figures'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  12. ↑ September 11, Nick Romano Updated; EDT, 2016 at 07:46 PM. "Watch Pharrell Premiere 'I See a Victory' From 'Hidden Figures' Soundtrack". EW.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Penrose, Nerisha (October 20, 2016). "Pharrell Williams Releases Soulful, Jazzy 'Runnin' From the 'Hidden Figures' Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Pharrell Shares New Songs "Runnin'," "Surrender" From Hidden Figures Soundtrack: Listen". Pitchfork. October 20, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Pharrell shares two new songs from new movie 'Hidden Figures' - listen". NME. October 20, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  16. ↑ November 16, Jessica Goodman Updated; EST, 2016 at 01:32 PM. "Pharrell Releases Funky New Song From 'Hidden Figures' Soundtrack". EW.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (December 2, 2016). "Pharrell Williams Blends Gospel, Soul on New Song 'Able'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Hear Pharrell's Floor-Stomping New Song "Able"". Okayplayer. December 2, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  19. ↑ Hidden Figures: The Album, December 21, 2016, retrieved June 30, 2022
  20. ↑ "Smino Drops Bouncy 'Hidden Figures' Inspired Track "Anita"". Okayplayer. March 7, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  21. ↑ Panos, Maggie (January 16, 2017). "Even If You Haven't Seen Hidden Figures, You're Going to Live for the Soundtrack". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  22. ↑ Panos, Maggie (January 16, 2017). ""Sticks and Stones" by Ray Charles". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  23. ↑ Panos, Maggie (January 16, 2017). ""Don't Take My Whiskey Away From Me" by Wynonie Harris". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  24. ↑ Panos, Maggie (January 16, 2017). ""So What" by Miles Davis". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  25. ↑ Panos, Maggie (January 16, 2017). ""Have a Good Time" by Ruth Brown". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  26. ↑ Panos, Maggie (January 16, 2017). ""You Say You Love Me" by The Hearts". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  27. ↑ Panos, Maggie (January 16, 2017). ""Mighty Good Lovin'" by The Miracles". POPSUGAR Entertainment. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  28. ↑ "The 'Hidden Figures' Soundtrack Is The Perfect Way To Honor These Remarkable Women". Bustle. January 3, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  29. ↑ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Hidden Figures: The Album Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved June 30, 2022
  30. ↑ bellawilfer7 (January 10, 2017). "Worth listening to. The soundtrack for Hidden Figures". litcritpop. Retrieved June 30, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ↑ "Frank Ocean's Mom: "Son, Can We Crop Kim Burrell Out of Your Song?"". Pitchfork. January 3, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  32. 1 2 January 04, Rachel DeSantis Updated; EST, 2017 at 08:22 AM. "'Hidden Figures' Team Speaks Out Against Soundtrack Singer's Homophobic Sermon". EW.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. 1 2 Levy, Dani (January 5, 2017). "Pharrell, Ellen DeGeneres Address Kim Burrell's Anti-Gay Statements". Variety. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Reactions to gospel preacher Kim Burrell on LGBT issues reveal split among black churches". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  35. 1 2 January 09, Gerrad Hall; EST, 2017 at 12:52 AM. "Janelle Monáe Addresses Kim Burrell Controversy: 'We All Bleed the Same Color'". EW.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ↑ "'Hidden Figures' soundtrack's Kim Burrell booted from 'Ellen'". NBC News. January 4, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Pharrell discusses Kim Burrell with Ellen after gospel singer called gay people 'perverted'". The Independent. January 6, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  38. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (December 12, 2016). "'Moonlight' Named Best Picture by the African American Film Critics Association". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  39. ↑ "17th annual Black Reel Award Nominations". Black Reel Awards. December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  40. ↑ "2018 Grammy Awards: Complete Winners List". Grammy.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  41. ↑ McNary, Dave (November 2, 2016). "'La La Land' Scores Three Hollywood Music in Media Nominations". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  42. ↑ Dansby, Andrew (December 14, 2016). ""La La Land" la la lands multiple noms from Houston Film Critics". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  43. ↑ Hill, Libby (December 14, 2016). "'Moonlight,' 'Birth of a Nation' and 'Loving' score big with NAACP Image Award nominations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  44. ↑ Kelley, Sonaiya (February 12, 2017). "'Hidden Figures' and 'Fences' win big at 48th NAACP Image Awards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  45. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (November 29, 2016). "Satellite Awards Nominees Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  46. ↑ Hidden Figures: The Album - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved June 30, 2022
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