“Music gives color to the air of the moment”…..Karl Lagerfeld
If composer Randy Edelman were a Color it would be RED. He’s fiery, strong, full of passion and rage like that of a beating heart. He doesn’t conceal himself, and is aware that people take notice. He’s not afraid of the other Colors, or crowds, or shadows, or even loneliness. He is the Color of crimson stained cheeks, hungry lips, spilled blood and broken hearts. Red is the Color of cherries, roses and valentines. Randy is the Color of love….and in his music and song, there will always be a place where love will find a voice.
As one of the most sought after and popular music architects, the multi-award winning composer has over 100 motion pictures and television soundtracks to his credit. His creations are bright, detailed, colorful mosaics with music ranging from a coaxing white whisper to an admonishing black roar.
There is range of Colors called livid (derived from the Latin color term lividus meaning “a leaden-blue”) which combine shades of blue and gray. “Gettysburg” the Ted Turner/Ronald F. Maxwell film although wildly inundated with color, sights, sounds and memories, the Confederate soldiers wore gray uniforms and the Union army wore blue. Moreover, those blue and gray costumes and war itself implies a dark state of mind, a monotonous state of gloom and misery. Filmed directly on the Gettysburg battlefield and one of the most historically accurate movies ever made. “Gettysburg” became an emotionally moving, epic and haunting soundtrack that many consider the best movie score ever written to date. The Battle of Gettysburg marked the turning point of the Civil War (with more than 50,000 casualties), and was the death of Robert E Lee’s ambitious quest to invade the North. It was a victory for the Union…..but also a powerful musical victory for Randy Edelman with a soundtrack that will forever stand on it’s own.
“Last of the Mohicans” (directed by Michael Mann) captured a Golden Globe nomination for a soundtrack said to be “so rich and rousing that it boosts the quality of the whole film. What might have otherwise been a finely textured period tale of war on the American frontier becomes with Edelman’s contributions a soaring epic romance that deserves a place among the best film adventures of the last 25 years.” His theme “Cora” considers the character who brings the adventure stories of warfare, and the sentimental film’s romance together as it is said “she carries the weight of the sentimental story.” There is always sentiment in Randy’s music in every genre he explores….and it’s always beautiful.
The film score of “Dragonheart” (directed by Rob Cohen) has been dubbed “the perfect epitome of Randy Edelman’s career”, and called “a wonderful soundtrack experience and a very rich score that made the movie the cult classic it is today.”
“Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story” (directed by Robert Cohen) states regarding the score “Edelman’s score is a heart swelling and heroic scorcher that avoids overdosing on Oriental strains.” “Timeless.”
“Chipmunk Adventure” claims in a review “it spins lightweight fun with sentimentality and values the Chipmunks, as feeling and wistful creatures, not just vocalists on high speed. Composer and lyricist Randy Edelman lends a great hand in shaping the world through their eyes, and because the film plot is based on a hot air balloon ride across the continents, it really does involve the world.”
The hit television series “MacGyver” (which can be seen regularly on TV) was another colorful themed, musical dynasty, also reviewed. “There isn’t much synergy between the MacGyver and Disney universe is, but the one name that appears in both places is Randy Edelman. All of the composers who worked on MacGyver were great, but Edelman was the best. His MacGyver scores were uniquely creative, evocative, rich, moving and powerful, and his music played an integral role in fostering my love of the show.”
The endless list of other motion picture works of excellence include: “Kindergarten Cop”, “Twins”, “While You Were Sleeping”, “Leap Year”, “Daylight”, “My Cousin Vinny”, “Ghostbusters ll”, “XXX”, “Billy Madison”, “Drop Dead Fred”, “Anaconda”, “Angels in the Outfield”, “Beethoven”, “The Mask”, “27 Dresses”, “Surviving Christmas”, “Diabolique”, and a plethora of others. He has also scored themes for ESPN, the Olympics, and has even done something for NASA. The soundtrack from his musical “Short Cut” about the building of the Panama Canal is also a riveting and sensitive display of genius.
It seems that each and every soundtrack review swears that the particular score they are reviewing is Randy’s best, therefore I can confidently draw the conclusion that he is probably the most accomplished musician on the planet. There are so many other slants to his career like a precious jewel held up to the light letting every facet of who he is sparkle and shine revealing all the colors within his heart..
Aside from Randy’s motion picture and TV soundtracks, his ability to create pop culture magic can be illustrated by his own charted recordings including “Uptown, Uptempo Woman”, “Pretty Girls”, “Comin’ Out the Other Side”, “Everything is Possible”, and more. His songs have been covered by some of the most prestigious artists of our time and went on to become monstrous hits including “A Weekend In New England” (as recorded by Barry Manilow), “Isn’t it a Shame” (as recorded by Patti LaBelle), “My Place” (as recorded by hip-hop superstar Nelly), and “You” (as recorded by The Carpenters). Others who have recorded and covered his songs, include Olivia, Newton-John, Willy Nelson, Bing Crosby, Dionne Warwick, Blood, Sweat and Tears, just to mention a few.
Both color and music cover a range of wavelengths. A realm called synesthesia allows for what researchers call colored hearing: the ability to hear sounds or music as colors. Randy’s music, all of it is a prism of color, texture, and fate, a shimmering avalanche of diamonds, a radiant, luminous voyage. A prism works because the different colors of light travel at different speeds inside the glass. Because the colors of light travel at different speeds, they get bent by different amounts and come out all spread out instead of mixed up, like that of the notes of music Randy writes. “I could compare my music to white light which contains all colors. Only a prism is can divide the colors and make them appear; this prism is the spirit of the listener”….Arvo Part
For the past couple of years Randy has taken his gift to a new level as a performer sharing his music and story to sold out audiences in New York, London and recently Boston, (after being inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame). He has amassed an extensive community of loyal fans and followers that is constantly and consistently developing, expanding, flourishing and thriving. His congregations are not only filled with hundreds of admirers but with fellow musicians, with directors, with Broadway’s elite and most recently with a surprise visit from the iconic music and record Impresario Clive Davis.
His recent upcoming film scores include Dutch director Ate De Jong’s Nashville saga “Heart Strings”, the family holiday caper “Athena Saves Christmas”, the exorcism horror themed “Possession of Anne”, and the documentary “Too Hot To Handle.”
The official website for Randy Edelman may be found at https://www.randyedelman.com
Get tickets for upcoming Randy Edelman shows in NYC:
The Cutting Room 10/27/23
https://wl.seetickets.us/event/randy-edelman:-a-ghostly-affair/571179?afflky=TheCuttingRoom
Chelsea Table & Stage 12/9/23
https://chelseatableandstage.venuetix.com/show/details/WA4VDRjuRTLLekm5xVl1/1702175400000
Stream Randy Edelman’s New Album “Everything is Possible” on Spotify here:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0uyke7nbHiRRsJCUNH4CsQ?si=qxUriORhQ_2xJzC1E2OY9A
