What’s the Score |

Is That Your Final Answer?

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Matthew Cesca

The Indian phrase “jai ho” can roughly be translated to “let there be victory” in english. Which is why the song Jai Ho by the Pussycat Dolls is such a great fit as the leading single for the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack.

Slumdog Millionaire is the 2008 film that took not only the United States, but the entire world by storm. The film won so many awards it is honestly a waste of time to list them all. But with that in mind, here are the important ones know. At the 2009 Academy Awards Slumdog Millionaire took home Best Film, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song. Quite the list huh?

The score was made by Indian composer A.R. Rahman and this is where it gets really interesting. Despite taking over two months to plan the soundtrack. The actual creation was completed in just two days. Showing that there really is no substitute for preproduction (Shoutout to Joe Fonzi).

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What makes this soundtrack truly great is that this is a film based in India and purely based around their culture. Except, I did leave out the fact that the film is based around the hit american show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? But, I digress. What makes the soundtrack great is that despite the plot being based out of the country, the soundtrack really has a modern-american feel to it. But wait! There’s more! (Bad informercial joke). Even with artists like M.I.A. and the Pussycat Dolls headlining the soundtrack, Rahman was able to keep a real indian feel to the music.

With Jai Ho being the lead single, it is as if Rahman was calling his shot. And much like the Great Bambino in the 1932 World Series there was no false confidence involved. Film critic Goher Iqbal termed the soundtrack as Rahman’s magnum opus and will bring together the entire world. Now that is an endorsement!

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If you have yet to see Slumdog Millionaire make sure to check it out here.

John Williams is the Man, the Myth, the Legend

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Matthew Cesca

With the great honor of the 2016 American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award, there is not much to say about John Williams except that this man is arguably the greatest composer the film industry has and will ever see. The man that I am talking about is living legend John Williams.

There was a point in time when there was not an award-winning film that Williams did not producer the soundtrack for. It is almost unbelievable when you pull up his Wikipedia page and look at all of the films he has been apart of. All classics! If you have not checked out my video, Star Wars, Jaws, and the Harry Potter films are some of his; just to name a few.

Now the majority of the films he has worked on have been with his good friend Steven Spielberg. However, for the film soundtrack that is considered to be the greatest of all time, Star Wars. I mean who does not hear that dun dun dun daaa and immediately think of Star Wars. That may have won the Oscar for him alone.

Anyways, Star Wars was directed by George Lucas. But! Spielberg played a part in that pairing. After working with Williams on Jaws, Spielberg went to Lucas and recommended that Williams would be a perfect to score Star Wars. Clearly, Steven Spielberg does not get many things wrong. And lucky for us he was not for us he was not afraid to share his right hand man

If you cannot get enough of Williams check out this sit down of Spielberg and him.

The Great Jay Z

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Matthew Cesca

Dangerous, intoxicating, and thrilling. This is what jazz might have felt like in the 1920’s. In the 2013 version of The Great Gatsby, director Baz Luhrnman wanted to bring this same exact feeling to modern audiences, which is why he brought in music juggernaut Jay Z to help produce the soundtrack.

Now I know what you’re thinking. Jay Z is rapper. How and why is he in charge of creating a soundtrack for a jazz culture based film? Plus, how does Baz Luhrmann, director of Moulin Rouge, even know who Jay Z is?

Well like I said, Baz wanted a very modern and also hip-hop feel for the sound of the film. Interestingly, the idea of Jay Z producing the soundtrack of the film came about while Baz and star of the film Leonardo DiCaprio were sitting in on a recording session of Jay Z and Kanye West’s song No Church in the Wild. Which subsequently is featured in the film.

What makes this film soundtrack really interesting is the transformation of what hip-hop is thought to be and what hip-hop really is and how it is brought to life. The film only features two songs that can be classified in the category of rap. One being No Church in the Wild and the other is an original song by Jay Z called $100 Bill.

The rest of the soundtrack features the likes of Lana Del Rey, Florence and the Machine, Andre 3000, Beyonce, The xx, and a lot more who would have made me fill in half a page just listing them. So if I left out one your favorite contributors I am sorry and it was only done in an effort to save space.

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However, I am getting off topic. All of these artists in traditional form are not seen as hip-hop; minus Andre 3000. But, when you put their vocals over hip-hop instrumentals infused with jazz and not to mention EDM bass lines. That is exactly what you get. A hip-hop soundtrack that is dangerous, intoxicating, and thrilling.

For those of you haven’t seen the 2013 version of The Great Gatsby (Which I doubt is many seeing it made over 51.1 million dollars just in the opening weekend) go ahead and click here to check it out. And for those of you who have seen it, the next time you watch look for some of the things in the music that I mentioned.

David Fincher Unfriends Trent Reznor

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Matthew Cesca

Before I say anything about The Social Network. Who would have thought that a film about Facebook would have such a killer soundtrack. I mean, the film won both an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Score. It is crazy. A movie that is based solely around social interactions and the creation of Facebook made the soundtrack of the year in 2010. Not a single major character is developed. This is including Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook.

What may even be crazier is that the soundtrack almost did not happen. Not in the sense that this film almost got scratched from seeing the light of day. And not in the sense that director David Fincher was going to say to hell with a soundtrack. There was going to be a soundtrack to this film. The question was, who was going to create it?

Fincher’s first choice, Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor, declined due to just coming back from a strenuous tour at the age of forty-five. Which helped open up the doors for…

No one. After meddling over the decision, Reznor came back and change his mind.

Despite the obstacles that the film’s plot line provides. The movie has a complex emotional range but very little action, only a tease of violence, and no traditional love story. (Side note: I actually took an old girlfriend of mine to see the film and after she told me that I was never allowed to pick a movie again. She thought it was that boring! I however, fully enjoyed the film.)However, Reznor uses what the movie does have in skittish tension and bipolar energy to create a soundtrack to match. He created an ambiance that in his own words is “sometimes chilly, sometimes warm, but always spoiling around the edges.”

For those of you who have not seen The Social Network check it out by clicking here.

It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Matthew Cesca

As the indie breakout film of 2005, Hustle & Flow helped to skyrocket rap group Three 6 Mafia into the mainstream spotlight; ultimately leading to a career that keeps them relevant today.

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Without the soundtrack the film alone stands as gem. First of all, Terrance Howard’s performance in the film is legendary. He plays a pimp and I don’t know about you guys but studying for that role seems like a bit of a challenge. I know zero actual pimps. Plus I’m guessing if you are a pimp that is usually information that you keep to yourself. However, to make a long story short, Terrence Howard was nominated for Best Actor at the 78^th Academy Awards. Sadly, he lost. Robbery?

Anyway, the soundtrack of the film is just as stellar. Of course it features, Three 6 Mafia’s Academy Award winning song It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp. Not only that but it has a couple more songs that made some noise on radio stations. Most notably being T.I.’s I’m a King and Webbie’s Bad B*tch.

For Three 6 Mafia, talk about ceasing an opportunity. They rode this wave as perfect as can be. They took Hustle & Flow’s success and multiplied it for their very own. Up until 2005 it seemed like Three 6 Mafia’s unique southern style rap was doomed to stay underground forever. But, In July of 2005 they released the hit single Stay Fly and it just so happens that month was the release of Hustle & Flow. A few months later they released their best selling album, Most Known Unknown. And as the saying goes, the rest is history.

If you are interested in learning more about Hustle & Flow or want to hear more about Three 6 Mafia and some of their music make sure to check out Episode One of What’s the Score below.

If you have not watched Hustle & Flow before, I highly suggest that you check it out. It is actually available on Youtube to stream for just $2.99.