What Are the Best Soundtracks for Different Moods?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the best soundtracks for various moods, highlighting selections from popular films and video games. Key soundtracks include "Final Fantasy VII" themes, "Lord of the Rings" compositions, and "Gladiator" tracks, which evoke excitement, passion, and nostalgia. Users share personal favorites and express a preference for cinematic instrumentals, emphasizing the emotional impact of these soundtracks. The conversation also touches on the originality of composers like Hans Zimmer and John Williams.

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  • Understanding of film and video game soundtracks
  • Familiarity with composers such as Hans Zimmer and John Williams
  • Knowledge of musical terminology (e.g., themes, motifs, orchestration)
  • Appreciation for various musical genres, including classical and cinematic scores
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  • Explore the "Final Fantasy VII" soundtrack and its emotional themes
  • Research the orchestration techniques used in "Lord of the Rings" scores
  • Analyze the impact of Hans Zimmer's compositions in film music
  • Investigate the evolution of video game soundtracks from 8-bit to orchestral arrangements
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Music enthusiasts, film and video game fans, composers, and anyone interested in the emotional resonance of soundtracks.

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Here are a few of my selections, divided into mood type (please note they are soundtrack names, not albums) :


Excitement and courage

Final Fantasy XI Vanadiel March -
Final Fantasy XI - The Kingdom of San dOria -
Final Fantasy XI OST Album series
Final Fantasy 7 - Highwind takes into the skies [ new ]
Lord of the Rings III The return of the king
Lord of the Rings III Hope and Memory
Gladiator - The Battle
Pearl Harbor - The War


Passionate and Flashback: [ note most of my current selections are from LOTR, because I miss the one I watched LOTR III with so much... ]

LOTR - The Hobbits
LOTR - Land of Rivendale
LOTR - Stewart of Gondor
LOTR - Into the West
Final Fantasy 7 - Aeris Theme OST
Final Fantasy 7 - Tifa's Theme OST
Final Fantasy 7 - On that night 7 years ago
Final Fantasy 7 - Cid's Theme OST
Final Fantasy 7 - Sending a dream into the Universe
Pearl Harbor - And then I kissed him
Pearl Harbor - Tennessee


Classical (Piano):
The Pianist - Nocturne in C# Minor (Chopin. Frederick)
The Pianist - Grande Polonaise (Chopin. Frederick)


More to come... :cool:
 
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Blah, soundtracks.

- Warren
 
Ooh.. soundtracks, my favorite category of music (included are computer game as well as movie).

Listed in random order:

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault main theme
Gladiator - Strength and Honor
Gladiator - Slaves to Rome
Gladiator - Earth
Return of the King - Minas Tirith
Return of the King - The White Tree
The Time Machine - I Don't Belong Here
Rainbow Six 3 Main Theme
Any music from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (more original than the movie's music)
March from "1941"
Frank Ticheli's Fortress and Shenandoah for Concert Band (can be downloaded for free without copyright infringments at http://members.aol.com/mbmband/html/mp3.html )
A Bridge Too Far - Main Theme
The Great Escape - Main Theme
Pirates of the Caribbean - One Last Shot
The Matrix - Clubbed to Death (instrumental)
The American President - President Shepherd (main theme)
 
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I too love soundtracks! I don't play games, so the following soundtracks are from movies:

Fellowship of the Ring - The Breaking of the Fellowship
Gladiator - The Battle
Gladiator - The Glory of Rome
Gladiator - Now We are Free
A Beautiful Mind - Creating Governing Dynamics
Indiana Jones - Raider's March
Indiana Jones - The Last Crusade Theme
Star Wars - Darth Vader Theme
Return of the King - Minas Tirith
Return of the King - Anduril
Return of the King - The White Tree (this is played during the beacon lighting sequence in the movie)
Forrest Gump - Feather Theme
Lawrence of Arabia - Overture
E.T. - Main Theme

I understand that some of the music above are not original. For example, Hans Zimmer seems to enjoy recycling his music. I do not mean to prompt a debate over the originality of the composers of the soundtracks listed above. I just enjoy listening to them, although they are second choice to music by Mozart, Chopin, Strauss et al.

If I had a modicum of musical ability my ambition would be to become a composer. Unfortunately, that is not the case and my musical ability is abysmal. Hence, you can't really blame me if you are repulsed by my choice of music above.
 
Just one nomination from me:

In the mood for love.

Very original and mellow. Capativating.

A side note. For those of you who have seen the movie and wondered why and/or what it is that Tony Leung whispers to a tree, I know the answer. :wink: .
 
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hmmm I can't think of any movie soundtracks of the top of my head that i really like, but a song that seems to fit my mood perfectly at the moment is,

Patience, by Guns N' Roses,

Yea that's rite the one with the whistling at the start.
 
The "Top Gun" soundtrack is good.
 
The Vice City soundtrack is awesome. It has Michael Jackson, Rick James, The Cult, The Cars, Flock of Seagulls, Loverboy, Human League, Pointer Sisters. What band doesn't that soundtrack have? :biggrin:
 
recon said:
I understand that some of the music above are not original. For example, Hans Zimmer seems to enjoy recycling his music. I do not mean to prompt a debate over the originality of the composers of the soundtracks listed above. I just enjoy listening to them, although they are second choice to music by Mozart, Chopin, Strauss et al.

For a few seconds Hans Zimmer's musical style seems to sound exactly like John Williams' style (also occasionally happens with Howard Shore too).

recon said:
If I had a modicum of musical ability my ambition would be to become a composer. Unfortunately, that is not the case and my musical ability is abysmal. Hence, you can't really blame me if you are repulsed by my choice of music above.

You never know until you try. If you have a basic understanding of music then composition shouldn't be that difficult. It just takes time (too much time in my opinion), but usually I don't have the time to be writing music.

Your music selection is fine (I agree with many on your list). I tend to like the pure instrumental cinematic sound (RoTK) with lots of moving melodies, countermelodies, harmonies, and a range of different styles (6/8, 4/4, 5/8) and themes with some solos spaced evenly throughout the music.
 
  • #10
OOH another good soundtrack is from Transformers: The Movie. Especially the song "Nothin's going to stand in our way"
 
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  • #11
For all you anime fans the .Hack//Sign Soundtrack is very good, especially the 3rd season.
 
  • #12
Mission Impossible (the very first one) - U2
Extreme Ways (Bourne Identity) - Moby
Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty - Harry Gregson Williams
Most Star Wars
Burn (The Crow) - The Cure

And the strangest one of them all the theme song to Marlboro Country
 
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  • #13
All games

Mario!
Megaman!
Mech Warrior II Merc had an awesome sound track. All instrumental
Homeworld
 
  • #14
The music from 28 Days Later is quite groovy.
 
  • #15
a couple really good soundtracks

Meet Joe Black
Interview with the Vampire
Aida
Prince of Egypt
Jason's Lyric
The Graduate
Easy Rider
 
  • #16
Peter Pan said:
Interview with the Vampire

I'll agree with that, Guns N' Roses - Sympathy for the Devil. Damn good version of the song.
 
  • #17
Schindler's List
Jackie Brown
Pulp Fiction
Artificial Intelligence
2001: A Space Oddyssey
Forest Gump
Mission To Mars
 
  • #18
ShawnD said:
The Vice City soundtrack is awesome. It has Michael Jackson, Rick James, The Cult, The Cars, Flock of Seagulls, Loverboy, Human League, Pointer Sisters. What band doesn't that soundtrack have? :biggrin:

A rhythm. :wink:
 
  • #19
The soundtrack from The Pianist is also good. Schindler's List musically wasn't rich enough, but that was probably intentional in fitting with the mood of the story. The violin solo was beautiful but I've to admit that I got bored with it after a while.