The Prince of Egypt tells the story of two men -- one born a prince, the other a slave ... but only one was chosen to lead. A lie made them brothers, and the truth will destroy a kingdom and separate them forever. Starring the voices of Val Kilmer and Ralph Fiennes as the central characters Moses and Rameses, the film also brings to the screen the vocal talents of Sandra Bullock, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, Steve Martin, Hellen Mirren, Michelle Pfeiffer, Martin Short and Patrick Stewart. Including six new songs written by Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, The Prince of Egypt features an epic original score by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer.
In addition to creating the "movie event of the season," DreamWorks' record label, DreamWorks Records, has released three companion soundtrack albums for the film. "The Prince of Egypt - Inspirational" album features Gospel and R&B tunes from the likes of CeCe Winans, Jars of Clay and Boys II Men; "The Prince of Egypt - Nashville" album features music by Faith Hill, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill and others; and "The Prince of Egypt Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" includes the new collaboration between Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, music by Amy Grant and other popular artists, and original score and songs by Hans Zimmer and Stephen Schwartz, respectively. "The Prince of Egypt Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" is reviewed here at MovieTunes, with streaming audio samples of Hans Zimmer's original score, including a selection from "Chariot Race," an unreleased score track.
梦工厂1998年推出的首部动画片《埃及王子》（The Prince of Egypt）耗资七千万美元、费时四年而成。《埃及王子》除了形式之外并没有什么传统动画片的样式，它打破了迪斯尼公司引领的潮流，以缺少浪漫童话色彩的主题创造出一个成人化的动画世界。
《埃及王子》描述两个兄弟的故事，方基墨声音演出的摩西和雷夫范恩斯声音演出的法老王雷姆斯，一个生来是王子，一个生来是奴隶，不过却在法老王的皇宫成为一起长大的兄弟，他们兄弟俩的感情非常好，是最好的朋友，他们因为一个谎言而成为兄弟，真相将毁灭一个王朝，也将永远拆散他们的信仰、传统和命运。
《埃及王子》的故事源于《圣经》记载中的摩西出埃及记，它展示出的是个人对理想、信念与爱的追求并为之斗争的历程，在影片中，汉斯·兹莫(Hans Zimmer)的音乐创作十分精彩，充满史诗般的气魄。
影片开篇是大气磅礴的《Deliver Us》，开始孤单而显得压抑的一段音乐如同进攻前的号角，之后男声合唱有力地进入，在管弦乐之下还可以听到隐约的中东音乐，然后是轻柔的女声独唱与男声合唱交替展开。《Deliver Us》始终在紧张中发展，而合唱和独唱中的和声则让音乐显得迭荡起伏，表达出法老统治下的底层人民渴望救赎，渴望得到一片属于自己的领地的心声。这是整部影片的序曲，全剧由此开始。
接下来的《The Reprimand》则充分展示了中东、古埃及的独特音乐风格：欢快、跳跃，充满神秘色彩，这其中可以看出摩西与雷明斯在年幼无知时的快乐生活；而接下来的《Following Tzipporah》与上一首曲子形成反差，音乐悠缓而抑郁，这预示着随着对各自命运的深入认知，兄弟之间的矛盾开始呈现。
《All I Ever Wanted》在由弱渐强的鼓点中开始，阿米克·伯拉姆(Amick Byram)唱出的歌曲的第一部份是摩西对生存原因的探索和对信念的迷惘，而林达·迪·莎娜(Linda Dee Shayne)唱出的则是摩西的姐姐对摩西的开导和期望。
摩西自小与埃及王子雷明斯为兄弟，当他对受苦受难的希伯来人产生同情并知道自己生为奴隶时，他的心理落差是巨大的。然而因为他心中强烈的爱，他决定拥有的一切去为信念奋斗。《Good—Bye Brother》后又是一首古埃及风格的歌曲《Through Heaven's Eyes》，这首歌是欢快而向上的，让人们感到希望在闪烁。在这里，摩西在一位祭司的引导下，开始理解人的所作所为如何才具有价值。从此，摩西对自己的人生有了明确的目的。《The Burning Bush》则是一大段平静的抒情段落，这是摩西决定去见已成为法老的雷明斯并与之彻底决裂前的铺垫。虽然前路艰险，但在神的昭示下，摩西毫不畏惧，反而显出了一种平静。
在《埃及王子》的整部影片音乐中，象《The Burning Bush》这样的纯抒情音乐部份并不多，大部份音乐都是直接服务于剧情发展的，细微表现人物内心的音乐段落往往也是为接下来更激烈的冲突作一个铺垫。《Playing With The Big Boys》、《Cry》、《Really》、《The Plagues》这几首曲子相对集中在摩西与雷明斯的正面冲突中，对立不会因为谈判消除，法老不会为了曾为兄弟的摩西而给奴隶自由、还他们尊严，摩西每走一步都关系到自己及所有希伯来人的生死存亡。《The Plagues》激烈的情绪中隐藏着的是更大的危机，然而在接下来的音乐中矛盾再一次被压低，我们在紧张之中听到了伤感的《Death Of The First Born》。
摩西与雷明斯对话失败后，身为奴隶的希伯来人对他心怀不满，摩西也因此而感到失望，这个时候，影片中第一次清楚地出现了《埃及王子》的主题曲《When You Believe》的旋律。在神的帮助下，瘟疫降临，非希伯来人的长子一夜被击杀，法老雷明斯面对死去的儿子悲痛万分，他允许摩西率希伯来人离开。而摩西在即将离开时，他面对曾经生活的地方，面对失去孩子的雷明斯，面对自己半生的经历和信念，感到一种无法明喻的悲伤，这时，米歇尔·普菲佛(Michelle Pfeiffer)和(沙利·德沃斯基)Sally Dworsky演唱的《When You Believe》出现了。在这里，米歇尔和沙利轻柔、干净而又坚定的声音给了听者极大的震撼，在那一刻，人们为一个人能为理想和信念如此执著地付出而感动。《When You Believe》是对摩西率希伯来人出埃及的一个回眸和赞颂，它讲到了对于信念的不确定：Now we are not afraid，Although we know there's much to fear，We were moving the mountain long before we know we could。然而命运会帮助渴望自由和尊严的人们：Who knows what miracles you can achieve，When you believe，Somehow you will，you will when you believe.
这首歌听来并不轻松，它就和整部影片一样是沉重的，《When You Believe》讲述的是一种对理想的渴望，它没有童话般的浪漫色彩。《When You Believe》出现之后，《埃及王子》的音乐走向了平静。雷明斯计划在红海边将希伯来人消灭，但摩西利用神杖将红海分开，希伯来人到达了希望的彼岸。《Red Sea》、《I Will Get There》都显得很大气，希望的光芒在其间的音符上跳动。
发行：2004 年 03 月 01 日
出品：美国梦工场影业公司
导演：布兰德·查普曼
配音：方·基墨 桑德拉·布洛克
Original songs by Stephen Schwartz
Score composed by Hans Zimmer
Score produced by Hans Zimmer and Stephen Schwartz
Music conducted by Gavin Greenaway, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rupert Gregson-Williams
原著歌曲：史蒂芬史华兹
原著音乐：汉斯季默
音乐制作：汉斯季默 & 史蒂芬史华兹
指挥：Gavin Greenaway, Harry Gregson-Williams, Rupert Gregson-Williams
When You Believe
[WH]:
Many nights we pray
With no proof anyone could hear
And our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understand
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains long
Before we know we could
Oah yes
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who know what miracle
You can achieve
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe
[MC]:
In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seems like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
And now I am standing here
My heart's so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I'd say
There can be miracles
When you believe
(WH: When you believe)
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who know what miraclea
You can achieve
(WH: You can achieve)
When you believe
Somehow you will
You will when you believe
[both]:
They don't always happen when you ask
And it's easy to give in to your fear
Ohhhhh
But when you're blinded by your pain
Can't see you way safe through the rain
Thought of a still resilient voice
Says love is very near
There can be miracles
(WH: Miracles)
When you believe
(WH: When you believe)
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who know what miracles
You can achieve
(WH: You can achieve)
When you believe
Somehow you will
(WH: Somehow somehow somehow)
You will when you believe
You will when you believe
You will when you believe
You will when you believe
Just believe
You will when you
Believe
Deliver Us
[Egyptian Guards]
Mud...Sand...Water...Straw...Faster!
Mud...And lift...Sand...And Pull
Water...And raise up...Straw...Faster!
[Slaves]
With the sting of the whip on my shoulder
With the salt of my sweat on my brow
Elohim, God on high
Can you hear your people cry:
Help us now
This dark hour...
Deliver us
Hear our call
Deliver us
Lord of all
Remember us, here in this burning sand
Deliver us
There's a land you promised us
Deliver us to the promised land...
[Yocheved]
Yal-di ha-tov veh ha-rach
(My good and tender son)
Al ti-ra veh al tif-chad
(Don't be frightened and don't be scared)
My son, I have nothing I can give
But this chance that you may live
I pray we'll meet again
If He will deliver us
[Slaves]
Deliver us
Hear our prayer
Deliver us
From despair
These years of slavery grow
too cruel to stand
Deliver us
There's a land you promised us
Deliver us
Out of bondage and
Deliver us to the promised land...
[Yocheved]
Hush now, my baby
Be still, love, don't cry
Sleep as you're rocked by the stream
Sleep and remember my last lullaby
So I'll be with you when you dream
River, o river
Flow gently for me
Such precious cargo you bear
Do you know somewhere
he can live free?
River, deliver him there...
[Young Miriam]
Brother, you're safe now
And safe may you stay
For I have a prayer just for you:
Grow, baby brother
Come back someday
Come and deliver us, too...
[Slaves]
Deliver us
Send a shepherd to shepherd us
And deliver us to the promised land
[Yocheved]
Deliver us!
All I Ever Wanted
[Mose]
Gleaming in the moonlight
Cool and clean and all I've ever known
All I ever wanted
Sweet perfumes of incense
Graceful rooms of alabaster stone
All I ever wanted
This is my home
With my father, mother, brother
Oh so noble, oh so strong
Now I am home
Here among my trappings and belongings
I belong
And if anybody doubts it
They couldn't be more wrong
I am a sovereign prince of Egypt
A son of the proud history that's shown
Etched on ev'ry wall
Surely this is all I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
All I ever wanted
[Queen]
This is your home, my son
Here the river brought you
And it's here the river meant
To be your home
Now you know the truth, love
Now forget and be content
When the gods send you a blessing
You don't ask why it was sent...
Through Heaven's Eyes
A single thread in a tapestry
Through its color brightly shine
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design
And the stone that sits on the very top
Of the mountain's mighty face
Does it think it's more important
Than the stones that form the base?
So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life
Look at your life through heaven's eyes
Lai-la-lai...
A lake of gold in the desert sand
Is less than a cool fresh spring
And to one lost sheep, a shepherd boy
Is greater than the richest king
If a man lose ev'rything he owns
Has he truly lost his worth?
Or is it the beginning
Of a new and brighter birth?
So how do you measure the worth of a man
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through heaven's eyes
And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around
No life can escape being blown about
By the winds of change and chance
And though you never know all the steps
You must learn to join the dance
You must learn to join the dance
Lai-la-lai...
So how do you judge what a man is worth
By what he builds or buys?
You can never see with your eyes on earth
Look through heaven's eyes
Look at your life
Look at your life
Look at your life through heaven's eyes
Playing With The Big Boys
[Hotep and Huy]
By the power of Ra...
Mut...Nut...Khnum...Ptah...
Nephthys...Nekhbet...Sobek...Sekhment...
Sokar...Selket...Reshpu...Wadjet...
Anubis...Anukis...
Seshmu...Meshkent...Hemsut...Tefnut...
Heket...Mafdet...
Ra...Mut...Nut...Ptah...
Hemsut...Tefnut...Sokar...Selket...
Seshmu...Reshpu...Sobek...Wadjet...
Heket...Mafdet...Nephthys...Nekhbet...Ra...
So you think you've got friends in high places
With the power to put us on the run
Well, forgive us these smiles on our faces
You'll know what power is when we are done
Son...
You're playing with the big boys now
Playing with the big boys now
Ev'ry spell and gesture
Tells you who's the best, you're
Playing with the big boys now
You're playing with the big boys now
You're playing with the big boys now
Stop this foolish mission
Watch a true magician
Give an exhibition how
Pick up your silly twig, boy
You're playing with the big boys now!
[Egyptian Priests]
By the power of Ra
Mut, Nut, Khnum, Ptah
Sobek, Sekhmet, Sokar, Selket
Anumbis, Anukis
Hemsut, Tefnut, Meshkent, Mafdet...
[Hotep and Huy]
You're playing with the big boys now
You're playing with the big boys now
By the might of Horus
You will kneel before us
Kneel to our splendorous power...
You put up a front
You put up a fight
And just to show we feel no spite
You can be our acolyte
But first, boy, it's time to bow
(Kowtow!)
Or it's your own grave you'll dig, boy
You're playing with the big boys now
Playing with the big boys
Now!
River Lullaby
Hush now, my baby
Be still love, don't cry
Sleep like you're rocked by the stream
Sleep and remember
My lullaby
And I'll be with you when you dream
Drift on a river
That flows through my arms
Drift as I'm singing to you
I see you smiling
So peaceful and calm
And holding you, I'm smiling, too
Here in my arms
Safe from all harm
Holding you, I'm smiling, too
Hush now, my baby
Be still, love, don't cry
Sleep like you're rocked by the stream
Sleep and remember this river lullaby
And I'll be with you when you dream
I'll be with you when you dream
Humanity
I wonder what life has in store for me
I think a painter is what I'll be
Mix the black with the white
On the canvas of life
Create the artistry
The picture is humanity
One world with so many tongues
Must now sing the song unsung
Just one melody
So let your voices ring
Create the harmony
The song is humanity
Na na na...............
One people one planet
Don't take your brother for granted
Na na na...............
Shake a hand make a friend
And let the love begin
At the sound of the drum
The race is run
Man vs. Man
For number one
But if we call it a truce
There's no way we could lose
A winner's vanity
In such insanity
There's just one race humanity
之前有专门推荐过“When You Believe”，但现在所说想听的是这张碟的全部。如果结合电影来看，那才真的是耐人寻味以至回味无穷；收集了几首非常有感觉的歌词奉上；我想——这才叫经典。
它是一部史诗，它的配乐和插曲从头到尾听来就像一部交响乐，在冲突和发展之后以辉煌的乐章结束。而汉斯·兹莫的配乐和斯第芬·施沃兹(Stephen Schwartz)的歌曲创作也充满了传奇色彩。对价值与尊严、理想与信念的追寻永远都不会是一件轻易的事。充满苦难的付出并不一定会得到美好的结局，我们有时只能渴望奇迹，就象《When You Believe》中所说：
When you fly as high past your pain，You can see your way through the rain，More of us still receive your advice，Say's nothing's there we need。There can be a miracles when you believe，Though hope is frail，it's hard to kill……
Freeman (63)