A classic from Ryuichi Sakamoto And here is a great version from some guy at home on a keyboard.. And for those unfamiliar who think they've heard this before, perhaps it was from Watergate - Heart of Asia And if I'm not mistaken, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence was sampled and used in Rihanna's Umbrella!!! Though, I am surprised from web searches that nobody else has seemed to notice
"Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" Is for me, along with "Cavalleria Rusticana - Intermezzo" one of the most evocative and moving pieces of music ever.
Absolutely Whilst on the subject of evocative and moving pieces of music, remember Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story? Randy Edelman composed a great track called "Dragon Theme".. Though, no contender to Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Great piece of music, I remember it from the original although I confess not to having seen the movie although I may just have forgotten seeing it. Don't recognise the 'Watergate' version and must say I have a hard time picking out possible samples in 'Umbrella' but they could be there I guess. Oops late post, I was posting a reply to your opening post Sean.
Oh there are so so many moving orchestral pieces both modern and old that it is hard to choose Dom, that one is certainly wonderful.
Samples might the wrong word, but a few bars that get repeated again and again right after the rap at the beginning of Umbrella guide the song.
I like this track from "Once Upon A Time In The West" There is no spoiler in the video also so it will not detract from the wonderful movie.
The problem with music from the last few years is that its heavily samples stuff from many years ago. A good example is Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling". Everytime I hear it, it reminds me of some 70's glam rock, something like Blockbuster or T-Rex. As for Umbrella, its a very clever piece of music, I'd have never have guessed the Mr Lawrence connection though, I can't hear it myself. One of the best attempts of re-inventing an old song was Len "Steal My Sunshine" which heavily samples Andrea True Connections "More More More" and I think its much more groovier. Having said all that, what surprised me most was that Phil Collins said in a documentary that the drum line for Do They Know Its Christmas was in fact borrowed from Tears for Fears "The Hurting", but speeded up - and true enough it is.
