Writer’s Music: Steve Jablonsky II

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onesheetA couple of months ago I wrote of Steve Jablonsky, how I only knew his music from a single anime film: Steamboy. Now I can appreciate that steampunk is not everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to genre writing: it’s an eclectic mix of science fiction, fantasy, and history all baked into a single pastry that you’re either going to really, really love, or really, really hate. (Rather like my aunt’s rhubarb cranberry bread, come to think.)

Steamboy is one of Jablonsky’s earlier works, and it feels it-not in a bad way, to be clear. There’s a greater dependency on his theme for protagonist Ray throughout the film; any time something heroic or incredible happens, out pops the theme. It’s a bit like the James Bond theme during the Connery films–all Bond had to do was enter the room, and ba da BA DUN, ba da da! You couldn’t go through ten minutes of the film without hearing his theme. (And now the Craig Bond films don’t touch the theme with a ten-foot pole, but ANYway.) My point is, Jablonsky knew he had a good thing, and was determined to use it whenever possible.

Good job he did, because the theme itself is brilliant. Like Ray himself, who starts a boy and finishes the hero of London, the song starts with delicate sounds: piano, harp, oboe, with strings carefully supporting. Halfway through the song, the harp lets loose, and the brass step it up. The trumpets take over the melody, and the edition of subtle percussion makes the music strong, yet light–like Steamboy, this is a creation made to fly.

Every hero deserves a song. Perhaps Ray’s song is just the machination your story needs to send your hero soaring through the pages and into readers’ hearts.

Click here for more on Steve Jablonsky.

23 thoughts on “Writer’s Music: Steve Jablonsky II”

  2. The build and the eventual power of good over evil feel of this piece reminded me of those old black & white westerns I used to watch on the TV as a kid. Also slightly reminiscent of the music Metallica open a stadium concert with for some odd reason. As one about to spontaneously combust in the not to distant future the concept of ‘steam’ is plainly not lost on me. You’ve certainly done him proud here.

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    • As one who never attended such raucousy affairs, I will take your word for it in regards to Metallica. 😛 I suppose one could make a loose connection to the Peter Gabriel song “Steam,” but I’m feeling rather lazy at the moment.

      Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

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      • Peter Gabriel (his take on The Book of Love a particular favourite) an absolute favourite…was listening to both him and Randy Newman in the gym this very day. Randy singing his song, ‘I think it’s going to rain today’ sums up the world for me right now. I overly push, not by design, more by enthusiasim my youngest sons ballads, albeit he hates them. Herewith his take on North Korea; https://soundcloud.com/zoolon/erasing-the-38th composed three years ago.
        Have started your book; the panache within your writing style is sublime by the way. Provokes a second read. Ongoing.

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      • How cool you’ve got creativity running in the family! You must be very proud, despite his hating of things, as sons are oft wont to do.

        And thank you for the kind compliment–you’ve made me go red as a beet. 🙂

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      • I can be the harshest critic, not least about my own endeavours. Yet I am afflicted with soaking in writing styles more often than content on first read. Can’t help it because it means I have to read things twice…thank God I’ve never read War & Peace. Rest assured my compliment is a valid one. As I’ve mentioned to the lovely Ms Shehannemoore previous (I can be a repetitive bore by the way) my son is a genius in total denial. Totally colour blind, dyslexic yet still gets a first class degree in music.

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      • Oh yes, I loved the instrumental lead-in to the vocal. He knows what he’s doing, and believe me when I say that after listening to gobs of music–HE’S GOOD. 🙂

        I’ve done my share of multiple reads, too, especially in college. There’s something about over-stimulation, you know? When our brains are trying to take in too much, words always tumble to a low priority for some reason, at least in my head. 😦

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      • First read of a writing style (genre matters not) one is enamoured with is akin to entering an art exhibition and going ‘wow’ just prior to studying each of the artists paintings individually as one does with the chapters of a book I reckon.

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      • It is also why I can never read the lyrics of a song. Reading a lyric and taking a liking to the structure etc. can ruin a song, yet enhance a book. A thing I’ve always found odd…maybe it’s just me.

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  5. I finally arrived at Jean Lee’s World, hurrah – obviously I haven’t eaten my mango yet or I would have energeticaly read all “my” blogs earlier than almost 10:00 p.m. at night! :0

    Please forgive my tardiness. I listened to Steve Jablonsky’s composition and I enjoyed it! I could easily imagine myself writing whle listenign to it, which is a big compliment because I’m one super- picky gal when it comes to my writing music.

    I wish I had something more profound or entertaining to add here; however, pure appreciation of a musical work is special in its own way. I thank you from the bottom of my eardrums for giving me such wonderful glimpses of pieces I never would’ve listened to on my own, dear J!

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    • Oh, you are most welcome, Dyane! I can’t write to just anything, either, especially if a song has lyrics. Don’t ever feel like you MUST be profound, for I sure have days where I’m lucky I remember what a spoon is, let alone mango. 🙂 I’m just glad you enjoyed it! xxxx

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