The song playing when Romeo and Juliet first see each other through the aquarium in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film is \u201cKissing You\u201d by Des’ree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s also sometimes listed as \u201cI’m Kissing You\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording was created specifically for the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scene features Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They notice each other through a fish tank during the Capulet family’s party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Des’ree’s emotional ballad accompanies their first connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result became one of the most memorable romantic scenes in 1990s cinema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Des’ree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She’s a British singer-songwriter known for recordings including \u201cYou Gotta Be\u201d and \u201cLife\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her music combines pop, soul and R&B influences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKissing You\u201d belongs to the more dramatic side of her catalogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording places enormous emphasis on her vocal performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than relying on an energetic pop arrangement, it uses piano and orchestral strings to create emotional intensity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Des’ree and Timothy Atack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The composition was created for Romeo + Juliet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Producer Nellee Hooper worked on the recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Craig Armstrong arranged the strings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That combination helped create its distinctive atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The production is sophisticated but restrained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The instrumental arrangement supports the vocal rather than competing with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It appeared on the soundtrack to the 1996 film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The single was released in 1997.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording subsequently appeared on Des’ree’s album Supernatural in 1998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That gave the song a life beyond the original film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But its connection with Romeo and Juliet remains central to how many listeners recognise it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romeo attends the Capulet family’s party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He encounters Juliet unexpectedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two characters notice each other through a large fish tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their attention immediately becomes focused on one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The aquarium creates a physical barrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They can see each other clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But they haven’t yet met properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That makes the moment visually romantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The water also creates an unusual sense of distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Des’ree’s recording reinforces the emotional atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the arrangement feels intimate and enormous simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The piano establishes a gentle foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Des’ree’s voice becomes increasingly expressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strings create a larger emotional environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That musical progression reflects the characters’ experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their encounter begins with a glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the audience understands that the relationship will become extraordinarily important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The music gives the moment a sense of destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She appears as a singer during the Capulet party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That makes the soundtrack placement particularly interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recording doesn’t simply play over the scene as background music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its performer exists within the fictional environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That helps connect the musical performance with the party itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romantic longing and emotional attachment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song communicates the intensity of wanting to be close to somebody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its lyrics are relatively direct compared with the elaborate imagery in Shakespeare’s original play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That makes the recording an effective emotional bridge between the historical story and Luhrmann’s modern setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The audience doesn’t need to understand every part of the Shakespearean dialogue to recognise the feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because Luhrmann combined Shakespeare’s original language with contemporary music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The film uses alternative rock, electronic music, pop and orchestral scoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That creates an unusual contrast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dialogue belongs to an older literary tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The setting and music feel contemporary to the 1990s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The soundtrack helps make the emotional experiences accessible to modern audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The soundtrack includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These recordings represent different parts of 1990s alternative music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some are romantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others create tension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The complete soundtrack is an excellent introduction to the musical environment surrounding the film’s release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s one of the film’s most recognisable vocal songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the movie also uses instrumental scoring by Craig Armstrong and other musical contributors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some melodies appear in different forms throughout the film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That means viewers searching for the soundtrack may encounter both Des’ree’s song and instrumental material associated with the same romantic themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re looking for the aquarium scene, Des’ree’s recording is the correct starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the arrangement uses relatively few instruments very effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The piano provides harmonic movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The strings create emotional scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vocal becomes the focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s no conventional rock rhythm section dominating the recording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That makes the song particularly suitable for a scene built around eye contact and emotional anticipation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The music gives the audience time to experience the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her biggest international hits include \u201cYou Gotta Be\u201d and \u201cLife\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those recordings have a more conventional pop and soul character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKissing You\u201d demonstrates another side of her musical personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is considerably more restrained and theatrical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That makes it worth hearing even if you already know her radio hits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try:<\/p>\n\n\n\n