Music can make or break a movie. Honestly, most soundtracks just sort of sit there in the background, doing the heavy lifting for the emotional beats without you ever really noticing. But the We Bought a Zoo OST is something else entirely. It’s not just "movie music." It is the DNA of the film.
If you’ve watched the 2011 Cameron Crowe flick starring Matt Damon, you probably remember that feeling of bittersweet hope. A lot of that comes straight from Jónsi, the frontman of the Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. Crowe has this legendary reputation for being a "music first" director—think about Almost Famous or Jerry Maguire—and he basically begged Jónsi to score this thing. It was Jónsi’s first time doing a full film score. It shows. There is a raw, unpolished, almost childlike wonder to the tracks that a seasoned Hollywood composer might have accidentally polished away.
The Sound of Jónsi and the Magic of 20 Seconds
The heart of the We Bought a Zoo OST lies in its simplicity. Jónsi didn't go for a massive 80-piece orchestra to convey grief or joy. Instead, he used toy pianos, glockenspiels, and his own ethereal, falsetto voice. It’s intimate. It feels like someone humming in the kitchen while they're making coffee, which fits a movie about a guy trying to rebuild his life after his wife dies.
Crowe actually gave Jónsi a "temp track" of Sigur Rós songs while they were filming. He wanted that specific, crystalline soundscape that feels like a cold morning in Iceland but also like a warm hug. One of the most famous tracks, "Gathering Stories," was actually co-written by Crowe himself. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to go buy a tiger and a dilapidated property in the middle of nowhere. It’s infectious.
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Then you have "Aegean Sea." It’s a long, sweeping piece that captures that specific feeling of being lost and found at the same time. Jónsi has this way of making instruments sound like they are breathing. It’s not just notes; it’s texture.
Why This Soundtrack Isn't Just Your Average Background Noise
Most soundtracks are functional. They tell you when to be scared or when to cry. The We Bought a Zoo OST doesn't really do that. It just exists alongside the characters. It feels organic. Maybe that's because Jónsi didn't follow the "rules" of film scoring. He brought in his partner, Alex Somers, and they basically experimented until it sounded right.
Let's talk about the "20 Seconds of Courage" theme. In the movie, Benjamin Mee (Damon) tells his son that all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage to change your life. The music reflects that. It builds. It doesn't explode; it just swells. It’s the sound of a heart beating faster right before you do something terrifying.
You also get some "legacy" tracks on the official soundtrack release that weren't composed by Jónsi but were curated by Crowe. You’ve got Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Don't Come Around Here No More." You’ve got Neil Young. You’ve got Cat Stevens. It’s a mix of Jónsi’s otherworldly compositions and these grounded, classic rock staples. That contrast is why the soundtrack works so well. It bridges the gap between the ethereal grief the family is feeling and the dusty, dirty reality of shoveling manure in a zoo.
Breaking Down the Tracklist: The Weird and the Wonderful
The album is a bit of a journey. It starts with "Why Not," which is basically a musical shrug—the kind that says "why not buy a zoo?" It’s playful. Then it shifts.
"Sinking Friendships" is a standout. It actually appeared on Jónsi's solo album Go, but it fits so perfectly here. The percussion is frantic, like a ticking clock, but the melody is soaring. It captures the chaos of the Mee family’s life. They are drowning in debt, the enclosures are breaking, and they have no idea what they are doing. But they’re doing it together.
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Here is the thing about the We Bought a Zoo OST: it’s remarkably consistent. Even the shorter cues, like "Sun," feel like complete thoughts. A lot of film scores feel fragmented when you listen to them away from the screen. This one feels like a studio album. You can put it on while you’re working or driving and it holds up as a standalone piece of art.
- Gathering Stories: The big, anthemic closer.
- Boy Lilikoi: High energy, flute-heavy, pure joy.
- Humming: Exactly what it sounds like. Introspective and quiet.
- Hoppípolla: Technically a Sigur Rós song, but its inclusion in the film's trailer and spirit is inseparable from the project.
Crowe once mentioned in an interview that he wanted the music to feel like "the soul of the house." He succeeded. If you strip the music away, the movie is a bit of a standard "triumph over adversity" story. With the music? It’s a meditation on moving forward.
The Connection Between Sound and Scenery
The movie was filmed at Greenfield Ranch in Hidden Valley, California. It’s beautiful territory. Jónsi’s music has this "wide open space" quality to it that matches the cinematography perfectly. When the camera pans over the hills, the music opens up. When Benjamin is looking at old photos of his wife, the music shrinks down to a single piano note.
It’s also worth noting the influence of Alex Somers. Somers is an incredible producer and artist who often works with Jónsi. His touch is all over the ambient textures of the score. If you like the We Bought a Zoo OST, you’d probably love their collaborative album Riceboy Sleeps. It’s that same "ambient-acoustic" vibe that feels like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.
Practical Ways to Experience the Music Today
If you’re looking to dive back into this soundtrack, don't just put it on shuffle. Listen to it from start to finish. It’s sequenced to mirror the emotional arc of the film.
- Vinyl is the way to go. If you can find a copy, the warmth of the vinyl really brings out the toy instruments and Jónsi's breathy vocals.
- Check out the "Hidden" Tracks. Look for the songs used in the film that didn't make the official soundtrack album, like "Buckets of Rain" by Bob Dylan. Crowe’s film versions often have a slightly different flavor.
- Use it for Focus. Many people actually use this OST as "study music" or "deep work music." Because it’s mostly wordless (or in Jónsi’s made-up language, Vonlenska), it occupies the creative part of your brain without distracting you.
The We Bought a Zoo OST remains a high-water mark for 2010s film music. It’s a reminder that you don't need a massive budget or a traditional approach to create something that resonates for over a decade. It’s just about being honest. Sometimes, honesty sounds like a glockenspiel and a guy from Iceland singing about courage.
For those wanting to explore further, look into Jónsi's work on the How to Train Your Dragon sequels or his solo project Shiver. You’ll hear echoes of the "Zoo" sound—that relentless optimism mixed with a hint of melancholy. It's a rare vibe. Grab a pair of decent headphones, find a quiet spot, and let "Gathering Stories" play. You'll get it.
To get the most out of this score, try pairing it with the original book by Benjamin Mee. Comparing the true story to the "Crowe-ified" version—with the music as your backdrop—gives you a really interesting perspective on how Hollywood transforms real-life grief into cinematic art. You can find the full album on all major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, often listed under Jónsi rather than just the film title.