#12: Oops! All Soundtracks
It’s been a while and I was racking my brain what to focus on to write about struck me - I’d been watching a lot of films lately (*nudge* follow my letterboxd lmao *nudge*) and listening to a lot of soundtracks! So, enjoy this bumper soundtrack special!
Murray Gold’s Doctor Who Soundtracks
After overseeing six series of Doctor Who, Steven Moffat gave way to a new showrunner in Chris Chibnall. With the new showrunner also came a new composer - Segun Akinola. When this news was announced I was intrigued to see how someone other than Murray Gold would handle the show. However, just as with many other elements of the show under Chibnall, the music disappoints me. The music itself seems more...atmospheric? And honestly, I can’t actually remember how any of it sounds aside from the fact I remember it often not fitting with the scene on-screen very well.
Series 11 of Doctor Who let me down, so I didn’t actually watch series 12 when it first aired last year. In the run up to the New Year’s Day special however, I thought it was time to finally get round to it. After watching series 12 and being largely let down again, I found myself drawn to rewatching the Russell T Davies era and also revisiting Murray Gold’s soundtracks.
Where the new soundtrack focuses on atmosphere with a lack of recognisable themes, Gold revels in big, bombastic pieces. Action set pieces are exhilarating, moments of glory are soundtracked to the most triumphant music, and sad moments get the most heart-wrenching score that only amplifies their impact.
To me, recognisable and repeatable themes are something I like to see in a TV soundtrack - where you’re building on the audience's expectations week after week.
Consider the moment the Doctor and Rose reunite in the climax of The Stolen Earth. The initial piano hits of Rose’s Theme starts before you even see her, and are a perfect addition to the scene.
Doctor Who as a show is over the top and deserves a suitably over the top soundtrack!
Series 1 & 2 - Apple Music // Spotify
Series 3 - Apple Music // Spotify
Series 4 - Apple Music // Spotify
Anna Meredith - Eighth Grade (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
I recently watched Eighth Grade and only found out afterwards the soundtrack was by Anna Meredith, a musician whose work I previously wrote about in the first edition of this newsletter.
The film was great - a frank portrayal of the awkwardness of being a teenager, that also made me glad things like social media and smartphones weren’t as ubiquitous when I was growing up.
The soundtrack definitely isn’t what I would have expected it to be, yet also perfectly compliments the film and I’ve found myself relistening it quite a few times over the last couple of weeks especially while working.
Frances Ha (Music From the Motion Picture)
After I watched Frances Ha I enjoyed it so much I ended up watching it again two weeks later, something I pretty much never do.
The bit where Frances goes to Paris to prove she’s also worldly and spontaneous but fucks up by sleeping in and then misses out on everything (getting to the cinema too late, the store being closed)? I feel seen.
The soundtrack itself? It’s also great! It features a mix of french orchestral pieces and 70’s rock and it’s jams back to front.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t also recommend the 1978 film Girlfriends which is basically the prototype Frances Ha. A friend recommended it to me after I’d seen the latter and it was striking how similar they were.
Nino Rota - The Godfather & The Godfather Part II
Everything about The Godfather series has already been said, but I recently watched them for the first time and this is my newsletter so you’re getting my opinion!
The Godfather is pretty much a perfect film. It’s honestly as good as people say it is. Its three hour runtime is well earned and somehow breezes along without dragging. The cast is absolutely stacked, and frankly I’m offended no-one told me how hot Al Pacino was in the 70’s????? The only real criticism I have is that the female characters don’t get a lot to do - Apollonia is barely even a character.
The Godfather Soundtrack - Apple Music // Spotify
The Godfather Part II is regarded by some fans to be even better than the first, but personally I thought you could really feel the 3 hours & 20 minutes runtime. Where the first has a quite straightforward storyline, Part II jumps back and forth between young Vito starting out the Corleone family business, contrasting with Michael’s attempts to hold it together. I can see why some people prefer this one - it’s more ambitious, and doesn’t fall into the all too common sequel trend of repeating its predecessor’s storyline, but I didn’t feel quite the same connection to it than I did the first film. My hot take is I’m somewhat glad Marlon Brando didn’t show up to film a cameo in the ending scene as it possibly could have been distracting.
The Godfather Part II Soundtrack - Apple Music // Spotify
I think Part III has been unfairly maligned. It’s fine! It’s a solid 6 or 7 out of 10. For reference I watched the new “Coda” version but I know the changes are quite minimal. It’s perfectly enjoyable, but I can understand how it feels like a step down from the first two. And yes, I will concede that Sofia Coppola’s acting is….not great.
(I haven’t actually listened to the soundtrack for Part III as it doesn’t seem to be available digitally in the UK for some reason)