The Good & Bad Uses of Background Music

[jadebunny9]

We all know that some of the greatest movies ever also happen to have some of the greatest soundtracks ever. Background music is extremely important. I remember watching the Taiwanese version of Xiao Shiyi Lang and at some of the saddest and most depressing moments in the series, they played some upbeat/cowboyish music in the background. It was honestly so appalling and really killed the moment. Not to mention that the bg music was so loud that I couldn't make out what the characters were saying. Needless to say, I wanted to strangle whoever was in charge of the sound editing.

Have you ever ran cross a similar situation?

[Suet Seung]

We all know that some of the greatest movies ever also happen to have some of the greatest soundtracks ever. Background music is extremely important. I remember watching the Taiwanese version of Xiao Shiyi Lang and at some of the saddest and most depressing moments in the series, they played some upbeat/cowboyish music in the background. It was honestly so appalling and really killed the moment. Not to mention that the bg music was so loud that I couldn't make out what the characters were saying. Needless to say, I wanted to strangle whoever was in charge of the sound editing.

Have you ever ran cross a similar situation?

I only remember the earlier parts of the same series you're talking about, and they totally lifted some background music from TVB's XAJH96.

There were several times in Taiwanese series like Phoneix Swing and others where they played Kitaro or other new age instrumental music that just wasn't original or appropriate for the series or scene.

[jadebunny9]

Actually, a lot of good background music from TVB series are taken from Japanese New Age artists, and most of them time they fit pretty well. Kitaro's Heaven and Earth piece fits quite a few scenes, and Himekami and S.E.N.S. also have some awesome instrumentals.

It's mostly the occasional Taiwanese or Mainland series that gets its background music all fuddled up.

[Suet Seung]

Actually, a lot of good background music from TVB series are taken from Japanese New Age artists, and most of them time they fit pretty well. Kitaro's Heaven and Earth piece fits quite a few scenes, and Himekami and S.E.N.S. also have some awesome instrumentals.

It's mostly the occasional Taiwanese or Mainland series that gets its background music all fuddled up.

Yes, I know. But TVB knew how to use such New Age Music. But I don't know what the Taiwanese music crew are smoking because it is either loud or not meant for the scene.

[jadebunny9]

Yes, I know. But TVB knew how to use such New Age Music. But I don't know what the Taiwanese music crew are smoking because it is either loud or not meant for the scene.

True. Even if TVB ripped off most of its background music (I even heard songs from Mulan and other Disney movies), it knew where to insert the songs properly. One thing that TVB can do correctly for once.

Perhaps Taiwanese people have different music tastes.

[jadebunny9]

Actually I was thinking about posting some links to listen to certain bg music so we can perhaps discuss, but I'm not sure if it needs its own thread or if I should just post it in here? SS? Ken?

[Guo Xiang]

Heh, Taiwan's wuxia series nearly ALWAYS get their music from Userjoy's wuxia games (I play them, so I know). That's why the music in Taiwanese wuxia series tend to sound game-like and inappropriate. Those music are great for the games, but will sound funny, weird and out-of-place in drama series.

[Suet Seung]

Actually I was thinking about posting some links to listen to certain bg music so we can perhaps discuss, but I'm not sure if it needs its own thread or if I should just post it in here? SS? Ken?

Since the Music forum is my territory, I'll reply. There's a good solution to this, I can change the title of this thread to include BG and Misused Background Music, so we can discuss both issues of BM.

It's your call, Bunny.

[jadebunny9]

That works my dear.

[jadebunny9]

Anyway, I just wanted to share some background songs with everyone. These are mostly from ancient TVB series during the 90s.

I remember hearing these in ROCH 95, but I'm sure they've been used in other series as well.

http://www.esnips.com/doc/081fdbc9-0...e4/DISC16_TK11

http://www.esnips.com/doc/f59c66a6-5...1e/DISC16_TK13

http://www.esnips.com/doc/2a1d5fde-6...df/DISC16_TK16

http://www.esnips.com/doc/ef3eda0d-2...e1TempleSound1

http://www.esnips.com/doc/0be7f69a-c...ftRoch95Sound2

Such good music should not be put to waste, so I'm sharing the listening experience with you guys. Though I think only SS would really enjoy them. Maybe Ken....though I don't think he's into sad music.

[Suet Seung]

Anyway, I just wanted to share some background songs with everyone. These are mostly from ancient TVB series during the 90s.

I remember hearing these in ROCH 95, but I'm sure they've been used in other series as well.

http://www.esnips.com/doc/081fdbc9-0...e4/DISC16_TK11

http://www.esnips.com/doc/f59c66a6-5...1e/DISC16_TK13

http://www.esnips.com/doc/2a1d5fde-6...df/DISC16_TK16

http://www.esnips.com/doc/ef3eda0d-2...e1TempleSound1

http://www.esnips.com/doc/0be7f69a-c...ftRoch95Sound2

Such good music should not be put to waste, so I'm sharing the listening experience with you guys. Though I think only SS would really enjoy them. Maybe Ken....though I don't think he's into sad music.

I believe I have all those you posted. The first 3 are music from the old Romance of the Three Kingdoms anime.

I have a bunch of Kitaro and Himekami CDs I bought at the store years ago, and some S.E.N.S ones I downloaded mp3s of years ago. Haha. it's allways good to listen to them. It gives me inspiration to write my fan-fics.

If you're interested, I can post up CD covers or amazon link to CDs of the BGM that TVB used. Haha...I think I own most of them. Makes me nostalgic when I listen to them because I know which series used them. Hahaha.

[jadebunny9]

Yeap, those were from the Three Kingdoms anime. Makes me sorta want to watch it just for the music. It's pretty sad how a lot of the best TVB background music are actually Japanese.

S.E.N.S. is hands down the best, though I also love Kitaro and Himekami too. S.E.N.S. is just.........phenomenal. Too bad they only have concerts in Japan.

I actually got a lot of these from some Benny Chan site long ago.....and the rest I got from TV Songs? Something like that...it was a winglin forum before it turned into DSoul, which is actually closing down. =\

It makes me nostalgic because the days of TVB producing good ancients series are over.

The East is Red and Qing Ding Shaolin Shi has some of the best songs in wuxia series ever.

[Suet Seung]

The Enchanted Forest - Melodies of Japan by James Galway and Hiro Fujikake
[This CD contains BGM used in TVB Mystery of the Condor Hero]
http://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-Fore...9460914&sr=8-2

Beyond Rangoon Movie Soundtrack by Hans Zimmer
[This CD contains music used in TVB SOD/XAJH 96, also look for the soundtrack music to Ashes of Time and the Kung Fu Returns with guy who played Bill in Kill Bill movies because they're used in SOD96 too.]

http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Rangoon...9461118&sr=8-1

That's all for now tonight. You can go to Amazon here and buy the tracks or buy the CDs or just listen to the sample and see if you recognize them.

Okay! One more. This is from DGSD 96, the BGM is from The Soong Sisters movie soundtrack by Kitaro

http://www.amazon.com/Soong-Sisters-...9461310&sr=8-2

[flamer]

The best one I remember is Chinese Paladin. The songs and musics were so good and touching.

[azuki]

Anyway, I just wanted to share some background songs with everyone. These are mostly from ancient TVB series during the 90s.

I remember hearing these in ROCH 95, but I'm sure they've been used in other series as well.

http://www.esnips.com/doc/081fdbc9-0...e4/DISC16_TK11

http://www.esnips.com/doc/f59c66a6-5...1e/DISC16_TK13

http://www.esnips.com/doc/2a1d5fde-6...df/DISC16_TK16

http://www.esnips.com/doc/ef3eda0d-2...e1TempleSound1

http://www.esnips.com/doc/0be7f69a-c...ftRoch95Sound2

Such good music should not be put to waste, so I'm sharing the listening experience with you guys. Though I think only SS would really enjoy them. Maybe Ken....though I don't think he's into sad music.

Sorry for interrupting.. the third song from the links above.. may I know the title of the song? I would like to find its full version. I reckoned I played it on organ long time ago after watching a series.. though I cannot remember the series name.

Thank you

[jadebunny9]

Sorry for interrupting.. the third song from the links above.. may I know the title of the song? I would like to find its full version. I reckoned I played it on organ long time ago after watching a series.. though I cannot remember the series name.

Thank you

I don't know the title of the song, but I do know that it's from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms anime, like what Suet Seung mentioned. I'm not even sure if there's a full version, but you can try searching up the anime's OST.

[Suet Seung]

Here's S.E.N.S's Palace Memories, which was used in numerous TVB serials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx0oTV3cMrg

Aphrodite - S.E.N.S
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nECu5mlT8rE

Although, I guess without James Wong to supply and compose the BGM and theme songs, they had to borrow from the Japanese music composers. Sadly, nowdays, there music in TVB series is nothing out of the ordinary. They usually just play the instrumental version of the themesong during scenes and etc. Hmm..it has been a while since I've watched a TVB series.

[Ken Cheng]

Although, I guess without James Wong to supply and compose the BGM and theme songs, they had to borrow from the Japanese music composers. Sadly, nowdays, there music in TVB series is nothing out of the ordinary. They usually just play the instrumental version of the themesong during scenes and etc. Hmm..it has been a while since I've watched a TVB series.

James Wong was mainly a lyricist, although he could also compose music. During the 1970s and 1980s, the bulk of the great TVB series had music composed by Joseph Koo and lyrics by James Wong. Michael Lai also composed some pretty good stuff (although not quite as good as the Koo/Wong partnership).

My only complaint about the Koo/Wong classics were that they were somewhat formulaic, but it was a *great* formula.

[Suet Seung]

James Wong was mainly a lyricist, although he could also compose music. During the 1970s and 1980s, the bulk of the great TVB series had music composed by Joseph Koo and lyrics by James Wong. Michael Lai also composed some pretty good stuff (although not quite as good as the Koo/Wong partnership).

My only complaint about the Koo/Wong classics were that they were somewhat formulaic, but it was a *great* formula.

Yes. I forgot Joseph Koo's name. I knew it started with a "J". What did Michael Lai compose? Were the songs he composed well-known?

[Ken Cheng]

Yes. I forgot Joseph Koo's name. I knew it started with a "J". What did Michael Lai compose? Were the songs he composed well-known?

He did HSDS '86's theme, for one. Pretty much any 1980s TVB theme that was *not* composed by the Wong/Koo team was composed by Lai.

Although for the life of me, aside from the HSDS '86 suite of songs, I forget which others were his. Lai's stuff tended to be a little more modern-sounding in most cases (the HSDS '86 suite being one notable exception).