 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I won't pretend that since I love the scoring of the show, that it's up with there the best of television scoring, but it is however highly worth mentioning.
The scoring of the series is an eclectic mix or orchestral work (both small and other times fuller sounding), plenty of Japanese percussion and musical ideas, synth work including electronica material (thankfully used sparingly).
One of the great things about the show is how it let the scoring tell the story, often with little or even no FX/SFX. It wouldn't be unusual to have stretches here it's a montage cue and viewers are treated to the artistic backgrounds. Those ideas would be carried over to Genndy Tartakovsky new show which premiered last year, called "Primal" (unfortunately, Venable was not the chosen composer; the highly annoying scoring of that show is by Tyler Bates and Joanne Higginbottom.
Some might say this would make hours of kick-ass exercising music.
The catchy, albeit annoying theme music is by Will.i.am.
Trailer music composer Paul Dinletir is credited with additional music on every episode Venable scored.
https://www.kaptainmusic.com/public/liste_resultats.php?type_search=simple&classif_236[]=17692&lang=en&page=124#searchpage124
The late Mako voiced the evil Aku.
SEASON 1:
"Episode I"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn1gi
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xeJDPaktJ8
Highlights:
0:46 in. As the mother disappears into the fog on a boat, an ehru theme can be heard; it'll make appearances throughout the series, signaling Jack's remembrance of the past and longing for home.
4:57 in. Almost eight minutes long.
14:21 in.
14:50 in.
15:51 in.
16:36 in.
18:50 in.
Venable's episode score won an Annie. The other competition that year, was no competition for Venable (Guy Moon composer, Butch Hartman and Steve Marmel (lyricists), "The Fairly Odd Parents"; Van Dyke Parks, Kevin Kiner, Grant Geissman [songs], "Harold and the Purple Crayon": "Blame It on the Rain").
"Episode II"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn1gq
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtzRaziNSbE
Highlights:
0:20 in.
20:15 in.
"Episode III"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn3wn
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suMdeQjXA5g
Highlights:
1:58/2:31 in. An eight-note theme can be heard in this cue, which will also appear in the series. Six and-a-half minutes long from the second cue.
7:12 in.
10:18 in.
12:19/13:38 in.
14:25/16:10 in.
"Episode IV"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6opkgv
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMgPOifv4Gs
Highlights:
0:58 in.
3:08 in.
9:40 in.
10:49 in.
11:41 in.
15:55 in.
"Episode V"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5ozk40 (in Spanish)
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-USJqS3PZU
Highlights:
1:28 in.
3:38 in.
6:48 in.
8:59 in.
16:10 in.
17:29 in.
20:16 in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEASON 2:
"Episode XIV"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6opijl
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HONyQIt4lbA
Highlights:
0:10 in.
4:09 in.
4:38 in.
5:07 in.
7:12 in.
10:14 in.
12:02 in.
16:03 in. Also includes that no-theme idea.
Another one of my favorite episode scores.
"Jack's Longing theme" is also heard in this episode, but not cited (a short cue).
Aku: "You can fly?!"
Jack: "No, jump good!"
"Episode XV"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn1e4
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfnRpgnX6Fk
Highlights:
12:30 in.
15:25 in.
19:36 in.
On a set of season one scoring, I'd skip this episode score.
"Episode XVI"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6v0lbd
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dTImfG96xw
Highlights:
1:08 in.
5:56 in.
8:02 in.
12:40 in.
16:34 in.
17:50 in.
On a set of season one scoring, I'm not sure how much of this I'd include.
"Episode XVII"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6rd517
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN-rinOkw70
Highlights:
0:36/0:58 in.
3:02 in. Some Scottish flavor for the return of the Scotsman.
4:28 in.
8:57 in.
10:48 in.
17:00 in.
19:25 in.
After Jack bows to a large horde of Scotsmen.
"What's he doin'?"
"Don't know, maybe he dropped something."
"Episode XVIII"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn16y
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBjGwyyc5qc&
Highlights:
1:44 in.
7:35 in.
12:58 in.
16:20 in.
Also includes that no-theme idea (cue not cited).
Jack: "Your search is over; come and get me."
"Episode XIX"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6v0lat
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW0p1w1Q9dQ
Highlights:
1:28 in.
7:47 in. "Jack's Longing Theme" is heard.
10:05 in.
11:33 in.
13:35 in.
14:42 in.
18:30 in.
20:51 in.
Another one of my favorite episode scores.
"Episode XX"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn1dk
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C17p4a2eLAk
Highlights:
1:00 in.
5:12 in.
6:58 in.
17:27 in.
"Episode XXI"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6opigf
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EFb4BKWjak
Highlights:
2:46 in.
9:16 in.
12:33 in.
18:09 in.*
* = You do realize that even though we didn't actually see, Jack got ... blown out the ass a dragon ... right? Let that sink in.
Out-of-context quote...
"Yesss, you have to enter me [...]"
"Episode XXII"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn1da
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9zMvXNtQUg
Highlights:
2:13 in.
5:35/7:39 in.
9:26 in.
10:47 in.
12:15/13:42/13:56/14:05 in. 12:56: That Aku statue is peeing.
15:24 in.
16:48 in.
19:38 in.
That's all but one or two cues.
One of my favorite episode scores and one of my favorite episodes.
Lionor: "You have given us the greatest hunt. You have earned your freedom. It is our way, the Imakandi way! Run free, Samurai Jack, run free."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oh, thanks -- I stopped going there since there was pretty much no updates and the last time I checked, it only had like one to three cues. This is great news!
EDIT:
Appears most, if not all, of the cues on his site are from the first episode.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oh, thanks -- I stopped going there since there was pretty much no updates and the last time I checked, it only had like one to three cues. This is great news!
I went looking for info on his new JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT score and was pleasantly surprised to find an expanded JERSEY GIRL section that looks to be complete.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEASON 4:
This is all of season four.
"Episode XL"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn0xm
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGcPC818nXU
Highlights:
4:00 in.
5:38 in.
8:47 in.
9:47 in.
10:35 in.
12:15 in.
13:15 in.
19:27 in.
I think that's all but two cues.
This is one of my favorite episodes, but it's mainly for the long artsy, stylish, and mental battle for the last six minutes of the episode. What a wonderful musical playground Venable was given on so many episodes!
"Episode XLI"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ophku
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voy_dUtdqxc
Highlights:
3:02 in.
5:20 in.
10:08 in.
18:30 in.
I hate this episode.
Still better than the Jack Chicken and rave episodes.
"Episode XLII"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6rbgam
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAFQe7IQVAg
Highlights:
6:11 in.
14:01 in.
15:53 in.
This is one of my favorite episodes.
Yes, that guy is annoying when it starts, but it's a build up to a bigger point.
I also love the looks of the red robbed bounty hunters. And that slow-mo battle and music is just awesome.
Jack: "You have not yet earned the right to face my blade."
"Jack: "He who runs with aggression, walks without dignity."
"Episode XLIII"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6rbn3r
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28vHocCt-UA
Highlights:
0:00 in.
1:08 in.
6:18 in.
9:04 in.
16:40 in.
19:40 in.
"Episode XLIV"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn0wv
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5pgAQmf3_c
Highlights:
1:55 in.
8:57 in.
9:36/10:14 in.
12:10 in.
15:16 in.
18:57 in.
This is one of my favorite episodes.
It's a long build up of the arrogance the assassins, with the release of what Jack does at the end.
"Episode XLV"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ophf9
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1LdRtVt8pg
Highlights:
3:55 in.
5:05 in.
8:48 in.
11:19 in.
12:22 in. More after the commercial break.
13:34 in.
14:33 in.
19:44 in.
The Scotsman returns again.
"Episode XLVI"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tn0w8
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln40HD0UJOk
Highlights:
0:05 in.
0:42 in.
3:00 in. Some obvious influence from Elfman's main title theme to "Mars Attacks!". About five minutes long.
8:09 in.
9:15 in.
11:45 in.
12:40 in.
16:12 in.
18:30 in.
Final season spoilers:
The final season is set fifty years after this season. The Scotsman makes two more appearances, but he is skilled off in the first one, only to come back as a ghost.
Jack: "Jump good."
Scotsman: "Yeah, yeah."
"Episode XLVII"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6v0kse
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdTBnsSKVrM
Highlights:
0:00 in.
3:42 in.
7:30 in.
8:16 in.
11:31 in.
13:07 in.
16:38/17:34 in.
21:04 in.
A rather bad episode. Boring as hell, and too many Star Wars references.
"Episode XLVIII"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6v0ks2
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfbSjfpVKVg
Highlights:
2:30 in.
8:26 in. And the cue after the commercial break would of course be the ending to the cue.
11:46/13:29 in.
13:56/17:14 in.
20:00 in.
This is one of my favorite episodes. It's not terribly complex, but Aku and Jack face off on more equal terms, which is very entertaining.
3:25 in: Aku's reaction is what I have seeing some of the posts people make online.
8:25 in: The face people make trying to not say anything to the stupid people and their stupid posts.
"You are so lucky, samurai; most of us have to live with our mistakes, but you get to DIIIIIEEE by yours!!!"
"Episode XLIX" / "Seasons of Death"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vlmns (load is sped up; volume is lower)
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgZAJwHGDC4
Highlights:
2:20 in.
9:29/10:49 in.
12:05 in.
13:56/17:29 in.
A favorite episode, but to a lesser degree. Gotta say I like the creepy midget evil scientist. The original minion-looking thing, about six years before "Despicable Me".
Another episode with a title on screen.
"Episode L"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6v0kt2
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPV80fRMQU
Highlights:
0:50 in. Almost eight minutes long.
9:39 in. And the cue after the commercial break.
20:32 in.
A favorite episode. It's also a favorite, not only the episodes but the score, amongst the fan base.
"Episode LI"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6t2up4 (load is sped up; volume is lower)
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZvPfGy9Wm8
Highlights:
1:03 in. Sounds like part of a cue from the first episode of the series was tracked here.
2:27 in.
5:58 in.
7:17 in.
9:35 in.
12:06/12:33/12:58 in.
15:18 in.
"Episode LII"
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vlja1 (load is sped up; volume is lower)
Cartoon Network purchase link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVPWxV_SUFk
Highlights:
2:00 in.
About 3:20 in.
4:22 in.
5:27 in.
9:02 in.
10:55 in.
12:32 in.
14:47/17:07 in.*
Sadly, this is the episode season four ended on.
* = Why do robots have to be hairy all over? Even armpit hair?
That's it for Venable.
The series was cancelled in 2004. For many years fans wanted the series back or at least a proper ending to it. Then in about 2016 it was announced the show would come back and end the saga. In 2017 we got tend episodes to bring the series to a conclusion.
I was excited to not only see the show again, but to hopefully have Venable back. Month after month passed and there was no composer announcement. Then finally in a video at some event (maybe a Comic Con), Genndy said he was seeking another composer; he gave one bullshit excuse after another: he wanted something different (Venable has done cartoons, comedies, this show, lighter work, orchestral stuff, electronica, etc.) and other nonsensical bullshit.
Then the terrible news hit: Brian Tyler was hired to score the final season. And when it aired we found out he couldn't even do it with one additional composer, with something like three to five on each episode. And the end product: A third-rate poor man's page of Venable, lacking all the heart, the creativity, the memorability, and soul of [v]Venable's work. The IMDb Trivia page states Tyler incorporated some of Venable's themes, but was unable to identify a single one. I won't spoil anything, but believe me I extremely disappointed to not hear "Jack's Longing Theme" when it would have been extremely not only appropriate by wanted.
Then over a year ago a new Genndy series was announced: "Primal".
The show turned out to be about a pre-historic caveman and a T-Rex that partner together after tragic loses, in an unforgiving violent kill or be killed land where every day is a struggle to survive. No dialogue (not language exists anyway) and more chances for Genndy's preferred style of artistic scenes and music only to tell stories.
Hoped for Venable, but instead got Tyler Bates fucking again. This time with one of the additional composers from the final season of SJ doing co-composing duties.
Not a ingle cue worth mentioning. Often the bland generic music just pisses me off. I often imagine score from episodes of "Samurai Jack" that Venable composed, to scenes from "Primal". If ever there was a match made in heaven, it would have been James L. Venable and "Primal".
For almost two decades fans have clamored for an official release of the scoring of "Samurai Jack" and finally a release was announced ... of the fucking Tyler Bates final season scoring only. They heard us and flipped us off.
Years ago here at FSM I inquired about it and MV replied that Adult Swim was not interested. Perhaps that has changed since then (MV, can you comment on the current possibility?).
A short promo with something like twelve cues leaked, but I don't think a single fan favorite was on it. Paul Dinletir never had any cues on the old Robert Etoll Productions website, but the new site that I linked to in an above post, appears to have at least one cue from the show on it; I'll peruse it later for more.
The promo contents:
1. The Story Of The Past (01:30)
2. Aku Battle (01:02)
3. Rave In The Forest (02:49)
4. Jack Does Some Chopping (00:33)
5. Arabia (02:00)
6. Africa (01:04)
7. Egypt-Greece-England (01:26)
8. Norway To Russia (00:31)
9. Mongolia To China (00:46)
10. Tibet, Where Jack Ends (02:08)
Total running time: 13:47
A live-action feature film has been in development for years with Genndy at the helm, but I honestly don't want to see it, especially since it will undoubtedly be scored by Tyler Bates and five other equally generic-contributing composers.
Tomorrow I will the video game score and then move on to another series.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All episodes are added to the post now. Also, a lot of commentary and some information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
