My Narnia Music Videos

I don't know if you've noticed the YouTube widget I added on my sidebar. :) Well those are Narnia Music Videos that I have made. I really enjoy editing footage from the movies to songs that fit! It's my favorite "hobby," you could say. Anyway, for a time I was all of the sudden getting all of these ideas for music videos, and I made a lot of them! Some of them are still on my list-to-edit. :)

I have mentioned a couple of my videos in my post about Kelley's birthday. Also you can see my list of official music videos here: Music Videos of Narnia.

My sister's birthday was yesterday, and I wanted to make her a music video that she would love. I used the song, "I'm Reading a Book" by Julian Smith. LOL! If you haven't seen the original, you can see it here. Here's my Dawn Treader version. When I started editing, I didn't know how it would turn out, but I kept finding perfect clips to use!

I was also inspired to do a number of Christian music videos. Go to YT to read the descriptions. I'll just embed the videos below. :)

And I entered two Narnia YouTube contests with these two videos below. The first one I had lots of fun using effects on my Adobe Premiere Pro. The second one I had fun using clips from all three movies. :)

I also did two fun videos. One about Edmund to a song by David Archuleta, and one about all of the Boys to a "High School Musical" song. Hahaha...

Last but not least, I had fun making two short "search-stories" using a YouTube program. One is for Aslan's Country, the other is called "Thank You for Narnia." :)

I've done a couple more, but they were blocked temporarily. I'm going to try to fix them. :) And there will probably be lots more coming! :) So if you're on YouTube, keep an eye on my channel! NarniaMusicVids

Thanks for watching!

VDT Soundtrack Review

Wow. I told you before that I wanted to wait until I bought the soundtrack to hear it, instead of listening to it on Grooveshark. Let me tell you, it was worth it. Listening to the soundtrack is like watching the wonderful movie all over again! I rate it 5 blue stars! :)

If you have seen the movie more than once you can follow along with the scenes while you’re listening to the soundtrack. I don’t know if every single piece of music is on the CD, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was! Some of the tracks even pick up right where the last one left off. For example “Duel” and “The Magician’s Island.” At the end of Eustace’s “Duel” with Reep, it goes right to the scene where Gael is discovered on the ship (beginning of “The Magician’s Island”).

There are two songs in the movie, which I know aren’t on the soundtrack. One is “In the Mood,” the 40’s piece played during Lucy’s dream about Susan. This is kind of equivalent to “Oh, Johnny!” (a 40’s song by the Andrews Sisters) which was not included on the LWW soundtrack. The second song is “There’s a Place for Us,” which was written and recorded by Carrie Underwood. This song, which plays during the credits of the movie, was also recorded by artists from around the globe for their versions of “Dawn Treader.” That may be why the song wasn’t included on the CD. It just seems a little odd, since almost every other soundtrack I own includes some song at the end of the CD that played during the credits or was an “inspired by” song.

That having been said, the soundtrack really sounds complete without those two songs. Ending with “Time to Go Home” is so emotional. I teared up when I got there! If you really want to hear Carrie’s song after that, you can buy “There’s a Place for Us” (which is very beautiful) and burn a CD of the soundtrack with her song at the end.

But I digress…

The score is beautiful. David Arnold did a fabulous job writing the new themes, mixing them together, orchestrating them, supplementing each scene with the perfect amount of music, and fitting them together to make a lovely soundtrack. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, the music would be enjoyable to listen to, but knowing the story really adds to the experience, I think (as I said above).

Some of my favorite tracks:

1. Opening Titles: He starts off with a high “ooing” voices and low strings (I'm calling that the “Liliandil theme.”) which escalate to a beautiful falling melody I’ll call the “Dawn Treader theme.” This is the perfect beginning to the movie and the soundtrack!

3. High King and Queen of Narnia: This is one of the two tracks credited to Harry Gregson-Williams, the composer for LWW and PC. When Edmund and Lucy are introduced to the crew, David Arnold uses the “Narnia Theme.” I sort of wish there was more of the old themes in this movie, but then it wouldn’t be the same beautiful soundtrack! The movie has a different feel, and the new composer really added to it.

4. Reepicheep: This is not one of my favorites, but it introduces us to the “Reepicheep theme.” (of course!) It escalates to a magical melody that accompanies Lucy and the Nymph she sees in the water. The “Reepicheep theme” is also heard during the sweet “Under the Stars” track when Reep is comforting Dragon Eustace.

8. The Green Mist: This track (and all of the Lone Island tracks) has a very Arabian feel to it. (Each island has its own feel: Magician’s Island is very magical, Goldwater is very dry and scary, etc.) It starts out with an ominous chasing music (An interesting note: the strings underneath remind me of the “Raid on the Castle” track from Prince Caspian.) For the actual “Green Mist theme” he invented a very ominous theme blared out on trombones and supplemented by a choir. This theme you can hear during Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace’s temptations… basically whenever the green mist is seen.

10. 1st Sword: This is a quiet, happy theme (I’ll call it the “Sword theme.”) for the scene where Lord Bern gives Caspian the first sword, and Caspian gives it to Edmund. It vaguely reminds me of the “Father Christmas” track from LWW, which I suppose is appropriate. :)

11. Eustace on Deck: This song exactly fits what it is couple with in the film, a scene of the kids and Reepicheep passing time on the deck of the Dawn Treader. Inserted in is a variation of the “Dawn Treader theme.”

12. Duel: This track is a “Pirates of the Caribbean” type fiddle piece that fits the scene perfectly, but the theme is never used again in the movie. Although it is suspiciously reminiscent of the “Dawn Treader theme...” :)

14. Lucy and the Invisible Mansion: I would title this track “The Book of Incantations.” It starts out very quiet and mystical as Lucy is opening the Magician’s Book. When it starts snowing, the “ooing” “Liliandil theme” begins, and right before it reaches the “Dawn Treader theme,” is where she slaps the book and the music stops. The beauty spell is next, then the boys’ fight with the invisible Dufflepuds. When everything is appearing again, it is very magical sounding.

16. Temptation of Lucy: (This isn’t one of my very favorites, but it has a lot of the themes in it!) It starts out with a very sweet and quiet version of the “Treasure theme” (seen later) with the “Green Mist theme” (listen for it!) squeezed in. When she transforms in the mirror, we hear a rather sad version of the “Liliandil theme.”

17. Aslan Appears: This is the second track where David Arnold uses the old “Narnia theme.” But this time it is slow and sad, since Aslan is telling Lucy how wrong she was and encouraging her not to be jealous.

20. Dragon’s Treasure: The “Treasure theme” is a bouncy, greedy, almost comical theme played on a xylophone I think. After that the track gets more solemn and we even hear a phrase of the “Green Mist theme.” When Edmund and Caspian find Eustace’s clothes and journal, they think he is dead. David Arnold uses a slow and sadly triumphant version of the “Sword theme" for the mourning Eustace and the finding of the third sword.

21. Dragon Attack: The pounding beginning instantly reminds me of Dragon Eustace flapping his wings up and down, flying towards the Dawn Treader. This develops into a mini battle against poor Eustace. As he flies away, we hear a sad, climbing melody squealed out by the violins. Then we hear a goldwater-sounding chasing theme and as Eustace picks Edmund up to read his message, we are suspended in air, hearing a version of the “Liliandil theme” again.

24. Aslan’s Table: (All of these tracks really are wonderful…. Maybe I should just write about all of them…) We hear a minor version of the “Dawn Treader theme,” which turns into the “Sword theme." As they try to pile the swords on the table a running theme plays over the slow "Sword theme.” Ramandu’s Island is dark and mysterious, until Liliandil appears. She brings with her the lovely “Liliandil theme,” which originally played during the Opening Titles.

27. Into Battle: This is the longest in length at 11:02. It leads you through Dark Island, where the “Green Mist theme” is prevalent, especially when the Serpent appears. There are glimmers of hope voiced by the “Sword theme,” but soon the epic battle takes over. I really like the use of choirs chanting during this piece. The one surprise is when the music suddenly cuts out for the quiet interlude during which Aslan “undragons” Eustace. I think the theme is a variation of the “Sword theme.” But back to battle! Another running theme occurs when Eustace, as a boy, tries to get the seventh sword on the table. The rest is crazy, wonderful battle music (except for one short pause for the witch to talk to Edmund. Did you know there are voices whispering “Edmund” in the music there?) until Ed stabs the serpent. Victory!

28. Sweet Water: Actually this is the victory piece. It starts out with the“Liliandil theme,” but soon crescendos to the victorious “Sword theme.” Then we hear a hint of the “Dawn Treader theme” before finding Eustace is a boy again!

29. Ship to Shore: This is where it starts getting emotional… The music is quiet, because Aslan is talking to them and they are all saying their goodbyes. You can hear some of the “Sword theme.” The clearest though is the beautiful “Reepicheep theme,” especially when Reep sails over the wave into Aslan’s Country at the end of the track. Awww…. Sob, Sob!

30. Time to Go Home: I think this is my favorite track of the bunch. The “Dawn Treader theme” is heard first. It is just brimming with hope, but also filled with sadness and longing. I really love how this movie ends, how Eustace is narrating about how his cousins will be missed by all Narnia. And right at the end, when you think it couldn’t get any better, David Arnold adds in a gorgeous, climbing theme from the violins. (A variation of the “Sword theme.”) They start low and soft, slowly escalating and passing each other, higher and higher, and finally resolving in quiet strains of the beautiful “Dawn Treader theme” as Eustace hangs the picture of the Dawn Treader on the wall. The soundtrack ends exactly how it begins. Quiet “Dawn Treader theme.” Fade out.

Conclusion:

1. Watch the movie several times.

2. Buy the soundtrack.

3. Listen to the soundtrack several times.

4. Buy the movie. :) It's coming out April 8!

Dawn Treader Soundtrack

The soundtrack for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader isn't that noticeable at first. Which is how soundtrack music should be. Of course it does have some of those "big hero theme/epic battle music" moments, which you notice, but the music works as a team with what you're seeing on screen. After seeing the movie multiple times, I've come to love the music a lot. It really is perfect for the film, and the themes are a good balance of new themes and a few old themes. I agree with the review I've included part of down below. :)

Anyway, I thought I'd let you know, in case you're interested in hearing the soundtrack, that it is available to listen to on Grooveshark. Grooveshark is a site where people upload their music so that they have it wherever they are. But it benefits other people who want to hear a song before they buy it or just have a playlist of music on while they're working online. I personally don't want to listen to it on Grooveshark because I want it to be new and fresh when I buy it and hear the CD for the first time. :) Speaking of buying the soundtrack, here's a couple links: Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

And here's some news on the Soundtrack: Click here to read a story from Aslan's Country containing two reviews of the soundtrack (part of which i've pasted below) and an interview with the composer, David Arnold. In the interview he talks a bit about the musicians who play the music. Did you know they don't see it until they show up to rehearse it for about 5 minutes, then record it? Wow. They're pretty talented. Read the interview for more. :)

From Mfiles: Stylistically Arnold’s music is different Gregson-Williams’ but clearly from the same genre, so it feels like the new music is an evolution rather than a revolution for the Narnia series. The first thing you may notice about Arnold’s music is that much of it is quiet and gentle – a refreshing change from the relentlessly dark fantasy scores we have come to expect recently. Nevertheless this helps to reinforce the magical element of the C. S. Lewis books, and musically it allows the whole orchestra to shine. Rather than the heavy use of brass and strings, we can hear some much subtler orchestration with woodwind, percussion and harp shining through. Secondly although there is recurring thematic material, this is not one of those scores which constantly reiterates a single main theme. The effect is that the music is traditional but inventive, totally supportive of the film and yet carefully avoiding genre cliches.

Arnold’s new thematic material is a group of ideas presented in the “Opening Titles” with a characteristic descending figure. “The Painting” briefly turns darker with some rhythmic material before resolving back to the main theme, while “High King and Queen of Narnia” establishes the film’s place in the world of Narnia with a short recap of Gregson-Williams’ Narnia theme. Arnold’s new main theme recurs in various guises throughout the score (e.g. “Land Ahoy” and “Eustace On Deck”). “Reepicheep” and “Lord Bern” are excellent examples of the magical understated orchestration, with the harp arpeggiating the main theme in the latter. “Temptation of Lucy” is perhaps the lightest track of all, with harp, celeste and gentle woodwind creating a most ethereal cue. One of the consequences of keeping the score quietly in the background is that you get maximum contrast when the mood changes, for example “The Lone Island” is mostly quiet with a brief action interlude – a great contrast. Similarly there are some dark moments in “The Green Mist” which features some choral writing.

The Music Videos of Narnia

Here is a collection of the best Narnia Music Videos out there, including the official ones and my favorite fan-made music videos. Enjoy!


LWW: Steven Curtis Chapman: “Remembering You”
I found this one on Narnia.com one day and loved it ever since… especially the fast-paced clips around 2:43! I appreciate that the artist is a Christian, and that the song is thoughtful and moving, but exciting, and it sounds a lot like a song you would hear on Christian radio.



PC: Switchfoot: “This is Home”
I’m not as impressed with this artist or song. The song is pretty cool, and I think it captures the spirit of Narnia being the Pevensies’ second home, but the singers are a bit rock-and-roll-y. The video is pretty cool though. :)



VDT: Carrie Underwood: “There’s a Place for Us”
She actually wrote the song for the movie (It plays during the credits), but never made an official music video for it. Maybe that’s why: because it was written for the credits. Below is a video montage of her recording the song with movie clips edited in. It's short, but emotional! :D I think it works perfectly for the movie. I really love this song!



Several other international artists recorded “There’s a Place for Us” by request of Fox (to get more publicity for the movie worldwide). For their music videos, they each have the same set (the picture frame with the water) and movie clips, but a different feel and outfit. They're pretty odd, so I'm not posting them. :)


VDT: Fan Made: Scott Krippayne: “Voyage”
I edited this music video to a song inspired by the Dawn Treader movie and written by Christian artist Scott Krippayne. I finished it in November before the movie came out, using all of the trailers and clips that had been released: hence the poor quality and quantity. :)



PC: Fan Made: Mark Schultz: “You are a Child of Mine”
Most of the fan music videos online are poor quality or poorly edited. However, my sister found this user, babybiz87, who has uploaded some Narnia music videos and is very good at editing to the beats of the music. Here is my favorite one of hers: It brings to the forefront Prince Caspian’s search for a relationship with Aslan and his finding out that Aslan knew him all along.



LWW: Fan Made: Casting Crowns: “Voice of Truth”
I couldn’t find a LWW music video that I liked (besides the official one), so here’s a LWW character music video. It’s about Peter Pevensie’s journey and his aim to do right and listen to Aslan’s voice. This is one of my favorite songs; it’s so uplifting! They also use a lot of my favorite clips from my favorite movie! :)



Which one was your favorite? Do you have a favorite Narnia music video I haven’t listed? Please comment! I love hearing from other Narnia fans! :)