JFK (documentary)
Joel Goodman
" Soothing emotional background experience "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the download only release
Scheduled for broadcast on the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, this four hour documentary shows John F. Kennedy's life from childhood to the historical day he became the youngest president ever elected, this 2 part documentary focuses on all the elements that made his life so profound. And during those 4 hours, composer Joel Goodman had to write 2 and a half hours of music. This 27 track selection was hand picked by the composer himself, trying to present the best possible presentation of his work that honors and celebrates the extraordinary life of one of the greatest and most beloved presidents of American history.
JFK is a smooth listening experience, always lovely and noble once it addresses Mr. Kennedy's good intentions, while occasionally dark and moody once the more suspenseful elements plague his life. The happier moments are of course easy to admire. The lovely piano rhythm in "Courting Ms. Bouvier", the great pace of the piano in "A Complex Man" and the pleasant rhythm of the guitar in "Home Movies from Ireland". It's all easy to appreciate. An exception that literally grabs your attention is the hypnotizing pace of "No Respect from LBJ", almost pulling you into the experience through the Philip Glass like repetitive minimalism, followed immediately by one of the loveliest pieces, "Mr. and Mrs. John F. Kennedy" definitely developing itself as the most optimistic cue of all, followed by the bouncy rhythm of Jackie in "Jackie Redecorates the White House".
The pace that Joel Goodman creates is actually the binding element during the entire score. Like the urgency rather than the horror, the composer is rather focusing on the pace of the story, the pace of the life to create an ever fluent listening experience. Thereby JFK listens extremely pleasant and rather easy going than just heavy and moody. The setbacks or horrific events in Kennedy's life are thereby easier to accept as well, like "Disaster at the Bay of Pigs" and "Health Concerns Threaten Candidacy". The only moody exception comes during probably the most defining moment in history, namely "Standoff with Khrushchev" that's supported with beats and low moody suspense, closely followed by that other dark moment in history ("The Start of Vietnam").
In general, JFK is very accessible and like the documentary, it undergoes the experience quite soothingly. Because even though it tells a story, it focuses more on the pace of the documentary rather than the story itself. Meaning it creates a background experience that carefully backs up the interviews, narration and scenes of the picture without over compensating the events of JFK's life, the positive and the negative ones. Of course everything is tied up to some sort of emotional feeling, but never does it have to state the feelings like in a film, in other words it has to support the tellings of everyone involved as it tells the story from an other point of view. Thereby making JFK extremely pleasant for background listening, always moving forward on a steady and noble pace.
Favorite Moment - No Respect from LBJ (0.34 - 1.35)
Quite intoxicating Philip Glass effect
Track Listing
1. Like No Other (1.51)
2. Defining the Candidate (1.21)
3. Courting Ms. Bouvier (2.06)
4. Early Signs of Bad Health (1.59)
5. Disaster at the Bay of Pigs (2.40)
6. The World Gets the News (1.25)
7. Presidential Challenges (2.47)
8. Family Dynamics (2.54)
9. Arriving in Dallas (2.30)
10. A Complex Man (2.12)
11. Joe Sr. Has a Stroke (1.22)
12. Home Movies from Ireland (2.05)
13. Dr. Feelgood (1.49)
14. No Respect from LBJ (1.35)
15. Mr. and Mrs. John F. Kennedy (2.03)
16. Moral Conflicts (1.40)
17. Hard Lesson Learned (1.50)
18. Jackie Redecorates the White House (1.55)
19. Health Concerns Threaten Candidacy (2.00)
20. Strategy for Peace (1.07)
21. Standoff with Khrushchev (1.33)
22. PT-109 Hero (1.27)
23. The Start of Vietnam (2.23)
24. International Awakening (1.47)
25. Campaigning in the South (2.41)
26. The Loss of Joe Jr. (1.54)
27. The Great Man Theory (1.33)
Total Length: 52.29
JFK is a smooth listening experience, always lovely and noble once it addresses Mr. Kennedy's good intentions, while occasionally dark and moody once the more suspenseful elements plague his life. The happier moments are of course easy to admire. The lovely piano rhythm in "Courting Ms. Bouvier", the great pace of the piano in "A Complex Man" and the pleasant rhythm of the guitar in "Home Movies from Ireland". It's all easy to appreciate. An exception that literally grabs your attention is the hypnotizing pace of "No Respect from LBJ", almost pulling you into the experience through the Philip Glass like repetitive minimalism, followed immediately by one of the loveliest pieces, "Mr. and Mrs. John F. Kennedy" definitely developing itself as the most optimistic cue of all, followed by the bouncy rhythm of Jackie in "Jackie Redecorates the White House".
The pace that Joel Goodman creates is actually the binding element during the entire score. Like the urgency rather than the horror, the composer is rather focusing on the pace of the story, the pace of the life to create an ever fluent listening experience. Thereby JFK listens extremely pleasant and rather easy going than just heavy and moody. The setbacks or horrific events in Kennedy's life are thereby easier to accept as well, like "Disaster at the Bay of Pigs" and "Health Concerns Threaten Candidacy". The only moody exception comes during probably the most defining moment in history, namely "Standoff with Khrushchev" that's supported with beats and low moody suspense, closely followed by that other dark moment in history ("The Start of Vietnam").
In general, JFK is very accessible and like the documentary, it undergoes the experience quite soothingly. Because even though it tells a story, it focuses more on the pace of the documentary rather than the story itself. Meaning it creates a background experience that carefully backs up the interviews, narration and scenes of the picture without over compensating the events of JFK's life, the positive and the negative ones. Of course everything is tied up to some sort of emotional feeling, but never does it have to state the feelings like in a film, in other words it has to support the tellings of everyone involved as it tells the story from an other point of view. Thereby making JFK extremely pleasant for background listening, always moving forward on a steady and noble pace.
Favorite Moment - No Respect from LBJ (0.34 - 1.35)
Quite intoxicating Philip Glass effect
Track Listing
1. Like No Other (1.51)
2. Defining the Candidate (1.21)
3. Courting Ms. Bouvier (2.06)
4. Early Signs of Bad Health (1.59)
5. Disaster at the Bay of Pigs (2.40)
6. The World Gets the News (1.25)
7. Presidential Challenges (2.47)
8. Family Dynamics (2.54)
9. Arriving in Dallas (2.30)
10. A Complex Man (2.12)
11. Joe Sr. Has a Stroke (1.22)
12. Home Movies from Ireland (2.05)
13. Dr. Feelgood (1.49)
14. No Respect from LBJ (1.35)
15. Mr. and Mrs. John F. Kennedy (2.03)
16. Moral Conflicts (1.40)
17. Hard Lesson Learned (1.50)
18. Jackie Redecorates the White House (1.55)
19. Health Concerns Threaten Candidacy (2.00)
20. Strategy for Peace (1.07)
21. Standoff with Khrushchev (1.33)
22. PT-109 Hero (1.27)
23. The Start of Vietnam (2.23)
24. International Awakening (1.47)
25. Campaigning in the South (2.41)
26. The Loss of Joe Jr. (1.54)
27. The Great Man Theory (1.33)
Total Length: 52.29