May the 4th be with you. A fun play on words that pays tribute to one of the most popular (and deeply loved) franchises to ever come across the big screen. Star Wars.

 

 

It’s memorable not just because of the gripping storytelling or the struggle between good and evil, but also because of it’s incredible movie score. To celebrate May the 4th, here are 12 iconic movie themes that you only need to hear a few seconds of to instantly recognize them. (Like Star Wars. Thank you John Williams)

 

 

1) The James Bond Theme –  Monty Norman

Who hasn’t pretended to be James Bond at least once in their life? This spy thriller is iconic for a couple things- the classic line “Bond, JAMES Bond”, and the exciting guitar riff that has been featured in every official Bond movie since Dr. No (1962).

 

2) Alien – Jerry Goldsmith

It may be true that in space, no one can hear you scream, but in this chilling space-horror the musical score amplified the tension while also filling the silence. That’s probably why it’s so hard to forget – it’s sometimes the only thing you hear when straining to listen for tell-tale signs of an alien stalking Ripley.

 

3) JAWS – John Williams

John Williams is a master of composing music for blockbusters (see Star Wars theme above). A big part of why Jaws was so terrifying was because of the atmospheric music accompanying the huge monster from the deep. Williams himself described the theme as “…grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable”.

 

4) Titanic – James Horner

That FLUTE. It draws you in the complicated love story of Jack and Rose, while also highlighting the tragedy that will inevitably happen to the vessel that their story takes place on. James Horner does a fantastic job of weaving hope and despair together in one masterful score. What helped him in achieving this feat was focusing on the character Jack, a character we spend a lot of time with, and his Irish background.

 

5) Pirates of the Caribbean – Hans Zimmer

Who doesn’t love a tale of pirates getting caught up in a series of unfortunate events, both of their own making and not? This fun, bubbly and daring score for the Pirates franchise set the tone for the playful, yet often dangerous, antics of our favourite band of bad pirates. Zimmer effortlessly captures a whole lifestyle in a single score.

6) Harry Potter – John Williams

Of course John Williams will be on this list more than once. He is so good at making just a handful of notes instantly recognizable. You just have to listen to this theme for a few seconds to know it’s from Harry Potter. Pretty much ANYTHING John Williams touches turns to movie score gold, so I’m just going to add Superman, Indian Jones and Jurassic Park as honorable mentions for this composer.

 

7) The Good, the Bad the Ugly – Ennio Morricone

Whistling, yodeling and gunfire. The holy trinity for a really good western score and Morricone knew it. Look me in the eye and tell me you’ve never heard of this theme.

 

8) Chariots of Fire – Vangelis

Some people would know this movie score more than the movie itself. This famous theme has lived way beyond its original purpose and is widely used for sporting events in real life. You know you’ve sung this to yourself or your friends during memorable freeze frame moments.

 

9) The Godfather – Nino Rota

This all time classic set the stage for this gangster epic. You know that dirty dealing is going to go down from the first few cords, but also can’t help but sympathize with these people who live a life of crime. There’s certainly an undertone of a deep sadness that you can’t miss when listening to this score.

10) Halloween – John Carpenter

Apparently, Kobe Bryant used to listen to the Halloween theme music on repeat to get into the zone and tap into his killer instinct before key games. Which actually makes sense, this tension building theme keeps you on your toes.

 

11) Lord of the Rings – Howard Shore

This movie score stacked up awards, and not just because the movie trilogy itself is so damn good. Canadian composer Howard Shore managed to weave countless character themes and motifs together, while amplifying the world of Middle Earth through his music. Ultimately lifting up and supporting the drama, scale and grandeur of a story like Lord of the Rings, which needs a beefy musical score to match.

 

12) Rocky – Bill Conti

If this doesn’t get you pumped up to go kick some butt, I don’t know what will. Need I say more?

 

These are just SOME of the incredible scores out there that tap into our emotions and force us to feel what the characters are feeling. Composers who can add to the story being told through their musical expertise are a rare breed, but when they succeed, we all benefit.