Movie Music and More 32# : "Brigadoon" (1954)

I (Hamlette) used to listen to this soundtrack all the time as a teen.  In fact, I still have most of the songs memorized, even the minor ones.  I'd listen to this while I was doing schoolwork or writing, and hearing it always makes me think of my little corner in the basement where I had my desk, not far from the family computer, which was a 486 and played CDs!  (Does anyone here even know what a 486 is?)

(Why does this lobby card advertise "the joy of color!" and then feature a big black-and-white photo?)

Okay, anyway, this is the soundtrack for Brigadoon, a musical about a very unusual town in Scotland:  it only exists on earth once every hundred years.  Two American hunters, Tommy (Gene Kelly) and Jeff (Van Johnson), stumble into the town on that one day, and Gene's character quickly falls in love with a Brigadoon woman, Fiona (Cyd Charisse).  Most of the movie takes place during that one day they have together.

"Once in the Highlands" is a lovely, haunting song that tells you the basics of the story before the movie even begins.  I guess the show's writers audiences to have extra help wrapping their heads around this kind of odd story.  "And this is what happened... the strange thing that happened... to two weary hunters who lost their way..."  I like the use of chorus here because it ends up sounding sombre and eerie, and really setting the mood for the story.

"The Heather on the Hill" is the big romance number.  Tommy is fascinated by Fiona, mostly because she's not trying to get him to marry her, but also because she's quiet and intelligent and sincere.  He's got a girl back in America who is loud and bossy and wants to marry him, you see, and the contrast kind of hooks him.  So here, he asks if he can join her in gathering flowers.

After that song, they dance this dance, which I love, partly because it's very different from Gene Kelly's typical jaunty, peppy dancing.  Fiona hasn't told Tommy yet that Brigadoon is magical, and in the dance, she's trying to keep herself from liking him because she knows it can't last, but gradually she finds she can't help falling for him.  (Her dress has the weirdest neckline ever, though -- it's always bugged me.)

And after dancing together, she leaves, and he sings my favorite song from the whole movie, "Almost Like Being in Love."  And dances a much more typical dance, for him.  He says "almost," but we can all tell there's no "almost" about him being in love by this point.  I'm just going ahead and including the movie clip for this song, partly because I love watching Gene Kelly dance and partly because Van Johnson is so grumpy and fed up through the whole thing that he makes me chuckle.  But if you'd rather just listen to the music, you can do that too -- you don't *have* to watch it if you're not all that into musicals or whatever.

That's all for today!

Movie Music and More #31 : "The Quick and the Dead" (1995)

I, Hamlette, love westerns.  You probably know that by now.  I also tend to like Alan Silvestri's scores, and this ties with The Avengers (2012) for my favorite of his.

I feel like The Quick and the Dead is not an especially well-known movie, so I'll quick recap what it's about:  An unknown female gunslinger (Sharon Stone) enters a gunfighting competition on a quest to avenge her father's death.  It is a leeeeeetle bit cheesy here and there, but that's more than made up for by the presence of Russell Crowe as a killer turned pacifistic preacher, and of Gene Hackman as the powerful man who runs the town and knows everyone's secrets.  There's also a young Leonardo DiCaprio, and Gary Sinese is in a flashback scene.  Good cast, good music, satisfying story.  It's rated R, though, so watch with caution, as there are some skippable things.

But you don't need any caution when listening to the soundtrack!  I've had this on pretty heavy rotation lately, as it really fit the mood of a short western story I'm writing.  So here are a few tracks to give you an idea of what the soundtrack as a whole is like.

"Redemption" has such a classic western sound to it, with the whistling, the whip-cracks, and lots of guitar.  Really captures the exciting-but-sometimes-dark-and-pensive tone for the movie.

Here's that dark-and-pensive thing again.  Cort has a sad story, as you can tell from the music.  He's also my favorite Russell Crowe character ever.  He's gentle and kind, but so dangerous underneath.

"The Big Day" starts off all edgy and off-kilter, upping the tension handily.  It builds slowly, finally reaching a moody climax that conveys more sorrow than triumph.

Back to that main theme again that you heard in "Redemption," only this time it's presented with a clear and determined trumpet instead of whistling.  Then, because this is played during the end credits and composers like to do this, it pulls in other themes from throughout the score, so that this one track is kind of a nice overview of the major themes.

You can listen to the entire soundtrack on YouTube here, on Alan Silvestri's official channel.

Movie Music and More 28# : "Conspiracy Theory" (1997)

This is your friendly neighborhood Hamlette, here to discuss another beloved soundtrack with you.  Today, it's Carter Burwell's score for Conspiracy Theory (1997).  This is one of those albums that I have listened to so often, it's ingrained in my brain.  I don't actually listen to it that often anymore because I can pull up my favorite cues in my memory and listen to them there.

I'll start with the main theme, listed as "Conspiracy Theory" on the soundtrack.  It gives you a great feel for what the movie is like:  relatively cheerful, with a lot of energy.  The part that kicks in at 1:48 is my favorite -- that theme makes my consciousness soar.

That theme gets repeated in the score's final cue, "Riding," beginning right around 2:00.  I actually bought this score just for that theme, and I recorded just that thirty seconds or so on a cassette tape (yes, I am that old) over and over and over and over so I could listen to just it.  The rest of this track is nice too, beginning with a gentle tenderness that builds to a sort of peaceful anticipation, then explodes with joy.  But those trumpets are what really hit my sweet spots.  I see that whoever put this track on YouTube agrees, since they added that little tag to it, hee.

I also quite like "Turning into a Jerry" because of how it opens with tender simplicity, then switches to a nice jazz beat with an off-kilter and slightly menacing melody played over it.  It's short and tantalizing and leaves me wanting a bit more.  It's also a great musical depiction of the main character, Jerry Fletcher, who is also tender, off-kilter, and slightly menacing.

I wish YouTube had more tracks from this soundtrack for me to share with you, but those are three they do have that I really like, anyway.  I think they give you a pretty good taste for what the soundtrack as a whole is like, anyway.

Movie Music and More 27# : "Chocolat" (2000)

Here's Hamlette, back again to discuss more movie music with you.  I've only heard a few soundtracks by Rachel Portman, but I really like what I've heard.  The scores for both Chocolat (2000) and Emma (1996) make me happy and are great for listening to when I feel like listening to something sprightly, but with a pang of melancholy here and there.  Considering the movie's subject matter, I'm sure it's no surprise that I really like to listen to the Chocolat soundtrack while I bake. 

I'll start you off with a feel-good song, lots of energy and spring to it.  It really conveys the idea of vigorously setting to work, doesn't it?

Here's a completely different mood.  "Caravan" is soft and sensuous, a slow and beautiful simmer.  It was first performed by Duke Ellington in the 1930s, but here, the guitar track is laid down by none other than Johnny Depp, who co-stars in the film.

My favorite track on the whole soundtrack is "Minor Swing," another '30s jazz song which Johnny Depp also plays guitar on.  It's joyful and energetic and just plain fun -- it gets my toes tapping and my fingers snapping.

Thanks for listening!

Movie Music and More #25 : "The Lone Ranger" (2013)

I, Hamlette, love this soundtrack.  And this movie.  I bought the soundtrack shortly after I saw The Lone Ranger in the theater for the second time, more than two years ago, and I still haven't put the CD on my shelves -- it lives in the kitchen, next to the little CD player I use while I'm cooking.  I listen to it at least once a week still, usually on those hard-to-get-moving mornings when I need a blend of oomph and comfort to set me on my feet.  Composed and produced by Hans Zimmer, it shot quickly to the top tier of my list of favorite soundtracks, and I doubt it will ever drop out of the top ten.

By now, this music courses through my veins.  It's become an integral part of my consciousness.  So right now, you're going to hear the music that flows through my brain at some point just about every single day.  This is what it sounds like to be inside my head, some of the time anyway.  

I'll start you off with "Silver," a gentle, haunting song.  It begins wistfully, then builds to a theme of yearning and desire.

"Ride" starts off sounding like something from one of Ennio Morricone's spaghetti western soundtracks.  That first 45 seconds of it makes me want to jump on a horse and, well, ride.  Ride toward something important, some necessary action.  Then it twists, becoming quieter, more thoughtful.  Later, it opens up into a sweeping theme that makes me think of wide-open spaces, with no boundaries or limitations. 

And as for the "Finale," well, this is my musical happy place.  I can't hear it and not smile, not get cheered up, not start to bounce.  You know the familiar "William Tell" theme by Rossini, which the old TV show and radio show used for their theme song -- "Finale" takes that theme and runs wild with it.  My absolute favorite part kicks in at 7 minutes when the theme returns off-cadence and minor, and then 30 seconds later these trumpets come in with what I think of as a love song to the Old West. That part makes me ache with joy.

Happy trails!

(Yes, my sign-off image is from this movie.)

Movie Music and More #23 : "Firefly" (2002-2003)

The soundtrack for Joss Whedon's tragically short-lived TV show Firefly is a lot of fun.  Composed mainly by Greg Edmonson, the music is a fascinating blend of east-and-west, like the show's culture.  You've got twangy banjos and ethereal flutes, pounding rhythm and delicate melodies.  It's got such a unique flavor, just like the rest of the show.

"Inside the Tam House" offers a good example of the more eastern music, with lyrical melodies from strings and a flute laid over a trickling piano.

"Mal Fights Niska/Back Home" represents what I think of as the classic Firefly sound -- lots of strings and wind instruments and percussion.  I like how this one starts a little slow, then switches to a more actiony vibe, because it definitely gives you the feeling of people facing each other, then starting to fight.  Around 1:22, it then flips to the more peaceful and gentle "home" theme that makes me feel cozy and happy.

Hands-down, my favorite track on the whole album is "River's Dance."  It's joyful and carefree, which the rest of the album isn't, for the most part.  Definitely makes me feel like dancing!

I'm so glad that, although Firefly was short-lived, the powers that be saw fit to release a soundtrack to CD, because I have had many hours of enjoyment from listening to this.  

If you've never heard this before, what did you think of it?

Movie Music and More #19: "That Thing You Do!" (1996)

That Thing You Do! came out right when I was starting to pay lots of attention to current movies.  Although I didn't get to see it in the theater, I rented it as soon as I could.  I was already a huge fan of Apollo 13 (1995), and I loved how Tom Hanks incorporated lots of names from it into this movie, which he wrote, directed, and had a pivotal role in.

Tom Hanks set this film in 1964, which he said was the last summer of American innocence, before the country began to divide over issues like the war in Vietnam.  He even wrote many of the songs for it!  Here are a few of my favorites.

This is the title song, the one that makes small-town band The Wonders into a short-lived sensation.  It's a smile-inducing song, like a sweet popsicle on a hot summer day.

This is my other favorite number on the soundtrack -- I used to dance around my room to it when I was a teen.  I love how well it captures the feel of '60s music, which I spent my teen years listening to instead of what was on modern radio at the time.

The Wonders can do slow and tender too, like in "All My Only Dreams."

Not all the music in the movie is '60s-style pop, though.  Check out this cheerful jazz number:

I hope you dug some of this music, and if you have never seen That Thing You Do!, do yourself a favor and give it a whirl.  It's sweet and funny, and great for a quick summer escape.

Movie Music and More #17

Today's Movie Music and More is about one of my personal favorite soundtracks, and it is one that I listen to often. Hiroyuki Sawano composes the score, and it is my favorite of his work. He combines many genres from Danny Elfman type scores, to rock, to oriental, most of which blends together brilliantly. Listen to one of my favorite tracks below.

Of the score, Nui Harime's theme is easily the most haunting. It reminds me of a Danny Elfman score combined with hints of rock and electronic beats mixed in. It is almost playful in nature, yet eeirely haunting, which perfectly compliments Nui's character. The track takes a few seconds to get going, but when it does, it is some truly great work by the composer.

Nonon Jakuzure's theme effectively captures the marching band feel, while simultaneously throwing in some slightly techno distorted sounds, resulting in one rather bombastic score. Aside from the appealing cadence and general bombastic sound that you would expect from a march band, it is the type of track that I can listen to on a loop many times without tiring of it.

Among the score, Blumenkranz is the one that is most often praised, and I can most certainly understand why, because it is utterly superb. While listening to the song on its own is quite good, it is even more effective when used as the villain's main theme, making it one of my favorite villain themes in recent memory. The lyrics are in German, which makes the song all the more ominous. 

Uzu Sanageyama's theme is fittingly fast, fun, and heavily influenced by the oriental aspect of the character. Again, some minor electronic distortion is mixed in there to rather great effect along with some background chanting. While not the best of the score, it is rather good and fun to listen to. 

Another villain type theme titled, Satsuki Kiryuin's theme, and it very bombastic and imposing, just like the character. It perfectly captures the militaristic overlord feel that it is trying to convey. Later in the track, there are some fun guitar notes, which I am very fond of. 

There are several other tracks from the series, particularly the song "Don't Lose Your Way," however, I wanted to focus more on the more orchestral music opposed to the songs, which are still really good for the most. 

What did you think of the soundtrack of Kill la Kill? Please let me know in the comments!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #9

To continue my two weeks of Marvel, today's Movie Music and More is about Alan Silvestri's score of Captain America: The First Avenger. One of Silvestri's most underrated soundtrack, the film's score perfectly complements the 1940s setting with music that combines the feeling of classic heroism and nostalgia of a bygone era. My favorite tracks, "Captain America March" and "Captain America" capture the spirit of the film and the character with a score that occasionally is reminiscent of John Williams' score in Indiana Jones, another film set in the 1940s. All in all, the soundtrack features several standout tracks, while others are not nearly as memorable, albeit still good.

If everything goes well, I will hopefully be able to see Age of Ultron tonight or tomorrow, which means a review will be coming soon. If not, I hope to actually finish that long overdue Agent Carter review and a multiple part Daredevil review.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #8

In anticipation for Avengers: Age of Ultron next, today's Movie Music and More features the soundtrack from Thor, by Patrick Doyle. Now this is an epic soundtrack. It may be considered derivative from other works, but its classic orchestral theme in "Thor Kills the Destroyer" works well for Thor's heroic turn at the end of the film. On the other hand, "Sons of Odin," fits well for the family drama element of the earlier parts of the film. In fact, all of the tracks are rather fantastic, and after watching the film, I listened to the entire soundtracks many times back in 2011. Listening to it again for this post reminded just how excellent of a soundtrack Patrick Doyle composed for the film. Maybe, I will rank the soundtracks from Marvel's Cinematic Universe films; that could be a fun post (no promises). 

However, I do have some special things planned for a countdown to Age of Ultron starting next week. Also, please refrain from mentioning anything about the film in the comments. Whether it be someone else's review or your opinion, please do not say anything about it. I have avoided most trailers and I want to go in without the bias and expectations of others holding back my opinion.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #7

Today's music is the Iron Man soundtrack by Ramin Djawadi. Of superhero main themes, Iron Man's theme is among the most underrated and unique. It is not the classic orchestral type of superhero music, but rather a more an orchestral rock with a bit of techno. Maybe I am not describing it right, but there are not many soundtracks like it, at least in mainstream entertainment, and yet it works. Every time I listen to "Driving with the Top Down," "Merchant of Death," or any of the other tracks (included below), it makes me feel ready to build an Iron Man suit! In fact, I listened to this while studying for a test and writing a paper. It really works to get my brain functions going. Additionally, it just really fits the film. What do you think of today's pick? Please comment below and check back tomorrow for the final part of my Top 10 Villains post.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #6

After receiving feedback in the comments (thanks everyone for that), I have decided that alternating between more well known and obscure music is best, and today's track is one that few if any of you have ever even heard of it, "Hyouri" from Bakemonogatari by Satoru Kōsaki. "Hyouri" is the type of track that sets an eerie and mysterious mood. The electric ting and string instruments towards the end are not the best, but the other aspects are perfect for the mysterious nature that it used in. Below is another track from the Monogatari series titled "Imitation," and it has more of a mischievous, yet slightly sinister, tone to it that almost remind me of something from a Danny Elfman score for a Tim Burton film. While neither is a track that I listen to all the time, both are excellent mood setting tracks for writing that give off a fun feel. What did you think of this week's music? Please comment below and let me know.

If you are curious about the works that these tracks came from, the Monogatari franchise is a collection of stories that venture into the supernatural with an almost arthouse and experimental style packed with quick and witty dialogue. The series is a personal favorite of mine.

My current desktop background

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #5

To mix things up for today's Movie Music and More, I want to highlight not only a song, but an opening credits sequence in which the song is used: Casino Royale’s opening featuring "You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell. Visually, Casino Royale's opening is my favorite James Bond opening sequence, and "You Know My Name" is very good song that is worth listening to on its own on occasion. In addition, below is the original James Bond, which is an all-time and one of the many recognizable elements of the Bond franchise. What do you think about today's music? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #4

Today's Movie Music and More features one of my absolute favorite main themes of all-time, Danny Elfman's theme from the original Spider-Man trilogy. As soon as the theme starts up, it makes you feel as though you are swinging through the city just like Spider-Man himself. Of all superhero themes, this is my favorite with John Williams' Superman theme not too far behind. While some may prefer Elfman's scores from Tim Burton's films, this is easily my favorite of his work, and it is one of my all-time favorites. Elfman brilliantly draws in the listener with a slow and enticing start before the heavier instruments start to play coming together to create my favorite theme for any hero since Indiana Jones. Please check back tomorrow for an announcement about my profile name change and Wednesday for a big announcement that will change the blog. After Wednesday, I will go back to my regularly scheduled posts with the final part of the Top 10 Comedies and my Year in Review post.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #3

After my first two Movie Music and More posts have gotten the series off to a strong start with more well known film scores, let's take a look at one that is relatively popular, yet not brought up nearly enough, Princess Mononoke by Joe Hisaishi. My particular favorite of the score is "Departure to the West." Everytime I listen to the score, I literally get chills. Even though more fast pace fair is usually my thing, Hisaishi's sweeping melody sets the perfect melancholy yet adventurous atmosphere that fits the film perfectly. Another excellent track is "The Legend of Ashitaka," which is also included on the playlist above along with several other tracks

If you are interested in film scores, you should probably have at least heard of Joe Hisaishi, and if not, you have now, because he is one of the greats that is most known for working with Hayao Miyazaki on many Studio Ghibli films.

What do you think of today's pick? Are you interested in these lesser known film scores? Please comment below and let me know, and check back tomorrow for a trailer review.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More #2

Instead of featuring an obscure track, today's music is from one of the best film scores of all-time, “Concerning Hobbits" by Howard Shore from The Fellowship of the Ring. The track is often known as "The Shire Theme," and it is the perfect encapsulation of everything about the Shire. "Concerning Hobbits" is a personal favorite of both me and my brother, and the track is perfect for creating a calming atmosphere. Every time I listen to the track, it takes me back to the Shire as it evokes the feeling of watching the opening scenes in the Shire. If I were to create a list of Top 10 individual tracks list, "Concerning Hobbits" would undoubtedly make the list, and while it may not be the "best" theme in the LOTR score, it might be my favorite, and it is the one that takes me back to Middle Earth just like Star Wars' main theme takes back into its universe. It is just absolutely beautiful, and I love every minute of it. What is your opinion of "Concerning Hobbits"? Please comment below and let me know. Also, I am planning to mix up this post series with some more obscure music next week, so I hope you will be interested in it.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Movie Music and More

Today I introduce a new post series to J and J Productions, Movie Music and More! On this new series, I will post a track or two from a film, television, or other media. Some of the tracks are from an underrated score, while others might be lesser known tracks from a well known movie, like today's pick from The Avengers. Alan Silvestri's score for The Avengers is very underrated as a whole for giving us a score that matches the epicness of the heroes themselves. However, the track above, "A Promise," is an all too often overlooked track from the film's score. It is played near the end during one of the film's most impactful scenes, and it is one of my favorites from Alan Silvestri's body of work. Hopefully, unlike my previous failed attempts, this post series will actually become popular enough to continue in the future, and please let me know what you think of it in the comments below.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Underrated Music: Ip Man

Underrated Music returns with some epic music from Kenji Kawai. In the majorly under-viewed Asian Cinema epic, Ip Man, Kenji Kawai's score is suitably epic with sweeping tracks like the one below. The score contains a quality that is not found often enough in modern Hollywood cinema, as well as some classical Asian qualities. It reminds me of older orchestral themes from John Williams combined with the brilliant work of Joe Hisaishi and even Fumio Hayasaka.  

Below is another excellent track from Ip Man's soundtrack that may sound somewhat familiar, but it is no less powerful.

What do you think of the music? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Underrated Soundtrack and Posting Schedule.

It is time for another entry in my Underrated Soundtrack and Posting Schedule series! Today's featured soundtrack is Assassin's Creed 3. While the other Assassin's Creed game had great soundtracks, AC3's Revolutionary War setting influenced the more classical tone of the score. Below is the upcoming posting schedule, which is subject to change.

 

Monday: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Review.

Tuesday: Agents of SHIELD Post/Marvel Movie News

Wednesday: Brave Review

Thursday: Agents of SHIELD Review

Friday: Firefly Post (which I have been continually forgetting to post)

Saturday: Movie News

 

For more information on my Underrated Soundtrack poster series click here to read my first post of the series

 

 

The main theme for the game is brilliant. This is the type of music that makes you want run through the forest or over rooftops.   

 

 

The classical Irish rhythm just makes you want to start a fight or something. The fast paced use of the violin amazing.

 

Here is Lindsey Striling's rendition of the AC3's main theme.

 

 

 

You can listen to the entire score for the game here.

 

Which was your favorite track? Did you like the music? Please comment below.

 

 

 

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Underrated Soundtrack and Posting Schedule.

Because my posting schedule posts have become rather dull in comparison to my other ones, I have decided to change things up by adding some of my favorite underrated soundtracks. For those that do not know, I am not a fan of most modern or pop music and the like. My favorite music is often film, TV, and video game soundtracks and I am not talking about songs in musicals, but real orchestra or instrumental music. While I have nothing against modern music and other songs, I do not listen to songs all that much, with the exception of a few TV theme song. For this post series, I will usually be highlighting the music that I am listening to most that week, which usually features more obscure tracks. This week I will be highlighting a couple of tracks from one of my new favorite television series, Code Geass. On a side note, I have reviews written for both season one and two of the series. Please comment below with what you think of this new soundtrack idea. Also here is the schedule below.

Monday: Star Wars Origin Films

Tuesday: Top 10 Actresses: Part 2: 5-1

Wednesday: Jack the Giant Slayer Review

Thursday: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Review

Friday: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Review

Saturday: Movie News

 

For a science fiction show, Code Geass' score is incredibly unique. Honestly, it is difficult for me to even categorize the soundtrack into any specific genre of music, maybe Spanish inspired, but I do not know. Despite this, I cannot stop listening to this "Zero" track! The unique combination of instruments work for me for some reason, I love it. Every time the tracks starts in the series you want that Zero is about come up with some clever plan of escape; it fits those scenes so perfectly. Below is an extended version of the song.

 

"Nightmare" is somewhat similar to "Zero," however it is used in a different context. This track is often used during the battle to great effect. Although it might sound odd for an action theme, every time the track starts up it gets me seriously pumped for some epic mech battles. Below is an extended version.

 

Here is the entire soundtrack to Code Geass, enjoy.

What did you think of the music? Is this a worth while idea for future posts? Please comment below.

 

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.