He might as well be the Seventh Cylon....

[rogueslayer452]

Taken from the television meme:

Which TV show has the best musical soundtrack, in your opinion?

Battlestar Galactica, without a doubt, because Bear McCreary is magical with what he does.

Seriously though, there is never a dull moment from listening to the soundtrack of that show. It's been said before but the musical score of that show was like a character in itself, many moments in the series were defined by the music that accompanied them. The absolute gorgeous melody of "The Shape Of Things To Come", the amazing battle-ready track of "Prelude To War", the melancholic feel of "Worthy of Survival", the hauntingly eerie "Cally Descends", the somber and foreboding "Something Dark Is Coming", the epicness that is "All Along The Watchtower" which is a phenomenal plot-specific rendition of the song, the absolute beautiful "Apocalypse" which is a more epic version of the main title theme of the show, that also had another version for Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome. And so, so much more, obviously, because there are four seasons (and two telemovies + two prequels) of the series, all which are worthy to be listened all the way through. Which I have, countless of times to be honest.

I can literally talk about the absolute genius that Bear did with that show all day. Listening to certain tracks just takes me right back to those specific scenes, that feeling of watching the show all over again, giving me all sorts of emotions and chills. It's so good. No other show soundtrack has ever compared, imho.

--

Speaking of Bear McCreary, the fact that he collaborated with Hozier for the God of War: Ragnarok game just blows my mind, and yet it's totally unsurprising. They just mesh well together. "Blood Upon The Snow" has been on repeat for days now.

In general, Bear McCreary has been getting a lot of work since Battlestar Galactica, he's practically been everywhere, from movies and television to video games. Good for him! I'm happy that he's rightfully getting the recognition that he deserves for creating such beautiful pieces of music.

Comments

[violateraindrop]

His theme from Black Sails is amazing. I also feel like he did a good job with Agents of SHIELD when Marvel always had a bit of a problem to really add recognizable music to their films.

[rogueslayer452]

I agree, his work on Agents of SHIELD managed to really elevate a lot of amazing moments and scenes, especially the emotional moments.

It's why when I heard he was composing the music for the Rings of Power show I was like, okay well, at least the music will be amazing even if the show isn't. When in doubt, Bear McCreary will do his best to turn even something lackluster into something decent with how hard he can go with composing the music.

[rhoda_rants]

Oh, I love this question! I have to admit I often notice the music in television shows and movies, but I don't always pay attention to the composer, but I clearly should.

Also: I just checked my circle and I don't know how you got knocked out of it--I'm blaming gremlins--but that's fixed now!

[rogueslayer452]

It's definitely one of my favorite things is looking up the music from movies/shows/video games and see what else they've done. You'll be surprised at how many other things certain composers have worked on that you just never realized! :D

[corvidology]

I find a lot of TV shows don't really have much in the way of a soundtrack/theme music.

It's one of the things that's really noticeable to me about Asian dramas, they still have soundtracks and theme music and it's often quite beautiful.

[rogueslayer452]

Sadly, that is true, very few television has soundtracks that are an immersive experience as they used to be. I mean, even soundtracks that were of songs used in the show no longer exist (ex: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, etc) probably due to royalties and whatnot, which sucks. With things like BSG, though, and perhaps similar genre shows, they are reliant on score soundtracks and some of them do spend a lot of time composing and making them an integral part of the show itself, with each track very specific to particular scenes that happened that upon listening to it you're thrown right back into those moments like you're rewatching it all over again. BSG because a prime example of that. But sadly, it seems even that has gone out of style.

The only soundtracks that have that kind of experience now are video game soundtracks, it seems.

Asian dramas do have beautiful music, though. The Untamed was perhaps the first one I listened to that is a good combination of instrumental and songs sung by the cast, and I think that's something that is also unique with a lot of these cdramas that if they can, the cast often are involved with singing on the soundtrack.

[corvidology]

I think that's something that is also unique with a lot of these cdramas that if they can, the cast often are involved with singing on the soundtrack.

Sometimes, unfortunately, even when they can't. There's one actor who starred in one of the handful of hugely popular Cdramas who sings flat and I'm pretty sure he knows it as I can see him cringing every time he's 'invited' to sing on a show.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, it makes me feel bad for those who clearly aren't as confident in their singing skills. :(

[haebin]

I finished yesterday the second Season of The Mandalorian and I absolutely LOVED the soundtrack of it. Especially in the last episode, that was epic. ♥

[rogueslayer452]

I really do like the music from The Mandalorian, too! The main theme in particular is quite specific :)

[elizalavelle]

BSG has the best score for sure. I love some of the Christophe Beck stuff from Buffy but he didn't score the whole show while Bear McCreary did all of BSG. BSG has a score I often go back to and just listen to. Like you there are songs that can always evoke memory and emotion in me.

[rogueslayer452]

Yes! Listening to the soundtracks of all the seasons makes me feel like I'm rewatching the show, each track transports me right back to the scene in question. It's so immersive, so individually unique and special. It's a soundtrack I revisit quite often.

[facethestrange]

BSG APPRECIATION. ♡♡♡ I wish my brain could process instrumental music (any music other than vocals doesn't exist for me and I can't make it exist even though I've tried my entire life, like, I genuinely can't tell a cappella from not a cappella) because I'm missing out on a lot. That said, the opening theme has vocals and it's easily one of the most beautiful things I've EVER heard. ♡♡♡ So I can definitely imagine how amazing the instrumental-only tracks must be! And I'll be checking out the Hozier song! :)

[rogueslayer452]

I love instrumentals. Score soundtracks have always been my jam, everything from movies and television to even video games. I love music of all kinds, from vocals to instrumental, of all different types of genres and languages.

BSG has quite a lot of the instrumental tracks that features vocals too, such as "Lords of Kobol", "Kobol's Last Gleaming", and "Gaeta's Lament". It's scattered throughout all of the show's soundtracks, and it's something that Bear McCreary does a lot with his music, mixing instrumental tracks with ones with vocals, especially ones that are in another language or a "made up" language for some of the scifi shows he's composed for. For example, "Kalagyi Anaila Kaziri" from Defiance is such a beautiful vocal track.