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ilamontyesterday at 11:46 PM4 repliesview on HN

Well, besides the language and the typeface, the other element of this sequence at the beginning of Blade Runner that makes it so special is the accompanying score by Vangelis, and the sound effects that start with twinkling computer notes and gradually build in volume to explosions and the whoosh of futuristic vehicles. It effectively immerses viewers into this incredible world and story.


Replies

WalterBrighttoday at 5:05 AM

I rarely read about the contribution a good music score has to a movie's popularity. A great score makes the movie. For example,

The Blue Max, Ben Hur, the first Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Dr Zhivago, Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and, of course, Blade Runner!

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ColdStreamtoday at 12:04 AM

It was only a few months back that I found out that Vangelis couldn't read or write music notation. He would just improv play and record on a tape, recording additional parts and mixing as needed. If he needed to have other musicians involved, then he would hire someone to listen back and write down the notation.

Considering he recorded something like 35 albums, he was doing something right.

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psyclobetoday at 1:15 AM

As good as that track is its literally his only good stuff. Try as I might, and as eager as I was to like him his library of music just falls flat.

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abrookewoodtoday at 1:47 AM

That soundtrack is absolutely perfect.