THE FLAGSHIP SHOW: FAVOURITE SCORES OF 2019 – PART 1

On today’s new episode of THE FLAGSHIP SHOW on CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO, I select my 10 favourites scores of 2019.  This is part one of a two-part series.  Today, you’ll hear selections 10 – 6 which includes music by John Williams, Austin Wintory, Christopher Lennertz, Philipp Noll and Nainita Desai.

Sure, you could peek at the list before listening to the show by uncovering the playlist below but where is the fun in that?  However, if that’s what you want to do and would rather not listen to the program then please allow me to offer you my little disclaimer that read on the program.

So let’s get this out of the way first before we get into the show.

These selections are MY favourites. They are not YOUR favourites. I’m sure my favourites are very different than yours but if my favourites happens to correspond with yours then you get bonus points in my book.

Look, to be totally honest and as transparent as possible, I like all kinds of film, TV and video game music. I love orchestral scores, electronic scores, ambient scores, experimental scores, orchestral scores… I really like orchestral scores… but I don’t BLINDLY like orchestral scores just because they are orchestral. Just like no one should blindly like a score just because the film is good or if the score is groundbreaking or innovative or doing “something different”. That’s just bloody idiotic. Look, I applaud innovation, experimentation… truly… but what did that groundbreaking and innovative effort do to enhance the medium it was written for? A groundbreaking and innovative score can still be a trash film, TV or game score much like a fully orchestral score can be great music but be the TOTALLY wrong fit for the film, TV score or game it was written for. Get it? However, I do feel like the best way to convey a wide range of emotions in a film with music is the tried, tested and true use of the orchestra… but that’s just me.

And just to be clear on this matter, scores have to FIRST serve their film, TV show or game. That of course is the primary purpose of media music (and this is something that I live by, and it might not be your mantra). I think a truly great score not only should function as a great film score but should also as great music away from the film. I learned this bit of advance from the great Alex North while watching a fascinating video chronicling the re-recording of his rejected score to 2001: A Space Odyssey back in 1993. I’ll at a link to the show notes below so you can see it.

Again, just remember while you are listening to this show, these are the scores that gave me the most pleasure in 2019 and also managed to fit the guidelines which I outlined above. And during this episode, I’ll tell you why I love the music as much as I did. I’ve been toiling away at this show/podcast for almost 25 years… I think I know a little bit about what’s good and what’s not good, however, I could be a complete lunatic who might very well be completely out lunch each and every time I do this. Look, if I can open your eyes and ears to something you might not have heard before or add some extra context to further your enjoyment of this art form then that’s just pure gravy!

Click HERE to view that Alex North video I mentioned above.

Ok… on with the show! Choices 5-1 will be unveiled shortly.

Thanks for tuning in! And as always, we would love to read your feedback and get your suggestions on how we can make this particular show better. We also encourage requests for this show. So, if there is something you want to hear please let me know. Send an EMAIL with your name and what track you want to hear.