Customer Reviews

Backdraft (Silver Screen Edition)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The wonderful, amazing, unprecdented Japanese cooking show, "IRON CHEF" takes its music form this soundtrack. A must for all Iron Chef fans. (Iron Chef airs on the Food Network)!!

Crimson Tide, Broken Arrow, The Rock, Pearl Harbor are great
scores, but all of them derived their powerful and unforgettable
themes from Backdraft. Even Hans Zimmer's apprentices Trevor
Rabin, Graeme Revell, and Klaus Badelt were influenced by this
score as a standard.

Very few soundtracks have as many complete gratifying collection of music as Backdraft. Aside from the film, this score stands by itself as a masterpiece.

This soundtrack is worth at any expensive cost.And no collection is complete without Backdraft.

So, many of you out there were impressed with Zimmer's score for the motion picture "Crimson Tide", and to say the least, I couldn't believe how moving and fitting the music was. For years I have called Crimson Tide my favorite Zimmer composition, but that soon changed. Recently I heard "Fighting 17th", as well as the rest of the score, like "Show me your firetruck". Now I call Backdraft my favrorite Zimmer score, not only that, but maybe even my favorite soundtrack. As with many of Zimmer's scores, many people say it's repetitive, which it is. But that really isn't even worth mentioning with Backdraft. The main theme that you hear roar to life especially in "Fighting 17th" will instantly grab you. It may be a simple theme, but it is really incredible. Anyone could have thought up the theme for Backdraft, but Zimmer got it first...and he took it to great measures. If any score is worth buying, it is Backdraft. If you liked Crimson Tide or Beyond Ragoon, Backdraft is a must. Shoot for this one.

Bought this CD because it's the music used in the Iron Chef program. Enjoyed it tremendously for the two weeks I owned it before it was stolen from my car. Recommended.

Backdraft is an awesome score that just blows you away. Hans Zimmer really made this music cool. It has so many great elements. If there is one complaint is the two songs at the beginning and end of the soundtrack. They both deter from the excellent orchestrated Zimmer music here.

"Fighting 17th" is a very heroic and awesome theme. You can just picture firefighters going to do their job on this theme. "Brothers" is a great quiet theme then erupts into a flame when a fire breaks out. Here's some great underscore here that you can hear the fire burning as the synthesizers introduce it in its deep menancing tones. "Arsonist Waltz" is another cue that develops on this fire theme used so well. "335" and "Burn it All" are both great action cues that can't be missed. The best track on the cd though is "You Go, We Go" a great piece that incorporates choir and orchestra in a awesome satisfying piece. It's great. "Farenheit 451" is another great action cue just like 335 and Burn it All. And then there's "Show Me Your Firetruck" which is a throwback to the "Fighting 17th" theme heard. It's not as good as the first one, but it still is pretty cool. A must have for any soundtrack lover out there.

Hans Zimmer has a knack for writing a great theme when he gets the chance. This is one of his most well written themes by far. The music is bombastic and full of bass. Electronics and sound effects are also present to show the full force of the fire in the film. Lots of snare drums are present in most cues to give the music a heroic feel to it. The orchestra is strong with about 100 players giving it everything they've got. A strong choir is also present in several of the cues. "Fighting 17th" starts the score off with a bang laying on the main theme in full force. It is bold, brassy, contains lots of bass, and percussion. The best cue by far is "Show Me Your Firetruck" which simply leaves you breathless. It lays on the main theme one last time with a full powerhouse performance by the orchestra and choir. It definitely leaves you wanting more. "Burn It All" is a pulse pounding action cue that Zimmer always succeeds at writing. Pulsating string rhythms and pounding percussion are the highlight of this one. "You Go, We Go", "Fahrenheit 451" and "Show Me Your Firetruck" showcase an action packed thrill ride. Zimmer wanted this soundtrack to be an ode to firemen and it really is. Two Bruce Hornsby songs are also present which are decent but not anywhere close to Zimmer's awesome score. This soundtrack is on fire and will burn for a long time to come.

"Backdraft" is one of my favorite films from the early '90s. Yes, it has all the pomposity that director Ron Howard always manages to give his movies (except for "Splash"). The special effects were fantastic but they wouldn't have been anything without the gorgeous film score provided by legendary composer Hans Zimmer who has composed some of the best music for movies like "Gladiator" and "Crimson Tide". I must admit that I primary bought this soundtrack because of my favorite show "Iron Chef" on the Food Network. "Fighting 17th" and "Brothers" are borrowered for the show's theme song as well as when the finished products are being shown before the judges get to taste the food. The one flaw I found on this soundtrack was the Bruce Hornsby songs. I just don't like them nor do I care for Bruce Hornsby in general. The songs did not flow well with the soundtrack. The film score overall is simply breathtaking to listen to. "Backdraft" is definitely one of Hans' best work as a composer. Too bad it is thrown on the same album with two not so spectacular songs by Bruce Hornsby.