{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = Blitz (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film) | type = film |cover=Blitz (soundtrack).jpg | artist = [[Hans Zimmer]] | released = 1 November 2024 | recorded = 2024 | genre = [[Film score]] | length = 35:47 | label = [[Milan Records|Milan]] | producer = [[Hans Zimmer]] | prev_title = [[Twilight of the Gods (TV series)#Music|Twilight of the Gods (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series)]] | prev_year = 2024 | next_title = [[Dragon Age: The Veilguard]] (Original Soundtrack) | next_year = 2024 }} '''''Blitz (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film)''''' is the soundtrack to the 2024 film [[Blitz (2024 film)|''Blitz'']] directed by [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]]. The musical score is composed by [[Hans Zimmer]], whose soundtrack featured 18 songs; it also included few original musical numbers scored by [[Nicholas Britell]], who provided additional music. The album was released through Milan Records on 1 November 2024.
== Development == In July 2024, it was announced that Zimmer would score music for ''Blitz'', collaborating with McQueen for the third time after [[12 Years a Slave (film)|''12 Years a Slave'']] (2013) and [[Widows (2018 film)|''Widows'']] (2018).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-01 |title=Hans Zimmer Scoring Steve McQueen's 'Blitz' |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/07/01/hans-zimmer-scoring-steve-mcqueens-blitz/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705223841/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/07/01/hans-zimmer-scoring-steve-mcqueens-blitz/ |archive-date=2024-07-05 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Film Music Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Though Zimmer had scored [[Pearl Harbor (film)|''Pearl Harbor'']] (2001) and [[Dunkirk (2017 film)|''Dunkirk'']] (2017),<ref name=":1">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/10/nx-s1-5028225/hans-zimmer-discusses-his-music-blitz-a-film-set-in-world-war-ii |title=Hans Zimmer discusses his music 'Blitz', a film set in World War II |date=2024-11-10 |last=Rascoe |first=Ayesha |last2=Tworek |first2=Eleana |type=Radio broadcast |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |access-date=2024-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111015240/https://www.npr.org/2024/11/10/nx-s1-5028225/hans-zimmer-discusses-his-music-blitz-a-film-set-in-world-war-ii |archive-date=2024-11-11 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sgammato |first=Greg |date=2024-11-26 |title=Blitz with Hans Zimmer |url=https://thescl.com/screening-interviews/blitz-with-hans-zimmer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213143457/https://thescl.com/screening-interviews/blitz-with-hans-zimmer/ |archive-date=2024-12-13 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Society of Composers and Lyricists |language=en-US}}</ref> both films set during [[World War II]] similar to ''Blitz'', he opined that the story of ''Blitz'' personally connected with him, recalling that his mother sheltered as a German Jewish [[refugee]] in England during the war.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Tangcay |first=Jazz |date=2024-11-28 |title=Hans Zimmer Addresses 'Dune' Score Ineligibility, Why 'Blitz' Is Personal to Him and Being Happiest on Tour |url=https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/hans-zimmer-dune-score-ineligibility-blitz-1236225245/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130160828/https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/hans-zimmer-dune-score-ineligibility-blitz-1236225245/ |archive-date=2024-11-30 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> McQueen gave Zimmer one direction about composing the score – that Zimmer would understand his mother better after watching this film. Zimmer said, "That's all he said. And I knew all the stories, and as I was working on the film. I started to feel her stories. So, he was absolutely correct."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Huver |first=Scott |date=2024-11-02 |title=Hans Zimmer's "Horrendous" Dissonant Score For 'Blitz' Helped Him Understand His Mother's WWII Experience – Sound & Screen Film |url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/hans-zimmer-blitz-composer-interview-sound-and-screen-1236165225/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211200921/https://deadline.com/2024/11/hans-zimmer-blitz-composer-interview-sound-and-screen-1236165225/ |archive-date=2024-12-11 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
McQueen's story moved Zimmer to compose a score that reflected the unrelenting chaos and brutality of the [[The Blitz|London blitz]] during WWII.<ref name=":0" /> He created a dissonant score that reflected the terror and confusion of how an adult and child would feel.<ref name=":1" /> Zimmer said he was "so committed to this atonality that it was very difficult to put pieces together."<ref name=":0" /> To achieve this, Zimmer thought of writing music that would be brutal and violent and feel uneasy towards the audience.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> He primarily used a treble recorder, which according to Zimmer was "one of the most tortuous instruments in the world." He recalled the instrument being played in his school on days where "everybody's out of tune and everybody's blowing really hard into them – and it's the sound of hell."<ref name=":0" />
The score starts with an orchestra of children's recorders and gradually move towards a complex orchestration as the story progresses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Anne |date=2024-11-20 |title=Steve McQueen Is 'Going to Do It My Way': The Director on 'Blitz,' Hans Zimmer, and Apple's Theatrical Window |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/steve-mcqueen-blitz-interview-1235056936/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125152529/https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/steve-mcqueen-blitz-interview-1235056936/ |archive-date=2024-11-25 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref> Zimmer composed the score after returning from an orchestra tour where he had formed a close relationship with the performing band,<ref name=":1" /> adding "They've spent their whole life learning how to make their instruments sound beautiful. And it takes a certain amount of courage to go and then turn all that upside down and me saying, here are the notes, but what I want from you is I want them to be, like, you know, razors running down a piano wire."<ref name=":1" /> There were also some beautiful and hopeful moments throughout the score.<ref name=":1" />
[[Nicholas Britell]] was brought for the film to compose original songs and produce additional music; he previously did the same for ''12 Years a Slave''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=2024-10-08 |title=Steve McQueen on How WWII Drama 'Blitz' Became 'More Urgent' in Face of Escalating Global Violence: 'What the Hell Are We Doing?' |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/steve-mcqueen-blitz-saoirse-ronan-urgent-global-violence-1236169796/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010005006/https://variety.com/2024/film/global/steve-mcqueen-blitz-saoirse-ronan-urgent-global-violence-1236169796/ |archive-date=2024-10-10 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> An original song "Winter Coat" was performed by [[Saoirse Ronan]] and Britell, which was recorded on 7 November 2024, at the Studio A located at [[Power Station (recording studio)|Power Station at BerkleeNYC]] in [[New York City]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ntim |first=Zac |date=2024-11-27 |title=Watch Saoirse Ronan And Nicholas Britell Perform Live Version Of 'Blitz' Original Song 'Winter Coat' |url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/saoirse-ronan-nicholas-britell-blitz-winter-coat-performance-power-station-1236188467/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210102751/https://deadline.com/2024/11/saoirse-ronan-nicholas-britell-blitz-winter-coat-performance-power-station-1236188467/ |archive-date=2024-12-10 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref> The video of the performance was released through ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' on 27 November.<ref name=":3" /> The album was released through [[Milan Records]] on 1 November.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fritz |first=Arielle |date=2024-11-01 |title=NEW RELEASE: Blitz (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://milanrecords.com/new-release-blitz-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213152030/https://milanrecords.com/new-release-blitz-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/ |archive-date=2024-12-13 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website= |publisher=Milan Records |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Critical reception == ''[[Filmtracks|Filmtracks.com]]'' wrote "The soundtrack altogether is the kind of souvenir-oriented experience that requires an admiration of the film to appreciate."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Blitz (Hans Zimmer/Nicholas Britell) |url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/blitz.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203093631/https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/blitz.html |archive-date=2024-12-03 |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=Filmtracks |language=en}}</ref> Fionnuala Halligan of ''[[Screen International]]'' noted that Zimmer's score "occasionally threatens to overwhelm [...] but keeps a respectful and impactful distance."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Halligan |first=Fionnuala |date=2024-10-09 |title='Blitz': London Review |url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/blitz-london-review/5197992.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010001434/https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/blitz-london-review/5197992.article |archive-date=2024-10-10 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref> Monica Castillo of ''[[RogerEbert.com]]'' wrote "Hans Zimmer scores these events with discordant and jarring notes that sound vaguely electronic and metallic as if the sounds were ricocheting off trains and bombs."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Monica |date=2024-10-09 |title=Blitz movie review & film summary (2024) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blitz-nyff-film-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213153008/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blitz-nyff-film-review |archive-date=2024-12-13 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=RogerEbert.com |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Justin Chang]] in his review for ''[[The New Yorker]]'', summarized "Hans Zimmer’s dread-infused score at times evokes the drone of planes and the scream of sirens, but McQueen practically cues up an orchestra in jubilant response."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2024-10-25 |title="Blitz" Uses Classical Storytelling to Advance a Radical Vision of War |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/11/04/blitz-movie-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241031014439/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/11/04/blitz-movie-review |archive-date=2024-10-31 |access-date=2024-12-13 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref> Clarisse Loughrey of ''[[The Independent]]'' stated "Hans Zimmer’s thunderous, relentless score transforms itself into the machine of war, the crunch of metal against metal, or the whistle-whir of death falling from the sky."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Loughrey |first=Clarisse |date=2024-10-10 |title=Blitz review: Steve McQueen's wartime drama is a monumental achievement in British cinema |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/blitz-movie-review-b2626593.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010054249/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/blitz-movie-review-b2626593.html |archive-date=2024-10-10 |access-date=2024-12-13 |work=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Leslie Felperin of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' called it as a "percussive, thrumming score".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Felperin |first=Leslie |date=2024-10-09 |title='Blitz' Review: Saoirse Ronan in Steve McQueen's Admirably Crafted but Overly Clichéd Tribute to London's Survival in World War II |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/blitz-review-saoirse-ronan-steve-mcqueen-apple-tv-plus-1236028209/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241123033453/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/blitz-review-saoirse-ronan-steve-mcqueen-apple-tv-plus-1236028209/ |archive-date=2024-11-23 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Rogan Graham of [[Little White Lies (magazine)|Little White Lies]] deciphered it as both "tense and dynamic".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Rogan |date=2024-10-10 |title=Blitz – A vital fragment of the Steve McQueen saga |url=https://lwlies.com/reviews/blitz/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213154448/https://lwlies.com/reviews/blitz/ |archive-date=2024-12-13 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Little White Lies |language=en}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | extra_column = Artist(s) | title1 = September 1940 | length1 = 1:29 | title2 = Brighter Days | note2 = Instrumental | extra2 = [[Nicholas Britell]] | length2 = 1:11 | title3 = Somewhere to Shelter | length3 = 0:57 | title4 = No. 6 Platform | length4 = 2:22 | title5 = Munitionettes | length5 = 1:20 | title6 = Winter Coat | extra6 = {{hlist|[[Saoirse Ronan]]|Britell}} | length6 = 3:24 | title7 = An Adventure for Children | length7 = 2:00 | title8 = Get Jumpin' | extra8 = Britell | length8 = 2:46 | title9 = It's Time | extra9 = Britell | length9 = 2:37 | title10 = Loitering Is Not Permitted | length10 = 1:51 | title11 = Doing Rounds | length11 = 2:40 | title12 = Allelujah (Hallelujah) | extra12 = [[Benjamin Clementine]] | length12 = 1:31 | title13 = Snake Hip Swings | extra13 = Britell | length13 = 1:52 | title14 = [[Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!]] | extra14 = [[Celeste (singer)|Celeste]] | length14 = 2:50 | title15 = Lost Property Not Lost Children | length15 = 1:38 | title16 = Brighter Days | extra16 = {{hlist|Britell|Caitlin Drake|[[Nancy Sullivan (American actress)|Nancy Sullivan]]|Florence Dobson}} | length16 = 1:21 | title17 = Never Let You Go Again | length17 = 3:58 | total_length = 35:47 }}
== Accolades == As Zimmer's score for ''[[Dune: Part Two]]'' deemed ineligible for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] category at the [[97th Academy Awards]], due to the major themes being borrowed [[Dune (2021 film)|from the first film]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=2024-10-22 |title=Hans Zimmer's 'Dune 2' Score Fails to Meet Eligibility Requirements for Oscars (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/dune-2-score-ineligible-hans-zimmer-1236186389/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121065446/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/dune-2-score-ineligible-hans-zimmer-1236186389/ |archive-date=2024-11-21 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudoy |first=Matthew |date=2024-11-28 |title="Don't Tell Me That Makes Me Ineligible": Why Excluding Hans Zimmer's Dune 2 Score From The Oscars Could Be Harmful |url=https://screenrant.com/dune-2-movie-score-hans-zimmer-oscars-eligibility-response/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241129061210/https://screenrant.com/dune-2-movie-score-hans-zimmer-oscars-eligibility-response/ |archive-date=2024-11-29 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> the score for Blitz was instead considered as a contender for the possible category.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desowitz |first=Bill |date=2024-09-09 |title=2025 Oscars: Best Original Score Predictions |url=https://www.indiewire.com/awards/predictions/2025-oscars-best-original-score-predictions-academy-awards-1235041073/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913213921/https://www.indiewire.com/awards/predictions/2025-oscars-best-original-score-predictions-academy-awards-1235041073/ |archive-date=2024-09-13 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=2024-09-26 |title=Oscar Predictions: Best Original Score — Will 'Blitz' Bring Hans Zimmer Another Nomination? |url=https://variety.com/lists/2025-oscars-best-original-score-predictions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927023338/https://variety.com/lists/2025-oscars-best-original-score-predictions/ |archive-date=2024-09-27 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> It was shortlisted as one among the 146 other film scores on 2 December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pond |first=Steve |date=2024-12-02 |title=Oscars Song Race Contains 89 Songs, But Nothing From 'Wicked' - Complete List |url=https://www.thewrap.com/lets-do-oscars-eligible-songs-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208111419/https://www.thewrap.com/lets-do-oscars-eligible-songs-2025/ |archive-date=2024-12-08 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" |Award/Festival ! scope="col" |Date of ceremony ! scope="col" |Category ! scope="col" |Recipient(s) !Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Ref heading}} |- ! rowspan="3" scope="row" | [[Hollywood Music in Media Awards]] | rowspan="3" | [[15th Hollywood Music in Media Awards|20 November 2024]] | [[Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Feature Film|Best Original Song – Feature Film]] | "Winter Coat" – [[Nicholas Britell]], [[Steve McQueen (director)|Steve McQueen]] & [[Taura Stinson]] | {{nom}} | rowspan="3" align="center" |<ref>{{cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=November 7, 2024 |title='Emilia Pérez' & 'Blitz' Top Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations |url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-2024-nominations-list-1236169980/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241118103813/https://deadline.com/2024/11/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-2024-nominations-list-1236169980/ |archive-date=November 18, 2024 |accessdate=November 8, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]}}</ref><br/><ref>{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=November 7, 2024 |title=Hollywood Music in Media Awards Noms Led by 'Emilia Pérez' and 'Blitz,' With Elton John, Hans Zimmer and Scores More Among the Nominees |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-nominations-songs-scores-emilia-perez-elton-john-1236202806/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203184632/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-nominations-songs-scores-emilia-perez-elton-john-1236202806/ |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |accessdate=November 8, 2024 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> |- | [[Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score in a Feature Film|Original Score – Feature Film]] | [[Hans Zimmer]] | {{nom}} |- | Song – Onscreen Performance (TV Show/Limited Series) | "Winter Coat" – [[Saoirse Ronan]] | {{nom}} |}
== References == {{Reflist}} {{Hans Zimmer}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2024 soundtrack albums]] [[Category:Hans Zimmer soundtracks]] [[Category:Milan Records soundtracks]] [[Category:War film soundtracks]] [[Category:Drama film soundtracks]]