Okay Geek Farm
New Music Monday: The Pacific
Nick Mahar
Cinema not only needs good effects and acting - it also needs great music - This week we take a very special look at a different kind of music. Typically when people think about listening to music they think of pop, rock, rap, blues, or whatever. This week I am taking an in depth look at the music that makes up the HBO hit The Pacific.
When you go with you friends to watch a new action movie or TV show you never really notice the music, unless it’s a song you know. But if you were to see the same movie and it was absolutely silent, then you might think something off. I am a filmmaker and I am constantly paying attention to how the music sounds and flows with the scenes I’m editing. The music in a scene helps convey the emotions occuring through sound. Every film has a sound to it, but not all of them stand out. But those that succeed, you’ll remember forever - if you need help thinking of an example, think of the themes for Star Wars, Lord of The Rings, or something of that nature.
The Pacific is HBO’s newest hit miniseries. It’s a response to the great success of Band Of Brothers a few years back. The music of the series is so powerful that the characters emotions are felt by the audience. The score is conducted by legendary composers Geoff Zanelli and Hans Zimmer, who are famous for films like Gladiator and Pirates of the Caribbean. The soundtrack is just as good, if not better, than the one for Band 
of Brothers. Most songs encompass a wild variety of French horns and sepia-toned nostalgia. And the highlight of the album is the main title “Honor”, which is a simple yet powerful opening. However, “Honor” could easily be used in any war movie, video game, or documentary of WWII. Nonetheless, it’s still a masterpiece and single handedly made me purchase the soundtrack.
The track list includes:
1. Honor – Main Title Theme From THE PACiFIC
2. With The Old Breed – End Title Theme From THE PACiFIC
3. You Have No Idea
4. Terrible Solomons
5. Torn Souls
6. Nightfall On Okinawa
7. Private First Class Robert Leckie
8. Fallen Friend
9. We’ve Gone Respectable
10. Iwo Jima
11. Praying For You
12. Even The Trees Hate Us
13. Get The Wounded Aboard
14. Memories Of Home
15. Landing Peleliu
16. Adagio For Peleliu
17. The Peleliu Hills
18. Dear Vera
19. Where Do We Go From Here?
20. Men At War
21. Sledge’s Humanity
22. War Is Hell
23. Homecoming
24. New Kind Of Bomb
25. Honor (For Oboe And Strings)
The entire album is very atmospheric, giving you the full idea when soldiers fighting in a war. It’s a heartfelt album that is inspirational to say the least, and I’d say the best way to listen to this album is sitting down in a chair and imaging what could be happening. Let your imagination run free with the sounds of loss, bravery, and honor.
It reviews on iTunes with 5 out of 5, and I agree with the reviews wholeheartedly. The album is only $11.99 on iTunes and is well worth every penny.
Main Title Sequence:
