Author: dannystewart99

Before Shrek 5, it’s time to look back on the legendary Shrek 2 soundtrack

The first Shrek movie made a name for itself by having an amazing modern soundtrack paired with a “Ye Olde” fairytale backdrop, but the second movie took it to a whole new level

I will not sell this blog short: I’m extremely excited for Shrek 5.

Following the official announcement of the animated film with a release date of July 1, 2026, Shrek 5 is officially on the way from Dreamworks.

The Shrek franchise has been around since 2001 and the latest installment – until this week’s announcement- Shrek Forever After came out in 2010. It’s been 14 years since we’ve seen new Shrek content and honestly, it’s been sorely missed.

Shrek has found his rightful way into internet meme culture with multiple faces being used as reactions such as:

But Shrek Forever After isn’t a great movie and I would say that I was disappointed that that was going to be the final Shrek movie, but now, we have a redemption chance with Shrek 5.

Since all we can do is hope Shrek 5 is good, I have to take the time to reflect on how AMAZING the Shrek 2 soundtrack is.

Shrek 2 came out in 2004. Everything surrounding the film’s release was nothing short of fantastic.

The film itself, the video game, the DVD release and its bonus features, and the soundtrack.

The first Shrek movie made a name for itself by having such an amazing modern soundtrack paired with the “Ye Olde” fairytale backdrop, but the second movie took it to a whole new level.

Before discussing that, I can’t move past the brief mention of the bonus features on the DVD. Because the Shrek franchise, even at a young age, had become synonymous with an awesome musical soundtrack, the DVD for Shrek 2 included a fully animated American Idol parody titled Far, Far Away Idol.

I miss the days when DVD releases were huge. I know all of the modern day bonus materials can be released to social in some form or another, but it doesn’t feel the same anymore.

I’ll dive down that DVD nostalgia hole maybe another time, but for now, let’s talk the Shrek 2 soundtrack.

Full Playlist Linked Here

Counting Crows starts everything off with Accidentally In Love. I mean are you kidding me? This song will be on my wedding playlist one day and there’s no questioning why. What a banger.

This movie has two covers of Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero. The Fairy Godmother obviously dominates the climax of the movie with her cover, but the end credits of Shrek 2 carries arguably a better version. The hip hop cover from Frou Frou is an incredible addition to the film’s end.

Butterfly Boucher joins David Bowie on a new version of Changes which is just an incredible song already, but as this song plays after Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona transform into their “sexy” versions, this is a perfect pairing.

Lipps Inc.’s Funkytown is next. Come on. What a fantastically groovy song that introduces Shrek to Far, Far Away and provides a fun, upbeat backing to a funny and awkward situation in the movie.

Lipps Inc. also liked the below tweet of mine about the song. Unfortunately, likes are now private on Twitter, but trust me when I say, this was an amazing moment for me that I would never forget:

The next two songs I legitimately listen to on a consistent basis. They’re certified bangers.

I Need Some Sleep by Eels is a peaceful, yet eerily melodic tune that just reaches out to you and makes you feel awake in a tired moment. While it plays for a haunting scene for Shrek, it sits with me years later as a comforting song that I listen to when I need to think.

Next, Peter Yorn’s cover of the Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen In Love is one of those cases where the cover is way better than the original. The modern rock twist on Yorn’s cover is the best thing that ever happened to this song and the backdrop of Shrek, Donkey, and Puss’s escape from the Fairy Godmother’s factory is a perfect pairing.

Tom Waits singing Little Drop of Poison is perfect for the villains bar scene then Joseph Arthur with You’re So True is another great song during the end credits following Frou Frou’s earlier banger.

During the self-reflection, sad part of the movie, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds hit us with People Ain’t No Good which makes you feel as down in the dumps as you can. If you need a sad song to listen to, this one has you covered.

The Shrek 2 ending is one of the most memorable endings ever. Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas covering Livin’ La Vida Loca is just incredible. See below:

This album has only highs, even with songs that are supposed to make you feel lows. It’s just incredible. Shrek 2 is Far, Far and away the best Shrek movie, but boy does it have one of the most iconic soundtracks ever.

As we have another 2 years before we can see what the Shrek 5 soundtrack will offer, let’s dive into another Shrek series rewatch and enjoy all of the soundtracks.

There are even more layers to why Shrek is such a cultural phenomenon. Much like onions, or parfaits, there’s too much to discuss to fit it all into a blog.

However, if you just look at the film’s simplest element of a great soundtrack backing a story about love in all forms, it’s a classic for a reason.

~DS

Despite my concern for the current state of the video game industry, Kingdom Hearts can save the day

Can Sora save the industry from falling into darkness?

Video games are my positive addiction. Always have been, always will be. To me, they’re the greatest escape for my mind over any book, TV show, or film.

2023 was a banner year for video game releases. My Top 5 anticipated games from last year ended up being incredible, each in their own right. I recently completed Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and I absolutely loved every second of it.

But despite games being in a seemingly good state, it appears that they aren’t behind the scenes, and even in some cases, wide out in the open.

Game companies are growing and contracting at a rapid rate. Synergizing studio purchases lay ground for the closing of many other indie studios and mass layoffs. Square Enix and PlayStation are reporting disappointing numbers despite developing some of the decade’s most brilliant games. Live-service games, microtransactions, and advertisements are littering the entire gaming industry with unfortunately no signs of slowing down. Mobile “games” are supposedly becoming the go-to medium for developers.

Because of all the above circumstances and many more, I’ve started to lose faith in the game industry a bit. Like I said above, I loved all of the games that I played last year. However, my want to replay them and their overall impact felt like they’d been dampened by everything else going on in the video game industry.

But, through all the darkness, there is light.

The Kingdom Hearts series is once again the subject of one of my blogs because alongside the series’ main theme, it truly feels that the light in all the darkness is the development and continuation of this series.

I’ve touched on it previously, but this series has grown up alongside me; and although my perspective on life may have changed throughout the years, the series itself has remained a constant in all the chaos.

Although the series has deviated down paths that reflect the negative state of the industry, like microtransactions and mobile games, the core of the series has remained the same. Every time the series breaks through the darkness with any new news and updates, it feels like the entire gaming world tilts.

This may just feel like that for me because I love the games and I am an active member within the community, but the series has grown beyond what anyone thought it could be.

The first draft of this blog was another spout of negativity. The original working title was “The future of the video game industry is in danger” and while I still feel like this is true, it was Kingdom Hearts that came through to change my perspective on how I felt.

The bit of news that completely had me feeling excited about games again was the fact that the series was becoming available on Steam for the very first time.

While the series isn’t new to PC, it was only previously available on the Epic Games Store. If you’re into PC gaming or not, Steam is the more universally accepted way to host and play games on PC. The Epic Games store versions allowed mod creation to extend the lives of each title, but now, with even more modders and players through Steam, the series lives on in an even greater way.

I even hopped up to make a new YouTube video about the news and potential information leaks about Kingdom Hearts IV, Sora appearing in Fortnite, and the enhanced potential of a Kingdom Hearts Disney+ show.

Although the only title missing from Steam is Melody of Memory, there is potential that soon follows. It just seems like the Kingdom Hearts news train is chugging along speedily once again.

Nobody knows what the future looks like. I’m not sure if the Kingdom Hearts series will fall victim to the plagues of live-service and advertisements that are being pushed along with by the other large gaming companies and titles.

What I do know is that as long as this series is around, I will care about the state of video games. I will fight for what’s right for gamers. I hope that everyone’s hearts are connected to help bring back what made gaming so special in the first place.

We’re not supposed to be peddling short-term crap. We’re supposed to be connecting to the characters, stories, and experiences that video games are able to provide us more than books, TV shows, movies, and fucking advertisements ever could.

If this series, and many others, fall victim to the plagues, then gaming is truly dead.

~DS