Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Music from the Motion Picture is the score album for the 2024 film of the same name. It features the original score composed by Tom Holkenborg and was released by Milan Records on December 20, 2024.

Background

Tom Holkenborg, who composed the score for the first two Sonic films, returned to score Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and had finished work by July 2024. In December 2023, Crush 40 vocalist Johnny Gioeli said there had been talks of including the song "Live & Learn" from Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) in the film. In February 2024, Gioeli confirmed "Live & Learn" would be included in the film. Jelly Roll released a single for the film, titled "Run It", on November 21, 2024. The film also features the song "Neon" from Japanese rock band One Ok Rock, who previously contributed to the soundtrack for the 2022 game Sonic Frontiers. "It's a Sonic Christmas", the song performed by Ruwanga Samath and featured in the promotional short film of the same name, was released on digital platforms on December 13, 2024. The soundtrack album was released by Milan Records on December 20, 2024.

Content

The "Live & Learn" theme is introduced in the opening scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as a riff that Maria Robotnik plays on her guitar, from then on functioning as a leitmotif for Shadow the Hedgehog. The full vocal version appears during Sonic and Shadow's duel and when they transform into Super Sonic and Super Shadow to stop the Eclipse Cannon from destroying the Earth.

Reception

Cameron Frew of Dexerto called the score "superb", praising its incorporation of video game music and the accompanying licensed tracks. Mike Reyes of CinemaBlend similarly commended the addition of the video games' musical cues, feeling that it enhanced the experience. Matt Donata of The A.V. Club said "Shadow’s motorcycle and handgun combo earn their spotlight, as do the musical cues, none more blissful than Crush 40’s Sonic Adventure 2 theme song "Live & Learn" hitting at a pivotal moment during composer Tom Holkenborg’s third-act crescendo".

Track listing

Additional music

Additional music featured in the film includes the following: "99 Red Balloons" by Goldfinger "Neon" by One Ok Rock "I Want You Back" by Folder "Lollipop" by Tempura Kidz "Firestarter" by The Prodigy "End of the Line" by Traveling Wilburys "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by The Beach Boys "Green Hill Zone" by Masato Nakamura, performed by Jon Batiste "London Town" by Mr Eazi "Galvanize" by The Chemical Brothers "E.G.G.M.A.N." from Sonic Adventure 2 by Jun Senoue & Paul Shortino "Run It" by Jelly Roll The following songs originating from Sonic video games were integrated into the original score: "Jingle: Act Clear" from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 by Jun Senoue "Escape from the City" from Sonic Adventure 2 by Jun Senoue, Ted Poley, and Tony Harnell "Theme of Dr. Eggman" from Sonic the Hedgehog by Hideaki Kobayashi "Live & Learn" from Sonic Adventure 2 by Crush 40 "Event: The Last Scene" from Sonic Adventure 2 by Fumie Kumatani

Credits

Credits adapted from Film Music Reporter:

See also

Music of Sonic the Hedgehog

References