One of the world’s best composers John Barry died Sunday at the age of 77. The five-time Oscar winner have created some of the most celebrated iconic film scores of all time, with the most famous one being the James Bond theme. Some of his other memorable Bond scores are Goldfinger, From Russia With Love, You Only Live Twice and The Living Daylights.
Growing up watching Bond films, I guess I’ve always been listening to his work. I’m quite old school when it comes to music, so soundtracks have always been my favorite genre of music to listen to, especially those with more classical-influence. I think the two main composers whose CDs I own are John Williams and John Barry, and to this day I often still listen to their music regularly. In fact, when I made this list of top twenty movie music, two of John Barry’s scores are on my list.
His scores always sound so lush and elegant, with almost a haunting quality about them. I love, love Dances with Wolves and Out of Africa, but my all time favorite music score has got to be Somewhere in Time. There’s not a lot of soundtrack that has the power to move me like that unabashedly melancholic, achingly romantic theme that beautifully captures the time-travel love story between Elise McKenna and Richard Collier (played by Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve). The music is not only one of the best part of the film, but is practically woven into the plot that it’s impossible to separate the music from the movie.
I know I’ve posted this clip on my favorite soundtrack meme post, but as a tribute to this great legend, I feel like posting it again. Thank you Mr. Barry, for creating such beautiful music that’s as euphonious as it is timeless.
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Well, what is your favorite score(s) by John Barry?
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There are many – From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Moonraker, Diamonds are Forever, and Out of Africa. 60s romantic, cinematic cool. He also scored one of the coolest espionage films of the 60s: The Ipcress File starring Michael Caine as Harry Palmer. Probably the coolest alternative to James Bond.
You made me want to buy his entire collection now. I’ve got so many of his Bond collections from when I was younger. I just saw the Ipcress File on IMDb, I gotta check that out! Why wasn’t Michael Caine considered as Bond? 😀
Dances With Wolves will always be my favorite.
Yep, it’s one of mine, too! He’s got so many great ones to choose from and a lot of them are so timeless.
Where did Jane Seymour go missing? There’s a number of such 80’s actresses who were huge back then and then just disappeared – Kathlen Turner, Jacqueline Bisset, Jennifer O’Neill…
Isn’t she in a tv movie or something?? Yeah, not sure what’s she’s doing now but she still looks really good even in her 60s (I think she’s in her 60s already?) Anyway, I always thought Bisset is absolutely gorgeous, one of those classic beauties.
I think Turner is also getting some TV role next season, if I remember correctly and Bisset had a super bizarre and ultra crazy role in NIP/TUCK as the crazy head of an organ/stealing mafia … I was screaming constantly while watching those episodes with her. 😦
One of the greats, Ruth. I love his work on Dances with Wolves, too, as well as The Deep, The Black Hole and, believe it or not, Howard the Duck. 🙂
Love your tribute.
Thanks Richard. I didn’t think I did Mr. Barry justice with this short tribute but I just felt compelled to do one anyway as I grew up listening to his music.
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