Notablog

Song of the Day: The Shawshank Redemption (“Main Theme”) [YouTube link] was composed by Thomas Newman of the Newman Movie Music Dynasty. It is derived from one of the most successful film scores of its era. The 1994 film, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, is an intense, well-crafted, finely…

Song of the Day: The Thomas Crown Affair (“Soundtrack Suite”) [YouTube link], composed by Michel Legrand, is an indispensable extension of this 1968 heist film, starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. Though the nominated score didn’t win the Oscar that year, Legrand won an Oscar for Best Original Song, “The…

Song of the Day: Quigley Down Under (“Soundtrack Suite”) [YouTube link], composed by Basil Poledouris, enhances the Western motif of the 1990 film, starring Tom Selleck and Alan Rickman. The film may not have been a big hit, but its score remains a winner.

Song of the Day: BUtterifield 8 (“Gloria’s Theme”) [YouTube link], composed by Bronislaw Kaper, is from the 1960 film that brought Elizabeth Taylor her first of two Oscars (the other was for her raw performance in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?“). It’s a lush theme befitting the composer of the…

Song of the Day: Making Contact (“Soundtrack Suite”) [YouTube link], composed by Paul Gilreath, is from a 1985 West German horror-fantasy film (also known as “Joey”), directed by Roland Emmerich, which features a demonic-possessed ventriloquist dummy named Fletcher, of whom I’m not too thrilled. Just as Emmerich provides various nods…

Song of the Day: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (“Soundtrack Suite”) [YouTube link], composed by Klaus Bedelt, is from the 2003 film that began a five-film franchise. The score benefited from the collaboration of Hans Zimmer as well. It’s got all those rousing themes befitting…

Song of the Day: The Dead Zone (“Main Theme”) [YouTube link], composed by Michael Kamen, is a pensive theme from the 1983 science fiction thriller, directed by David Cronenberg, based on the 1979 Stephen King novel. It was recorded by the National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Song of the Day: Terms of Endearment (“End Credits”) [YouTube link], composed by Michael Gore, is one of the most poignant themes from this 1983 Oscar winning “Best Picture”, starring Debra Winger, and Oscar-winners Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson. I was fortunate enough to see many of the lovely locations…