Bee Movie (soundtrack)

Rupert Gregson-Williams who previously composed for DreamWorks' Over the Hedge (2006) had scored Bee Movie. The score utilized strings and brass themes that would provide a racy and fun-filled atmosphere while also working on a full orchestra for grandeur and dramatic intensity. While the overall sound design was lighthearted, he also focuses on large orchestral themes as well as appropriate instrumentation being utilized for the satire tone of the film.^[1][2] The album also featured the Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" and a cover version of "Here Comes the Sun" by Sheryl Crow.^[3]

Sony Classical Records released the 15-song soundtrack on October 30, 2007.^[4] An exclusive bonus track was released via iTunes.^[5]

Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks wrote "As for the contribution by Gregson-Williams and the six other Remote Control composers, Bee Movie is as purely a fun listening experience on album as the aforementioned [John] Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams scores, along with Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit by Julian Nott and other [Hans] Zimmer assistants more recently. The theme in "The Pollen Jocks" is among the most satisfying of the year, and with the four fantastic cues that open this album, Bee Movie is an easy recommendation. The album does slow down in its latter half, and the flow is interrupted briefly by "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies, but you can't help but admire the optimistic energy this score conveys."^[6] AllMusic wrote "This bright, upbeat, and brass-heavy score makes no bones about being the musical undergirding of an animated comedy, so listeners seeking a serious and somber symphonic outing will need to look elsewhere."^[7]

James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "The two songs do nothing to detract from the overall satisfaction the album brings and, while I know it's all pretty insignificant and certainly not as impressive in a technical sense as the year's standout animations core, Michael Giacchino's Ratatouille, this album ticks all the right boxes in terms of the enjoyment it can bring to the listener - particularly one who is a fan of Powell's music for animations, but more generally it should appeal to anyone who enjoys large-scale orchestral adventure scores. Perhaps it's true that this score earns four stars not as a direct result of its quality, but because it seems like some kind of shining oasis amongst the spartan offerings of the year as a whole, but while you might find many which are more intellectually stimulating, at a basic level you won't find too many more entertaining film score albums released this year."^[8] Thomas Glorieux of Maintitles.net wrote "Bee Movie is no small pick either. It is in fact one of the most fun scores of the year and at least several tracks keep returning in my CD player for timeless spins. If Rupert Gregson-Williams can grow the same way his brother Harry did, then I'm sure we haven't heard the last of his bag of tricks yet. Bee Movie is a hoot from start to finish."^[9] Brent Simon of Screen International wrote that "Rupert Gregson-Williams' score and some vibrant musical selections" helps in aiding the film.^[10]