During my day I listen to various types of music. Much of which is conditional to what mood I am in. The best music, however, is that which can sway my mood to a more relaxed place. I often listen to trance when I run, rock and rap when I lift weights, and mostly everything else when I'm either driving or working. Classical music is special because it derives it's own interpretation from our take on it, just as trance/electronic does. I've sometimes considered trance to be the classical music of our technological generation largely because their are no spoken lyrics. It leaves only what we desire to feel in the moment. The same song can create different moods at different times. Fascinating to say the least. Lastly, I virtually never listen to any pop music, or anything that might currently be played on the radio.
For me, I personally love movie soundtracks and musical scores. I think many people would be surprised at who/what I actually do listen to on a regular basis. Here's the short list of composers and singers that strike a chord with me (bad pun intended).
The Three Tenors-Luciano Pavarotti's timeless power, Placido Domingo's classic sound, and Jose Carreras' smoothness. Few, if any top Pavarotti, and the combined triplet is quite a delicacy.
Andrea Bocelli- incredibly rich voice and range. Can go from opera to contemporary naturally.
Alan Silvestri's score for Forest Gump. "Forest Gump suite" is incredible.
Randy Edelman's score for Dragon the Bruce Lee story. There's a reason so many tv and movie trailer's use the song "Premiere of the Big Boss" and the "Dragon Bruce Lee Story suite". The Gettysburg score is also high on the list of epic pieces along with Last of the Mohicans.
The Tree of Life soundtrack. This movie was artistic and quite visually stunning, though many people will have mixed feelings regarding the seemingly platitudnistic and pantheistic approach to art and meaning. Yet, few could dispute the use of incredible high def cinematography overlaid with music like Lacrimosa, Funeral Canticle, and Smetana's rousing La Moldau. Maybe I'm drinking the kool aid, but Terrence Malick has blended Kubrick with Aranofsky, even down to using the same macro liquid dynamics used for dramatic visual effects in The Fountain.
Jerry Goldsmith's score for Rudy. "Take us out" and "Tryouts" are incredibly fitting for the movie that inspired me to foolishly attempt football in high school :-)
Michael Giacchino- scores for the tv show Lost and the Star Trek movie. "Enterprising young men", "Life and Death", and "No place like home" are gold. Giacchino and JJ Abrams go together like peanut butter and jelly.
Bill Conti- The Karate Kid and Rocky scores. Two of my favorite childhood movies and soundtracks that take me back to the '80's.
Danny Elfman- another dynamic duo usually paired with sci-fi director Tim Burton. Edward Scissorhands and the Orginial Batman soundtracks are probably his highlights. "Ice Dance" and "Grand Finale" are my two favorites.
Clint Mansell's score for The Fountain. It was a beautiful and haunting score for a deep and thought provoking movie by Darren Aronofsky. "Death is the road to awe" might be his most impactful piece.
Ennio Morricone's score for The Mission. "Gabriel's Oboe" being the highlight. I'll end with the lyrics to the song "Nella Fantasia" which is an updated version of Morricone's song with added lyrics. Lyrics shown are the Italian and English translation.
Originial Italian (Nella Fantasia- In My Fantasy)
Nella fantasia io vedo un mondo giusto,
Lì tutti vivono in pace e in onestà.
Io sogno d'anime che sono sempre libere,
Come le nuvole che volano,
Pien' d'umanità in fondo all'anima.
Nella fantasia io vedo un mondo chiaro,
Lì anche la notte è meno oscura.
Io sogno d'anime che sono sempre libere,
Come le nuvole che volano.
Nella fantasia esiste un vento caldo,
Che soffia sulle città, come amico.
Io sogno d'anime che sono sempre libere,
Come le nuvole che volano,
Pien' d'umanità in fondo all'anima.
English version:
In my imagination I see a fair world,
Everyone lives in peace and in honesty there.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like the clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.
In my imagination I see a bright world,
Even the night is less dark there.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like clouds that fly.
In my imagination there exists a warm wind,
That breathes on the cities, like a friend.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.
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