Ranking All The Songs from the Jungle Cruise Soundtrack
For Jungle Cruise, Disney decided to give the task of creating a score to James Newton Howard, a composer who’s previously enjoyed a huge amount of success with films like Pretty Woman, Space Jam, The Dark Knight, and The Sixth Sense. It proved a wise choice, with Howard pulling off a hugely ambitious, thrillingly dramatic score that manages to combine undertones of John Williams with an exhilarating uniqueness all of its own. Helping Howard out were Metallica, who contributed an instrumental version of the song Nothing Else Matters, a 99 person orchestra, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Here’s how we rank all the songs from the Jungle Cruise soundtrack.
27. Stop Her! – James Newton Howard
High drama, soaring strings, and tension for miles characterize this snippet of James Newton Howard’s score. If you’re not on the edge of your seat by the end of it, you haven’t been listening hard enough.
26. Breaking Into the Archives – James Newton Howard
Another slice of drama from James Newton Howard next, this time on an extract of the score entitled Breaking Into the Archives.
25. A Steamer to Brazil – James Newton Howard
It might be less than two minutes long, but if this exotically flavored gem doesn’t put you in the mood for adventure, nothing will.
24. Frank Breaks In – James Newton Howard
Jame Newton Howard’s soundtrack is pitched perfectly to match the drama happening on screen. Here, the thrilling pace and high tension of the arrangement is sure to get your pulse racing.
23. Jungle Cruise Suite – James Newton Howard
The rousing opener Jungle Cruise Suite sets the tone for the remainder of the Jungle Cruise soundtrack perfectly.
22. Sub Attack – James Newton Howard
Listening to this extract from the Jungle Cruise score, it’d be easy to think you were listening to the soundtrack to an Indiana Jones film, so similar is the orchestration, drama, and phrasing.
21. Nilo – James Newton Howard
A tense, thrilling moment from the soundtrack comes next, with an exhilarating pace and an epic orchestration designed to sweep you away in the drama.
20. Trader Sam – James Newton Howard
A rare moment of serenity on the Jungle Cruise soundtrack now, this time with the ethereally lovely Trader Sam.
19. Market Chase – James Newton Howard
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering who John Williams’ natural successor is, just listen to songs like this, in which John Newton Howard captures Williams’ style perfectly.
18. Preparing to Set Sail – James Newton Howard
None of the extracts from the Jungle Cruise score are particularly long, but they’re all capable of transporting you back to the movie in a heartbeat.
17. Jungle Cruise – James Newton Howard
Jungle Cruise delivers yet another gloriously imaginative, ambitious moment from James Newton Howard’s score.
16. Lily Finds Frank – James Newton Howard
Jauntiness and tension shouldn’t be natural bedfellows, but on songs like Lily Finds Frank, John Newton Howard makes it sound effortless.
15. Encantado – James Newton Howard
A little moment of calm next, with a song that drifts along on a wave of soaring strings and delicate piano. Considering the pace and high drama of most of the score, it’s like the hush before the storm.
14. The Rapids – James Newton Howard
Tense, thrilling, and as mysterious as the Bermuda Triangle, The Rapids starts slowly before escalating into a cacophonous riot of thunderous percussion and strident strings.
13. Lily Snoops – James Newton Howard
Much of the soundtrack to Jungle Cruise races along at around 100 miles per hour, but fortunately, there are a few songs that offer us a chance to catch our breath. The gorgeously gentle Lily Snoops is one of them.
12. I Built a Boat – James Newton Howard
Another calming, gentle moment next, with a delicate piano layered over a backdrop of hauntingly lovely strings.
11. I Want You to Rest Now – James Newton Howard
Even if Jungle Cruise isn’t your kind of movie, it’d take a cold heart to resist the beauty of this shimmering song.
10. Nothing Else Matters (Jungle Cruise Version Part 2) – James Newton Howard (feat. Metallica)
Anyone who scoffed when they heard Disney were collaborating with Metallica will soon revise their opinion when they listen to this outstanding contribution from the metal gods.
9. Joachim and the Bees – James Newton Howard
Changing pace and mood faster than you can blink, this little gem from the Jungle Cruise soundtracks demonstrates John Newton Howard’s amazing control.
8. One Last Cruise – James Newton Howard
Do soundtrack songs get any more dramatic than One Last Cruise? Unlikely.
7. Absolutely Exhausting – James Newton Howard
The Jungle Cruise soundtrack closes in style with Absolutely Exhausting, which gallops along at such a pace, it couldn’t have picked a better title if it had tried.
6. Petal Negotiations – James Newton Howard
A dark, ominous beginning builds to a nail-biting climax on Petal Negotiations.
5. Underwater Puzzle – James Newton Howard
Drama, tension, and a generous helping of mystery all combine to make Underwater Puzzle one of Jungle Cruise’s most exciting moments.
4. La Luna Rota – James Newton Howard
John Newton Howard’s score has its thrilling, dramatic moments, but it also has its gentle, soothing moments – on songs like La Luna Rota, he somehow manages to combine both extremes while still making something completely harmonious.
3. The Tree Fight – James Newton Howard
From its spooky, spine-tingling opening notes to its hushed, eery climax, The Tree Fight is 5 minutes of sheer brilliance, The use of flamenco guitars at the end is particularly inspired.
2. Nothing Else Matters (Jungle Cruise Version Part 1) – James Newton Howard (feat. Metallica)
Metallica proves why they were the right band for Jungle Cruise on this stunning collaboration.
1. Conquistadors Arrive – James Newton Howard
Thrilling, fast-paced, and with enough drama to fill a daytime soap opera, Conquistadors Arrive is one of the many reasons why Jungle Cruise wouldn’t be the same without John Newton Howard’s incredible score.