Dear John Williams

I haven't written open letters for a long time, but there is a good reason to do it today.

Dear John Williams,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you! I'm very grateful that you were born 80 years ago, because I don't want even imagine what the cinematography would do without you.

I started watching films since I don't remember which age, but even then the melody, which I heard along with the visual part, was important for me. When I was a kid, I watched "Home Alone" every holiday season. Later I saw the first two adaptations of Harry Potter. I memorised both main themes so well that I'm humming them every Christmas for many years.

When I grew up and discovered more serious films, as "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "Schindler's List", "Empire of the Sun", "Catch Me If You Can", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Star Wars" trilogies. They opened me the brand new world and I enjoyed them very much. Along with the music. Yes, I want to thank you for writing such exceptional pieces for all those films, and for many others. Thanks to you I started wondering not only who the actors and directors are, and what about the plot is. I always check the line, where the name of the composer is written, hoping that you took part in creating it.

You can make every film better with your music. I watched many from your filmography and without your soundtracks they wouldn't be such great. Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus definitely wouldn't be as popular as they are, if you didn't write the music for their films.

I hope your compositions will become timeless, and many generations will listen to them and wonder how a real person can make such magical tunes. And, of course, I wish you well and write more, because you have an incredible gift.

Have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Sincerely,
an eternal movie and music fan.

Picture via Harry Potter fan zone

Soundtrack 2011

There is some time until the Golden Globe and Oscar awards, so I decided to continue summing up the previous film year. This time it is all about music.

I picked ten songs and compositions, which became my favourite ones.

1. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (feat. Karen O) - "Immigrant Song"
Film: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by David Fincher.

This song became even more popular than its original, which Led Zeppelin sang. It channeled the dark atmosphere of the film and made the opening sequence incredibly creepy and beautiful.



2. Kavinsky - "Nightcall"
Film: "Drive" by Nicolas Winding Refn.

"Drive" soundtrack is one of the best I heard this year, and "Nightcall" is a very catchy track, which always reminds me of Ryan Gosling driving away.



3. Alexandre Desplat - "Statues"
Film: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" by David Yates.

Alexandre Desplat knows how to create a magic and feisty composition. The scene before the Battle of Hogwarts is very impressive, especially the part when teachers, students and the Order of the Phoenix are trying to protect the school. It was breathtaking to watch and not the less to listen.



4. Rival Sons - "Torture"
Film: "Real Steel" by Shawn Levy.

"Real Steel" has a combined soundtrack of hip-hop and rock songs, but this one matches my taste perfectly.



5. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - "I've Had the Time of My Life"
Film: "Crazy, Stupid, Love" by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, originally from "Dirty Dancing" by Emile Ardolino.

I fell in love with this song a long time ago, since I saw "Dirty Dancing" for the first time, so I was glad to hear it in this romantic comedy. You have to be a really good dancer to lift a girl like that.



6. Hans Zimmer - "I See Everything"
Film: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows" by Guy Ritchie.

Less than a minute, but it gives me goose bumps.



7. Hans Zimmer - "Blackbeard"
Film: "Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" by Rob Marshall.

The film was average, but the score is great. Hans Zimmer made the first appearance of Blackbeard very badass.



8. Kerris Dorsey - "The Show"
Film: "Moneyball" by Bennett Miller.

Such a sweet girl with a very good voice sings for his father. I didn't like this film, but two scenes, where this song is featured, are very good and sentimental.



9. Henry Jackman - "Magneto"
Film: "X-Men: First Class" by Matthew Vaughn.

I'd call it "The Rise of the Great Villain". Fassbender's character got the best composition, which is good at describing his inner world.



10. Alexandre Desplat - "Lily's Theme"
Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" by David Yates.

The most tragic melody I've heard in the last Harry Potter films. It prepares the audience for a serious final of this story.



Which are your top-10 songs you heard in films the previous year?

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993) - Favourite Christmas song

Merry Christmas Eve! I hope you are having a great time with your family and friends. If you have a bad mood I have something to cheer you up.

Henry Selick and Tim Burton made a wonderful scary and festive film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" long time ago. There are many good songs, including "This is Halloween", but these days we'd better listen to and sing "What's this?". It's written and sung by Danny Elfman as Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin king, when he discovers a snowy and happy town. Everyone prepares to Christmas there and the atmosphere is incredibly cheerful. Jack wonders why all those creatures are dressing their trees, baking pies and caroling, until he understands how beautiful all of this is.

My favorite part:

Oh, look
What's this?
They're hanging mistletoe, they kiss
Why that looks so unique, inspired

There is also a good version sung by Fall Out Boy.

If you like this song either, you can try to sing karaoke.



What is your favourite Christmas song from a film?

Oscar 2012 Original Song Playlist

39 original songs are included in the Oscar 2012 long list. The best chances to be nominated have songs from "DAM999", "The Muppets" and "Rio", with 3 songs each; "Gnomeo & Juliet", "Happy Feet Two" and "Winnie the Pooh" with 2 songs.

This list features famous musicians, like Robbie Williams, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige; actors who starred in musicals, like Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway; and young artists.

Before the every song I wrote who performed it, so don't confuse it with its composers and lyrics writers.

You will know the 84th Academy Awards nominations on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. And winners will be announced on February 26, 2012. I'm so exited to watch this ceremony!

More about Oscar 2012!



1. Jordin Sparks - "The World I Knew" (from "African Cats")
2. Sinead O'Connor - "Lay Your Head Down" (from "Albert Nobbs")
3. The Star Spangled Singers - "Star Spangled Man" (from "Captain America: The First Avenger")
4. Robbie Williams - "Collision of Worlds" (from "Cars 2")
5. Shakti Shree, Suchith Suresan, Ouseppachan - "Dakkanaga Dugu Dugu" (from "DAM999")
6. Suchith Suresan, Suvi Suresh, Ouseppachan - "DAM999 Theme Song" (from "DAM999")
7. Hariharan, Shreya Goshal - "Mujhe Chod Ke" (from "DAM999")
8. Melissa Manchester - "Rainbird" (from "Dirty Girl")
9. Alex Heffes - "Keep On Walking" (from "The First Grader")
10. Zac Brown - "Where the River Goes" (from "Footloose")
11. Elton John and Lady Gaga - "Hello Hello" (from "Gnomeo & Juliet")
12. Elton John - "Love Builds a Garden" (from "Gnomeo & Juliet")
13. P!nk & the Happy Feet Two Chorus - "Bridge of Light" (from "Happy Feet Two")
14. Hank Azaria & the Happy Feet Two Chorus, featuring Robin Williams - "The Mighty Sven" (from "Happy Feet Two")
15. Jaymay - "Never Be Daunted" (from "happythankyoumoreplease")
16. J. Ralph, featuring Willie Nelson - "Hell and Back" (from "Hell and Back Again")
17. Mary J. Blige - "The Living Proof" (from "The Help")
18. Zaz - "Coeur Volant" (from "Hugo")
19. Holly Palmer - "It's How We Play" (from "I Don't Know How She Does It")
20. Natasa Mirkovic-De Ro - "When the Heart Dies" (from "In the Land of Blood and Honey")
21. Camané - "Já Não Estar" (from "José and Pilar")
22. Chris Cornell - "The Keeper" (from "Machine Gun Preacher")
23. Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter - "Life's a Happy Song" (from "The Muppets")
24. Jason Segel and Walter - "Man or Muppet" (from "The Muppets")
25. Kermit and the Muppets - "Pictures in My Head" (from "The Muppets")
26. Tulips - "Summer Song" (from "The Music Never Stopped")
27. Ben Lear - "Imaginary Friends" (from "Olive")
28. Elvis Costello - "Sparkling Day" (from "One Day")
29. Daniel Tashian - "Taking You with Me" (from "Our Idiot Brother")
30. OK Go - "The Greatest Song I Ever Heard" (from "POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie
Ever Sold")
31. Will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway - "Hot Wings" (from "Rio")
32. Ester Dean, Carlinhos Brown - "Let Me Take You to Rio" (from "Rio")
33. Jesse Eisenberg, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, George Lopez, Will.i.am, and The Rio Singers with Hollywood - "Real in Rio" (from "Rio")
34. Ben Nichols - "Shelter" (from "Take Shelter")
35. Jónsi - "Gathering Stories" (from "We Bought a Zoo")
36. Shillaly Brothers - "Pop" (from "White Irish Drinkers")
37. The National - "Think You Can Wait" (from "Win Win")
38. Jim Cummings, Bud Luckey, Craig Ferguson, Travis Oates, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Wyatt Dean Hall, and Tom Kenny - "The Backson Song" (from "Winnie the Pooh")
39. Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward - "So Long" (from "Winnie the Pooh")

Source - Oscars.org

"The Fellowship of the Ring" - Magical soundtrack

I hope everyone's having a great day, but if not, it's perfect time for listening to some wonderful music. I accidentally found this video and it reminded me how strongly I love any music written by Howard Shore. Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy is epic, so it is Shore's music. Without this composer it would have been different, that's why I am very glad that he is in charge of the soundtrack for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and "The Hobbit: There and Back Again", which are being filmed somewhere in New Zealand right now.

This track is called "Concerning Hobbits" and makes me smile, when I hear its very first notes. I see young Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd before they have started their long and difficult journey. This music is perfect for green, happy, serene Shire. It feels like home and everything is fine.

Favorite opening themes from TV shows

I was thinking how much I love the music from different TV shows, so I've got this idea to choose my favorite main songs. I watched many TV shows (American) and series (British). Also I've seen Russian, but they aren't good. I can say there are at least 10, which I like/love and some of them were watched a couple of times by me. The song and the titles are the first things I remember from the story and then every time I hear it I start thinking about the show, some funny or dramatic moments, main characters etc. Ok, here is my first five.

Later I'll write specifically about my favorite TV shows.

* Love Spit Love - "How Soon Is Now"
Have you heard the words? It's all about being hero, who needs to be loved. Halliwell sisters were in love so many times, but only when they've found the right person (I mean three right men) they understood what happiness is. Powerful and romantic as CHARMED story itself.



* Gavin DeGraw - "I Don't Want To Be"
It's the official video and there is no ONE TREE HILL scenes, where you could heard it. The song is great and it's not a big surprise, because all songs from this TV show are picked carefully. When a couple of seasons were screening without opening titles, I missed it so much. But now we have plenty of it - there was a new cover of it before fast every new episode of the 8th season.



* The Rembrandts - "I'll Be There For You"
FRIENDS. This song is as witty, a bit crazy, childish, but it's all about being together always, as those six friends were.



* Nerf Herder - "Main theme" from BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
It rocks! It's more about the dark side of everyone. When I listen to it I always think of a vampire named Spike. Yes, this tune channels his character.



* Darling Violetta - "The Sanctuary"
ANGEL always goes along with Buffy, but his main theme is different. It's more romantic, tragic, but there is also lots of power and beauty. A song about the cursed vampire with a soul, whose destiny is to save innocent people and to live without the greatest pleasure. Do you hear a woman whispering in the beginning? It gives me chills.

"Sherlock Holmes" (2009) - Soundtrack

The music featured in Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" helped to create an atmosphere of mystery and comedy. Making this soundtrack Hans Zimmer used some unusual instruments - the cimbalom, the banjo and even one very detuned piano, which sounded like it has been tortured in some dusty pub for many years. And names of its tracks are as witty as movie itself, actually they're lines said by the main characters.

OST is available on Amazon, iTunes etc.

1."Discombobulate" 2:25



2."Is It Poison, Nanny?" 2:53
3."I Never Woke Up in Handcuffs Before" 1:44



4."My Mind Rebels at Stagnation" 4:31



5."Data, Data, Data" 2:15
6."He's Killed the Dog Again" 3:15
7."Marital Sabotage" 3:44
8."Not in Blood, But in Bond" 2:13
9."Ah, Putrefaction" 1:50
10."Panic, Shear Bloody Panic" 2:38
11."Psychological Recovery... 6 Months" 18:18
12."Catatonic" 6:46

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - Soundtrack

When Harry Potter series has changed its director for the first time, John Williams still remained being a music creator. At the third and the last time he wrote a beautiful soundtrack for this magical tale, which became more adult along with the story itself. John again used a choir to make a wonderful "Double Trouble". And I love how he interpreted "Hedwig's Theme" in the first and the last one compositions.

Release date - May 25, 2004

More about Harry Potter soundtracks!

1."Lumos! (Hedwig's Theme)" - 1:38



2."Aunt Marge's Waltz" - 2:15
3."The Knight Bus" - 2:52
4."Apparition on the Train" - 2:15
5."Double Trouble" - 1:37



6."Buckbeak's Flight" - 2:08
7."A Window to the Past" - 3:54
8."The Whomping Willow and the Snowball Fight" - 2:22
9."Secrets of the Castle" - 2:32
10."The Portrait Gallery" - 2:05
11."Hagrid the Professor" - 1:59
12."Monster Books and Boggarts!" - 2:26
13."Quidditch, Third Year" - 3:47



14."Lupin's Transformation and Chasing Scabbers" - 3:01
15."The Patronus Light" - 1:12
16."The Werewolf Scene" - 4:25
17."Saving Buckbeak" - 6:39
18."Forward to Time Past" - 2:33



19."The Dementors Converge" - 3:12



20."Finale" - 3:24



21."Mischief Managed!" - 12:10

"Crazy, Stupid, Love" (2011) - Trailer

Another romantic comedy about how a man can loose and then get back his wife. “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”, directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, it a witty story about straight-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell), who is living the dream-good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his "perfect" life quickly unravels. Worse, in today's single world, Cal, who hasn't dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protégé to handsome, thirtysomething player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). (Rotten Tomatoes)

I'm not a big fan of Steve Carell (I hate when he makes stupid faces), but I like how he managed to create a dramatic character. Ryan Gosling is charming again and portrays very self-confident man, so I definitely don't want to miss this movie.

Еще одна романтическая комедия о том, как мужчина может потерять, а затем вновь очаровать свою жену. Режиссеры фильма «Эта - дурацкая – любовь» Гленн Фикарра и Джон Рекуа рассказывают остроумную историю о застенчивом Коле Уивере (Стив Карелл), у которого есть хорошая работа, уютный дом, дети и брак с его возлюбленной из средней школы. Но когда Кол узнает, что его жена Эмили (Джулианна Мур) ему изменила и хочет развода, то его идеальной жизни быстро приходит конец. Хуже того, он совершенно не адаптирован к современной холостяцкой жизни. Теперь проводя свободные вечера в местном баре, несчастный Кол знакомится с успешным Джейкобом Палмером (Райан Гослинг) и учится у него как заново завоевать свою жену.

Я не фанатка Стива Карелла (меня раздражает, когда он корчит глупые рожи), но мне понравился этот его драматический персонаж. А Райан Гослинг вновь очарователен и предстает перед нами уверенным в себе мачо, так что я уже точно не пропущу этот фильм.

Release dates - July 29, 2011 (USA), September 2, 2011 (UK).

Official trailer (I love it because of its music - "Black Holes and Revelations" by Muse) -

"Sweet November" (2001) - Soundtrack

"Sweet November" by director Pat O'Connor is a very inspirational movie for me. Every time I watch it, it makes me laugh and cry. It is one of the first movies, which helped me understand what for we need cinema. Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron showed me a magical love story, the dramatic one, the truthful one. I know fast every quote from it, but it can't get me bored. I love it and I love its atmosphere, which was created by beautiful views of San Francisco and wonderful music. "Only Time" by Enya, "Wherever You Are" by Celeste Prince and others are always associated by me with powerful moments from "Sweet November".

Enya - "Only Time"



Celeste Prince - "Wherever You Are" (video is from other movie)



Barenaked Ladies - "Off The Hook"

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002) - Soundtrack

As I was writing about the soundtrack of the first part, I said that director Chris Columbus enjoys working with a composer John Williams. After a huge success of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" it was very wise not to change the creators, so they made a good adaptation again. Music kept inside all magic and became more adult along with all characters. I don't think that this soundtrack is worse than first, but I like it less. Except for the moments, when the trio (or the duo) gets into a dangerous trouble again.

Release date - November 12, 2002.

The soundtrack was released in the other order from what we can hear in movie. Here is a full soundtrack list (with my favorite compositions):

1. "Prologue: Book II and The Escape from the Dursleys" - 3:31



2. "Fawkes the Phoenix" - 3:45
3. "The Chamber of Secrets" - 3:49
4. "Gilderoy Lockhart" - 2:05
5. "The Flying Car" - 4:08
6. "Knockturn Alley" - 1:47
7. "Introducing Colin" - 1:49
8. "The Dueling Club" - 4:08



9. "Dobby the House Elf" - 3:27
10. "The Spiders" - 4:32



11. "Moaning Myrtle" - 2:05
12. "Meeting Aragog" - 3:18



13. "Fawkes Is Reborn" - 3:19
14. "Meeting Tom Riddle" - 3:38



15. "Cornish Pixies" - 2:13
16. "Polyjuice Potion" - 3:52
17. "Cakes for Crabbe and Goyle" - 3:30
18. "Dueling the Basilisk" - 5:02
19. "Reunion of Friends" - 5:08 



20. "Harry's Wondrous World" - 5:02

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (2001) - Soundtrack

While we are waiting for the last premiere of the movie about the boy who lived, I want to write about not less important part of every story - the soundtrack. Music helped to create a magical atmosphere and made "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" a wonderful fairy-tale. It was created by talented and one of my favorite composers, John Williams. He has written music for many great movies, for example, "Home Alone", "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" (yes, he likes working with Chris Columbus, who is the director of first and second "Harry Potter"), "Schindler's List", "Saving Private Ryan", "The Patriot", "Catch Me if You Can" and others. And he always writes very powerful music, which makes movies perfectly finished. Especially, I love his Christmas tunes in family movies. 

As for this soundtrack, "Prologue" will be always the best composition for me. Why? It's simple. Because it is the beginning of great story, which I adore. 

Release date - October 30, 2001

The full soundtrack (with my favorites compositions):

1. "Prologue" 2:12



2. "Harry's Wondrous World" 5:21
3. "The Arrival of Baby Harry" 4:25
4. "Visit to the Zoo and Letters from Hogwarts" 3:23
5. "Diagon Alley and The Gringotts Vault" 4:06
6. "Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters and The Journey to Hogwarts" 3:14
7. "Entry into the Great Hall and The Banquet" 3:42



8. "Mr. Longbottom Flies" 3:35
9. "Hogwarts Forever! and The Moving Stairs" 3:47
10. "The Norwegian Ridgeback and A Change of Season" 2:47
11. "The Quidditch Match" 8:29
12. "Christmas At Hogwarts" 2:56



13. "The Invisibility Cloak and The Library Scene" 3:16
14. "Fluffy's Harp" 2:39
15. "In the Devil's Snare and The Flying Keys" 2:21
16. "The Chess Game" 3:49
17. "The Face of Voldemort" 6:10



18. "Leaving Hogwarts" 2:14



19. "Hedwig's Theme" 5:11

Ennio Morricone - "The Verdict" (Dopo La Condanna)

The soundtrack from "Inglourious Basterds" directed by Quentin Tarantino. Music written by Ennio Morricone. When I hear the piano in this composition I shiver. Incredibly powerful and beautiful music.

"Grease" music (1978)

I want to share music from my favorite musical "GREASE" (1978) with young John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John directed by talented Randal Kleiser. I've watched it many times and it always makes me smile. This movie has inside some magic of the 50s with their cloth, make-up, haircuts and romantic songs. And here are the best songs with some lyrics which always will be on my IPod.

Grease - "Summer Nights"

Summer lovin' had me a blast

Summer lovin' happened so fast

I met a girl crazy for me

Met a boy cute as can be

Grease - "You're the One That I Want"

I got chills.
They're multiplyin'.
And I'm losin' control.
'Cause the power
you're suplyin',
it's electrifyin'!

You better shape up,
'cause I need a man
and my heart is set on you.
You better shape up;
you better understand
to my heart I must be true.

Nothin' left, nothin' left for me to do.

Grease - "We Go Together"

We go together like
rama lama lama
ke ding a de dinga a dong
remembered for ever like
shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom

Charlie Chaplin: Limelight ~ "Eternally"

I know many composers, whose music impressed me. Some of their works I can listening to for a really long hours, days... I turn them on when I am sad or I am happy and every time I hear it I know the life is incredible and I'm falling in love with it again and again...

A couple of month I've watched all movies which directed great Charles Chaplin. And I fall in love with his art. Not just movies impressed me, it was beautiful music, which reached my heart. Now I'm listening to "Eternally" from "Limelight" again and I feel so happy, inspired, proud and a little bit sad. I will always remember Charlie, because he's saving my life. Again and Again...

Close your eyes, open your heart and listen...