Philadelphia (soundtrack)

Philadelphia
Soundtrack album by
Howard Shore
ReleasedJanuary 1994
Recorded1993
Length40:34
LabelEpic Soundtrax
Producers
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Billboard(favorable)[1]
Music WeekStarStarStar[2]
NME7/10[3]

Philadelphia (Music from the Motion Picture) is the soundtrack album to the 1993 film Philadelphia. The album features an original score composed by Howard Shore. The album was released through Epic Soundtrax in January 1994.[4]

Development

The director originally contacted Neil Young to record a rock anthem to open the film, but after viewing a cut of it, Young was inspired to write a slow and quiet ballad instead. Demme decided Young's song would be more appropriate for the ending of the film, so he approached Bruce Springsteen to write an anthem. Springsteen viewed the opening montage, which at the time featured Neil Young's "Southern Man" as the temp track, but like Young he was inspired to create something quieter, in this case a beat-driven recording that became "Streets of Philadelphia." However, Springsteen's first contribution, "Tunnel of Love," was rejected by Demme.[5] Even though Springsteen knew it was not what Demme originally wanted, he sent it to him anyway. When Demme and his wife were moved by the recording, she advised him that it was likely the direction he should be going and he agreed.[6]

The album was re-released in 2008 in France only as a CD/DVD combo pack with the film itself, containing the same track listing (catalogue number 88697 322052 under both Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Sony Classical labels).

Track listing

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Streets of Philadelphia"Bruce Springsteen3:56
2."Lovetown"Peter Gabriel5:29
3."It's in Your Eyes"Pauletta Washington3:46
4."Ibo Lele (Dreams Come True)"RAM4:15
5."Please Send Me Someone to Love"Sade3:44
6."Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"Spin Doctors2:41
7."I Don't Wanna Talk About It"Indigo Girls3:41
8."La mamma morta" (From the Opera Andrea Chénier)Maria Callas4:53
9."Philadelphia"Neil Young4:06
10."Precedent"Howard Shore4:03

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Philadelphia
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[28] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[29] Platinum 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[30] 3× Platinum 300,000^
France (SNEP)[31] 2× Gold 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[32] Gold 400,000[33]
Spain (Promusicae)[34] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[35] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[37] Platinum 1,160,000[38]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[39] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

Award Category Recipient(s) Result
20/20 Awards Best Original Song "Philadelphia"
Music and Lyrics by Neil Young		 Nominated
"Streets of Philadelphia"
Music and Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen		 Won
Academy Awards[40] Best Original Song "Philadelphia"
Music and Lyrics by Neil Young		 Nominated
"Streets of Philadelphia"
Music and Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen		 Won
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Top Box Office Films Howard Shore Won
Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures "Streets of Philadelphia" – Bruce Springsteen
Golden Globe Awards[41] Best Original Song – Motion Picture "Streets of Philadelphia"
Music and Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
Grammy Awards[42] Record of the Year "Streets of Philadelphia" – Bruce Springsteen Nominated
Song of the Year Won
Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
Best Rock Song
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television
MTV Movie Awards Best Song from a Movie Bruce Springsteen – "Streets of Philadelphia"
MTV Video Music Awards Best Video from a Film

References

  1. ↑ "Album Reviews: Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. 8 January 1994. p. 70. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  2. ↑ Jones, Alan (19 February 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 13. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  3. ↑ Dalton, Stephen (19 March 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 51. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "SoundtrackINFO: Philadelphia Soundtrack". www.soundtrackinfo.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  5. ↑ Ryll, Alexander. "Essential Gay Themed Films To Watch, Philadelphia". Gay Essential. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Kinos-Goodin, Jesse (26 April 2017). "Jonathan Demme on how he got Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young on the Philadelphia soundtrack". CBC. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Soundtrack – Philadelphia". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack – Philadelphia" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Soundtrack – Philadelphia" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Image 2441". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack – Philadelphia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  12. 1 2 "1994 in Review: Sale Charts" (PDF). Music & Media 1994 In Review. 24 December 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 19 May 2022 – via World Radio History.
  13. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack – Philadelphia" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1994. 17. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Charts.nz – Soundtrack – Philadelphia". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack – Philadelphia". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack – Philadelphia". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack – Philadelphia". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Soundtrack Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  20. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums 1994". Australian Record Industry Association Ltd. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1994". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  22. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Image 2686". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts: 1994". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1994". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  25. ↑ "Top 50 Compilation of 1994" (PDF). Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  26. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  27. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1994 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  28. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Soundtrack – Philadelphia" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  30. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Various Artists – Philadelphia - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Music Canada. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  31. ↑ "French album certifications – B.O.F. – Philadelphia" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  32. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (O.S.T. - Various; 'Philadelphia')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  33. ↑ Spahr, Wolfganf (17 September 1994). "Movie Soundtracks Start Moving Units In Germany" (PDF). Billboard. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  34. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. p. 937. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  35. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Philadelphia')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  36. ↑ "British album certifications – Soundtrack – Philadelphia". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 October 2018. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Philadelphia Soundtrack in the "Search:" field.
  37. ↑ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Philadelphia". Recording Industry Association of America.
  38. ↑ Basham, David (7 February 2002). "Got Charts?". Mtv. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  39. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  40. ↑ "The 66th Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  41. ↑ "Philadelphia – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  42. ↑ "1994 Grammy Award Winners". Grammy.com. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
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