My last words on the vintage soundtrack variants

Hi all!

I finally have pictures of the 10th Anniversary disc, and will list catalog numbers for this item.  It took me a while to get to my mom's, I'm sorry (don't worry about the star sticker, it's something my mom does to mark her collection).  Below are pictures of the 10th Anniversary disc, all the pictures I could possibly take.  Here are your catalog numbers for reference and searching (no, "Fanora Meherio" is not on this disc, but "Alech Taadi" is, under the title "Police Chase" without FX):

Publishing Co.:  Elementary Entertainment Enterprises
Catalog:  LOVE-CD92048732
Barcode:  8 885092 048732

Best of luck!!!

Also, here is a link to all of the soundtrack versions available in 1997.  It confirms what I suspected before - the promos are the singles, and the "special edition" is the rubber case edition.  Fifth Element promos and special editions

Apipoulaï!For my post today, I am adding this gem to the blog for those of you who are looking for yet another version of the soundtrack. If it seems like I am obsessed with the music from this film, it's because I am.First, this version of the soundtrack came out in 2014, accompanying special re-releases of some of Eric Serra's other scores for Luc Besson films. This particular edition includes a special bonus track: The Diva Dance remix by SWO, and it includes the music video for Little Light of Love. Regardless of the redundancy of the tracks, this is a beautiful set enclosed in a glossy, gatefolded cardboard presentation, and includes a pretty sweet little booklet smattered with bits and pieces of Eric Serra's thoughts and captions. It is a European release, so bear in mind that you will have to look for it under the French title. SKU is 3 596972 999321, under Gaumont with exclusive rights to the Wagram Music label. The number pressed next to the SKU and on the disc is 329932. Happy hunting!

Apipoulaï!

For my post today, I am adding this gem to the blog for those of you who are looking for yet another version of the soundtrack.  If it seems like I am obsessed with the music from this film, it's because I am.
First, this version of the soundtrack came out in 2014, accompanying special re-releases of some of Eric Serra's other scores for Luc Besson films.  This particular edition includes a special bonus track:  The Diva Dance remix by SWO, and it includes the music video for Little Light of Love.  Regardless of the redundancy of the tracks, this is a beautiful set enclosed in a glossy, gatefolded cardboard presentation, and includes a pretty sweet little booklet smattered with bits and pieces of Eric Serra's thoughts and captions.  It is a European release, so bear in mind that you will have to look for it under the French title.  SKU is 3 596972 999321, under Gaumont with exclusive rights to the Wagram Music label.  The number pressed next to the SKU and on the disc is 329932.  Happy hunting!

(I super suck at taking photos on my super suck phone but now I have a better camera so be patient)

Second, I often see a lot of confusion through posts about how to download and/or find Terii Taputo's version of Fanora Meherio from the film in its entirety.  Besides going to his site (addressed in an earlier post), there is no complete version of the song on any compilation (Japanese ISO, "promo" download, or even the "archival edition").  To my knowledge, filming for Taputo was an in and out job - done in one take and without needing to continue the song as he moves it into a traditional, fast-paced and enthusiastic island greeting song.  I believe he addresses this on his site (you can check), and therefore a collector will not find it whole, and the version on Taputo's site is arranged differently.  So what you find on the internet is exactly what I have on the archival edition and other versions.  It's simply not available in complete form because there was no completion during filming.  What you see and what you hear in the film are exactly what you get on these soundtracks because the song was never performed independently like the score; it was performed live during filming.  This is the reason I do not make it available for individuals to download.

As an aside, I kindly ask my readers to please refrain from asking me to upload other versions of the soundtracks and/or individual tracks.  It would make me very uncomfortable to do so - though I know it would make a lot of people very happy - my goal on this blog is to relay information so that readers may look on their own and acquire what they need by utilizing the information given.

Third, if you are looking for information on the 10th anniversary version, give me a little bit of time.  It is currently in residence at my mother's home and she refuses to give it back!  As soon as I can, I will be out there to photograph it and get back here with pictures and information for those who are looking for it.

In the meantime, here are some helpful tips in finding these versions and promo discs:

Search using the criteria in other languages - French, German, Spanish, and Italian will yield best results.  Try sites like eil.com or discogs.com.  Keep in mind that the variants are usually European releases.  Any Japanese release is generally labeled in English as well, and come with those cool little obi over the side of the cases.  I like the obi, some people can take it or leave it.

That's it for this post.  I have some "create your fandom" pictures of projects I am working on to share next time!

As usual, if you notice any errors or have questions, please feel free to comment.

(yeah that's Bruce Willis' face in the cover art!)

Hello, those few of you whom are still reading and following!

I see it's been a couple of years.  As usual, I am still heavily engaged in "The Fifth Element" (cosplayed Leeloo twice in a row now at comic cons).

Unfortunately my health has been taking a turn for the worse, and with everything I am trying to do to help get myself into better shape and frame of mind, I have just been unable and unwilling to update this blog, though there are several topics I'd like to attack over the coming months.

The last two years were pretty dark and terrifying.  I think I probably sunk to the lowest point you can get when fighting diseases you've had chronically for 10 years.  There is no medication I can take or want to take any longer.  So one day I challenged myself to change things and here I am.  Sadly, I am not very much better, but whatever I can do for myself I am doing it.

Back to "The Fifth Element", however!  It's exciting to see that kids who got to watch it on television have helped bring it back into the limelight over these past two years.  I am very happy to have the POP figures and the ReAction figures.  SPECTACULAR!  I have been waiting for figures since 1998's announcement of proper figures in the now defunct "Toyfair" magazine.  Is it defunct?  I don't think it's around any longer.  I hope in the near future we will get bigger, more detailed figures.  I'm also hoping Sideshow may have something up their sleeves, but who knows...i'm keeping my fingers crossed, however.

Thanks to Lootcrate, many people have been able to get their hands on a very nicely done replica of "Leeloo Dallas Multipass!" in a special Fhloston Paradise Winner! packaging.

What is also exciting is the news of Besson's new film, "Valerian", on which he has commented is not a direct sequel to 5th, but instead, 5th is set in this fictional universe.  Looking at the set pictures, they are amazing, and look very much 5th in color and design.  Laureline's hair, however, is blonde, but I suspect it's because Besson did not want another redhead conflicting with Leeloo in the same universe.  For one, I am going in blind to this movie because I only became familiar with Besson's inspirations from Moebius and Mezieres after seeing the film.  I have not read the comics, and I have not watched the animated mini-series.  I'm okay with this.  I do not need another fandom!

Since next year is the 20th anniversary of "The Fifth Element," I'm kind of feeling my old age these days...Ha!

Another note on multipasses.  I worked on 2 model kits and I have a 3rd waiting to be worked, but it will be Korben Dallas graphics next.  My first model was pretty crap, and whoever cast it did it poorly.  But at the time it was cheaper and easier to get a hold of than the more complicated and detailed passes created by a specific individual (who really did them credit, but whose name I will not mention - though he is no longer selling them to my knowledge).  I am used to working with my hands and I love model kits, but it was difficult to follow his tutorial after a certain point and though the kits could be rigged to light up, there were no tutorials on that portion whatsoever (someone else figured it out and wrote it up).  This was very frustrating for me, as was the fact that I needed "plasticine" paints and glues.  My initial pass turned out well despite glue and paint substitutes, but to be honest I need to get the sanding portion down to an art.  So if by chance you come across one of these kits and you are not prepared to make something so complicated, I don't recommend buying it because you can now get Leeloo's multipass on eBay for around $15, and it has the correct information on it as well as the correct picture of Milla Jovovich from the film's pass.  The only thing that deviates are the credit card names on the bottom of the pass.  Obviously due to corporate law and such you can't use the word "Visa" or American Express" on anything unless it's going to be used to swipe for services...and though the multipass covers you in the fictional sense. I'm not so sure it's going to work in the real world...It also does not light up, but I am going to rig Korben's to do so.

Another point I would like to bring up is this, and even so, I would like it if anyone out there has any information they are willing to discuss about the 2-disc soundtrack "promo" set.  If I were to be completely honest, I do not think it exists, even though I have an "archival collector's edition".  I have searched the depths of the internet for information, and the only thing I run into is the copy that was uploaded to the internet and is not the actual thing.  Even the cover art that is uploaded is not official.  At this point it's making me so crazy, that if anyone has ANY information on it, let's chat.  The "archival edition" features more tracks than the other floating around so far, has a catalog number, and the CDs are not CD-RWs. However, even using the numbers on the CD and cover art - I get nothing, and I think people are looking for it and have convinced themselves it exists...I'd just like to say, please don't drive yourself nuts by looking for it.  If we are looking for a 5th promo set, it would be the Cannes set that included the watch and the 26-track soundtrack, which is the only CD promo set that I can find.  There are two promo singles from the film, the original 1997 "Diva Dance" by the Shooshoos and the 1997 "Little Light of Love" disc which features 2 edits of the song by RXRA, pictured above.

More to come, take care fans!

Apipoulai all, if you haven't given up on me yet!

The book project is still alive and kicking, and so am I.  It's been a rough year, I lost my beloved Oona (Siamese mix) in June to lymphoma.  Life kind of stopped while I took care of her.  We then acquired a 3-week old kitten who needed nursing and attention, and she's a little orange cat so I originally caller her Leeloo (of course).  Anyway, she's almost 11 weeks now and we are still dealing with the fallout her poor body went through because she does not have momma's immunity to everything.  I almost lost her too but she's a fighter - and my husband canged her name to Cersei.  Which is fine, we're huge "Game of Thrones" fans here and even though she is an exceptionally sweet kitten, s the name just fits her very well.

I like to tell my husband her full name is Cersei Leeloo.

Anyway, I'm still currently working on acquiring research materials and transferring written outlines to the computer.  The outline is always changing; at some point I'm going to just have to stop and go with it.  I keep starting the first chapter, basically a "get to know the author and why she's writing about 5th" but I don't know if I like the ego stroking of that or not.  Don't know yet.  Need an intro...

If you are a Reddit member, or lurker, Luc Besson did an AMA (Ask Me Anything) recently and being lazy as I am right now (I have to do a TON of cleaning everyday due to the kitten's previous severe ringworm infection so please as usual, bear with me), just plug "Luc Besson AMA" into their search bar and you should find it.  Top questions were on "The Fifth Element."  I have not had the chance to check it out myself and I missed the opportunity to AMA by an hour.  Bummer.

As usual, I have acquired more items for my collection.  My favorite pieces so far have been the Diva Dance remixes on a 12" promo vinyl.  I'm also gearing up to work on the light-up Matt Munson multipass kit which you can find on etsy for a terrific price for what you are getting, which is a professional grade kit cast from original multipass parts!  So, go buy and enjoy!  These kits are FABULOUS, but take some time and care to put together.  My old pass does not light up and is kind of rough around the edges, but I did what I could with it over weeks and it turned out decent.  It only has about 3-4 parts to the tens of parts the Munson kit has.  Put out the extra $ and you won't be disappointed.

Soon I am also going to try my own silicone run of suspenders.  Stay tuned, thanks for sticking with me, and I promise that the book is coming along albeit slowly.  I've gotten to the point where there are few magazines I am lacking and I have done a lot of cache searching on the internet.  I've been on the internet since 5th came out and I used to hit the older geocities-type sites all the time in 1997-now.  I continually look for new material on the web but my main focus right now is the Jodrowsky lawsuit (over similarities to the comic "The Incals") which Moebius also worked on.  May I suggest a great film documentary?  "Jodrowsky's Dune" was excellent if that's your bag, and you can check out more Moebius designs that transferred over to 5th, whther intentionally or not (for the record, Jodrowsky lost the lawsuit).

Vacation Cruise track

...is up online and ready to hear.  I'll list the same disclaimer here as on the video.  Official information on the track and performer can be found in earlier posts on this blog.  The track is littered with noise as are other tracks on the edition, it has in no way been altered or pulled from other sources.  The quality of the CDs overall is less than optimal considering the quality of the commercial releases, so please keep that in mind.  If you have the bootlegged version you'll notice the quality is the same.  There is not much I can do to help that.

With all that being said, enjoy!  Vacation Cruise - Archival Edition

2-Disc Archival Collector's Soundtrack

I'm putting up some pictures of the official Archival Collector's soundtrack, which is the 2-disc set that is very hard to find and includes the track "Vacation Cruise", as well as trailer cues and unused cues from the film.  Bootlegs can be found on the internet with misleading "cover art" but I believe that some of these bootlegs are incomplete (I used to own one).  A few notes about this set:

1.  It's not for sale.
2.  Some tracks are on the discs that aren't among the track listing.  I haven't yet gone through to sort them and get a more accurate count, but there are 4-5 extra separate tracks.
3.  This is not the 10-year Anniversary set, which is 1 disc at 50 tracks and features the spaceport in New York as the cover.
4.  I had to swap out the jewel case after purchase because the original was a wreck.
5.  The only song missing across all variants of the soundtrack is Ruby's 2nd rap, but both raps are featured here albeit without the lyrics.

Hopefully I will get the link for "Vacation Cruise" working soon.  Please keep in mind that I am very busy and as usual, chronically ill so it sometimes takes me a while to get things going.  I appreciate your patience.

"Vacation Cruise" song, discovered!

A little digging has led me to the solution of the "Vacation Cruise" song listed on the Archival soundtrack.  The original title of the song is "Fanora Meherio" and was performed by Terii Taputu in the film.  You can find his website here: Terii Taputu "Fanora Meherio", and a blurb in French describing his participation in the film with the song.

Very glad this is one mystery we can lay to rest!