Welcome back to the CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO TOP 10. On the program today I’m going to play for you my ten favourite superhero main themes of all time as well as three honourable mentions. You’ll hear selections from such composers as David Newman, Danny Elfman, Alan Silvestri, John Powell, Christopher Drake, John Williams and more. Don’t read the playlist below if you want to be surprised while you listen to the program.
Let me know what you thought about my selections. Please feel free to leave a comment or two in the comment section below. And if you have a suggestion for our next Top 10 program then please email me or make a suggestion via Twitter or Facebook.
CINEMATIC SOUND RADIO is syndicated on WROCK Radio and PodTyrant.
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Great picks, glad to see Christopher Drake got in there. I’d like to add some more , but not in a “I can’t believe you left this out! How could you?” way, but more to continue to put the spotlight on some great film music. I’d like to add Christopher Drake’s music for The Dark Knight Returns. I think it’s among the best Batman music written…and there sure is a lot of good Batman music out there. It would be great to hear what you think of that score.
Another one is Hulk Theme by Craig Armstrong.
Best,
I love Christopher Drake’s music. The other one I wanted to include was his super theme for Batman: Gotham Knight.
Love, love, love all your selections, Erik! I remember you told the story of the omitted “Captain America” march on another broadcast, and that was enough to make me pick up the Cincinatti Pops’ “Superhero!” CD – probably the single best album I’ve bought on Cinematic Sounds’ recommendation. (Although the expanded “Rocketeer” score was another good choice you persuaded me, through your show, to splurge on. That music makes me tear up every time – and I’ve only seen the movie once; Horner’s score just has that kind of power on its own.)
So now I’m going to have to revisit Ant-Man – the score didn’t make an impression on me as I watched the movie (only once), but your high praise for it carries a lot of weight. Ooh, as I’ve said many times, listening to your show is always dangerous to my wallet!
Zimmer and Junkie XL’s Wonder Woman theme is electrifying, and a really sexy little piece of music. I like how Rupert Gregson-Wiliams rung some more orchestral and even solemn changes on it in “Wonder Woman” this year – he really made it work in the context of that story – but I hope we get more full-on electric cello and drum renditions of it in “Justice League” and Diana’s future solo outings. (Any idea why Zimmer and Junkie XL were not credited with that theme onscreen? Was it too small a percentage of the overall score?)
If I were making my own list of favorite superhero themes, I’d add Kristopher Carter’s infectious, jazzy theme for the “Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century” animated series. It’s a weird blend of kind of corny and really groovy, just like the Legion themselves. Good stuff!
And, arguably, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a superhero – so Nerf Herder’s theme for the TV series might get a nod on my list.
This was such a fun episode, Erik. Thanks for it!
PS. Paolo, I agree with you – Armstrong’s whole “Hulk” score is one of the many fine elements of a movie I don’t think gets enough respect. “The Incredible Hulk” was such a breath of fresh air after Ang Lee’s miserable “Hulk” movie, and the music reflected that.
Okay, I’ll be the first to suggest an addition to this list: Goldsmith’s The Shadow.
Thanks for introducing me to Christopher Drake; had never heard of him or his music.
Whaat? No Man of Steel? The 2nd CD ‘Man of Steel’ sketchbook is clearly top 5 material!
Thanks for sharing your opinion but I don’t agree with it. I’m not a fan of the new Man of Steel scores at all minus the magnificent Wonder Woman theme.
Great Top 10. Not much on the HM other than Tyler’s Iron Man theme. Personally I would have had Shirley Walker’s Batman theme for the Animated Series in the list or an honorable mention. Plus Bear McCreary’s Cape theme. Those are both great themes.