Best John Williams compositions of the '80s

Great '80s composers. When choosing the best, you can either listen to the insane rantings of pop music critics, or you can take it from today's guest blogger, Dan Vhay, a longtime Hollywood insider who knows a thing or two about great movies. Today, he tackles the topic of greatest film composers of the 1980s.

So the rest of my office is playing hooky and going to see the new Star Trek flick, but I guess I was not special enough for an invite (16 years gets you nothing in this biz, I guess), so I will try my hand at this guest blog thing-a-ma-jiggy.

So I submit to you, that John Williams is THE Composer Overlord of the decade we all know and love.

Nowadays, movie scores seem mostly built on subtle background ambience, and for action films, sadly it comes down to which setting to set your drum machine on.

John Williams seems to reach into the heart and soul of a film and create a score that fits perfectly. His themes for main characters could almost have come from the characters themselves, and his ability to both accentuate a scene without overtaking it is unparalleled. There are barely any scores of his that when you listen to them on their own, you can almost see the movie in your mind.

For this top 5 list, here are the ones from the '80s that DIDN’T make the cut: HEARTBEEPS (1981), MONSIGNOR (1982), INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (1984, close call for me), THE RIVER (1984), SPACECAMP (1986), WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987), EMPIRE OF THE SUN (1987), INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (1989) and ALWAYS (1989).

Already having scored JAWS, STAR WARS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and SUPERMAN in the late 1970s (and taking home two Academy Awards), here’s how he fared in the '80s, via my TOP FIVE:

TOP 5 JOHN WILLIAMS COMPOSITIONS OF THE '80s:

5. BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY (1989): Oliver Stone’s movie would mostly feature songs from the various time periods he follows Tom Cruise’s Vietnam vet through. But when he needed to tie the film together with a signature theme, he turned to Williams. The central idea was a tune that starts out with a feeling of innocent nostalgia that midway through turns to sadness and longing, just like the character of Ron Kovic. He nabbed an Oscar nomination for it as well. [Listen]

4. THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (1988): Another non-action score for Williams, which finds him centering on a simple piano theme to hone in on William Hurt’s character of a solitary divorcee living with not only his reclusive siblings, but also with inexpressible inner grief for the loss of his son. Williams really plucks the heartstrings, but is able to alter things once Hurt meets the quirky Geena Davis. Yet another Oscar nod for Johnny boy. [Listen]

3. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980): The man could have easily just moved around a few notes from the iconic STAR WARS score and people would have loved it anyway.  Well, he used some familiar tempos all right, but also fashioned some new stuff, too. The Imperial March is still used in sports venues today, and the scenes of Yoda lifting the X-Wing fighter, the asteroid chase and Han Solo’s carbon-freezing scene seem to follow Williams’ lead, rather than vice versa. Did he get an Oscar nomination?  What do you think? [Listen]

2. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981): Absolutely thrilling. I dare you to listen to it and not want to don a hat, jump on a horse and search for lost treasure. When Harrison Ford looks down for the count, it’s John Williams who picks him up, dusts him off and keeps him fighting. Listen to the Desert Chase track, and you can literally see the film, shot for shot, gallop across your brain. Can you believe he lost the Oscar that year to Vangelis? For CHARIOTS OF FIRE? It’s not a bad theme, but it’s only ONE THEME! [Listen]

1. E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982): At the beginning, he gets your pulse going with a chase through the forest, almost making Peter Coyote’s keys jangle on cue. But by the end, when the full orchestra kicks in, you see Dee Wallace’s face break into a laugh/cry, and then the face of Henry Thomas in one of the best child performances ever, John Williams reaches into your chest and squeezes the tears right out of your heart.  Magical stuff.  This time, he actually took home the Oscar while watching GANDHI beat E.T. for Best Picture. [Listen]

Okay, anyone disagree?

Comments

[Alyfox/Dan Vhay]

By the way, I'm not sure what's more of a thrill: getting my blog on this illustrious site, or the fact that I am referred to as a "Hollywood insider". I won't reveal the in-joke, but it's not bad. Tip O' the hat, Mr. Spears . . .

[Alyfox/Dan Vhay]

Yes, I focused solely on movie scores, or else the Olympics theme would have cracked the 5. Also, just to clarify my own personal Graphic Equalizer of Ranking Things: While I personally LOVE the score for EMPIRE, I deducted a few points because while most of the music was original, it did contain a lot from the first film. Thus, RAIDERS and E.T. nudge slightly ahead for being wholly new.
On that point, TEMPLE OF DOOM came close to the list, because I think Williams really infused an epic, David Lean-esque, Indian sound into (by then) an extremely well-known Indiana Jones theme. Alas, I knew RAIDERS was going to be in the TOP 5, and for me, everyone knows the big, sweeping Williams scores, not so much the quieter ones, and least not until SCHINDLER'S LIST.

[Michael]

Personally, I would say Empire Strikes Back is probably the most known and memorable tune from the entire list, with Raider of the Lost Ark coming in 2nd and ET in 3rd.

Since you only focused on but did not specify cinemas as the strict criteria, let us not forget his composition for the 1984 Olympic Games, which I think beats out the Accidental Tourist and Born On The Fourth Of July.

[Miguel]

I would probably remake the top 3 with the Raiders March at n#1,The Imperial March at n#2 and ET at n#3. But it´s fine either way. John Williams is a great composer.

Time for a Danny Elfman top 5 now.

[Maestro]

Come and hear the Pinellas County Center for the Arts perform "The Essence of the Silver Screen" featuring John Williams' scores to Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and much more! Friday, May 15, 8:00 PM at Gibbs High School. Featuring 50-piece orchestra and 85-voice chorus!

[topcad]

I would put Empire at number 1. It is truly stunning especially the theme to the ice planet Hoth. Syncopated horns with 2 grand pianos. Crashing beats together that represent the action on the screen perfectly. Excuse me, I have to go listen to it now. (actually Raiders and ET is awesome as well. Williams was on a roll in the 80s!)

[ARod]

I an think of many scores, in addition to the ones mentioned from the 70s, that would make this list if it were all times. Schindler's List would be one for sure.

[Bassnote]

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is still by far my favorite. My youngest daughter loves it too. While she is playing, she runs around humming the "Raiders March."

[Spears]

Daly did the best John Williams scores of all-time. Today's list is '80s only, and it differs from Daly's list in many ways.

[Jen with one n]

John Williams scores = awesome ringtones

[Dejavu]

Didn't we just do this post a couple weeks ago on Daly's blog?

[ARod]

I am not familiar with the Accidental Tourist, but I agree the rest of the films you listed; they are incredible scores! Although I understand why it didn't make the top 5, Empire of the Sun is also one of my top William soundtracks.

[DerekT]

John Williams is the master!!!!!!