Gold Star Scores (Since Renamed Hall of Fame)
By Me. @filmscorefans
Hate my writing? Hate me? But like film scores? Click HERE to skip all this rambling and just check out the Gold Star scores!
“That is a great album.” I hear people say this all the time about rock, rap, country, and every kind of pop. In other social circles, friends have their own versions. “What an amazing symphony.” “That concerto is such an accomplishment.” “It’s the perfect opera.” (Just kidding about that last one. No one has ever said that.)
Hate my writing? Hate me? But like film scores? Click HERE to skip all this rambling and just check out the Gold Star scores!
“That is a great album.” I hear people say this all the time about rock, rap, country, and every kind of pop. In other social circles, friends have their own versions. “What an amazing symphony.” “That concerto is such an accomplishment.” “It’s the perfect opera.” (Just kidding about that last one. No one has ever said that.)
Perfect.
But, what about film scores? Do we experience albums with no lower quality tracks? Or are our scores inherently tied to the ups and downs of the on screen material? Those questions been at the center of listening experiences for most of my life. As stated in previous posts (I KNOW YOU HAVE READ THEM), I came into the fan hood in elementary school. I immediately became obsessed with finding scores that are perfect from start to finish. I never wanted to be bothered with the skip button (or at that time, I guess it was the fast forward option). Just hit play and enjoy.
Greatest invention in the history of history.
As I began my collection in those early years, I came across these scores constantly. Everything was new; I was only experiencing the heavy hitters while blissfully turning a blind eye (ear?) to the lesser-knowns of the genre. It was like going to a different sporting event every night, but only the greatest champions in history were ever playing.
This.
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Happened.
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Now in my 30’s, I look back on that time as a golden age of listening in my life. I was never let down because I had decades of back logged perfect scores to experience for the first time. I am by no means completely caught up with film music history, but my library is now the result of 25 years of non-stop listening. You do the math.
But, every honeymoon has to end, right?
But, every honeymoon has to end, right?
Love you, sweetums.
I mark Star Wars: The Phantom Menace as the beginning of the end. My introduction to film music was over, and it was time to really dig in. (I just didn't realize it at the time...) I remember purchasing the album with absolute trust in the fact that every single cue would blow me away. After I got over the CD case SPOILER ALERT revelation that Qui-Gon dies (I hadn’t skipped 8th period to see the movie yet), I went in for the experience of a lifetime.
And I was let down.
Remember when you left the movie with your friends, and no one wanted to be the first to say it? “Hey guys… did that Star Wars movie we saw kind of… well… was that movie bad?” But, finally, one of you did and everyone started laughing, complaining, or crying depending on your group dynamic (Ours was hysterical laughter). Well, imagine listening to the score, having not one single friend or family member that also enjoyed film score music… That’s a grand total of zero shoulders to cry on.
Now let me stop here and remind you that I’m talking about PERFECT scores. I know Duel of the Fates is a killer accomplishment for John Williams (even if it doesn’t really fit into the overall tonal SW universe). And, Anakin’s theme is so wonderful (especially Vader’s notes towards the end). Before you send your angry letters (I know, people don’t do that anymore), PHANTOM MENACE IS A GOOD SCORE. But, it does not follow the expected mold set by the original trilogy.
I was let down.
But, again, I’m not talking about individual tracks. I’m talking about PERFECT scores.
The Phantom Menace was my first NEW release with huge expectations that came completely crashing down. I listened to it dozens of times, each time expecting to hear awesomeness that had just gone unnoticed in previous attempts. But, it never happened. Instead, I listened to that duel millions of times and rarely ever revisited the rest of the score.
My point is this: My film score life can be measured pre-QG and post-QG. (QG = Qui Gon.)
And I was let down.
Remember when you left the movie with your friends, and no one wanted to be the first to say it? “Hey guys… did that Star Wars movie we saw kind of… well… was that movie bad?” But, finally, one of you did and everyone started laughing, complaining, or crying depending on your group dynamic (Ours was hysterical laughter). Well, imagine listening to the score, having not one single friend or family member that also enjoyed film score music… That’s a grand total of zero shoulders to cry on.
Now let me stop here and remind you that I’m talking about PERFECT scores. I know Duel of the Fates is a killer accomplishment for John Williams (even if it doesn’t really fit into the overall tonal SW universe). And, Anakin’s theme is so wonderful (especially Vader’s notes towards the end). Before you send your angry letters (I know, people don’t do that anymore), PHANTOM MENACE IS A GOOD SCORE. But, it does not follow the expected mold set by the original trilogy.
I was let down.
But, again, I’m not talking about individual tracks. I’m talking about PERFECT scores.
The Phantom Menace was my first NEW release with huge expectations that came completely crashing down. I listened to it dozens of times, each time expecting to hear awesomeness that had just gone unnoticed in previous attempts. But, it never happened. Instead, I listened to that duel millions of times and rarely ever revisited the rest of the score.
My point is this: My film score life can be measured pre-QG and post-QG. (QG = Qui Gon.)
As more major releases came and went, I found it harder to listen through complete scores without skipping numerous tracks. It slowly dawned on me that all those “winners” from my childhoold had taken 30 years to build up in my library. The 20-aughts were a tough learning experience. There was amazing music being written, but I kept waiting for the next Rocketeer, Edward Scissorhands, or Dinosaur to knock it out of the park from start to finish.
Fantastic music was all over the place, but most major releases gave me two or three wonderful cues surrounded by mediocrity. I just wanted to go back to 5th grade and start it all over again. I still haven’t completely wrapped my head around this experience as a fan. And I rarely go back and explore that decade to see what I missed. (Send recommendations to filmscorefans@gmail.com or on Twitter @filmscorefans)
And so, for over a decade, movies came and went; rarely ever grabbing me from start to finish.
Then I made a change. See my earlier post: “STUFF I LIKED IN 2014”
I went to Spotify with the belief that I’d be giving up on the search for perfect scores. I’d stop purchasing whole albums and put the money towards picking and choosing the great individual cues I enjoy. It hasn’t really ended up happening that way.
Instead, my eyes have been opened to composers and albums that I might never have experienced otherwise. A perfect example: Paper Planes from Nigel Westlake.
Fantastic music was all over the place, but most major releases gave me two or three wonderful cues surrounded by mediocrity. I just wanted to go back to 5th grade and start it all over again. I still haven’t completely wrapped my head around this experience as a fan. And I rarely go back and explore that decade to see what I missed. (Send recommendations to filmscorefans@gmail.com or on Twitter @filmscorefans)
And so, for over a decade, movies came and went; rarely ever grabbing me from start to finish.
Then I made a change. See my earlier post: “STUFF I LIKED IN 2014”
I went to Spotify with the belief that I’d be giving up on the search for perfect scores. I’d stop purchasing whole albums and put the money towards picking and choosing the great individual cues I enjoy. It hasn’t really ended up happening that way.
Instead, my eyes have been opened to composers and albums that I might never have experienced otherwise. A perfect example: Paper Planes from Nigel Westlake.
If I were still stuck in the pattern of buying full scores only to be disappointed, I can guarantee I would never have given this score a chance. Without streaming, I had to be careful with the budget. Mrs. FilmScoreFans runs the finances. I was able to listen to Paper Planes on a whim, and was blown away (by an unexpected perfect score!). Thanks to streaming, I have a rekindled flame to use as a searchlight. Oh, perfect scores… where aaaare you…!?!
I can now enjoy those individual standout tracks (because I didn’t pay for the whole album), but also stumble across perfect scores. And when I do, the Gold Star gets handed out to the deserving album.
And so, it is with this excitement in mind, that I introduce our ongoing GOLD STAR feature. Perfect scores are still out there, and I’m always searching. We’ll be tracking GOLD STAR scores: perfect from start to finish.
Check out the list HERE. What did I miss? Send your recommendations.
I can now enjoy those individual standout tracks (because I didn’t pay for the whole album), but also stumble across perfect scores. And when I do, the Gold Star gets handed out to the deserving album.
And so, it is with this excitement in mind, that I introduce our ongoing GOLD STAR feature. Perfect scores are still out there, and I’m always searching. We’ll be tracking GOLD STAR scores: perfect from start to finish.
Check out the list HERE. What did I miss? Send your recommendations.
This entire post and feature are all basically about you guys doing the research for me.
What did I miss? Get me some great scores!
What did I miss? Get me some great scores!
@FILMSCOREFANS |
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