Popular Post crumbs 14,316 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Given all the misery in the world right now, I thought we should share some love! Which John Williams composition provides you the most joy, never fails to put a smile on your face? For my money, anytime I need some cheering up, this does the trick: Such a joyous composition! There's an infectious optimism to the writing here; you can tell Williams was smiling from ear to ear writing it. Honorable mention to the finale & concert suite from The Terminal. Heartwarming, melancholic and uplifting all at once. Will, Holko and bollemanneke 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bollemanneke 3,348 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Merry Christmas form Home Alone 2, NOT THE LOCKHART RE-RECORDING. Flight to Neverland? Diagon Alley (Children's Suite)? Coke ad! Holko, Andy and Will 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Going the off-beat route, I'd like to nominate his theme for the shortlived THE TAMMY GRIMES SHOW - probably the wackiest and quirkiest (and hence also most upbeat) thing he's ever done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabulin 3,512 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 3:23+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 I don't know which is the most joyful, but the warmest might be Song for World Peace. Not that anybody asked for it. Will and Molly Weasley 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Holko 9,526 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Surely the first 7:30 of Journey to the Island is up there! I'd nominate Journey to Rouge City too, it's one of the only purely optimistic cues in the score, brilliantly made more serious and driven later in The Mecha World (yes, it belongs there as a reprise, not as the opening track, bleh). A less playful kind of joy but still immensely uplifting: He could have scored The Land Race as a, well, race, where the heroes have to succeed against many many others and trudge through a less warm action sound, but he instead scores it as an idealised fundamentally optimistic moment where anyone has the same opportunity to succeed and fulfill their dreams: Surely Jim's New Life, shockingly suddenly bursting forth not to show a broken, depressed kid in the POW camp, but one who (at least on the surface) thrives there and made it his playground: Oh, here's another good'un: SteveMc, Andy, crumbs and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 Some great examples so far! Nice work all. 41 minutes ago, Thor said: Going the off-beat route, I'd like to nominate his theme for the shortlived THE TAMMY GRIMES SHOW - probably the wackiest and quirkiest (and hence also most upbeat) thing he's ever done. @Thor I have never heard of this! Can you please link the exact piece of music you're referring to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jurassic Shark 12,076 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Ewok celebration. Bellosh, aviazn, pete and 4 others 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Quintus 5,399 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 The first minute or so of the end credits from Star Wars 1? Bellosh, mrbellamy and Andy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,504 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 15 minutes ago, crumbs said: Some great examples so far! Nice work all. @Thor I have never heard of this! Can you please link the exact piece of music you're referring to? Go to 1:44 here: Will and Falstaft 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Sítrónu 494 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,658 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Happy Birthday Variations Sailing from Jaws 2 Bellosh and Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Falstaft 2,132 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Joni Wiljami, crumbs, bored and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,658 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 One more: Will and Bryant Burnette 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Score 770 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 The most joyful and optimistic? Superman's Theme! Will, Andy, bruce marshall and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Datameister 2,043 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Can't forget about Dry Your Tears, Afrika. Molly Weasley, Will, crumbs and 3 others 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nick Parker 3,040 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 I got that beat, I got that beat. It's so light and carefree! Tom, Bellosh, Will and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,348 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 The Mission. Far and Away End Credits Will and Andy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,193 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 7 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said: I don't know which is the most joyful, but the warmest might be Song for World Peace. Not that anybody asked for it. I raise you End Title/End Cast. (The Title part of the track) Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 593 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Buckbeaks Flight Best two minutes ever. Molly Weasley and bored 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bayesian 1,363 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 I adore this piece. Will, Molly Weasley and Bellosh 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igger6 894 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Great topic! I still have access to my original impressions of this track before I knew about the embedded Emperor’s Theme, and it was one of the most joyous pieces of music of any kind I’d ever heard. (It’s also worth noting that I formed these impressions after hearing only the album, before the movie was able to sully them with itself.) ragoz350 and Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bellosh 3,419 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Home Alone 2 - Duncan's Toy Store Molly Weasley, Andy and Will 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Falstaft 2,132 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Speaking of joyousness, surprised there's only one mention of E.T. so far. (Or the Les Baxter piece, "Joy" that Williams was spuriously alleged to have swiped the theme from! :P) And let us not forget this insipid little gem! Something worthy of Always Sunny in Philadelphia, no? Will, Omen II, Tom and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew 590 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 "Dartmoor, 1912" from War Horse Will and Bellosh 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,128 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas The Land Race The Superman theme in the Helicopter Rescue Will and Bellosh 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom 4,658 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 And another. JW has to be among the best composers in history to effect and communicate joy. crumbs, Falstaft, SteveMc and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jay 37,364 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 I wouldn't say this is his most joyous, but it's what first came to my mind when I saw the thread title I think the more booming adult choir used the Spielberg/Williams III album made it a bit less joyous and a bit more stern. Kind of like how the adult choir in Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas can come across as a bit OOT and abrasive, which I don't think is the intention of the piece Molly Weasley, Will, Falstaft and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,658 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 3 hours ago, Nick Parker said: I got that beat, I got that beat. It's so light and carefree! Nice. Williams likes to write horse music. The Land Race has already been mentioned, and the horse race from the Reivers Suite should get a shout out too. And, also in the ballpark: Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,348 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Some others: Out to Sea from Jaws The Open Sea from Jaws 2 To the Lair from Superman. The Train Robbery from Missouri Breaks. Jim's New Life from Empire of the Sun Flight to Neverland, the end of Remembering Childhood, and End Credits from Hook Take to Your Ships from The Phantom Menace Will and Bellosh 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,433 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Remembrances from Schindler's List. Spoiler No wait we said the most joyous then I'll go for Rey's theme or the 1941 march Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eitam 364 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 A lot of great picks here! My vote goes to Victory Celebration (Return of the Jedi special edition). Molly Weasley, bruce marshall and Bellosh 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScratch 294 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Big Beautiful Ball bigjimwilson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,128 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 2 hours ago, Jay said: I think the more booming adult choir used the Spielberg/Williams III album made it a bit less joyous and a bit more stern. Kind of like how the adult choir in Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas can come across as a bit OOT and abrasive, which I don't think is the intention of the piece I agree with you there. The more common version where the choir starts the piece is less preferable to the version with the short jaunty orchestral intro: Bryant Burnette 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 The opening of Heidi deserves to be on here. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datameister 2,043 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Ooh, has no one brought up the end of Leaving Hogwarts? The cue as a whole has an appropriate degree of bittersweetness, but the end is just joyfully gorgeous. Cerebral Cortex and Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BrotherSound 2,242 Posted February 15, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2021 Am I really the first to bring up ‘The Banquet’ from Hook? Pure joy, especially in the concert arrangement: They really ought to publish the entire Hook suite from this album… Molly Weasley, SteveMc, Will and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,364 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 3 hours ago, Hedji said: I agree with you there. The more common version where the choir starts the piece is less preferable to the version with the short jaunty orchestral intro: Yes! I prefer the version, with the intro too! Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,316 Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 So many great responses here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 18 hours ago, crumbs said: Given all the misery in the world right now I'm fine. mrbellamy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bellosh 3,419 Posted February 16, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2021 sounds joyous to me Will, bruce marshall and Andy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Happy jolly moozik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andy 4,128 Posted February 16, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2021 I'm a broken record, but I miss the full out hero moments where the main theme was given its most bombastic use in key moments designed to get the audience clapping. The Star Wars theme in "Chasm Crossfire" The Superman theme in "Helicopter Sequence" The Raiders March in "The German Sub" They're swashbuckling, but joyous. I miss when he used to just embrace the main title integrated into a set piece for this kind of effect. crumbs, Bellosh, Will and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom 4,658 Posted February 16, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2021 1 hour ago, Hedji said: I'm a broken record, but I miss the full out hero moments where the main theme was given its most bombastic use in key moments designed to get the audience clapping. The Star Wars theme in "Chasm Crossfire" The Superman theme in "Helicopter Sequence" The Raiders March in "The German Sub" They're swashbuckling, but joyous. I miss when he used to just embrace the main title integrated into a set piece for this kind of effect. Doesn't he do that to perfection in TROS when the fleet arrives? Molly Weasley, Falstaft, Andy and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 4,128 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Why yes, I believe you could consider that a more modern example. I think, though that it was the first time in several films in the Saga, that Williams finally let loose with the Main Title, both A and B sections after holding it back throughout the Prequels and Sequels. It certainly is emotional given the context of the scene, but if I'm being honest, as much as I love that moment (which brought me to tears), it still isn't played with the gusto of the previous examples. Just the little things in those examples I quoted, like the parade like nature of the Raiders March as Indy boards the sub, and the extra dotted note given to the Superman theme as he lifts the helicopter. It's just a bit more. Holko 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK 3,307 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 On 2/15/2021 at 3:47 PM, Jay said: I wouldn't say this is his most joyous, but it's what first came to my mind when I saw the thread title I think the more booming adult choir used the Spielberg/Williams III album made it a bit less joyous and a bit more stern. Kind of like how the adult choir in Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas can come across as a bit OOT and abrasive, which I don't think is the intention of the piece This is what first came to my mind as well! Feels very much like a song of triumphant, jubilant celebration without the more formal/refined sheen of a lot of his other "happy" fanfares. Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,364 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 The SpaceCamp End Title, Space Tracks II Edition Tom, Dr. Know and bruce marshall 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post karelm 2,913 Posted February 17, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2021 This moment of Chasm Crossfire was the most exuberant moment I think I had ever heard and I recall in 1977 theaters eruptions of joyful cheer. Andy, Jurassic Shark and Will 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Romão 2,274 Posted February 17, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2021 I think this is the JW passage that gives me the biggest jolt of joy: Molly Weasley, Will and Joni Wiljami 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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