In Brief

In Luhrmann’s colorful movie fantasy, all the music of the 20th century comes in one undifferentiated stream. Opera singers cavort with pop stars ... “Up Where We Belong” stands equal to “All You Need Is Love”

Wait! That’s no fantasy. It’s the blurred reality of the century’s pop culture, and in this CD reduction of the movie’s music it’s a vivid, wild ride. It’s also no fantasy that the film’s stars, Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, can hold their own alongside Beck, Bowie, Bono and the very now quartet of Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya and Pink.

McGregor, who proved his punk cred singing in “Velvet Goldmine,” here flexes a rich tenor on such tunes as Elton John’s “Your Song” (joined by three real opera tenors led by Placido Domingo). Kidman uses a breathier, boopsier delivery, but is no less legitimate a singer--and certainly more genuine than Aguilera. And together, especially on a playful “Elephant Love Medley,” there’s a giddy sparkle evoking Astaire and Rogers in their snappy film fantasy worlds.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are due in stores Tuesday.