Harry Gregson-Williams

Composer, conductor, and producer Harry Gregson-Williams provides a lush backdrop to director Joel Schumacher's tale of murdered Irish journalist Veronica Guerin. Utilizing Celtic motifs wrapped around electronic beats, he weaves a perpetual rainy day that alternately celebrates and mourns the protagonist's fatal last few weeks. Hugh Marsh's electric violin leads the theme and gives contemporary warmth to the traditional melodies employed by Williams. The heart of the score is "Bad News," a heartbreaking version of the Irish standard "Fields of Athenry" sung by a homeless child -- Brian O'Donnell -- whom Williams discovered singing in the streets of Dublin, and accompanied by flute, violin, French horn, and percussion. Sinéad O'Connor provides the film's centerpiece, a variation on the theme called "One More Day" that echoes much of the material featured on her 2002 collection of traditional Irish songs, Sean-Nós Nua. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide