Best Movie Songs – Hans Zimmer (part 1)
During my college years, I nearly decided to major in music composition (albeit not for my only college A minus, in Music Theory II of all classes!). Oh how things would have been different going that route ;). Despite my about face to the business world, I’ve still been inspired by and enjoy great film compositions. Over the last twenty years, Hans Zimmer has composed many of the film industry’s best movie songs. With over one hundred film scores to his credit, along with a handful of prestigious awards, he is considered the go-to composer among Hollywood directors. He is best known for his use of electronic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements. Below I’ve highlighted 13 of Hans’ most memorable and epic songs. For now it’s just the recording, but hang tight and I’ll eventually include some background info for each song. Enjoy!
BACKDRAFT – Show Me Your Firetruck (3:31)
Released in 1991, Backdraft is the story of two Chicago firefighter brothers who don’t get along but have to work together while a dangerous arsonist is on the loose. This score is considered by many to be Zimmer’s first highly successful and enjoyable large-scale merging of an orchestra and choir with his electronics.
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CRIMSON TIDE – Roll Tide
KING ARTHUR – All of Them
THE DARK KNIGHT – I Am Not a Hero
TEARS OF THE SUN – Kopano Part III – The Journey
THE DA VINCI CODE – Chevaliers de Sangreal
THE THIN RED LINE – Journey to the Line
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN – Drink Up Me Hearties
THE LAST SAMURAI – Safe Passage
THE ROCK – Hummel Gets the Rockets
BATMAN BEGINS – Molossus
GLADIATOR – Now We Are Free
INCEPTION – Time
BONUS TRACK – Mind Heist by Zack Hemsey
Mind Heist, from the Inception 3 trailer is one of my favorites of all-time. The music carries the scenes perfectly as we get a brief teaser of the story. At first I thought Hans had written this piece (since he scored the film and many of the same characteristic Zimmer features are present), but I later found out that the credit goes to Zack Hemsey, who has proclaimed on his blog that he is certainly not Mr. Zimmer. Is Zack the next Hans? Well, with songs like this, I’d say it’s a good start!
