# will they ever give up the dramatic choir music in modern action movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983 "2006-09-24T21:38:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/1 "2006-09-24T21:38:11Z")
Ever since the epic battle of Star Wars Episode 1: the Phantom Menace, there has been an abundance of dramatic choir music in epic movies to raise tensions. It wasn’t completely unheard prior, you’d have your occasional Carl Orff every once in a while. But the past years has seen an utter abundance of it. Movie trailers to superhero movies, I’m looking in your direction. And don’t think I’ve forgotten you either, historical slashers featuring Orlando Bloom. At last to me it grew old very fast. But I found comfort in my belief that the trend would pass. But it hasn’t really. It’s been seven years since the Phantom Menace thingamabob. And we still get the uninspired choir drabble for cheap effects. When will it end? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/2 "2006-09-24T21:41:32Z")
God I hope it ends soon. I am getting damn sick of it just like you are. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/3 "2006-09-25T05:39:56Z")
And put all of us poor choristers out of work? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/4 "2006-09-25T10:33:44Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] And put all of us poor choristers out of work? 🙂 [/QUOTE] So, have you been in any Superhero movie lately? ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/5 "2006-09-25T10:47:47Z")
I hope they never give it up… in fact, I think that EVERY movie should include at least one scene backed by excerpts from “Carmina Burana.” ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/6 "2006-09-25T23:31:31Z")
[QUOTE=cactus waltz] So, have you been in any Superhero movie lately? [/QUOTE] Not personally, no. The best I can offer is **Happy Feet**. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/7 "2006-09-25T23:58:16Z")
[QUOTE=FisherQueen] I hope they never give it up… in fact, I think that EVERY movie should include at least one scene backed by excerpts from “Carmina Burana.” [/QUOTE] Yes!! Such as [this](http://wookiessong.ytmnd.com/), from the original Star Wars. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/8 "2006-09-26T00:46:15Z")
_The Omen_ was doing it (“Ave Satani”) in 1976. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/9 "2006-09-26T02:35:33Z")
_raises hand sheepishly_ I don’t mind it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/10 "2006-09-26T02:44:15Z")
Watch [this](http://theforce.net/fanfilms/nonsw/grayson/) before you decide the idea is best discarded. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/11 "2006-09-26T04:09:10Z")
I don’t have much against choir music, but for FUCK’S SAKE can we please put a stop to that middle eastern (maybe african) woman who croons during battle scenes or scenes of “sombre reflection.” It worked well in Gladiator. By the time Troy came out I just couldn’t stand it anymore. Anyone know if it’s the same woman who does it all? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/12 "2006-09-26T04:11:15Z")
You DARE criticize _Duel of the Fates_?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/13 "2006-09-26T04:11:55Z")
To clarify, I realize that it might just as easily be a white woman (I’m not an expert at picking ethnicity based on singing voice), but the sound clearly invokes a very “middle eastern” motif, hence it’s use in historical fiction movies. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/14 "2006-09-26T04:13:28Z")
Nice language. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-they-ever-give-up-the-dramatic-choir-music-in-modern-action-movies/373983/15 "2006-09-26T15:40:19Z")
I agree. If I was in charge, every period action movie would have a soundtrack by Queen and every modern action movie would feature one-hit generic rap artists. Actually, one of my favorite soundtracks is _Hunt For Red October_ because of all those gorgeous Russian choral pieces (pre-dating SW:TPM by several years), so count me among the “why change?” folks.