The Dark Knight Little interview with Hans Zimmer about Joker theme

[WalterKovacs]

I dont know, the joker is scary and dark, but not in an upfront way. He's not usually angry, and he's sure as hell not sad. He's unstoppable but not necesarilly agressive. He has fun, which is scary. Also, he's a punk.

That's what should be kept in mind when scoring him. The reason we instantly knew that track was fake is because the joker doesnt lament about anything. I liked the stuff we heard in the prologue, it was a fun kinda spin on the stuff we heard in the first movie, like it had techno beats and some guitar riffs, and you could hear some people hackin' away at fiddles, which all worked. Kinda John Powell-esque.

 

[blacksheepboy]

Hey all, just wanted to point out for those wondering what that "joker's lament" really was, it's the opening credit music to the film The Ninth Gate, music by Wojciech Kilar, who also did the amazing soundtrack to Bram Stoker's Dracula

 

[Marx]

I'm just curious as to what two notes he is basing the theme off of. It does sound very John Carpenter-ish as someone mentioned earlier. I like it

 

[Killing Joke926]

I just hope Zimmer fullfills his part making Mr. J's theme dark and spine-chilling; ya know, with goosebumbs and such.

 

[J. J. Jameson]

Yurka's upload isn't working for me?

EDIT: Now it does. Weird...

 

[Joker4Halloween]

I can't wait to hear this theme.

 

[Marx]

I just hope Zimmer fullfills his part making Mr. J's theme dark and spine-chilling; ya know, with goosebumbs and such.

I wouldn't be all that surprised for it to be some kind of psycho circus/dark carnival type of theme. Haunting, yet slightly upbeat. Whatever it turns out to be, I'm excited to hear it!

 

[sclabguy]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J21YIWTC
this is a from Hannibal - this has always been one of my favorite scores from zimmer, it be cool if the joker theme is similar

 

[Ayumi_Vasquez]

Thanks for uploading
I think it's an interesting piece for sure but would not work as his main theme. Perhaps it would be best for the moment where he dances with Rachel at knifepoijt as it has a ballroom quality to it. But as a main theme it does not have that element of danger or energy that The Joker commands.

He dances with Rachel at knife point?

Oh snap!

 

[WalterKovacs]

2 notes? so its gonna be like half the cape feare theme?

 

[The Battousai]

I just wanted to point out that a "two-note motif" or "motive", as it may be called, simply means that it stays within a two-note structure - this does not mean that if it appears as "A - B - A - B" it will just stay there; it can change to something like "E - F# - E - F#" which is basically modulation (if changing keys) or a simple movement within the particular scale.

One example of this (for all of you Star Wars fans ) is the theme of Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back. John Williams (my favorite composer t uses a two-note motif to portray a kind of mysterious quality to the planet. Although the tones of the two notes change (as I explained above), the original effect remains the same.

 

[sclabguy]

^interesting, i never eally listened to it(dagobah theme) that way

 

[Gianakin_]

One example of this (for all of you Star Wars fans ) is the theme of Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back. John Williams (my favorite composer t uses a two-note motif to portray a kind of mysterious quality to the planet. Although the tones of the two notes change (as I explained above), the original effect remains the same.

Well said, very well said.

 

[Carlynn Carnage]

Very nice!

 

[The Battousai]

^interesting, i never eally listened to it(dagobah theme) that way

Well said, very well said.

Thank you It seems my studies are paying off

 

[BurningBallroom]

I wouldn't be all that surprised for it to be some kind of psycho circus/dark carnival type of theme. Haunting, yet slightly upbeat. Whatever it turns out to be, I'm excited to hear it!

A Dark Carnival theme? Have you listened to Korn's 'Intro' on their newest album? It would be an ideal theme song.

 

[Gianakin_]

Thank you It seems my studies are paying off

Yes, they did. You can never go wrong with Williams, anyway!

 

[Sun_Down]

Cool article, it tickled my music bone.

*picks up guitar*

 

[Marx]

A Dark Carnival theme? Have you listened to Korn's 'Intro' on their newest album? It would be an ideal theme song.

That would definately be interesting BB

 

[General Vulcun]

Nice interview!

I know this is a dark movie and the music should be kept as so, just like Begins. But what The Dark Knight needs is a moving, sad theme. At least one. Begins lacked that. The only thing not dark it had (for the most part) was Rachel's theme, and that wasn't really sad.

If Rachel is killed they need to go all out on a sad theme.

But Begins DID have a sad theme. Listen to Lasirius on the Begins track. It's so sad it brought tears to my eyes. I'm not joking, it did.

 

[Commodore Schmidlapp]

I posted this in the 3rd trailer thread but I think it means something. At about 1:12 of the 3rd trailer there is a 2 note bass right before the Joker says "Good evening" It doesn't fit with any of the other music and it isn't sound effects. I had to put on my headphones to hear it, but that's just because of the audio quality of the video. It's there and it is very creepy. I just thought it may be the Joker's theme.

 

[Marx]

I posted this in the 3rd trailer thread but I think it means something. At about 1:12 of the 3rd trailer there is a 2 note bass right before the Joker says "Good evening" It doesn't fit with any of the other music and it isn't sound effects. I had to put on my headphones to hear it, but that's just because of the audio quality of the video. It's there and it is very creepy. I just thought it may be the Joker's theme.

I agree Bob. I believe that is the Joker's theme. Or a variation of it. With it being such a quick section, it's hard to say. It definately stuck out though.

 

[Commodore Schmidlapp]

I agree Bob. I believe that is the Joker's theme. Or a variation of it. With it being such a quick section, it's hard to say. It definately stuck out though.

Yeah, it's really ominous, good good stuff

 

[The Battousai]

I don't know about that - it didn't seem like a theme to me (or two distinct notes, for that matter). It sounded more like a recording slowing down to nothing - kind of a representation of everything coming to a stop when Joker shows up.

Who knows if it'll be used outside the trailer.

 

[Commodore Schmidlapp]

I don't know about that - it didn't seem like a theme to me (or two distinct notes, for that matter). It sounded more like a recording slowing down to nothing - kind of a representation of everything coming to a stop when Joker shows up.

Who knows if it'll be used outside the trailer.

That's possible as well, got pumped up, it's creepy sounding either way.