Composers are truly amazing in that they can come up with completely unique themes for their score, even amongst the many thousands of other themes. Sometimes, though, they re-use someone else’s theme or are noticeably inspired by it. Below is a few themes that I have gathered together that sound very similar, but are composed by different people. I am not in any way condemning these composers or their work, but comparing their work with others’.
Songs:
James Newton Howard: Maleficent Flies from Maleficent
Audiomachine: Above And Beyond from Tree Of Life
Thomas Bergersen: Cassandra from Sun
James Newton Howard’s Maleficent Flies from his score for the film Maleficent is truly, well, magnificent! It is rather unique compared to the other songs that I am comparing this to. The only similarity between this song and the other two is the brief theme that begins at the 1:47 mark. Other than that, this song is very unique compared to the other two below.
Thomas Bergersen’s Cassandra from his latest release Sun is not necessarily that similar to James Newton Howard’s song from Maleficent, but more like Audiomachine’s Above And Beyond, starting at the 0:35 mark and then again at the 1:28 mark.
Audiomachine’s Above And Beyond is the basis of these similarities. It shows the standard theme that Bergersen and Howard were getting at, except they managed to develop a more polished version that seems to deviate from the theme at certain intervals. Audiomachine is focusing just on the theme, which still sounds amazing.
I love listening to each one of these pieces. Each one provides a similar sound, but with the entire scope in mind, they each hold their own meaning and emotion. James Newton Howard managed to compose the most polished piece that has the common theme that lies between these three, but it includes the most unique sound compared to the other two.
Songs:
Hans Zimmer: The Battle from Gladiator
Hans Zimmer: Code Of Conduct from Call of Duty: MW2
Two Steps From Hell: Magika and Racketeers from Dynasty
Klaus Badelt: The Medallion Calls, Pirates Attack (Part 2) from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Complete Score)
Now The Battle is a long song (though thoroughly enjoyable), I am really only focusing on two parts located from 4:11-4:20 and 5:50-6:20. I think that these two parts sound so similar to Klaus Badelt's two songs in Pirates of the Caribbean. Hans Zimmer did, in fact, help out with the score. The part located at 5:50 is so similar to Pirates Atack (Part 2).
Two Steps From Hell and it's songs Magica and Racketeers are evenly similar to Klaus Badelt's Pirates of the Caribbean score. Though I sort of like these slightly better than Badelt's.
Now when it comes to Call of Duty: MW2, I can't say anything more than Pirates of the Caribbean! Hans Zimmer had been working on the Pirates of the Caribbean series for a while, so I guess he couldn't get the hauntingly catchy tune stuck in his head during this job.
Songs:
Alexander Desplat: End Credits from The Monuments Men
Randy Newman: A Bug’s Life Suite from A Bug’s Life
Now let us cool down from the epic themes above to the calmer ones found here. A few weeks ago, I was trying to hum the theme for A Bug's Life, but couldn't separate it from The Monuments men. I always found myself humming that nice, whistle tune from World War II. The part in Randy Newman's piece that I am comparing to Alexandre Desplat's begins at 4:09. It shows a similarity for sure, but it hits different notes than in The Monuments Men. I still like the whistling tune of Alexandre Desplat's theme a little better.
Songs:
Brian Tyler: The Gulf of Aden from The Expendables (Expanded)
Brian Tyler: Battle For New York from Call of Duty: MW3
Now Brian Tyler just puts that certain sound into most of his work, which is why there needs to be many composers, so a different feel can be created for specific films/games. These two songs composed by Brian Tyler have the same feel and overall sound. Now when you get to 3:34 in The Gulf of Aden, you can clearly notice an almost exact duplication when you listen to Call of Duty: MW3 starting at 5:04. They each have a unique touch though, making both equally enjoyable. The part from Call of Duty is obviously much more intense because of the emphasis put on the electric guitar. It almost dominates the other instruments, but not quite.
Songs:
Two Steps From Hell: Men of Honor Part II from Two Steps From Heaven
Jerry Goldsmith: Main Titles from Air Force One
I recently shared some music on Jerry Goldsmith's score for Air Force One, but I will visit it again. I almost think that Two Steps From Hell went a bit too close to Jerry Goldsmith's fantastic theme. I like Men Of Honor Part II, but I personally prefer Air Force One. When it hits 1:10 in the song by Two Steps From Hell, it sounds so similar. There is even the same drums. Of course, it still has its own unique sound, it unmistakeably hit real close to the unforgettable theme of the legendary composer.
I'm sure there are many more, but this is all I have come across lately. Any thoughts?
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