Do Film Composers Have A Sense of Humor?

[Indiana_Fett 0]

With the discover of 'Roar! (Cloverfield Overture)', I now wonder, do composers generally have a sense of humor when it comes to silly things on screen, inside jokes, and homages?

[Jill Sandwich 11,164]

Watch any Joe Dante movie.

[Kendal_Ozzel 36]

Giacchino's track titles certainly show that he does.

[Docteur Qui 1,581]

Indeed, Giacchino has an excellent sense of humour.

Danny Elfman would have to as well. No-one who writes like that could be dead-pan.

Jerry was a funny guy too. Cynical, but funny.

[indy4 160]

The titling of "The Menu" on Jaws 2 as well as "Promenade (Tourists on the Menu)" is slightly funny, although I don't know if JW made that up.

[Henry B 51]

Probably, as he was directly involved in the (bad) re-sequencing of the Jaws 25th Anniversary album.

[Ollie 1,375]

I've heard stories that Williams had a very good sense of humor when in private settings with close friends.

Chris Young and Elliot Goldenthal have a good sense of humor, look at some of their track titles.

[Elmo Lewis 7]

Don Davis, on the other hand, tries to be funny in the track title area. Doesn't work.

[Morlock 12]

Elfman has been known to have a sense of humor. Like all his 'The Final Confrontation' tracks. And 'Tiger Balls' from Red Dragon.

[Jill Sandwich 11,164]

And 'Tiger Balls' from Red Dragon.

There wasn't any other appropriate title for that track anyway.

[Miguel Andrade 1,725]

Williams is said to be a funny guy in private, and some of his cue titles are quite hilarious.

[Morlock 12]

Like which, for instance? I can't think of any at the moment (aside from the aforementioned track)

I do recall at some point a Q&A in which he had some funny lines (about the length of a love scene in real life, and some other quips like that).

And 'Tiger Balls' from Red Dragon.

There wasn't any other appropriate title for that track anyway.

Most other composers would probably find some...different way to describe it.

[John Crichton 4]

Every time I hear certain parts of Temple of Doom I picture Williams in his office laughing his butt off while writing them.

[Red 75]

I'm sure he got a kick out of including Yoda's Theme in E.T. or Jabba's in The Phantom Menace.

[Hlao-roo 390]

The cue title Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra is, if not "hilarious," at least facetious.

[Josh500 1,620]

This is a stupid title for a thread. Film composers are people like you and me (except for the musical talent they have, of course). . . so some have a sense of humor, some don't.

Also, just because someone has a sense of humor, they don't have to come with all sorts of funny track names.

[indy4 160]

"The Bug Tunnel and Death Trap" always seemed like a funny track to me (not the name, the actual music), as does "Gilderoy Lockhart."

And Spielberg has said that JW has a great sense of humor, and that's why he thought JW was joking when he played him the theme from Jaws for the first time.

[Josh500 1,620]

"Attack on the House" from Home Alone is pretty funny too (the music, that is, not the title).

[indy4 160]

And Hooper has, "The Sirius Deception," as Doyle has "Sirius Fire."

[Morlock 12]

Neither of those strike me as the least bit humerous. The first one is barely a pun.

[indy4 160]

They were trying.

[Morlock 12]

I don't think they were.

[Ollie 1,375]

Barely.

[Richard P 5,302]

I really don't care.

[Marian Schedenig 11,694]

Chris Young and Elliot Goldenthal have a good sense of humor, look at some of their track titles.

Or listen to Goldenthal's Batman Forever. It's hilarious.

The funniest Williams moment for me is in Visitor in San Diego by the way.

[Saxbabe 28]

Oh yeah, of course they do.

I remember where I read an interview with McNeely about Virus, that the male "Russian" choir employed in that score is not actually singing in Russian, because he didn't know any - they are singing the names of his family and the producers etc., backwards.

I always like the obvious nods to certain other composers too, quotes and such, that is often in fun (unless perhaps, you are Horner). Like JNH's homage to Herrmann in the Main Titles of Signs. I always smile at that.

[Romão 2,473]

Nocturnal Activities.

[Miguel Andrade 1,725]

"It's a Bird" is a classic.

[skyy38 21]

I believe that at least 75% of composers past and present HAD to have a sense of humor,in order to deal with all of the BS inherent in their calling.

That being said,can anyone find Michael Kamens indian music in Die Hard 2?

Makes me laugh everytime...

[Quintus 6,493]

I don't know about other composers (bar Jerry Goldsmith who's humour vein was oh so apparent), but JW clearly has a very healthy sense of humour, as demonstrated in Nocturnal Activities and No Ticket to name but two. The latter being a particularly dry piece - extremely appreciated by someone like myself.

[Marian Schedenig 11,694]

Some of Williams' codas are quite funny, when he lets a big bold action piece just dissolve into nothing.