Impossible to answer this. From Star Wars to Jurassic Park to Harry Potter to Angela’s Ashes to Tintin to Space Camp to Empire of the Sun… losing one of these or one of his concert pieces would be a tragedy.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind. John Williams sells the idea of music being a universal language by example better than just about anybody else could imho
Easily phantom menace, I was like 6 when it was in theatres and I still think about the dual of the fates, the part when obi wan deflects a strike behind him and then a split second later in front of him will be burned in my brain forever, and John was a huge part of that
"Without John Williams, bikes don't really fly; nor do brooms in Quidditch matches; nor do men in red capes; there is no force; dinosaurs do not walk the Earth... John, you breathe belief into every film we have made." Well said Mr. Spielberg, well said.
@@maxbowen6482 Absolute statements are bad for reasons like this. What you said sounds good but isn't always true. For instance, the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is so damn scary almost entirely BECAUSE it doesn't have a soundtrack or additional horror noises added for effect.
@@ProudFilthyCasual Very true. In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, 'Only a Sith believes in absolutes'. Admittedly, I think that technically makes Obi-Wan a Sith...
My favorite story of John Williams was when Steven Spielberg showed him Schindler's List. John Williams said it would be too challenging to score and "you need a better composer than I am for this film." Spielberg responded, "I know. But they're all dead."
Idk why, but that reminds me of the story when a reporter asked Einstein what it's like being the smartest man in the planet, and he said, "I dont know, you'd have to ask Nikola Tesla."
@@kaufmanat1 There is absolutely no evidence that he ever said that. Considering that their scientific disciplines are so diametrically different, both men would be bright enough to know that they could not judge the other.
The Matrix came out before Phantom Menace and also had a lot of choir tracks particularly "Navras" which sounded similar to duel of the fates. It was combination of those two movies that normalized choir scores in movies.
@Novusod And before the Matrix...., We had Ghost in the Shell (1995 movie), which inspired Watchowskis. Just youtube search for the opening of GitS. And after that GitS 2 Innocence opening as well. And before that....Akira, an animated movie that makes it onto virtually every top 100 scifi list.
"Anakin's Betrayal" is probably my favorite Star Wars piece of all time, and I don't think it is talked about as much as it deserves. Such a brilliantly sad and epic composition. Up there with Duel of the Fates & Battle of the Heroes for sure
100% agree - definitely my favourite - esp at the 59 sec mark of this piece - which ties in with the moment Yoda grabs his chest/drops his stick whilst on Kashyyyk - as order 66 is happening - unbelievably beautiful
The fact that Duel of the Fates is played during 3 different parts of 3 different movies where literally the Fate of galaxy hangs in the balance.. Qui-gon & Obi-Wan vs Maul, Anakin on his journey to rescue his mother, and Yoda vs Palpatine..... Ahhhh man, I love it
@@thefirsttrillionaire2925 Qui-gon & Obi-Wan vs Maul decides who will train Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan later opines that he was not ready to train Anakin so we can draw that had Qui-Gon not died fighting Maul there may not have been a Darth Vader. Anakin rescuing his mother is the first attachment Anakin loses that he believes he should have been able to stop. This informs his later actions taken in fear of losing Padme, leaving him vulnerable to the machinations of Sideous. Yoda vs Palpatine is the last chance that the old Jedi order will be able to defeat the Sith and prevent the rise of the Empire. Unfortunately Yoda had trained the Jedi to win the last Sith war 1,000 years prior rather than the war the Sith were fighting this time.
@CS_Calzone I think it’s not that Yoda was personally there for the past 1000 years, but that the Jedi Order hasn’t see Sith appear in 1000 years and got complacent.
Duel of the Fates, Across the Stars, and Battle of the Heroes. All three prequel main themes are the most hauntingly beautiful pieces he’s ever composed, in my opinion.
I vividly remember the music in Phantom Menace. I was a kid and my parents pulled me out of school to go see it in theaters. That music score over the theater speakers was nothing short of MAGIC. I saw John conduct at the Hollywood Bowl and it brought tears to my eyes.
Sadly I quite literally don't remember anything but that unending video game placement and the stupid thing with the ears. The greatest film letdown of my life, I think.
Dude, Danny, I love your channel. I love the way you let the films and filmmakers speak for themselves. You narrate only to guide us between the original sources. In times of superficiality and hear-say, you give us the simple truth. Thank you for keeping the internet classy.
George made a lot of great decisions in his 6 Star Wars movies, but getting John to do the music is one of his best ones easily. He said it himself that "Johnnys" music is probably the most important part of any star wars movie.
@@vgbig9390 Zimmer UNDOUBTEDLY gets at least number two for me, but Williams' work is absolutely timeless and I think still deserves the big number one.
The opening to duel of fates has stood my hair on ends for more than 20 years. Every time I cannot help myself but mimic shouting with the choir. It is so god damn epic.
As a 9 year old it blew my fucking mind. The whole movie blew.me.away. George really did his job well and made a great space opera for children. I have studied politics ever since it made me so hungry for such things. The art and the imagination of williams will be remembered forever
3:44 ... i never realised how beautiful this scene was, in retrospect. It perfectly displays the 3 sides - the dark side, represented by Darth Maul nervously and furiously walking back and forth... eagerly awaiting to fight - the light side, represented by OBI wan, posed but ready to sprint. Aim to stop Darth Maul and help his master - the grey side, represent by Qui-Gon, being perfectly in the middle (figuratively and literally). Concentrating his efforts on meditation yet eager to continue the fight. he neither fully embraces or fully rejects either side (like Anakin with Count Dooku, Qui Gon could have waited for Obi Wan... but his dark tendencies pushed him to stop the injustice he saw in Maul's actions. the recklessness caused him his life)
the amount of work you put into gathering the reference & source materials coupled with your ability to piece them all together cohesively and in a compelling manner REALLY separates your work from other... "video essay"... channels. the minimal self-input - letting clips speak for themselves and only giving the necessary context with your VO - has to be one of your best qualities! keep it up
Given the amount of time and energy it takes, this comment means everything to me. Knowing that all that comes through in the final product, at least for some folks, is encouraging beyond measure. So.. yeah. Thank you, sincerely. I hope you enjoy what’s to come! I’m pretty excited about the next few uploads.
I have seen The Phantom Menace for years! Only in recent years have I even realized the teased lyrics in a few scenes wherein the threat of the Sith is getting ever closer to the Jedi. I’m so glad you pointed that out because when I realized it, it broke my mind. When I told my brother, it broke his mind as well. It is something you don’t even notice at first. It’s guiding you towards the climax.
I can't imagine how daunting it must have been going back into Star Wars, where the tunes have become as much a part of pop culture as the films have. The Imperial March, Luke's Theme, and of course the bombastic main theme itself are all instantly recognisable to the ear and transport the listener back to Star Wars. But, he did, and we got Duel of the Fates. The man is astonishing.
I can only imagine what it is to be part of the orchestra, when you are all gathered to play the pieces. It's all there, on paper. You know the notes, you know your part, you know the parts of others....but when that magic wand is lifted, and everyone plays it together, and you hear something like Duel of Fates for the first time anyone has ever heard it, and know it is you, and your fellows giving birth to that magnificent music. I can only imagine what it feels like.
When Spielberg asked Williams to score Schindler’s list, Williams watched it and said “you need a better composer than me for this movie.” Spielberg said, “I know. But they’re all dead.”
@@burtreynolds8030 he is the most nominated person alive, and the second most nominated person ever behind Walt Disney himself. Also, was this an episode of Celebrity Jeopardy you were on, Burt? Was it the one where you wore that big hat?
it's so crazy how much music changes the emotion of a scene. it's self evident and taken for granted. but imagine the fight scene with no music. it may have tempo from choreography but would be much more awkward and 10x less emotional. i heard once that sound is emotional and vision is logical. couldn't be more true. or replace the scene's music with any other music. completely changes the emotional impact and dynamic.
@@VieneLea exactly. it's so awkward without the music lol. i think one of the halo game devs speaking about the composer of music said that he was jealous that the composer single handedly contributes as much to the game as the rest of the staff combined because of the power of his musical pieces, and how the game would basically be nothing and fundamentally lack the same impact without them.
Sound is emotional and vision is logical is truly the perfect was to encapsulate the impact that wonderful music has on movies, story telling and simply on its own.
John Williams is as important to music as any classic composer of his time. The man is an absolute mad genius and is responsible for so much brilliant music. We are all incredibly lucky to be around for this.
So beautifully told Danny. My tears started at the first hearing of that unforgettable vocal chorus and repeated again and again. Some lives are simply worthy of many tears. This will go on the watch list for our students. Thank you🙏
Anyone from my generation, born in the late 70's/early 80's will often say "the 80's and 90's were the best!" I think this video reminded me how much John Williams and Steven Spielberg impacted our impression of those decades. The magic of cinema made our childhood, well...magical.
John Williams scores are so much more than just music. They are a key character in the story. If John Williams themes were given an Oscar for best supporting role I feel nearly no one would question it.
I read somewhere where Mozart sounded good even paired with itself. A friend and me tried to actively misalign the music so it would be discordant and it *still* fucking worked. And Williams is even better.
This is the first video on music I've ever seen that has made me understand the true beauty of composition. I've always been able to recognise a good song, but I've never really connected the precise techniques with the emotions they bring about as clearly as I can now. I guess it's partially because I'm so familiar with Duel of the Fates, and I'm so aware of how all the parts fit together merely from having appreciated it so often. You've finally put some words to that beautiful craft. Thank you.
I've had the pleasure of being able to sing this piece to a full orchestra once. As it's one of my favorite pieces, from one of my favorite composers, it was an otherworldly experience.
I *do* know what you mean, but John Williams took A LOT of motif's from famous classical composers in order to complete his works. The classic example is Holst's "Mars: Bringer Of War" - you could simply put that over the top of the opening of the first part of the original Star Wars move and it would have the same emotional impact. There isn't too much difference between the scores if you know them both.
@liamnevilleviolist1809 and? All music samples other music, there's only so many ways you can put together notes, at the end of the day he still created new music
I agree that in the past hundred years perhaps only Shore and Morricone come close to Williams in terms of theme writing, and imho neither can match Williams in terms of raw orchestration.
John Williams is a master at his craft. Years ago I went and watched him direct a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. It was one of my favorite concert experiences. They played all my favorite music from all my favorite movies and he came back on stage for five encores.
When I was kid, I though that if I hummed the Star Wars theme while out stretching my arm, I too could use the force. Thank you John. You made some of favorite movies so memorable.
Thechnically the Stars War theme was Erich Wolfgang Korngold's, 1942, "Kings Row", mashed / mixed together with Holst's "Mars - Bringer of War". Think of Williams as a master choreographer / DJ, who samples and sequences others work, to create movie theme tracks.
Wow, this man is legendary. I just looked more up on him, and I didn't realize the massive amount of movies he did the scores for, so many masterpieces. Insane.
I can't suffer anyone who claims someone like Zimmer is even Williams' equal, let alone his superior. Zimmer serves his purpose well in the films he works on, but Williams' music transcends the films and becomes something that lives in our hearts rather than only living when the movie is playing. I'm not kidding when I say the movie I'm excited for more than *any other announced project* is the upcoming documentary on John Williams' life and career. The man is a treasure to me and millions of others. Thank you for showcasing his work so well!
I hate when they get compared. Who are u to judge whos the better componist or not. They both are good. Hans Zimmers Kungfu panda scores are absolutely epic.. i listen to them all the time and they are pure magic.
@@Alex-bm5rc You realize those were also written by John Powell, right? Go listen to other Powell compositions like How to Train Your Dragon and Solo, and listen to other Zimmer compositions like his DC stuff or Inception, and you tell me who *really* is to thank for how good the Kung Fu Panda scores are. (Hint: It's Powell. It's got his fingerprints all over it, whereas Zimmer's style is nowhere to be heard.) All the stuff from Zimmer people LOVE has been written with *other* people (Pirates of the Caribbean: with Klaus Badelt. Sherlock Holmes: with Lorne Balfe. Lion King: themes written with Elton John involved. Even freaking Boss Baby: with Steve Mazzaro. And all of those pieces sound nothing like what Zimmer writes without those other people, so it's pretty clearly coming from those other people and not him.) That stuff he writes alone falls mostly into obscurity. Sure, some scores like Interstellar and Dune offer something interesting, but most of his compositions are infant's doodlings compared to what Williams can produce. Williams could write a Zimmer score in a day; Zimmer couldn't write a Williams score in his wildest dreams. I'm not saying Zimmer scores are never good, because they work amazing when you're watching the actual movie. But I'm willing to bet all the scores you listen to and call "magic" actually have other people's names on them, and the Zimmer scores you don't listen to nearly as often are the ones he actually wrote on his own. Go check.
For me, the last 7 minutes of ET is Williams at his finest. He calls back to every previous theme in the film and weaves them together into a final cue that shifts from awe to sadness into hope, while hitting every emotional beat on the screen, with a triumphant final fanfare that at last resolves the mysterious lydian theme from the opening.
@@tristanjohnson2678YES! Hook is one of the most amazing soundtracks ever. I've gotten to enjoy the Journey to Neverland suite performed live by an orchestra on multiple occasions, and it was magical every time.
Really enjoyed this video! If you were to do a series analyzing each John Williams movie score, I would definitely watch each one. Growing up as a choir kid, I really appreciate his use of the choir in this composition. I also like the love theme used in Episode 2.
This video was definitely a huge experiment in editing videos about music. It poses a ton of unexpected challenges. But I would definitely love to keep make more talking about his work. If I can swing it. Even his work on the sequels, which is way less memorable, has some sweet pieces when listened to in isolation. Anywho, just glad you enjoyed the video, and thank you for the comment :) -Danny
That sounds amazing; I'm particularly fascinated by how the Harry Potter theme evolved through the films - a cinemastix video on it would be delightful!
Across the Stars, the love theme of Star Wars II, is my favorite soundtrack of all time. What a divine song. Episode III really pooled all the greatness from the previous films and added a lot of its own and the result was William's greatest score ever in my opinion.
My first CD as a kid was The Lost World soundtrack. It had just come out and I couldn't believe how great the music was. Michael Giacchino I feel is the next generation's JW. Thanks for making this. Were extremely fortunate to have had this man on our planet.
Funny you should mention that-did you know one of Michael Giacchino's earliest gigs was doing the music for "The Lost World" video game on PlayStation in 1997? It was the first time I ever heard his music!
@@thegoodgeneral Yea! And then he did a bunch of Medal of Honors. When I found that out I went back and played them and wow, he doesn't skimp on gaming scores at all. Speed Racer is really fun too
This man has my everlasting respect for creating some of the most memorable music pieces of my entire lifetime. Hats off to you Mr. Williams, take a bow.
Duel of the Fates is one of the very, very best musical pieces to have ever been crafted by humankind. I'm talking top 10 in all of recorded history. Masterpiece.
Your narration (esp the intro) is very reminiscent of every frame a painting. And that's a good thing because that's one of the best channels on UA-cam.
Spielberg said it very clearly. The expression "it captures the imagination" is equal to John Williams. He is, never more accurately said, the soundtrack of our lives. I am just a regular guy, but i will be forever thankful for him, and Spielberg and Lucas. Their passion and creative force changed the world forever, and they have inspired us, millions of moviegoers, more than words can express.
I always find it amazing how it seems like my favorite movies are in the same order as the best scores of all time. It's almost like the music is more important than anything else.
An amazing video about one of the true geniuses of our time. One of my favorite things about movie scores is the way that a theme is altered to convey a different emotion while still evoking what the theme is tied to. So fascinating to see what changes are made to make a known piece more romantic or sadder or more energetic, etc etc when simultaneously calling back to a character or aspect of the story.
We did a john Williams Mashup in symphonic band. When we played the theme from shindlers list, I was in tears. Our band director wanted to understand the meaning behind the different pieces all put together. Quite a few band members teared up while playing. The sadness and beauty. It was our best performance in my opinion.
That little speech by Spielberg made me cry alittle bit. Ive always been musically inclined, and obsessed with movies. Thank you John for making all those dreams seem real. Even just for an hour or two.
When you really look at his body of work it is truly astounding. Like, almost unbelievable that one man composed every great score in cinema history. Insane.
:D I’m so glad! I really enjoyed putting this one together. It was a particularly tough one editing around the music, but I’m glad with the way it turned out. Thank you so much for the support.
8:36 What John Williams just said reminds me of what George Lucas said about the way he created certain scenes for every Star Wars movie he made: "It's like poetry, they rhyme".
I've been telling my friends for years that Episode 1 has THE ultimate Star-Wars fight scene IMHO. Goosebumps... what a loving, humble genius this guy is.
John Williams is quite literally on the same level, if not beyond the same genius as the legendary composers of history like Beethoven or Mozart, and we’re alive to witness it!
6:07 That repetitive flute structure for a foundation is like a boxer bouncing on his toes (timing and pitch rising falling) , fits for the fight scene
One thing is certain. the man does. not. miss. he consistently made amazing score after amazing score for decades. truly the greatest composer of all time
the only possible issue is that his love themes are all very similar (han and leia, aniken and padme, indy and marion) they all have an almost identical beginning
I still get goosebumps when i see the scene with Maul Kenobi and Qui gon, and Duel of the fates playing. Ray Parks moves and how well that scene was choreographed was amazing.
Glad you took note of this song which imo is the best. Watched the star wars live concert and this was the biggest hit there and most impactful in audience even over the theme song.
Honestly everything in that whole fight just sits together perfectly. The choreography's perfect, the actors, the set design, the costume design, and of course the music. I don't think there'll ever be another moment in this franchise that will make me feel how I felt when I first saw Maul ignite that second blade lol
Thank you for recognizing Duel of the Fates. One of my favorite scores in any Star Wars movies, and very likely any movie at all. I had the pleasure of performing it during an all-county concert within a year of its release. It was as wonderful then as it is now almost 25 years later.
Really good video! I will add that while duel of the fates does have lyrics based off of previous works, when it was translated into sandskrit it lost all of its meaning. It is actually a controversial work because they dont mean anything, and the words were just chosen because they sounded good. I would also add that there is a very good channel out there about film music called Sideways, and he analyzes John williams scores very well.
The music in Star Wars and any film is just as much a character as anything on screen. John Williams understands this, and has made sure it's presence is known and felt when it's there and not
I still remember the chills I got as a nine year old watching the phantom menace in theaters. One of the most memorable theatre experiences I’ve ever had to this day.
What’s the John Williams score, or movie that he scored, that means the most to you?
Impossible to answer this. From Star Wars to Jurassic Park to Harry Potter to Angela’s Ashes to Tintin to Space Camp to Empire of the Sun… losing one of these or one of his concert pieces would be a tragedy.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind. John Williams sells the idea of music being a universal language by example better than just about anybody else could imho
Easily phantom menace, I was like 6 when it was in theatres and I still think about the dual of the fates, the part when obi wan deflects a strike behind him and then a split second later in front of him will be burned in my brain forever, and John was a huge part of that
E.T.'s score is probably the most nostalgic for me. It has a certain precious, childlike innocence to it. As also does the Home Alone score.
Probably that first Harry Potter film. I grew up on the books and the movies and it’s shaped my love of film and reading. Love that score
"Without John Williams, bikes don't really fly; nor do brooms in Quidditch matches; nor do men in red capes; there is no force; dinosaurs do not walk the Earth... John, you breathe belief into every film we have made."
Well said Mr. Spielberg, well said.
All good and all, but i dont care what mr pedo spielberg has to say.
He hit the nail on the head with that. A film is nothing without a score
@@maxbowen6482 Unless it's No Country For Old Men, somehow lol
@@maxbowen6482 Absolute statements are bad for reasons like this. What you said sounds good but isn't always true. For instance, the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is so damn scary almost entirely BECAUSE it doesn't have a soundtrack or additional horror noises added for effect.
@@ProudFilthyCasual Very true. In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, 'Only a Sith believes in absolutes'.
Admittedly, I think that technically makes Obi-Wan a Sith...
My favorite story of John Williams was when Steven Spielberg showed him Schindler's List. John Williams said it would be too challenging to score and "you need a better composer than I am for this film." Spielberg responded, "I know. But they're all dead."
m.ua-cam.com/video/uZdv-TtiMkg/v-deo.html
SL has a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. Williams outdid himself
Idk why, but that reminds me of the story when a reporter asked Einstein what it's like being the smartest man in the planet, and he said, "I dont know, you'd have to ask Nikola Tesla."
Lets not downplay Hans Zimmer like that, shall we?
@@kaufmanat1 There is absolutely no evidence that he ever said that. Considering that their scientific disciplines are so diametrically different, both men would be bright enough to know that they could not judge the other.
After Duel of Fates, we started hearing A LOT of choirs in movie scores. A groundbreaking track, one of his best.
The Matrix came out before Phantom Menace and also had a lot of choir tracks particularly "Navras" which sounded similar to duel of the fates.
It was combination of those two movies that normalized choir scores in movies.
Don't forget the choir in the theme for Batman Mask of the Phantasm.
@@Thanos88888 Great choir in that movie but it just wasn’t a huge movie that the entire industry would’ve seen like Phantom.
@Novusod
And before the Matrix...., We had Ghost in the Shell (1995 movie), which inspired Watchowskis.
Just youtube search for the opening of GitS. And after that GitS 2 Innocence opening as well.
And before that....Akira, an animated movie that makes it onto virtually every top 100 scifi list.
@@wankertanker1813 I don't remember any choral tracks in Ghost in the Shell or Akira?
Hard to imagine that we're living in the time of a great composer like John Williams much like those who lived through Bach, Beethoven, Mozart etc.
You said Mozart twice
@@stevenevenshow2790 Hahaha I didn't even notice. Good catch. Edit to come
I like Hanz Zimmer too, althugh Williams is of course more classy
He deserves it. Legendary talent.
Why is it hard to imagine? It's right here! We live amongst many gifted artists. It's a wonderful thing :)
"Anakin's Betrayal" is probably my favorite Star Wars piece of all time, and I don't think it is talked about as much as it deserves. Such a brilliantly sad and epic composition. Up there with Duel of the Fates & Battle of the Heroes for sure
100% agree - definitely my favourite - esp at the 59 sec mark of this piece - which ties in with the moment Yoda grabs his chest/drops his stick whilst on Kashyyyk - as order 66 is happening - unbelievably beautiful
It's a personal favorite of mine as well. Definitely flies under the radar for most.
Glad I saw this comment as this definitely went under my radar - but no longer! Beautiful
Brilliant, but Binary Sunset will never fail to bring a tear to my eye. That piece is what hope sounds like to me
The music of Padme’s death / Luke and Leila’s birth / Vaders creation in Revenge of the Sith … what is that called ? That brings me to tears.
How he topped the original score with Duel of the Fates is shockingly astonishing
That is what impresses me the most. The consistency of excellence in his work is unfounded in reality. He TRULY, truly does not miss.
“Shockingly astonishing” redundant wording there lol
@@P_Tookay consistent until the sequel trilogy. No soul there.
@@LordJagd Do you not understand how adjectives work?
@@MineralGPK *eyeroll*
The fact that Duel of the Fates is played during 3 different parts of 3 different movies where literally the Fate of galaxy hangs in the balance.. Qui-gon & Obi-Wan vs Maul, Anakin on his journey to rescue his mother, and Yoda vs Palpatine..... Ahhhh man, I love it
Can someone explain how the fate of the galaxy relies on the three moments? I kind of got the gist but I want a little clarification. 😅
@@thefirsttrillionaire2925 Qui-gon & Obi-Wan vs Maul decides who will train Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan later opines that he was not ready to train Anakin so we can draw that had Qui-Gon not died fighting Maul there may not have been a Darth Vader.
Anakin rescuing his mother is the first attachment Anakin loses that he believes he should have been able to stop. This informs his later actions taken in fear of losing Padme, leaving him vulnerable to the machinations of Sideous.
Yoda vs Palpatine is the last chance that the old Jedi order will be able to defeat the Sith and prevent the rise of the Empire. Unfortunately Yoda had trained the Jedi to win the last Sith war 1,000 years prior rather than the war the Sith were fighting this time.
@@J_Halcyon thanks 🙂
@@J_Halcyon is there a source for the yoda 1000 years ago part, because common knowledge only makes yoda 900 years old when he died
@CS_Calzone
I think it’s not that Yoda was personally there for the past 1000 years, but that the Jedi Order hasn’t see Sith appear in 1000 years and got complacent.
Duel of the Fates, Across the Stars, and Battle of the Heroes. All three prequel main themes are the most hauntingly beautiful pieces he’s ever composed, in my opinion.
@@anonymousperson2886ell nah man I don’t care how bad the movies are I’m just glad the songs existed
@@anonymousperson2886 The movies are beautiful.
@@CoreFreddy Detailed CGI backgrounds, unlike the bland boring ones we see in disney TV shows literally every shot
@@anonymousperson2886 Prequels are great
@@anonymousperson2886seething
I vividly remember the music in Phantom Menace. I was a kid and my parents pulled me out of school to go see it in theaters. That music score over the theater speakers was nothing short of MAGIC. I saw John conduct at the Hollywood Bowl and it brought tears to my eyes.
Legendary parents.
Sadly I quite literally don't remember anything but that unending video game placement and the stupid thing with the ears. The greatest film letdown of my life, I think.
Dude, Danny, I love your channel. I love the way you let the films and filmmakers speak for themselves. You narrate only to guide us between the original sources. In times of superficiality and hear-say, you give us the simple truth. Thank you for keeping the internet classy.
Thank YOU for being a part of it and engaging with the stuff I put out there :) I can’t do it without your support, and your words really mean a lot.
6:04 that double over the head block by Ewan McGregor never gets old for me. To me it's one of the most epic saber moves.
Nice.
Totally agreed. You should look up some of the deleted stunt scenes from phantom menance. Even better stunts. Pity they didn’t make the cut
sequels could never
@@pjacefilms And watch the making of featurettes. Lots of cool choreography there.
One of the best movie duels ever.
George made a lot of great decisions in his 6 Star Wars movies, but getting John to do the music is one of his best ones easily.
He said it himself that "Johnnys" music is probably the most important part of any star wars movie.
He made terrible decisions too. The existence of the prequels is his major one.
@@genetenz bruh they complete the story. The original trilogy feels like it has so much less weight without the full picture
@@genetenzThe prequels are the best films in the saga. Cope.
@@genetenz There's flaws, and far too much CGI. But it's so much better than the sequels in every way. Jar Jar alone is more interesting than Rey.
@@genetenz The prequels were fine. Selling to Disney... now that was a terrible decision.
This man has to stay in history as the greatest film composer of our time
Hans Zimmer gets that award
@@vgbig9390 Zimmer UNDOUBTEDLY gets at least number two for me, but Williams' work is absolutely timeless and I think still deserves the big number one.
@@TheCoolCucumber I prefer Ennio Morricone
@@haystack1893 Jerry Goldsmith at 3rd
@@vgbig9390 Hans Zimmer comes second. Williams is the first legend.
The opening to duel of fates has stood my hair on ends for more than 20 years. Every time I cannot help myself but mimic shouting with the choir. It is so god damn epic.
As a 9 year old it blew my fucking mind. The whole movie blew.me.away. George really did his job well and made a great space opera for children. I have studied politics ever since it made me so hungry for such things. The art and the imagination of williams will be remembered forever
I have exactly the same experience (with the hairs on end)! I saw it live once and it was out of this world good
3:44 ... i never realised how beautiful this scene was, in retrospect.
It perfectly displays the 3 sides
- the dark side, represented by Darth Maul nervously and furiously walking back and forth... eagerly awaiting to fight
- the light side, represented by OBI wan, posed but ready to sprint. Aim to stop Darth Maul and help his master
- the grey side, represent by Qui-Gon, being perfectly in the middle (figuratively and literally). Concentrating his efforts on meditation yet eager to continue the fight. he neither fully embraces or fully rejects either side
(like Anakin with Count Dooku, Qui Gon could have waited for Obi Wan... but his dark tendencies pushed him to stop the injustice he saw in Maul's actions. the recklessness caused him his life)
the amount of work you put into gathering the reference & source materials coupled with your ability to piece them all together cohesively and in a compelling manner REALLY separates your work from other... "video essay"... channels.
the minimal self-input - letting clips speak for themselves and only giving the necessary context with your VO - has to be one of your best qualities! keep it up
Given the amount of time and energy it takes, this comment means everything to me. Knowing that all that comes through in the final product, at least for some folks, is encouraging beyond measure. So.. yeah. Thank you, sincerely. I hope you enjoy what’s to come! I’m pretty excited about the next few uploads.
It absolutely does come through @@CinemaStix!
For you: 🏆
(And please take note, that's not one of those "participation trophies" either.)
YO RISK OF RAIN STREAMER GUY
If you like him, go check out Every Frame A Painting. Not saying this guy lifted the format but it’s definitely the same energy and effot
I don't often upvote comments, but this one definitely needs more validation. Absolutely spot on - your effort is noticed and appreciated @@CinemaStix
I have seen The Phantom Menace for years! Only in recent years have I even realized the teased lyrics in a few scenes wherein the threat of the Sith is getting ever closer to the Jedi. I’m so glad you pointed that out because when I realized it, it broke my mind. When I told my brother, it broke his mind as well. It is something you don’t even notice at first. It’s guiding you towards the climax.
Oh yeah! And so subconsciously. It blew my mind, too. Only realized it as I was preparing the video.
Out of curiosity, do you know that the Naboo parade song is a sped up version of the Emperor's theme?
I never noticed it either. I remember hearing the choral whisper throughout the movie, but I didn't realise those were the worlds from Duel of Fates.
I can't imagine how daunting it must have been going back into Star Wars, where the tunes have become as much a part of pop culture as the films have. The Imperial March, Luke's Theme, and of course the bombastic main theme itself are all instantly recognisable to the ear and transport the listener back to Star Wars.
But, he did, and we got Duel of the Fates. The man is astonishing.
5:12 That’s crazy how they snuck the “Korah Rahtahmah” in the film 3 times before the battle and I never noticed. 😮
I can only imagine what it is to be part of the orchestra, when you are all gathered to play the pieces. It's all there, on paper. You know the notes, you know your part, you know the parts of others....but when that magic wand is lifted, and everyone plays it together, and you hear something like Duel of Fates for the first time anyone has ever heard it, and know it is you, and your fellows giving birth to that magnificent music. I can only imagine what it feels like.
Underrated comment
To be honest, most of them were probably there for a paycheck, but sometimes you might stumble onto something magnificent.
He’s the Mozart of our time.
Jeopardy the other day said he had 63 oscar nominations, might’ve even said 63 oscars, crazy either way
@@burtreynolds8030 gotta be nominations lol. But like you said, either way that’s bonkers.
When Spielberg asked Williams to score Schindler’s list, Williams watched it and said “you need a better composer than me for this movie.” Spielberg said, “I know. But they’re all dead.”
@@burtreynolds8030 he is the most nominated person alive, and the second most nominated person ever behind Walt Disney himself.
Also, was this an episode of Celebrity Jeopardy you were on, Burt? Was it the one where you wore that big hat?
@@thegoodgeneral second to only Walt Disney is one heck of an achievement, and oh no that was my cousin Turd Ferguson
it's so crazy how much music changes the emotion of a scene. it's self evident and taken for granted. but imagine the fight scene with no music. it may have tempo from choreography but would be much more awkward and 10x less emotional. i heard once that sound is emotional and vision is logical. couldn't be more true. or replace the scene's music with any other music. completely changes the emotional impact and dynamic.
@@VieneLea exactly. it's so awkward without the music lol. i think one of the halo game devs speaking about the composer of music said that he was jealous that the composer single handedly contributes as much to the game as the rest of the staff combined because of the power of his musical pieces, and how the game would basically be nothing and fundamentally lack the same impact without them.
@@Ares_gaming_117 Yeah. A simple animation of a spaseship going through space will have drastically different impressions based on music.
Well, the duels in A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back didn't have any music at all.
@@jesustovar2549 and some of them were pretty tense because of it
Sound is emotional and vision is logical is truly the perfect was to encapsulate the impact that wonderful music has on movies, story telling and simply on its own.
John Williams is as important to music as any classic composer of his time. The man is an absolute mad genius and is responsible for so much brilliant music. We are all incredibly lucky to be around for this.
So beautifully told Danny. My tears started at the first hearing of that unforgettable vocal chorus and repeated again and again. Some lives are simply worthy of many tears. This will go on the watch list for our students. Thank you🙏
That’s amazing! He really does bring out some of the deepest memories in us. Thank you so much for watching :)
Anyone from my generation, born in the late 70's/early 80's will often say "the 80's and 90's were the best!" I think this video reminded me how much John Williams and Steven Spielberg impacted our impression of those decades. The magic of cinema made our childhood, well...magical.
John Williams scores are so much more than just music. They are a key character in the story. If John Williams themes were given an Oscar for best supporting role I feel nearly no one would question it.
This song is so good that there's never been a bad remix of it. Imagine quality so good it can survive anything.
I read somewhere where Mozart sounded good even paired with itself. A friend and me tried to actively misalign the music so it would be discordant and it *still* fucking worked. And Williams is even better.
Sweet caroline is a great song but there's one remix to ruin it all
This is the first video on music I've ever seen that has made me understand the true beauty of composition. I've always been able to recognise a good song, but I've never really connected the precise techniques with the emotions they bring about as clearly as I can now. I guess it's partially because I'm so familiar with Duel of the Fates, and I'm so aware of how all the parts fit together merely from having appreciated it so often. You've finally put some words to that beautiful craft. Thank you.
I've had the pleasure of being able to sing this piece to a full orchestra once. As it's one of my favorite pieces, from one of my favorite composers, it was an otherworldly experience.
4:24 you can really see the passion in his gaze.
Imagine sitting in that orchestra with those guys blasting those choral lines behind you. Gotta give you some serious chills
It is hard to imagine anyone who has brought moments of joy to more people than John Williams.
I *do* know what you mean, but John Williams took A LOT of motif's from famous classical composers in order to complete his works.
The classic example is Holst's "Mars: Bringer Of War" - you could simply put that over the top of the opening of the first part of the original Star Wars move and it would have the same emotional impact. There isn't too much difference between the scores if you know them both.
@@liamnevilleviolist1809 He did this with mastery, and because people wanted him to do so, and brought momenty of joy as said above
@liamnevilleviolist1809 and? All music samples other music, there's only so many ways you can put together notes, at the end of the day he still created new music
I've watched the movies a dozen times. I've listened to the music thousands of times.
Just wanna say that this video is beautifully edited. You make the music flow into new sections while proving a point beautifully
:)
When he dies, a great disturbance in the force will be felt, as though a million voices cry out in terror, and then suddenly silent.
The man’s music has played a major role in my childhood and has helped me appreciate modern day orchestral compositions.
"leitmotif"
with one word you reignited my desire for more sideways videos
Ah! Now I just need to ignite Sideways’s desire for more Sideways videos :)
-Danny
John Williams will be remembered as one of the greatest composers of this century even hundreds of years later. His work is remarkable and timeless.
he is by far the greatest. only edgy trolls would say otherwise
Only Howard Shore and perhaps Morricone come close in my opinion. What a composer.
@@r.c.c.10 Hans Zimmer?
@@MetalGuitarTimo Joe Hisaishi?
I agree that in the past hundred years perhaps only Shore and Morricone come close to Williams in terms of theme writing, and imho neither can match Williams in terms of raw orchestration.
3:28 my god that poem hit so hard
I hope he takes comfort in the fact that he will never truly die, he will simply become his music.
John Williams is a master at his craft. Years ago I went and watched him direct a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. It was one of my favorite concert experiences. They played all my favorite music from all my favorite movies and he came back on stage for five encores.
When I was kid, I though that if I hummed the Star Wars theme while out stretching my arm, I too could use the force. Thank you John. You made some of favorite movies so memorable.
Thechnically the Stars War theme was Erich Wolfgang Korngold's, 1942, "Kings Row", mashed / mixed together with Holst's "Mars - Bringer of War". Think of Williams as a master choreographer / DJ, who samples and sequences others work, to create movie theme tracks.
Wow, this man is legendary. I just looked more up on him, and I didn't realize the massive amount of movies he did the scores for, so many masterpieces. Insane.
I can't suffer anyone who claims someone like Zimmer is even Williams' equal, let alone his superior. Zimmer serves his purpose well in the films he works on, but Williams' music transcends the films and becomes something that lives in our hearts rather than only living when the movie is playing. I'm not kidding when I say the movie I'm excited for more than *any other announced project* is the upcoming documentary on John Williams' life and career. The man is a treasure to me and millions of others. Thank you for showcasing his work so well!
Zimmer is good, but he's like a really good roast beef sub while Williams is Filet Mignon.
I hate when they get compared. Who are u to judge whos the better componist or not. They both are good. Hans Zimmers Kungfu panda scores are absolutely epic.. i listen to them all the time and they are pure magic.
@@Alex-bm5rc You realize those were also written by John Powell, right? Go listen to other Powell compositions like How to Train Your Dragon and Solo, and listen to other Zimmer compositions like his DC stuff or Inception, and you tell me who *really* is to thank for how good the Kung Fu Panda scores are. (Hint: It's Powell. It's got his fingerprints all over it, whereas Zimmer's style is nowhere to be heard.) All the stuff from Zimmer people LOVE has been written with *other* people (Pirates of the Caribbean: with Klaus Badelt. Sherlock Holmes: with Lorne Balfe. Lion King: themes written with Elton John involved. Even freaking Boss Baby: with Steve Mazzaro. And all of those pieces sound nothing like what Zimmer writes without those other people, so it's pretty clearly coming from those other people and not him.) That stuff he writes alone falls mostly into obscurity. Sure, some scores like Interstellar and Dune offer something interesting, but most of his compositions are infant's doodlings compared to what Williams can produce. Williams could write a Zimmer score in a day; Zimmer couldn't write a Williams score in his wildest dreams.
I'm not saying Zimmer scores are never good, because they work amazing when you're watching the actual movie. But I'm willing to bet all the scores you listen to and call "magic" actually have other people's names on them, and the Zimmer scores you don't listen to nearly as often are the ones he actually wrote on his own. Go check.
@Alejandro Gjezi You nailed it EXACTLY. THANK you!
And I'd say both Ludwig Göransson and Alexandre Desplat would make that list before Hans Zimmer.
Nobody comes close to John Williams except Jerry Goldsmith perhaps.
For me, the last 7 minutes of ET is Williams at his finest. He calls back to every previous theme in the film and weaves them together into a final cue that shifts from awe to sadness into hope, while hitting every emotional beat on the screen, with a triumphant final fanfare that at last resolves the mysterious lydian theme from the opening.
Not enough love for his Overture in Hook. Amazing and underrated.
@@tristanjohnson2678YES! Hook is one of the most amazing soundtracks ever. I've gotten to enjoy the Journey to Neverland suite performed live by an orchestra on multiple occasions, and it was magical every time.
I like the music during the very last shot of that movie when Elliott is just looking up tearfully. Gets the blood circulating.
wow i had never noticed the "korah ratahma" at the other points in the movie, crazy
I hadn’t actually either. I had to isolate it for the video. But I have a feeling it subconsciously still seeps into our brains during the movie.
@@CinemaStix undoubtedly
3:48 When I was a kid, I thought the chorus was saying "Qui-Gonnnnnn. Darth Maullllll. Qui-Gonnnnn and Darth Maul."
Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for making this, and thank you John Williams. All of us; ALL OF US owe our lives and childhoods to you
Really enjoyed this video! If you were to do a series analyzing each John Williams movie score, I would definitely watch each one. Growing up as a choir kid, I really appreciate his use of the choir in this composition. I also like the love theme used in Episode 2.
This video was definitely a huge experiment in editing videos about music. It poses a ton of unexpected challenges. But I would definitely love to keep make more talking about his work. If I can swing it. Even his work on the sequels, which is way less memorable, has some sweet pieces when listened to in isolation.
Anywho, just glad you enjoyed the video, and thank you for the comment :)
-Danny
That sounds amazing; I'm particularly fascinated by how the Harry Potter theme evolved through the films - a cinemastix video on it would be delightful!
@@CinemaStix i would love more videos like this
"Across the stars"
Across the Stars, the love theme of Star Wars II, is my favorite soundtrack of all time. What a divine song.
Episode III really pooled all the greatness from the previous films and added a lot of its own and the result was William's greatest score ever in my opinion.
My first CD as a kid was The Lost World soundtrack. It had just come out and I couldn't believe how great the music was. Michael Giacchino I feel is the next generation's JW. Thanks for making this. Were extremely fortunate to have had this man on our planet.
Funny you should mention that-did you know one of Michael Giacchino's earliest gigs was doing the music for "The Lost World" video game on PlayStation in 1997? It was the first time I ever heard his music!
@@thegoodgeneral Yea! And then he did a bunch of Medal of Honors. When I found that out I went back and played them and wow, he doesn't skimp on gaming scores at all. Speed Racer is really fun too
@@astroguster5522 Yes, Speed Racer!
We’re.
@@jnnx Alright, guy.
Gives me goosebumps everytime
This man has my everlasting respect for creating some of the most memorable music pieces of my entire lifetime. Hats off to you Mr. Williams, take a bow.
Amazing. Both you and John Williams. Incredible things happen when people have a deep passion for their craft. Please keep making more.
You got it :)
-Danny
The imagery of the poem used for the lyrics fit so so so well... Hearing the history is so awesome, great video
Duel of the Fates is one of the very, very best musical pieces to have ever been crafted by humankind. I'm talking top 10 in all of recorded history. Masterpiece.
You can't compare "ever crafted by humankind" with "recorded history" I'm afraid.
lol let's not get carried away
Eh....I wouldn't even call it the best piece in Star Wars but it is a top piece in the saga.
JJ Abrams grinning as he talks about taking the soul out of Star Wars
5:39 that caught me off guard im dying 😂😂
5:13 I never noticed those whispers were lyrics from Duel of the Fates, holy shit. That woke me the fuck up, lmao.
Never ?
Not enough can be said about Danny Boyd’s voice over a well arranged set of movie clips and masterful film criticism
Beautiful examination of the genius of John Williams and his unbelievable ability to score a scene. Love the content Danny.
I could listen to JW talk movies and music for hours. His scores are truly the basis for my love of movies over the last 35 years.
Your narration (esp the intro) is very reminiscent of every frame a painting. And that's a good thing because that's one of the best channels on UA-cam.
Legends
I thought exactly the same thing.
Closing statment is truly words to live by , his mind and soul had me from a young age without me knowing
Every time JJ Abrams gets involved with anything I feel that a part of my soul is lost… so I can relate to what he is saying here about Williams music
Spielberg said it very clearly. The expression "it captures the imagination" is equal to John Williams. He is, never more accurately said, the soundtrack of our lives. I am just a regular guy, but i will be forever thankful for him, and Spielberg and Lucas. Their passion and creative force changed the world forever, and they have inspired us, millions of moviegoers, more than words can express.
i remember finding out he did all the scores you mentioned plus Empire of the sun, Home Alone, and Schindler's List, he has so many 10/10s!
I always find it amazing how it seems like my favorite movies are in the same order as the best scores of all time. It's almost like the music is more important than anything else.
An amazing video about one of the true geniuses of our time. One of my favorite things about movie scores is the way that a theme is altered to convey a different emotion while still evoking what the theme is tied to. So fascinating to see what changes are made to make a known piece more romantic or sadder or more energetic, etc etc when simultaneously calling back to a character or aspect of the story.
I greatly appreciate the amount of effort that goes into the media we are able to enjoy so easily.
The LSO absolutely nailed the performance in the Star Wars sessions. Sublime playing and just incredible scores from Williams!
We did a john Williams Mashup in symphonic band. When we played the theme from shindlers list, I was in tears. Our band director wanted to understand the meaning behind the different pieces all put together. Quite a few band members teared up while playing. The sadness and beauty. It was our best performance in my opinion.
That little speech by Spielberg made me cry alittle bit. Ive always been musically inclined, and obsessed with movies. Thank you John for making all those dreams seem real. Even just for an hour or two.
When you really look at his body of work it is truly astounding. Like, almost unbelievable that one man composed every great score in cinema history. Insane.
2:54 The real Walter White, third row down, furthest to the right.
lmao
Danny, I am not a musical guy. But I am a movie fan. This was one of the best uses of my time, ever. Thank you!
:D I’m so glad! I really enjoyed putting this one together. It was a particularly tough one editing around the music, but I’m glad with the way it turned out. Thank you so much for the support.
John Williams is a living legend. The talent and passion is on another level.
Truly has become a part of the definition of legendary. Incredible music
2:52 Your mustache being gone doesn’t fool me Heisenberg.
2:01 props for avoiding a spoiler.
8:36 What John Williams just said reminds me of what George Lucas said about the way he created certain scenes for every Star Wars movie he made: "It's like poetry, they rhyme".
Certain scenes? Now that's quite an understatement. Star Wars is a practically a poem
I've been telling my friends for years that Episode 1 has THE ultimate Star-Wars fight scene IMHO. Goosebumps... what a loving, humble genius this guy is.
John Williams is quite literally on the same level, if not beyond the same genius as the legendary composers of history like Beethoven or Mozart, and we’re alive to witness it!
“… that would reinforce the sense of a mystical contest between good and evil, the very essence of what Star Wars is.”
PLEASE TELL THAT TO DISNEY
6:07 That repetitive flute structure for a foundation is like a boxer bouncing on his toes (timing and pitch rising falling) , fits for the fight scene
as Adam Neely said: "Repetition legitimizes"
as Adam Neely said: "Repetition legitimizes"
One thing is certain. the man does. not. miss. he consistently made amazing score after amazing score for decades. truly the greatest composer of all time
Yeah, not when you steal scores from other composers!
the only possible issue is that his love themes are all very similar (han and leia, aniken and padme, indy and marion) they all have an almost identical beginning
2:39 CORN ON....THE COB!!!!!!!
😂
I still get goosebumps when i see the scene with Maul Kenobi and Qui gon, and Duel of the fates playing. Ray Parks moves and how well that scene was choreographed was amazing.
Glad you took note of this song which imo is the best. Watched the star wars live concert and this was the biggest hit there and most impactful in audience even over the theme song.
00:10 JJ Abrams saying that because if you removed him from the film crew instead the movie would only get better
Honestly everything in that whole fight just sits together perfectly.
The choreography's perfect, the actors, the set design, the costume design, and of course the music. I don't think there'll ever be another moment in this franchise that will make me feel how I felt when I first saw Maul ignite that second blade lol
Wow, I cant believe he actually composed the entire piece for the movie, that's incredible. Makes me appreciate the phantom menace even more now.
Thank you for recognizing Duel of the Fates. One of my favorite scores in any Star Wars movies, and very likely any movie at all. I had the pleasure of performing it during an all-county concert within a year of its release. It was as wonderful then as it is now almost 25 years later.
That last quote is beautiful. It actually got me misty eyed. Love your channel, thanks for the videos
I always thought the lyrics were 'CORN ON... THE COB"
I swear, the day John Williams passes, I will not be the same. His music has affected me so much.
Really good video!
I will add that while duel of the fates does have lyrics based off of previous works, when it was translated into sandskrit it lost all of its meaning. It is actually a controversial work because they dont mean anything, and the words were just chosen because they sounded good.
I would also add that there is a very good channel out there about film music called Sideways, and he analyzes John williams scores very well.
The music in Star Wars and any film is just as much a character as anything on screen. John Williams understands this, and has made sure it's presence is known and felt when it's there and not
I still remember the chills I got as a nine year old watching the phantom menace in theaters. One of the most memorable theatre experiences I’ve ever had to this day.