Is the Raiders March your favorite theme John Williams has ever written?

[Bellosh 3,369]

It is for me.  And i don't think it will ever change.

 

You?

[Datameister 2,034]

No, but when it came on in "Flight From Peru" on my drive home today, you would have had a hard time getting me to think of a better one.

[Faleel 5,326]

Not even close.

[Andy 4,071]

If Adventure has a theme… it must be… The Raiders March. 
 

I can’t pick a favorite, but I dress like Indiana Jones when I walk my dog 3 times a day.  That means I hum the theme at least 3 times a day. 

[artguy360 1,842]

It's a great character theme and of course defines the entire franchise but I rarely listen to it and it is nowhere near my favorite JW theme.

[pete 902]

It's not even my favorite theme from the franchise, and that's not to diminish it any way. It is, however, I think one his character themes that best captures the essence of the character.

[greenturnedblue 372]

I prefer the grail theme, myself

[crocodile 7,973]

No. Of all the big brassy stuff he's done Superman march would be my favourite. But it is awesome and irreplaceable.

 

Karol

[Thor 7,452]

Oh gosh, no. I mean it's a great, iconic theme, but it's been overplayed over the years for me. I also don't veer much to that kind of rambunctious march stuff anymore. My favourite Williams theme would be the JURASSIC PARK theme, both of whose parts are more majestic than jaunty. Also slightly overplayed, true, but I try to portion out my exposure to it these days. Beyond that, it would be something in his "religious"/pastoral mode -- something like "The Face of Pan", "Angela's Prayer", "Restoration" etc.

[GerateWohl 4,321]

Looking at it as a concert piece even for a John Williams march this one always felt a little too repetitive to me.

[Richard Penna 3,664]

Jurassic Park for me.

[Sandor 796]

The Raiders' March is definitely one of my favorite John Williams themes. 

[MaxTheHouseelf 324]

It's one of his signature themes for sure, but personally I don't like it at all. Hard to describe what it is exactly but for me it sounds too "simple" in a way that it lacks the depth other themes seem to have. And as others said already, Raiders March with Marions theme in the middle and then again the March + Marions Theme in concert is just overkill.

[Steve 589]

I like it a lot, but wouldn't call it my favourite. It's hard to pick a favourite among all his great themes. I think Jane Eyre has a shot at being his best theme, at least for me. I also like The Reivers themes a lot. Almost every JW score has a strong main theme. That's his strength imo

[Dave 217]

Not even close for the same reasons others mentioned (too simple and repetitive). The only variation of that theme that I really like is at the end of the Indy 4 end credits:

 

 

[GerateWohl 4,321]

The theme does a marvellous job in the movie, but I am happy, that in the last two Indy movies its usage decreased and as I mentioned before, I just have no particular interest in it as a concert piece. There I prefer Marion's Theme on its own. And I would really love to hear one day "The Desert Chase" in concert. Recordings of the Raiders March tend to remind me of that.

[Tom 4,631]

9 hours ago, Andy said:

If Adventure has a theme… it must be… The Raiders March. 
 

I can’t pick a favorite, but I dress like Indiana Jones when I walk my dog 3 times a day.  That means I him the theme at least 3 times a day. 

That damn music follows your dog whereever he goes.  

[QuartalHarmony 541]

I particularly like the TOD end credits where he interpolates Short Round's theme between phrases of the Raiders theme. Quite delightful and makes me smile.

[Bellosh 3,369]

i was admittedly in a polling mood last night for obvious reasons.

 

but i think i genuinely overestimated how many people view this as their favorite theme here.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

I gotta admit, it wouldn't make my top 10.  Which is not to say I'm a contrarian, or think it's bad.  It's just not in the topmost tier of my personal favorites.

[Marian Schedenig 8,153]

It's a great theme, perfect for what it is, and a rightful classic. But no, not even close.

[MrJosh 892]

I love the theme, and for me it it hasn't been over-played so I definitely enjoy it when I hear it and the adventure it calls to mind, but I'm most drawn to some of Williams' more sentimental and childhood-evoking themes, like Somewhere in my Memory, the 'family' theme from the first Harry Potter, Tootles theme from Hook. 

 

I also like the theme from Stepmom, The Accidental Tourist, Shmi's theme from TPM since they evoke a similar sentimentality to me.

[GerateWohl 4,321]

7 minutes ago, MrJosh said:

Stepmom

I was just thinking, "The Days Between" might actually be my favourite John Williams movie theme.

But "Rey's Theme" and "Theme from Sabrina" are close.

[Tydirium 1,166]

Not even close, and probably not even my favorite theme from the series. I agree with the others who think it comes across as too simple & repetitive. It's a famous theme, for sure, mostly for franchise nostalgia reasons—but the famous themes aren't necessarily the best ones.

 

EDIT: Side note, but I also for the life of me don't understand the point of Williams performing both the complete Raiders March and Marion's Theme on the same concert (especially if they're one after the other, like in Berlin). I kind of hope that in the future if he features Marion's Theme, that he will just play his new condensed Raiders March version that omits her theme.

[Jay 37,250]

It's great, I love it to pieces

 

But it's not my absolute utter #1 favorite

[rough cut 1,714]

I love that song!

[Disco Stu 15,495]

in-dee-ann-AHHHHHHH doc-tor joooooones

[MrJosh 892]

One thing I do love about Raider's March is that it works wonderfully both in march form and also in slower, contemplative form. 

[Jay 37,250]

Yep! 

[Bellosh 3,369]

43 minutes ago, MrJosh said:

One thing I do love about Raider's March is that it works wonderfully both in march form and also in slower, contemplative form. 

 

 

[Bellosh 3,369]

me right now with the only vote for 'Yes'

 

[King Mark 3,624]

it's certainly one of his best themes, but it's really hard to pinpoint the best JW theme ever

[GerateWohl 4,321]

6 hours ago, MrJosh said:

One thing I do love about Raider's March is that it works wonderfully both in march form and also in slower, contemplative form. 

But in that regard, I think, the Imperial March works even better.

[Andy 4,071]

13 hours ago, Tom said:

That damn music follows your dog whereever he goes.  

 

My dog hums the Short Round counterpoint.

[Datameister 2,034]

10 hours ago, MrJosh said:

One thing I do love about Raider's March is that it works wonderfully both in march form and also in slower, contemplative form. 

 

And in the form of adrenaline-pumping action music (e.g. Desert Chase). Not to mention big heroic versions that aren't marches (e.g. Flight From Peru). And then there are passages that are more tense or emotionally complex (e.g. To Nepal). Like most great Williams themes, it's extremely versatile.

[Andy 4,071]

On 09/11/2022 at 9:55 AM, Bellosh said:

i was admittedly in a polling mood last night for obvious reasons.

 

but i think i genuinely overestimated how many people view this as their favorite theme here.

 

I am shocked to hear how many people say it's not even close.  Really??? What is your favorite then?  I can't pick a favorite personally, but it's my favorite when I'm listening to it.  Top music for Top Men.

 

I'm also surprised to hear it called repetitive.  That description fits Jurassic Park, which would be the "not even close" choice for me.  (I imagine many of our members were of just the right age to have JP be their #1.)

 

If I recall correctly, Williams has said it was not an easy melody to write.  Plus you have the whole two themes stuck together anecdote.  I think its familiarity is taken for granted.  

[Jay 37,250]

Clicking "No" in the poll does NOT indicate that it's "not even close" to being a favorite.

It only indicates that it is not "very close" to your favorite, nor is it only 2nd to a Star Wars theme

[Bellosh 3,369]

41 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

I am shocked to hear how many people say it's not even close.  Really??? What is your favorite then?  I can't pick a favorite personally, but it's my favorite when I'm listening to it.  Top music for Top Men.

 

I'm also surprised to hear it called repetitive.  That description fits Jurassic Park, which would be the "not even close" choice for me.  (I imagine many of our members were of just the right age to have JP be their #1.)

 

If I recall correctly, Williams has said it was not an easy melody to write.  Plus you have the whole two themes stuck together anecdote.  I think its familiarity is taken for granted.  

 

 

i'm surprised a little bit that its only me and someone else (REVEAL YOURSELF  ) that find it our favorite.

 

what blows my mind with the theme, is that after the final hurrah fanfare, you get this little bit (2:09-end) and it's JW signifying Indy is onto another adventure.  It's unreal.

 

 

[Jay 37,250]

On 10/11/2022 at 1:25 PM, Bellosh said:

(REVEAL YOURSELF  )

 

You made the poll.  You have the power to click the button that lets everyone see who voted for which option

 

[Bellosh 3,369]

oh shit i forgot i could do that

[Jay 37,250]

To be clear, you can check it off right now and it will display them.  It isn't something you can only do on setup

[Bellosh 3,369]

i made this on mobile and just forgot

 

@ThePenitentMan1

 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

No surprise, another user with an Indy username/avatar

[Andy 4,071]

He chose wisely, and passed. 

[ThePenitentMan1 741]

I'll admit, when I first saw the question (before anybody else voted) it really got me thinking about whether the Indy theme was actually my favorite of JW's themes, despite being such a big Indy fan myself.

 

After seeing how everyone else voted, though, I knew what my vote needed to be.

[Andy 4,071]

I'll put it this way... If I am ever in the position where I'm swimming for my life to attempt to board a submerging Nazi Submarine, I wouldn't want the Jurassic Park theme to get me there.

 

I love that the theme is played to people on screen literally cheering and punching the air.  I don't think all those Arab diggers would get off their butts if Indy rode his horse by them without the theme.

[Dave 217]

On 10/11/2022 at 6:37 PM, Andy said:

I am shocked to hear how many people say it's not even close.  Really??? What is your favorite then?  I can't pick a favorite personally, but it's my favorite when I'm listening to it.  Top music for Top Men.

 

I was one of the not even close ones. Not gonna lie here, the Raiders March is for me a track that I don't skip, but I'm happy when it's over. I love the Indiana Jones scores for the female character and macguffin themes.

 

And since you asked about the favorite theme, I also couldn't pick a single favorite but I can savely say that the Raiders March is not one of them.

[Joni Wiljami 1,206]

No. I can easily find 100 better themes Williams has written.

[Bellosh 3,369]

Dare you to write out all 100

[Andy 4,071]

Just got back from walking my dog.  (I am named after her).  And as I was humming the theme, I was reminded how the most perfect melodies are deceptively obvious.  Well, of course it resolves that way.  And yes, that is very song-like.  But I cannot imagine how hard it must’ve been to come up with something that becomes ubiquitous and well known.  As Williams likes to say, daunting.  Yet here we are, taking it for granted that it came from blank staff paper.  If another composer wrote that today, people would lose their minds.