The Black Pearl Soundtrack roundup
The Best The Black Pearl Soundtrack Songs Right Now
A guide to the essential individual tracks from the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl score, with context for each.
The individual tracks on the Black Pearl soundtrack vary considerably in character, from propulsive action cues to atmospheric pieces and dramatic climaxes. Here are the most important recordings from the score and what makes each one distinctive.
He's a Pirate
The main theme of the score and its most famous piece, He's a Pirate opens with a rapid ascending figure in the strings and builds to a full orchestral statement. The theme is in a minor key but is energetic rather than dark — a combination that captures the spirit of the film's protagonist. It has been used in hundreds of other contexts since 2003 and is among the most recognised themes in film music from the decade. Listening to it in the context of the original score, rather than in trailer form, reveals its full dramatic arc and the way it evolves across the film.
The Black Pearl
A more atmospheric and foreboding cue, The Black Pearl establishes the menace of the ship and its crew. The writing here draws on lower strings and brass, with the choir providing weight and darkness. It is a strong example of the score's capacity for contrast — the same musical vocabulary that produces the energetic main theme also generates this more ominous material.
One Last Shot and The Medallion Calls
One Last Shot is a highlight of the action scoring — propulsive, rhythmically driven and well suited to the sequence it accompanies. The Medallion Calls is a shorter but dramatically effective cue that introduces a secondary theme associated with the supernatural elements of the plot. Both pieces show the range of the Black Pearl soundtrack in its approach to dramatic scoring and are worth hearing alongside the better-known main theme. See our albums guide for the full release.
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