Before The Color Purple musical hits theaters Dec. 25, the official soundtrack will release Dec. 15 via Warner Bros. Pictures, WaterTower Music and gamma.
The star-studded collection will feature Fantasia, Alicia Keys, Usher, H.E.R., Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Missy Elliott, Ciara, Keyshia Cole, Halle Bailey, Coco Jones, Megan Thee Stallion, Taraji P. Henson, Jorja Smith, Mary Mary and others.
The Color Purple (Music From and Inspire By) will include songs performed in the Blitz Bazawule-directed film as well as original material inspired by the movie.
According to press materials, fans can expect “a breathtaking duet” by Usher and H.E.R. and “a special remix” by Missy Elliott.
The film’s end credit song, written and produced by The-Dream, is performed by Fantasia, who stars as Celie.
“Lifeline,” the soundtrack’s lead single written and co-produced by Keys, is out now and can be streamed below.
On the uplifting anthem, Keys sings: “I can be your lifeline / Stay with you ’til the sunrise / When you’re low / It don’t mean you’re alone / I’ll be by your side / Oh, I can be the reason / That you don’t feel your demons.“
Circling back to the soundtrack, it is executive produced by the legendary Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders and gamma. founder/CEO Larry Jackson.
“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,” says 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 continues, “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!”
The Color Purple is a musical adaptation of Alice Walker‘s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the 2005 stage production by Marsha Norman.
The upcoming film stars Fantasia (as Celie), Taraji P Henson (as Shug Avery), Danielle Brooks (as Sofia), Colman Domingo (as Mister), Corey Hawkins (as Harpo), Halle Bailey (as young Nettie), Ciara (as Nettie), H.E.R. (as Squeak) and more.
An official tracklist for The Color Purple soundtrack has not been revealed at this time.
Listen to “Lifeline” by Alicia Keys below.
