West Side Story Soundtrack: Directed by Steven Spielberg, West Side Story is a 2021 musical romantic drama. It is an adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name, and the second film version after the Oscar-winning 1961 adaptation.
West Side Story tells the story of forbidden love and rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds in 1957 New York City.
Quick Facts
| Film | West Side Story (2021) |
| Director | Steven Spielberg |
| Music / Lyrics | Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim |
| Score Arranger | David Newman |
| Conductor | Gustavo Dudamel (New York Philharmonic) |
| Soundtrack Release | December 3, 2021 (Hollywood Records, Dolby Atmos) |
| Grammy Recognition | Nominated, Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (65th Annual Grammy Awards) |
| Where to Stream | Movie on Disney+; soundtrack on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music |
Who Composed the West Side Story Soundtrack?
The West Side Story music is by Leonard Bernstein, and the lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim, with vocals from the film’s cast. Composer David Newman arranged and adapted Bernstein’s original score for the 2021 film, incorporating alterations Johnny Green made for the 1961 film adaptation. Gustavo Dudamel conducted the New York Philharmonic during the film’s 2019 recording sessions, with additional recording by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2020, and Jeanine Tesori served as the cast’s vocal coach. The soundtrack was released digitally on December 3, 2021, in Dolby Atmos by Hollywood Records.
West Side Story Soundtrack List
Here is the complete track list for the West Side Story (2021) soundtrack, along with the film’s cast performers. You can listen to it on Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and other platforms.
| Track | Performer(s) |
|---|---|
| Prologue | Leonard Bernstein (orchestral) |
| La Borinqueña (Sharks Version) | David Alvarez & Sharks |
| Jet Song | Mike Faist, Kyle Coffman, Kevin Csolak, John Michael Fiumara, Patrick Higgins & Les Jets |
| Something’s Coming | Ansel Elgort |
| The Dance at the Gym: Blues, Promenade | Orchestral |
| The Dance at the Gym: Mambo | Orchestral |
| The Dance at the Gym: Cha-Cha, Meeting Scene, Jump | Orchestral |
| Maria | Ansel Elgort |
| Balcony Scene (Tonight) | Rachel Zegler & Ansel Elgort |
| Transition to Scherzo / Scherzo | Orchestral |
| America | Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez & ensemble |
| Gee, Officer Krupke | Kevin Csolak, John Michael Fiumara, Jess LeProtto, Ben Cook, Kyle Allen, Myles Erlick & Patrick Higgins |
| One Hand, One Heart | Ansel Elgort & Rachel Zegler |
| Cool | Ansel Elgort & Mike Faist |
| Tonight (Quintet) | Mike Faist, David Alvarez, Ariana DeBose, Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler & ensemble |
| The Rumble | Orchestral |
| I Feel Pretty | Rachel Zegler & ensemble |
| Somewhere | Rita Moreno |
| A Boy Like That / I Have a Love | Ariana DeBose & Rachel Zegler |
| Finale | Orchestral |
| End Credits | Orchestral |
Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for playing Anita in the 1961 film, returns in the 2021 version as Valentina (a reworked version of the drugstore owner Doc) and performs “Somewhere” — a song originally sung by other characters in earlier versions of the musical.
Where to Stream
Music lovers can enjoy the original soundtrack of West Side Story on platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music, and the film itself streams on Disney+. (External Link: West Side Story (2021 Soundtrack) on Wikipedia)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the music for West Side Story?
The music is by Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, originally written for the 1957 Broadway musical; David Newman arranged the score for Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film.
Does Rita Moreno sing in the 2021 West Side Story?
Yes. Rita Moreno, who won an Academy Award for playing Anita in the 1961 film, plays Valentina in the 2021 version and performs “Somewhere.”
Who conducted the orchestra for the 2021 West Side Story soundtrack?
Gustavo Dudamel conducted the New York Philharmonic during the main 2019 recording sessions, with additional recording by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2020.
When was the West Side Story (2021) soundtrack released?
The soundtrack was released digitally in Dolby Atmos by Hollywood Records on December 3, 2021, ahead of the film’s December 10 theatrical release.
Where can I watch West Side Story (2021)?
The film is available to stream on Disney+.
Related reading: Movie Soundtracks Hub · Disney+ · Streaming Guide