Shrek Soundtrack: Shrek is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film that came under the direction of Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson.
It is based on the 1990 children’s picture book of the same name which is penned by William Steig.
The screenplay is directed by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman and is produced by Aron Warner, John H. Williams, and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
It is executively produced by Penney Finkelman Cox, Steven Spielberg, and Sandra Rabins, with co-producers Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott, and David Lipman as co-executive producers.
Release Date: DreamWorks Pictures released the movie in the US on May 18th, 2001. It grossed over $491 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2001.
Quick Facts
| Film | Shrek (2001) |
| Studio | DreamWorks Animation |
| Directors | Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson |
| Based on | “Shrek!” (1990 picture book) by William Steig |
| Score Composers | Harry Gregson-Williams & John Powell |
| Featured Artists | Smash Mouth, Eddie Murphy, Rufus Wainwright, Joan Jett, The Proclaimers |
| Soundtrack Release | May 15, 2001 (DreamWorks Records) |
| Certification | 2x Platinum (RIAA) |
| Awards | BAFTA & Grammy nominated for Best Film/Compilation Soundtrack |
Who Composed Shrek Soundtrack?
The iconic soundtrack of the popular animated film Shrek was composed by the talented duo of Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell.
This was the third DreamWorks animated movie to feature the collaboration of Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell in composing the score.
Prior to Shrek, the two had previously worked together on the scores of two other DreamWorks films, Antz in 1998 and Chicken Run in 2000.
The Shrek soundtrack has gained overall honor for its memorable and catchy tunes that perfectly complement the film’s story and characters.
Shrek Soundtrack List
Here is the complete list of Shrek Soundtracks, which came out in 2001. The soundtrack album was released in 2001 and includes 13 tracks performed by various artists.
Stay Home: An alternative rock song written and performed by Matt Mahaffey’s band Self, originally released on their 1995 debut album “Subliminal Plastic Motives,” and featured in Shrek’s opening sequence before Smash Mouth’s “All Star” replaced it as the film’s main theme.
I’m a Believer: Written by Neil Diamond and made famous by The Monkees in 1966 (produced by Jeff Barry, it topped the US Billboard Hot 100 that December), the version featured on the Shrek soundtrack is a cover recorded by Smash Mouth specifically for the film’s ending.
Like Wow!: Leslie Carter’s “Like Wow!” is her only official release, as her debut album was shelved. The pop single was released on January 13, 2001.
It Is You (I Have Loved): “It Is You (I Have Loved)” is a song performed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Dana Glover. The songwriters are Harry Gregson-Williams, John Powell, Gavin Greenaway, and Dana Glover.
Best Years of Our Lives: Modern Romance recorded the song “Best Years of Our Lives” in 1982. The song is a mix of pop, salsa, and new wave and was released in October of that year as both a 7-inch and 12-inch single by WEA.
Bad Reputation: “Bad Reputation” is a rock song by Joan Jett from her 1980 debut album. Though initially released only as a German single, it became one of her signature songs.
My Beloved Monster: My Beloved Monster is the first album released by American rock band Eels. It was released on August 13, 1996, under the record label DreamWorks.
You Belong to Me: “See the pyramids along the Nile” is the opening line of the 1952 ballad “You Belong to Me.” Sung by Jo Stafford, it topped both the UK and US singles charts.
All-Star: “All-Star” is a rock song by Smash Mouth from their album Astro Lounge. It was written by Greg Camp, produced by Eric Valentine, and released on May 4, 1999.
Hallelujah: “Hallelujah” is a folk rock song by Leonard Cohen, released in 1984. John Cale’s 1991 version inspired Jeff Buckley’s 1994 recording, which ranked number 259 in Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2004.
I’m on My Way: “I’m on My Way” is a song by the Scottish folk-pop duo, The Proclaimers, from their 1988 album “Sunshine on Leith.” It was released as a single in 1989. The genres are Celtic pop-rock, rock and roll, and country rock.
I’m a Believer (Reprise): The end-credits reprise is performed as a duet by Eddie Murphy (as Donkey) and Smash Mouth, released in 2001.
True Love’s First Kiss: John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams composed True Love’s First Kiss, which has a duration of 1 minute and 14 seconds.
Shrek Official Trailer
You can watch the trailer for Shrek 1 below:
The song is available on various platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube, where you can listen to the entire album of songs and the score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Shrek score?
Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell composed the original score. It was their third DreamWorks collaboration after Antz (1998) and Chicken Run (2000).
What is the opening song in Shrek?
The film opens with Smash Mouth’s “All Star.” It was originally a temporary placeholder track during editing, but test audiences liked it so much the filmmakers kept it in the final cut.
Did the Shrek soundtrack win any awards?
The soundtrack was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music and the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, though it lost to Moulin Rouge! and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, respectively.
Why does Shrek use pop songs instead of an original musical score for most scenes?
Directors Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, along with DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, wanted the film to feel more like a live-action film than a traditional animated musical, so they used licensed contemporary songs to underscore character emotion instead of original sing-along numbers.
Where can I listen to the Shrek soundtrack?
The Shrek soundtrack is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, and the score has also been released separately.
Related Reading
Explore more animated movie soundtracks on our Movie Soundtrack hub, or find where to stream family films on our Streaming guide.