Masterpieces of film music: from Hollywood classics to Japanese cinema

My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS

RADWIMPS – Zenzenzense (movie ver.) [Official Music Video]

Your Name, released in 2016, is a masterpiece that took both the music and film industries by storm.

With this song, Radwimps truly became a household name.

As the title suggests, the talent of vocalist Yojiro Noda, who composed the main theme, fit perfectly with the film’s mysterious worldview.

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Yoshizaki Keiko

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End CreditsJohn Williams

End Credits

In the final scene of the film Jurassic Park, this piece plays during the moving end credits.

It quotes the melody also used in the memorable soundtrack pieces Welcome to Jurassic Park and Journey to the Island.

That grand, heart-stirring theme evokes both awe for a world where dinosaurs live and the thrill of breathless adventure.

It’s the perfect track for when you want to relive that surge of excitement you felt after finishing the movie.

Raiders MarchJohn Williams

Theme from Indiana Jones

This piece is immensely famous as the theme from the movie Indiana Jones.

The film first premiered in 1981, and the track has remained the main theme throughout the series.

Its composer, John Williams, is a master of film music who has created numerous classics.

Just listening to it boosts your motivation, and—as the name “Raiders March” suggests—it’s often performed by marching bands and the like.

Merry Christmas Mr. LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence — Merry Christmas on the Battlefield

Participating in pop groups such as YMO and composing film scores, Ryuichi Sakamoto has been active across a broad spectrum of the music world.

Among the film music he wrote, perhaps his most famous piece is this one used in Merry Christmas, Mr.

Lawrence.

The Dinosaur Fly-ByDon Davis

The Dinosaur Fly-By

It’s a thrilling orchestral piece by Don Davis from the film Jurassic Park III.

While respectfully carrying forward the iconic melodies of the earlier series’ theme, it grandly conveys a sense of anticipation for a new adventure.

It plays during the scene where the characters fly over the island, and the breathtaking expanse of nature below, along with the story about to unfold, leaves you in awe.

Just listening to it makes you feel the thrill and excitement as if you were the hero of the adventure yourself! It’s the perfect track for reliving the film’s emotions or for lifting your spirits.

Welcome to Jurassic WorldMichael Giacchino

Welcome to Jurassic World

The grand melody of the iconic original theme is revived with majestic resonance by Michael Giacchino, accompanied by the sacred voices of a choir.

Just by listening, you can almost picture the vast landscapes and the dinosaurs unfolding before your eyes.

It’s a perfect piece for anyone who wants to relive that goosebump-inducing excitement from watching the film, through the music.

Dragon BoyHisaishi Joe

Spirited Away – Dragon Boy ( Daizo Edit Extended)

From Studio Ghibli’s hugely famous film Spirited Away, this is “The Dragon Boy.” The “dragon” refers to Haku, and the piece is used in the scene where Haku and Chihiro meet and then depart from the bathhouse.

In the film, the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra performs it: a mystical tone born from layered harp and piano leads into flowing horn lines, while the woodwinds stack in perfect fourths to evoke a traditional Japanese atmosphere.

This performance is a longer version than the one in the film, making “The Dragon Boy” even more powerful.

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sai-kisaragi

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