Back in early 2010, I had planned to produce a program dedicated to the very best film, TV and video game music composed in the first ten years of the new decade. The script was written but for some reason, I never got around to recording it. Fast forward to the present day, and while writing my best of 2011 script, I thought why don’t we first look back at the film, TV and video game music from the first eleven years of the new millennium and then present the best of 2011. So, I immediately pulled out the original script, made a few changes, deleted and added a couple of scores, and produced the program over the last few days.
I must say that this has been one of the most rewarding shows I’ve done. It gave me an excuse to listen to all of these wonderful scores all over again. I’ve been in film music heaven over the past week and I’m honoured that I get to share the experience with you right here on Cinematic Sound.
So, what will you hear?
During PART 1 you’ll hear music from four honourable mentions – the futuristic sounds of Daft Punk for TRON LEGACY (0:00), LOVER’S PRAYER (19:45) featuring the best score Joel McNeely has ever written, Christopher Gordon’s epic score to ON THE BEACH (38:09) and the lush beauty of Philippe Rombi’s ANGEL (56:02).
During PART 2 we will begin the countdown with scores 11 through to 8. (We are doing a top 11 because we are looking back at the first eleven years of the new millennium.) You will hear music from John Powell’s brilliant score to HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (0:00), Alan Silvestri’s action-packed score to THE MUMMY RETURNS (21:15), John Williams beautiful score to A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (39:04) and the comic book stylings of Marco Beltrami in HELLBOY (58:40).
During PART 3 we will be presenting scores 7 through to 4. We begin with the symphonic power of Elliot Goldenthal’s FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN (0:00) and then move onto the techno sounds of Don Davis THE MATRIX RELOADED (21:02). We revisit Middle Earth and Howard’s Shore classic score to THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (41:32) and end this section off with one of the very best scores written by Michael Giacchino for the video game SECRET WEAPONS OVER NORMANDY (1:05:07).
The countdown concludes in PART 4 as we present three diverse scores including the swashbuckling epic SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (0:00) by Edward Shearmur, Conrad Pope’s exotic score to PAVILION OF WOMEN (22:06) and one of the greatest scores ever composed for the film SIGNS (40:47) by James Newton Howard.
Enjoy the show!
PART I
PART II
PART III
PART IV
Wow, you played far better selections from “Tron Legacy” this time than you did last (or maybe I was just more in a mood to hear it!). Now I may have to watch the movie and buy the soundtrack…. darn you, Woods! Listening to your show is usually hard on my wallet! 🙂 I really only got to listen to the “honorable mentions” today – I can’t imagine how strong the rest of your selections must be. Thanks as always for your outstanding work selectin and presenting this music.
Actually, my son (5 years old) picked the tracks this time. Seriously! Minus “Overture” (which I played on my Best of 2010 show) these four tracks are the ones he wants to hear over and over and over and over… week in, week out!
Let me know how you feel about the rest of the selections when you get a chance to listen to them.
Some really good score selections here. I agree that Signs is probably one of the best marriages of music to imagery that we’ve gotten this past decade. The bookended cues are some of the best writing of Howard’s career. They work so well with the film but also away from the film. That said, Shayamalan always drew some really great material from Howard. Whether it was the plaintive string writing for Unbreakable (still underrated film IMO) to the lyrical violin solos from The Village or the dizzying End Titles from The Happening, James Newton Howard supplied us with some terrific music. I hope he finds his own voice again because he was one of the best.
Thanks for commenting, David. It really means a lot to me that you tuned in!
I confess that I skipped to the final part of the show. I have enjoyed Edward Shearmur’s fantastic work to Sky Captain, but I never had heard of Pope’s Pavilion of Women and I am aware of Signs, but have never heard it. After hearing the Pavilion of Women cues I definitely want to hear more. An excellent score I can’t believe I somehow missed. So, Signs. I told my wife that you said Signs was one of the greatest scores ever composed and her response was “SIGNS!!??” I’m not the biggest fan of this genre (obviously my wife isn’t), but you’re right Signs is a great score and transcends the movie genre it was written for. Thanks for the show.
I’m glad you enjoyed the show, Travis. Thanks for tuning in!
In further defense of TRON: Legacy as the true great score of the millenium, I’ve counted up to six trailers and TV spots that have used music from TRON: Legacy only in the past year, and not just one single theme, but several tracks have been used. The most recent one includes the trailer for the fifth Resident Evil.
Sure, part of the success comes to the fans, but how many scores do you know that have this amount of music re-used and referenced?
Good point, Richard!
Sorry I am new to this website. Is there a way to download these recordings in MP3? I really would like to listen to them while at work.
Since I play complete tracks I cannot allow direct downloaded of my programming. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Well you and I have very similar taste in music! I was surprised that there was only one score I hadn’t heard before which was How to Train Your Dragon, The tracks you provided sound wonderful.
I agree with mostly every choice.
The only changes I would make for myself is replacing Lovers Prayer with On the Beach. I know you gave it an honorable mention, but its absolutely one of my top 5. And I might replace Mummy Returns with Philippe Rombi’s Joyeux Noel. (Merry Christmas) I’m not sure if you’ve heard that, or his score to Un Homme et Son Chien.
Oh! and one honorable mention to Christopher Gordon’s Daybreakers.
I love Rombi’s music. Joyeux Noel is wonderful and Un Homme et Son Chien was my favorite score of 2009.
Daybreakers is indeed fantastic and made my top 3 of 2010.
I’m ecstatic that I was able to introduce you to How To Train Your Dragon. You really have to see the film as well. It’s one of my all time favourites.
Thanks for writing!
…and Space Battleship Yamato by Naoki Sato
I was surprised by you’re number one pick for Signs…but honestly I cant’ disagree with it. Its one of the few scary/horror scores that I like. And the way you explain it makes perfect sense. I never thought Jaws, but you’re right.
Space Battleship Yamato was one of my surprises of the year in 2010 and made it on my top 10 list!
Another really good score to add to the great 2001 release list. Is The Tailor of Panama by Shaun Davey.
I love that score! “The Ambassador, The Chase” is epic!
Hour 2 – I bought the “Dragon” score on the strength of your earlier recommendation of it, not even having seen the film, and have not been disappointed. Now, having seen and enjoyed the film, I am even more shocked (well, I guess I shouldn’t be) that it did not win best score last year. “The Social Network”? Really? Anyway, always glad to hear excerpts from “Dragon.”
Thanks for reminding me that “AI” has some lovely music. I confess I have not seen the film since ’01 and don’t actively have any plans to, but I enjoyed hearing that haunting theme again.
Give A.I. another shot! I’m glad I did!
I had never heard Lover’s Prayer before. You are correct it IS one McNeely’s best. I will have to actively seek it out. Also love your son’s choices for Tron Legacy. For me one of the best surprises from 2010 and one that, while I might not play it weekly, gets a play every so often. AND I have to find a copy of On The Beach. I have the Ernest Gold but not the more recent one.
I’m hope you are successful in your search for On the Beach and Lover’s Prayer!
PS – I played Tron Legacy AGAIN tonight! My son requested it… AGAIN!
Quite surprised that Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil didn’t make the grade. Performed by one of the world’s greatest symphonies, it’s a wonderfully evocative score full of outstanding moments.
I agree with everything you said about the score. It’s wonderful. It made my Top 10 of 2006. It was the second best score just behind John Powell’s X-Men: The Last Stand.
Great stuff Erik – finally got around to hearing this in its entirety. Thanks to you I rediscovered i fe scores I hadn’t heard in nearly a decade, especially Sky Captain, as well as two I had completely missed – Pavillion and Normandy (I’m now trying to track them down at a decent price).
And much as I love the detail and themes of LOTR, I must agree with you that for sheer emotion, originality and simplicity, Signs deserves to be at the top.
My List for 2000-2009 Top 30 Original Cinema Music Scores:
THE PATRIOT – JOHN WILLIAMS
GLADIATOR – HANS ZIMMER & LISA GERRARD
LOST SOULS – JAN A.P. KACZMAREK
THE LORD OF THE RINGS[TRILOGY] – HOWARD SHORE
A.I. – JOHN WILLIAMS
QUO VADIS ? – JAN A.P. KACZMAREK
HARRY POTTER[THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS] – JOHN WILLIAMS
STAR WARS[ATTACK OF THE CLONES & REVENGE OF THE SITH] – JOHN WILLIAMS
THE HOURS – PHILIP GLASS
SIGNS – JAMES NEWTON HOWARD
THE VILLAGE – JAMES NEWTON HOWARD
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST – JOHN DEBNEY
FINDING NEVERLAND – JAN A.P. KACZMAREK
METROPOLIS[NEW SCORE] – ABEL KORZENIOWSKI
2046 – SHIGERU UMEBAYASHI
THE CHORUS – BRUNO COULAIS
THE POLAR EXPRESS – ALAN SILVESTRI
THE NEW WORLD – JAMES HORNER
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA – JOHN WILLIAMS
MUNICH – JOHN WILLIAMS
MERRY CHRISTMAS – PHILIPPE ROMBI
THE FOUNTAIN – CLINT MANSELL
THE DA VINCI CODE – HANS ZIMMER
PAN’S LABYRINTH – JAVIER NAVARRETE
JACQUOU LE CROQUANT – LAURENT BOUTONNAT
BATTLE FOR TERRA – ABEL KORZENIOWSKI
LUST, CAUTION – ALEXANDRE DESPLAT
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:PRINCE CASPIAN – HARRY GREGSON-WILLIAMS
THE HOME OF DARK BUTTERFLIES – PANU AALTIO
COPERNICUS’ STAR – ABEL KORZENIOWSKI
Some dynamite and unforgettable scores on your list, Boubis. Thanks for contributing!