Anyone who really knows me knows that I love John Williams. (For those of you who don’t know who John Williams is, he composed the music for the Star Wars saga, Indiana Jones series, and many others.)
Until I was a teenager, I didn’t really listen to music unless my older sisters or my parents were listening to it. I guess that’s fairly normal since most kids don’t start getting into music until the end of elementary school or the beginning of junior high. Anyway, when I was in the 7th grade, I was introduced to and became obsessed with The New Kids on the Block. Their music was the only music I listened to on my own. Their popularity didn’t last long, however, and even though I still loved them (in secret), I stopped listening to them when I was in the 9th grade. (I even threw away all my albums.)
After I stopped listening to NKOTB, I went back to my old ways of not listening to music … until I saw Jurassic Park. When I saw Jurassic Park, it had a very profound effect on me. First, it was the first scary movie, in who knows how long, that didn’t give me nightmares. Second, I absolutely fell in love with the music. The Jurassic Park soundtrack became the first of many soundtracks I own.
Even before hearing the music in Jurassic Park for the first time, I had loved music composed by John Williams. I had been raised with his music in my ears practically from birth as most of my family are huge Spielberg/Lucas/Williams fans. I just didn’t pay as much attention to his music until I saw Jurassic Park.
John Williams will always hold a very special place in my heart. But, another composer’s music is beginning to touch my soul more than Williams’s. Every time I listen to this composer’s music, I experience an extreme emotional response that tugs at my heart strings. I feel more connected to it than I ever did with Williams’s music (other than the music from Schindler’s List). I think this music touches me so profoundly because it’s normally written in the minor key and I love the minor key more than any other key in music.
The composer I’m talking about is Hans Zimmer. I first heard his music when I watched The Lion King. Even then I was hooked, I just didn’t know by how much. It wasn’t until recently I discovered the emotional response I feel when I listen to his music. Gladiator and The Last Samurai soundtracks are two of my favorites. I also enjoy the soundtracks to all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies (although the first Pirates movie score was composed by Klaus Badelt and only produced by Zimmer, but I’m sure he had some influence), Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight. The music from Sherlock Holmes is a lot of fun too.
James Horner (composer of Titanic and A Beautiful Mind) has always been on the verge of surpassing my fondness for John Williams, but he has never quite done it. I could always say that I loved Williams’s music more. With Zimmer, that’s no longer the case and it seems weird to me to admit that I like another composer’s music better than Williams’s. Fortunately for me, in this instance, I can have my cake and eat it too.
About Jenni Elyse
I use a lot of soundtracks for my day job, many of them very obscure movies. Hans Zimmer has some great music that works so well for setting a mood. Try the soundtrack for Medal of Honor and Wing Commander. I don’t remember who wrote them, but I love the music.
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll have to check them out. I’m always looking for new music to listen to.
great, great, great post! i can’t wait to take a listen to some of this stuff. thanks for sharing jenni.
Love me some Hans Zimmer and James Horner! Such wonderful composers. I’m glad you like them. I didn’t know Hans Zimmer helped with Lion King.
Rachel – I’m glad I could oblige. When you were asking for music suggestions on Facebook, I didn’t realize you were interested in movie scores.
I can recommend a ton of good scores to you!
Rebecca – Hans Zimmer wrote the score of The Lion King movie. He may have even written the music for the songs because Alan Menken had died by then, but I’m not positive. It’s a great score. I love it!
Ha! I was thinking…”if she doesn’t say her new favorite is Hans Zimmer I’ll be totally surprised!”
I love them both, but Hans Zimmer has taken the front seat for me lately. LOVE him!
Suey – Hans Zimmer is fantastic! I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks so.
James Horner did the music for Avatar which I adore. ….and titanic too. so pretty.
Ouisa – I didn’t realize that James Horner did the music for Avatar. I should’ve known, though, since James Cameron directed it.
You are such an unfaithful fan! How could you put someone above John Williams?!!! I’m just kidding. He does have very recognizable music though. That’s coming from someone who really only likes music she can sing to. Glad your not torn between these two men.
Christie – I know I’m such a horrible fan.
John Williams’s music is very recognizable. That’s one reason why I love it so much. Good thing I don’t have to stop listening to him just so I can listen to Hans Zimmer’s music.
I love all the composer’s you’ve mentioned here! (Including Klaus Badelt) Its fun to know that there are other people who are as into movie scores as I am!
Leah Marie – I can’t agree with you more. I used to think I was the only one who loved movie scores (my age), and I’m finding more and more that that’s not the case.
I love sound track music. My personal favorite is Danny Elfman, although I like John Williams and Hans Zimmer as well.
I can’t believe it! I never thought anyone would surpass him.
I love all those composers too. And I absolutely love the score on Sherlock Holmes. It’s brilliant. I have to say that Danny Elfman is on my list also, but other than that I’m on the same page as you. How’d your lesson go?
Meagan – I love Danny Elfman too. He’s one of my favorites.
Aymee – I know it’s shocking, huh? I never thought I’d see the day. According to the other leaders, my lesson went really well. I felt scatter brained the entire time, though.
I liked the music from Avatar and Sherlock Holmes, too! If you like modern classical music and movie scores, you should check out Ennio Morricone (if you haven’t already). He did all the famous spaghetti western movies, and Quentin Tarantino uses a lot of Morricone’s stuff in his movies. A little bit of a different genre than Williams and Zimmer, but completely awesome to listen to!
By the way, I heard the song from the closing credits of A New Hope on the classical station today, because apparently it is Star Wars Day!
Gladiator has one of my favorite scores of all time & I love the Pearl Harbor score as well (not my favorite film, but the score is lovely), so Hans Zimmer will always have a special place in my heart. John Williams still has the most recognizable sound to me and will probably always remind me of movie music from my childhood. Howard Shore also earns an honorable mention for his work on the LOTR score (which I love). I was excited to read that he is composing the score for Eclipse.
Ashley – I’ll have to check out Ennio Morricone’s stuff. If he scored Kill Bill, I did like the music in those movies.
Violet – I also love Howard Shore. I’m not as familiar with him because I don’t own any of his soundtracks (even though I should own LOTR because wow). That’s exciting that he scored Eclipse.
I should not be commenting on blogs this late at night while taking Ambien! LOL So please forgive me for my stupidity.
I am a fan of all three that you mentioned. I just couldn’t tell you who did what score in what movie. It always amazes me though when I watch a movie and just sit back and listen to the music. It is almost like the composer is so in tune with what we are watching. I love how the music makes the mood. Whether the scene is a happy scene or a scary scene, it wouldn’t have as much emotion without the music.
Is any of this making sense?
Jenifer – You make perfect sense. That is one of the reasons I love scores so much. Jaws wouldn’t be nearly as scary without Williams’s fame music. And, The Last Samurai wouldn’t be nearly as heartbreaking without Zimmer’s music. Music definitely makes a film.