Why does everyone have such a hard on for John Williams?!
Question: There are so many people on Y/A that answer "John Williams" to every question. What is it about John Williams that people are so obsessed with? I want more than just "because he rocks!" I am looking for an educated answer. Why do you think he is a good composer?
Personally, I think he uses the same themes over and over, and therefore the scores to his movies sound really similar and trite. There are so many composers out there that are more original and better than him.
Answers: There are so many people on Y/A that answer "John Williams" to every question. What is it about John Williams that people are so obsessed with? I want more than just "because he rocks!" I am looking for an educated answer. Why do you think he is a good composer?
Personally, I think he uses the same themes over and over, and therefore the scores to his movies sound really similar and trite. There are so many composers out there that are more original and better than him.
If your viewpoint comes from solely personal opinion, and NOT musical training - then I say _WOWWWWW!!!! What great ears you have, kiddo!! I have multiple undergrad and graduate conservatory degrees, and I and all my colleagues agree with you - he is really The Prince of Thieves. Yes, I know that he is *hired* to churn out uplifting move music, but he always reminds me of that tacky Painter of Light Thomas Kinkaide- prettyprettypretty but leaving us wondering IF IF IF there is an original though in his head someplace that we have yet to hear.
I happen to like Danny Elfman a whole lot more. And there is a list thereafter. But gotta hand it to people who know what sells, and pleases the masses. Perhaps there IS a musical genius under all the whipped cream.
They answer John Williams because for many people that is the only modern composer they know.
I think that Brian 777 has a good point. He's not even my favorite movie composer. I like Elfman or Ottman better.
'Having a hardon' for someone means they hate him.
People generally do not hate John Williams, although they should. He robs ideas, thematic material, tunes, chordal progressions, and even entire sections of music from other composers. And idealistically, I don't think he is a good composer. Thematically I don't think he is a good composer. He, however, tends to impress studios and writers because he gets the work done on time and within budget, so they continue to use his $#!+. If I were producing a film I'd use someone else, but I don't have the choice.
At least 99% of the people who diss John Williams couldn't do what he does to save their lives. I couldn't, and I'm a composer. Come on, it's movie music! He's good at certain iconic sounds (lots of Copland ripoffs), and his stuff always works. I wouldn't go out of my way to hear it in a concert hall, but that's true of virtually all movie music. It's about craftsmanship, not originality. And a lot of people with "a hard on for John Williams" have it because they're jealous of his chops.
Now John McLaughlin Williams (the conductor), HE rocks!
His themes do sound all the same, unless he steals them (like duel of the Fates is the same song with a different bass line as Carl Orffs Carmina Burana Mvt XIII). Also, John Williams has many people working for him that study his works and chordal structures and timbral studies and writes music for him.
John Williams... because he's awesome
He keeps his pieces exciting and uses memorable themes - kinda like a modern Mozart in a way....
And no, Mr. Williams doesn't re-use themes. Sure, within the same film score he does, and he finds a way to toy with them (like Bach did with his). Compare the Star Wars themes to Schindler's List or to Hook or to Jurassic Park...they do not sound the same.
I also like his music because it gives me fond memories of my childhood, especially his "Flight to Neverland" from Hook.
And tell me what composer has not been influenced from the greats, except for the monks composing chant? I am a John Rutter fan yet I hear influences from Sibelius. Like my thesis advisor once said, eventually nothing will be original.
Best,
are you kidding? john williams is one of the greatest madern composers especially for movie themes!! harry potter, star wars, etc!!he so does not reuse themes or anything like that!! i think he's really great and that he's really got a thing for composing music that suits certain scenes in films.
hans zimmer is also very good, he did pirates of the carribean and the simpsons lol