My god there are so many! Themes like The Big Country and Magnificent Seven defined western themes in different decades, but there are many, many great theme songs, and when I say songs I mean music, not necessarily vocals.
The Pink Panther Gone with the Wind Jaws The Good, the Bad, the Ugly Star Wars (Main titles) Star Trek Chariots of Fire Around the World in 80 Days Chinatown Dances with Wolves Easy Rider
There are so many. You are right. Trying to choose one to post each week takes me way to much time. I think I will use your list and save myself so much perusing.
Tara's Theme from Gone With the Wind is remarkable. It is the most melancholic music ever written, every note expressing sorrow, a way of life, a world, a love, forever gone. It is not funereal at all, but rather the most perfect melodic expression of sadness I've ever heard.
To Richard R's JAWS, I'll add OMEN - you know something is coming your way or do you? My all-time favourite movie theme songs/music are SOUND OF MUSIC and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Andrew Lloyd Webber) followed by animated films like the original JUNGLE BOOK ("Simple Bare Necessities"), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and THE LION KING. I have also enjoyed listening to GLADIATOR and BLACK HAWK DOWN by Hans Zimmer (the latter sung by Australian singer Lisa Gerrard), and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM by Clint Mansell (though I haven't read the book by Hubert Selby, Jr).
My god there are so many! Themes like The Big Country and Magnificent Seven defined western themes in different decades, but there are many, many great theme songs, and when I say songs I mean music, not necessarily vocals.
ReplyDeleteThe Pink Panther
Gone with the Wind
Jaws
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Star Wars (Main titles)
Star Trek
Chariots of Fire
Around the World in 80 Days
Chinatown
Dances with Wolves
Easy Rider
Television themes is a whole 'nother topic...
There are so many. You are right. Trying to choose one to post each week takes me way to much time. I think I will use your list and save myself so much perusing.
ReplyDeleteThis theme music stayed in my head for years, nay, decades, after I saw the movie. Love it!
ReplyDeleteBTW, that's an extremely young Pierce Brosnan holding the gun on Bob Hoskins.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I didn't catch that last time.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great, alright. Could be me, but don't a number of British songs make great use of string and brass? It did here.
ReplyDeleteTara's Theme from Gone With the Wind is remarkable. It is the most melancholic music ever written, every note expressing sorrow, a way of life, a world, a love, forever gone. It is not funereal at all, but rather the most perfect melodic expression of sadness I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteTo Richard R's JAWS, I'll add OMEN - you know something is coming your way or do you? My all-time favourite movie theme songs/music are SOUND OF MUSIC and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Andrew Lloyd Webber) followed by animated films like the original JUNGLE BOOK ("Simple Bare Necessities"), BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and THE LION KING. I have also enjoyed listening to GLADIATOR and BLACK HAWK DOWN by Hans Zimmer (the latter sung by Australian singer Lisa Gerrard), and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM by Clint Mansell (though I haven't read the book by Hubert Selby, Jr).
ReplyDeletePatti - Oh, you choose a good one!
ReplyDeleteOne of the most evocative for me is Henry Mancini's "Two for the Road" theme. But then, it's one of my favorite movies.
ReplyDeleteJeff M.