Even those who aren’t country music fans are familiar with the ethereally sweet vocals of Alison Krauss. The country-bluegrass singer has had an incredibly successful career, winning her first Grammy Award when she was just 20 years old. Today, she is the second-most awarded female musician in the world, with 27 Grammy Awards to her name.
Though she is also a talented fiddle player, Krauss has become widely recognized for her unique voice. Her vocal performances blend power and gentleness with a soprano range that makes her stand out. She has released many albums as a solo artist and with her bluegrass band, Union Station. She also released an award-winning collaborative album with rock musician Robert Plant in 2007.
However, Krauss has also become known for her contributions to movie soundtracks. Her major breakthrough into film music was the 2001 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Krauss performed several songs in the movie, including “I’ll Fly Away,” “Down To The River To Pray,” and “Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby.” The soundtrack was a phenomenal success, bringing home three Grammy Awards. Krauss’ performances of traditional bluegrass, folk, and Gospel songs in the film have become some of her most famous.
Krauss has become a regular performer on film and television soundtracks, including Divine Secrets of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Paper Clips, and many more. However, these are usually performances of her existing songs or covers of traditional American folk songs. These three songs are a few hidden gems that Krauss composed for film soundtracks.
1. “You Will Be My Ain True Love” — Cold Mountain, 2003
For the song “You Will Be My Ain True Love,” Krauss teamed up with an unlikely partner: English singer Sting. The haunting track featured both vocalists singing in mournful two-part harmony. It includes unique bluegrass-inspired instrumentals, including a drone bass. The song was included on the soundtrack of the 2003 film Cold Mountain.
Cold Mountain, a historical film about doomed lovers during the American Civil War, was hugely successful. But it was especially noted for its soundtrack, which featured many historical instruments and songs essential to Appalachian and American Southern culture in the 19th century. The soundtrack won many awards; “You Will Be My Ain True Love” was nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Grammy. Krauss also performed “The Scarlet Tide,” another track in the film.
2. “Moments Like This” — Twister, 1996
Most of Krauss’ music falls under the category of bluegrass or folk. But for her song “Moments Like This,” recorded for the 1996 film Twister, she made a rare move into pure country. Krauss performed the song with her band Union Station and later released it on her 1999 album Forget About It. In typical Krauss style, “Moments Like This” is a haunting track characterized by the singer’s angelic vocals and acoustic accompaniment.
The singer joined a team of other immensely talented musicians to create the soundtrack for the film, including Stevie Nicks, Eddie Van Halen, Tori Amos, and others. Twister, a disaster film starring Helen Hunt as an obsessed tornado chaser, was one of the most successful movies of 1996 and received two Academy Award nominations.
3. “I Give You To His Heart” — The Prince of Egypt, 1998
Dreamworks released The Prince of Egypt in 1998, a musical retelling of the story of the Exodus. The film was noted for its excellent soundtrack, especially the song “When You Believe,” which won an Academy Award. An accompanying country album, The Prince of Egypt: Nashville, included songs that did not appear in the movie but were inspired by the events of the film and intended to accompany the story as extras.
Many well-known country artists contributed songs to the album, including Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, and Charlie Daniels. Krauss’ track “I Give You To His Heart” is written from the point of view of Moses’ mother as she places him in the Nile and prays for his safety. Though the track did not chart, the album reached the top 10 on the country and Christian music charts.
Photo by Per Ole Hagen/Redferns
