Awesome Film Orchestral Soundtracks and Their Composers

So many times, the orchestral soundtrack adds a whole other layer of experience when watching a movie. Only an orchestra can make a film viewer experience the epic nature of The Lord of the Rings, the tragedy of Snape's love in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, the beauty of a man's struggle in A Beautiful Mind, and the danger and adventure in Sherlock Holmes and Inception.
These are only a few of my favorite orchestral movie soundtracks.
If you're interested in orchestral soundtracks, you should check out these composers and their works.

Starting with the most well-known:

John Williams: This guy is a LEGEND. He's composed some of the most popular film soundtracks ever and works often with Steven Spielberg. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Schindler's List are just a few from his amazing history of work.

Hans Zimmer has really grown to prominence fairly quickly over the past few years but he's been around for a while. He often works with director Christopher Nolan, and his works include Inception, Sherlock Holmes, Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, and The Lion King. In my opinion, much of his popular works are very intense for casual listening (especially if you're looking for something more subtle to listen to).

Alan Silvestri has composed for so many movies, that you've listened to his work and probably didn't even know it. Most of his work has been with common B-list Hollywood movies ranging from sci-fi, comedy 80s classic Back to the Future to 21st century superhero caper movie Captain America: The First Avenger. He's been critically acclaimed for his work on Forrest Gump.

Howard Shore: Lord of the Rings. 'nuff said. Haha jk. Many of his other works are in the films Seven, Big, Ms. Doubtfire, Ed Wood (:P), The Score, and the upcoming Twilight movie (Eclipse or something like that), A Dangerous Method, and The Hobbit (!!!).

James Horner composed for A Beautiful Mind, Braveheart, Aliens, Troy, and Avatar. My favorite is his work in A Beautiful Mind and Braveheart. Also, who could forget Titanic, one of the most romantic (and perhaps cliche) films of all time, which without the music would be a mere shade of itself. Horner composes just absolutely beautiful music.

Clint Mansell composed the overwhelming popular piece "Lux Æterna" from the 2000 film Requiem for a Dream. It's been reused everywhere and you've probably heard it before. It is the epitome of the aural experience of "epic-ness" despite its rather simple musical theme.

Alexandre Desplat  is rather new to me. I'd never heard of him until I looked him up after watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, but his other works are pretty pervasive in the Hollywood film industry. A common theme I've found is his knack for composing for the surreal and mysterious in films of historical fiction/drama, fantasy, and political intrigue.

Philip Glass: Best known for his work outside films, but his work in the film industry include his compositions for the films The Hours, The Truman Show, and Notes on a Scandal. Fun Fact: He's also Ira Glass's first cousin once removed (This American Life listeners know who he is).

Experimentation on Human Behavior

Social/behavioral psychology has a unique position in the sciences. It's not necessarily a "hard" science, and yet it uses experimentation to reveal amazing insight into human behavior. While researching potential paper topics for my upcoming social science paper, I came across some really interesting social psychology experiments.
http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/11/10-piercing-insights-into-human-nature.php

http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/01/10-more-brilliant-social-psychology-studies.php

I suggest reading the actual published research papers.
Once you understand the implications of these experiments, it's hard not to see them everywhere.

Pictures of the Concert

Outdoor shot of the Aragon Ballroom 2 hours before the concert starts... It's still light out!

Script Memorabilia~ Selling in Aragon Ballroom (t-shirts were so expensive!)

Painted on the ceiling of the Aragon Ballroom

The stage lighted by beautiful blue lights

Opening Act Safety Suit's lead singer

Safety Suit Guitarist shadowed by stage cool lighting

The Script's guitarist Mark Sheehan

Amazing stage lighting!

Really cool shot

The Script's lead singer Danny O'Donoghue

Awww :)

Playing their acoustic slow song "I'm Yours" (the audience finally stopped screaming during this song :P)

Better picture of the Drummer: Glen Power

Awww: the Group takes a bow at the end of the Concert

The SCRIPT!

Wow, I haven't posted anything in a really long time. Well, last night I went to my very first concert... and it was to see The Script! Couldn't have been a better first concert experience! They were awesome, and I got some great pictures. It was definitely worth the 1.5 hour train ride and 2+ hour wait in line, the crowded hot ball room, and my aching feet. :P
So I'll upload everything in due time... as soon as I figure out how to upload everything without making the post like 20 pages long! haha

If you haven't heard of them, they're a band from Dublin, Ireland, and their most popular songs are "The Man Who Can't be Moved," "Breakeven," and "For the First Time."
http://www.thescriptmusic.com/

(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny
(")_(") to help him gain world domination.

Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to take this

XD

Talking Pets!

So, I haven't posted anything in a while, and I just had to share these videos.
Soooooo unbelievably adorable!

Enjoy~

And for kicks, I thought I'd add this one too. He doesn't talk, but he's just as cute!

Restaurant Week in CHICAGO

Know what that means? It means incredibly good food at fancy restaurants for a (relatively) low price! Nearly all the restaurants provide three to four-course meals including dessert, but often the menu is too limited. But I'm going to a restaurant called Texas de Brazil with some friends this Thursday. From all the restaurants involved in restaurant week, this place had the best menu with a lot of variety and a decent price.

The restaurant decor looks great and the food has good reviews. Normally, the place is very expensive, and it's a high class place so we're going to spruce up, eat some good food, and have fun!

And what's really awesome, is that they have aerial wine artists in the restaurant! So cool~

Can't wait! :D

Oh yeah, and if you're curious about the restaurant, here's the link to the website.
http://www.texasdebrazil.com/

Also, here's the restaurant week website for Texas de Brazil:
http://www.choosechicago.com/chicago_restaurant_week_2011/pages/restaurantdetail.aspx?Member_ID=40425

I'll make sure to upload pictures of the food when I get back!

WHY are they so good!?!?!?!?

The original song is called "Bills Bills Bills" by Destiny's Child:

At first we started out real cool,(cool)

Taking me places i ain'tnever been

But now your getting comfortable

Ain't doing those things that you did no more

Your slowly makin me pay for things

Your money should be handling

And now you ask to use my car (car)

Drive it all day and don't fill up the tank

And you have the audacity

To even come and step to me

And ask to hold some money from me

Until you get your check next week

(bridge)

You triflin',good for nothing type of brother

Silly me,why haven't I found another

A baller, when times get hard he's the one to help me out

insted of, a scrub like you who don't know what a man's about

(chorus2x)

can

you pay my bills

can you pay my telephone bills

can you pay my automo'bills

then maybe we can chill

I don't think you do

so you and me are through

now you been maxing out my card(card)

give me bad credit,buying gifts with my own ends

haven't paid the first bill

but you steady heading to the mall

going on shopping sprees

peprpetrating to your friends that you be ballin'

and then you use my cell phone(phone)

callin who ever that you think at home

and when the bill comes all of a sudden you be acting dumb

don't know where none of these calls come from

when your mamma's numbers here more than once

(bridge)

(chorus 2x)

(bridge4x)

(chorus4x)

This one's called "When I get you Alone" originally sung and written by Robert Thicke:

Oooh...
Eah!
[Verse 1:]
Baby girl, where you at?
Got no strings, got men attached
Can't stop that feelin' for long no
Mmmm
You makin' dogs wanna beg
Breaking them off your fancy legs
But they make you feel right at home, now
[Hook 1:]
(Ooooh)
See all these illusions just take us too long
(Ooooh) And I want it bad..
Because you walk pretty,
Because you talk pretty,
'Cause you make me sick
And I'm not leavin', till you're leavin'
[Hook 2:]
(Ahhh)
Oh I swear there's something when she's pumpin',
Asking for a raise
(Oooh) Well does she want me to carry her home now?
(Oooh) So does she want me to buy her things?
On my house, on my job
On my loot, shoes, my shirt,
My crew, my mind, my father's last name?
[Chorus:]
(Ahhh)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you you'll know baby (know)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you alone now (it's all mine)
(Ahhhh....oh)
Come on
Oh yeah-yeah
[Verse 2:]
Baby girl you da shit
That makes you my equivalent
Well you can keep your toys in the drawer tonight,
All right
All my dawgs talkin' fast-
Aint you got some photographs?
'Cause you shook that room like a star, now
Yes you did, oh
[Hook 1:]
(Ooooh)
All these intrusions just take us too long
(Ooooh) And I want you so bad..
Because you walk city,
Because you talk city,
'Cause you make me sick
And I'm not leavin', till you're leavin'
[Hook 2:]
(Ahhh)
So I pray to something she aint bluffin',
Rubbin' up on me
(Oooh) Well does she want me to make a vow?
Check it
(Oooh)Well does she want me to make it now?
On my house, on my job
On my loot, shoes, my voice,
My crew, my mind, my father's last name?
[Chorus:]
(Ahhh)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you you'll know baby (know)
When I get you alone ('lone)
When I get you aloooonnnnne
Yeah
Yeaaahhh...

The Dalton Warblers with Blaine (Darren Criss) at the forefront are amazing! (Needless to say that I have a little crush on Darren Criss :P) They make each episode that much better with every song they sing! It makes me feel sort of guilty for rooting for these guys even though they're the competition...
It's impressive that some of their songs are even better than the original: i.e. Katy Perry's Teenage Dream:

And yes, I did catch up with glee, and the songs, more than anything else, were beyond belief good. The show has upped the ante in terms of their performances which have gotten more and more extravagant (for example, the mash-up of Thriller and Heads will Roll) which is a good thing... for now. I just hope the plot doesn't suffer as a result.
For now, I have only good things to say for glee~
:)

PS: You should check out both the original songs: "Bills Bills Bills" and "When I get you Alone". They're really good and the glee versions are admirable tributes to them.

Sushi!

Delicious sushi from Hyde Park's Shinji Sushi on 53rd Street!
om nom nom nom

The House Salad

Alaskan Roll

Salmon and Tuna Nigiri with rice and fried Tofu skin and a cooked tuna roll?

Spicy Tuna roll, Fried Tempura Roll and Squid Nigiri

Philadelphia Roll and Salmon Skin roll

Avocado roll and another fried shrimp tempura roll

along with some green tea ice cream! mwuhahaha :P

:D Our ice cream bowls double as puzzle pieces~

Awww

So cute! I love this comic :]

 

Mocha, my favorite kitty~

About 5 months old here?

3-4 months old, isn't she a sleeping tiger angel?

Around 5 and 1/2 months old here. Another sleeping shot--isn't she so precious?

I haven't seen her in nearly two months! and I miss her so~ 

I can't believe that she's 7 months old already! Hope she's growing strong and healthy. :)

Secret Obsession of mine lately that comes and goes...

I know these songs are overplayed like crazy... and I don't really like or endorse the content of Lady Gaga's songs (obsessive, unhealthy relationships, fame whoring, rather uncreative, repetitive lyrics), BUT her music videos for Bad Romance and Paparazzi are pretty good, in my humble opinion. No gimmicks, no sugar-coating, she portrays the ugly side of the entertainment industry and how preposterous it can be, whether she meant to or not. After all, who would aspire to be sold off as a sex slave or be stuck in an abusive, exploitative relationship? Not that these things are limited to and happen in a large scale only in the entertainment industry, per se. But the symbolism and the images used are striking and not entirely irrelevant to fame and the certain life one must have (or give up) for wealth and celebrity in today's society. (Perhaps I'm giving too much credit to Lady Gaga and not enough to the the producers, concept designers and directors of her music videos. If that's the case, then I give props to the production team responsible for the music videos, as well). Now, I'm not saying that Lady Gaga is a paragon of truth out to expose the shallow materialism and ridiculous standards/exceptions we (and society) accept and expect of in people of celebrity. But she is setting a new standard different from pop icons before her. Whatever her motives or may be, though, purely from an artist's standpoint, Lady Gaga is unique, innovative, and, believe it or not, talented. Her voice, as much as her style of fashion is bizarre, is powerful. It's too bad that her more popular songs don't showcase her vocal prowess enough.

If you don't believe me, check this out. Her performance is pretty good:

Giving an acoustic live performance while playing the piano with an orchestral chamber group = my newfound respect for Lady Gaga's hidden musical talents.
Listening to this, I actually prefer her slower songs. Including this one too:

That post turned out pretty long, much longer than I expected... who knew that my longest post yet for this blog would be about Lady Gaga! :D

Anyways,
I hoped you enjoyed my short rant/analysis (with some unexpected admiration too) about Lady Gaga.

Can't wait...

to catch up with Glee! :D
Meanwhile, I'll just listen to this over and over again~

*sigh* my heart just melts :*

Winter Wonderland~

With the recent Chicago blizzard of 2011 and in celebration of the historic snow day *Correction: double snow days* at the University of Chicago (the first one *two* in 12 years!), here's a Winter Wonderland- Jason Mraz (and Toca) style. :)

Paper snowflake decoration hanging in my room

Hahahaha

Laertes: Yo, what is up now, Haaamm-mel-let?
Hamlet: What up? *thrusting hip*
Laertes: I'm going to kill you with this poison sword of mine. *swivel sword coyishly*
Hamlet: Oh you will?
Laertes: Yeah
Hamlet: Yeah?
Leartes: Yeah
Hamlet: Yeah?
Leartes: Yeah
Hamlet: Fine. Ow. Now it's on. You're going to get stuck. *poke, stab*

XD

The past 4 hours

Tchaikovsky <3 :D

The cutest duo alive! :D

These two will just melt your heart!
Presenting..... Mason Moon and Boo~

They're so adorable! Wish Boo was my dog and Mason Moon was my baby... on second thought I'd be fine with dog/baby sitter. :P



*Pictures courtesy of facebook.

Movies with Psychological Twists~

These are some of my favorite movies; they pull you into the mind of the character and don't let go.... talk about an out of body experience.
Heathers (1989)
Fight Club (1999)
Memento (2000)
Donnie Darko (2001)
The Machinist (2004)

I'll write more about these movies soon.
*Warning: These movies are pretty dark. I wouldn't watch them while in a sour mood. Prepare yourself*