Unique Music : A Potential Draw To The Parks?

[Sundown]

I was thinking today about the fact that Brian Trasnseau (aka BT Music) composed what is essentially a full and immersive "soundtrack" for Shanghai's Tomorrowland. I always love the background theme music (BTM) at the parks. It's special and is such a necessary part of the fantasy. I would love to visit Shanghai''s Tomorrowland to listen to and experience BT's music.

So (just throwing an idea out there)...what if Disney reached out again to Daft Punk to ask them for a soundtrack for the updated Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland? It could be new music that relates to their TRON work (but isn't necessarily only TRON specific). I of course think of Daft Punk as the created the incredible TRON Legacy soundtrack.

And if Tomorrowland in Disneyland is being updated (hypothetically), they could do the same with another artist? Justice? Deadmou5? Other motion picture composers?

Would John Williams be interested in scoring an entire new soundtrack for Star Wars Land?

If there are any updates planed for other lands in parks...perhaps the idea can grow? Perhaps Randy Newman could head up team and write what is essentially Toy Store Land's themed music? Or be part of team that scores Pixar Pier's?

And these could all be exclusive to the parks...yet adding another draw for people to buy tix? Anyway, just thinking of this and wondering what your thoughts are?

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I think that background music is going to the wayside. Instead, live bands, and more thematically appropriate sounds like at Pandora will be the future. This is because we're seeing more and more of Lands being dedicated to one IP. Which, is a good idea because it increases the level of immersion. We saw this in Pandora and I'm guessing we see it in SWL where the background sound will sound like speeders, alien languages, occasional blaster fire etc. like in Pandora.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Disney needs a draw to the parks like we need Frozen 2.

 

[marni1971]

Disney needs a draw to the parks like we need Frozen 2.

You win.

 

[marni1971]

This is because we're seeing more and more of Lands being dedicated to one IP..

They’ll still be the exception. And TSL should have regular BGM.

 

[Sundown]

Hahah, nice Chef Mickey.

But my idea about it being a potential draw to the parks aside (I know the parks are bursting at the seams), what are your thoughts of the concept of having a "known" artist conceive/score the music for a land? Or really any artist. Doesn't necessarily have to be a known or popular....just really good and accomplished.

 

[Sundown]

Thanks for your reply, Martin. I really appreciate BGM, but sadly don't know much about who is or has been typically involved in creating it. For all I know my idea is already in place, where one person scores the theme music for an entire land. Is there a resource online about learning more about the Disney BGM process, history, etc?

I guess for existing well-known lands like Frontierland, for example, the BGM could/should be scored to tie in the main theme music of the rides. And replace or fight them. But act as a thread tieing them together. But I wonder how much music this would actually be? Hours and hours? Many album's worth? Man, just thinking about it is really interesting.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I dont think having music composed and arranged by well known people would really make a difference. We all love hearing the music as we enter the parks and travel through various sections of a park, but its background music. Its meant to help set up a theme or feeling to a particular area and it wouldnt be a factor in bringing guests in. And besides, Disney wouldnt want to expend more money paying for music to replace what they have.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I dont think having music composed and arranged by well known people would really make a difference. We all love hearing the music as we enter the parks and travel through various sections of a park, but its background music. Its meant to help set up a theme or feeling to a particular area and it wouldnt be a factor in bringing guests in. And besides, Disney wouldnt want to expend more money paying for music to replace what they have.

I agree...The Innoventions loop for example is mostly composed by Russell Brower with the use of one David Arkenstone's song Papillion (On the Wings of a Butterfly) And the song fits perfectly with the modern Future World and you would hardly tell that it was a part of it if you took it out separately from the track...


However I really wish Russel would have done a Holiday music loop to fit the Future World area..Another David Arkenstone track would fit perfectly with the loop if it was ever made....

 

[Duckberg]

David Arkenstone's entire Wake of the Wind CD is worth a listen . This was one of those old New Age recordings where the music actually matches the individual titles & does create a great overall atmosphere.