COMPARE THE TRACKS [#7]: "Sévérine's Theme" (SF) vs. "Andrea Anders' Theme" (TMWTGG)

edited October 2015 in Music Posts: 11,119
How does it work? Very simple. Out of tremendous respect for every composer and their contributions to the wunderful Bond franchise both tracks (from any random Bond score) start off with 1 POINT. But then the critical ear from every Bond fan needs to start working. You can either let one track win, or the other. You do that by adding 2 POINTS to your winner of this duel. Or if you really can't choose, you have the possibility to call it a draw and give both tracks 1 POINT extra. So you always have these outcomes:

LEFT track vs. RIGHT track
3 POINTS vs. 1 POINTS (left track wins)
1 POINTS vs. 3 POINTS (right track wins)
2 POINTS vs. 2 POINTS (it's a draw)

The rules are simple:
--> It's an ongoing topic, with no end to it
--> So there are countless rounds/duels
--> Once the maximum of 20 posters have voted in a duel, the next round kicks off
--> Points given to a duel after the max. of 20 posters has been reached, will not be added to the score
--> I try to make honest comparisons, so I will always try to put similar music styles against each other
--> The same counts for a given quality of a track, I try to find similar qualities
--> After a round, a ranking table will be added, so that in the end you will have high scoring winners, but also low scoring winners. Similarly, you will see high scoring losers and low scoring losers.
--> In a much later stage, we can also make a final ranking of the actual individual scores

Why do I do this? We have had so many discussions about each individual composer. But I think it's time we are going to listen better, to test our ears better, and to find the nuances within this subjective art of movie scoring (for Bond films). I also welcome lovely discussions about the style of each tracks? Which track is the better "mysterious Bond-goes-out-spying"-track? Which of two action-oriented tracks in a duel was better in supporting the story and the scene?

Anyway, have fun :-)! Off we go with round #1 --> "Night At The Opera" (QOS) vs. "Shanghai Drive" (SF)
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Comments

  • Posts: 11,119
    And PLEASE dear moderator. First PM me if you come across a similar topic. Although I doubt it with this specific well-thought set-up. Please don't lock it without warning :-). I think this could be a great topic. Thank you.
  • Posts: 7,653




    My preference goes to the Skyfall tune.

  • Posts: 11,119
    So in your case that's 1 vs. 3 :-). Please mention your scores dear posters. Makes it easier to add up the scores.
  • Posts: 7,653
    So in your case that's 1 vs. 3 :-). Please mention your scores dear posters. Makes it easier to add up the scores.

    My appologies

    QoB 1 - 3 SF

  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    QOS 3 - 1 SF

    Night at the Opera is the superior track in my opinion.
  • Posts: 3,336
    QOS 3 - 1 SF
  • Posts: 11,119
    I find it very hard to choose. I need to sleep a night over it...
  • Posts: 2,491
    Why can't we vote 0-4 ? :D

    I vote for draw.

    2-2 from me :)
  • Posts: 11,119
    keep voting. And also, please elaborate on your choice. What are your arguments?
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,311
    Hi @Gustav_Graves, I like this thread, it's wunder-full ;-)

    There are things I like in both tracks.
    "NatO" is building tension, it tries to emulate the Barry sound somehow (it has the Bond-familiarity). However, it sounds predictable, the layers for the instruments sound too "layered", like the composer had no clear vision of a melody but just added flavors to get a generic Bond sound.
    "SD" sounds clearer, more to the point, the composer had a clear vision for his composition, which I prefer. Unfortunately it lacks any resemblance to either title track or Bond motifs, nor does it incorporate anything that recognizably reappears thematically in the other tracks in SF.

    Summary: I am torn, it is a draw: 2:2
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Posts: 4,416
    QOS 3 - 1 SF
  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    There's no contest, it'd be like comparing OHMSS to DAD.

    QOS 3 - 1 SF
  • Posts: 11,119
    Walecs wrote: »
    There's no contest, it'd be like comparing OHMSS to DAD.

    QOS 3 - 1 SF

    Then why voting. Or....why not discussing these two tracks?
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    I like Shanghai Drive alright but Night at the Opera is just so majestic and really fits the scene that it accompanies.
    QoS 3 - SF 1
  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    Walecs wrote: »
    There's no contest, it'd be like comparing OHMSS to DAD.

    QOS 3 - 1 SF

    Then why voting. Or....why not discussing these two tracks?

    One is a beautiful orchestral melody that perfectly accompanies its scene, the other is a bunch of electronic noises.
  • Posts: 908
    Walecs wrote: »
    Walecs wrote: »
    There's no contest, it'd be like comparing OHMSS to DAD.

    QOS 3 - 1 SF

    Then why voting. Or....why not discussing these two tracks?

    One is a beautiful orchestral melody that perfectly accompanies its scene, the other is a bunch of electronic noises.

    Yup! This is as good an analysis as you are likely to get.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,009
    Night at the Opera 3 - 1 Shanghai Drive

    The Quantum track is gorgeous. Lush and full of melody to accompany the scene, while still developing a sense of danger throughout that builds towards the end.

    Shanghai Drive is an okay-ish establishing track but it doesn't really develop into anything interesting - unlike it's follow up track Jellyfish, which is much better at establishing the scene.

  • Posts: 11,119
    With pain in my heart (everyone knows I admire Skyfall as one of the best Bond films ever made) I have to go for "Night At The Opera". I think the overall score of QOS was very lacklustre IMO. But this track really stood out for me. It gave a necessary 1960's espionage feel to the movies and especially reminded me of "spy-themes" being heard in TB and FRWL.

    So it's 3 - 1

    But it was close! I don't think "Shanghai Drive" is a bore....a piece of "electronic bore". It's just slightly too short I think. I like the build-up a lot. And opposed to Arnold's use of electronic music, I think Thomas Newman & Simon Rhodes do it way more delicately.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,449
    Great idea for a topic, @Gustav_Graves! :-)

    QOS wins for me: 3-1

    Night At The Opera may be one of my favourite tracks from Arnold's Bond collection. Smooth and atmospheric, simple yet beautiful and enigmatic. I love the editing of the track, with the strings in the background and the electronics underscoring the whole thing. I like the mood it builds. This is one of the primary reasons why I'd want Arnold back for another Bond film. IMO, QOS is his best Bond score to date, with CR a close second. He has matured a great deal since TND.

    Shanghai Drive is not a bad piece of music but it benefits from the beautiful images we see, not from the composition itself. The track is fairly one-note, not exactly leading to a satisfying musical conclusion. I'm not offended by it, it's just nothing special.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    I already voted but I'd like to analyze both tracks in depth.

    Night at the Opera
    This specific track reminds me of two classic Barry pieces. The harp melody that opens the song is very reminiscent of "Capsule in Space" One of John Barry's finest tracks composed. The main melody of the song is also similar to "The Sniper Was a Woman" from TLD. It's ominous and mysterious. It carries the same suspense while being lighter in feeling. Rather than being tense it's rather soothing, The song takes you on a journey while complementing the visuals that the movie provides. Night at the Opera is one my favorite David Arnold tracks. It stays true to the standard John Barry set while not being a pastiche. I often listened to this song on my MP3 player while visiting my college library.

    Shanghai Drive
    This is a good piece of ambient music. But it leaves much to be desired melodically. And that isn't me bashing it. I like the song but it's simple ambiance. I could picture this in GoldenEye while Bond is visiting Monty Carlo. Actually a lot of Skyfall's score would work nicely in GoldenEye and I mean that as a compliment. It's use in the film works very well with it's visuals.

    But when you pit both songs against eachother, Night at the Opera wins.
  • Posts: 11,119
    8 more voters please ;)
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    "Murdock wrote:
    The main melody of the song is also similar to "The Sniper Was a Woman" from TLD.
    Yes, I do hear the similarities now that you mention it. How interesting.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,328
    pachazo wrote: »
    "Murdock wrote:
    The main melody of the song is also similar to "The Sniper Was a Woman" from TLD.
    Yes, I do hear the similarities now that you mention it. How interesting.
    This is how I first noticed the similarities.
  • Posts: 7,653
    John Barry's version works brilliantly, I really miss his talent and quality.
  • SuperintendentSuperintendent A separate pool. For sharks, no less.
    Posts: 870
    "The Sniper Was a Woman" is a superior tune IMO, but I don't think it works in the given context.

    "Night at the Opera" is fantastic, and I agree with what others have said. "Shanghai Drive" is also great, but it sounds just a bit more generic.

    QOS 3 - 1 SF

    BTW, why 3-1 and 2-2? Why not 1-0 and 1-1?
  • Posts: 11,119
    12 votes, another 8 to go. Let's vote and go to round #2 :-)
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    12 votes, another 8 to go. Let's vote and go to round #2 :-)

    Good, because I must confess, I can't remember either track!
  • Posts: 11,119
    12 votes, another 8 to go. Let's vote and go to round #2 :-)

    Good, because I must confess, I can't remember either track!

    the tracks have been acompanied by videos :).
  • Posts: 1,181
    Night At The Opera 3-1.
  • MayDayDiVicenzoMayDayDiVicenzo Here and there
    Posts: 5,080
    12 votes, another 8 to go. Let's vote and go to round #2 :-)

    Good, because I must confess, I can't remember either track!

    the tracks have been acompanied by videos :).

    Of course, but I couldn't remember the tracks from the films, but going from the videos alone, I would say 3-1 to Night At the Opera.
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