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peppertree

(21,616 posts)
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:30 PM May 2022

Vangelis, composer of Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner soundtracks, dies aged 79

Source: The Guardian

Vangelis, the Greek composer and musician whose synth-driven work brought huge drama to film soundtracks including Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire, has died aged 79. His representatives said he died in hospital in France where he was being treated.

Born Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou in 1943, Vangelis won an Oscar for his 1981 Chariots of Fire soundtrack. Its uplifting piano motif became world-renowned, and reached No 1 in the US charts, as did the accompanying soundtrack album.

Vangelis had continued his film score work throughout the 1970s, but it was in the 1980s that this reached its commercial heights.

“My music does not try to evoke emotions like joy, love, or pain from the audience. It just goes with the image, because I work in the moment,” he later explained.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/19/vangelis-greek-composer-chariots-of-fire-blade-runner-dies





Renowned Greek composer Vangelis at his London studio in 1980.

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Vangelis, composer of Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner soundtracks, dies aged 79 (Original Post) peppertree May 2022 OP
Just posted this in the GD thread BumRushDaShow May 2022 #1
Amazing, wasn't he? peppertree May 2022 #3
I liked the Chariots of Fire theme BumRushDaShow May 2022 #5
That's beautiful - thanks! peppertree May 2022 #7
Mangione's album was incredible BumRushDaShow May 2022 #8
I'll check it out - thank you! peppertree May 2022 #10
I especially like yesphan May 2022 #2
Yes his work with Jon was so inspirational. It was the perfect combination. LiberalLovinLug May 2022 #21
Wow! yesphan May 2022 #22
Vangelis has joined Carl Sagan and Klaus Schulze into the cosmos. Dukkha May 2022 #4
I didn't know anyone else slightlv May 2022 #6
I hadn't heard about Klaus Schulze muriel_volestrangler May 2022 #13
His work is inspirational to many. RIP (n/t) MissMillie May 2022 #9
Loved his music. RIP highplainsdem May 2022 #11
... Talitha May 2022 #12
RIP!! Karma13612 May 2022 #14
... 2naSalit May 2022 #15
This can't go by without mentioning his contribution to classic rock as part of Aphrodite's Child... LT Barclay May 2022 #16
Sorry to hear this Bayard May 2022 #17
Require in pace, to an eternal talent. Beartracks May 2022 #18
Hear, hear. peppertree May 2022 #19
RIP!!! minstrel76 May 2022 #20

BumRushDaShow

(128,730 posts)
1. Just posted this in the GD thread
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:33 PM
May 2022

His music established a whole different approach and style from the more traditional orchestral or selected pop tunes movie theme music, yet was still able to generate the same level of emotion and dynamics to set the tone for the scenes.

This is a nice little compilation of scenes from the original "Blade Runner" with the main theme -



R.I.P.

And will add his more well-known and famous song -



(I think I still have the 45)

peppertree

(21,616 posts)
3. Amazing, wasn't he?
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:35 PM
May 2022

I never cared for the Chariots of Fire theme - but the Blade Runner Love Theme, Blues, and Memories of Green (originally from a prior album), oh man...

Sigh after sigh.

BumRushDaShow

(128,730 posts)
5. I liked the Chariots of Fire theme
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:47 PM
May 2022

since it had a catchy melody and that made it a quintessential "movie theme". It was played so much when it came out that you would never forget what movie it went to.

It was almost along the line of what Chuck Mangione had done with movie theme music too around the same time -

peppertree

(21,616 posts)
7. That's beautiful - thanks!
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:51 PM
May 2022

Mangione - another great ambient music writer (and he's still with us!).

I understand Vangelis came to resent writing movie themes - much to our loss, really.

Such is life.

BumRushDaShow

(128,730 posts)
8. Mangione's album was incredible
Thu May 19, 2022, 03:08 PM
May 2022

and I have to credit one of my college acquaintances for lending it to me my freshman year and I immediately fell in love with it and bought one for myself (I think it was a double album). The song that was probably more well known and got more air play was this -

peppertree

(21,616 posts)
10. I'll check it out - thank you!
Thu May 19, 2022, 03:21 PM
May 2022

The only one is have is his 1978 Feels So Good album. But there's so much more to his body of work, of course - not least, his Jazz Messengers years.

LiberalLovinLug

(14,168 posts)
21. Yes his work with Jon was so inspirational. It was the perfect combination.
Fri May 20, 2022, 04:00 PM
May 2022

One of the nice ones they did together was Short Stories.



Dukkha

(7,341 posts)
4. Vangelis has joined Carl Sagan and Klaus Schulze into the cosmos.
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:44 PM
May 2022

RIP legend

☹️ a major loss in the world of electronic, ambient, new age and film music. Vangelis was a big influence on my work and I've been a life long fan. He made most of the score to Carl Sagan's Cosmos series as well as Blade Runner, Chariots of Fire, and 1492 Conquest of Paradise. Vangelis transcended simple dream pads and sound cues his work delved into complex orchestral arrangements with a flare for pop hooks and catchy melodies.

Once, we did run
How we chased a million stars
And touched as only one can

slightlv

(2,785 posts)
6. I didn't know anyone else
Thu May 19, 2022, 02:49 PM
May 2022

had even heard of 1492 Conquest of Paradise! Thank you so much for mentioning that song! It was one of my personal favorites! He will be missed. May he play forever among the stars in the cosmos....

Beartracks

(12,806 posts)
18. Require in pace, to an eternal talent.
Fri May 20, 2022, 02:22 AM
May 2022

Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!










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