RANGER89'S BLOG

Ranger89

Music and Star Wars
Saturday, August 14, 2004

I’m listening to my Star Wars soundtrack that I rediscovered recently under a stack of papers that’s been cluttering my desk for the past month. Damn, John Williams is good! All of his music is excellent, but he really did a remarkable job on the Original Trilogy soundtrack.

He captures the emotions of the scenes so beautifully. Not just anyone could see an ugly, little, green puppet and create the amazing ‘Yoda’s Theme.’ Few soundtrack conductors can spawn such moving pieces, though Howard Shore came close in the FotR CD, as have a handful of others.

For some reason, every now and then my music obsession with rear it’s ugly head and force me to spend the next few days glued to my walkman. While I don’t consider myself a music maker of any sort (that would require both skill and talent), I do have a rather strong - and perhaps unhealthy - addiction to it. At this moment, I have about five different songs playing in my head, and half a dozen different song fic plot bunnies fighting for attention.

To listen or not to listen, that is the question. A day without music is like a day without sunshine: dark, depressing, and leaving me very pale.

COMMENTS

Monday, August 16, 2004 8:19 AM

NRKANGEL


Avoiding the whole "borrowed" issue, I'm right up there with Ranger about music, soundtracks and the meaning of life.

When I was 12 my folks got me the two record Star Wars album. I'd always appreciated music before, but I'd never actually SEEN it in my head the way I did then. I remember listening to it over and over with the movie going on in the back of my mind and I finally realized what the music was capable of expressing.

I fully agree that a day without music is not a good day. Life easily becomes hollow and two-dimensional. Sometimes I can change moods by simply listening to different music. It's a powerful thing.

Sunday, August 15, 2004 4:37 PM

AERONSTORM


Well, he does tend to "borrow" from himself. If you listen to the "Across the Stars" love theme from Ep 2, then go back to his main themes from "Hook" you'll find a remarkable similarity - even one of my special ed 7th graders noticed it (although her parents being in the symphony orchestra may have given her a slight edge ;) ) I nearly choked when I realized Jurassic Park borrowed rather heavily from the original trilogy incidentals, too. But, as my dad says, there's only so much original music out there, and he has been writing for quite some time now!


But I agree - John Williams is a musical genius,. He tops my list, followed by James Horner (esp Star Trek 2), Jerry Goldsmith, Michael Kamen, and Hans Zimmer/Klaus Badelt (since they are mentor/protege I put them together!)

Movie music rocks!


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