John Williams

[Petros]

Music Legend.

With the exception of Walt Disney, he has been nominated for more Oscars than anyone else in history. Now, I don't know about you but to me, there are four things every good film needs. Good Actors, Good Director, Good Writers and Good Soundtrack, a soundtrack can sometimes make or break a movie. No matter what film he does, he succeeds in creating something memorable.
So... Let's countdown or just pay tribute to the musical genius that is John Williams.

Many people will remember him for Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Close Encounters, Harry Potter, and anything Spielberg or Lucas related. For me, his best soundtrack was by a long way Superman. It just blows everything else out of the water and screams "Superman" for some reason, like I everything else seems like imitation, kinda like it's lead actor Christopher Reeve, no-one can match up.

Obviously this is not to say that Star Wars and the others aren't great soundtracks, the Imperial March was arguably the most threatening theme song to come out of the 20th Century. But Superman is my personal favourite.

So, what is your favourite John Williams soundtrack, or just simply song if you own the soundtrack yourself.

 

[moog]

too many to post

star wars is def top tier though, ill also add that he composed many tv themes (the nbc music as one, including the nightly news theme)

 

[Jason]

Can't say I've ever heard of him until this thread...

And I'm not too bothered for most film soundtracks anyways, I prefer game soundtracks, especially RPG's, since their music just seems so much better.

If you were to ask me my favourite composer and soundtrack, it's without a doubt;

Nobuo Uematsu, and the Final Fantasy X OST

Although it wasn't just all Nobuo Uematsu on his own, Musashi Hamauzu did do a FEW songs on it, and they weren't too bad, although he's nowhere near as talented anyways...

Just a little trivia, but Musashi Hamauzu is doing the Final Fantasy XIII OST if anyone is interested in it (Myself, I'm not interested in the game, but the OST could be good, the battletheme isn't too bad, although it doesn't suit the battles really...)

 

[Venetia]

pfft john williams could kick uematsu's scrawny little hyper feminine patoot. frankly i'd be impressed if uematsu hadn't been inspired by williams at some point. just b/c you didnt know of him doesnt mean he;s not a huge internationally recognized composer.

there would be more great movies if williams produced more music. i mean pffft would the 1st star wars been anywhere near as endearing if not for the musical crescendo that strikes you when luke is staring out at the sun after his aunt/uncle were toasted? would the incredibly camp movie Jaws be even close to popular nowadays if not for that hallmark shark's-a-comin' tune?

it's cliche to like him, because everyone does. but that's the magic, his tunes are so evocative to everyone across the board.

my favorite: indiana jones and the last crusade soundtrack.
followed probably by schindler's list
followed by star wars return of the jedi
followed maybe by angela's ashes soundtrack???

 

[Velocir_X]

meh, Star Wars hands down (I own the collection of all his compositions for all 6 movies); my favorite piece is the one they play within the catacombs of Naboo Palace in Episode 1 when Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon fight Dart Maul... (Duel of Fates) Darth Vader's theme is also very iconic...

 

[Jason]

Actually Ven, I've liked Nobuo Uematsu since Phantasmagoria, which is a really cool album if you ask me... although alot of people might not think so, since it's pretty boring to some...

But anyways, there's a song on it called Revival of a Tender Experience, which I think is really great... (Links)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3y_wp8n6NQ

Funny thing being, it's my grandad that owned the Phantasmagoria album... so I'd actually heard it before I played ANY Final Fantasy game (Played IV, my first one, in 1996/1997), it's just I didn't know his name exactly...

I've also got the first Black Mages album, but downloaded the second and third, lol... although they're basically made up of Final Fantasy songs, they've each got an original track on, lol.

But basically what I'm saying, is I like Nobuo Uematsu for his own music too, and I'm not one of those people who jump on the bandwagon after playing Final Fantasy VII or anything dumb like that...

(Although I do own the entire Final Fantasy IX and X OST's... lol, but come on, they're the BEST !)

 

[moog]

Can't say I've ever heard of him until this thread...

And I'm not too bothered for most film soundtracks anyways, I prefer game soundtracks, especially RPG's, since their music just seems so much better.

If you were to ask me my favourite composer and soundtrack, it's without a doubt;

Nobuo Uematsu, and the Final Fantasy X OST

Although it wasn't just all Nobuo Uematsu on his own, Musashi Hamauzu did do a FEW songs on it, and they weren't too bad, although he's nowhere near as talented anyways...

Just a little trivia, but Musashi Hamauzu is doing the Final Fantasy XIII OST if anyone is interested in it (Myself, I'm not interested in the game, but the OST could be good, the battletheme isn't too bad, although it doesn't suit the battles really...)

thank you for derailing the topic and if youve seriously never heard of john williams then somethings seriously wrong with you

also uematsu is the worst kind of example for rpgs, he started off great up until VI (which is his magnum opus) and then recycled tunes till ff9

 

[Jason]

Don't see how there's anything wrong with me because I've never heard of John Williams, you're obviously taking this too serious or something... I could say there's something seriously wrong with you because you don't know who Travis Smith (Drummer) is (You might do...), you know what I mean ?

 

[moog]

dude its john williams

i dont

grityiejiyhioyhtjori

but nvm youre right, im not gonna argue.

you should listen to his stuff though man, its good shit

 

[Velocir_X]

Has everybody ever noticed that the choir in Duel of Fates sounds like they're singing CORN ON THE COB

 

[moog]

ahahah

 

[Petros]

As I said before my personal favourite goes to the Superman Soundtrack, it's just got five tracks that are instantly "hummable" in my head. Superman March, Can You Read My Mind, Lex Luthor's Theme, The Planet Krypton and the Fortress of Solitude. This soundtrack made the movie incredible.

Anyway as for one of his often overlooked soundtracks I would like to note that I think that Minority Report has got some great music too, it can really build tension and panic all throughout the movie. The Spider's Theme was a great one.

Just as a side-note I do love Uematsu, my favourite of his tracks is also his favourite, FFIX, that's not to say I don't like the ones prior, they'll all great, but anyway point is that even though as far as music games go he is undoubtedly one of the best out there with Koji Kondo (Super Mario, Zelda, Metroid e.t.c.) Even at their peak they just don't hold a candle to the orchestral majesty of John Williams.

 

[Ellie]

I never knew the name but I knew the stuff. Yeah it's pretty amazing. I always think IJ sounds a tad too much like SW but still good.

 

[Petros]

I always think IJ sounds a tad too much like SW but still good.

I think that's just something about his music though. It's always very recognisable as being similar and hummable, Superman is similar to Star Wars too.

 

[Venetia]

you know why
he uses a lot of horns/brass, and also a lot of bass and BIG BIG drums.
almost no one else does nowadays
it's like, "what's a wind section?"

 

[Petros]

Very true, the only person I think who does similar work to him nowadays is Harry Gregson-Williams, he did the Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack and also the music for Metal Gear Solid.