The Golden Globes nominations were announced this week, and Green Book, the Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali period piece based on a true story, landed no less than five. For some who have seen the movie and know it's about a black pianist and his bodyguard traveling through the deep south during Jim Crow, it might come as a surprise to find the film's nomination for Best Picture is in the Musical/Comedy category and not in Best Drama. But one look at the Green Book soundtrack will clear up any confusion.
Green Book has its share of drama, to be clear. Ali's role of Don Shirley is not only of a genius musical pianist who happens to be black, but he's also gay. His tour takes him to a time and place where one was already dangerous enough, both could easily get one killed.
And yet, the story is also about the joy of music, and how Shirley's gift helped open the heart and mind of Mortensen's character Tony Lip. The soundtrack is a celebration of this music, even including a piano piece played by the real Don Shirley, plus many other fantastic songs of the era, intermixed with original compositions by the movie's composer, Kristopher Bowers, who is known for his work on shows like Netflix's Dear White People.
| A1 | –Kris Bowers | Water Boy (The Don Shirley Trio) |
| A2 | –Kris Bowers | Happy Talk (The Don Shirley Trio) |
| A3 | –Kris Bowers | Lullaby Of Birdland (The Don Shirley Trio) |
| A4 | –Kris Bowers | Blue Skies (The Don Shirley Trio) |
| A5 | –Kris Bowers | The Lonesome Road (The Don Shirley Trio) |
| A6 | –The Orange Bird Blues Band | Backwood Blues |
| A7 | –The Orange Bird Blues Band | Let's Roll |
| A8 | –Don Shirley | The Lonesome Road |
| A9 | –Kris Bowers | Dear Dolores |
| A10 | –Kris Bowers | Field Workers |
| B1 | –The Green Book Copacabana Orchestra | That Old Black Magic |
| B2 | –The Blue Jays | So Long Lovers Island |
| B3 | –Timmy Shaw | A Letter From My Baby |
| B4 | –The Blackwells | You Took Advantage Of Me |
| B5 | –Al Casey Combo | Cookin' |
| B6 | –Bill Massey | What'cha Gonna Do |
| B7 | –Jack's Four | Dearest One |
| B8 | –Bobby Page & The Riff Raffs | I Love My Baby |
| B9 | –Bob Kelly | Mmm Love |
| B10 | –Kris Bowers | Make The First Move |
