Soundtrack Review: Independence Day (1996)
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This is a review of the motion picture score for Independence Day by David Arnold.
 Title: Independence DayComposer: David Arnold Tracks: 14 Length: 50:23 Label: Lions Gate Records Price: Out Of Stock Release Date: July 2 1996 |
If you are looking for a subtle score, this is not the score for you. David Arnold’s magnum opus is built for whalloping you over the head with exuberant patriotism, furiously dense action, and sometimes overwhelming melodrama, and I love almost every minute of it. The dual patriotic themes, one a slow, rising anthem-like piece and the other a peppy brass fanfare, are among the most exciting, soaring melodies of the decade and are expertly woven throughout. The music for the aliens is robust and menacing, dominated by an ominous five-note theme that closes the Main Titles in bombastic, brilliant fashion. If the ruckus introduced in “The Darkest Day” doesn’t jolt you out of your seat, you need to get real speakers. When both of these thematic centers go to war in the action material, it’s stunning stuff, mostly due to the sensational orchestrations by Nicholas Dodd. “Base Attack/Canyon Chase”, “Nuke Attack”, “The Virus” and “The Day We Fight Back” are a master class in turning a musical rampage into melodic, accessible, and fully-formed action tracks, and damn if the fanfare’s entrance at 3:15 of “The Day We Fight Back” doesn’t make one want to stand up and cheer.
Those who only dabbled in the commercial album only got that as their main impression of the score (still a fine sampling), but the complete bootleg shows a much deeper, more emotional creation. The more dramatic moments of the score are flushed out, allowing the theme for Will Smith’s character to get flushed out in exuberant romantic fashion in “Reunion” as well as introducing heartbreaking string work in “The First Lady Dies”. Further beautiful choral statements in “Aftermath”, “El Toro Destroyed”, and “The Roswell Ship” are further proof that Arnold works best on a big canvas. A few minutes of jolting dissonance aside, the score is an immensely enjoyable listen throughout, culminating in the gargantuan End Credits piece that goes through all the major themes at their most vibrant and speak-shaking. ID4 came during a rather torrid stretch for Arnold, with Stargate preceding and Tomorrow Never Dies, Godzilla, and The World Is Not Enough to come in subsequent years. In size alone it could be the easy standout in the man’s career, with its only negative side effect being the puzzlement one will have when they examine all the projects Arnold would do in the next decade that were so beneath his talent level.
Original Album (50:39)
1. 1969 – We Came In Peace (02:04)
2. S.E.T.I – Radio Signal (01:52)
3. The Darkest Day (04:13)
4. Cancelled Leave (01:45)
5. Evacuation (05:47)
6. Fire Storm (01:23)
7. Aftermath (03:35)
8. Base Attack (06:11)
9. El Toro Destroyed (01:30)
10. International Code (01:32)
11. The President’s Speech (03:10)
12. The Day We Fight Back (04:58)
13. Jolly Roger (03:15)
14. End Titles (09:08)
2-Disc Bootleg (97:36) – Track titles/groupings may differ
Disc 1
1. 1969/Main Title (02:05)
2. S.E.T.I./Radio Signal (01:54)
3. Phoning the President/Satellite Destroyed (00:42)
4. That’s Impossible (00:19)
5. Attackers Detach (00:36)
6. Incoming Reports (00:57)
7. AWAC Gets Fried (01:01)
8. The Darkest Day (04:16)
9. Checkmate (02:12)
10. Cancelled Leave (01:47)
11. Welcome Wagon (00:48)
12. Evacuation/Firestorm (07:13)
13. Aftermath (03:38)
14. Base Attack (3:53)
15. Canyon Chase (02:32)
16. First Lady Found (01:30)
17. Area 51 (01:34)
18. The Roswell Ship (00:58)
19. The Freak Show (01:52)
20. The Caravan Arrives at Area 51 (0:24)
21. El Toro Destroyed (01:33)
22. Close Encounters of the Nasty Kind (05:22)
23. Nuke Attack/Reunions (06:02)
Disc 2
1. 1969/Main Titles (Film Version) (01:59)
2. The First Lady Dies (02:43)
3. David Gets An Idea (00:57)
4. Planning The Attack (01:47)
5. International Code (01:35)
6. The Wedding (01:51)
7. The President’s Speech (03:13)
8. Farewell (2:04)
9. Launch (0:56)
10. Into the Mother Ship (4:30)
11. The Virus (2:35)
12. The Day We Fight Back (5:50)
13. Jolly Roger (03:18)
14. Independence Day (03:42)
15. End Titles (09:12)
Listen to Independence Day by David Arnold below:
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(10 votes, average: 9.70 out of 10)
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Comments
thank you for your reply but I did FINALLY find it after all. It can be found at http://soundtrackcentral.blogspot.com/ for anyone looking. the guy who runs the blog is really cool and is looking for help to keep it going. It also has a lot of other soundtracks and locations where they can be downloaded. Thanks again and hope you find what your looking for 
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Thanks Alex!
Soundtrack Seek
Hi. my name is alex as you can see. I am a writer who utilizes soundtracks for the purpose of inspiration. I knowthis is an old track but there is only one thing i can say about it. it is my favorite of all time. i write this in utter desperation. I have been the biggest fan of the ID4 soundtrack since i first heard it when i was 13. when i saw that this bootlgeg version existed i simply knew i had to have it. I REALLY HAVE TO HAVE IT BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO FIND IT. Please please help me you have no idea how badly i want this track. thank you.
Reply
Jorn Tillnes Reply:
January 27th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Hmm it’s hard to find, very hard, but try soundtrackcollector.com and ask on the forums there.
Reply
Jon Blough Reply:
January 27th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
http://benuits-itsonlyapapermoon.blogspot.com/2008/05/independence-day-complete-score-2cd.html
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