1. Jaws Main Theme by John Williams from Jaws (1975)
Admit it. This song still gives you shivers when you hear it, right? 35 years later and you still unconsciously hum it when you go in the water at the beach. That's the power of a great theme song!
2. "Also Sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Grand, Booming and Awe-Inspiring, the opening melody is like the dawning of a new age: precisely the subject of the movie. A perfect fit.
3. Star Wars Main Theme by John Williams from Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope (1977)
Well let's face it, this one's on every one's list. Likely recognizable by villagers in the remote jungles of Sumatra. It's truly iconic and totally evokes the grand space opera setting of the movie.
4. "Venus" by Frankie Avalon from The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver (1977)
"Huh? What?" you say? This obscure TV movie of the late seventies was very low-key and probably considerably bad, but this creepy psychological thriller story stuck with me and the way the theme song weaves into and throughout the plot in twisted variations leaves me shivering whenever I hear it even to this day. This clip is from American Bandstand (check out Dick Clark!) since the clip YouTube had of this flic was crap.
5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind Main Theme by John Williams from Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Who would have thunk it? Five notes. How many tunes can you name in just five notes? Betcha can name this one. And perhaps, just perhaps, there are beings "out there" that can name it too.
6. "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion from Titanic (1997)
True, the massive overplay by pop radio stations throughout 1998 dampened the song's magical impact a bit but this unbelievable theme really does sum up the heart-wrenching story of undying love captured in this film. You hear this and immediately you think: Titanic.
7. "Gonna Fly Now" by Bill Conti from Rocky (1976)
Of the many versions on YouTube, I think this is the "real" original. I remember the extended opening trumpet solo fanfare and the persistent background (very 70s) "waka waka" beat. One comment on YouTube complains about the tempo of this version but you know I think it originally was this fast. They slowed it down to add drama and weight to it as it became uber-popular as the de facto Symphony for the Rise of the Underdog.
8. "Arthur's Theme" by Christopher Cross from Arthur (1981)
"When you get caught between the moon and New York City, I know it's crazy, but it's true." Oh, how I wished I could live Arthur's life. Oh wait a sec...I do! Only without the money. :(
9. Jurassic Park Main Theme by John Williams from Jurassic Park (1993)
Ugh, yes, yet another John Williams song. But he's "da man" when it comes to movie theme songs, what can I say! BTW, regarding this song, the thrill is still palpable even these days when I visit IOA and walk towards the "stone" gates of that "island". Just wish they could keep those torches consistently lit. It's all in the presentation, folks.
10. "The Colonel Bogey March" by Kenneth Alford from Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
A classic whistling ditty of defiance and British ass-clenching. Unfortunately, by my generation, this song, thanks to the power of TV commercials, had become indelibly associated with Getty gasoline.
Admit it. This song still gives you shivers when you hear it, right? 35 years later and you still unconsciously hum it when you go in the water at the beach. That's the power of a great theme song!
2. "Also Sprach Zarathustra" by Richard Strauss from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Grand, Booming and Awe-Inspiring, the opening melody is like the dawning of a new age: precisely the subject of the movie. A perfect fit.
3. Star Wars Main Theme by John Williams from Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope (1977)
Well let's face it, this one's on every one's list. Likely recognizable by villagers in the remote jungles of Sumatra. It's truly iconic and totally evokes the grand space opera setting of the movie.
4. "Venus" by Frankie Avalon from The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver (1977)
"Huh? What?" you say? This obscure TV movie of the late seventies was very low-key and probably considerably bad, but this creepy psychological thriller story stuck with me and the way the theme song weaves into and throughout the plot in twisted variations leaves me shivering whenever I hear it even to this day. This clip is from American Bandstand (check out Dick Clark!) since the clip YouTube had of this flic was crap.
5. Close Encounters of the Third Kind Main Theme by John Williams from Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Who would have thunk it? Five notes. How many tunes can you name in just five notes? Betcha can name this one. And perhaps, just perhaps, there are beings "out there" that can name it too.
6. "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion from Titanic (1997)
True, the massive overplay by pop radio stations throughout 1998 dampened the song's magical impact a bit but this unbelievable theme really does sum up the heart-wrenching story of undying love captured in this film. You hear this and immediately you think: Titanic.
7. "Gonna Fly Now" by Bill Conti from Rocky (1976)
Of the many versions on YouTube, I think this is the "real" original. I remember the extended opening trumpet solo fanfare and the persistent background (very 70s) "waka waka" beat. One comment on YouTube complains about the tempo of this version but you know I think it originally was this fast. They slowed it down to add drama and weight to it as it became uber-popular as the de facto Symphony for the Rise of the Underdog.
8. "Arthur's Theme" by Christopher Cross from Arthur (1981)
"When you get caught between the moon and New York City, I know it's crazy, but it's true." Oh, how I wished I could live Arthur's life. Oh wait a sec...I do! Only without the money. :(
9. Jurassic Park Main Theme by John Williams from Jurassic Park (1993)
Ugh, yes, yet another John Williams song. But he's "da man" when it comes to movie theme songs, what can I say! BTW, regarding this song, the thrill is still palpable even these days when I visit IOA and walk towards the "stone" gates of that "island". Just wish they could keep those torches consistently lit. It's all in the presentation, folks.
10. "The Colonel Bogey March" by Kenneth Alford from Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
A classic whistling ditty of defiance and British ass-clenching. Unfortunately, by my generation, this song, thanks to the power of TV commercials, had become indelibly associated with Getty gasoline.