Blade Runner (Vangelis)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAwo7DPUFUM The best film scores are those that are central to setting a piece's overall feeling and tonality, consequently becoming as integral a part of the piece as any of the more overtly recognized aspects, such as directing, cinematography and writing. Within this, they often become a brilliant piece of art in themselves. This is no more apparent than in the score for Ridley Scotts science-fiction masterpiece Blade Runner, written and composed by Greek maestro Vangelis. The score as a whole is full of techno and synths, amplifying the idea of future and synthetic beings but it also manages to evoke strong feelings of longing, sadness and melancholy. A perfect example of this and of the genius to Vangelis music is
Memories of Green. Cited as Ridley Scotts own favourite track from the score, it blends perfectly the ideas of both the old and the new something seen throughout the film in several areas, from costume to set design. The classic piano is backed up with flurrying mechanical noises, creating a sense of the futuristic setting and its implications as well as a pining for times gone by. This particular theme is evident once again in the title of the track, along with the crooning, stylistically old
One More Kiss, Dear and the films own Neo Noir tendencies. Ive always considered the atmosphere in Blade Runner one of its (many) unique qualities unable to be matched or replicated (no pun intended). One cannot state enough how much the music plays a part in this. Take one of the most famous examples in
Blade Runner Blues with its combination of bluesy darkness and whizzing synthesizers (once again combining old & new), the audience is made to really get a
feel for the film, its ahead of time, dark and troubled world. These two pieces and the soundtrack to Blade Runner as a whole help as one of the most crucial aspects in building the world for the audience, evoking and enhancing its atmos, whilst simultaneously becoming part of the world in and of itself. There are quite a few scores out there that, whilst great, are not indispensable to the work its attached to. Blade Runner, I feel, is a rare example in which the film in question would simply not be the same without its sound. What Vangelis created has all but created the films unmistakable tone and helped enhance its complex themes (humanity, decaying world, dystopia, corporate dominance etc.) to the point where the two are virtually inseparable. I say 'virtually' because, as I said before, the score for 'Blade Runner' is such a beautiful and emotive piece that it certainly can be enjoyed on it's own. Therein lies one of my biggest worries for Ridleys upcoming Blade Runner sequel: Vangelis hasnt composed for film since 2007s El Greco, 5 years ago now, and if he isnt willing to do so again just who is capable of achieving such perfect symbiosis between their sound and Ridleys vision in Blade Runner?
Is anyone else capable?
Connor Davey