Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>Do you really see it as "typical Disney pop music"? I'm not sure I do - it is all so overwrought and earnest - just too grandiose by far.<<< I dooooo....But I don't. It seems to have meaning, and merit, but when it boils down to it, it's a theme park, song. How grand can it be? (Here I go again. Yet, I think that songs like We Go On, and Golden Dreams are packed to the core with meaning. Maybe I agree with you, more than I think, Lee. ) >>>And I'm not commenting on Post #37.... <<< THAT bad? :-D
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 EE - I can understand Lee not wanting to bring it up again, since we have all discussed it so many times before, so I hope it's okay if I mention one of his points. I remember this one because I partly agree with it, although it does not affect my enjoyment of TDS as it does Lee. He mentioned the theming of the park creating "closed" storytelling, as in the overall effect of the various thematic elements do not allow any latitude in how the guest interprets the environment(because they are created with such definitive and compelling realism). I guess you could also say this tends to make some areas of the park feel a little cold or sterile(my sentiments, not Lee's). I do understand what he was saying there and, as I said above, I do partly agree. It's just that, for me, those environments are SO magical and wonderful I would not want them to be anything else, nor would I want them themed any "less", not halfheartedly like DCA '01 with "mall-like" trappings or half baked like Chester and Hester's. I also do not wish them to be interpreted as anything other than what they are. For a male(who is still a big kid at heart), being able to wander around and have adventures in a Captain Nemo world with a giant volcano, a jungle setting, an Arabian marketplace and a futuristic port was like a dream come true. I guess TDS is the antidote to the Princess craze that recently swept through the US park like a plague of unwelcome locusts and is just part of the reason I LOVED TDS SO MUCH!!!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros For what it's worth, I loved the background music from the park. So much, that I went in one of the shops and picked up a copy of a CD titled something along the lines of "Tokyo DisneySea Theme Music", thinking that it would be the music that plays in the background, adding to the theme. When I got home, I was more than disappointed to find out that I had bought a CD of overly pop-py, cheesy songs about the park and each of the ports. I only listened to the CD once before putting it away for good, which is very out of character for me. On the otherhand, I play the Aquasphere music all the time. If only the other CD had been as good as that one.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 Thanks to a wonderfully generous member of this board who has since departed, I also own a copy of the Aquasphere music and I agree it is GREAT! Ferret - did you not even like the JttCotE theme music? It is mysterious and VERY evocative.
Originally Posted By SuperDry The music, whether it be area BGM or attraction soundtracks, is one of the highlights of TDS. I think they did an outstanding job overall, and it really adds to the enjoyment.
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<For what it's worth, I loved the background music from the park. So much, that I went in one of the shops and picked up a copy of a CD titled something along the lines of "Tokyo DisneySea Theme Music", thinking that it would be the music that plays in the background, adding to the theme. When I got home, I was more than disappointed to find out that I had bought a CD of overly pop-py, cheesy songs about the park and each of the ports. I only listened to the CD once before putting it away for good, which is very out of character for me.>> I too bought the Theme CD thinking it would be BGM from all the ports of call. Like the others, I hate the cheesy "theme songs" with lyrics. I don't even know where I put that CD. Luckily, I bought the Mermaid Lagoon BGM and AquaSphere CDs too. Still have yet to find a Mediterranean Harbor BGM one, which is my favorite out of all the area music loops. <<did you not even like the JttCotE theme music? It is mysterious and VERY evocative>> I have that CD too. Too bad half of it is a bunch of lyrical songs and not actual BGM. The only good ones were JttCotE, 20K Leagues, and StormRider. IJA was nice too, but it was a direct rip of Disneyland's. <<The music, whether it be area BGM or attraction soundtracks, is one of the highlights of TDS. I think they did an outstanding job overall, and it really adds to the enjoyment.>> Definitely agree on this point. Some of my favorite BGM loops anywhere are in DisneySea.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>It's just that, for me, those environments are SO magical and wonderful I would not want them to be anything else, nor would I want them themed any "less", not halfheartedly like DCA '01 with "mall-like" trappings or half baked like Chester and Hester's. I also do not wish them to be interpreted as anything other than what they are. For a male(who is still a big kid at heart), being able to wander around and have adventures in a Captain Nemo world with a giant volcano, a jungle setting, an Arabian marketplace and a futuristic port was like a dream come true.<<< Seeing that I've never been....I can only take in what you are saying on a evaluating level. But it makes sense, because that's how I feel about WS, or DAK. It feels TOO real, and that's awesome. I can only imagine that TDS ups that feeling to a even greater level. And agreed on everyone's musical thoughts. The BGM is amazing. Especially AquaSphere suite.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 What's interesting to me is that apparently the "Tokyo DisneySea theme song" was not written for TDS. At least not all of it. Maybe the lyrics were, but the melody seems to have been written for EPCOT's "Surprise in the Skies" Listen to this track, at about 1:06. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1GU-0CCGxc&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...=related</a> I think it was composed by John Debney, from what I was able to find online. It's VERY similar. "Surprise in the Skies" was done in 1991 for WDW's 20th anniversary. So, it was a full 10 years before being reused again for TDS's opening.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ Is that "Air Battle"? My memory of Surprise in the Skies is fuzzy at best. The TDS Theme Song was written by Steve Skorija who has been a music director at WDW forever (I think he has 30-35 years' service with the company). I don't recall it being based on anything else - it was sold to us as an original composition as far as I can recall. That is going to puzzle me - time to mine the archives!
Originally Posted By NGrey <<Still have yet to find a Mediterranean Harbor BGM one, which is my favorite out of all the area music loops.>> For anyone who is interested, YouTube has some incomplete recordings of the long loop played around the harbor. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5OqtVEWq8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...OqtVEWq8</a> It certainly is a magnificent loop and does a fantastic job setting the mood for the area. <<But it makes sense, because that's how I feel about WS, or DAK. It feels TOO real, and that's awesome. I can only imagine that TDS ups that feeling to a even greater level.>> Although several of the ports in TDS are set in real places, all of the environments are romanticized depictions of those locales. They are fictional settings that never existed in reality (much like Main Street USA), making it an unique experience even if one has been to Portofino, New York, Central America, etc. Although those places certainly served as inspiration, the ports in TDS have their own magic and charm. <<Especially AquaSphere suite>> The score was done by famous Japanese composer, Isao Tomita. Here are some interesting tidbits I found online. Quite cool to read that the music was intended to immerse guests by simulating the motion of ocean waves. A very nice thematic detail. "Tomita has just completed his piece for the entrance area of Tokyo DisneySea which is to be officially opened on 4 September, 2001. This new park is just next to Tokyo Disneyland, and the new park is, as the name says, based on the theme of everything related to the sea. The main entrance area is called "Aqua Sphere", where a water-covered globe is floating on the fountain at the center of the area. The music is to be heard from three sides of the area, and it will be played as multi-stereo sound to create a three dimensional music effect of big waves moving from one side to another. Tomita wrote 15 minutes of original music for the Day Time version, and also another 15 minutes for the Night Time version. The Day Time version music is played by the London Philharminic Orchestra, and the recording was made in London. Tomita's synthesizer was then added. The Night Time version is performed by Tomita on synthesizer only."
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "^^ Is that "Air Battle"? My memory of Surprise in the Skies is fuzzy at best. The TDS Theme Song was written by Steve Skorija who has been a music director at WDW forever (I think he has 30-35 years' service with the company). I don't recall it being based on anything else - it was sold to us as an original composition as far as I can recall. That is going to puzzle me - time to mine the archives!" No, it's not "Air Battle", but a track labeled "Mickey's Show" from "Surprise in the Skies". They even released it on the old "WDW Forever" CD kiosks when those were around. The thing is, there is little info on these tracks. Have you listened to the track I linked to? Even if Steve Skorija composed it, it's obvious that it's obvious that it's the same melody, so it was done years before TDS. Maybe he sold it to you as "original", because it was isolated, and given lyrics? I don't know, but I do know that the first time I heard it, I had a deja-vu moment.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Ugh...I sure wish there were an edit feature here! I need to learn to proofread even the simplest of posts before submitting, LOL!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I think it was composed by John Debney, from what I was able to find online. It's VERY similar.<<< It shockingly is, now that I hear it. Maybe he was inspired?
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Gurgitoy!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I've been looking for "Mickey's Show" from "Surprise in the Skies" for a long long time! I wanted a recording of this ever since someone posted about the TDS Theme Song coming from WDW on the old MagicMusic.net site. Perhaps it was you?? Anyway, great to hear it. Years ago, I asked someone who worked on music for the TDS opening about it. He was surprised to hear that it wasn't an original composition. Do you have more info or know where I can get a recording? -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By TDR_Fan <<For anyone who is interested, YouTube has some incomplete recordings of the long loop played around the harbor. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...OqtVEWq8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...OqtVEWq8</a> It certainly is a magnificent loop and does a fantastic job setting the mood for the area.>> YouTube definitely has some nice gems. I was able to finally find my favorite part of the Mediterranean Harbor loop. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoAG1X2VNKE&feature=related" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...=related</a>
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 WOW Gurgi - That is SO weird hearing the TDS theme being played in relation to Epcot!!! Seems like someone did a James Horner!
Originally Posted By NGrey Wouldn't be the first time the park borrowed music from Epcot. I have heard the Living Seas and IllumiNations theme being played as part of the Port Discovery loop.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>Wouldn't be the first time the park borrowed music from Epcot. I have heard the Living Seas and IllumiNations theme being played as part of the Port Discovery loop.<<< RoE!? TDS has RoE in it in some shape or form!? Yeah. Perfect. LOL
Originally Posted By NGrey I actually thought it felt a bit out of place. The RoE score is too intense and dramatic to act as area music in my opinion.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ I could see that... but there's a wondeful variation on the theme that was used for a bit.
