"Cats (Movie)" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Cats (Movie)" Soundtrack Description

Questions and Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes—Cats: Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (16 tracks) was released December 20, 2019 by Polydor (U.K.) and Republic (U.S.).

Who composed the film’s music?

Andrew Lloyd Webber adapted his stage score for the screen; producer Greg Wells contributed additional production and instrumentation.

What’s the new song written for the film?

“Beautiful Ghosts,” co-written by Taylor Swift and Andrew Lloyd Webber. In the movie, Francesca Hayward (as Victoria) sings it; Swift’s version plays over the end credits.

Who performs “Memory” in the film?

Jennifer Hudson (as Grizabella) performs the movie’s signature ballad.

Are all stage songs in the film album?

No—the release is a “highlights” edition; not every film cue/transition appears on the album.

Did “Beautiful Ghosts” receive awards attention?

Yes—Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

Notes & Trivia

• The album producers include Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Tom Hooper, David Wilson, and Nile Rodgers (according to the album credits).
• Recording took place partly at Abbey Road Studios with London Symphony Orchestra players—an old-school orchestral sheen atop modern pop production.
• “Beautiful Ghosts” was conceived to give Victoria a character song; Judi Dench reprises a 30-second fragment as Old Deuteronomy later.
• Jennifer Hudson’s “Memory” was cut live on set for rawness, then polished in post—an approach mirrored across several numbers.
• The release is a curated highlights set: not every transition/dance arrangement from the film is on the album (as noted by the Cats Fandom and label notes).
• Pitchfork covered the single’s launch; Variety reported Swift’s end-credits version while Francesca Hayward carries the on-screen vocal.

Overview

Why do grand orchestral swells sit beside pop microphones here? Because the film tries to translate an arena-sized stage musical into close-up cinema. The soundtrack keeps the bones of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1981 score—big melodies, character vignettes—then dresses them with glossy production and celebrity vocal takes.

The centerpiece is new: “Beautiful Ghosts,” a reflective ballad that hands Victoria a voice and reframes the Jellicle night through a newcomer’s eyes. Around it, familiar set-pieces—“Jellicle Songs,” “Rum Tum Tugger,” “Macavity,” “Mr. Mistoffelees,” “Memory”—arrive as self-contained showcases. As stated on Apple Music’s album page, the cast album functions like a guided tour of personalities, with Hudson’s “Memory” as the gravity well.

Genres & Themes

• Show tune foundations: classic ALW harmonic language (modulations, soaring climaxes) remains intact.
• Pop-polished leads: contemporary vocal production places star voices forward—Derulo, Hudson, Swift—over orchestral backlines.
• Burlesque & swing touches: “Macavity” sways with smoky brass; “Bustopher Jones” taps a music-hall grin.
• Balletic interludes: dance passages keep rhythmic ostinatos and light percussion to showcase choreography.
• Narrative balladry: “Beautiful Ghosts” and “Memory” anchor the album’s emotional arc—yearning, belonging, and second chances.

Tracks & Scenes

"Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" — Cast
Where it plays: Opens the Jellicle night as cats introduce their world in a London back-alley (non-diegetic musical number staged as diegesis).
Why it matters: Establishes ritual, meter, and the rules of this sung-through world.

"The Old Gumbie Cat" — Rebel Wilson (Jennyanydots)
Where it plays: Early comic number in the kitchen as Jennyanydots reveals her tap-dancing regiment of mice/roaches.
Why it matters: First character vignette; the arrangement leans percussive tap and bright woodwinds.

"The Rum Tum Tugger" — Jason Derulo
Where it plays: Swaggering nightclub-style entrance for the mischievous tom (mid-film).
Why it matters: Modern pop phrasing over ALW funk; it repositions Tugger as a contemporary showman.

"Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town" — James Corden
Where it plays: Savile Row-dandy stroll through bins and banter; a jaunty music-hall detour.
Why it matters: Comic relief that builds the “any cat can vie for the Heaviside” pageant feel.

"Gus: The Theatre Cat" / "Magical Gus" — Ian McKellen
Where it plays: A wistful reminiscence at the theatre, trembling tenor and strings.
Why it matters: Inserts genuine melancholy—age, memory, the ache of applause.

"Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat" — Steven McRae & Ensemble
Where it plays: Tap-driven showpiece on the rails; a rhythmic reset before the climax.
Why it matters: Pure movement joy—dance first, melody second; the album’s most kinetic cut.

"Macavity" — Taylor Swift & Ensemble
Where it plays: Bombalurina’s burlesque ode to the master criminal, with Idris Elba looming.
Why it matters: Seductive swing colors the villain’s legend; glitter becomes narrative misdirection. (as Screen Rant’s trailer/song coverage notes)

"Mr. Mistoffelees" — Laurie Davidson & Ensemble
Where it plays: A hopeful chant at the Jellicle Ball as the tribe begs their conjuror to save the day.
Why it matters: Crowd-sung anthem that grows from doubt to communal belief.

"Memory" — Jennifer Hudson
Where it plays: Grizabella’s plea near the climax; strings swell, then strip back to voice and piano.
Why it matters: The emotional fulcrum—shame, hope, and the most famous melody in the score.

"Beautiful Ghosts (Victoria’s Song)" — Francesca Hayward
Where it plays: Quiet reflection after Victoria meets Grizabella; later reprised briefly by Judi Dench; Swift’s full single runs over end credits.
Why it matters: New lens for the story—longing for “a home for a day,” as (according to Pitchfork) the film’s signature new theme.

Music–Story Links (characters & plot beats as connected to songs)

• Initiation ritual: “Jellicle Songs” frames the night as a test of identity; every solo that follows is a case to the tribe.
• Villainy with velvet gloves: “Macavity” sells danger through seduction, so the abductions feel like a party trick—until they don’t.
• Grace as chorus: “Mr. Mistoffelees” turns faith into group singing; belief literally makes the magic work.
• Outcast to contender: “Beautiful Ghosts” gives Victoria an interior monologue, making her empathy for Grizabella plot-active.
• Redemption aria: “Memory” earns the Heaviside choice by making vulnerability the bravest act on the night.

How It Was Made (supervision, score, behind-the-scenes)

Andrew Lloyd Webber returned to reshape his theatre score for cinema, with producer/multi-instrumentalist Greg Wells brought in mid-2019 to build the recorded sound: additional instrumentation, pop-leaning rhythm beds, and Abbey Road sessions with London players. The album production credits also list Tom Hooper, David Wilson, and Nile Rodgers.

“Beautiful Ghosts” came late in development to solve a story need—giving Victoria a voice. Taylor Swift co-wrote with Lloyd Webber and cut the single version; Francesca Hayward performs it on screen. (Variety and Pitchfork covered the collaboration and division of vocals.)

Reception & Quotes

Whatever you think of the movie’s CGI, the music landed as a polished, star-driven scrapbook of the stage show. The new song drew the most praise and awards attention, while fans debated arrangement tweaks and pop lead-vocal balances. (as stated in Apple Music’s editorial notes and trade coverage.)

“Swift’s rendition is featured during the closing credits; Francesca Hayward sings it in the film.” Variety

“A reflective new ballad that reframes the Jellicle night from Victoria’s perspective.” Pitchfork

Technical Info

• Title: Cats (Movie) — Cats: Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Year: 2019
• Type: Movie (theatrical)
• Music by: Andrew Lloyd Webber (adapted score); additional production by Greg Wells
• Album release: December 20, 2019 — Polydor (U.K.); Republic (U.S.)
• Key featured performers: Jennifer Hudson (“Memory”), Taylor Swift (“Macavity”; end-credits “Beautiful Ghosts”), Francesca Hayward (“Beautiful Ghosts (Victoria’s Song)”), Jason Derulo (“The Rum Tum Tugger”), James Corden (“Bustopher Jones”), Ian McKellen (“Gus”), Steven McRae (“Skimbleshanks”), Judi Dench (reprise)
• Awards: “Beautiful Ghosts” — Golden Globe nominee (Best Original Song); Grammy nominee (Best Song Written for Visual Media)
• Album notes: 16 tracks; ~59 minutes; marketed as a “highlights” edition

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Apple Music editorial notes; Variety; Pitchfork; Wikipedia (film & album); Discogs; IMDb (credits); Screen Rant; Cats Musical Fandom.

October, 26th 2025