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Mister John Williams

posted 13 years ago by YippieKaiYay
4 replies | jump to latest

So in honor of his birthday, I've been listening to his music all week long. In no particular order, just a general shuffling of all things John Williams. I've always loved his music, but it just recently occurred to me exactly WHY:

He makes each scene unique in terms of the musical identity. Take any track from Star Wars or Indiana Jones and you'll know EXACTLY which scene it belongs to. The Sarlaac pit from Jedi, the mine car chase from Temple, the asteroid field from Empire, the plane fight from Raiders... I can go on and on.

Sure each track will be laced with themes belonging to the characters, but the diversity of the action sequences is uncanny. Star Wars and Indiana aside, how easy is it to identify individual tracks from Superman, Hook, Home Alone, The Patriot, Jaws, ET, Empire of the Sun, Jurassic Park Harry Pott... oh dear, I've gone crosseyed.

Maybe it's because I'm to familiar with the movies themselves, but I find it amazing that I can hear a few notes from ANY of the thousand John Williams tracks out there, and know exactly where it belongs.

Anyway, that's the end of my rant. John Williams, I freaking salute you.

[–] TheRealRandyWatson 13 years ago

While John Williams is undoubtedly one of the best film composers ever, I don't share most people's passion when it comes to his music. There are plenty of scores that I love by him, but I've always been more of Jerry Goldsmith guy (It seems that with Williams and Goldsmith, it's kinda a Beatles/Rolling Stones thing). Still, one of the greatest moments in cinema have been accompanied by Williams' music. On their website, Empire Magazine did a fitting Williams tribute: http://www.empireonline.com/features/john-williams

It is kinda sad though that Williams is the last great, iconic film composer left. The first soundtrack I ever bought was one by Williams (Jurassic Park), so while I don't love love him, he will always be special.

Don't you know people write songs about girls like you?

[–] Eumenides_0 13 years ago

I think Morricone is equally iconic and he's still around. They're the last titans of film music.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

[–] gilbert_gumphrey 13 years ago

JFK is one of my favie scores of his - I'm actually a bigger fan of his smaller, less famous scores, because I can actually listen to the album for Born on the Fourth of July and not automatically think of every scene from the movie, like if I listen to Jaws or Star Wars.

But yeah, JFK. Awesome stuff, especially in the opening 10 minutes.

[–] gilbert_gumphrey 13 years ago

Yeah, another really great scene with his music is when Joe Pesci's in the hotel room, totally freaking out. The way those drums keep building and building chaotically express his paranoia in a great and effective way.