Rach's Musical Brain - w/c 15th Mar 2021

It’s been a month since my last musical update, but this one’s a big one... so well worth the wait (if I do say so myself!)

With this week being the official release of Marvel's Falcon and the Winter Soldier, my second favourite duo after Thor and Cap, I decided this week is the week to highlight the epicness that is Marvel... And to be honest I can't believe it's taken me so long!

Now I'll be honest, some films won't feature. And it’s not just the 23 films of the Infinity Saga either. As much as I appreciate all the soundtracks, if I had to include one from every single Marvel film we'd have about 40 tracks because there are so goddamn many. So, just like Hans Zimmer - because 10 isn’t enough for Marvel either - I’m going to restrict myself to 20, which is still plenty!

The first superhero film I could remember being excited about was X-Men, released in 2000. The adventures of Professor X and his X-Men fascinated me into the world of superheroes, and my love of the superhero movie just grew from there. And from there we’ve had a lot of new heroes, even re-cast heroes, come and go.

I always find it strange to think that X-Men was actually the team of comic book heroes that brought me to my love of Marvel, but hey, one can’t help it. I fell in love with the ridiculous one-liners, the sarcastic quips whilst battling foes single-handed; I loved the battle scenes and powers all these heroes had, and that the female heroes were just as bad-ass as the male ones, if not more. Usually more.

But anyway, as the years went on, more of these films started popping up, and I forced my parents to either take me to the cinema to see these films, or get me the films (to be honest buying of the films came later when I could get them myself) and now I’m a full-blown, go-to-the-cinema-at-midnight comic book fan. And I love it. It’s just become something that’s normal now... and when the cinemas reopen in May, that’s still what I’m going to do.

So... a whirlwind tour of the big Marvel films between 2000 and 2008. Films include: X-Men (2000), X-Men 2 (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Fantastic Four (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), Hulk (2003). Of course after 2008, Jon Favreau - the greatest writer/creator/director that Disney/Marvel have ever had - stepped up and directed Iron Man. This was then followed by The Incredible Hulk (2008), which featured a cameo from Stark himself, asking General Ross about Hulk, saying he's interested... connecting the universe from the beginning.

And the rest... as they say... is history.

Iron Man was a revolution. And it sent Robert Downey Jr’s career sky-rocketing upwards as more films were announced, more budgets were given and more fans rallied behind the Marvel war cry. More big actors were announced - Scarlet Johanssen, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner... and many more along the way - it just kept getting more and more of a following. Even now, with Marvel’s main four phases and the Infinity Saga over, fans are still hugely excited to know there are still many more Marvel stories to tell.

But what I love about the films is that the actors absolutely embody the characters they play. Downey Jr is Tony Stark. He just is. Chris Evans is Steve Rogers... Each actor brings a part of themselves and makes it the main thing about their character, and it’s a huge part of how everybody falls in love with and admires their characters. This converted into a surge in cinema tickets. And if you don’t believe me? Check this out....

(This is up until the release of Thor Ragnarok in 2017... but I think it tells a pretty good picture!)

Anyway... I think we should move on. You get it. Rach is a Marvel nerd... yeah, yeah. Let’s get to the music bit?

As ever, the playlist can be found at this link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=yqEvsLDvTqSXbQC0XsZ-pQ

And remember - not a Marvel related point - you can always find the previous playlists by either clicking here or visiting the ’Rachel’s Musical Brain’ page. They’re all stored in a playlist for you to listen to over and over, same as me! :D

Right... the music. Man, I’m excited.

***

NUMBER 20.

Marvel Studio Fanfare - Brian Tyler

Thor: The Dark World (2013) was the first Marvel film to have the signature fanfare. As the phases developed - and the initial credits got longer with the introduction of new characters - the Marvel Studio Fanfare was introduced. I love it. Of course, the iconic flicking through the Marvel comic characters has been around for a while, but this is the first film in the 23-film Infinity Saga that includes it. It’s just such a shame that such an epic track belongs to one of Marvel‘s worst ones... And I don’t think that’s a contentious opinion. Through no fault of their own, Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World are definitely at the bottom of the Marvel love list for me... mostly because it followed Avengers Assemble. Iron Man 3 seemed very disconnected... and being the first official introduction to an Infinity Stone, it seemed a bit... meh? I suppose at that point, you aren't quite sure what the Infinity Stones are for, only that several powerful people are interested, so it hasn't gathered the momentum it needed. But anyway. Going back to the music, I knew I had to start this playlist with the Marvel Opener, because it’s just the perfect opportunity for it.

NUMBER 19.

Theme from Spider-Man [Original Television Series] - Michael Giaccino

Tom Holland’s first Spidey outing and they have very cleverly remastered the original TV show theme to the credits in this film, which was quite a clever nod to the original fans. The credits have been changed quite a few times - most notably being the year Stan Lee died, which decorated the Marvel Opener for Captain Marvel with all his cameos - but after a successful Spidey introduction in Civil War, it got fans proper excited. Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland have all brought something different to Spidey, but I think Tom Holland is by far my favourite. Although he is still over the age Peter Parker actually is, his natural ‘boyish’ frame makes viewers believe he could actually be 16, not to mention his natural acrobatic-ness means he doesn’t necessarily need the stunts to do the flips because he can do them himself. Although that said, the potential introduction (or re-introduction) of Maguire and Garfield in this next one is intriguing me a lot...and really hope it’s a thing!

NUMBER 18.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Overture - Bear McCreary

“Welcome to Level 7.” I did enjoy Agents of SHIELD, I really did, but as the seasons went on I found it got a little toooooo ridiculous. I keep telling myself to re-watch it but the problem is that there are so many new series coming out at the moment - Marvel and non-Marvel - that I don’t have time! But anyway... Bear McCreary did a great job with this soundtrack I think. I love the strings, and how the help it build. This track is basically the first scene of the first series, when they’re on base, showing the scale of operations, the players and when Coulson steps out of the shadows and welcomes Grant Ward to Level 7 and a new team unit of SHIELD. My favourite seasons were 1 and 3, along with the first half of season 4. It was before the show got too wacky and unfollowable with the ‘Framework’ because it focussed on the Hydra storyline - following on from Captain America: The Winter Soldier - and the introduction of ‘powered operatives.’ Unfortunately they only released the one album - as with quite a lot of TV shows, but I think this album is all we need. Bear McCreary - who I’ve only heard for his work on the Outlander soundtrack - is fab. Thumbs up all round!

NUMBER 17.

Showtime, A-Holes! - Tyler Bates

Short but sweet, this song welcomes us back into the Guardians universe, introducing the team before Mr Blue Sky introduces us to the cuteness that is Baby Groot, who dances his way through the credits - same as Chris Pratt is GOTG vol 1. You get the awesome Tyler Bates returning with the same Guardians theme as before - a very key bonus to keeping a composer for sequels - and I love that it’s literally the way the film starts. Main Themes are usually the tracks that people remember (I alone have about 40 in my main playlist, if not more) and this is probably one of my favourite themes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

NUMBER 16.

X-Training - Henry Jackman

A track that quite literally takes the audience from a group of young X-Men who don’t know how to control, use and embrace their powers - Magneto included - to a group of young X-Men who know how to control, use and embrace their powers. I love the electricity in the latter X-Men scores. Henry Jackman, who has also scored a fair few of the Avengers films himself, does it perfectly. The base track plays underneath the entire time, keeping the beat and the pace whilst allowing the track to build at the same time, switching from character to character as they build their skills with the help of Erik and Charles. I think I need an X-Men rewatch to be honest. I love the later ones. The originals were great in themselves, but these new ones are just a whole other level. Except maybe the latest one... Dark Phoenix wasn't the most amazing film I've ever seen...

NUMBER 15.

What Heroes Do - Mark Mothersbaugh

Quite a few people were disappointed with Thor Ragnarok, but I definitely think it’s the best of the three. Not to mention hilarious. And Mark Mothersbaugh‘s score just adds to it, giving it that 80s electro-synth vibe. In this particular scene, after Hulk and Thor come to a truce, they mastermind an escape by which Thor breaks a window and jumps out. Only it doesn’t quite go to plan as the ball rebounds and hits Thor in the face. Of course he takes it like a champ, delivers the line and then jumps out of the window to find the Quin Jet. I love the slapstick in Thor Ragnarok. Taika Waititi did so well, and I’m so excited he is back to direct Thor: Love and Thunder, with the God of Thunder teaming up with the Guardians in a story we’re yet to hear the plot of. Also, I know people love the long, gold locks, but I quite liked the haircut.

NUMBER 14.

Theme from Ant-Man - Christophe Beck

The initial concept of Ant-Man confused me. I thought it was a very random superhero, and as it became apparent he would be introduced to the MCU films as a hero, I then became intrigued. And when it was announced Ant-Man would be Paul Rudd, I then became excited. The key thing behind Marvel for me is that it has that humour - the sarcastic quips, the innuendos, the odd comments - and Ant-Man is soaked with it because Paul Rudd is just a naturally funny guy. And I'll be honest, if you asked me to rank Ant-Man in amongst the 23 Infinity Saga films, it would probably be up there with one of my favourites, if only for Michael Pena's retelling stories. So good. But the music for this film - albeit not amazing - is interesting. It's ultimately a heist movie. Not only was Scott Lang a thief, who steals the suit in the first place, there is a lot of 'heisting' in it. So the theme, naturally, has to sound like a heist film's would. And I'm pleased to say that it does. Ant-Man is awesome. And when he goes big in Civil War and in Ant-Man and the Wasp, it's amazing. Paul Rudd nailed this character.

NUMBER 13.

Spaceship Bugatti - Ludwig Goransson

Once the saddest and most shocking deaths of 2020 was the news of Chadwick Boseman dying of colon cancer. He had been diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer, which eventually progressed to Stage IV, and yet through all of this, became the world's most-admired superhero, becoming an icon for so many people to look up with the success of Black Panther in 2018. After the title song, Wakanda, Spaceship Bugatti stands out to me as a favourite because of the use of the talking drum, the tambin, along with the horns. The soundtrack itself incorporated the epic voice of Baaba Maal as well... he's not featured in Spaceship Bugatti but he is featured across the score, and I literally get goosebumps every time I listen to it. I'm sad I can't put it in this one, because I've already used it, but who knows... by the time I get to the end of the playlist, it may be a bonus. Goransson defined the sound in Black Panther, pushing Marvel out of their original comfort zone - the heavy reliance on the conventional instruments - and there is a reason this is the first film to have its score nominated for an Oscar. And you really can hear why.

NUMBER 12.

Cap's Promise - Henry Jackman

I'm going to leave Cap's quote here:

"Tony, I'm glad you're back at the compound. I don't like the idea of you rattling around a mansion by yourself. We all need family. The Avengers are yours, maybe more so than mine. I've been on my own since I was 18. I never really fit in anywhere, even in the army. My faith's in people, I guess. Individuals. And I'm happy to say that, for the most part, they haven't let me down. Which is why I can't let them down either. Locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn't. I know I hurt you, Tony. I guess I thought by not telling you about your parents I was sparing you, but I can see now that I was really sparing myself, and I'm sorry. Hopefully one day you can understand. I wish we agreed on the Accords, I really do. I know you're doing what you believe in, and that's all any of us can do. That's all any of us should... So no matter what, I promise you, if you need us - if you need me - I'll be there.

It's his letter to Tony at the end, after they've fought over the fact Cap chose Bucky over telling Tony the truth about what happened to his parents, followed by the end credits. He's telling him the Avengers are his (even if he is literally breaking them out as he speaks!) but that he's glad Tony's no longer alone, and you can't help but love Cap for that. And you can really see what I mean by the difference between the Black Panther soundtrack and the Civil War soundtrack. This one is typical Marvel... trumpets and conventional strings and woodwind. Black Panther's is a whole other level...

NUMBER 11.

Project Insight - Henry Jackman

Cap’s introduction to Project Insight - 3 self-sustaining Helicarriers that monitor potential threats - comes in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It’s a short, sharp track, at just 1.5 minutes, but it’s very Cap. Uniform, drums, trumpets. Very military. Cap is by far my favourite Avenger - and the Cap-centric films have been by far the best ones (after Infinity War and Endgame) - so there may be a bit of bias towards the scores too. Henry Jackman scored 2 of the Captain America films (Winter Soldier and Civil War) and like I’ve said on quite a few occasions, if a composer is kept, it really does help keep that continuity. The first score was done by Alan Silvestri, and the Cap theme has COMPLETELY changed from film 1 to then 2 and 3. It’s not necessarily a bad thing - especially in this case as Cap literally changes decade zones - but I just think it’s interesting!

NUMBER 10.

Pyramid Collapse / Main Title - John Ottman

Here is a good example of why it’s a good idea to keep composers. X-Men and X-Men: Apocalypse were released 16 years apart, so a lot can happen to a film, let alone a soundtrack, between those times. John Ottman was kept on as the composer, and that way has helped keep the connection alive between the two streams of films released. It seemed the X-Men films were over after the release of X-Men: The Last Stand in 2007, because the story and the characters all kind of came to a natural end? But then low and behold they weren’t. X-Men: First - scored by Henry Jackman - came up in 2011, introducing the young versions of the characters we had already met all those years before. The problem with having older actors playing older characters, it means the action could run the risk of being not quite so believable. With younger actors, able to do more things, it broadens the scopes of their characters. Ian McKellen used to stand with his arms out, Patrick Stewart just sitting in his chair, whereas Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, as young versions of Erik Lensherr and Charles Xavier, had the youth to explore new tranches, new stories and new adventures for the newly invigorated MCU generation. John Ottman‘s original X-Men theme can be heard here, same as in 2000, therefore solidifying that the two streams in fan’s minds.

NUMBER 9.

Passage of Time - Alan Silvestri

I don’t know why, but I really love that Cap’s army photograph is before he became the Super Soldier. Despite his size - or lack thereof - his heart is what made him the perfect candidate for the Super Soldier programme and is his lasting legacy. Passage of Time is the last song of the movie, where you see Hydra’s super plane sinking into the ice with Cap inside. But his stories remain. His comic books, his films and his actions remain and inspiring the future generations. And obviously Passage of Time has a new meaning... when it flicks to the post-credit scene and Cap realises he’s been frozen in ice for 70 years... I really wish they‘d shown that scene. There‘s a snippet in Avengers Assemble, of them thawing him, but it just wasn’t enough.

NUMBER 8.

Wanda and Vision (Love Theme from Wanda Vision) - Christophe Beck

I don’t know how much I can say about this one. As it‘s still relatively new - episode 1 aired on January 15th and the season finale only a few weeks ago - I don’t want to give away any details to Marvel fans who haven’t watched it yet. I was a bit confused by Wanda Vision when it started. The lack of information or explanation of why the series was a string of sitcom scenarios, with confusing ‘infomercials’ that all clearly had meaning (BUT WHAT MEANING!) was driving me insane. But as the episodes worked through the story, through the explanations, through the characters and through the curveballs, by the end... it was an epic series. And one that sets up the next phase of Marvel movies, including Doctor Strange. Christophe Beck did the music to Ant Man, so he isn’t a Marvel newbie, but seeing as Wanda‘s never been a key Avenger - just part of the crew - it was lovely for her to get her own theme. This theme is Wanda and Vision’s love theme, and it‘s so gentle and beautiful. And it‘s bugging me that I can’t explain it more. I’ll have to do another Marvel playlist in a few months time, when people have had more of a chance!

NUMBER 7.

I’ll Find My Own Way - Harry Gregson-Williams

Hands down - and I’m sure everyone will agree with me here - the WORST Marvel movie ever. The built an entire story, an entire backstory, about Logan and how he became Wolverine, and then at the end of the film, they erased his memory... making most of the film completely pointless and obsolete. And that’s not even mentioning the shit-show that is Deadpool. I did like the soundtrack though... and it was about the only thing that was okay with it to be honest. This track is from the end, where Gambit - probably the best superhero in this movie, other than Logan, played brilliantly by Taylor Kitsch - finds Logan, only he’s got no memory and says the title... “I’ll find my own way” before walking off in the other direction. I love that the writers realised their mistake though, and mock it well in Deadpool in 2016, when Ryan Reynolds got his second chance at the Merc with a Mouth. This one is a massive, almost roadblock, on Marvel’s radar - which wasn’t much helped by The Wolverine in 2013. Wolverine’s journey goes a bit up and down, but Hugh Jackman really is awesome as Wolverine. I admit, I still haven’t seen Logan - I know I have to - and most people have said it’s his best outing... maybe one for this month, finally.

NUMBER 6.

Portals - Alan Silvestri

At this point in Endgame, I was thinking all was over. Cap was basically on his own, the silhouette of him against a whole army, and then you hear the static tones of Sam saying those epic words, “On your left.” He turns and T’Challa, Shuri and Okoye come through from Wakanda... followed by Sam and the rest of the gang, all lining up against Thanos’ minions before Cap says those immortal words, “AVENGERS..... Assemble.” After spending the entirety of the year wondering what the hell happened to everyone after Infinity War, this was such an epic way for everybody to come back. This film was definitely the best group Avengers film - I mean it kind of had to be really - and this is the ULTIMATE team-up. It’s what every fan wanted, and it did not disappoint. I was in the cinema at midnight watching this and everybody went NUTS. Going to the midnight screenings of the Avengers films are an experience in themselves. It’s full of people dressed in Marvel shirts, nerding out about what they expect to be in the films, which heroes would feature, and it was so good. I go with 2 of my fellow Marvel nerds each time, each of us wearing our own nerdy Marvel shirts, and it’s one of the things I’ll miss about the fact there aren’t any Infinity Saga films left now :(.

I haven’t even mentioned the music yet! It starts off soft, as Cap tries to comprehend what he has to try and do, but the music builds as the armies arrive out of various portals across the world. And of course the epic Avengers theme at the end... Aw man, so good. Literal goosebumps.

NUMBER 5.

Arena Fight - Mark Mothersbaugh

The Thor Ragnarok soundtrack is so completely different to any other of the Avengers soundtracks, and that is why I love it so much. There are quite a few tracks on the soundtrack - including one up the top - but this one is by far my favourite. It’s Hulk vs Thor, and the 80s-esque soundtrack here really works, because of the surroundings. I can’t explain it very well, because the film and the soundtrack really do speak for themselves, but you’ll see what I mean when you listen to this one. The celebration Thor has when he realises it’s Hulk, followed by the comedic argument the two of them have while they’re fighting - ‘you’re embarrassing me, I told them we were friends’ this film has everything that both of the other Thor films were lacking: the humour. And with the introduction of Korg (voiced by director Taika Waititi himself) and the Thor-Loki combination - as well as a feature from Doctor Strange - you can see why Ragnarok is my favourite Thor.

NUMBER 4.

Heroes - Danny Elfman

This track is the end credits to Age of Ultron, with the Avengers vs Ultron’s minions, and it really works as a credits sequence. The album is shared by Brian Tyler and Danny Elfman, with this track by Danny Elfman. I love this track because of the way it makes its way through the stone sculpture, essentially telling the story of the film you’ve just watched, everyone circled around the central item of Ultron vs Vision. I loved that they put JARVIS inside of Vision. Paul Bettany was such a great find in JARVIS’ voice because he just has such a posh British voice that its perfect. And to suddenly have it inside of a superhero who wields an Infinity Stone makes it even better. Danny Elfman is an unusual choice for a composer I’d have thought - I always connect him to Johnny Depp or Tim Burton films - but this track is most definitely a winner.

NUMBER 3.

Helicarrier - Alan Silvestri

“You might want to get inside boys, it might get a little hard to breathe.”

”Is this a submarine?”

“Oh yeah, they really want me in some kind of pressurised underwater container?”

*Cap and Banner look over the edge as the Helicarrier pushes upwards*

”Oh no, this is much worse.”

It’s Cap and Banner’s first introduction to the Helicarrier - prior to Winter Soldier’s 3 Uber-Helicarriers - and Alan Silvestri’s track here does an epic introduction to this epic piece of kit. I’m glad they brought back Alan Silvestri to score Infinity War and Endgame. It seems like a round circle, bringing us back to how it all started, and it’s perfect.

NUMBER 2.

I Am Iron Man - John Debney

Shockingly the first Marvel instalment of the Infinity Saga (although we didn’t know it then) doesn’t have its album on Spotify, so alas I had to find the next best thing. I loved Iron Man 2 almost as much as I loved Iron Man, and mostly because Don Cheadle is awesome as the new Rhodey. There’s not much more Marvel could have done to make it better... and they did that, so well done to Favreau once again. Iron Man has its own musical, as Tony himself is a music fan himself - always wearing some kind of band t-shirt, so therefore the soft dulcet tones of AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden - the music has that kind of metal undertone, which suits it really, given he wields a metal suit! Iron Man is the central part of this whole saga, so it was important to get the music right for the first couple, and they really did. The opener to this - after the scene with Ivan Vanko - it shoots to AC/DC’s Shoot To Thrill and you can’t really think of a perfect start. The start to Iron Man is Back in Black, so you sense a theme. So good.

NUMBER 1.

Captain Marvel - Pinar Toprik

Before Endgame came along, we met our newest Avenger, and Brie Larson as Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel really did not disappoint. And along with a new, badass hero came a new soundtrack from a new composer. I'd never heard of Pinar Toprak before Captain Marvel, but her stuff is incredibly beautiful. Strings, building awesomeness in the sound of the horns and trumpets, with the Captain Marvel theme probably being my favourite theme of the lot. A human who absorbed the energy of a Light Speed Engine, Carol Danvers became the strongest Avenger, able to take Thanos on, with only the use of the Power stone to get her to budge. Her entrance in Endgame is epic, and the timing of her character's arrival into the MCU was highly anticipated, and such a breath of fresh air. When I saw Infinity War at midnight, and people watched the end credits scene, there were cheers coming from me as well as the rest of the cinema.

***

So here comes an end to my Marvel playlist and I'm genuinely quite sad for this to come to an end. This one took a few weeks to load, because there is just so much I can say, want to say, about Marvel. Loads of people would just say that quite a lot of each of the Marvel albums - aside from the Main Themes for each - aren't important. But I say they are. No matter what composer does what film, and whether the studios stick with the same composer throughout, go in a different direction and then come back again, the music and the soundtracks, in my opinion, are what make the films. Each character, each hero, has a motif, a theme, and no matter where we hear it, it always brings that hero back to life.

I've spent countless hours over the last 13 years watching Marvel films. I'm gutted to have never seen the first Iron Man in cinemas - as I couldn't drive back then and my local cinema wasn't terribly local - but I made up for it twenty-fold. The Marvel fanbase is like a family, and sharing memories with both my friends and strangers in those cinemas at midnight... well they're some of the best times I've ever had. The sounds, the emotions, the characters and the underlying spirit that everyone loves about these films is never-ending, and I am blessed to be an MCU nerd for life.

As ever, the playlist is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=yqEvsLDvTqSXbQC0XsZ-pQ