Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (soundtrack)
Soundtrack to the 1999 Austin Powers sequel.
Various artists · via Wikipedia: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (soundtrack) · Fair use
The soundtrack for *Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me* hit stores on June 1, 1999, just eleven days before the film itself, under the Maverick Records label. Danny Bramson and Guy Oseary produced the album, which gathered rock and pop tracks from big-name acts including Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, Mel B, and R.E.M. The lead single, Madonna’s “Beautiful Stranger,” won a Grammy and topped many charts; its music video, directed by Brett Ratner, featured Mike Myers as Austin Powers alongside the singer. The album went Platinum in the U.S., selling roughly 1.5 million copies. A second collection, *Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (More Music from the Motion Picture)*, came out on October 26, 1999.
Lenny Kravitz’s cover of “American Woman,” originally by the Guess Who, was the second single, released on May 25, 1999, and later included on a reissue of his album *5*. Kravitz’s version is slower and softer, omitting the original’s signature guitar solo; he later explained to Randy Bachman that he couldn’t get the right tone. The music video, directed by Paul Hunter, featured actress Heather Graham and swapped the song’s political themes for sex appeal. In 1999, Kravitz and his band performed the song live with the Guess Who at the MuchMusic Video Awards. It also became the theme for the Madusa monster truck.
Mel B’s “Word Up!” was released as a single on June 28, 1999, after the album, and was produced by Timbaland.
AllMusic’s Gina Boldman gave the album three out of five stars, calling it a worthy buy for fans of the films and their ’60s sound. Stephen Thomas Erlewine said the second album was more consistent and just as entertaining, though it felt like an afterthought. An *Orlando Weekly* critic wrote that it was “packed with clever versions of classics, groovy new music and lots of fun,” predicting it would be the soundtrack of the summer.
The original film score, composed by George S. Clinton, was released on November 7, 2000, through RCA Victor, and combined tracks from both *The Spy Who Shagged Me* and its predecessor, *Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery*.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- various artists
- Released
- 1999-06-01
- Genre
- Rock · pop
- Label
- Maverick
- Producer
- Danny Bramson · Guy Oseary
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The soundtrack was released eleven days prior to the film's release. Its lead single, "Beautiful Stranger" by Madonna, was released on May 19, 1999, with a music video directed by Brett Ratner featuring Mike Myers as Austin Powers alongside Madonna. The song was a critical and commercial success, topping numerous charts and receiving multiple accolades. An extended play of remixes of the song was released to streaming outlets in May 2021.
The second single was Lenny Kravitz's cover of "American Woman," originally by the Guess Who. First issued on May 25, 1999, and later included in a reissue of Kravitz's album 5, the cover reached the top 20 in Australia, Finland, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain, as well as number 26 in Canada and number 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Kravitz's version is slower and softer than the original, without the signature guitar solo; he later said to Randy Bachman that he skipped the lead guitar part because "I couldn't get the sound. I couldn't get the tone." The music video, directed by Paul Hunter, featured actress Heather Graham, who starred in the film. In 1999, Kravitz and his band were joined by the Guess Who for a live performance of the song at the MuchMusic Video Awards. "Word Up!" performed by Mel B and produced by Timbaland was released as a single on June 28, 1999.
A second album, titled Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (More Music from the Motion Picture), was released on October 26, 1999. The original score composed by George S. Clinton was released on November 7, 2000, through RCA Victor, combined with the score for the predecessor film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
Reader's Guide
The soundtrack album for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me is significant as a commercial success and a cultural artifact of late-1990s pop music, tying together the film's retro-1960s aesthetic with contemporary artists. Its Platinum certification reflects strong sales, and the inclusion of Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger"—a Grammy-winning chartbuster—cemented the album's place in popular music history. The album also features Lenny Kravitz's cover of "American Woman," which became a notable hit and a staple of his live performances, and Mel B's cover of "Word Up!" produced by Timbaland. The soundtrack's blend of original songs and covers helped promote the film and extended its reach beyond cinema audiences. The release of a second soundtrack album and a separate score album indicates the franchise's sustained commercial appeal. Critical reception was generally positive, with AllMusic rating it three stars out of five and calling it "a worthy purchase for fans of the Powers films and the '60s sound celebrated in them." An Orlando Weekly critic wrote that it was "packed with clever versions of classics, groovy new music and lots of fun, this is sure to be the soundtrack of the summer."
Did You Know?
- The album was released on June 1, 1999, eleven days before the film's release.
- Madonna's "Beautiful Stranger" won a Grammy Award and was a chartbuster.
- Lenny Kravitz's cover of "American Woman" omitted the signature guitar solo because he said he couldn't get the sound or tone.
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