Once More, with Feeling (Buffy soundtrack)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
Once More, with Feeling
Soundtrack album by
various artists
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2002
Genre
Length57:34
LabelRounder
Producer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer chronology
The Album
(1998) 		Once More, with Feeling
(2002) 		Radio Sunnydale
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Sputnikmusic[2]

Once More, with Feeling is the soundtrack album for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode of the same name. The album features the original series cast performing the songs from the episode, as well as additional music from other popular episodes by regular composer Christophe Beck, including suites from season four episodes "Hush" and "Restless" and as a score piece from season five episode "The Gift". Also included is a demo track of "Something to Sing About" performed by series creator and album songwriter Joss Whedon and his then-wife Kai Cole. The art for the album – which is also used as cover for related items, such as the script book, the Region 2 DVD and the poster – is by comic book artist Adam Hughes. The booklet includes liner notes by Whedon, the lyrics for the numbers, and various pictures from the episode.

Critical reception

AllMusic gave the album five out of five stars, stating that the music is "every bit as fun as the episode itself", praising the voices of Benson, Marsters and Head. Reviewer Melinda Hill called it "a must-have for Buffy fans, but it wouldn't be out of place in anyone's collection".[3] Sputnikmusic states: "All in all, this is by far the greatest TV musical of all time," and "it's a shining example of what any TV musical should hope to accomplish."[2]

Commercial performance

The album achieved moderate success in the United States, where it reached 49 on the US Billboard 200.[4] The album also charted at number 97 in Australia.[5] Although not charting in the United Kingdom, the album was eventually awarded a Gold certification in 2022 for sales of over 100,000 copies.[6]

Track listing

Vocal performers are in brackets and are listed as their character name. Tracks with no performer are score pieces by Christophe Beck.

No.TitleLength
1."Overture"/"Going Through the Motions" (Buffy)2:59
2."I've Got a Theory"/"Bunnies"/"If We're Together" (Giles/Willow/Xander/Anya/Tara/Buffy)2:22
3."The Mustard" (Man)0:19
4."Under Your Spell" (Tara)2:56
5."I'll Never Tell" (Anya/Xander)4:01
6."The Parking Ticket" (Young Woman)0:45
7."Rest in Peace" (Spike)2:44
8."Dawn's Lament" (Dawn)1:20
9."Dawn's Ballet"1:12
10."What You Feel" (Sweet/Dawn)3:00
11."Standing" (Giles)2:11
12."Under Your Spell"/"Standing" (reprise) (Tara/Giles)1:35
13."Walk Through the Fire" (Buffy/Spike/Sweet/Giles/Xander/Anya/Tara/Willow)3:44
14."Something to Sing About" (Buffy/Spike)4:40
15."What You Feel" (reprise) (Sweet)0:46
16."Where Do We Go from Here?" (Dawn/Buffy/Spike/Giles/Tara/Xander/Anya)1:53
17."Coda" (Buffy/Spike)0:40
18."End Credits" ("Broom Dance"/"Grr Arrgh")0:32
19."Main Title"0:27
20."Suite from Restless" ("Willow's Nightmare"/"First Rage"/"Chain of Ancients")5:04
21."Suite from Hush" ("Silent Night"/"First Kiss"/"Enter the Gentlemen"/"Schism")6:57
22."Sacrifice" (from The Gift)2:57
23."Something to Sing About" (demo) (Kai Cole/Joss Whedon)4:30
Total length:57:34

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Once More, with Feeling
Chart (2002–2003) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] 97
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[7] 37
French Albums (SNEP)[8] 25
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[9] 7
US Billboard 200[4] 49
US Billboard Top Internet[4] 49
US Billboard Top Soundtracks[4] 3

Certifications

Certifications for Once More, with Feeling
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] Gold 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ a b Hanson, John. "Review: Soundtrack - Once More with Feeling". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  3. ^ Hill, Melinda Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More with Feeling [Musical Episode Soundtrack], Allmusic.com. Retrieved on June 29, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More with Feeling - Original TV Soundtrack | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "The ARIA Report: Issue No. 664" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. November 18, 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-01-06. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "British album certifications – Original soundtrack – Buffy - Once More With Feeling". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Top 100 Albums". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 22, 2002. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Lescharts.com – Soundtrack – Buffy: The Vampire Slayer - Once More, with Feeling". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack – Buffy: The Vampire Slayer - Once More, with Feeling" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 16, 2021.