Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12/18/15)

[a-dev]

I remember Rey's and Kylo's music cues, but only because they were short and sounded like something from a cartoon show for 6 years old kids. The so called "Rey's theme" is an overblown lullaby.

I guess he knew the film wasn't good and just phoned it in.
Or the directions JarJar gave him were that vague and bland...

Whatever, it wasn't THE JOHN WILLIAMS.

I dunno bout that, I wonder is it the case that eventually you just run out of decent melodies and all you can do is write sound that goes up and down with what's happening on the screen.

 

[rushmore223]

I dunno bout that, I wonder is it the case that eventually you just run out of decent melodies and all you can do is write sound that goes up and down with what's happening on the screen.

Every artist eventually loses their relevance and finds it difficult to create something meaningful, especially when it comes to music. Many just don't know when to stop and end up blemishing their legacy with subpar work.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

Every artist eventually loses their relevance and finds it difficult to create something meaningful, especially when it comes to music. Many just don't know when to stop and end up blemishing their legacy with subpar work.

It's true, look at Vanilla Ice.

 

[xipotec]

You guys really think a score will settle in your head after a single viewing ????
We have had YEARS with the other themes!

Personally I think they are too new to have any impact.

 

[Darkseed]

I liked the music in the trailer....is it in the sound track?

 

[a-dev]

You guys really think a score will settle in your head after a single viewing ????
We have had YEARS with the other themes!

Personally I think they are too new to have any impact.

That's possible. Took me awhile to get used to Duel of the Fates.

 

[RIDDICK]

You guys really think a score will settle in your head after a single viewing???

Listened to the entire score before and after my viewing.

 

[JAWS]

What are people's thoughts on John Williams score? I am personally underwhelmed by it. There are only really 2 themes that even stick in my head: Rey's theme and the Resistance theme. I was hoping since he can't be around forever, Williams would create iconic themes that would be used in the upcoming sequels. Like Kylo Renn had no recognizable theme, the First Order didn't get the theme they deserved. I have been listening to the score since Friday and I like it, but really Rey's and the Resistance theme are the only ones I find myself humming.

I have stated his earlier but I though this was one of the weakest aspects of the film... The action In this film was so so already and some great music would have helped a lot... Unfortunately the uninspired action scenes did not inspire John to write great music. His OT can not be touched. The PT had some good moments. The new one could have been composed by just about anybody.

I really like this theme.

For me it's average Williams.. It's not bad but nowhere near any of his classic SW themes...

I can't remember a single note of new music.

Yeah... I would not remember them either if I did not buy the soundtrack before the film came out...

I don't know what happened but even the opening theme sounds small.... I don't know if anyone noticed but it does not sound like as large of an Orchestra as the other film scores... I thought this on the soundtrack as well as in the theater.

 

[JAWS]

You guys really think a score will settle in your head after a single viewing ????
We have had YEARS with the other themes!

Personally I think they are too new to have any impact.

I own the score and collect film soundtracks...

I also remember what an easy listen the OT scores were back when they first came out... The PT was not as good but still was / is a better listen but I thought JW sounded like he phoned it in then... Guess I was wrong because this new one is a better example of that.

 

[cerealkeller]

I've been listening to the score a lot while driving. It is good, I like it but there just isn't any real themes I guess. I really wanted something fir the First Order and Kylo Ren but the music is just kinda meh for them. I thought Williams did a great job on Revenge of the Sith. Lots of memorable themes and the old cues were used just right. This is just a lot of new music that doesn't have anything really all that memorable to it. Hope for some really good stuff from Episode 8.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GasparZizou]

You guys really think a score will settle in your head after a single viewing ????
We have had YEARS with the other themes!

Personally I think they are too new to have any impact.

Nail on the head.

People have listened to old soundtracks for their favorite movies countless times over decades, and they wonder why they're more "memorable" than stuff they've listened to for a couple of days

 

[a-dev]

Nail on the head.

People have listened to old soundtracks for their favorite movies countless times over decades, and they wonder why they're more "memorable" than stuff they've listened to for a couple of days

Perhaps we haven't been clear - some pop music is referred to as ''catchy'' and while I hesitate to use that word in association with instrumental music in a movie score it seems like I kinda have to. Some movie music is catchy - you instantly tune in even if its the first time you've heard it and you might even be able to approximate it in your head afterward. You then seek out that piece of music to specifically listen to again. The Force Awakens score had nothing that made me become aware of the music while watching the film - except when classic themes were used. And it took till this conversation tonight for me to even bother looking up the TFA music on youtube. Quite simply none of the new stuff stood out as really great scores will tend to do right from the off.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

Even the new cantina music wasn't "catchy." I don't need decades or years for a song, a theme, or a soundtrack to become memorable. It's just is or it isn't...doesn't take that long, imo.

 

[GasparZizou]

Well, fanfares and jingles are easier to remember, that's why they're used in marketing and advertising.

And I wouldn't discard the fact that they have been listened to for decades or at least years either.

 

[a-dev]

Even the new cantina music wasn't "catchy." I don't need decades or years for a song, a theme, or a soundtrack to become memorable. It's just is or it isn't...doesn't take that long, imo.

And it's a bad sign when you can't distinguish the themes (the parts that aim to be catchy) from the incidental action music. That's most of John Williams scores for me over the past 15 years.

But look, I know, he owes us nothing. His past work is incredible and as I said I'd still take Williams doing these scores over Giacchino who I guess would have been Abram's go-to composer otherwise.

 

[greygoose]

Nail on the head.

People have listened to old soundtracks for their favorite movies countless times over decades, and they wonder why they're more "memorable" than stuff they've listened to for a couple of days

So true.

 

[filip629]

Just saw this yesterday. I must say I really enjoyed it. After Empire, this is my next favorite SW movie. I liked the serious tone to the movie. I don't think it's a coincidence that my 2 favorite SW movies weren't directed by Lucas. I always felt Lucas' SW films were geared more to the kiddies. Always hated when SW movies were contaminated by characters like Ewoks and Jar Jar Binks. I much prefer the tone of Empire and this film. Looking forward to the sequel.

 

[jye4ever]

Time passing will not help this score, it just sucks, that simple.

 

[JAWS]

Nail on the head.

People have listened to old soundtracks for their favorite movies countless times over decades, and they wonder why they're more "memorable" than stuff they've listened to for a couple of days

Again... I listen to film score all the time. When I was younger, before VHS rentals , buying the soundtrack was the only way to see the film again (in you imagination). A great film score would make you remember the film and try and think of what was happening during the cues. You can try and say that I have not listened to this enough and you may have point.. But when watching films I am always aware of the music and how it impacts the film and my enjoyment of it. TFA was boring action cue music and nothing more... To me anyways.

Perhaps we haven't been clear - some pop music is referred to as ''catchy'' and while I hesitate to use that word in association with instrumental music in a movie score it seems like I kinda have to. Some movie music is catchy - you instantly tune in even if its the first time you've heard it and you might even be able to approximate it in your head afterward. You then seek out that piece of music to specifically listen to again. The Force Awakens score had nothing that made me become aware of the music while watching the film - except when classic themes were used. And it took till this conversation tonight for me to even bother looking up the TFA music on youtube. Quite simply none of the new stuff stood out as really great scores will tend to do right from the off.

I agree.

Well, fanfares and jingles are easier to remember, that's why they're used in marketing and advertising.

And I wouldn't discard the fact that they have been listened to for decades or at least years either.

Break out any of Williams old scores.. Not all of it is fanfares but the music stood on it's own as just great music... The Truck Chase form Raiders, The Asteroid field from Empire, Sea Attack number 1 from JAWS... Music that when you sat and listened to it the first time it would take you back to the scene they were from.

 

[JAWS]

Oh and interesting bit I just found out.

So I said a page or two back that even the Main theme of Star Wars (opening scroll) sounded different. It sounded small compared to the other six films..

Well two things.

1. This is the first score that the London Symphony Orchestra was not used

and

2. There was a guest conductor for the main theme (Gustavo Dudamel )

I don't know if its one or the other or both but the opening theme does not have the impact the other scores do.

I also don;t know if the Soundtrack was taken right from the film score sessions.... If not then Williams may have conducted the film version but I noticed during the movie that it sounded like the album so if it was John then I blame the Orchestra they used.