Mike Flaherty
06-15-2013, 11:51 PM
Aren't you glad this isn't another Man Of Steel post? No, this is MUCH better. Remember when Hans Zimmer composed scores that possessed charm, emotion, humanity and joy? I sure do. I miss those works. Remember how bigger does not always mean better? Here is one of my top 20 favorite film scores ever. Yes, I consider this little score for a small movie that took place primarily in one tiny apartment, one of Zimmer's greatest accomplishments. I don't know why this little score charmed me the way it did when I first heard it in 1993. I don't know why I was so moved by it. I don't know why I felt such comfort while listening to it. Or why it made me so happy. Who can explain such things? I don't know why I find the track Instinct so haunting and raw - probably because this was a time when Hans understood that the greatest instrument was the human voice. This score was composed when Hans's work was heavily influenced by the sounds and textures of African music. At the time you could hear this style in small movies such as Green Card and even huge blockbusters (Days Of Thunder) which Hans was starting to get offered by Hollywood at the time. Strange how Backdraft, which was composed at roughly the same time as Green Card never featured that style though. Yet, Backdraft was one of my favorite scores for a period as well. Once you listen to that and Man Of Steel you can hear a similar composing style. Only these days Zimmer has more toys and 1000x the budget he had back then, and because of that, I don't know if we'll get another Green Card from him again. But I'm certainly hopeful.
Review from Filmtracks: "Zimmer does follow three distinct threads in his score that give it a cohesive feeling. The first is the score's primary theme of flowing optimism, heard in "Restless Elephants," "Cafe Afrika," and "Pour Bronte." This keyboarded idea is about as standard to Zimmer's contemporary writing of the era as it can be, even down to familiar drum pads, synthesized samples in the rhythms, and progressions straight from Rain Man. It doesn't overflow with the same redemptive enthusiasm that the arguably more appealing theme for Point of No Return conveys in its most extroverted performances. In "Cafe Afrika," the theme is aided by an exotic woodwind effect that balances the sometimes dated keyboarding, and these soft flute tones are a precursor to The Lion King. The second theme is termed "Instinct" by Zimmer and exists twice on the album for Green Card. The first of these two cues, opening the score portion of that product, is the overall highlight of the composition (especially for those tired of Zimmer's usual romance techniques of the era). With almost an East Indian personality in its progressions, this outwardly foreign-sounding piece could be considered a sibling to Beyond Rangoon in its deep bass pulsing, slapping percussion, intoxicating female vocals, and compelling high woodwind solos. Despite feeling a bit out of place in the context of the surrounding music, "Instinct" is the necessary cue for Zimmer collectors to glean from Green Card."
Track List:
� 1. Subway Dreams - composed and performed by Larry Wright (1:29)
� 2. Instinct (3:33)
� 3. Restless Elephants (2:55)
� 4. Cafe Afrika (2:59)
� 5. Greenhouse (3:15)
� 6. Moonlight (1:24)
� 7. 9am Central Park (1:48)
� 8. Clarinet Concerto in A Major: Adagio - composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (8:38)
� 9. Silence (4:38)
� 10. Instinct II (3:09)
� 11. Asking You (1:45)
� 12. Pour Bronte (6:19)
� 13. Eyes on the Prize* - performed by The Emmaus Group Singers (3:04)
MY OWN CD RIP.
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