Besides being a beloved animated classic that kicked off a franchise, 2001's Shrek also features an amazing soundtrack filled with memorable tunes.
Shrek not only kicked off a beloved animated franchise, but it also featured a memorable soundtrack packed with amazing songs. Critically acclaimed upon release, the Oscar Award-winning film cleverly re-imagined fairy tales and gave them a distinctly millennial twist. Blending elements of modern popular culture with classic fantasy stories, Shrek has a timeless feel while also being firmly rooted in its own era. The soundtrack was a large part of the film's success, thanks to a selection of tunes ranging from oldies to modern rock hits. Shrek may be a product of its time, but its soundtrack remains popular even decades later.
Initially released as Shrek: Music from the Original Motion Picture, the first soundtrack album featured almost all the hits from the movie and also included a notable cut from the original score. By 2003, the RIAA had certified the album two times platinum, and it was nominated for the Best Compilation Grammy. Certain discrepancies appeared on the album, though, as some tracks from the movie were not legally allowed to appear on the record, so they were covered by different artists. Despite that, the music from Shrek became inextricably linked to the films, and certain songs are forever part of the character's legacy.
Here is every song on the Shrek soundtrack, in order:
- "Stay Home" by self
- "I'm a Believer" by Smash Mouth
- "Like Wow!" by Leslie Carter
- "It Is You (I Have Loved)" by Dana Glover
- "Best Years of Our Lives (Micks Mix)" by Baha Men
- "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (performed by Halfcocked on the Shrek soundtrack album)
- "My Beloved Monster" by Eels
- "You Belong to Me" by Jason Wade
- "All Star" by Smash Mouth
- "Hallelujah" by John Cale (performed by Rufus Wainwright on the Shrek soundtrack album)
- "I'm on My Way" by The Proclaimers
- "I'm a Believer (Reprise)" by Eddie Murphy
- "True Love's First Kiss" by Harry Gregson-Williams & John Powell
When Exactly Every Song Plays In Shrek
"All Star" by Smash Mouth: Shrek starts out with a bang. Smash Mouth's massive hit plays during the opening scene of the movie and underscores the ogre's morning bathing routine while the opening credits roll. The song plays almost in its entirety, though it is eventually cut off by the arrival of angry villagers at Shrek's cottage.
"Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: This rousing rock anthem plays during the scene in Duloc when Shrek and Donkey first encounter Lord Farquaad as they team up to fight a host of his knights in a makeshift wrestling ring. Though Joan Jett's version appears in the movie, a cover by the band Halfcocked took its spot on Shrek's soundtrack album because of licensing issues.
"I'm On My Way" by The Proclaimers: This jangling and playful tune from The Proclaimers plays under the montage of events that Shrek and Donkey get into as they travel across the land in search of Fiona. The song continues to play until the duo arrives at the outskirts of the castle that the princess is trapped in.
"My Beloved Monster" by Eels: This appropriately named song plays under the montage of scenes when Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona travel across the land. It continues as Shrek and Fiona begin to flirt by blowing up frogs and snakes and making them into balloons for one another.
"You Belong to Me" by Jason Wade: Every Shrek movie follows the same formula as the original and features great music, but this Jason Wade tune is one of the series' best needle drops. It plays under the scene in which Shrek and Fiona share a romantic dinner before they arrive back in Duloc, and it continues over the moment when Shrek asks her to come and visit him sometime in his swamp.
"Hallelujah" by John Cale: The John Cale cover of this Leonard Cohen classic plays in the movie, and the song underscores the montage of Shrek and Fiona thinking about one another after they're separated. It plays as Fiona is fitted for her wedding dress and as Shrek returns to his swamp. The Shrek soundtrack album contains a version of the song by Rufus Wainwright because of licensing issues.
"True Love's First Kiss" by Harry Gregson-Williams & John Powell: The only piece of the orchestral score included on the Shrek soundtrack album is a doozy. The sweeping song plays under the sequence in which Fiona and Shrek kiss for the first time and Fiona's true form is revealed in the light of their love.
"I'm a Believer" by Smash Mouth: Smash Mouth contributed two of the best songs in the Shrek franchise, both in the original movie. The second of these songs is their cover of this classic Neil Diamond song that was most famously covered by The Monkees. The upbeat tune plays as Shrek and Fiona kiss at their wedding in the swamp, it continues as the wedding party celebrates and Donkey flirts with the Dragon.
"I'm a Believer (Reprise)" by Eddie Murphy: Rolling right in from the previous song, the reprise of "I'm a Believer" is sung by Donkey after Shrek and Fiona ride off together. It continues as various characters from the movie celebrate Shrek and Fiona's marriage and then plays over the "The End" title card and rolls right up into the credits.
"Stay Home" by Self: In contrast to the upbeat music of the closing scene, this somewhat downbeat tune plays as the first song over the movie's end credits.
"Best Years of Our Lives (Micks Mix)" by Baha Men: The one-hit-wonder band Baha Men lent one of their tunes as the second song that plays during Shrek's end credits sequence.
"Like Wow!" by Leslie Carter: Injecting the Shrek soundtrack with a bit of early-2000s pop, Leslie Carter's Brittney Spears-inspired song plays as the third song over the end credits.
"It Is You (I Have Loved)" by Dana Glover: This song is heard as the fourth and final tune that plays underneath Shrek's end credits. It was composed specifically for the movie and features Dana Glover's haunting vocals overtop the familiar tones of the Shrek score music.
Where To Listen To The Shrek Soundtrack
Shrek: Music from the Original Motion Picture was the first official album released for the film in 2001, but the movie's epic score was later made available on the album Shrek: Original Motion Picture Score that same year. The album Music from the Original Motion Picture is available to stream in part on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Meanwhile, the film's original score album is available to stream in its entirety on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music.
