"Disappearing Acts" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Disappearing Acts (Music from the HBO Film)" Soundtrack Description

Overview

A love story about working artists needs songs that can carry ordinary rooms—kitchen tables, rehearsal studios, a brownstone landing. Disappearing Acts (2000) answers with a turn-of-the-millennium R&B/hip-hop set (Angie Stone, Talib Kweli & Les Nubians, Me’shell Ndegeocello) plus classic soul (Donny Hathaway). The official compilation, Disappearing Acts (Music from the HBO Film), runs ~65 minutes and mirrors the film’s blend of radio polish and intimate performances. Trusted source: AllMusic album entry; Apple Music listing.

The film itself leans diegetic: Zora (Sanaa Lathan) is a music teacher and budding singer; several cues play as auditions, demos, or studio playbacks inside the story. Two composers are credited for original score material—Allen Cato and Me’shell Ndegeocello—while the album favors songs that frame Zora and Franklin’s starts, stalls, and second chances. Trusted sources: IMDb credits; Entertainment Weekly feature on Melky Sedeck’s contributions.

Questions & Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes. Disappearing Acts (Music from the HBO Film) was released in 2000 on CD; later a digitally remastered edition appeared on streaming. Trusted sources: AllMusic; Apple Music.

Who composed the score?

Allen Cato and Me’shell Ndegeocello are credited as composers on the film. Trusted source: IMDb full credits.

Who supervised the music?

Music supervision credits include Christopher Covert (with Jonathan Karp also listed in music department). Trusted source: IMDb.

Which labels released it?

Initial U.S. CD appeared via Artemis/Antra in 2000; later digital rights list Antra/Essential Media Group for the remaster. Trusted sources: AllMusic/retailer metadata; Apple Music.

Are Zora’s “in-story” songs on the album?

Yes—cuts by Melky Sedeck (Melky & Sedeck Jean) stand in for Zora’s material and appear on the album (“Brooklyn,” etc.). Trusted source: Entertainment Weekly.

Does the album follow film order?

No. It’s a curated listen; placements in the movie differ from the CD/streaming sequence. Trusted source: Discogs/album notes.

Notes & Trivia

• Album runtime is ~65:17; 15 tracks on most digital editions. Trusted source: AllMusic/Apple Music.
• Compilation production is widely attributed to Barry Cole (package/liner credits). Trusted source: retailer metadata.
• Digital catalog currently credits Antra Records under license to Essential Media Group. Trusted source: Apple Music.
• Entertainment Weekly profiled Melky & Sedeck Jean as the duo crafting Zora’s singing voice in-film.

Genres & Themes

Neo-soul & quiet-storm R&B → tenderness and adult stakes (Angie Stone, Donny Hathaway).

Back-pack hip-hop / Afro-diasporic fusion → creative ambition and city texture (Talib Kweli & Les Nubians, Spooks).

Acoustic-led soul ballads → reconciliation and regret (“A Song for You”).

Score motifs → light, contemporary textures that bridge domestic scenes (Cato/Ndegeocello).

Tracks & Scenes

"Get to Know You Better" — Angie Stone
Where it plays: Early romance montage as Zora and Franklin click outside the studio; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Sets the film’s tone—grown-up flirtation with everyday stakes. (Album opener)

"Love Language" — Talib Kweli feat. Les Nubians
Where it plays: Brooklyn street/commute interludes around Zora’s demo grind; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Word-driven optimism for an artist still building her voice.

"Brooklyn" — Melky Sedeck
Where it plays: Rehearsal and studio-day connective scenes tied to Zora’s creative arc; semi-diegetic (playback/monitor).
Why it matters: The duo’s material functions as Zora’s “own” songs in the film’s world.

"Remember" — Me’shell Ndegeocello
Where it plays: Quiet, late-night reflection after a relationship setback; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: A bruised, minimalist cover that leaves space for doubt.

"Sweet Revenge" — Spooks
Where it plays: Hustle-mode montage when responsibilities collide; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Rhythmic push; the cut sharpens the story’s pressure cooker.

"A Song for You" — Donny Hathaway
Where it plays: Post-argument aftermath, lights low; non-diegetic/end-credit adjacency.
Why it matters: Classic soul as emotional ballast—the film trusts the standard’s gravity.

Score cues — Allen Cato & Me’shell Ndegeocello
Where they play: Transitions around childcare, money fights, and Zora’s demo sessions; non-diegetic.
Why they matter: Contemporary textures that never upstage the songs or the small rooms.

Music–Story Links

Zora’s dream is literal: songs as livelihood. That’s why so much of the soundtrack behaves like a diary—Melky Sedeck’s tracks read as her material, while Kweli/Les Nubians and Spooks sketch the city’s pulse she’s writing in. When the relationship buckles, the needle-drops turn inward: Ndegeocello’s hushed take on “Remember” and Hathaway’s “A Song for You” widen the emotional frame without melodrama.

How It Was Made

Supervision & clearances. Christopher Covert is credited as music supervisor; the music department also lists Jonathan Karp. The CD compilation is commonly credited to producer Barry Cole. Trusted sources: IMDb; retailer metadata.

Score. Allen Cato and Me’shell Ndegeocello share composer credit; reviews at the time singled out Ndegeocello’s effective underscoring choices. Trusted sources: IMDb; contemporary reviews.

Reception & Quotes

Reception to the film was mixed, but the music’s lived-in feel drew favorable notes—apt for a story about an artist balancing love, bills, and a demo deal.

“Elegantly directed… and effectively scored by Me’Shell NdegeOcello.” Nitrate Online

Availability: the original CD (2000) and a later digitally remastered edition (streaming) cover the key cues.

Additional Info

• Key album artists: Angie Stone; Me’shell Ndegeocello; Spooks; Talib Kweli & Les Nubians; Melky Sedeck; Chaka Khan; Donny Hathaway.
• Digital edition credits: “© 2000 Antra Records LLC, under license to Essential Media Group LLC.”
• The film premiered on HBO on December 9, 2000 (HBO Films; directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood). Trusted source: Wikipedia (film entry).
• Melky & Sedeck Jean were recruited to craft Zora’s vocal identity for the film.
• The album is a various-artists compilation; no separate, full score album is listed.

Technical Info

• Title: Disappearing Acts
• Year: 2000 (HBO premiere: December 9, 2000)
• Type: Television film — romantic drama
• Directors/Writer: Gina Prince-Bythewood; teleplay by Lisa Jones (from Terry McMillan’s novel)
• Composers: Allen Cato; Me’shell Ndegeocello
• Music Supervision: Christopher Covert (music department also lists Jonathan Karp)
• Album/Label: Disappearing Acts (Music from the HBO Film) — 2000 CD (Artemis/Antra); later digital remaster (Antra/Essential Media Group)
• Selected placements: “Get to Know You Better” (Angie Stone); “Love Language” (Talib Kweli feat. Les Nubians); “Brooklyn” (Melky Sedeck); “Remember” (Me’shell Ndegeocello); “Sweet Revenge” (Spooks); “A Song for You” (Donny Hathaway)

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: AllMusic (album entry); Apple Music (digital remaster metadata); IMDb (film & full credits); Entertainment Weekly (Melky Sedeck profile); Discogs (CD track/credit details); Variety review (film context); Wikipedia (film basics).

November, 09th 2025