filmmusic 1,826 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 I assume someone would say "only at jwfan". But I am regularly wondering seriously about this: I have noticed that great composers of the past have had a great "pain" or "problem". Others were gay, others deaf, others had a serious health or mental or alcohol problem etc. Williams IS a great composer, yet he seems to be so balanced and calm, and besides his first wife's death, there hasn't been any indication of anything else that causes him pain. Do you think he could be the first great composer without a serious problem? Jacck 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artguy360 1,843 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Back pain, a pacemaker, and in case you haven't noticed (we even have a thread on it) he is balding. aescalle and bollemanneke 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thor 7,492 Posted May 14, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2018 Well, Barbara's death -- as you mention -- and suddenly being a single dad of three teenagers is the "big problem" (if you could call it that) in his life. But there was also the bit in the 80s when his son Mark struggled with some form of abuse issue (either drugs or alcohol, I don't know), or when his daughter Jennifer came out of the closet after having been married for years, in a time when this was more of an issue than it is now. So not issues pertaining to Williams himself, but indirectly I'm sure such personal family things became an issue. Also, when he had an affair with Barbara back when she was still married to Robert Horton. Other than that, he's had a pretty 'clean slate' in his career, which I guess is why he often says his life is not interesting enough for a biography (of which I disagree, of course). But Serge Gainsbourg, he's not! Arpy, Brundlefly, filmmusic and 5 others 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Anyone else know where Williams had his back pain? Was it his lumbar? Slipped disc? Tendonitis? If he's had it since 1993, why has it lasted for so long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,492 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Just now, Margo Channing said: Anyone else know where Williams had his back pain? Was it his lumbar? Slipped disc? Tendonitis? If he's had it since 1993, why has it lasted for so long? I have no idea where he has it, but he's had it for longer than that. The majority of 1988 was spent indisposed due to back issues (cancelled conductor events etc.); I believe this is the first time we heard of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Because back pains often are a permanent condition with only symptomatic treatment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 hour ago, publicist said: Because back pains often are a permanent condition with only symptomatic treatment? Oh gimmie a break. That's not true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacck 23 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 I think it's just that years and $$$ worth of contemporary psychotherapy have enabled him to manage his... *glances at DSM*... giant narcissistic ego in ways that were previously impossible for serious composers to achieve! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Incanus 5,714 Posted May 14, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2018 Perhaps John Williams' biggest problem is that he hasn't got a problem? Kasey Kockroach, Smeltington, Arpy and 1 other 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Rich and famous people ought to have! Arpy and Jacck 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 His greatest problem is to relax and just write functional scores instead of great ones, as most of his contemporaries do (if they even do that). bollemanneke 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 hour ago, filmmusic said: (...) Others were gay, others deaf, others had a serious health or mental or alcohol problem etc. (...) That's a strange way of seeing things. MikeH and Disco Stu 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2018 I'm sure all of those things were harder to deal with in older times. filmmusic, apples and Chewy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacck 23 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 hour ago, filmmusic said: yet he seems to be so balanced Is being self-deprecating being balanced? It is more balanced to say "I am good at A & B, but not so good at C", than it is to say "I'm not terribly good at this. I just hope I do a better job next time!". The latter is what Williams says. Here he is revealing his buried feelings of inadequacy through micro-resentful self-deprecation! He can't integrate not having reached the grandiose heights of other, more serious composers whom he idolises (e.g. the ones he mentioned could do a proper job with Schindler's List to Spielberg). Oh, how he must lament! 12 minutes ago, Bespin said: That's a strange way of seeing things. Well, it isn't always terribly easy being gay, 'cause of culture and whatnot! Certainly in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Yeah, but all the other composers were dead. JW was the best of the undead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 We talk about Tchaikovsky, I know his story. I just say to point "THE" biggest problem of a composer, is a strange way of views. Jacck 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacck 23 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 33 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: JW was the best of the undead. If only that were enough for poor Johnny boy! 32 minutes ago, Bespin said: We talk about Tchaikovsky, I know his story. I just say to point "THE" big problem of a composer, is a strange way of views. Yes, he could be both gay and narcissistic! That might have caused him the requisite amount of suffering that could have lead to him becoming as great as Beethoven or Mozart! The therapy robbed him of all those valuable years of suffering, you see. If not for all this calm, he could've created a serious work by now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 I believe one of his problems is to accept his film scores as of equal quality to "serious" concert music. Therefore, he always tries to remove himself from his "film score sound" and rather approach a more modern musical language when writing serious concert works. Too bad, as it probably would be both a critical and a popular success if he wrote a concerto or a symphony based on his film themes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 J.S. Bach, can we talk about a composer who had a lot of problems? The Illustrious Jerry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Are you referring to his wives of his children? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 8 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: Are you referring to his wives of his children? He had is lot in life, he lost many children, but like many people from this time. We can't point sadness for naming the "biggest problem" of a composer... it's a common point to all of them I think. We all know that JW lost his wife in 1974, I always pointed out that his way of writing changed since that. For me, the start of his Violin Concerto marked the beginning of his maturity period. He was 42. I know it's a very personal point of view not shared by anyone here. But I still think it. SteveMc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacck 23 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 2 minutes ago, Bespin said: He had is lot in life, he lost many children, but like many people from this time. We can't point sadness for naming the "biggest problem" of a composer... it's a common point to all of them I think. Suffering is common to everyone! That's why this thread is so silly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacck 23 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 I just did a thought experiment... If, say, Giacchino were as self-deprecating as Williams, then that would be totally fair and acceptable, as he most certainly could do a better job the next time...? Therefore, this invalidates my initial theory, as I wouldn't believe Giacchino's self-deprecation to be due to 'vulnerable narcissism', but rather an accurate reflection of reality! This leads me to the irrevocable conclusion that Williams must indeed be a victim of his own success! I will send the flowers to his agent. *brain fart* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmmusic 1,826 Posted May 14, 2018 Author Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 hour ago, Jack said: Is being self-deprecating being balanced? No. I meant the tone of his voice when he speaks. He sounds like a balanced person to me. 1 hour ago, Jack said: Well, it isn't always terribly easy being gay, 'cause of culture and whatnot! Certainly in the past. Believe me today too. I have suffered from this too, and it brought other more serious problems... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Erectile dysfunction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi 404 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 He love Daisy Ridley. Ricardo Mortimer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 15 minutes ago, Obi said: He love Daisy Ridley. Like a granddaughter! 2 hours ago, Bespin said: For me, the start of his Violin Concerto marked the beginning of his maturity period. He was 42. I know it's a very personal point of view not shared by anyone here. But I still think it. You should listen to the first Jaws episode of The Soundtrack Show. David Collins goes into detail on this very theory/viewpoint, actually. https://www.soundtrackpodcast.com/podcasts/jaws-williams-and-spielberg-an-introduction.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 15 minutes ago, Disco Stu said: You should listen to the first Jaws episode of The Soundtrack Show. David Collins goes into detail on this very theory/viewpoint, actually. https://www.soundtrackpodcast.com/podcasts/jaws-williams-and-spielberg-an-introduction.htm I don't have to listen to other one comments on this subject, I know what I say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 minute ago, Bespin said: I don't have to listen to other one comments on this subject, I know what I say! That's a strange way of seeing things. Bespin and Once 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Seeing is believing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 5 minutes ago, Disco Stu said: That's a strange way of seeing things. After, we saw the friendship period (many many works composed for friends and collaborators). And in a blink of an eye, we are now in the poetry of his last works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 I must say, your eye blinks are quite long... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said: I must say, your eye blinks are quite long... You must be younger than me to say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Are you from before the Jurassic era? Smeltington and crlbrg 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iilovejw 11 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 Threads like this make me cringe . Emmbarrasing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 3 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: Are you from before the Jurassic era? I am from the same year the Violin Concerto's composition began. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 3 minutes ago, Iilovejw said: Threads like this make me cringe . Emmbarrasing There's two "t"s in "bloodletting". Tallguy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 4 hours ago, Margo Channing said: Anyone else know where Williams had his back pain? Was it his lumbar? Slipped disc? Tendonitis? If he's had it since 1993, why has it lasted for so long? John used to have quite a gut, which has a tendency to shift one's centre of gravity further forward, consequently pulling the lumbar spine into hyperlordosis. Pregnancy has a similar effect. I'd say it's probably a herniating or bulging disc, but as he's aged it might be degenerative disc disease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,480 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 A degenerative disc disease. It's the thing that worries me the most. Tell me it can't attack my CD collection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 1 minute ago, Sharky said: John used to have quite a gut, which has a tendency to shift one's centre of gravity further forward, consequently pulling the lumbar spine into hyperlordosis. Pregnancy has a similar effect. I'd say it's probably a herniating or bulging disc, but as he's aged it might be degenerative disc disease. Ah. You see, I pulled a muscle in my lower back in December. And I probably messed up some tendons and ligaments, which is why it's taken a while to heal. My MRI was really optimistic. But it's significantly better now than it was in January, and will probably be completely gone in a few more months, which blows a hole in Pub's ridiculous "often permanent condition" claim. I could see it being permanent in a natural degenerative condition, but not an acute injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 His biggest problem according to the majority of JWFans is that he seems to despise his own music and cuts all the best parts from the OST. Unlucky Bastard and Tallguy 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 12 minutes ago, Margo Channing said: Ah. You see, I pulled a muscle in my lower back in December. And I probably messed up some tendons and ligaments, which is why it's taken a while to heal. My MRI was really optimistic. But it's significantly better now than it was in January, and will probably be completely gone in a few more months, which blows a hole in Pub's ridiculous "often permanent condition" claim. I could see it being permanent in a natural degenerative condition, but not an acute injury. Yeah, it's probably DDD. John was 56 in 1988 which isn't that old, but abdominal obesity can accelerate the process. Especially when you're standing for long periods of time conducting rehearsals with the Boston Pops. Unlucky Bastard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted May 14, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted May 14, 2018 Maybe we are Williams' big problem? Loert, filmmusic, Jacck and 1 other 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 We are Groot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 4 hours ago, Margo Channing said: Anyone else know where Williams had his back pain? I believe it was in his back. Gruesome Son of a Bitch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 2 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: I believe it was in his back. Over a matter of eighty dollars... what kind of a future do you call that?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,651 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 He relayed a story in some interview recently addressing this. He mentioned that he was going through a creative dry spell of sorts. He was told that perhaps looking at what his greatest fans think of him might give him a boost. So he checked out the local messageboards. From the resulting despair and trials, he felt creatively reborn and rejuvenated. Once and DolceMecha 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 I don't think he would feel any better by reading JWFan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted May 14, 2018 Share Posted May 14, 2018 JWFan reminds me a lot of Westworld. Unlucky Bastard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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