:: Captain's Personal Blog ::

Stardate: Monday, March 25, 2002

Now I've got a issue that I need to address:

Why do people think that the music from SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE and STAR WARS sound alike? In fact, they really don't. Nothing against the "holy trilogy," but John Williams' score for SUPERMAN is a much more sweeping, grander one than that of STAR WARS. Let me clarify one point, however. THEY ARE BOTH SWEEPING AND GRAND SCORES.

SUPERMAN, however, has a much more epic quality to it. Both are complimented by Williams' assigning themes to poignant characters and events. SUPERMAN has many such themes: SUPERMAN's THEME, THE PLANET KRYPTON THEME, CAN YOU READ MY MIND (Lois' theme,) THE VILLAIN'S MARCH (Luthor's theme.) STAR WARS also has a bunch, but it really didn't find those good legs until EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Both themes have a unique quality among movie scores. Both themes, if you listen carefully, have their names syllabically in the refrain. If you listen carefully, as the music swells, you can hear the music say "SU-PER-MAN." This follows in a long tradition of SUPERMAN themes to do this.

Bill Murray, in the classic SNL sketch, as a longue singer, demonstrated how STAR WARS can clearly fit into it's theme.

SUPERMAN is a 3 syllable word, while STAR WARS has only two. This should be enough to differentiate them. Overall, they are constructed differently and should sound differently enough to anyone paying attention, not to get the two of them confused.

Perhaps they are recognizing John Williams' style. This is something which is easy to hear. Listen to any one of the dozens of films that he is scored, and you can hear his energy and enthusiasm--THE INDIANA JONES MOVIES, THE STAR WARS MOVIES, SUPERMAN, HARRY POTTER, HOME ALONE, JAWS, etc.. (well, maybe not Phantom Menace, which was a little too plodding for my tastes.)

John Williams is in the highest echelon of modern film composers, which in my opinion, places him on the highest list of modern day composers, period. I have said for a long time that film scores are the modern equivalent to classical music. How could they not be? Many of them have left an indelible impression on our consciousness. John Williams in particular. THE RAIDERS MARCH is an easy mark. As is the theme to JAWS. These scores immediately evoke imagery and flights of fancy.

Back to the point, I have been a great admirer of film scores, and his in particular. To that end, I have yet to really have any problems confusing his work. I wish someone could sit with me and listen with me, and tell me what I don't hear. Or maybe I could show them what they don't hear.
:: J 1:43 PM [+] ::
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