Top 5 Horror Movie Theme Songs

In celebration of Halloween today, I will count down the top 5 horror movie themes.  Check them out, let me know what you think of them.

5.  Jaws by John Williams

I love John Williams, he has composed some of the most classics scores and movie soundtracks for over 30 years.  One of his most famous songs is the theme for the movie "Jaws".  The way it builds up and creates a sense of unease is very effective.  When ever you hear this song, you can't help but to be on alert and wonder what is coming.  It makes you be on your guard and it makes the movie feel that much more intense. 

4.  Psycho (1960) by Bernard Herrmann

I love Psycho, it is without a doubt a classic movie.  While Alfred Hitchcock certainly deserves credit for how he directed this movie, the soundtrack for this movie is also very brilliant and this theme song, written by Bernard Herrmann demonstrates that.  This is without a doubt some of the most spooky music I have ever heard out of a movie, even by today's standards.  The way it starts alone makes you feel like you should be running for your life and constantly watching your back. One of the greatest themes ever, even today.

3.  Rosemary's Baby by Krzysztof Komeda

This one doesn't have a huge orchestra like the previous ones do but my goodness that La La La.  Every time I hear that, it scares the heck out of me.  This song is a good example that you don't have to be so big and loud to be scary. Just the way the voice is executed in this song makes it ones of the creepiest things to listen to.  

2.  Halloween by John Carpenter

The piano in this song is creepy enough, but the way that all the other instruments come in and then fade out gives off a great tone of unease and uncertainty.  This formula makes you feel scared while at the same time letting you know to expect the unexpected which is how this movie plays out. This theme resembles the movie it is attached to perfectly.

1.  Candyman by Philip Glass 

What makes this song so interesting is that it doesn't sound simply scary like the rest.  When listening to this song you get a combination of soothing, sadness, and scary.   It is confusing, yet still sounds good and well executed.  I like this because it really makes you uncertain of what your in for and that is one of the scariest feelings in the world.  When you watch the movie, then this theme makes more sense because you realize that your dealing with a movie that is more complex then your standard horror film movie.  Because this song makes you think more and because it is able to combine so many moods and still sound good that I make this song number 1. 

  

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Splash Mountain A Fun Soundtrack

When it comes to the Disneyland rides, a lot of them have one thing in common.  The rides have very good and very memorable soundtracks.  From Pirates of the Caribbean, to the Haunted Mansion, these are very well done soundtracks that people never forget. Another soundtrack that no one ever forgets, is the soundtrack for Splash Mountain.

I must say that this is one of the most catchy soundtracks I have ever heard.  It uses the same songs as the movie it is based on, "Song of The South", accept the songs are a little more energetic and are sung by the animated characters without Uncle Remus.  Most of the songs have a great beat and a great hook that makes want to sing along with them.  The intro starts out fairly simple, it is an instrumental version of the song "How Do You Do".  They use this to help ease the person into the ride and give them a moment to just simply enjoy the atmosphere of the ride.  This is a good start to the soundtrack because it is able to get you excited for the rest of the ride while at same time being really laid back and easy to enjoy.  After the intro is done,  the vocals then come in and you experience the full version of the song.  From this point on, you get to experience a very good remake of the Song of The South Soundtrack.  

While I certainly love the voice of James Baskett, who plays Uncle Remus in Song of the South, I have to admit that even without him these songs sound good.  I think the reason for that is that they also change the music as well.  In this soundtrack the songs are more energetic and more fast pace then they are in the movie.  This was a smart move on Disney's part, because if they kept the songs in their original form without James Baskett singing, it would feel weird and out of place.  People would feel thrown off and it would damage their experience of Splash Mountain.  

As the soundtrack continues, you then get into the remake of "Everybody's Got a Laughing Place".  I actually like this version better then in the movie. To me, the music is better and the vocals are much stronger then in the movie.  I actually found myself wanting to sing along with this version, while I really didn't get into the old version all that much.  

After Everybody's Got a Laughing Place, you then get a brief monologue about how Brer Rabbit finally got in too much trouble and then you get into the biggest song of the whole soundtrack, Zip A Dee Doo Dah".  This is a good way to wrap up the soundtrack.  The song is really fun and just as catchy as the movie.  I found myself singing along with this as soon as I heard it on the ride and every time I listen to the song, I can't help but to get into it. It is a lot of fun and truly makes you leave the ride on a high note. 

This soundtrack is full of catchy songs that are fun to listen to in and outside of the ride.  If you are a Disney fan, I highly recommend this soundtrack.  If you are just looking for something fun to listen to, I highly recommend this as well. If you want to preview this soundtrack, it is on Spotify.  If you want it, you can buy this soundtrack on Itunes by checking out the Classic Disney Songs Collection, or you can order a physical copy of the collection on Ebay, Amazon, and many other cites.  Splash Mountain, a classic ride with a classic soundtrack.  

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Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas The Sun Also Rises Review

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is one of the most interesting bands I have ever come across.  They have an interesting sound that I haven't really heard out of too many bands.  Their combination of metal core and electronic music has made them very unique.  While there are elements of this band I don't like, there are elements of this band I like a lot.  Like I said in my review of their song "Let Me Hear" they are overall good musicians with a good sound.  Let's see if their newest song, "The Sun Also Rises" holds up.

Musically, this is not one of my favorite songs from this band.  Usually, this band has a good balance of electronic music and metal, but in this song the metal takes a back seat to the electronic and it isn't as balanced as I like.  While the metal music is there, it is more subtle then most of their other songs.  It only sticks out briefly in a few sections of the song.   The rest of the song is more driven by auto tune vocals and synth. While I am not a fan of auto tune, the basic vocal melody is pretty good and sounds decent.  The band also continues their unique song structure that they use in most of their songs and I really like that about this band.  The way they structure their songs is very uncommon but it still sounds good and it flows very well.  Nothing really sounds out of place and it sounds smooth.  I just wish that they were more balanced like they normally are.  Because certain elements are taking a back seat in this song, it sound more like a generic electronic song then a interesting mixture of genres, which what people like about this band.  Overall, the music isn't bad, but it isn't their best.

Lyrically, this an uplifting song about overcoming obstacles you come across in life.  It is saying that you will have to make decisions to either give in to your obstacles or take them head on and defeat them. While I do think the lyrics could have been written better, they are not all that bad and they are effective at getting the message across.  Overall, the lyrics have a good message and they make it clear what the message is.  The way they are written could be improved but it is a minor problem.  

While I am not a big fan of the music in this song, I don't think the song is flat out bad, it is misguided.  Clearly, the band is experimenting in this song and trying something new.  I give them credit for trying new things, it just isn't my taste.  If you are a big fan of this band then you might like this song.  For me, it is an okay song.  I give The Sun Also Rises a 3 out of 5.  

Mejibray Divergence Review

Mejibray is a band that is a hit or miss for me.  Some songs I love, while others I don't care for.  It isn't because I think they are a bad band, it's just that some of their songs are not my taste. This could be argued as a good thing though because it shows how diverse of a catalog this band has. Some times they are a melodic metal band, sometimes they are an angry thrash band, and other times they are a dark death metal band.  Let's see how I feel about one of their earliest songs, Divergence.

First off, the music in this song is some of their best.  The bass riff played by Koichi at the beginning of the song is very catchy.  It catches your interest and then when the main intro starts, the song really picks up.  That intro riff that Mia plays sounds awesome.  It is a great melodic solo that really sets up the rest of the song very well.  His guitar solo in this song is very impressive as well.  In the guitar solo, Mia plays a solo that combines both melodic and fast playing.  The guy is a great guitar player and he demonstrates that well in this song.  Meto does some good drum work in this song as well.  He is not a great drummer, but he is still pretty good and his drum work in this song is very solid. I don't think that Tsuzuka is that great a singer, but he does have an interesting voice that helps to make this band unique.  I think of him like Geddy Lee of Rush or Vince Neil of Motley Crue.  They are not the best singers in the world but their voices give their bands something that no one else has. As a result no one else can take their places in the bands they are in.  That is what Tsuzuka is to Mejibray, not that great a singer but works very well for the band he is in.

Lyrically, this is a deep song about not settling and wanting more.  Basically, the entire song is about not being happy but not giving up.  It is about wanting to push yourself to become better, no matter what obstacles come your way.  I like songs like this that try to inspire people to want to improve themselves and to keep going to reach their goals.  I do think that the phrases and lines could have been written a little bit better but it is a very minor problem that doesn't turn me off to the song.

Overall, this is a pretty solid song.  The musicianship is great and the song writing is pretty good.  I may not be this bands biggest fan but I cannot deny that they are talented and this song proves that.  They play well together and they clearly have a lot of skill.  Mia is without a doubt a very underrated guitar player that deserves more recognition world wide.  The songs message is very good and makes you want to push yourself in life.  I give Divergence a 4 out of 5.    

  

     

Mr. Big Green Tinted Sixties Mind Review

Most people who know of Mr. Big "in America" know them for their popular ballad " To Be With You".  However, through out the rest of the world they are a pretty popular band with many hits.  Fortunately, with the metal resurgence of the mid 2000's and the fact that this band has great musicians, they have been able to reclaim some of their former glory in the U.S. and get more popular through out the rest of the world.  One song that is starting to get more recognition their debut song "Green Tinted Sixties Mind".

Musically, this song is very good.  That intro guitar riff that Paul Gilbert plays is very catchy and gives a great glimpse into the mans abilities as a guitar player.  The main intro to the song  sets up a great musical tone that is both hard rock and relaxing.  This tone is maintained through out the song and it is executed very well.  The guitar tone is balanced well and the vocal work in this song is amazing.  Eric Martin is a very good singer and this song brings out some of his best.  The back up vocal work of Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan should not be ignored either.  They sound great and they do a good job when they are singing along with Eric.  Some people have a problem with the music because it isn't technical enough.  I understand that criticism, however, you have to remember that these guys didn't just want to showcase their musical abilities, they also wanted to prove that they could right good songs.  While this song doesn't have a lot from a technical stand point.  It still sounds good, and the band proved that they know how to write good music with it.  

Lyrically, this song is not bad as well.  While the message is a generic 80's rock message that is about a girl, the phrases and rhymes really make the lyrics pretty decent.  For example, they have a couple of lines that go "you be lookin groovy, in a sixties movie" the way they tie those lines together with that rhyme scheme is very good.  This plays a big part in making the song sound catchy and helps to keep the audience interested.  While the message is nothing new or impressive, the band shows that they know how to write good lyrics. 

This is without a doubt one of most underrated songs in rock.  Part of the reason for this was that their timing wasn't good.  By the time Mr. Big got big Nirvana was just around the corner.  However, they are making a comeback and more of their music is getting the recognition it deserves.  If you are a fan of 80's metal, or just looking for a good rock song, then I highly recommend Green Tinted Sixties Mind.  I give this song a 4.5 out of 5.     

Zip A Dee Doo Dah Review

When anyone talks about the Disney movie "Song of the South" it can get ugly sometimes.  Just to simply mention of the name can set off a range of emotions and opinions.  Some say that it is a racist movie that doesn't make black people look good and uses negative stereotypes, while others say that the movie actually depicts an anti prejudice message.  Either way, it led to an uproar that Disney wasn't ready for.  Contrary to popular belief, the movie wasn't full on "banned" like people say.  The NAACP had voiced their disapproval of the movie but they never made a huge effort to ban it.  In reality, Disney just decided to withhold from re releasing it do the backlash.  However, even with all the problems surrounding the movie, people seem to agree on one thing they like about this movie.  That is that people love this movies soundtrack.  This movie actually wen't on to win an Oscar for best original soundtrack.  There is also of course the famed ride at DisneyLand "Splash Mountain" which uses the characters and music from the movie.  The song that sticks out the most in this soundtrack is none other then "Zip A Dee Doo Dah".

One of the main reasons that people like this song so much is because while it is simple, it is also very catchy.  The music itself is overall slow and simple, but it does sound decent and good still.  The main reason why it is so simple is because the focus is meant to be on the vocals.  This a true sing along song that the audience is supposed to sing along with and if you make the music stand out too much, then you lose that.  Typically, I am all for being technical and bringing out the best in a musicians musical ability.  However, in this case, I think it is best they keep it simple on the instruments.  The best element of this song in the vocals.  Got to give James Baskett credit, he brings a real charm to this song that none one else can.  The way he sings the song makes it sound real soothing and relaxing.  At the same time, the way he brings out the lyrics makes you want to sing along and get more into the song.  He is having fun singing this song and you can tell he is.  He projects it very well and you can't help but to enjoy his performance.

Now, they sing the song again at the end of the movie and this time it has more of a build up that starts with the kids singing it instead of James Baskett.  He isn't silent the entire time but his lines are minimal and he doesn't do much in this portion.  Obviously the kids don't sound as good as James Baskett, but I expected that so it didn't bother me.  What did bother me though is how long it went on.  They slowly build up the music by making the instruments louder and incorporating more animals as it goes on.  I feel like they could have trimmed this portion a little bit and made it shorter. The way they add the recorded version at the end with the additional voices and the big instrument ending was pretty cool.  However, when it got to that point I found myself asking why did it take so long for them to get there.  I also feel that it would have been better if James Baskett sang with the kids at some point instead of just giving him that one small talking section. I think it would have added more to the song and because he sound so good singing it the first time it would of made the ending more memorable.           

Lyrically, it is a very cheerful song.  Obviously the title alone is very catchy and makes you curious.  Like the music, the lyrics are simple but the way they are constructed and the way the phrases play out make them very unique.  The happy tone makes it enjoyable for kids but in a way that adults can enjoy it as well.  It is the classic style of the old Disney era.  It is cheerful, it sounds fun, and you can't help but to sing along with the lyrics. 

While it is not one of my favorite Disney songs, it is still pretty decent.  Regardless of what you think of the movie this song is from, you have to admit that this song is pretty good.  The way the lyrics are sung hook you and you cant help but to want to sing along with it.  While the movie is unavailable, this song is.  You can get it on Itunes and on most Disney music collections you come across.  If you are a Disney fan, I recommend getting it.  I give Zip A Dee Doo Dah a 3.5 out of 5. 

The Winking Owl Open Up My Heart Review

One band that is slowly rising in popularity in Japan right now is The Winking Owl.  Recently, more bands have come out of Japan that are using a style similar to that of Paramore.  They have melodic female lead vocalists with rock music that is a combination of hard rock, metal, punk, and pop.  The Winking Owl is one band that is in that category.  While they are not one of the more famous bands in Japan at the moment, they are gaining momentum and their single "Open Up My Heart" paved the way.

While there are things that make this band similar to Paramore, one thing that separates them from Paramore it that they are more melodic and heavy, musically.  This song starts off with a good melodic solo that really sets up the tone of the song effectively and hooks you immediately.  The verse  gets a little bit softer but continues the melodic theme.  Then the pre chorus sets up a chorus that has very high energy.  This set up is executed very well and flows very smoothly to create a great listening experience. The vocal work is impressive as well.  The female singer in this band has a great voice that fits the music and carries the song very well.  I also got to give this singer credit for singing English very well. I have heard a lot of Japanese singers sing in English and many of them have an accent that really stands out at times.  However, this singer sings English very well to the point that if there was no Japanese words in the song I could have mistaken them for an American band.  The one minor issue I have with this song is the chorus.  It is a little repetitive for my liking and I feel it could have been written a little better.  However, it is a very minor issue that doesn't kill the song for me, or the chorus for that matter.

Lyrically, this is a pretty standard song.  It is a song about being in a complex relationship and wanting it to be better.  This is obviously nothing new, we have heard this message many times before.  However, they lyrics are written very well.  The phrases are good, they are catchy and they keep your attention.  I also have to say, I can tell this band has been working on their English because the fact that they wrote the English lyrics this well is very impressive.  While this is becoming more common in the Japanese music scene today, a lot of the musicians who write in English are having a hard time.  You can tell because of how simple the English is in the songs and how some bands have a hard time singing it.  This is a problem that The Winking Owl doesn't have.  While there are Japanese lyrics in this song, it is clearly dominated by English and the English is written very well.

I see a bright future for this band.  They have clearly shown they have potential and this song shows that.  If I am being honest I actually prefer this band over Paramore.  As much as I like Paramore, this band has the better singer and better musicians. If The Winking Owl writes more English songs like this, I can see them having a future in America.  With a great vocalist, great guitar player, and well written lyrics, I give Open Up My Heart a 4.5 out of 5.        

  

Is This The End of Girls Generation?

Recently, it was revealed that Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun of the famed KPop girl group "Girls Generation" will not be renewing their contracts with SM Entertainment.  This has sen't shock waves through the Girls Generation fandom, the Kpop community, and most of the music world.  This has left many people in a panic and wondering what the future is for Girls Generation as well as Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun.

The first thing I would like to talk about is the future's of Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun.  Now, it is official that they are all basically pursuing acting, Tiffany will be leaving Korea and returning to the U.S. to learn acting, while Sooyoung and Seohyun will sign with other agencies to continue acting.  However, I doubt that this is all they will be doing.  First point is that Tiffany has made it clear for years that music is her biggest passion and she has said repeatedly that she wants to make it, musically, in the U.S.  I doubt she is going to throw music out the window and focus strictly on acting from here on out.  The same thing goes for Seohyun.  She is very passionate about music and has made that the center point of her persona for a long time.  Both Tiffany and Seohyun have done a lot in recent years to build themselves up musically.  They have done solo projects, duets, and who forget them being in TTS.  Sooyoung on the other hand, I can see giving music a rest.  She has been very busy with acting when not working with Girls Generation.  While many of the other members have been working on solo careers, she has just been focusing on acting mainly.  She has done some musical things on the side though.  Her and Tiffany have performed together a few times and she helped Tiffany write music on her solo album.  However, I doubt she will do anything serious with music, at least in the near future.  

The second thing that some people are concerned about is the relationship between the members.  This is one that I am not worried about too much.  Usually there are plenty of small indications that let you know if members are not getting along or are not talking to each other.  The main one is that you don't see them mention other members on social media.  That has not happened with Girls Generation.  If you look on their social media accounts, the members hangout and support each other all the time.  They will constantly post pictures of them hanging out and will help promote their side projects as well as like each others posts.  I am pretty sure that people can be at ease with this one.  I think they all get along fine and will still be great friends going forward. 

Biggest question is what is the future of Girl Generation? I can see this going one of two ways.  The first way is that they disband.  As much as I like Taeyeon, Yuri, and the remaining members, I doubt they can continue as a five piece group.  With Jessica already gone and now losing three more members, that would be hard to keep going.  One reason is that this means half the group is gone and that is going to be hard to fill.  Tiffany and Seohyun have a distinct sound in their voices that is very hard to replace.  In fact, if I'm being honest, I don't think they were able to replace Jessica's voice that well either.  Even now when I listen to "Gee" it still feels weird to me hearing Tiffany say Jessica's lines.  

The second way I see it going is that SM negotiates with other agencies to keep Seohyun, Tiffany, and Sooyoung in Girls Generation.  I see this as a possibility because SM themselves have said they are willing to negotiate with other agencies.  In the past, SM has said that they are willing to negotiate and talk to other agencies if it mean't Girls Generation would stay together.  One thing that people need to realize is that SM needs Girls Generation.  They need them because without them SM will no longer be on top.  Girls Generation is considered the biggest Kpop girl group in the world and if they were to disband that would be a huge blow to SM.  They would lose a good chunk of their fandom they would no longer be the biggest agency as a result.  It is in SM best interest to keep Girls Generation together and they know it.

However it turns out, we should still support all the members in their future ventures.  Where ever they decide to go, what ever they decide to do, support them and love them.  Wish them the best and no ill.  If Tiffany wants to make it in America, buy her records and/or watch the things she gets to act in.  The same goes for the other members. Help them grow and be successful where ever they go. Maybe they disband, maybe they stay together, it doesn't change the musical legacy they have made together.  

  

      

Top 5 Christian Metal Songs

5.  E For Extinction by Thousand Foot Krutch

What I really like about this song is how it builds up.  It starts out with soft slow tone that slowly builds up and gets more energetic.  Then when the pre chorus comes you get hit with an awesome heavy combination of guitar and in your face vocals and lyrics.  This really gets you pumped up and really into the song when the chorus comes. If you are looking for song to get your energy up, listen to this song.

4. One Thousand Apologies by Demon Hunter

This is more of a sorrowful song, that speaks to people who are in mourning and are sorry for something they have done. The song has a heavy melodic sound that works very well for the lyrical message of the song.  Got to give the vocals credit in this song.  The vocals sound very authentic and carry out the songs message very effectively in a way that will make the listener remember.  

3.  Yahweh by  Stryper

You can't have a Christian Metal list and leave out Styper.  Stryper has proven that they are not just a great Christian Rock Band, but a great metal band.  This is made clear in one of their newer songs called "Yahweh".  This song has a great modern feel to it while also paying tribute to the 80's.  The guitar work gives off an awesome power metal feel while Michael Sweet's vocals continue to sound amazing even after all these years.  Whether you're Christian or not, this is one band you don't want to pass up.

2.  Sing and Shout by Angelica

Angelica is a very underrated band and no song proves that more then Sing and Shout.  It starts out with that awesome guitar riff in the intro and then leads into the energetic, uplifting verse.  Then it leads into the very catchy chorus that makes that truly makes you want to sing and shout for the Lord.  The guitar solo in this song is awesome.  It has a great melodic tone that brings out the best of 80's metal.  It's a shame that this band got started when grunge was already on the rise.  They would have been legends.

1.  Dive by Disciple

Dive is a song that inspirational and is a great metal song.  The lyrics are about rising up to the challenge and overcoming it.  This song is inspirational to anyone in a though spot.  Musically, this is a very catchy song.  The intro to this song hooks you right away and plays a big part in keeping you engaged with the song.  The vocal work is very impressive.  It's energetic, it's real, and you can tell the singer is pouring his heart and soul into the song.  Every time that I need a song to either get me pumped or to listen to when I am down, this is the song. 

Arlequin Eclipse Review

Arlequin is interesting band in to me. They have some songs like "Paranoia" that I like, but others I am not a fan of like "Makka Na Uso".  When they keep a song to a specific tone they are great, but sometimes they try to merge tones musically and they don't do it well.  Where songs like "Libra" by Nocturnal Bloodlust  are able to transition between ballad music and heavy metal smoothly, Arlequin has trouble with that in some of their songs. They try to merge metalcore and power ballads together and sometimes they don't merge the two styles well and it leaves you confused.  However, one song I have come to appreciate from this band is their song "Eclipse".

The guitar work in this song is very well done.  With the guitars being tuned down, they have a deep sound that creates a great intro and hooks you into the song.  The verse keeps the energy of the intro going and the melodic vocal work really works with the music and stays true to the tone of the song.  The guitar solo is very good, very melodic.  It isn't anything super technical but it still sounds good and sets up the final portion of the song well.  My only problem with the song musically, is the form of electronic dubstep they have in the intro and at the end of the guitar solo.  While it doesn't ruin the song for me, it seems unnecessary and it doesn't really enhance the music.  If they left it out, the guitar work, the drums, and bass easily have enough to make this song great.  

When it comes to the lyrics this song is a good form of building charisma.  The lyrics are basically  start out about people doubting you and saying you can't do anything.  Then the pre chorus is when you decide not to listen to them. Then the Chorus is you saying your going to rise above.  The lyrics are very well constructed and carry the message very well.  It is uplifting while at the same time addressing hardships you go through in life.  Overall, a great song lyrically.    

As far as I'm concerned, this is one of Arlequin's best songs.  The music is good, the vocals are good, and the lyrics are written well.  The energy is great and it really keeps you engaged in the song from beginning til end.  While the dubstep hinders the song a little bit, it doesn't ruin the song and I still enjoy listening to it.  I give Eclipse a 4 out of 5.