Hello, all! It’s April 3, 2007 and I am writing you from the past to celebrate the fact that since I moved to WordPress this month I can now set the publish date for my posts whenever I want! Oh, WordPress! How I love thee!
So, I am setting my post today to re-publish this post a year from now.
(As a side note, I totally wonder where I will be in my life a year from now? On April 3, 2008 I hope I am softer in stress, firmer of ass, heavier in pocket and lighter in soul and spirit. In other words? I hope I’m happy and that you all are, too. Most importantly, I hope I am still hot. Priorities are important, you know. )
I just hope that I remember that I set this up so I don’t double post. On the other hand, if I’ve forgotten about it it will be like a groovy little surprise in the morning. Kind of like my birthday only in April! (Ok, this would make for a pretty lame birthday, huh?)
So, what are we waiting for? My post today is about one of my passions other than Diet Coke and blogging.
I’m referring to SOUNDTRACKS. My favorite music EVER. Period. The END. I would make out with them, marry them and have little orchestral score soundtrack babies with them if I could get away with it and not be carted away to the crazy house.
It is a huge list but if you knew how many I LEFT OFF! Soundtracks are the new “Classical Music”. The brilliant film composers of today would have been the Chopin’s and Handel’s back in the day. You may disagree, but that is how I feel.
So? Let’s discuss.
Here you go:
On Soundtracks
April 3, 2007
I thought that I would weigh in on my favorites as far as sound tracks are concerned and compile a list for you all.I know I am going to leave some off, but here it goes:
My favorite soundtrack: Robin Hood Prince of Thieve.It was not easy to pick a favorite soundtrack. It is sort of like asking me to pick out my favorite leaf on a tree, but I had to go with the one I listen to the most.
The summer of 1991 was life changing. At all of 15 years of age, my adoration of the orchestral film score was secured. I saw this movie about a dozen times in the theater because the first time I heard the opening to this movie I almost started shaking. Intense love at first listen.
It did help that Christian Slater was a hottie and Alan Rickman was a genius as the Sheriff of Nottingham, which helped diffuse how much Kevin Costner sucked in this film. The music was GLORIOUS. I love most of the tracks on this one.
I had loved the music of other movies (Namely, “The Man from Snowy River” and “Chariots of Fire” *Hey, synthesisers were new, OK?*) but since I was so young, I didn’t really understand how much of my enjoyment of a movie was based on the film score. They move me like no other music can.
Best comedy soundtracks: The Princess Bride and Emma by Rachel Portman. Portman is amazing and one of the most talented composers of this generation. I love all of her work and she is a heavy part of my library. I got married to this music, I love it so much. She does some very fun things with her arrangements. This music is both quirky and makes you feel so melancholy and at home at the same time.
Also on the list? 50 First Dates. Loved the Hawaiianesque covers of these tunes. AND? South Park: The Movie along with Team America, World Police. Say what you will about them, but they are absolute composition comedy GENIUSES. GENIUSES, I tell you. Though, I admit that they can be rather…EHEM…
Best action soundtrack: Star Wars (Or any John Williams soundtrack) There are no words for John Williams’ genius. I loved Star Wars. My very favorite scene of his is the last one at the awards ceremony. SO cool when they all turn at the same time. I think I ran unrestrained around the theater at three years old it hyped me up so much.
Best dramatic soundtrack: Forrest Gump. OK, I know that technically this is a comedy as well, but ‘Jenny’s Theme’ and ‘Run Forrest’ are both heartbreaking and inspiring. LOVE IT. Also? “City of Angels”. “I’d
give up forever to touch you…” Could you just die? I about did.
(Breaking in to say that I am not going to bother using italics for movie titles and use quotations. I know it is incorrect, but it’s taking me forever and there are eleventyhundred titles, ok?)
Best historical soundtrack: TIE. “Last of the Mohican’s” This was another MUST have. That fiddle they play on the main theme? TO DIE FOR. “Glory” by James Horner. Amazing. Kicked his score for Titanic by leaps and bounds. This is the sound track that heavily features the Harlem Boy’s Choir and where they got a good deal of their fame from. Gorgeous. “The Patriot” I love this soundtrack. Since it covers the southern part of the revolution, the music shows it in rich, homey, themes, heavy on the fiddle. I am also really fond of the the music in the Keira Knightly “Pride and Prejudice”. Very nice piano themes.
Best animal theme: “Fawkes the Phoenix” from Harry Potter. I’m sorry, but it is just so inspiring and reassuring, like the bird itself.
Sweetest theme: “A Simple Twist of Fate”. It is a very quiet little film by Steve Martin. The theme used here is so sweet and simple that it almost feels like taking a warm bath. Steve Martin is also an accomplished banjo player and he plays a lot in this soundtrack, which just adds to the coolness of it.
Also? The duet from “The Corpse Bride”. I love Danny Elfman and have wanted to have his babies since adoring him in his Oingo Boingo days. DAMN talented musician is he.
Most “Themed theme”: “Rudy”. I love the heavy “Fighting Irish” thread he has going on here. I dare you to not stand up and cheer when you hear it.
Most powerful theme: “Glory” by James Horner. Specifically, “Charging Ft. Wagner”. It is akin to Orff’s “Carmina Burana“. Loud, confusing, clashing and also building with subtle intensity in segments.
Most majestic soundtrack: “Lord of the Rings” Damn. That’s all I have to say about that.
Best use of political satire in a soundtrack: “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” The “Zephed Beezlebrock” (OR WHATEVER, BRIAN AND KAREN. I never get the name right. Sigh) is HILARIOUS! “He’s not stupid! (OH, NO!) He’s much smarter than you, and he’s better looking too!” Take a listen. The “Achoo” hymn done in traditional Anglican hymnal structure KILLS ME.
Soundtrack I used to love but can no longer admit to liking because even I can only take so much mocking: “Titanic”. Sigh.
Best scary soundtrack: “The Sixth Sense” OMG. I freaked out in the first two measures and asked my friend Brian to “Hold me”. “The Changeling” was also fairly freaky.
Best military influenced soundtrack: You know how much I love music with a military influence. I don’t really know why. Maybe it is the precision, maybe it is the heavy use of brass or the fact that I think the piccolo just isn’t used enough, I dunno. I just like it a lot. I have a tie. I cannot pick between “Glory” and “The Patriot” they both kick ass. “Gladiator” and “Pearl Harbor” also kicked a fair amount of ass.
If we are going with one specific theme, though, the winner is the main theme to the HBO series by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks “Band of Brothers”. Gorgeous.
Best soundtrack to inspire you to pretty much be willing to commit mass suicide in a muddy field in Agincourt, France: “Henry V” by Patrick Doyle. I love this Soundtrack. There are two moments that are pure genius-the track for the “St. Crispian’s Day Speech” and “Non Nobis Domine” kick some serious, serious composition TAIL. ( I HAD to find a way to put this in here)
Best romantic theme: “Kiss you” from Romeo & Juliet. OMG. It makes you want to grab the nearest object and start sucking face with it. I WILL sing this one day.
Best soundtrack from a children’s film: “Mary Poppins” What’s all this, step in time? It seriously makes you want to go be a chimney sweep and dance on the roof tops of London. And WHO doesn’t get misty eyed on “Feed the Birds”. It’s one of my favorite songs to sing.
Best vocals on a soundtrack: It has to go to the queen “Enya“. Between ‘Now you are free’ from “Gladiator” and “May it be ” from Lord of the Rings, and her work on Steve Maritn’s “LA Story”, she has it nailed. Second favorite is “Weep you no more sad fountains” from “Sense and Sensibility” by Patrick Doyle. THAT girl can sing classical. I actually convinced my vocal teacher to let me do his version of “Weep you no more” AND Quilter’s more classical version of it for vocal juries one year. I can’t believe she let me do it. It was awesome.
Best soundtrack from the 30’s: “Gone With the Wind”
Best soundtrack from the 40’s: “White Christmas” Hello, could you get more amazing than Bing Crosby on “I’ll be home for Christmas”? Need I say more?
Best soundtrack from the 50’s: “The King and I”
Best soundtrack from the 60’s: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. ‘Moon River’ is enough to make you lay down and weep.
Best soundtrack from the 70’s: “Jaws”. Who knew a minor 2nd could be so damn scary? John freaking Williams, that’s who!
Best soundtrack from the 80’s: “The Man From Snowy River” and “Say Anything”
Best Soundtrack from the 90’s: “City of Angels” (So, so, so awesome)and “Forrest Gump” the song compilation.
Best song remakes: Tie between the covers on “50 First Dates” and “Moulin Rouge” both are brilliant in different ways.
Best soundtrack for a completely stupid movie: “Cold Mountain”. There are no words for how much I did not really care for this film. What I LOVE is the music. You cannot get better than Allison Krauss singing “The Scarlett Tide”. Also, they recorded this amazing church choir located deep in the smokey mountains. “The Sacred Harp Singers” I have never heard anything like it: There is no attention to blend, no accompaniment, no strict time keeping, and the end result is loud, ruckus, and gloriously bizarre. I was very tempted to put the winner here as “The Legend of Bagger Vance” by Rachel Portman, but I think “Cold Mountain” takes it.
Best cry your eyes out moment:“Little Women” the simple piano theme when Beth dies. I love this soundtrack so freaking much I can forget the Winona Ryder stars in it.
Best quirky movie Soundtrack: “Harold & Maude” by Cat Stevens.
Best individual instrument performance: “Uncorked” by Jeff Dana. Specifically, “Ross’s Concert”. This is a little movie that stars Minnie Driver. I like the film well enough, but the music is the real star. The first time I heard this I literally had a tear run down my cheek and my jaw was on the floor. I think I repeated it 15 times in a row that night. It was this AMAZING musical moment that was so unexpected and lovely. This guy can play one hell of an acoustic guitar. I went through hell to get the soundtrack but it was worth it.
Soundtrack I never want to hear again: “The Omen”. I would say that THREE HOURS of being “Caroled” in a haunted corn maze by Brian Joy singing “Ave Satani” would be quite enough for anyone, thank you.
To wrap up, here are some other soundtracks that I WUV as well.
Honorable mentions:
“Jurassic Park”
“Waking Ned Divine”
“Moulin Rouge”
“Pearl Harbor”
“Gettysburg”
“Waking Ned Divine”
“Moulin Rouge”
“Pearl Harbor”
“Gettysburg”
“Anne of Green Gables”
“Practical Magic”
“Raiders of the Lost Ark”
“Black Beauty”
“Oh, Brother! Where Art Thou?”
“Practical Magic”
“Raiders of the Lost Ark”
“Black Beauty”
“Oh, Brother! Where Art Thou?”
“Amadeus” and “My Immortal Beloved”
“Cider House Rules”
“Braveheart”
“Far and Away”
“Rent”
“Say Anything”
“All John Hughs Films”
“Rob Roy”
“Garden State”
“Last Kiss”
“The Goonies“
“Meet Joe Black”
“Pirates of the Caribbean“
“Amalie”
“Highlander” (I swear when I go to Scotland with Michelle this fall I am going to sing “Who wants to live forever” at some castle ruin somewhere!)
“Rob Roy”
“Garden State”
“Last Kiss”
“The Goonies“
“Meet Joe Black”
“Pirates of the Caribbean“
“Amalie”
“Highlander” (I swear when I go to Scotland with Michelle this fall I am going to sing “Who wants to live forever” at some castle ruin somewhere!)
I know there are so many more, but my brain is fried. Discuss and comment away. Or not. I didn’t want to hear from you all anyway, so THERE!
PPPFFTTH!!!!!
