John Powell's SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018) - Deluxe Edition 2020 / Intrada 2-CD edition October 31, 2023

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

This new Star Wars doesn't seem to be working for you.

[PrayodiBA 517]

The BEST of RCP-ish passage in Solo

 

Dont get me wrong; i hate the current state of that mega evil enterprise.

But i also adore that classic RCP sound that's used in the mid 90s, it is distinct and bring back old memories.

And what i also want to add here is how beautifully Powell blends these two distinct hemisphere.

So, here is my list of its best usage in Solo:

 

ANTZ Percussion

It was used in many action movie scores in the mid 90s. ANTZ, being another Powell classic, comes to mind:

 

First i heard it in Mine Mission, at 1:38 - 1:48

 

And then in Into The Maw, at 3:00 - 3:05

 

 

The Prince of Egypt Progression/ Fake-Sounding Trumpet

I made up that title, but i heard it in that film

 

Heard in Break out, starting at 3:47 - 3:57

 

and this is the Prince of Egypt progression i was talking about, with that kind of bass drum (?) at the base, at 3:57 - 4:07

 

 

And this is the Antz music for comparison, at 2:45 onward

 

and that percussion, 7:06 onward, and the percussion at 7:18

 

[Nathan95 66]

Not on the album, but in that brief moment near the start where you hear the Imperial March, it made me think of what they did in rebels once, where it was in a major key. Made me wonder if it could be the same arrangement even. It was all very brief, but anyone know more about this?

[crocodile 7,983]

Just now, Stefancos said:

This new Star Wars doesn't seem to be working for you.

I like The Last Jedi. It's a first substantial SW since 1980. It has some problems but they seem to getting smaller and smaller with each viewing.

 

Karol

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

24 minutes ago, crocodile said:

Oh so Williams actually wanted a modern sounding score. That's pretty cool to learn. I bet as an artist he's fascinated with all the modern toys that contemporary composers use.

 

To be honest, this hot-headed probably bit too over-eager take on the old material sits well with the younger incarnation of Solo.

 

Karol

 

It's tough to be creative and not fascinated by whats new. Time is your limiting factor, not curiosity. Despite his repeated statements that he just hasn't had time to dabble in the new stuff, people still like to project that Williams has an ideological opposition to new techniques. 

[crocodile 7,983]

4 minutes ago, Blumenkohl said:

 

It's tough to be creative and not fascinated by whats new. Time is your limiting factor, not curiosity. Despite his repeated statements that he just hasn't had time to dabble in the new stuff, people still assume he has an ideological opposition to new techniques. 

Interviewer: John, do you have a favourite score?

John: Pirates of the Caribbean. The first one, such an iconic and beautifully realised composition. It show me that this artform is still alive, if you will. It reminds of the braver time in film history and geniuses like Alex North.

 

Karol

[crumbs 14,300]

That's a fascinating insight into Williams' mindset, really. That he was more interested in a younger, contemporary composer not being slavish to the style of the original scores, but finding ways to integrate his thematic material using more contemporary techniques, makes perfect sense. Doubly so if you believe the rumours about his frustration with Giacchino's Rogue One, which ultimately comes across as a modern composer imitating the style of a classically-trained composer by imitating a classically-written Star Wars score, resulting in an amateurish pastiche. It clearly didn't work.

 

This score, on the other hand, fully retains Powell's voice as a composer, modernizes it with techniques Williams generally eschews, while rooting itself firmly within the Star Wars musical tapestry. He's achieved quite the feat, if I do say so myself.

[D_A_R_T_H 24]

do you have any info about the good chronological track order ?

[Ricard 2,242]

6 hours ago, Knight of Ren said:

As for the album presentation, is mostly chronological, just with one track being out of order from what I remember, that being The Good Guy which I think goes after Into the Maw.

 

[Matt C 452]

I thought the score was enjoyable in the film, but I fucking hated the synthy percussion. Powell, it is an SW film, not How to Train Your Dragon.

 

And Powell lays on the Williams references a bit too thickly, especially during the Kessel run, where he jumps from "The Asteroid Field" to the Rebel fanfare and back again. But there are some really lovely quieter moments that channel Wiliams without quoting the themes.

 

I need to see the movie again before I buy the soundtrack.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

11 hours ago, mrbellamy said:

Is this related to any theme or just a one-off? I don't really recognize it from anywhere else in the score but I love it haha.

 

 

Maybe actually a little deconstruction on Han's Hero theme? Similar range and rhythmic values. 

 

 

 

That sounds like one of the Lithuanian daina-derived motifs from The Rite. The second phrase is near identical.

 

 

It's the gift that keeps on giving!

[Henry Sítrónu 494]

On 25.5.2018 at 11:36 AM, lemoncurd said:

Help!!!! Horn motif in Train Heist, 2:18 - 2:25. I've heard it before. Don't know where. Not saying it's an intentional quote. But it's something. I can't put my finger on it. Anyone???? Thanks!!!!!

Found it. Kind of. It reminded me of Leaving Ingrid from Seven Years of Tibet (opening motif).

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

Woah! According to Powell on facebook, there's 45 minutes of music left off the album.

Didn't realize it was that much.

[crocodile 7,983]

I'm listening to the On the Score interview and it turns out that Williams stated to the filmmakers the Rebel fanfare was always meant to be the Millennium Falcon theme.

 

Karol

[Chen G. 3,943]

I dunno about that. Its called "Rebel spaceship fanfare" in the original LP liner notes...

[crocodile 7,983]

And?

 

Karol

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

1 minute ago, Chen G. said:

I dunno about that. Its called "Rebel spaceship fanfare" in the original LP liner notes...

 

You gonna argue with John Williams?

[Holko 9,499]

Williams also calls Vader "Vadar" in his cue titles, he probably just forgot it's called Millenium Falcon.

[crocodile 7,983]

Oh, by the way, another quote from Powell on Williams' instructions (from the said interview): "Don't be so honourable to the material. Do your own thing. I'm interested to see what you'll do with it. I'm interested to see what you can add to it. The sounds I don't do, the things I don't do, the way I don't do it."

 

 

Karol

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

I thought it was supposed to be the Starship Enterprise theme.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

21 minutes ago, crocodile said:

Oh, by the way, another quote from Powell on Williams' instructions (from the said interview): "Don't be so honourable to the material. Do your own thing. I'm interested to see what you'll do with it. I'm interested to see what you can add to it. The sounds I don't do, the things I don't do, the way I don't do it."

 

 

Karol

 

Giacchino must be crying in a corner right about now. 

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

I wonder if J. Williams also feels Giacchino's better for Jurassic than Star Wars, considering Giacchino's doing Fallen Kingdom and all.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

Just now, kaseykockroach said:

I wonder if J. Williams also feels Giacchino's better for Jurassic than Star Wars, considering Giacchino's doing Fallen Kingdom and all.

 

He certainly made Jurassic more his own than Rogue One. 

[crocodile 7,983]

Ignoring the main theme, which I'm not a fan of, JW is probably one of Giacchino's stronger film works.

 

Karol

[MikeH 768]

24 minutes ago, crocodile said:

Oh, by the way, another quote from Powell on Williams' instructions (from the said interview): "Don't be so honourable to the material. Do your own thing. I'm interested to see what you'll do with it. I'm interested to see what you can add to it. The sounds I don't do, the things I don't do, the way I don't do it."

 

 

Karol

 

This is probably the best lesson that Williams can teach the “new guard” coming up. The sound that defined greats like Williams, Goldsmith, etc. worked because it was a confluence of what they studied, listened to, and also what came naturally through them.  

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

I'd at least say Jurassic World is one of his better 'blockbuster' scores. Delightful dinosaur rampage shenanigans suits Mike G. just fine.

Star Wars is a bit more of a complicated, demanding thematic soundscape.

 

 

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

10 minutes ago, crocodile said:

Ignoring the main theme, which I'm not a fan of, JW is probably one of Giacchino's stronger film works.

 

Karol

 

Funny, I'm the opposite. I really liked the main theme (it has a yearning English folk song quality), but can give or take the rest of the score.

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

That's a bizarre, intriguing comparison if I've ever heard one.

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

3 hours ago, kaseykockroach said:

I'd at least say Jurassic World is one of his better 'blockbuster' scores. Delightful dinosaur rampage shenanigans suits Mike G. just fine.

Star Wars is a bit more of a complicated, demanding thematic soundscape.

 

That's because the Jurassic Park universe is inherently zany, and Giacchino can do zany.

 

 

He suffers from a deplorable excess of personality, especially for a composer.

 

3 hours ago, kaseykockroach said:

That's a bizarre, intriguing comparison if I've ever heard one.

 

I'm a bizarre, intriguing person.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

15 minutes ago, MikeH said:

 

This is probably the best lesson that Williams can teach the “new guard” coming up. The sound that defined greats like Williams, Goldsmith, etc. worked because it was a confluence of what they studied, listened to, and also what came naturally through them.  

 

It’s a great lesson for young people in any situation. Stop copying. Whether it’s copying other people’s music, photos, drawings, programs, lifestyles, choices, opinions, just stop. Think for yourself. Learn from others and from the past, but don’t try to be others or relive the past. 

 

Heed Williams’ words. It won’t guarantee you’ll succeed and become John Williams. But it will guarantee that you will wake up every day with a hunger for life, whatever it throws at you. The worst thing you can do to your life is being dead inside. 

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

I'm not saying this as a comparison to Rogue One (as I don't remember anything about that score except his scoring the big Vader slaughter at the end), but I like that Powell saves the big popular Star Wars themes for near the end (probably hinted at before for all I know, but L3 and the Millenium Falcon is when he finally fully grants a cameo). Just feels more earned and satisfying that way getting to that point.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

6 minutes ago, Sharky said:

I'm a bizarre intriguing person.

 

I haven’t seen anything bizarre from you. What’s the most controversial thought you hold?  

[Chen G. 3,943]

57 minutes ago, Blumenkohl said:

You gonna argue with John Williams?

 

With 2018 Williams? sure.

1977 Williams (regarding a composition of his from that year), not so much.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

3 minutes ago, kaseykockroach said:

I'm not saying this as a comparison to Rogue One (as I don't remember anything about that score except his scoring the big Vader slaughter at the end), but I like that Powell saves the big popular Star Wars themes for near the end (probably hinted at before for all I know, but L3 and the Millenium Falcon is when he finally fully grants a cameo). Just feels more earned and satisfying that way getting to that point.

 

My wife always says, “sex is boring when the climax comes in the beginning.” 

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

Star Wars isn't sex to me. It's more like getting a coke when the gas station down the street doesn't have root beer or Monster drinks.

[MikeH 768]

17 minutes ago, Blumenkohl said:

 

It’s a great lesson for young people in any situation. Stop copying. Whether it’s copying other people’s music, photos, drawings, programs, lifestyles, choices, opinions, just stop. Think for yourself. Learn from others and from the past, but don’t try to be others or the past. 

 

Heed Williams’ words. It won’t guarantee you’ll succeed and become John Williams. But it will guarantee that you will wake up every day with a hunger for life, whatever it throws at you. The worst thing you can do to your life is being dead inside. 

 

Yes! Not counting school, I’ve had just over a decade of composing professionally (aka ‘for money’) and I’m juuuust now finally accepting my inner voice without constantly looking over my shoulder at those I admired (Barry, Goldsmith, Horner, Williams, etc).  It was there all along, just buried under the crap of constantly comparing myself to others. And it is unbelievably freeing. 

[BLUMENKOHL 1,068]

4 minutes ago, MikeH said:

 

Yes! Not counting school, I’ve had just over a decade of composing professionally (aka ‘for money’) and I’m juuuust now finally accepting my inner voice without constantly looking over my shoulder at those I admired (Barry, Goldsmith, Horner, Williams, etc).  It was there all along, just buried under the crap of constantly comparing myself to others. And it is unbelievably freeing. 

 

Good on you figuring it out. Many go to the grave miserable and filled with regret because they never do. 

[Dixon Hill 4,232]

1 hour ago, Sharky said:

 

Funny, I'm the opposite. I really liked the main theme (it has a yearning English folk song quality), but can give or take the rest of the score.

 

Agreed.

 

57 minutes ago, Blumenkohl said:

 

My wife always says, “sex is boring when the climax comes in the beginning.” 

 

A woman after my own heart.  Is she bored with you yet?

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

3 hours ago, Blumenkohl said:

 

I haven’t seen anything bizarre from you. What’s the most controversial thought you hold?  

 

Well sure. Compared to sky338 I'm the most boring man in the world, but I do hold a few controversial opinions.

 

- The Godfather Part III is the greatest of the trilogy.

 

- Sofia Coppola's performance as Michael Corleone's daughter is the highlight of her career.

 

- The Sopranos and Breaking Bad are both morally repugnant.

 

- The Deer Hunter, Forest Gump, American Beauty, Grand Budapest Hotel, and No Country for Old Men stink.

 

- Natalie Portman is an awful actress. 

 

- Joseph Losey is one of the greatest directors ever.

 

- George Clooney should never write or direct another film again. He's done enough damage.

 

- Gus Van Sant has only one good film. My Own Private Idaho.

 

- River Phoenix, Heath Ledger and James Dean all had potential but are ridiculously overrated.

 

- All The Presidents Men, The Post, Spotlight, and Three Days of the Condor are glib trash. Journalists are not our saviors.

 

- Prostitution should be legalized, regulated, monitored and taxed.

 

- Kathleen Turner should've won Best Actress for Serial Mom in 1994.

 

- Jessica Lange was miscast in Feud and Faye Dunaway's performance in Mommie Dearest is superior

 

- Showgirls is actually a good film.

 

Take your pick.

[Nick Parker 3,040]

1 minute ago, Sharky said:

 

- The Godfather Part III is the greatest of the trilogy.

 

He asked for controversial thoughts, not stupid ones.

2 minutes ago, Sharky said:

- Prostitution should be legalized, regulated, monitored and taxed.

 

I live in a state where prostitution is much more "embraced" than most places, so I could be biased, but this seems to be a position held by many I've heard talk on the subject.

[Marcus 390]

Hmm... Just listened to Powell's score.

 

I'm very glad he was encouraged to tread elsewhere, rather than just lightly, but I have to say there's something about his approach that to my ears also highlights certain shortcomings of a more "modern" approach (not to slight Powell's efforts in the least; my guess is he's written exactly the score he was asked to). 

 

The use of percussion gets very tiring very quickly, and instead of energizing the musical flow seems to detract from it. And the harmonic language feels for the most part sort of emotionally flat. It just ends up feeling very light and inconsequential, I guess. Then again, it might be a very light and inconsequential film...

 

In the process of scoring a major film myself at the moment, I have of course encountered a temp track that is mostly informed by scores from the last few years (lots of Zimmer). And while I respect and like much of it, I can't help but lament a tendency to make things streamlined and unobtrusive.

 

It's a style that co-exists very comfortably with just about anything you'd have it accompany, as so much of it is about latching on to steady rhythms and inoffensive 'pop' chord progressions. But it does tend to sacrifice having an integrity of its own, subsequently preventing the music from adding new, individual layers. 

 

I guess that's the aspect I "miss" the most... 

[Kasey Kockroach 2,343]

-Last Starfighter has a better main theme than either Star Trek or Star Wars.

 

-There's a couple duds, but overall I like the Nightmare on Elm Street sequels even more than the original. New Nightmare is both the best film in the series and has the best score.

 

-Ghostbusters (1984) sucks. Don't worry though, I didn't like the remake either.

 

-Gremlins 2 is better than the original

 

 

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

29 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

He asked for controversial thoughts, not stupid ones.

 

You see, Blume?

 

One man's controversial is another's stupid.

[Nick Parker 3,040]

Just now, Sharky said:

 

You see, Blume?

 

One man's controversial.

 

Glad to help.

[1977 1,743]

Score sounded much better in the film, the sound fx drowned out most of the drum loops. Made me want to give it a second chance at least.

 

What's with

Spoiler

The Death Star motif from ANH used to punctuate the appearance of a Star Destroyer?

 

[Ricard 2,242]

38 minutes ago, Sharky said:

- Jessica Lange was miscast in Feud and Faye Dunaway's performance in Mommie Dearest is superior

 

I think most informed people would agree with that.

[crocodile 7,983]

4 minutes ago, JTWfan77 said:

Score sounded much better in the film, the sound fx drowned out most of the drum loops. Made me want to give it a second chance at least.

What's with 

  Reveal hidden contents

The Death Star motif from ANH used to punctuate the apperance of a Star Destroyer?

 

 

Karol

[Disco Stu 15,495]

5 minutes ago, Ricard said:

 

I think most informed people would agree with that.

 

 

I trust only @Margo Channing‘s opinion on this subject 

[Sharkissimo 1,973]

59 minutes ago, Marcus said:

And the harmonic language feels for the most part sort of emotionally flat. It just ends up feeling very light and inconsequential, I guess. Then again, it might be a very light and inconsequential film...

 

But surely not every Star Wars film needs to be a Greek tragedy, and likewise should every Star Wars score have a grand, classical, choric function in the vein of The Last Jedi? You risk fatiguing an audience that way.

 

I think there's room in these non-saga films and scores for burlesque and a general lightness of touch.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

1 minute ago, Sharky said:

think there's room in these non-saga films and scores for burlesque and a general lightness of touch.

 

Yep.

 

Also I agree about Jurassic World.  I wasn’t super into the action writing but the theme was nice.  One of his stronger recent melodies.  Not as strong as Yorktown or Tomorrowland, but I liked it.