I love the Piano Guys. I love pretty much everything they’ve ever done. But I think I love this video most of all. Maybe because I’m so stinking happy to see them cover a piece by Hans Zimmer and John Powell. And because they put a grand piano on the Great Wall of China.
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, PEOPLE. I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.
Last I checked, this thing had 574 dislikes on YouTube. Funny. Now we know how many deaf people watched the video.
Basic math: Jason Bourne + John Powell + Vivaldi + Piano Guys = sweetness.
Kung Fu Panda 2
(Music from the Motion Picture)
Composers: Hans Zimmer & John Powell
Running Time: 60 min.
Released: 2011
Hans Zimmer and John Powell’s collaborative effort on Kung Fu Panda 2 is one of the best film scores of the year. Period. Hands-down. No argument. Brimming with creativity and gusto, it’s a lush musical ride full of vibrancy, adventure, emotion, and fun. I mean, come on: this is Zimmer and Powell we’re talking about here. Can you think of a more awesome combination when it comes to film music?
There’s not a single bad track on the entire album, which means you’re better off just buying the whole thing. Nevertheless, here are some standouts: Ancient China/Story of Shen is the opening cue, effectively showcasing the marriage of eastern and western styles and instrumentation that characterizes the rest of the score. Stealth Mode creeps along with playful ease, while Rickshaw Chase zips forward at full-throttle, hardly pausing for breath. Po Finds the Truth is the most emotionally-charged piece, and possibly the most memorable. The climax of the album is undoubtedly Zen Ball Master, a seven-and-a-half minute action cue with a brilliant incorporation of the main theme.
Buy the MP3 album on iTunes or Amazon.com.
THE INK SLINGER 