Backdraft: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Score) [Soundtrack]

Hans Zimmer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 1998)
• Original Release Date: May 24, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Milan Records
• ASIN: B00000AE35
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,959 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Set Me in Motion

2. Fighting 17th

3. Brothers

4. The Arsonist's Waltz

5. 335

6. Burn It All

7. You Go, We Go

8. Fahrenheit 451

9. Show Me Your Firetruck

10. The Show Goes On

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crimson Tide And Others Pale In Comparison To This, June 5, 2001

By 

Robert Pollock (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Backdraft: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Score) (Audio CD)

When it comes to bold, masculine, brassy music, Hans Zimmer is the master. Crimson Tide proved this with a spirited theme and tense underscoring. His score for Backdraft reconfirms his style again but with even better music than Crimson Tide. (Parts from Backdraft were heard on the TV show Iron Chef.) Excluding the two songs, the score is relatively short, a little less than 30 minutes in a continous format but, trust me, those 30 minutes are pure bliss. "Fighting 17th" introduces the heroic theme for the firefighters. The brassy theme is less patriotic and dark than Crimson Tide's but more driving and heroic, a great tradeoff. The theme on "Brothers" is a gentle string/piano theme, a lighter cue than the rest to come. Within the same cue, a quiet haunting cue with synthesizers is introduced, depicting the fire. The fire early on, represented by strange sizzling synthesizers, haunting strings, and breathing sounds, is an interesting and original detail added by Zimmer. Later on, Zimmer represents the fire scenes with more of a edgy growling synthesizer behind the orchestra. The growling effect really adds the feeling of the intense, wavering heat. "Brothers", "The Arsonist's Waltz", and "335" are great examples of this. Minor cues like those sound more tense and fast-paced than Zimmer's slow minor cues from Crimson Tide. "Burn It All" marks the start of the real action, utilizing choir, electronics, and orchestra in a thrilling fashion. The same heavy string beats style from Crimson Tide makes an appearance here and so forth. The climatic fire fight cue on "You Go, We Go" is worth the price of the CD. It is a moving and extremely haunting display of choir and orchestra at its darkest. It sounds like "Charging Fort Wagner" from Glory but with even more emotion. After the darkness, "Fahrenheit 451" starts to build up with the happiness from the first cue. "Show Me Your Firetruck" brings the exciting score to an end with a joyous rendition of the main theme. I highly recommend Backdraft over Crimson Tide. While sharing the same styles, Backdraft has a more heroic theme and the music has a faster and less boring pace than Crimson Tide. This is a true classic for soundtrack fans alike and a critical success for Zimmer.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best HERO score on the market, April 16, 2002

By 

Ryan M. Foley "Music Score Addict" (Pryor, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Backdraft: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Score) (Audio CD)

Let me begin by saying that I became addicted to film scores several years ago. Since I began listening to them I have purchased nothing else. As an independent writer, I use them for inspiration when I write since they do not have distracting lyrics. I am not a music expert and know little about scoring a film. I just know what I like.
And I absolutely loved BACKDRAFT.
Hans Zimmer is my favorite composer in all of Hollywood. He is not the best and not the most honored but there is something about his energizing scores that speak to my very soul. If my life had a music score, I would want it to be written by Hans Zimmer.
BACKDRAFT is probably one of Mr. Zimmer's most recognized soundtracks and is probably one of the most sampled when it comes to trailer music. The themes of the music is mainly comprised of powerful drum beats that harkens to a military style of music but is more geared to give the firefighters of the movie the perfect HERO music.
In the wake of 9-11, this dramatically heroic score seems even more poignant as a theme for firefighters even though this score is several years old. There are no lulls in the music; it hooks your soul from the very beginning, and the rising crescendo that builds in the final track "Show Me Your Firetruck" still brings tears to my eyes even after listening to this track for the hundredth time.
The soundtrack is bookended with two nice songs that round out the album nicely. This is one of my favorite overall soundtracks.
If you need heroic inspiration, this is definitely a soundtrack worth purchasing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hans Zimmer Strikes Again, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Backdraft: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Score) (Audio CD)

Hans Zimmer's work on the soundtrack of Backdraft was one of the things that made the movie a good one. The music is triumphant, sorrowful, and powerful. The major flaw (if it can be called that) of Zimmer's work is that it is somewhat repetitive which is perfectly excusable if you like any of his work. In other words, if you've heard and liked any of his soundtracks you'll like 99% of them. This soundtrack, particularly at the beginning of track six, is quite reminiscient of Crimson Tide. Do not be surprised when you listen to the soundtrack, it is not the same as in the movie yet this makes no difference because it's just as good if not better. The last "flaw" of this soundtrack is that it's very short. The actual soundtrack songs (not included the two vocal songs (1 and 10)) last about 30 minutes. In any case, you get pretty much everything with this CD: power, emotion, and lots of good trumpet solos. I highly recommend this CD for any lover of good powerful music.