3 Iconic Movie Scores From the 1970s That Continue To Give Fans Chills to This Day

Though film is a visual medium, it might surprise some just how important the music and the scores are to the final product. Have you ever tried to watch a movie on mute even for a few minutes? It’s remarkable how ineffective the visuals can be without the heart-pumping music and the emotional, stirring sounds.

Here below, we wanted to explore three movie scores that continue to send chills down the backs of listeners. A trio of compositions that are both immediately recognizable and remarkably captivating. Indeed, these are three iconic movie scores that continue to give fans chills to this day.

[RELATED: 3 Songs for People Who Say They Don’t Like TV Theme Songs]

Halloween Theme by John Carpenter (1978)

Written by movie director and composer John Carpenter, this piano and synth-driven song brings out the nightmares for your bedtime. With a few notes, Carpenter summons monsters to haunt your dreams. The man who today works with his son and Daniel Davies (son of The Kinks’ Dave Davies) and who has written the theme for many of his movies, started it all off thanks to this haunting movie where a mask-wearing maniac haunts the suburbs. And at the center of his masterpiece is this instrumental that comes back every October 31 to cast another spell.

Jaws Theme by John Williams (1975)

This theme by the award-winning composer John Williams is trepidation incarnate. No one knows what the briny deep has in store if we venture too far off the beach. But the worry that our minds cast can be heard in this looming, impending riff from Williams in the breakout feature film from director Steven Spielberg. Duh-duh…. duh-duh… duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh… you know the sound and your heart is already beating faster just thinking about it.

Star Wars Theme by John Williams (1977)

Another from the master John Williams, this theme is much more exultant than it is fearsome. With just a few notes, you are ready to go fight the forces of darkness with your light saber and capture all that is right for the world to get back on its axis of goodness. It is the sound of triumph, the theme song for victory. All you need is to believe in the Force and have a stiff upper lip. Your bravery will follow and all will be right in the world.

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