What’s a movie without music? The sounds and songs featured in our favourite films can have us grinning, move us to tears or evoke emotions we didn’t even know existed.
The top film composers and musicians of arguably the best scores and songs of 2015 movies gathered at the biggest movie night of the year – The Oscars. While the deserving Ennio Morricone took home the trophy for The Hateful Eight in the Best Original Score category, Sam Smith swept up the golden lady for Spectre in the Best Original Song category. Either way, for their orchestration, songwriting and composition efforts, everyone deserved to be a winner.
Best original score
Bridge of Spies - Thomas Newman
While the director, Steven Spielberg received a number of nominations for the film, Newman’s varied orchestration is what keeps the suspense intact throughout the Cold War thriller.
Carol - Carter Burwell
Carter Burwell weaves instrumentation into the emotional motifs of this dramatic love story, bringing to life its themes through his melodies.
Sicario - Johann Johannsson
Incorporating drone-like dissonance in minor key driven orchestration, Johann captures the dread and drama of this thriller flick.
The Hateful Eight - Ennio Morricone
Morricone’s first Western soundtrack in over 30 years is also the first commissioned orchestral soundtrack for a Tarantino project; in the past, the controversial Pulp Fiction filmmaker has been reluctant to trust a composer with the essence of his movie. And turns out, he chose right with Morricone sweeping up the award.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens – John Williams
Since John Williams was welcomed to the universe, he worked on the music everyday. What works in this is the fact that it takes off from the old tracks, invoking a strong sense of nostalgia for any Star Wars fan.
Best original song
Til It Happens To You from The Hunting Ground
From vulnerable to aggressive, Lady Gaga takes the notes of this pop ballad through her own trauma. The powerful track which also features Diane Warren was placed in two sequences of the film that deals with campus rape to highlight the pain of sexual assault. The somber tune also features orchestral production and soaring strings while emphasising on the empowering message, something that received a standing ovation at the ceremony this year.
Writing’s on the Wall from Spectre
Did you know that Sam Smith and Jimmy Nape reportedly came together in one whirlwind session, to write and record this song’s demo in less than half hour?
The vocals are powerful with a brush of the orchestra and resonant piano notes, something that makes this the winning track.
Earned It from Fifty Shades of Grey
The Weeknd wrote several songs for the project, for several scenes. Having kept at it, he wrote Earned It, complementing it with his seductive vocals. This is now biggest song in his career.
Simple Song #3 from Youth
Made to perfection with the soprano Sumi Jo, violinist Viktoria Mullova, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Berlin Radio Choir, this song was written by the American composer David Lang.
Manta Ray from Racing Extinction
Did you know that this song was originally inspired by the mating call of the last individual survivor of an extinct bird species? The lyrics were written and sung by singer Anohni, with the melody and music composed by J. Ralph.
