John Powell - STILL: A MICHAEL J FOX MOVIE (2023)

[Jay 37,373]

Arrives Friday May 26th via Lakeshore Records

 

 

1. Pinky (1:58)
2. That’s Boring (1:43)
3. Growing Up (1:37)
4. First Casting (1:05)
5. Hollywood Struggle (2:33)
6. A Chip & A Chair (1:22)
7. The Audition (2:38)
8. Becoming Michael J. Fox (2:29)
9. Tracy (2:54)
10. Being a Father (1:00)
11. Parkinson’s Yeah! (2:47)
12. Feel It, Live It (1:25)
13. Late Night TV (1:20)
14. Drink and Disassociate (1:47)
15. Is This What You Want? (2:41)
16. Home to TV (1:35)
17. No Way Out (3:02)
18. Why Me? (1:17)
19. Life at the Beach (5:28)

 

Samples of every track are available at Presto Music

 

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9496051--still-a-michael-j-fox-movie-soundtrack-from-the-apple-original-film

 

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

I had no idea that John Powell ghostwrote some of my favorite scores, but he must have as according to Presto, he died 60 years ago. The more you know.

 

[Edmilson 7,473]

I crave more John Powell awesomeness, but I don't think this Michael J. Fox doc will satisfy my craving. It sounds like it is going to be a bit like JNH's Light & Magic doc: pretty and inoffensive, but forgettable.

 

Weren't there rumors of a new animated Powell score also coming this year?

[JNHFan2000 2,968]

Yeah, he's still working on I believe 1 or 2 other projects

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,433]

44 minutes ago, A. A. Ron said:

I had no idea that John Powell ghostwrote some of my favorite scores, but he must have as according to Presto, he died 60 years ago. The more you know.

 

Quiet impressive! He even started to write music 33 years after his death, what a man!

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

John Williams may be one of the last film composers to write with pencil and paper, but John Powell is the only one I know of who writes via ouija board.

[Richard Penna 3,695]

Is this the one which had the director quote that they'd asked for a 'full throated' Hollywood score? Doesn't sound like that to me from a handful of samples.

[Edmilson 7,473]

1 hour ago, JNHFan2000 said:

Yeah, he's still working on I believe 1 or 2 other projects

Is one of those the HTTYD remake? I hope he has other stuff coming beside this because:

1. It's only coming out in 2025 and
2. It'll probably be like Zimmer's Lion King remake: mostly Ctrl C + Ctrl V from a superior score.

[JNHFan2000 2,968]

He hasn't been announced for that yet

[Jay 37,373]

49 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

Is this the one which had the director quote that they'd asked for a 'full throated' Hollywood score? Doesn't sound like that to me from a handful of samples.

 

Yes, it's this one:

 

On 29/04/2023 at 5:25 AM, JNHFan2000 said:

Was reading an article on the Michael J. Fox docu in Empire Magazine the director said the following small thing about the score. Makes me really excited!

 

 

 

 

40 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

Is one of those the HTTYD remake? I hope he has other stuff coming beside this because:

1. It's only coming out in 2025 and
2. It'll probably be like Zimmer's Lion King remake: mostly Ctrl C + Ctrl V from a superior score.

 

He is doing two scores this year, Still and an animated film

 

On 07/12/2022 at 5:21 PM, Anthony said:

He's confirmed it again today.

 

 

 

21 minutes ago, JNHFan2000 said:

He hasn't been announced for that yet

 

Yes he has.

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

The animated movie has gotta be Chicken Run 2, right?

[LSH 969]

1 minute ago, A. A. Ron said:

The animated movie has gotta be Chicken Run 2, right?

 

As far as we know, only Harry Gregson-Williams is attached to that.

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

Hmm. I guess it could also be Illumination's Migration, but there's not much else in big studio animation without a confirmed composer this year.

[Edmilson 7,473]

It could be Migration, even though Powell has never worked with Illumination before (which is not a big deal, considering they don't have problems bringing other composers like Desplat and Tyler).

 

Other than that, I don't know, at least for theatrical animations. Is there anything coming to streaming?

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,433]

Isn't a fifth Shrek movie in the pipes. Because that might be it, a new collaboration with HGW

[JNHFan2000 2,968]

Yeah, but Shrek 5 is in early development. Nowhere near the stage a a composer getting hired.

 

Kung Fu Panda 4 & Elio (Pixar) are both next year

[PrayodiBA 517]

8 hours ago, Jay said:

Arrives Friday May 26th via Lakeshore Records

 

 

1. Pinky (1:58)
2. That’s Boring (1:43)
3. Growing Up (1:37)
4. First Casting (1:05)
5. Hollywood Struggle (2:33)
6. A Chip & A Chair (1:22)
7. The Audition (2:38)
8. Becoming Michael J. Fox (2:29)
9. Tracy (2:54)
10. Being a Father (1:00)
11. Parkinson’s Yeah! (2:47)
12. Feel It, Live It (1:25)
13. Late Night TV (1:20)
14. Drink and Disassociate (1:47)
15. Is This What You Want? (2:41)
16. Home to TV (1:35)
17. No Way Out (3:02)
18. Why Me? (1:17)
19. Life at the Beach (5:28)

 

Samples of every track are available at Presto Music

 

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9496051--still-a-michael-j-fox-movie-soundtrack-from-the-apple-original-film

 

It is “ a good music” of course, don’t get me wrong.

 

But it sounds like any documentary score that any “general” or perhaps even library composer can conjure,….

….that begs the question:

 

Why hired John Powell in the first place? 
I mean certainly a filmmaker would like to choose a composer based on his/her strenght, certainly Powell with his animation and its full-bodied orchestra music.

(Then again, Powell also famous for his minamalist-action score for Bourne, so who knows)

This is one point.

 

Another point might be he got a producer referral for this gig, just like presumably happened with Dont Worry Darling?

 

If the first point was the case,

then added by that interview of the director wanted “a full throated Hollywood score”,…

…perhaps there was an alternate score for this before it was deemed unfit? The one that exactly justified why they brought Powell in the first place.

( I saw an Instagram story way back then  from Powell’s partner that basically said, scoring documentary was very hard and unlinke anything, and she congaratulated Powell for managing this)

 

Or….

The director has different perception of what “full throated Hollywood score” is than what JWfans here have.

He could maybe believe score like Bourne is a full throated, or maybe film with just music is a full throated 😄

 

[Richard Penna 3,695]

I would suggest that the 'full throated' thing was crowd-pleasing nonsense, but no one cares about music especially in a documentary, so it's an odd comment, for sure.

 

And plenty of documentaries have full orchestral scores, so it's hardly unusual, hence an especially odd thing to highlight if the eventual score is decidedly not.

 

I'd say most likely is that guy's idea of a 'Hollywood score' is different to ours. And to be fair (and a point I've made before), big orchestral scores are not the most appropriate scoring technique for everything, so maybe this score works great.

[Tom Guernsey 2,287]

I haven't listened to the samples yet but do the impression this will be quite a bit more low key than we were all expecting. Almost surprising that Jeff Beal didn't get the gig, he seems to be the go-to documentary composer (and very good they are too).

[Jay 37,373]

Now streaming in any country where it is already Friday; Can also use this link to hear new, longer samples

 

https://music.apple.com/nz/album/still-a-michael-j-fox-movie-soundtrack-from-the/1687575050

[PrayodiBA 517]

After hearing the score in full,

it's actually a good music.

 

What is certain here, it is way more cohesive and has better thematic concept than

James Newton Howard's recently released Light & Magic.

And as a matter of fact, it's significantly better than Powell's Don't Worry Darling from last year.

 

Yes, it's "a minimalist" score ( it's sad couple of years for Powell fan  )

The score is constructed mainly on guitar and piano, complemented by electronic to add that "groovy-ness"

It actually quite a neat call back to Powell's early 2000 minimalist rom-com score.

 

But it's "truly a Powell score" of course, not only because of his distinctive arrangement, but

also because how well thought out the thematic concept is.

 

I have seen the documentary,

and based on that, here I share with you my estimation on the theme breakdown:

 

 

"Michael J. Fox's Hyper-active" motif

Many have known how wild Fox during his young age and the beginning of the documentary delves on that subject.

That's why, the first couple of tracks (actually starting from the second track), Powell gives a statement on that motif.

First heard in this track, at this particular part:

^^ like I mentioned before, the motif reminds me of Call of The Wild and so "Powell-y"

 

Then, to its distinctively Powell "rising" progression, hear below:

^^ to me, this is one the highlight of the score. The "rising" is truly Powell that I love

 

Then to its "sad" statement, hear below:

^^ love this statement 👍

 

Another testament of genius storyteller Powell is,

that "hyperactive" motif is now intertwined with I assume "the parkinson" theme/motif, hear here:

^^ this music plays on part of the documentary, if I could recall, where Fox trying to hide his ever present Parkinson symptom during his many late night interviews (or perhaps after he has shared to the world the news his disease, I forgot)

So it's really apt how Powell presents this statement.

 

Fast forward and finally, "the final" statement, heard in the final track here:

^^

Hear how this final statement has a sense of "resolution" in its arrangement. It's also similar arrangement to the scond track, so it's like a full circle. So smart!

 

Now let's move on to the big one:

 

The Main Theme

First heard in the second track, at this particular part:

 

Then to its main statement, heard in the third track here:

 (The main statement can also be heard in the track "the Audition" later on)

 

^^

The main theme also reminds me of Call of The Wild.

But it's still good and quite hum-able

 

Then to its "happy" statement, hear it here:

 

Fast forward again, then finally, to its "final" statement:

 

 

 

 

There are many other motif/theme that I have found, again the name below is merely my assumption:

- "Doubt/Questioning" theme/motif (this is the one that sounds like Endurance)

- Parkinson motif/theme 

- Parkinson symptom motif (or sound effect)

 

Maybe will add later.

 

In the meantime, do hear and admire the score yourself

[Luka 242]

11 minutes ago, PrayodiBA said:

After hearing the score in full,

it's actually a good music.

 

What is certain here, it is way more cohesive and has better thematic concept than

James Newton Howard's recently released Light & Magic.

And as a matter of fact, it's significantly better than Powell's Don't Worry Darling from last year.

 

Yes, it's "a minimalist" score ( it's sad couple of years for Powell fan  )

The score is constructed mainly on guitar and piano, complemented by electronic to add that "groovy-ness"

It actually quite a near call back to Powell's early 2000 minimalist rom-com score.

 

But it's "truly a Powell score" of course, not only because of his distinctive arrangement, but

also because how well thought out the thematic concept is.

 

I have seen the documentary,

and based on that, here I share with you my estimation on the theme breakdown:

 

 

"Michael J. Fox's Hyper-active" motif

Many have known how wild Fox during his young age and the beginning of the documentary delves on that subject.

That's why, the first couple of tracks (actually starting from the second track), Powell gives a statement on that motif.

First heard in this track, at this particular part:

^^ like I mentioned before, the motif reminds me of Call of The Wild and so "Powell-y"

 

Then, to its distinctively Powell "rising" progression, hear below:

^^ to me, this is one the highlight of the score. The "rising" is truly Powell that I love

 

Then to its "sad" statement, hear below:

^^ love this statement 👍

 

Another testament of genius storyteller Powell is,

that "hyperactive" motif is now intertwined with I assume "the parkinson" theme/motif, hear here:

^^ this music plays on part of the documentary, if I could recall, where Fox trying to hide his ever present Parkinson symptom during his many late night interviews (or perhaps after he has shared to the world the news his disease, I forgot)

So it's really apt how Powell presents this statement.

 

Fast forward and finally, "the final" statement:

^^

Hear how this final statement has a sense of "resolution" in its arrangement. So smart!

 

Now let's move on to the big one:

 

The Main Theme

First heard in the second track, at this particular part:

 

Then to its main statement, heard in the third track here:

 (The main statement can also be heard in the track "the Audition" later on)

 

^^

The main theme also reminds me of Call of The Wild.

But it's still good and quite hum-able

 

Then to its "happy" statement, hear it here:

 

Fast forward again, then finally, to its "final" statement:

 

 

 

 

There are many other motif/theme that I have found, again the name below is merely my assumption:

- "Doubt/Questioning" theme/motif (this is the one that sounds like Endurance)

- Parkinson motif/theme 

- Parkinson symptom motif (or sound effect)

 

Maybe will add later.

 

In the meantime, do hear and admire the score yourself

 

Thanks for this lovely breakdown! Makes it easier to appreciate the score  

[JNHFan2000 2,968]

@PrayodiBAThanks for this!! Great breakdown.

[Jay 37,373]

1 hour ago, PrayodiBA said:

 

 

Holy shit dude, what an amazing post!

I love JWFan!!

[JNHFan2000 2,968]

After seeing the documentary last week and with the breakdown above I have to say this really is a wonderful score.

 

It's indeed very much a Powell score, even though it's not like his big orchestral works. I'm seeing quite a few people online being disappointed with the last 2 Powell scores. But I actually both really like them. I'm happy he shows his skills on lots of different genres. I've always felt Powell was able to adept his style in multiple genres and these past few scores have really shown that. 

Of course I'll be happy when he goes back to his big orchestral writing, but his smaller works have so much to offer as well. And Still, at least for me, is one of better scores outside of his big orcheatral writing.

[PrayodiBA 517]

23 hours ago, Luka said:

 

Thanks for this lovely breakdown! Makes it easier to appreciate the score  

 

23 hours ago, JNHFan2000 said:

@PrayodiBAThanks for this!! Great breakdown.

 

22 hours ago, Jay said:

 

Holy shit dude, what an amazing post!

I love JWFan!!

 

Thank you so much!

It's always a fun creating a breakdown for Powell's score

 

-----

 

Now continue to the rest of the theme/motif:

 

The "Doubt/Questioning/Gamble" Theme

First heard in this track:

 

 

^^

Like the title of the track, this music plays when Fox describes he questions his early life like "chip in a poker game" (?) game, so that's why I named this as such.

This arrangement reminds me of Endurance

 

Heard again in this track:

^^

Again, as what the title of the track says, it plays when Fox tried to get close to his future wife, but at the same feeling doubt/question himself whether "he is the right guy for her"

 

And this statement in this track:

 

 

 

The "Parkinson" Theme

First heard in this track:

 

Then heard again in the next track, in its serious statement:

 

The theme is also intertwined with the "hyperactive" motif, like I shared before in the Late Night TV track

And the theme also appears in more tracks later.

 

Lastly, and this is so smart of Powell, he turns this sad theme into a positive statement in the final track, conveying message that Fox finally befriends with the Parkinson, hear it here:

 

 

 

The "Parkinson Symptoms" Motif/Sound effects

It's not a motif per se, more like a sound effect

First heard in the very first track:

^^

I like the choice of synth Powell used here, somehow it feels kinda soothing 😄

 

 

And that's it! 🙌

[PrayodiBA 517]

Powell won Emmy for this!

https://deadline.com/2024/01/2023-creative-arts-emmys-winners-list-1235696511/

 

http://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/01/07/john-powell-wins-emmy-award-for-still-a-michael-j-fox-movie-score/

 

Beating JNH’s Light & Magic and Hans Zimmer Company’s Prehistoric Planet

 

A photo of his win

https://www.reflector.com/news/national/the-television-academys-75th-creative-arts-emmy-awards---night-2---show/image_63377aa5-b1ed-5ebe-95a0-5e056011299b.html

 

—-

^^
Anyway, check the breakdown above to understand why this score is such a hidden gem (albeit maybe a small minimalistic gem)

 

[JNHFan2000 2,968]

Fantastic! About time this man got some recognition!