THE MAJESTICAL JOHN BARRY (1933-2011)

You're a damn treasure Damon.

And I have to second the love for the underwater passages in Thunderball. Next to the actual theme, they're the quintessential Bond music for me. The Zulu music is especially good too.

Just seconding the love for Barry's KONG score. Whatever you think of the film, the music is top notch and only helps the film (and it did need quite a bit of help).

 Born Free, Ipcriss Files, Robin and Marion Midnight Cowboy, all great non Bond Scores.

And of course if you are a Britisher like me, Juke Box Jury.

A great John Barry score for a movie that doesn't deserve it is The Specialist. It really is amazing how much scope his score adds to what is essentially a cheap lump of junk that should have gone straight to video.

He really was one of the greats.

I hope Hans Zimmer wins for his Inception score. It's very Barry-esque and would serve as a kind of tribute.

Even though I was never a Bond guy (like, ever), I knew there were things that were brilliant about it, like Connery, the stunt work, and most of all John Barry.

Must give a mention to one of my faves, Somewhere in Time, which he did right after losing both his parents. From pure inspiration, beauty.

Posted to this effect on Facebook, but if no one else says it I will.

Game of Death. The movie doesn't get worthy of that score until the tower fights, but once it does, it's epic.

Not only genius, but as much evidence as I'll ever need that the "James Bond Theme" as we know it, owes far more to Barry than Norman, courts be damned.

"The Stripper" off of Beat Girl  is another example his "outside the box" genius.

My favorite non-Bond piece of Barry:

Fucking incredible.

With regard to Bond, it cannot be stated enough how crucial Barry is to the property. Just like Williams & Star Wars, Barry legitimized 007, draping the movies in majesty & mystery, elevating the material in a fundamental way. Watching the Bonds, I always felt that Bond's style, the exotic locales, the beautiful women, & Ken Adams' sets were servicing Barry's music as that was the highest measure of artistic quality present in the films. If that makes any sense.

...and here was I thinking I was the only person with such unbridled love for Barrys Kong score. Fantastic obit Damon.

Truly one of the greats of film music. The man will live on for centuries thanks to the masterpieces he's composed for so many movies, no question.

Rain Dog (and Damon) - this for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpxPW_SB6iQ

His work was marvelous I will miss him.

Great obit for a great artist.

Is it too much to hope that they bring back some of his work in the next Bond flick.

Composer David Arnold remembers John Barry:

http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=146&title=john_barry&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1