John Williams: The Man Behind the Music Behind the Movie

If there is one person who could reduce me to a blubbering mess because I idolize him or her so much, it would be John Williams.  He wrote the music in such great films such as Star Wars (all three six films), the Indiana Jones trilogy quartet, Schindler's List, E.T., Superman, that wonderful Olympic fanfare, Memoirs of a Geisha, Harry Potter, and many other films that were improved by his genius.  After two years of being an wandering emo wreck in high school, during which I explored heavy metal, death metal, r&b, reggae, latino-reggaetón, soft rock, hard rock, the Beatles, hip hop, rap, the list goes on...I was one of those "I can listen to everything (but I actually genuinely like nothing)" kind of high schooler.  Then in my sophomore year, my high school orchestra (of which I was the most zealous member #band geek) played a Pirates of the Caribbean medley, and I was intrigued.  Was movie music a real genre? Yes.  It is.  That's when I started to really listen to the music behind the movies.  And that's also when I started to pay attention to the short-changed people behind the music.  And the last great film composer since the likes of Bernard Herrmann––think Psycho screechy violins––and Ennio Morricone, and Elmer Bernstein, is John Williams.  He's not dead, and he's still kicking and being awesome.  I wanted to get more into the film score genre, but in late 2006-early 2007 I had just dipped my toes into it.  Then, in December going into January 2007, I got the chance to be a padowan jedi costumer in the Rose Parade Star Wars Spectacular.  That meant I walked 5.5 miles engulfed in jedis, Darth Vader, Luke and Leia Skywalker, Ewoks, Twi'leks, those orange-suited pilots, Han Solo, Anakin Skywalker, and Padme Amidalas PLUS JOHN WILLIAMS' MUSIC played live by the Grambling State University marching band yes the same one from the movie where Nick Cannon was that drummer guy.  I knew all of the "Throne Room", "Star Wars (Main Title)", and "Imperial March" perfectly by the end, and I had fallen in love.  John Williams was officially my idol.  

John Williams is not like these flitty, floofy, existential composers (ahem Carter Burwell).  He gets into the nitty gritty and actually gives emotions and activity a sound.  He's humble and business-savvy and wonderful.  He went to Julliard, UCLA, and was in the U.S. Airforce for a bit.  His music has an air of genuine experience--after hearing his stuff, you can't imagine Leia Skywalker sounding any other way.  Other film composers are great, but come on, Danny Elfman got his start in a band called Oingo Boingo....can't even compare.  

I printed this out and taped it to my laptop case.  <3 

I saw John Williams in later 2007 live at the Ambassador Auditorium at some hoity toity charity gala, and I was at a loss for words for about 20 minutes after the performance.  He is such a personable, imposing conductor, even though he was something like 74 years old.  I legitimately didn't blink once during that performance out of fear that I would miss a moment.  It was the best moment of my life.  Until June 4, 2011.  

On June 4, 2011, I went to the Hollywood Bowl to see Star Wars in Concert.  The performance was amazing, plus I had a VIP backstage pass, so I had a voice in the back of my mind telling me that I was going to meet Anthony Daniels afterwards (he played C3PO).  I was excited for that, yes, but I was just relaxing and enjoying the experience.  But after the inevitable standing ovation, Anthony Daniels shushed everyone and said: 

I have the great pleasure in introducing our honored guest, John Williams!

This was the only Star Wars in Concert performance that John Williams decided to go to.  I actually burst into happy tears.  I thought the performance at the Ambassador Auditorium was going to be the only time in my life where I would be in the same room as him, so I went crazy for a little bit.  He only conducted "Imperial March", and I had stopped sniffling sort of by the time we were supposed to go back stage.  I thought my experience with him was over, but it was enough to keep me happy for a few days.  

But I walked back stage, honestly not expecting anything but to be lead to Anthony Daniels's dressing room, but he was there.  John Williams was standing right there, and I was completely unprepared.  Apparently I turned extremely pale.  I started hyperventilating while I stood there watching him.  This was my hero, a man I never thought I'd be able to be within 10 feet of.  And in the next moment, I was shaking his hand, and I start blubbering.  I didn't start to cry again (that came later), but I had a little trouble breathing as I spoke to him and told him about the paper I wrote about his music where my thesis was that his music was the most important part of the films.  We had an actual conversation.  

Every day since June 4, 2011, I have been cheerful and let every annoying, sad thing slip off of me because I am part of the 0.001% of people that actually got to meet their idol.  06-04-11 is a day I'll never forget and cheers me up every time I think about it.  Can you imagine how it would feel to meet your idol? Oh no I'm going to start blubbering again...and I'm in class right now!

xo

Éli