Best Movie Soundtracks (Epic Individual Songs)

When I made my first top five list, it was celebrating the top five soundtrack composers (read that here: http://bit.ly/1DFprh2). I am now starting a new series where I will take a close look at different parts of movie soundtracks (where would we be without them).  In the first one, I will be looking at the best epic individual songs from movie soundtracks.

*Disclaimer:  No lyrics (a later list in the series)*

#5: The Avengers Theme (The Avengers)

Composer:  Alan Silvestri

http://bit.ly/1QnghIv

An epic team-up like the Avengers is going to need an epic theme song to represent them.  Alan Silvestri, the brilliant mind behind the scores of Forrest Gump, The A-Team, and Back to the Future franchise, did not disappoint.  The theme builds up as we imagine Captain America, Iron Man, and the rest of the team coming together.  It’s music like this that gets fans pumped for the upcoming fight.

#4: Driving With the Top Down (Iron Man)

Composer:  Ramin Djawadi

http://bit.ly/1GPvqvg

Before he was creating the amazing theme song for Game of Thrones (I may not be a fan of the show at all but check out how great this is: http://bit.ly/1khg7kb), Djawadi created the soundtrack for the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Entering the movie, superhero fans didn’t know what to expect and he helped use his great music to pump up fans even more.  Driving With the Top Down has become Iron Man’s theme and will be remembered as one of the most epic songs from an Avengers movie.

#3: Mind Heist (Inception)

Composer:  Hans Zimmer (originally Zack Hemsey)

http://bit.ly/17xI73s

Zimmer borrowed a great song from Zack Hemsey and turned it into an iconic soundtrack.  While this individual song isn’t necessarily in the movie itself (it was the music in the trailer), it quickly became associated with Inception and a form of it is used in almost every trailer released today.  Check out the trailer that propelled this song into pop culture: http://bit.ly/1hRDPET

#2:  Star Wars Theme (Star Wars)

Composer:  John Williams

http://bit.ly/1niMyA5

I know a ton of people are surprised not to see this as the number one song on this list, but the theme for Star Wars falls second on our list (check out the honorable mentions though!).  Whenever anybody hears this song, them immediate think of the opening crawl to one of the greatest movie franchises of all-time.  John Williams is the greatest composer of all-time and it’s tracks like this that cement him there.  It will be a long time before anybody can even begin to rival him (sorry Hans Zimmer).

Honorable Mention

The Imperial March (Star Wars/John Williams)

A Dark Knight (The Dark Knight/Hans Zimmer)

Duel of the Fates (Star Wars/John Williams)

Welcome to Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park/John Williams)

Binary Sunset (Star Wars/John Williams)

Ride of the Valkyries (Apocalypse Now/Carmine Coppola)

#1: Bridge of Khazad Dum (The Fellowship of the Ring)

Composer:  Howard Shore

http://bit.ly/1cPbZHR

It doesn’t get any more epic than this.  This song from Lord of the Rings is in the first installment of the franchise and follows the fellowship as they make their way through the Mines of Moria and battle with the Balrog.  It is as epic as they come.  Imagine charging into battle with this music blasting in the background.  Watch the scene here and tell me the music doesn’t add to it:  http://bit.ly/1H1umdb

Which songs do you think were the most epic in movies?  Comment and let me know what you think.  Check in later tomorrow for the best songs performed from Musicals in movies.

Top 5 Movie Soundtrack Composers of All-Time

Movie soundtracks can be one of the most underrated parts of a movie.  Few people realize the difference a good soundtrack can make a movie versus a bad one (imagine watching the fellowship march through the mountains in Lord of the Rings without that epic music).  I decided to show my appreciation of these unsung heroes with a list of the top 5 composers in movie history.

#5: Howard Shore

Best Known For:  Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Speaking of that epic Lord of the Rings Music, Shore was slingshot into the mainstream after his work with Peter Jackson to create one of the most memorable soundtracks of all-time.  Along with the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit franchises, Shore has composed the music for The Aviator and Ed Wood, two other movies known for their great soundtracks.  Although he has been working on movies since the 1970s, he is finally getting the recognition he deserves here in the 2000s.

#4: Bernard Herrmann

Best Known For:  Psycho

The man behind the Twilight Zone theme and Taxi Driver, Herrmann has helped create some of the most haunting recognizable scores.  Not to mention, who doesn’t imagine the shower scene in Psycho every time they hear that high pitch horror track.  Alfred Hitchcock originally wanted the famous shower scene without music before he heard Herrmann’s track.  He launched himself to popularity with his first soundtrack–Citizen Kane.  Considered one of the greatest movies every created, Citizen Kane‘s soundtrack is one of the many great aspects of the movie.

#3: Alan Silvestri

Best Known For:  Back to the Future

Silvestri’s accomplishments stretch far beyond the Back to the Future trilogy.  Forrest Gump, The A-Team, The Polar Express, and multiple movies from the Avengers Marvel Cinematic Universe are only some of the musical masterpieces penned by Silvestri.  He has shown his broad diversity covering all genres of movies.  Silvestri is definitely one of the best musical composers of all-time.  Starting his career in the 1970s, Silvestri continues to compose great soundtracks to this day.

#2:  Hans Zimmer

Best Known For:  The Dark Knight

Considered the best modern musical composer, Zimmer has created a plethora of great scores.  Pairing up with Christopher Nolan, Zimmer has created the scores for The Dark Knight trilogy, Insterstellar, Inception, and The Prestige.  He has experienced great success outside of Nolan as well.  He won an Oscar for his work on The Lion King and has been behind the scenes for many great movies:  Gladiator, Castaway, Man of Steel, Black Hawk Down, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Bee Movie, and Sherlock Holmes.  He started his musical career assisting the The Buggles with the first MTV music video “Video Killed the Radio Star” and his career has shot off from there.  He is by far currently the best in the business.

#1: John Williams

Best Known For: Star Wars

Williams has been at the helm of some of the greatest movie franchises to ever be produced.  Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park , Harry Potter, Jaws, Superman, and Schindler’s List are just the tip of the iceberg.  Williams has been creating music for movies since the mid-1950s.  While he has slowed down his pace, Williams is far and away the greatest composer ever.  His work is unrivaled.  Almost anybody could hear some of his work and immediately recognize the movie.  It will be a long time before somebody tops Williams as the greatest of all-time.