My movie score nerdom revealed: The Hunger Games musical composition review

I bought [downloaded] my first complete movie score in a long time today. I think the last one I got in its entirety was a Christmas gift: The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe (Harry Gregson Williams). I've only downloaded hit and miss pieces recently.

(Here's a new favorite of mine that I cannot wait to find a good photo slideshow to put together with... It's actually not from a movie, but was used for the Oscar's this year: Celebrate the Oscars, Hans Zimmer)

Big surprise...the soundtrack was The Hunger Games. Props to Mr. James Newton Howard on yet another job well done! No one will ever know what the emotional sound of The Hunger Games could have or would have been had Danny Elfman's allegiance to director Tim Burton not won out and the original composer had completed the job he was originally tasked.

Howard was first on my radar during my chick flick obsession era with his work on My Best Friend's Wedding. The 2003 version of Peter Pan was my first full album purchased, which is one I still love to this day and not just because I'm in love Pan the Man.

For a two and a half hour long movie, the score rounds out to only about 45 minutes. Whether it was Howard's expertise or the wise insight of director Gary Ross, I found the lack of music in many key parts of the movie more impacting than any combination of melodies and instruments could have attained.

The Reaping, in particular, stands out to me. The stark silence and hearing every soft foot step, brush of clothing and crinkle of paper radiated the terror and hatred that every person in District 12 was feeling. (Minus Effie, of course!) Music could have only detracted from enabling us, the viewing audience, from feeling like we were as much a part of that reaping as Prim and Katniss.

Then you have the sharp turn around to the Capital and the Game Festivities. "Entering the Capital" takes you from the stark silence of District 12 to the bizarre elite world of Panem's Capital, full of the foreign feeling Katniss and Peeta must have been overwhelmed with upon entering. This, in addition to the cheering crowds and complete love of the Games, gives a full picture of the opposite life and perspective for Capital citizens.

The score in and of itself, to me, has an Eastern influence to it. I know that, based on the "Songs from District 12" soundtrack, there was a folkish approach to the music, but after listening to it on repeat for awhile (because that's what I do with new music!) I heard similarities to Japanese composers, Joe Hisaishi and Yoko Kanno and some of their more famous movie compositions. (I'm not an anime gal but my college roommate was--as well as a movie score enthusiast like myself. She supplied me with much of the music I love today. I have to say that the Anime scores are extremely beautiful and well done.) I picked up on this similarity primarily in the more tender pieces on the soundtrack, like "Healing Katniss," "Rue's Farewell" and "We Could Go Home."

On the other hand, the more intense and active scenes were inspired with melodies that brought to mind another score I recently downloaded a few selections from: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Patrick Doyle) I heard some of this mostly in the finale selections like, "The Muttations" and "Tenuous Winners/Returning Home."

I'm thoroughly enjoying the music and feeling like I'm reliving the movie emotions as I listen. I have to admit, though, I fell in love with the trailer score and wish this was a part of the soundtrack. Guess I'll be buying it independently. 

Mad about March!

What's making me smile during March Madness?

(1) Not one, but TWO Kentucky teams in the Final Four. Not only did the region (Kentucky, Ohio, Indian) make up seven of the 16 Sweet 16 teams, but now our state makes up half of the remaining four teams. Most know I'm not partial to UofL over UK (preposterous, I know!) but love to see both succeed. I have to say, while I know the smack talk is on the horizon as Saturday nears, I love that the last 24 hours have been filled with STATE pride from both red and blue fans. At least everyone sees eye to eye about one thing: Kentucky basketball is dominant.

(2) Despite not being repeat national champs, I'm so proud of the Bellarmine Knights for a second time in history appearance in the Division II final four! I think this BU-er said it best, even though he's on the other side of the world in Australia! It's a long post but the read is great--especially if you're any part of Knights Nation.

(3) My home town Lady Rebel basketball team overcame the odds after losing their number one player a month before tournament time, and earned the regional runner-up title. Their number one player, and only senior, was not only a standout on our team, but perhaps the region's top player. (She was named the region's player of the year despite ending her season early.) It was a little bittersweet to see the team who took the regional title make it to the final four in the state and wonder if that could have been Casey County, but the good new is, the team that earned the runner-up honors will return in full next season.

(4) And do you really expect me to forget about my Buckeyes?? I was ecstatic to see them advance past  Syracuse on Saturday and luckily, I can cheer full force for them in their next game since it won't be until the championship game that they'll face a Kentucky-based team! Then I'll be a little torn...

A greener than GREEN St. Paddy's Day!

It's not too often to see sunshine and SO much green on March 17. Even if there'd been no shamrock shirts and green beer, the world was full of green as the spring is arriving earlier than I remember for a long time!

Jon and I had a busy St. Patrick's Day, being a Saturday and all, traveling between Indiana and Kentucky but it was spent with lots of great friends, family and festivities! 

As I mentioned on Valentine's Day, I love how Facebook allows me to feel the festive fun of of others I can't physically be with. 

Sweet cinnamon rolls by my cousin!

My Grandma's grave done up by my uncle!
She's who taught my mom to love the holiday, who in turn taught me!

Bellarmine had a St. Pat's celebration in the "dining hall"
(aka KOSTER'S)... Wish they'd had this when I was there!

Friends at my favorite Louisville Irish Pub, the "Bellarmine Bar"
SHENANIGANS!

Although I didn't see my sis, I did see she had fun in her green!

Oliver celebrating his 2nd St. Patrick's Day birthday!
(This is how he shows us he's '2'!)

The plethora of four-leafed clovers the kiddos found at Oliver's birthday party!

My hubs embracing my St. Paddy's love!

Decked out in MUCH but not ALL of my attire.
(My shoe broke--I'm holding the sole of it...and I look
a little crazed because of it!)

March for the win!

- 60-70 degree days and sunshine........................................................... +20 

- Tornados, rain and snow........................................................................ -15 

- Flowers blooming................................................................................... + 3 

- March Madness basketball action.......................................................... +10 

- March madness consuming tv & facebook............................................. - 5 

- Losing an hour of sleep from daylight savings....................................... -10 

- Longer days and more hours of sunlight................................................ +15 

- Possession of Jotul stove for the future home....................................... +12 

- Apartment painting resulting in clutter and mess...................................  -7 

- 2 Godchildren birthdays......................................................................... +10 

- Sister & sister-in-law birthdays............................................................... +10 

- St. Patty's Day!!!!!................................................................................... +30

- No meat on Fridays................................................................................ - 5 

- Fish Fry Fridays ..................................................................................... +15 

- Hanging out with friends in Lex............................................................... +20 

- Missing friend's birthday in Lou............................................................... -12 

- Spending lots of $$ on car maintenance................................................. -20

- The Hunger Games movie comes to theaters........................................ +20 

GRAND TOTAL IS.....................................101%

I'd say that spring is off to a great start....! :)

To all the single ladies and fairytale dreamers....

Despite being married now, I still find myself  nodding my head and relating to the single girls standing up for their single life. The older we get, the more the question is asked "So why are you still alone?"  I commend those who refuse to "settle" because they know that their knight in shining armor is out there. They know someone exists for them and that God will align their paths when the time is right...Some will roll their eyes but my belief in this got me exactly what I was looking for...

I don't just say this because I'm happily married now, but because I look back and see that, without a doubt, God opened our eyes to one another when he knew it was right and not a moment sooner... Indeed there were plenty of chances for us to hit it off sooner.

Just to prove my point....witness this recent discovery by a very close friend............

You'll remember my friend Micah who traveled to Brazil with me in 2010. He and I go way back. We're talking 5th-grade-way-back. 

In the spring of 2006, Micah hosted a get-together at his mother's house for a semi-small group of friends. There were about six of us who'd graduated high school together. I brought a few other friends who knew Micah. My older brother Nic also came with a few of his closest friends.

We hung out in the sunshine all afternoon.We grilled, enjoyed drinks, played yard games and hit up the hot tub. Later that day I made my first (and only to date) trek through downtown Louisville for Thunder Over Louisville at the Ohio River. It was a madhouse but exciting to say the least. Nic hosted the post-party at his apartment. 

A fun, fun spring day in Kentucky. One of the many memorable college events where my camera was overly active in documenting the fun.

Ah, but it documented something else--or someone else I should say--as well. 

Among that group of close friends at Micah's was none other that my Mingus. He's right there in the thick of the fun happening in several pictures. He's there laughing with my closest guy friends. How did he not become a closer friend because of this day? 

Valerie and I at Micah's Party in 2006.
Jon was just over my shoulder when we took this picture...

What makes this 2006 gathering different than the others over the years--besides the fact I never knew he was there--is that this was as small, more intimate group gathering. It really shows that we were staring each other in the face but we were kept blind to each other for one reason or another.

Given, we were both wrapped up in own love lives at this point in time. He had a girlfriend. I was spinning circles with several confusing loose ends in the relationship world. But that never kept me from becomes friends with Nic's other friends. 

Jon and I connected immediately on that day we finally did hold a conversation. Could it have happened had we simply decided to hold a conversation on that sunny spring day in 2006? 

Needless to say, there is no answer to that question, and frankly, I don't care about the answer. 
If we had hit it off that day and started dating? I can't say the course of my life would have followed the path that it did for the next four years and I had a great college career as a single gal living it up with my girl friends. What would he say? Ha, I'm not sure but since I do know a tad about his adventures (thanks to my brother and mutual friends) I'd venture to say he wouldn't trade in those memories either.

We needed those four extra years to explore ourselves and independently grow before we could best begin to better each other. 

My dad once told me that if we would go back and change anything about our lives it must mean we aren't really happy with where are lives are presently. Any one change to the past would cause a ripple effect of changes to the aftermath and alter the present as we know it and everything in between. I couldn't be happier now, so I'm more than grateful to have been single for years and letting God steady my heart while waiting for "the one".

Told to me by my Pa shortly after graduating Bellarmine.