Music Chart RP style - w/c 6 April 2020

Week 3. And it's both getting easier and harder to find songs to add to the top 10. On the one hand I find it easy because there are just so many to choose from. But then at the same time, which are my Top TOP 10... It can't just be anything.

These choices are all from films this week. It's all film scores (okay apart from one). And I seriously wish I had 40 places this week because there are just so many. But alas I'm only allowed to pick 10. Who made up these rules? Oh yeah... I did. *rolls eyes*

Anyway let's get on with the countdown.

And remember you can find them at this playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=HULYAHTSQTGbyXoGBWivWQ

NUMBER 10.

Team Player - Marco Beltrami, Buck Sanders - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SafbpRT6yK4

The poignant turning point in the climax to the film... the bit where Ken Miles actually listens to what he's being told for once and allows for a photo opportunity of all 3 Fords crossing the line as a trio. He's miles ahead and the win is clearly his... but he's a Team Player... and in doing so we see all 3 Ford GTs crossing the line in slow motion at the same time. Without ruining what happens once they do cross the line, the music only makes it more emotional to be honest.

NUMBER 9.

Into The Unknown - Idina Menzel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIOyB9ZXn8s

Just like it's predecessor, Let It Go, this song gets you singing and dancing just the same, if not more (if you're me!). Idina Menzel is joined by AURORA for this one, and it gives me goosebumps. As a post-credit song too, Panic! at the Disco! do a rendition (yes a band you wouldn't necessarily expect from a Disney credits roll) and I've got to say it's pretty good too. But does it match up to Let It Go? Well... let's just say it hasn't been on here yet. So Into The Unknown is winning for now!

NUMBER 8.

Let 'Er Buck - James Newton Howard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su_By4bhg3A

It's the emotional goodbye. It's the thousands upon thousands of horses he does it with. And it's the way he does it that comes out in the music. The friendship and love between man and horse, despite setting him free, letting him run free in the wild once more, that is truly beautiful in this.

NUMBER 7.

Come Back To Us - Thomas Newman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNu38sUDaFo

It ends as it starts. The same music, the same kind of scene. But this scene was so much more powerful now that he knows the number of lives he saves. He sits in a field, looking at nothing but green, whilst looking at a picture of his family who he thinks may not be proud of him. But the message is simple. Come Back To Us. Schofield allows thousands of families the chance to see their loved ones again because he succeeds, and the beauty of that is heard in the notes of the song. I love the quietness of it. If you shut your eyes, you can almost see the field and hear the wind blowing in the grass. And if you didn't sit in the cinema until the song had finished... do it now. Close your eyes and just listen.

NUMBER 6.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - James Newton Howard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXCvxQOuwtI

This is the first song in the credits, and I just love how like Newt it is. Bouncy. Incorporating all the various trills and motifs from the film, it culminates in this final track. No particular reason as to why I love it, I just do. And seeing as we're on a Harry Potter spree at the moment, I figured I had to have something to do with the franchise in here! 1m19s is the part I love. The cellos and violas go crazy...

NUMBER 5.

Once There Were Dragons - John Powell - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbsI4OMwh-w

John Powell is an actual genius. I absolutely love all of the scores in all of the How To Train Your Dragon films, but this one is on a whole other level. Every time I listen to it, I can see the whole scene in my head, because it really was a perfect ending to the trilogy. He uses a choir a lot in this film score, and Jonsi's voice as well for the Hidden World track, but in this scene we hear the choir more, singing a Gaelic tune as Hiccup and Astrid get married (spoilers, sorry). But when we see them together again, you're thrown right back to that first film, when Hiccup first reached his arm out for Toothless, waiting for him to make the final move. And then you have them flying in the clouds. Odin's beard, so much emotion and story told in just one 6 minute track.

NUMBER 4.

Chevaliers de Sangreal - Hans Zimmer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5FyRZbqfeM

I can now say I've seen and heard this song played live, and let me tell you, it gets the hairs on your arms and neck standing on end. Played as Langdon follows the blood trail to where the Holy Grail lies, it's probably one of my favourite Hans Zimmer pieces of all time, after The Battle from Gladiator. The dainty, soft repetition of the violins, undertones and complements the gradually building tune as Langdon finally understands where to find it. The music builds and builds until finally... a cymbal crash as he kneels. He's found it. The score for the film, same as the movie - with many layers and puzzles to solve - needed to reinforce the layers of ideas and emotion. And with this track, as it builds, you can certainly hear that.

NUMBER 3.

Farewell - John Williams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_9o_70UQJw

Contrary to popular opinion, I actually really loved the ninth Star Wars film. Everyone's been skeptical of them, and I have loved every one of them. The ninth was my favourite, because so much STORY happened. So much was tied off - everything was tied off - and I GOT REYLO! REYLO TO THE END! Hehe okay, Rach, calm down. No, but seriously. But this track is about their connection. You can feel it in the score, in the sombre notes of the strings, accentuated by the horns. And if you've seen The Rise of Skywalker as many times as I did, you'll know which part is which. Now I won't spoil it, but you'll hear it. And you'll recognise it when you do. Kylo's sacrifice. Because he knows it's for the best. And the fanfare at the end you recognise as Rey's, positive and full of light, signifies the happy ending. For everyone.

NUMBER 2.

Letters/The Moon, Deborah Lurie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1hMYtVB0tE

This is still my favourite Nick Sparks movie. In fact it's due another read. And a watch. And it's hard to believe this film came out 10 years ago. When an army cadet comes home on leave and meets a girl at a party, both of them fall in love. In 10 days. And that's that. With most of the film taking place with them both apart, quite a lot of the time (most, if not all the time) the music accompanies the letters they send. And it accompanies you through post rooms, across oceans, through mail-sorting and finally into John and Savannah's hands. This track is their first stint away from each other, and it has one of my favourite quotes. "I'm looking at the moon tonight, John, and thinking of you." And as John reads it, he looks up and does what Savannah's doing: covering the moon with their thumbs... Now, excuse me while I re-download the book to my kindle to read tomorrow.

NUMBER 1.

Southampton - James Horner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syX-pAIkvNs

This track is where you first see the Titanic come from the wreck at the bottom of the sea to ship in the photo. The hustle and bustle of people getting in lines to get on to head off to New York, completely unknown to the fact of what would happen to them on April 12th. Now, given that today is the anniversary of her sinking, I figured I had to include it. I love the use of horns, strings and the choir in James Horner's tracks for Titanic. When I sing along, I always try to sing the harmonies, because there are so many, and they're so beautiful. James Horner really was a genius. Also composing soundtracks to Troy, The Amazing Spider-Man and Avatar, which no doubt will turn up in some of the next few instalments of my top 10s.

So that brings my third week of top 10s to a close. I hope you've enjoyed them. I know I certainly have! And remember you can find them at this playlist link too: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=HULYAHTSQTGbyXoGBWivWQ

What will make it to next week's...? You'll have to wait and see!