John Williams vs. Danny Elfman

Going with Danny because he's quirky and because JW is going to win anyway (or maybe I am wrong?).  JW is brilliant but his scores for a monster movie like Jurassic Park and a comedy like Home Alone both sound similar.  I think somewhere he got 'typecast' and was asked to keep repeating that symphonic sound irrespective of whether the film really required it. 

@rogerthat

^ Really? I think virtually all the great composers have "signature elements" in their works, and I believe JW is a standout example in not utilizing them like creating variants of his earlier ones. Conversely, I think DE is obviously the less diverse one. (Self-inspiration much?)

Anyway, thanks for the comment even though we don't agree about this issue. 

Edited by Shadowyzard - March 30 2021 at 10:01

Williams

^ I'm not defending JW here, but I'm sure he is the more diverse composer. I wouldn't be surprised if he "fabricated" some of his formulae in some of his works, but in general he is a genius in composing IMO. Harry Potter... He was in his 70s then, I guess. I believe some of the stuff JW composed for that movie are nothing but splendid which also fit to the mood of a fantasy movie being mainly aimed at adolescent (and even child) viewers.

Edited by Shadowyzard - March 30 2021 at 10:37

My 'minor' problem with his scores is they are all symphonic and all scored for orchestral instruments. Not much guitar or keyboard, rarely any rock or funk grooves etc. I don't think he is completely to blame for it because scoring for Lucas and Spielberg's films shaped that sound of his scores. So I blame it more on their conservatism and excessive fondness for Golden Era scores (which they seem to have wanted him to emulate). But I like to hear some eclecticism in the sonic palate of a score. I get that to some extent from Danny and in spades from Morricone.

Shadowyzard wrote: ^ Yet, Elfman's prowess as for musical theories is far inferior to Williams' methinks. I can always sing the melodies that Danny creates, but JW's some modulations etc. are far too sophisticated for being able to do that. Try crooning the main melody of The Imperial March, for instance. Without the help of an instrument, it is goddamnawfully difficult. I'm not trained musically, but people always praise my musical ear. Anyway, I'm a big fan of Elfman too. It is infinitely better that they are doing their things in their ways, which are like night & day.

Oh, not only can I croon them, I could play them on the keyboard. So I don't think that's a good test. Regardless I get your point. JW is far more complex than Danny Elfman. It's the similar sounding tone of the scores that I don't like so much. I wish he had said no to his long time collaborators at some point, ditched the boring Star Wars and monster movies and taken up more daring and complicated films. We could have seen more of what he was capable of that way. He was a great jazz player before he became a composer. But other than Catch Me If You Can, we never really got to see that side of his music.

rogerthat wrote: Oh, not only can I croon them, I could play them on the keyboard. So I don't think that's a good test.

Actually, playing a modulated part with an instrument is a piece of cake, compared to crooning it, for me. So, this is not a proper sign that makes a part less sophisticated. All in all, that's perhaps because I don't have a trained ear. I always have difficulty in catching up with some of JW's tricks while crooning, if there's not an instrumental assistance.

Fun fact; the son of John Williams is the current and former vocalist of Toto Joeseph Williams, when hes introduced during band introduction David Paich and band playes some Star Wars theme/ John williams medley

Elfmans score for Batman is as classic as Williams Supermans theme

What?!?  William or Elfman?  Gabriel's horn or a water fart?