What Women Want (2000 Film)
Mel Gibson may learnWhat Women Wantby listening in on their thoughts, but it doesn't take an eavesdropper to know what moviegoers expect in a romantic-comedy soundtrack. Nancy Meyers, the movie's director and soundtrack album executive producer, has compiled an interesting mix of old and new, borrowed and blue. The emphasis is on the pre-rock age of big-band swing, whether it's performers from that era or others emulating them. Three cuts fromFrank Sinatra(arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle) and entries fromSammy Davis Jr.,Nancy Wilson, andTony Bennettsew up the soulful crooning of the velvet age.Lou Rawlsand theTemptationsreplace their modern soul grooves with lush orchestrations that perfectly fit the mood. Only teeny-dance-bopperChristina Aguileraand alternative rockerMeredith Brooks,  who chime in with a couple of recent hits, sound woefully out of place.--Rob O'Connor