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John Williams/Awesome Music: Difference between revisions
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[[John Williams]] is responsible for many, many memorable film soundtracks. Among them are the soundtracks to every single [[Star Wars]] movie and every single feature film Steven Spielberg directed (with the exception of ''[[The Color Purple]]'', ''[[Duel (film)|Duel]]'', and ''[[Twilight Zone the Movie]]'').
== ''[[Star Wars]]'' ==
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTHlP59pI2c The Main Theme aka, Luke's Theme]
* One that's been left out up till now: When Vader breaks free of the Dark Side in RoTJ, the music switches from an "evil victory is imminent" rendition of the "Emperor's Theme" to a kick-in-the-gut minor chord version of the "Jedi/The Force" theme.
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** ... which leads us to mention "The Emperor's Theme". The perfect conveyance of the deep, dark, evil that is [[Big Bad|the Emperor]].
* How has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YlxTS5ydZI&feature=PlayList&p=056FCE26B2ACC494&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=54 Into the Trap] not been mentioned?
** That repeating motif when Lando, Wedge and the other group leaders check in '''perfectly''' captures the determination of the Rebellion at that moment.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkvvaTXBkAo The Battle of Yavin]". Swirly, [[Lock and Load Montage]] style strings at the beginning, total non-stop badassery for the rest of the track. ''Then'' there's the ending (8:05-8:29). Only [[John Williams]] can packs so much [[HSQ]] into so small a time.
* Say what you want about the prequel trilogy, Episodes II and III have brilliant ending themes. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTgz4Jnw4pA#t=2m40s Episode II has the first prolific use of the Imperial March] as a major foreshadowing, dovetailing into an awesome rendition of "Across the Stars". [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9VObtwXgCE#t=6m11s Episode III] has three minutes of no dialogue which lets John Williams flex his arms like he wants to, cycling from Padme's funeral theme, to Leia's theme, to a small snippet of Harry Potter-esque music, before launching into the Force theme over a Binary Sunset to create one of the most awesome bookends ever.
** No mention of the ending theme is complete without the extended end credits on the soundtrack which includes an amazingly bittersweet rendition of the Throne Room theme from A New Hope that perfectly captures the mix of despair and hope that the end of the movie conveyed.
* The chilling and sad "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTl6Iy6XVeo Order 66 theme]". "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F-ioA_6v_w The Immolation Scene]" was another amazing, tear-inducing piece of music. YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!! The Revenge of the Sith soundtrack was one whole emotionally charged Crowning Music of Awesome. The opening credits where Anakin and Obi-Wan are flying together as friends and triumphant heroes, Grevious's choral theme, the eerie, gutteral music playing during the Mon Calamari ballet as Palpatine begins to ensnare Anakin with whispers of the power of the Dark Side...all wonderful
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdoHAHKcNyc That's no moon...]" Especially brilliant since it's the [[Darkest Hour]] of ANH, and Williams could have scored it with something soul-crushingly hopeless. Instead, we hear an incredibly rousing version of the Rebel Fanfare to remind us that Our Heroes aren't licked yet...
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* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYAOJB2P8ec The music that plays] as the newly-christened Darth Vader marches on the Jedi Temple. Sadly, it is absent from the soundtrack (although the theme appears in part in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAps9RWNSs8 Love Pledge and the Arena.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKWt0485uc4 The Battle of Coruscant] at the beginning of Episode III! Just Epic!
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1T9-wxjm0U Padme's Ruminations] where Padme looks across Coruscant at the Jedi Temple from her apartment and Anakin in the Temple seems to look back. Featuring the only use of the [[One-Woman Wail]] in Star Wars music.
== ''For Steven Spielberg'' ==
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIjUyiG5qKA The Sugarland Express,] the first ever collaboration between John Williams and Steven Spielberg which was then cemented with their second collaboration in Jaws.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sahZ-WOz1uk The Raiders' March], a theme that has become synonymous with adventure itself. Indeed, if [[Indiana Jones|adventure has a name]]...
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** The absolutely awesome "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex93xpXdjbE The Parade of the Slave Children]" in ''Temple of Doom''.
** And from ''Last Crusade'', may I present "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQIjCI6Eji0 Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXh_tZCkVVo the Grail theme] (the first 90 seconds).
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH5ZklX_qCA "Indy's Very First Adventure"]
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fof_BJ8Jwdo Irina's Theme] from ''Kingdom Of the Crystal Skull''.
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-sX2Y0W8l0 main theme] from ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]''.
** Spielberg reportedly assumed the unusually simple theme was a joke when Williams first presented it to him. But just try to forget it.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAI3N61zY9k The Flying Theme.]) from ''E.T.: The Extraterrestial''. It's particularly neat in how it times up with the bicycle flying "against" the moon; it's like you can hear the wheels turning.
** As well as [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKxK7IdiwKM Adventures On Earth]
* Christian Bale (at a very young age) singing "Suo Gan" (a Welsh lullabye) in ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]'', just as the Japanese Kamikaze pilots were about to take off for their mission. You'll cry at about the same moment the Japanese characters in the film start crying because of the sheer gallantry of it all.
** The sheer joy in this piece, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG_i86wK3jY "Exsultate Justi"] as it played in the end when Jim {{spoiler|makes it back to now-abandoned internment camp with virtually no hope for him in sight, but in spite of that (or because of that), he still rides his bike around the inside of the buildings like the little kid that he is}}.
* The ''[[Jurassic Park]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEZh88vz8b8 Suite.]. Cue childhood nostalgia kicking in.
** That's nothing. ''The Lost World'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEbWXnkZVJg theme] is just as epic and twice as badass.
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* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ytFrqhOCuU Hymn To The Fallen] from ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]''.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kE7iNxQO6Y Anderton's Great Escape] as well as [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yjmd0ifC2c Minority Report] from ''[[Minority Report]]''.
* John Williams returned to his his jazz-influenced roots when he scored the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47lXqmZ6z0 music] in ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]''.
* Actually here's the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkXp1JB11hM&feature=related main theme] of ''Catch Me If You Can''. Jazz music at its finest.
** John Williams also played session piano for composer [[Henry Mancini]] and played the piano part to this [http://www.televisiontunes.com/Peter_Gunn_(LP_ver).html famous TV theme by Mancini].
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* The ''[[Superman (film)|Superman]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIljr9dkGlM March]. Best [[Fanfare]] ever.
** Oh hey, since we're on the topic of Superman, may we present, his [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJWQ528zYBY love theme.]
*** ''[[Smallville]]'' ends with Clark Kent running out onto the Daily Planet's roof, ripping open his shirt to reveal the S-shield beneath as he prepares to take flight, the camera focusing on that iconic symbol all while that classic ''Superman'' theme song plays ever so magnificently in the background and into the end credits.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Rs7170gyU Planet Krypton] anyone?
** A very effective use is in the helicopter scene that begins with a growing sense of urgency as Lois faces greater and greater peril until Clark Kent appears. When he realizes he has to change, the growing musical swell that climaxes when he rips open his shirt to reveal his chest symbol is a classic of the superhero film genre.
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*** A leading example is when Lois Lane's family is trapped in Luthor's sinking ship. The music begins with a mournful dirge as the trio are pulled under to their inescapable doom. Just when the tragedy becomes too much, two red boots appear on the door window and the Superman March blasts out with full thunder as Superman saves the day!
** In addition to the main fanfare and "Can You Read My Mind?", there is a really moving musical moment after young Clark Kent tells his mother Martha that he's leaving Smallville to pursue his destiny up north. It's called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgyIV-vIKfY leaving home], and starts a minute-and-a-half into that track.
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0jc_qCcQmQ music] from ''JFK''.
* Much less well known, but just as awesome as all of the above, is the nine-minute piece from ''[[The Towering Inferno]]'' that accompanies Paul Newman and Steve McQueen rigging explosive charges to the burning skyscraper's water tanks. One of the greatest examples of music used for a rising tension/countdown effect.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D84hNvh0zSw Main Title Music] from The Towering Inferno.
* John Williams won his first Oscar for his [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ4dMY9dVU8 adapted score] to ''[[Fiddler
* John Williams had some opportunity to compose some Irish music with the ''Far and Away'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQmP3KxuAv0 theme.]
* From ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'',Williams gave us:
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Li0SWlwe34 Hedwig's Theme],
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUDXQVWWH2I Harry's Wondrous World],
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfXM1jW7y_Y The Chamber of Secrets],
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBUr6Qr_gRU Fawkes The Phoenix],
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCLjR5onqL8 Aunt Marge's Waltz],
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9kT8PL6ZA Buckbeak's Flight], and
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrZB9nPMvS4 A Window To The Past], among the many wonderful pieces he created.
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*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aQEcHwRCmo Reunion of Friends] would've been so much better used in the finale.
* [[Home Alone]]:
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUeCvidbhd8 Somewhere In My Memory].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBzVyh5LKi0 Holiday Flight] from Home Alone 2: Lost In New York.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XNpnnu0EPA Setting the Trap].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xgrJAwR49c Follow That Kid!].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD6jrJKUXqY Sayuri's theme] from ''[[Memoirs of a Geisha]]''.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELKzmZK5Dec main theme] from ''[[Born On the Fourth of July]]''.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuoCDrUN77s Devil's Dance] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFOc0aJr1Ts Dance of the Witches] from ''[[The Witches of Eastwick]]''. Shades of Hector Berlioz's ''Symphonie fantastique'', great orchestral Halloween music.
* We all know John Williams can compose music for virtually everything, but did you know that he also composed a score for a Western film? (Even better, a John Wayne film?) Check out this rousing score from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPCpccUo8Lw The Cowboys.]
* On a related note, just watch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4 this John Williams tribute]. Corey Vidal combines lip-synching, video magic and a genius arrangement by four-man comedy/''a cappella'' band [http://moosebutter.com/ Moosebutter] for instant fame. (When Moosebutter [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGYAPr6UKhs released their own video version], they did it via Corey's [[YouTube]] account. [[Ascended Fanboy]] indeed!)
** Note that, despite the lyrics being about Star Wars, the song uses music from every film ''but'' Star Wars!
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