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Eric Serra appreciation thread

BAIN123BAIN123
edited April 2012 in Music Posts: 11,189
I know I'm in the minority here but I've always been rather baffaled at the hate this score gets on these boards. True its not up there with John Barry's work but IMO most of the soundtrack suits the film its attached to perfectly. In fact, as another person also said, I can't imagine GE without it.

Some of the tracks don't work but most (IMO anyway) do.

There must be some other people round here who like this rather under-appreciated score.
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Comments

  • ChuckChuck
    Posts: 212
    I'm a huge fan of Serra's work on GE. I definitely, as you said, can't imagine GE without it, and I'd go as far as to say that it's one of the best things about the film.
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    Chuck wrote:
    I'm a huge fan of Serra's work on GE. I definitely, as you said, can't imagine GE without it, and I'd go as far as to say that it's one of the best things about the film.

    To me, its the only memorable score in Brosnan's era. I like it while watching the film, but unlike Barry's work, I can't stand it outside of the film.

    It fits the film perfectly, doesn't sound that bad (while watching), and was a very distinct memory as I slowly grew into Bond a few years ago. The PTS is remarkable with the soundtrack.

    I like it, and would have let him continue on (though many other elements of Brosnan's later films were lackluster, we could of at least had a unique score).
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited April 2012 Posts: 11,189
    JWESTBROOK wrote:
    I'm a huge fan of Serra's work on GE. I definitely, as you said, can't imagine GE without it, and I'd go as far as to say that it's one of the best things about the film.

    I've said this before I've got the soundtrack and sometimes listen to it when driving. Its impossible not to picture the film in your head when you're listening to it though.
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    BAIN123 wrote:
    JWESTBROOK wrote:
    I'm a huge fan of Serra's work on GE. I definitely, as you said, can't imagine GE without it, and I'd go as far as to say that it's one of the best things about the film.

    I've said this before I've got the soundtrack and sometimes listen to it when driving. Its impossible not to picture the film in your head when you're listening to it though.

    Exactly, but I believe @Chuck said that, not me ;)
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited April 2012 Posts: 15,723
    I am a huge fan of Serra, one of the most talented composers working today. His GE score is by far the best non-Barry Bond score. Serra's GE score is almost identical in quality and complexity as Barry's scores.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,261
    I love Serra, mainly though for his non-Bond scores. Léon, Le Grand Bleu, The Fifth Element, Nikita... basically all his stuff for Luc Besson.

    GE is also a very effective score IMO. Sure, there's a certain abundance of electronics which one cannot deny, but IMO that suits the film well. Serra could in fact have returned for more Bond films if you ask me.

    I'd love to ask the panel: did his Léon score inspire the EON people to hire him for GE one year later? The similarities between the two scores are often very clear and obvious.
  • 007RogerMoore007RogerMoore
    Posts: 1,082
    I like Serra´s GE score. It helps to build up the dark atmosphere in the movie.
  • MrEonMrEon
    Posts: 278
    DarthDimi wrote:
    I love Serra, mainly though for his non-Bond scores. Léon, Le Grand Bleu, The Fifth Element, Nikita... basically all his stuff for Luc Besson.

    I'd love to ask the panel: did his Léon score inspire the EON people to hire him for GE one year later? The similarities between the two scores are often very clear and obvious.

    ....There's no doubt that Serra's score for "Leon" got the ear of Eon & co, and Eric did produce a fine score for that film, a score I prefer more so than GE!! Although GE has its moments and charm!! But I feel it hasn't aged terribly well!?
    If John Barry had accepted the mission of writing the score for GE, we would of all got the farewell Barry/Bond score we all deserved, and Serra would of been kept at arms length of Bond!!!? :-B
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,261
    Please, @MrEon, don't overuse the exclamation marks. It makes reading your otherwise interesting points somewhat irritating. Thank you.
  • MrEonMrEon
    Posts: 278
    DarthDimi wrote:
    Please, @MrEon, don't overuse the exclamation marks. It makes reading your otherwise interesting points somewhat irritating. Thank you.

    ....I can't help it!!!!!!!! The button draws me in!!!!


    Sorry....... :-B x.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    I love Eric Serra's GoldenEye score, it's just absolutely majestic! High points go to the tracks played during the PTS, the helicopter trap in the statue graveyard, the Archives gun battle, the tank chase, Bond's fight with Xenia, and the entire finale.
  • bondsumbondsum
    Posts: 3,334
    What's that track called that sounds like R2D2 making love to a toaster? Oh, yes, it was "Ladies First". Dreadful music to open to after the title song. The whole thing sounds pretty dated to me now.

    Though I still have the Limited Edition gold disc CD it never gets a spin anymore.
  • MrEonMrEon
    Posts: 278
    bondsum wrote:
    What's that track called that sounds like R2D2 making love to a toaster? Oh, yes, it was "Ladies First". Dreadful music to open to after the title song. The whole thing sounds pretty dated to me now.

    Though I still have the Limited Edition gold disc CD it never gets a spin anymore.

    ....that's got to be worth all of £3 now!? :))
  • bondsumbondsum
    Posts: 3,334
    MrEon wrote:
    bondsum wrote:
    What's that track called that sounds like R2D2 making love to a toaster? Oh, yes, it was "Ladies First". Dreadful music to open to after the title song. The whole thing sounds pretty dated to me now.

    Though I still have the Limited Edition gold disc CD it never gets a spin anymore.

    ....that's got to be worth all of £3 now!? :))

    That put a smile on my face, Mr Eon. Though I have found someone trying to sell it for £14.72 on MusicStack. Maybe some of the Eric Serra fans here might be interested in such a rarity....?

    http://www.musicstack.com/item/139283410

  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited April 2012 Posts: 24,261
    What's special about it? ;-)
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    MrEon wrote:
    DarthDimi wrote:
    I love Serra, mainly though for his non-Bond scores. Léon, Le Grand Bleu, The Fifth Element, Nikita... basically all his stuff for Luc Besson.

    I'd love to ask the panel: did his Léon score inspire the EON people to hire him for GE one year later? The similarities between the two scores are often very clear and obvious.

    ....There's no doubt that Serra's score for "Leon" got the ear of Eon & co, and Eric did produce a fine score for that film, a score I prefer more so than GE!! Although GE has its moments and charm!! But I feel it hasn't aged terribly well!?
    If John Barry had accepted the mission of writing the score for GE, we would of all got the farewell Barry/Bond score we all deserved, and Serra would of been kept at arms length of Bond!!!? :-B

    I agree with everything said here. Leon is an awesome score and when Serra was announced for GE, although I was disappointed it was not JB, I was made up.

    However the end result is way below lacklustre.

    The gunbarrel music is horrendous with the Bond theme barely audible when, after an 8 year absence (LTKs is also awful), you need the full John Barry orchestra to give it the Bond theme full throttle.

    It seems like Serra did some sort of Del Boy deal to take delivery of a load of empty oil drums and he had to make use of them somehow. For most of the film it just sounds like someones banging two pans together inside a cupboard.

    The DB5 chase soundtrack belongs in a 70s Swedish porn film and the end titles song has to be the most insipid track ever laid down.

    Give him his due the stuff on the beach is decent and I dont mind the stuff in Monaco at night but overall I cant believe its the same guy who scored Leon.

    I just cant understand why EON didnt ensure they got Barry back one last time - whatever the price.

    People dislike Arnold but White Knight alone in the first 5 mins of his first film surpasses anything Serra did in GE.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    @TheWizardofIce: How about the Bond theme that Serra did during the St. Petersburg tank chase? I've always thought it was one of the best re-makes of the James Bond theme.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,261
    00Beast wrote:
    @TheWizardofIce: How about the Bond theme that Serra did during the St. Petersburg tank chase? I've always thought it was one of the best re-makes of the James Bond theme.

    Actually, the film version, which isn't on the soundtrack, wasn't composed by Serra!

  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    Funnily enough the "serra version" of the tank chase is one of the very few tracks I dislike.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,261
    Seconded. Too heavy on the electronics and not enough 'spunk' in the original melody. Also, the exotic voices in the back render it into something I find downright inappropriate for the Bond Theme.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    DarthDimi wrote:
    00Beast wrote:
    @TheWizardofIce: How about the Bond theme that Serra did during the St. Petersburg tank chase? I've always thought it was one of the best re-makes of the James Bond theme.

    Actually, the film version, which isn't on the soundtrack, wasn't composed by Serra!

    Really? Oh wow, that's disappointing!
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited April 2012 Posts: 15,723
    While the serra version is very odd, I quite like it.

    @00Beast this is the serra version found only on the CD

  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    @DaltonCraig007: That's amazing!
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,723
    You like it @00Beast ?
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    DaltonCraig007 wrote:
    You like it @00Beast ?

    Yeah, it's pretty epic!
  • actonsteveactonsteve
    Posts: 1,492
    Count me out. Serras work on GE kicks me out of the film. The kerplunky metallic sound reminds me of gurgling drains.

    Doesnt work for me.
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    I absolutely enjoy about half (maybe less) of the GE soundtrack and hate the other half, it is something I don't feel in any other soundtrack. I agree with the previous comments that the exagerate use of electronics killed the soundtrack.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    actonsteve wrote:
    Count me out. Serras work on GE kicks me out of the film. The kerplunky metallic sound reminds me of gurgling drains.

    Doesnt work for me.

    But its meant to be reflective of Soviet Russia. I think it works quite well :(

    I'm not sure if a lush exotic sound would have worked as well.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited April 2012 Posts: 15,723
    BAIN123 wrote:
    I'm not sure if a lush exotic sound would have worked as well.

    There's the very lush cue during the casino scene, and of course the romantic cue for Natalya, million miles ahead of any romantic music in the Arnold soundtracks.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,261
    The film version of the tank sequence's score can be found in a pretty good version on the James Bond Back In Action Again CD.
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