The official soundtrack to the upcoming musical adaptation of The Color Purple has been released via Warner Bros. Pictures, WaterTower Music and gamma.
The set includes the previously shared songs “Lifeline” by Alicia Keys and “Risk It All,” a duet featuring Usher and H.E.R. The former, written and co-produced by Keys, rests at No. 37 on the Hot AC radio chart this week.
“Risk It All,” co-written and co-produced by H.E.R., has been on an upward trajectory since its release as the second offering. The heartfelt track is No. 24 and No. 46 on R&B and urban radio formats.
The end credits song “SUPERPOWER (I)” in the film was written and co-produced by The-Dream, and performed by Fantasia, who also stars as Celie.
The Color Purple (Music From and Inspire By) features a long list of notable talent, including Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Taraji P. Henson, Keyshia Cole, October London, Coco Jones, Halle Bailey, Jorja Smith, Mary Mary, and more.
Special remixes of songs inspired by the film were produced by Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Mörda. Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins also contributes to the soundtrack on “No Time” by rising Nigerian singer Konstance.
The Color Purple (Music From and Inspire By) is executive produced by music icon Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders, and Larry Jackson, the founder/CEO of Gamma.
“I am so immensely proud that the filmmakers and Warner Bros. Pictures chose us to collaborate on a hugely cultural album that musically brings to life this reimagined classic,” shared Jackson. “The Color Purple, in its many iterations, is unquestionably hallowed ground in black culture. Just as film director Blitz Bazawule has done a spectacular job in taking the film to another level artistically, we, too, wanted to bring an equally adventurous, creative take to this expanded soundtrack.”
Jackson added, “Complementing the fabulously infectious musical moments of the new film, we wanted to further celebrate the stories of the film’s protagonists with additional current, contemporary songs that thematically spoke to their relatable experiences and struggles.
And deeply influenced by the great, iconic R&B/pop soundtracks of the 1990s, I’ve always wanted to make an ‘Inspired By’ soundtrack that had cultural legends and new artists of a genre come together for a piece of art that defines a moment in time. I feel great pride in what the team at gamma. has creatively achieved with The Color Purple (Music From And Inspired By) and I hope everyone else enjoys what I feel is the BEST R&B soundtrack since some of the most iconic ones of the ’90s!”
Circling back to the film, The Color Purple is a musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, as well as the 2005 stage production by Marsha Norman. It hits theaters Dec. 25 in the U.S. and globally on Jan. 18, 2024.
As previously mentioned, the lead role of Celie is played by Fantasia. Her performance in the movie has earned her a nomination for the 2024 Golden Globes in the category of Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. This nomination is her first ever for the Golden Globes.
Others to star in The Color Purple include Danielle Brooks (as Sophia), Taraji P. Henson (as Shug Avery), Colman Domingo (as Mister), Corey Hawkins (as Harpo), Halle Bailey (as young Nettie), Ciara (as adult Nettie), and H.E.R. (as Squeak), among others.
Listen to The Color Purple (Music From and Inspire By) soundtrack below.