A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: This Is What You've All Been Waiting For

So, here it is. My favorite soundtrack. I was given this CD for Christmas one year. It was the first soundtrack I owned on CD (to be truthful, I also received the Dances With Wolves soundtrack that same Christmas, but I opened this one first).

This soundtrack didn't win any awards, but it fits the movie perfectly. The only thing that's bothersome, is that the soundtrack is slightly different from the score in the movie. Track 6, for example, is only about 6 minutes, but in the movie, this same track is about 12 minutes. My favorites from the CD are 4, 3, and 6.

You are all probably begging me to reveal the name of the movie. It stars Daniel Day Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, and Wes Studi. Any guesses?

It's The Last Of The Mohicans. Besides the fact that Daniel Day Lewis and Eric Schweig are both super attractive in this movie, there is beautiful scenery, and the music sweeps you away into the 18th century American colonies.

I love listening to soundtracks and telling people what is happening in the movie during each track. For instance, track 4: Hawkeye, Uncas, and Chingachgook navigate Duncan, Alice, and Cora to Fort William Henry during a heavy siege by the French. Well, it sounds better in person. Speaking of track 4, here it is.

A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: A Late Entry Into The Mix

So, I just had to post one more favorite soundtrack before The Favorite Soundtrack. The movie Howl's Moving Castle is growing on me more and more. I liked it the first time I saw it, but I am liking it more and more. The music really fits the movie. Of course, I've only seen the American version that has been dubbed into English, but who can complain with Christian Bale and Billy Crystal doing the voices.

I really think it's weird how in these Japanese anime movies, some characters are super-sized but they are all humans and nobody seems to mind or even notice. The Witch of the Waste is rather large. The first shot of her shows a gigantic face.

Anyway, here are some selections from the soundtrack. Oh, this movie also has one of my new favorite movie quotes. The last one (with no picture, just sound), is my favorite.

A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: Make Me Disappear

I am finding that a lot of the music I like from movies comes during the opening or closing credits, which isn't very exciting to watch. So, for this favorite soundtrack piece, I put in some video over the credits just so you could listen to this beautiful music and not be completely bored. If I had more time (or at least more time I was willing to give to this project), I would have put together a nice collage of film from the movie. As it is, I just slapped in one scene.

This music is from the movie The Illusionist. I can listen to it over and over again. I'm not a huge fan of the rest of the soundtrack. I mean, it fits with the movie and I like it in the movie, I just don't care to listen to it out of context.



P.S. up next is my favorite soundtrack of all time. Get excited!

A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: Go West Young Man!

The very first cassette tape I owned was the soundtrack for The Man From Snowy River. I remember my mom bought it for me. At that same time she bought the Beaches soundtrack for my sister Marielle. Around this time in my life, my family use to hang out with my cousins a lot. My sisters and my cousins and I liked to run around on our hands and knees like horses (kind of embarrassing, I know). I was just slightly miffed because everyone wanted to put on the Beaches tape and run around to that instead of putting on my tape (which came from an actual horse movie). Oh well.

So, this may sound a lot like the Return to Snowy River soundtrack, but it's completely different. Actually, they were both done by Bruce Rowland. He also did the music for Phar Lap, another horse movie.

There were so many good tracks from this score, it was hard to choose just one. I do have to say that Jessica's Theme, the most popular music from this movie, is not my favorite song from the movie. I just had to get that out there.

A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: Possession

Today's soundtrack of amazingness comes from the movie Possession. This is the one time where I like the music without necessarily liking the movie. The movie was ok, but this piece, sung by Spanish tenor Ramon Vargas, is passionate and awe-inspiring. It's much better than the movie.

Well, to be fair, the movie starred Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle. They all did a good job, I just think the subject matter of the movie was a little questionable.

A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: The Horn of Helm Hammerhand will sound one more time

The Lord Of The Rings has some very beautiful music. This is my favorite music movie moment from the triology (although the Breaking of the Fellowship is my favorite track from the shows). You can ignore the stuff at the first about being all noble and just wait for the music.

A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: Bad Wolf

So, the following soundtrack was so close to being my favorite soundtrack of all time. I love all the music on this movie. Once again, Kevin Costner stars in the movie. Maybe he realizes how bad he is and hires fabulous composers to make up for it. This movie, Dances With Wolves, not only won the Academy Award for Best Picture, but it also won for Best Original Score. Impressive, I know. You might now be thinking, "But that was all the way back in 1990. Anything could have won Best Score." All I have to say to you is, "Pssh!"

The first clip is the end theme to the movie. It kind of includes everything. I don't think this video is quite up to snuff, but it was either that or look at the box cover for 8 plus minutes.




The second clip is hauntingly beautiful music. It is the wolf's theme. I love how everyone in movies has their own theme.



After watching this clip, I have no scruple in telling you I don't care for the way Kevin pulls on the reins.

A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: Now do we start to fight them

The perfect movie has three things: beautiful music, breath-taking scenery, and horses. Add a happy ending and I'm sold.

Part of this track--yes, it is just one track on the CD--is in a piano book I have had since I was a wee lass. It was my favorite song to play.

Just a head's up: this clip reveals the end of the movie, so if you are faint of heart (or have never seen the movie before and plan to), turn away now. Oh, this is Return to Snowy River.

One thing I find amusing is all the chunks of dirt that are thrown up behind the horse, especially when it goes into slow motion. Now you can say that you've seen dirt fly in slow motion.

A Weeklong Tribute To Soundtracks: Monday

I have been thinking for a long, long time about my favorite movie score. It has been very hard for me to choose just one. Indeed, I don't know if I can choose one single soundtrack.

Anyway, by the end of this week, you will know my favorite score. Until then, we will pay tribute to great moments in movie music making.

Here is my favorite soundtrack movie moment of all time. I guess I should explain what I mean. This is not my favorite movie or my favorite soundtrack, but I just love the way the music and cinematography fit together at the end of this music track.

Who knew Kevin Costner would be associated with any "favorite"? This theme, made famous by Brian Adams, is very amazing. I guess I'm an easy target for music associated with heroes and legends. I love how good triumphs over evil.

Take That, Bainbridge Scholars!

Awwww, cute little bunny trying to commit suicide.

So, I know I promised movies and music, but can I talk about myself? Just for a little bit. Right now I am on campus (the University of Utah campus), and I am wearing my BYU sweatshirt. MUH-WA-HA-HA! I feel like such a rebel. Nobody's even said anything. Where's their school pride?

So, I am still deliberating over what my favorite film score is. I'll give it a little more time and then we'll discuss. That means that all of you can still comment on what your favorite movie soundtrack is.

Cool points go to the first person who can name the movie for the quote in the title.

Very Close Talking

I am a big fan of the TV show Psych. For those of you who are not familiar with this television gem, listen in. The new season starts July 18, 10/9 Central on USA. You can go to www.usanetwork.com/series/psych to see the wonder that is Psych. The best part is, you can watch full episodes (if you can put up with Bertoli's or Hidden Valley Ranch).

I've gotten mom hooked on this show. Dad doesn't see it's inner beauty. My favorite character in the show is Shawn. He's the main guy. I like him because he's way attractive, very witty, and terribly mysterious. Mom likes Shawn's dad. Mom and I both agree that the best episode we have seen thus far has been "And Down The Stretch Comes...Murder."

I don't know if I should pull out all the stops, but there is a scene from that show that I just love. It doesn't give anything away, but if you feel like you need to see every episode in order or else the show has been tainted for you, then maybe you should avert your eyes (just get excited for season 2 episode 9, it has Kevin Sorbo!). Actually, on second thought (or maybe third), it does give stuff away.



You may now return from the edge of your seats.

I stole from a church

I think it's crazy how a song can reel you in with a catchy beat. I think, in reference to White Town's Your Woman, it's called a hook.

Actually, upon doing some research into the matter, I found this:

A hook is a musical idea, riff, passage or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and "catch the ear of the listener."
A hook has been defined as a "part of a song, sometimes the title or key lyric line, that keeps recurring." Alternatively, the term has been defined as "the foundation of commercial songwriting, particularly hit-single writing", which varies in length from the repetition of "one note or a series of notes...[to] a lyric phrase, full lines, or an entire verse." "Ideally [it] should contain one or more of the following: (a) a driving, danceable rhythm; (b) a melody that stays in people's minds; (c) a lyric that furthers the dramatic action, or defines a person or place."
--Wikipedia

The first time I ever heard the term hook was when a DJ was commenting on how catchy Your Woman was. I never knew this was a industry-wide idea. According to Wanderlust.com, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison is the number one "Song with a Great Hook."

I just found this song that is terribly addictive. At least for me.

Scott's Sinful Solo

That's the name of the track on the Strictly Ballroom CD where Scott dances in the studio after hours. It sounds so sinful.

Speaking of soundtracks, what is the best soundtrack ever? To simplify things, we'll ask for the best original film score. Immediately, people start thinking of John Williams. Star Wars, and even Indiana Jones, are impressive musical feats. But they don't necessarily whip me into a verbal frenzy. Any thoughts?

Dealing in half-truths.

So, I don't like South Park (it's crude), but I think this is funny. Don't worry, it's PG.

The touch, the feel of Cotton; the fabric of our lives.

If only everything were as comfortable as cotton. Since this is my very first entry on my new blog, I should make it extra special. I make no promises. I will tell you right now, however, that music and movies play a pivotal part of my life, so I will talk about them almost incessantly. But I will try to make it exciting. For instance, I will now provide you with one of the greatest, nay, not one of, but the greatest singer of all time (in my opinion).