Reel Music blog

Looks like Levi is bringing this to LA in the New Year: playing her score live to picture! That would be good.

The same way DJs make a living I suppose.

How could you forget to include [insert score here] and yet you chose [insert another score here]!?

Jerk!

This is great, Alan. I always appreciate lists like this from you because you always make me aware of a bunch of music I've never even heard of. Now I have even more catching up to do. I was really happy to see someone else who enjoyed Bi Küçük Eylül Meselesi. I think that score is just great. In fact I REALLY like every score you nominated in the drama category that I've heard, which makes me very excited to hear the rest of them. I also appreciate that you have a list of your favorite individual cues. I'll enjoy playing through those as well.

I just gave TIDSREJSEN a listen. I'm afraid I didn't find much in it for me, but I will say that Flemming Nordkrog is the coolest composer name ever.

To non-Scandi people, perhaps. To us, however, it's about the most average Danish name you can think of!

Curious about the score, though.

We're an odd bunch - or haven't you noticed?

These lists are just favourites and best of lists. I didn't think anyone would possibly have confused them with the "proper" awards. But, I hadn't realised that any definition of "awards" included some sort of physical representation of the award or some sort of gathering.

I'd hire a local room somewhere and have some pieces of metal/glass/plastic if I thought that anyone would want to come, particularly nominated composers. But I would imagine that this ceremony would be even more boring that the usual award ceremonies as people would tire of constantly hearing the phrase, "I'm sorry but [insert winner's name here] can't be with us tonight. Here to accept the award on his/her behalf is my mate [insert name of one of my friends]."

I see what you mean.

But in my experience, the composers who are nominated in my "awards" are genuinely pleased to receive the recognition. Not because of the fact that they get to dress up in a tuxedo (or dress) and have a slap-up meal with the chance to end the evening with a "gong", but because someone has taken the trouble to acknowledge their work.

For a lot of composers who give me feedback, they are appreciative of the fact that there are people out there who enjoy the music they spend creating. The appearance in my lists are thanks enough for their efforts.

For any composer who visits my site and thinks that the awards are anything more than a fan highlighting some scores (and composers) who have brought particular pleasure to the listener, needs their head examined.

As far as their friends reacting to the recognition, I would imagine that they have a better idea than me (or perhaps even us) of the trials and tribulations these composers go through day-to-day and the (some would say) disproportionate response of their friends is an insight into how any recognition is of value to the composer(s). Particularly the composers who are not as well known and who just do their job with minimal exposure.

I feel quite strongly about this - and the genuine appreciation I get is a major incentive to keep my blog ticking over.

BTW, I think my own blog awards lists have very little bearing on the upcoming IFMCA awards announcements (or the Oscars for that matter.)

No problem.

If you have a specific meaning for "awards" I can see how the use of the term by anyone with a blog or site could be rather irksome.

'nuff said!

-Erik=

You do have a talent to conjure "problems" out of thin air, don't you, Thor?

Not really. It's the first time I've noticed so many film music websites launching their own private 'awards' which aren't really awards. Not sure what spurred the trend (it certainly cannot be thin air), but there you go. Or maybe it's been this way for many years already, and I'm just noticing now.

As far as I'm concerned, an award is when someone - be it an individual or a voting body - acknowledges something as being of outstanding merit in its field. That stretches all the way from the Oscars down to things like Alan's blog. Whether there's a fancy ceremony involved or some pieces of metal and plastic exchanged or even if whoever wins is aware that they are winning something doesn't have any impact on whether it's an award or not, IMO.

But the prize is merely symbolic. What really matters is the recognition, and while obviously something like an Oscar or a Golden Globe carries more weight than a blog (no offense, Alan!) or even the IFMCA, recognition is recognition no matter what.

At Tracksounds we call them "awards" too, but at least there we manage get the odd composer to come and "accept" their prize - even though there is no prize. Would that count under your criteria?

Not really, no.

Many of you seem to equate 'recognition' with 'award'. This is not it. Recognition can come in any given form, an award can only come in actual, physical award form -- usually presented during some form of ceremony. Doesn't matter if the prize is symbolic or not; it's still a prize.

Of course, one can choose to bend the definitions any which way one wants, just as I can choose to call a pig a horse. But in the long run, it would undoubtedly lead to misunderstandings.