Williams, John Williams

[ehowton]

Doing what I said could never be done (and still managing to miss quite a bit, I'm sure) I decided to catalog my music this weekend after moving my media out of the bedroom. At over 2000 physical CD's just writing them down was laborious, not to mention arranging them by genre (and, in cases of my classical music by label) then alphabetically and typing everything up....well, exhausting. I spent two days doing this. Separating my musicals from my soundtracks from my scores first, and only then deciding to add what I have in iTunes.

*sigh*

At 80GB of songs, most of them scores, that genre is my lowest ratio, physical vs. digital, sitting at about 1:1. This turned out to be more time intensive than I ever wanted. And no, I didn't want to export my iTunes database into XML, import it into a spreadsheet and reformat it. Bah! So what will likely be a GRAND LIST will ultimately never be updated and shortly after its publication, languish in obscurity forever.

But that's nothing. When I was in Germany in 1990, I met a man who had THREE-THOUSAND COMPACT DISCS - all of them soundtracks. IN NINETEEN-NINETY! That's crazy to think about!

Then there's John Williams.

When I was but a boy in shortpants, there were only two film composes I knew: John Barry, and John Williams.

And Mr. Williams brought the world Star Wars.

In 1977 I saw Star Wars an unprecedented (even today) NINE TIMES in the theater and we stood in line to purchase the double-LP at the music store. It was all black, with a barely visible shadow of Darth Vader's helmet on it. It opened up between the two records to show stills from the film. Luke Skywalker was my hero, and John Williams made him come to life more than Mark Hamill ever did. My father had one of those "Reader's Digest" stereo systems back in the day that he ran his 4-track through. So when the entire soundtrack was simulcast in Dallas for the uninterrupted network television premiere, he recorded that as well. Just listening to Vader breath in stereo in a day when movies weren't yet being released on media. The man could do no wrong.

I "ooohed" and "aaahed" in all the right places with Close Encounters, Superman was a mighty step back in the right direction (and gives me goosebumps even today) but my attention was caught once again with Raiders of the Lost Ark! That wonderful Williams sound. I remember it like it was yesterday - the thrill that ran through the theater. Wow.

Then the dry spell.

He was busy with other things, I was busy with other things.

Ten years of...well, nothing notable that made an impact on me.

In 1993 I was TDY to MacDill Air Force Base supporting USCENTCOM, and voraciously reading, and watching movies at the high-end Hyde Park theater, as U.S. Servicemen could get a ticket any time of the day for $2. This particular week, I'd seen a lot of Jurassic Park plushies and lunchboxes at the mall. Must be a new kids movie out I thought. I JUST ABOUT SHIT MYSELF WHEN THAT T-REX RAISED HIS HEAD AND SCREAMED THE FIRST TIME!

The next day I made a beeline to the mall, bought the cassette and listened to it over and over and over. I put the CAV version laserdisc on 6-month pre-order, sent the cassette to my father when I bought the CD (he blew out his speakers with the first track) and hosted a Jurassic Park viewing party when I returned home from Saudi (thanks to photogoot for picking it up for me while I was overseas).

Dual of the Fates was the next item which impressed me as he reprised his role in the Star Wars franchise, but the opening strains of Harry Potter once again confirmed for me that he still had it, and why I've always loved this man. The way he can make me feel a certain emotion, with just his mind, is amazing.

Sure there's a string of dull compositions in-between that I just cannot sink my teeth into, and though I cannot wax intelligent on this matter like swashbuckler332, no name in film music, I bet, is known to those outside its fanbase, than John Williams. I've pre-ordered Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at amazon.com for an amazing price of $9.99 and I fully expect to be blown away, once again.

Comments

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

You know how I feel about John.
Yes, you think him a dullard - a man of no accomplishments.

...it's just that it's so mundane and commonplace.
It wasn't when it was brand new; hearing it for the first time.

Upon my initial reading I thought about William's work and not one score stood out to me.
Likely because you weren't born when a lot of his stuff was new.

But then I remember...
I own Hook on CD. Have had it for years. I couldn't hum tune one from it (though I do remember it being catchy). The others? Gah! Just because they have your boy Qui-Gon & Hanks in them doesn't make them good scores dude. You have to sometimes separate the score from the movie.

Oddly enough, save for the initial tracks of both albums,
The iconic Star Wars "Main Title?" Trust me - had you been in the theater in 1977, you would feel like everyone else on this planet that didn't grow up watching Barney before your introduction to Star Wars.

I think I prefer his Olympic peace to his scores quiet honestly.
Your use of the wrong word is especially ironic given the riots surrounding the event this year.

I think that Zimmer's work is more well known as he as done over 100 films.
100 suck films doesn't hold a candle to one fantastic film. Until about three years ago I'd never heard of the man. AND I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO FILM SCORES SINCE I WAS A CHILD. Maybe that's cause he sucks?

I think that Zimmer's work is very diverse compared to that of his colleagues.
I do not. I think most of his stuff is lame. ALTHOUGH...I've really been enjoying his later stuff.

But then I thought about it some more and thought that perhaps Danny Elfman's name might be more known then either of the two afore mentioned gentlemen.
Maybe, but I wonder if this would be a generational distinction? I was on the phone with Sun Microsystems Tech Support once and the gentleman on the other end of the line introduced himself as Edward Norton. "Like the actor." I mentinoed.
"You must be under 35." He said.
"How'd you figure" I asked.
"The over 35 crowd always says, "Like the Honeymooners.""

Good point.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Just because they have your boy Qui-Gon & Hanks in them doesn't make them good scores dude. You have to sometimes separate the score from the movie.
I have never, nor will I ever watch a Star Wars film. I assure you sir, that my like for the Episode I and II scores has NOTHING to do with the films. It may, however, have a lot to do with the modern recording, more eclectic instruments or just having a fuller sound in general.

I back up this assertion by noting that I like John Powell's work as well as that of Harry Gregson-Williams (when he's not re-wrting Man on Fire for the umpteenth million time.)

Fuck Oh Be Gone!


The iconic Star Wars "Main Title?"
Boring, trite and distinctly uninteresting.


Your use of the wrong word is especially ironic given the riots surrounding the event this year.
"Intransitive verbs are hardest."


100 suck films doesn't hold a candle to one fantastic film. Until about three years ago I'd never heard of the man. AND I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO FILM SCORES SINCE I WAS A CHILD. Maybe that's cause he sucks?
Granted. Zimmer didn't write a recognizable score until 1992 with Radio Flyer and didn't achieve fame until 1994 with The Lion King (though some may point to Cool Runnings from '93.) Forward from The Prince of Egypt through Ridley Scott's films and now his more recent work such as Matchstick Men and Weatherman (which sadly has yet to be released as an album) he has written some killer scores. I dare say that more people alive today would more readily recognize the Gladiator waltz then the Star Wars theme.


ALTHOUGH...I've really been enjoying his later stuff.
Ibid. Welcome to the fold.


Maybe, but I wonder if this would be a generational distinction?
Perhaps.


Like the Honeymooners.
I had to look that one up. And I never would have thought of p0rN titled such a thing, even less there being so many p0rN titles by that name, but I suppose there are those who get off on fantasizing about wedding night sex.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Boring, trite and distinctly uninteresting.
Try to understand this: You grew up listening to THOUSANDS of spin-off's of this. By the time you heard the original, as you said, "Its already been done." When it was released however - ONLY KORNGOLD HAD EVER RELEASED SOMETHING SIMILAR! It was a new sound. Listen - "Bullettime" was BREAK-THROUGH technology when The Matrix came out. In 10-years, when someone snot-nosed punk finally watches some old movie called, The Matrix you know what he's going to say about the special effects? "Boring, trite and distinctly uninteresting." Because he will have already seen it. Let me ask you this, sir: Does that make 1999's "Bullettime" any less of a breakthrough?

I dare say that more people alive today would more readily recognize the Gladiator waltz then the Star Wars theme.
I dare say you're actually, physically either now, or in the very recent past, smoking crack.

And I never would have thought of p0rN titled such a thing, even less there being so many p0rN titles by that name, but I suppose there are those who get off on fantasizing about wedding night sex.
What, pray tell, in the FUCK are you on about?

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

In 10-years, when someone snot-nosed punk finally watches some old movie called, The Matrix you know what he's going to say about the special effects?
"Bullettime" is the only thing about Matrix that was NOT Boring, trite and distinctly uninteresting. Perhaps future generations will charge the special effects of Matrix together with the movie itself as I have your precious Star Wars theme song.


I dare say you're actually, physically either now, or in the very recent past, smoking crack.
A co-worker of mine was known to smoke pot. One day, he came into work and said that he'd been hitting the doobie the previous night, was playing cards at the time and had a conversation with God. The General Manger gave him two weeks off.

I ask you sir, DOES MY PREVIOUS COMMENT SOUND ANYTHING REMOTELY LIKE THE ABOVE SCENARIO? I didn't think so.


What, pray tell, in the FUCK are you on about?
When you said The Honeymooners I knew you weren't referring to the 2005 remake. As I was unaware that Honeymooners was originally a TV series, I was looking through the titles trying to find the original film. I was shocked at what I found and thought it would be humorous to pass along.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

As I was unaware that Honeymooners was originally a TV series.
This is the number one reason you and I have a problem communicating.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

An yet, you were the one who first brought up the subject claiming Ed Norton "the actor."

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

DOES MY PREVIOUS COMMENT SOUND ANYTHING REMOTELY LIKE THE ABOVE SCENARIO?
Yes. Yes it does. I think you need two weeks off.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I sure as hell could use a vacation.

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

I never would have thought of p0rN titled such a thing

N00b.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Yes, in this regard I found myself to be quite the N00b.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I'm with the n00b. I had nfc. I am, however, going to have to do a little research now...

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

And suddenly, there was in the angles a magnitude of heavenly host
Praising God and saying,

Glory to God!
Glory to God in the Highest!
And peace on earth to men.