#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,269 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Jerry Goldsmith is a fabulous composer. But is he cool?There's always been a quality about him, the way he looked, the way he spoke. In a magazine he was once descibed as a gnarly hippie, I believe.He never became the household name that John Williams did become, and still is, nor do his themes live in the public consiousness in the same way that Williams most famous themes do. So one might say that Jerry has always been second best, number 2, best of the losers, yet a loser still.One might also say Goldsmith has the alternative voice, the Mick Jagges opposite the John Lennon, the guy to go to if you didn't want a Williamsy score for your film.It is certain that not only Goldsmith commanded huge respect from his fellow filmcomposers but was also a major influence in the way certain genre's were scored (Goldsmith and Michael Kamen defined the sound of the action score for the 80's and early 90's)Yet does that make him cool.Thoughout his life Goldsmith experimented with unuasual orchestrations and instumentations, and blended together synth and the orchestra in a way I've never heard another composer do better.He also brought a Duduk to Hollywood's scoring stage a full 10 years before Hans Zimmer did so for Glad I Ate Her. But does that make Goldsmith cool?I saw Goldsmith in concert only once, it was a great evening, but there was also a moment amidst the music that Goldsmith was making a plug for the SACD format. (though he wasn't getting paid for it)Is it cool for a composer to take the time to inform his devoted fans about a new and superiour way of listening to music, or is it just Goldsmith jumping on the wrong bandwagon (once again) and putting his faith into a format that has essentially failed commercially (perhaps Jerry should have plugged MP3 instead I've been really struggling with this, but I finally reached a conclusion based on a very personal single moment.Some 2 and a half years ago i Made a compilation of some romantic or relaxing film music to play in the background for when I was with my girlfriend (now my ex). One day I had that compilation playing during some intimate...uuummm...bed time moments.Goldsmith's Pillow Talk from Basic Instinct was playing, and at the climax of that cue, my girl friend, who knew nothing about film music, reconised that music, reconised what film it was from and the exact scene and how it coincided with our situation at that time.It was great and wonderfull, and for me personally, very very cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,276 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 He was quite cool, but a little too bitter. For that, he gets a cool vote from me instead of sub zero. He was an astonishing composer, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robthehand 3 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Very cool, but not sub zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Uh, I'll go with cool. He's probably one of my favorite composer after Williams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpigeon 3 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 He was quite cool, but a little too bitter. For that, he gets a cool vote from me instead of sub zero. He was an astonishing composer, though.Towards whom?Ted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,276 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 A lot of people. At least judging from the excerpts of his biography...Williams, Previn, Horner... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,278 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 I saw Goldsmith in concert only once, it was a great evening, but there was also a moment amidst the music that Goldsmith was making a plug for the SACD format. (though he wasn't getting paid for it)Is it cool for a composer to take the time to inform his devoted fans about a new and superiour way of listening to music, or is it just Goldsmith jumping on the wrong bandwagon (once again) and putting his faith into a format that has essentially failed commercially (perhaps Jerry should have plugged MP3 instead I'd rather object to his misinformation about the SACD/DVD-A issues.Anyway, despite what has been concluded from my Herrmann comments, I don't rate Goldsmith as uncool. There might have been a certain bitterness about him (I haven't read the bio excerpts yet), but he was also humorous, and shared some cool anecdotes in his concerts (although he often re-used them for more than one concert).Then think about music like Total Recall, consider this photo:And bear in mind that Sean Connery, once the "sexiest man alive", copied his hair style.Conclusion: Sub Zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,269 Posted November 7, 2006 Author Share Posted November 7, 2006 Be mindfull that we have not been given the chance to read the whole thing yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin 2 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 I agree with the fabulous Austrian man.Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 555 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 The old guy, with his kick-ass silver pony tail and great attitude, was still able to write scores like Star Trek: Nemesis and Timeline shortly before his death.Sub-zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joni Wiljami 1,206 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Goldsmith and Michael Kamen defined the sound of the action score for the 80's and early 90'sThat sound I don't like at all.But anyway , very interesting person , magnificent composer(oh,that beauty)and even with that pony tail : Sub ZeroEDIT : despite of that pony tail, I ment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 I don't call pony tails on elderly men cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,069 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Cool.A very brilliant composer who could score any type of film and give it the musical voice it needed, wrote great and good scores for crappy films, should have been more recognized and won more Oscars.Much like myself, he re-married and ended up with a much younger woman so that's a plus in my book. The ponytail is a plus, was the voice of ST as much as Courage was.However it appears he may have been jealous towards some of his peers and has been known to be a grouch. He seemed a little too cranky about simple things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomeNewGuy 0 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Sub-zero. The pony tail sealed the deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,071 Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 If Williams got sub-zero points from people here for re-popularizing the orchestra, then Goldsmith gets twice as many cool points for creating the modern sound of film music, especially in the realm of action. Not only the sound, but the style as well. Who else scored films without putting on a tie and khakis? Who wore blue jeans to recording sessions? Who put on the ape mask while recording?As for his popularity status, he is the Steve Jobs of music. Sure Bill Gates (Williams) gets all the money, but Goldsmith had the true innovation and coolness. Where Williams composed the equivalent luxury cars, Goldsmith's scores were the Porsche's and Ferrari's of the film score industry. And finally, Basic Instinct. 'Nuff said. Sub-zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scissorhands 16 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 I wonder why all Goldsmith fans have the need to compare Jerry with Williams all the time. It's as if they felt attacked by Williams fans. Really, just check the jerrygoldsmithonline forums. As I hate comparissons, and being a Williams fan myself, I find Goldsmith to be another sub zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiana_Fett 0 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 He composed the Burbs and Patton. Sub-Zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 He may be Williams' only true equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 but he was also humorous, and shared some cool anecdotes in his concerts (although he often re-used them for more than one concert).To be fair, Williams does this too, as does everybody I imagine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 49 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Sub-zero. The pony tail sealed the deal.You just know Williams would be sporting one too, if he could.Goldsmith: Very very COOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,278 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 To be fair, Williams does this too, as does everybody I imagine.Of course Williams does (not everybody though... at least, conductors in general don't do that ). But Goldsmith's anecdotes just seemed more down to earth. Or perhaps it's just the difference of having heard them live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Skywalker 1,815 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Sub zero without a doubt.No 0ºK, though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocnathan 0 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Cool. On the plus side: Pony tail, ape mask and the younger woman (whcih I didn't know about). On the downside his bashing of The Mummy (which in my opinion is one of his best scores).He almost but not quite made it to sub sero in my book, but I just remembered that he scored Airforce One, the second worst movie of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olivier 5 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 On the downside his bashing of The Mummy (which in my opinion is one of his best scores).On the contrary, his stating that he didn't "get" the movie and didn't agree with having so much music in it and his writing such a great adventure score for it nonetheless prove how great a professional he was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus 390 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Jerry Goldsmith is sub-zero. He had tremendous integrity, great skill and a wonderful sense of musical humor. Also, he seemed like a genuinely kind man when I had the great privelege to meet him in 2001. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 He never became the household name that John Williams did becomeWilliams is a household name? Thats news to me. He should be a household name, but he really isn't. No amount of idolising from the likes of you and me is going to make him such either. Not just yet anyway. Methinks Williams needs to be dead a while. Damn.But anyway, Goldsmith is cool as hell, even if he never achieved the filmic heights his talent so welcomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Williams is a house-hold name at my house, but he's probably not in most homes. I think that it has a lot to do with how famous their themes are. Everyone knows Star Wars, but not everyone knows Star Trek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,276 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 As far as modern day composers go, he is probably as household as could expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 And Jerry Goldsmith, unfortunatly, isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Holdo 16 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Jerry Goldsmith saved tons of movies with his music (like Omen II and III, Treks I, V, Nemesis and a host of others), which makes him cool.The ponytail, as another poster put it, seals the deal. Subzero... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 8,113 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 There's something about Jerry's personality that is very compelling for me. I can't really name it, but you can easily tell when you hear his music.Sub-zero.Karol, who doesn't consider duduk cool anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,278 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Karol, who doesn't consider duduk cool anymore.It was cool back in the time when Sandy DeCrescent actually had no idea what Goldsmith was talking about until she found someone who could tell here what a duduk is. Conan the Barbarian (Basil Poledouris) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,269 Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 Now this is a cool picture! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robthehand 3 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Nice picture. When was that taken - what film (I presume it was a scoring session)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,069 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Nice picture.Speaking of Goldsmith I'm a little concerned we haven't heard much more about the Goldsmith biography.According to the webmaster at Jerry Goldsmith online emails to Carrie Goldsmith haven't been returned for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,071 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Anyone who doesn't look like a dork in a conducting picture, has got to be sub zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,269 Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 It is sub-zero actually.The wry and confident smile, the way he loosely holds the baton, the casual shirt.I saw Goldsmith in concert in 2001, he wore a suite, it looked good, but wasn't really him.I'm sure he got out of it ASAP afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Your like half in love with him, aren't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,269 Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 Yes, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 I thought so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,269 Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 You got a problem with that?Oh wait you are from the South. So your way of expressing your emotions is by drinking 2 six-packs and shooting at the empty cans from the back of your pick-up truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 75 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,069 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 He has a man crush on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUMENKOHL 1,071 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Oh wait you are from the South. So your way of expressing your emotions is by drinking 2 six-packs and shooting at the empty cans from the back of your pick-up truck.Be careful, he might kill you Souther style....That is, you'll hear the words "bless your little heart" and die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now