Rocky II
Bill Conti
" Conti does more ROCKYing than first imagined "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
"Adrian, I Love You!" Those were the famous words spoken by Rocky, after his fight to the death for the Championship title in the movie Rocky. While everybody sees Rocky as the best film of the series, I personally find Rocky II the best, the brightest and the most loving one of all. Because it puts a little more speed into the proceeding while recreates the famous walk through the city with a following group of people. But there's also a lot more drama. After all the emotion isn't far away when Rocky faces serious problems concerning the health of his wife. But it is amazing most of all because it repeats the gigantic struggle for the championship title, finishing with an unseen climax, worthy of originality and brimming with triumph.
For director Sylvester Stallone, it was obvious that composer Bill Conti would/should return to score the fight to the end with the same bravura as he handled the first. Rocky received acclaim for its spirit and winning title theme, resulting in a nomination for the Golden Globes. Rocky II didn't get the satisfaction of being nominated, even though the entertaining package is up to the task. Personally, I always appreciated it as musical score. But hearing it now in context of a musical soundtrack, it is much better than first expected. Bill Conti is of course not just a composer but a well respected musician. And his composition for Rocky II that knocks your socks off.
Don't see Rocky II as a rehash of already used material, but as a variation on the themes in most pleasing results. Of course we get the famous song title theme "Gonna Fly Now" but it is different here because the choir is actually a children's choir. It gives the theme a bit more spice and energy (while being already a variation on its own). "Redemption" opens the score and is even better than hoped. In here a variation of that same title theme is presented in such funky ways, it's amazing it actually works. The piano and added brass blasts make the theme sound different as well.
The actual highlights of the score are "Conquest" and "Overture". The first presents the action material of the fight. Amazing fanfares and fantastic string work collide, giving it a sense of urgency. This is interrupted through the texture and glassy sound effects representing the blows on Rocky's face. The second is a nice representation of the musical material. It starts with the fanfare for the title, directly followed by some short but supreme action versions of the theme, followed thereafter by great music heard at the end of the first film (or the begin of the second), with between all that the often '70 sounding disco or funk tones that give it a sense of dated listening (but not one of dated appreciation). The effect overall works extremely well and Conti's blazing trumpets are one of mastery and dare.
There is also some emotional firework in "Vigil" with great soft alterations of the same title theme on piano and soft strings (watch out for the collision of these 2 instruments at the end). And the songs aren't bad either.
Taking all this in consideration, Rocky II is quite the winner, just like the movie. The continuing variations on the theme are stunning, the action material with the brilliant trumpet blasts are entertaining and the overall synthetic sound gives fond memories of other respected sport classics as Hoosiers, and parts of Bill Conti's own The Karate Kid. It might seem like a dated score at first, but the heart and succession of Rocky II is greater due to Conti's winning changes on an already winning formula. "Yo, Adrian, he did it!"
Tracklisting
1. Redemption (Theme from Rocky II) (2.33)
2. Gonna Fly Now (2.33)
3. Conquest (4.40) Excellent track
4. Vigil (6.29)
5. All of My Life: DeEtta Little & Nelson Pigford * (3.59)
6. Overture (8.37) Excellent track
7. Two Kinds of Life (2.36)
8. All of My Life (Instrumental) (2.27)
* Does not appear in the motion picture
Total Length: 34.11
For director Sylvester Stallone, it was obvious that composer Bill Conti would/should return to score the fight to the end with the same bravura as he handled the first. Rocky received acclaim for its spirit and winning title theme, resulting in a nomination for the Golden Globes. Rocky II didn't get the satisfaction of being nominated, even though the entertaining package is up to the task. Personally, I always appreciated it as musical score. But hearing it now in context of a musical soundtrack, it is much better than first expected. Bill Conti is of course not just a composer but a well respected musician. And his composition for Rocky II that knocks your socks off.
Don't see Rocky II as a rehash of already used material, but as a variation on the themes in most pleasing results. Of course we get the famous song title theme "Gonna Fly Now" but it is different here because the choir is actually a children's choir. It gives the theme a bit more spice and energy (while being already a variation on its own). "Redemption" opens the score and is even better than hoped. In here a variation of that same title theme is presented in such funky ways, it's amazing it actually works. The piano and added brass blasts make the theme sound different as well.
The actual highlights of the score are "Conquest" and "Overture". The first presents the action material of the fight. Amazing fanfares and fantastic string work collide, giving it a sense of urgency. This is interrupted through the texture and glassy sound effects representing the blows on Rocky's face. The second is a nice representation of the musical material. It starts with the fanfare for the title, directly followed by some short but supreme action versions of the theme, followed thereafter by great music heard at the end of the first film (or the begin of the second), with between all that the often '70 sounding disco or funk tones that give it a sense of dated listening (but not one of dated appreciation). The effect overall works extremely well and Conti's blazing trumpets are one of mastery and dare.
There is also some emotional firework in "Vigil" with great soft alterations of the same title theme on piano and soft strings (watch out for the collision of these 2 instruments at the end). And the songs aren't bad either.
Taking all this in consideration, Rocky II is quite the winner, just like the movie. The continuing variations on the theme are stunning, the action material with the brilliant trumpet blasts are entertaining and the overall synthetic sound gives fond memories of other respected sport classics as Hoosiers, and parts of Bill Conti's own The Karate Kid. It might seem like a dated score at first, but the heart and succession of Rocky II is greater due to Conti's winning changes on an already winning formula. "Yo, Adrian, he did it!"
Tracklisting
1. Redemption (Theme from Rocky II) (2.33)
2. Gonna Fly Now (2.33)
3. Conquest (4.40) Excellent track
4. Vigil (6.29)
5. All of My Life: DeEtta Little & Nelson Pigford * (3.59)
6. Overture (8.37) Excellent track
7. Two Kinds of Life (2.36)
8. All of My Life (Instrumental) (2.27)
* Does not appear in the motion picture
Total Length: 34.11