Hearing different culture's music is always really interesting! They have different forms, instruments, tones- everything. While some of these selections aren't exactly foreign, it's also interesting to hear what composers think of different cultures.
1) Michael Giacchino is an American composer who has worked extensively with both J.J. Abrams and Pixar. His score for Ratatouille captures the feeling of Paris, even featuring a musette accordion. While still sounding a little American, it's a breezy and passionate theme that accents Ratatouille's foreign feel.
Ratatouille
2) This is the one truly foreign selection! Nobuo Uematsu is a Japanese composer who writes music for the video game company Square Enix. His theme for Final Fantasy X is a gorgeous piano piece with a very distinguishable Japanese sound. This is one of my favorite video games, and this theme really brings the game to life.
Final Fantasy X
3) I tried. I really tried. But Hans Zimmer keeps getting on this blog! Disney made an interesting choice having a German composer write African music for The Lion King. While many people miscredit Elton John with the score, it was Zimmer who wrote the majority of the score (with John's part obviously being the 'Disney songs'). This song has 2 parts- the first part is when Simba is talking to his deceased father Mufasa in the clouds. It's a passionate piece dually full of heartbreak and hope. The second part is a fast, percussion-heavy African-influenced part as Simba runs to follow Rafiki. This is the part that really comes to life. I remember as a kid watching this part and loving every moment of it. It's a section teeming with life and it feels as if it's being played live. The improv solo is fantastic, and everything is put together incredibly well.
The Lion King
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