I'm pretty sure, Carolyn, that if you and I were in the same music store, we would not run into each other very often. That's one of the best things about music. It's subjective and individual - no two people will have exactly the same musical appetites or inclinations. When you refer to composing soundtracks inspired by the works you're reading/editing, it certainly illustrates the best music and sci-fi marriage of all - when the music drives the story but also the story begets and drives the music.
I'm reminded of some of my very favorite examples of this win-win creative situation. Right up there is "Red Barchetta" by Rush. The song, my trusty Wikipedia tells me, was inspired by the futuristic short story " A Nice Morning Drive " by Richard Foster and published in the Nov. 1973 issue of Road and Track Magazine. It portrays a future in which unbridled performance vehicles ( a.k.a. Muscle cars, hot rods, etc.,) have been legislated out of existence by " the Motor Law".
The narrator escapes the city to visit his uncle on his former farm every Sunday. This is in part because his uncle has meticulously preserved one such vehicle " a brilliant Red Barchetta from a better, vanished time.", hidden in the barn for him to use when he visits. During one such clandestine drive he is chased by two air cars ( the police, perhaps? ). They are only eluded when he crosses a single lane bridge too narrow for them to follow. The music conveys just as much sheer vicarious adrenaline as the story itself. That's my kind of rock and my kind of uncle, too.
He'd truly have to be the proverbial "rich uncle", though. Less than fifty of the original Ferrari Barchettas were made in the very early 1950's. (See pic) They are ultra rare and desirable. One was recently auctioned for approx. 2.5 million dollars.
Known for decades as " The Thinking Man's Heavy Metal Band " Rush have mined science fiction heavily and effectively in their music. Lyricist and drummer Neil Peart only recently confessed that he's abandoned his penchant for Ayn Rand, an ongoing source for his lyrical inspiration earlier. She recently came back to haunt GOP VP candidate Paul Ryan as well.
These three Canucks are surpassed only by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in terms of consecutive gold and platinum studio albums. I believe, and not too crassly, this means lotsa people like them. Incredibly, only this year The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally saw fit to nominate them for inclusion. - Okay Don, put the soapbox and flag away now!
In the opening sequence to Star Trek (2009) a fiery-eyed, tousle-haired pre-teen James Tiberius Kirk barely able to see over the dash flings a classic Corvette around the badlands for a joyride. Soon he's accosted by two airborne officers. With The Beastie Boys " Sabotage" hammering in our ears ( a choice choice for sure ) he takes them on a chase that ultimately spells the end of the old but pristine 'vette. I can't help but wonder if " Red Barchetta" had a direct or maybe a subliminal influence in the inclusion of this scene.
BTW, a multi-minute tease for the new Star Trek flick "Into Darkness" will, apparently, be included as a preface to The Hobbit movie. - the tsunami keeps rollin'
Another excellent marriage of story and music, for me is Willy DeVille's " Storybook Love " in The Princess Bride soundtrack. It's sort of a three-way marriage ( or four if you include Mark Knopfler's involvement in the creating of the overall soundtrack) including William Goldman's original novel which begat Rob Reiner's beautiful movie which included this simple and elegant love song. Apparently a lot of people felt the same way as it was nominated for an Academy Award for best original song.
There are acres and acres of sci-fi and fantasy inspired musical creations. Some are memorable. Some are strident, derivative or sophomoric. Most are forgettable but some just work. My favorites could be someone else's also-rans. Music is like that.
T
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