Unexpected random encounters with the music of John Williams

[80sFan 141]

Eating at a local Hungarian restaurant (https://brigittashungariandelivery.com/about-us/) this weekend in a small Texas town (Kilgore) and heard the soundtrack from Jaws. It was in the background, so it took a track or two before I realized what it was. The owner told me he keeps the radio on a Hungarian station and on Saturdays they play film music…

[Tom Guernsey 3,594]

The original radio version of The League of Gentleman has a sketch which involves a dating agency called Close Encounters... you can probably guess how the prospective dates find each other on their first meeting!

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

On 22/03/2022 at 1:03 PM, 80sFan said:

Eating at a local Hungarian restaurant (https://brigittashungariandelivery.com/about-us/) this weekend in a small Texas town (Kilgore) and heard the soundtrack from Jaws. It was in the background, so it took a track or two before I realized what it was. The owner told me he keeps the radio on a Hungarian station and on Saturdays they play film music…

 

Was the record they were playing over the radio scratched?

[80sFan 141]

Not sure - it was a fairly low volume (I'm don't think I would have noticed anyway - I was so thrown off by hearing the music!)

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

 

[Not Mr. Big 4,936]

Duel of the Fates playing over the Oscars telecast when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.

A really odd choice on their part 

[Tom Guernsey 3,594]

2 hours ago, Not Mr. Big said:

Duel of the Fates playing over the Oscars telecast when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.

A really odd choice on their part 

Benny Hill theme? Yakety sax!

[Davis 3,957]

On 22/3/2022 at 1:03 PM, 80sFan said:

Eating at a local Hungarian restaurant (https://brigittashungariandelivery.com/about-us/) this weekend in a small Texas town (Kilgore) and heard the soundtrack from Jaws. It was in the background, so it took a track or two before I realized what it was. The owner told me he keeps the radio on a Hungarian station and on Saturdays they play film music…

It’s called Klasszik Radio and it plays film music on a daily basis, and on Saturdays and Sundays they have a two-hour film music special program called Cinemusic. 
 

 

There’s a classic Hungarian Mini Series called ABIGÉL released in 1977 that’s based on one of the bestselling Hungarian novels by Magda Szabó.
I almost fell out of my chair when I realized that the main theme is from Williams’ JANE EYRE score.
I think the music editor simply “borrowed” the theme and no one has noticed in 45 years that it’s actually a John Williams score.
It’s one of the most popular TV series of all time in Hungary, and Hungarians to this day have no idea that the music of ABIGÉL was written by John Williams. 

[BB-8 5,944]

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

That's not Curly!

[Brando 2,723]

Those aren't pillows!

[BB-8 5,944]

"Have some Mozart-balls!"

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

This is probably a classic, but it's the first time I've come across it (timestamped):

 

[Brando 2,723]

2 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

This is probably a classic, but it's the first time I've come across it (timestamped):

 

I've never seen this but this is outstanding. Maybe when JW was recording Hook he allowed Robin to come in and do a cover of the Close Encounters theme. Now that would be an epic bonus track.

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

The thing is, it sounds to me like he could have done the entire piece from memory if he hadn't decided to cut it short for the joke.

[Brando 2,723]

It does sound like he could've kept going

[BB-8 5,944]

johnny-williams-and-his-orchestra-theme-from-checkmate-columbia.jpg (794×800) (45cat.com)

 

[Jay 45,144]

I wish he had kept going by Johnny and never switched to John

[Amer 2,702]

I remember seeing a band playing the IMPERIAL MARCH at the arrival of the previous Saudi Arabian King on a TV coverage.

[Tom 6,387]

On 26/04/2022 at 8:50 AM, BB-8 said:

johnny-williams-and-his-orchestra-theme-from-checkmate-columbia.jpg (794×800) (45cat.com)

 

I didn't realize that he met his wife in high school--and she was a vocalist in his band.  

[Thor 9,334]

46 minutes ago, Tom said:

I didn't realize that he met his wife in high school--and she was a vocalist in his band.  

 

Yeah, but then they drifted apart after high school. Ruick actually married TWICE (one that was annulled, one that lasted for some 2 years) before they hooked up again.

[bollemanneke 4,280]

Can this go here? Mahler symphony 9-3 quotes both March of the Resistance and I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.

[BB-8 5,944]

20 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

Can this go here? Mahler symphony 9-3 quotes both March of the Resistance and I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.

Why not? 

I got the White Christmas quote in the final movement. Can you point us to the MOTR quotes please?

[bollemanneke 4,280]

Not specifically right now, but it's definitely in that hyperactive mess at the end.

[BB-8 5,944]

I'm also wondering whether Jedi Steps is related to Mahler, or vice versa.

[bollemanneke 4,280]

No, that would imply Mahler wrote something as good as Jedi STeps.

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

5 hours ago, BB-8 said:

I'm also wondering whether Jedi Steps is related to Mahler, or vice versa.

 

It's always been one of Williams's most Brucknerian moments to me. (Who of course had a significant influence on Mahler)

[Jurassic Shark 16,053]

The Spark, you mean.

[BB-8 5,944]

 

[Tom Guernsey 3,594]

Episode 7 of Hacks (which is well worth a watch) features a piano rendition of the theme from Jurassic Park. At a birthday party.

[Jay 45,144]

Hehe Yea! I thought I had mentioned that here but I guess I didn't! 

[Tom Guernsey 3,594]

7 hours ago, Jay said:

Hehe Yea! I thought I had mentioned that here but I guess I didn't! 

Apologies if you did, but I didn't recall seeing it. It's both funny and quite sweet. Even better than the music on the piano is a proper book of JW piano arrangements.

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

23 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

The Spark, you mean.

 

That too, but that came later. And TROS has The Old Death Star.

[BB-8 5,944]

[BB-8 5,944]

[rpvee 1,063]

I’m in CA for Star Wars Celebration, and took a trip to Laguna Beach. Was walking along an ocean-side path and came across a string quartet practicing the Jurassic Park Theme for a wedding. Williams music on one side, beautiful scenery and ocean waves on the other!

 

 

[Brando 2,723]

2 hours ago, rpvee said:

I’m in CA for Star Wars Celebration, and took a trip to Laguna Beach. Was walking along an ocean-side path and came across a string quartet practicing the Jurassic Park Theme for a wedding. Williams music on one side, beautiful scenery and ocean waves on the other!

IMG_8020.MOV 200.22 MB · 0 downloads  

 

"Turn left"

[Tom Guernsey 3,594]

Slightly off topic (but I didn’t think it needed its own thread…) but has anyone had this advert via Facebook or whatever?! Looks suspiciously like his actual signature…

 

 

[BB-8 5,944]

E.T. "Flying Theme" at 05:17...

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 16,053]

Nice find.

[Naïve Old Fart 12,665]

This Williams guy is just a hack.

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

Not entirely unexpected, but not necessarily worth making a new thread either, so I'm just dropping this here… apparently, Simon Rattle just conducted the Star Wars main titles with the LSO at the BMW Classics concert last Saturday:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeyTQ2NK-Bd/

 

[karelm 3,259]

Today, I purchased a mattress.  I just happened to have a Star Wars t-shirt on and got in a debate with the salesman about Star Wars.  He was a geek and we spent 30 minutes debating plots.  Thankfully, no one else was in the mattress store but it was surreal that I was literally debating third sister, siths, Palpatine, jedi younglings, Kylo Ren's arch with the guy who wanted to sell me a mattress.  That mattress I bought better not have an evil course on it!

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

That's the second most surreal mattress store story I've heard.

[Jay 45,144]

This is why I wear tshirts that reference Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Orville, The Boys, Succession, The Office, Always Sunny, and Arrested Development, and not Star Wars

 

Still looking for a good shirt for Mr Robot and Battlestar Galactica...

[BB-8 5,944]

15 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

Not entirely unexpected, but not necessarily worth making a new thread either, so I'm just dropping this here… apparently, Simon Rattle just conducted the Star Wars main titles with the LSO at the BMW Classics concert last Saturday:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeyTQ2NK-Bd/

 

Rattle will also be doing some John Williams next month with BRSO in Munich (open air).

 

Klassik am Odeonsplatz - Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (br-so.com)

 

Klassik am Odeonsplatz 2022 - BR-Symphonieorchester: Filmmusik mit Sir Simon Rattle | BR-KLASSIK CONCERT | BR-KLASSIK | Bayerischer Rundfunk

[Marian Schedenig 11,315]

2 hours ago, Jay said:

This is why I wear tshirts that reference Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Orville, The Boys, Succession, The Office, Always Sunny, and Arrested Development, and not Star Wars

 

Still looking for a good shirt for Mr Robot and Battlestar Galactica...

 

I like my Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle shirts, but nobody has ever talked to me about them.

 

Someone did suddenly stick out their tongue while walking past me, but that just frightened me a little. It wasn't until a few minutes later that I remembered I was wearing a Rolling Stones shirt.

[Groovygoth666 1,180]

Rewatching the Boondocks, and Uncle Rukus theme is an obvious copy of Jabba the Hutts, which is definitely unexpected 

[BB-8 5,944]

Three classics by John Williams played by the BRSO under Sir Simon Rattle.

 

Star Wars Main Title

Hedwig's Theme

E.T. Flying Theme

 

Indy March was played as an encore but wasn't broadcast.

 

https://www.br-klassik.de/concert/ausstrahlung-2904460.html

 

https://www.br-so.de/klassik-am-odeonsplatz-3-p42416/

 

[lairdo 941]

The organ player at Dodger Stadium, Dieter Ruehle, loves to play snippets of Williams. I am sure this is probably something across all baseball and other sports venues. Last night, a ball was hit that was just foul. Out popped the 5 notes from Close Encounters. I wonder how many people actually got the reference?

 

Star Wars blasts out at least once a game, and I've heard Jurassic Park, Superman, and Raiders from time to time. And whenever anything Olympics is played, the 1984 Olympic Theme is heard.

 

Not JW, but film music: When I was a kid in the 80s, there used to be 12 pm start times on certain days. The organist then, Helen Dell, would always kick off with Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, the theme from High Noon. I think her successor Nancy Bea would do the same. 

 

(The Dodgers have only had the above 3 organists in the past 50 years which is pretty cool)