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Me Tarzan, swinging to Phil Collins
The soundtrack of Walt Disney's animation film Tarzan abounds in African drums. Phil Collins, erstwhile drummer for Genesis and Grammy-winning solo singer, has composed and arranged the songs and also played the drums on Mark Mancina's score.
Two Worlds with Phil Collins' lyrics, is a eulogy to the two worlds -- human and animal -- which come together for a simple life. Tarzan, of course, has always been a symbol of this friendship.
You'll be in my heart is typical Hollywood in its take-off and chord progressions and lushly romantic backup of the violins and the flute. Glenn Close and Phil perform a version each. Son of Man is fast and strident, the drums are popular rock. No African jungle effect here.
Strangers like me is in the same mould. Trashin' the camp has 'noises' by Phil Collins in addition to his music arrangement and Rosie O Donnell's warm voice. Trumpets blare out like elephants. Nonsense syllables like "shoo bi do" make up the number. Phil and N'Sync do another version.
Wondrous Place is full of warm violins and wistful flutes. Phil Collins drums up a splendid effect in African style. Then comes a quiet semi-classical interlude which reminds you of masters like Henry Mancini and Andre Kostelanetz.
Moves like an ape, looks like a man is full of interesting variations on various African percussion instruments. The flute is breathtakingly beautiful, and this score blends into the reprise of Two Worlds.
Side B has a Phil version and a finale of Two Worlds. The Gorillas and One Family also have a typical Hollywood feel -- violins flowing gently one instant, vibrantly rousing another, drums fading in and out... All these are interspersed with musical styles like the Arab and the African. The ground shifts constantly, and spiralling flutes lasso out into the higher octaves.
The tape ends with a Tarzan yell which sounds more like what Edgar Rice Burroughs had in mind than our local 'junglee' Shammi Kapoor's call of Yahoo!
Phil Collin's impeccable vocals and drums stand out. The use of various African folk rhythms is intelligent and apt, considering the setting of the film.
S Suchitra Lata 
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