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Date:         Mon, 28 Sep 1992 10:09:55 -0500
From:         Gary Graffagnino <ACCGSG@HOFSTRA.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Movie music?

>From: CLAWDOG <CLAWSON@LOYNOVM.BITNET>
>
>Many people got quasi-riled by their interpretation of Ellen's comments.
>She wasn't knocking "pop" music in soundtracks, and the many examples that
>e-mailers provided were valid.  Her point, I believe and agree with, is
>that "Everything I Do" and the equivalent musical pap with which _Robin_
>Hood_ was lavishly scored was *anachronistic*  ie: too modern for the period
>in which the film was set.  It was only one of the hundred reasons why
>Costner's _Robin_Hood_Prince_of_Dreck_  is the worst film I've ever suffered
>through.

  I agree.  I hated the movie and the score.  But you (and Ellen) bring up an
excellent point about anachronistic songs that come from a movie just to have
them heard on the radio to get exposure for the movie.  A perfect example is
Beauty and the Beast.  Now the score to this movie was one of the best in a
long while.  I thought it unnecessary for the production of the duet with
Celine Dion (sp?) and Pebo Bryson (sp?).  Although it was good, it had no
impact on the movie.  I find it very annoying that music is produced soley to
market on the radio.  What impact did this song have on the movie?  None.  It
was played during the credits.  The more traditional version, that was in the
movie, was sung by Angela Lansbury.
   Years ago, songs from Broadway musicals were considered "good" enough to
appear on the pop charts, like Somewhere, and Memory etc.  Nowadays, songs of
these type are very scarcely heard outside the shows.  Take Miss Saigon, or Les
Miserables for examples.  Some of the most beautiful songs ever made (IMHO)
have come from these shows.  Yet I have never once heard any of the songs on
the radio (outside the commercial).  My point is that music that has real
impact on a show or movie rarely seems to be as popular (unless of course the
score is Rap or Rock and Roll) today as it was years ago.  I find this rather
disturbing.  The only way for movies to have their music heard on the radio
(i.e. by most of the country) is to make a song that conforms to the popular
style of today, even if it has no relevance to the time period or setting of
the show/movie.

>    Movie music cannot be underrated as an important aspect of filmmaking.
>Fortunately there are composers whose work, while perhaps not with the
>staying power of Korngold or Tomikin are maintaining a high level of quality
>in the art of film scoring.  I would include the like of Morricone, Delarue,
>Barry, Williams (I don't like him, but I have to include him), Elfman, Byrne,
>Hamlisch, and even Stephen Sondheim has provided excellent scores for films.

What's not to like about J. Williams.  Although a tad bombastic at times, he
has still written some of the most famous scores to actions movies.  Who didn't
like the score to Star Wars, or The Emp. Str. Back, or Ret. of the Jedi when
they were watching the movies.  What about Jaws, or E.T. or Raiders of the Lost
Ark?  Remember Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind??  Even Fiddler on the Roof or
Superman?  The list goes on and on.

As for the music putting you to sleep, like E.T.  Sure, it could, but remember
that the music wasn't written to listen to all at one time.  It was written to
be heard watching the movie.  I have fallen asleep listening to my brothers
heavy metal at night.  Does that mean that the music is banal or booring??

                           ______
  Gary Graffagnino         \    /   "I'm having an old friend for dinner"
  accgsg@hofstra.bitnet     \  /
  accgsg@vaxc.hofstra.edu    \/              -Hannibal Lechter
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