Ken Thorne - Superman 2 - Theme [Extended by Gilles Nuytens]

Ken Thorne - Superman 2 - Theme [Extended by Gilles Nuytens]
This is an extended version of the main theme of the movie « Superman II » (1980) by Ken Thorne & based upon John Williams original theme. This is the original music, extended by myself from the original soundtrack.
Check also my other extended mixes: • Soundtracks Edits by G...
Legal notes: I do not own this music! All rights remain to Ken Thorne & John Williams. If you are the owner of the rights and want this to be removed, please ask before doing anything harmful. Remember that we are humans, not machines.

[@richardgadberry8398]

8:04 "Good afternoon, Mr. President. Sorry I've been away so long. I won't let you down again."

[@charlescontreras4135]

Any time I hear this music, it reminds me of how the Superman movies should always be made. When I was in the audience during the first 2 movies, the sheer energy was absolutely amazing! Those 2 movies got it right.

[@91MoonKnight]

This theme will never disappear

[@bioshock6935]

This was JUST 1 of the reason why i hated man of steel for replacing it for Hans Zimmer crappy new take of something that's just feels so wrong. How and why take away the most iconic theme and put in something else thinking its a good idea. I know let's make a new star wars film and don't use any of its iconic soundtrack fans will love it

[@Zoogi.e]

@@bioshock6935I really like the John Williams Superman theme, but not only do I feel Hans Zimmer’s respects it(and I suppose to a degree all Superman themes do), but I’d say it beats it as well. I’d say the people gripping onto Williams’ theme as if it can’t be replaced are just gripping onto nostalgia.

[@bioshock6935]

For me i don't think it can be replaced its one of those themes that's so iconic to the character unfortunately. I like star trek but when i hear the strange new worlds theme it just doesn't feel right when the beginning credits' comes up and the ending. There's just some films that should just keep that classic iconic themes or revamp them but not completely change it do a new version like Hans Zimmer’s did to superman

[@misterpinkandyellow74]

you have lost your human rights with that comment lol@@Zoogi.e

[@JDdr86]

This is the most beautiful music ever created.💙

[@Kamandi1971]

wow im 10 years old again summer of 1981 people dont realize how big this film was it was in theaters for months just behind Raiders of the lost ark in box office revenue that year Ken Thorne did a brilliant job speeding up John Williams original score sounds more millitant too Superman going to war against the kryptonian criminals

[@axebomber2108]

I think the popularity of older movies falters because the studio that owns them do a poor job keeping them in the cultural zeitgeist. If a movie is on cable regularly(maybe not so regularly that they're overexposed like your average shitty Gerard Butler movie) and readily available on streaming services, then the popularity can be carried over to younger generations. But there's so many younger fans these days, especially DCEU fans, who are completely unaware of the impact of the old Batman and Superman movies and think DC was nothing before Nolan and Snyder.

[@deesniper]

I like how this version sounds more aggressive

[@Rectir]

The best Superman for now and always.

[@natebaumgartner9958]

My childhood!

[@heeeeeresrossy]

I always found Ken Thorpe's version to be more inventive. He took John Williams original score & gave it a more fresh feeling. The Gilles extended version only adds to it.

[@iceomistar4302]

I agree it should get a rerecording this time with a full hundred piece orchestra

[@Col92519]

This is my favorite version

[@JDdr86]

Right?!, This is the most glorious and epic of them all!❕

[@oxinoxevous4808]

The Best Superman Christopher Reeve. Thanks masters John Williams, Ken Thorne, Forever! 🎇

[@shane-irish]

That opening is amazing

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

Apparently Ken Thorne's presence was largely due to the switch in director from Richard Donner to Richard Lester. When Donner left before finishing SUPERMAN II, Richard Lester was called in and brought his collaborating composer Thorne, who worked with Lester on the Beatles films A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, HELP! and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM back in the 1960's. Therefore, some notes and arrangements (especially during the main titles recapping moments from the first film) were changed for the version that eventually hit theaters in 1980 under Lester's direction. When Donner finally did his Director's Cut in the mid-2000's, John Williams' original arrangements were used. I'm kinda torn on deciding which version of SII is the best one, but I do like how Thorne added some high-pitched shrill notes to the main title.

[@allindsey661]

According to Ilya Salkind, Lester met with Williams after editing was finished and they were left alone in a room together to discuss Williams scoring the movie. When Williams came out, he told Salkind "I can not work with him" or something to that effect. It's never been said why Williams felt that way, but that's how Thorne came into the fold. One story is that Williams recommended Thorne, another is that he sort of got the job via being a previous Lester collaborator and/or lack of Williams, and was told by the producers to rearrange existing Williams music from part 1 to fit the movie. Hardly any of Thorne's score for part 2 is original work, as listening to the full expanded soundtrack for part 1 proves. You can hear all the different tracks originally written for 1 that Thorne rearranged for use in 2. Some tracks for 2 simple rearrangements of unused and unreleased tracks which, when heard in 2 back then, gave the impression the "new" stuff was written by Thorne. When Donner finally did his cut, they simply reused Williams compositions from the first Superman movie, with a few bits of Thorne's score thrown in for cohesion, for lack of a better word. They didn't have a brand new score written, nor was a score ever written by Williams for part 2 even back then. Considering the directives Thorne was given and what he had to work with (a 60-piece orchestra, compared to Williams 90-piece), he produced a very good score on a very tight schedule.

[@chrisbrillon7189]

Agreed both beautiful pieces of music ever created ever any song any theme this the best one period not even debatable

[@edcreyton268]

Thank you, I needed this today. Horn intro and everything ❤

[@gerardjayetileke4373]

Man you're a genius! I've been amazed at how Williams (not forgetting Ken Thorne's awesome adaptation) composed the Superman theme in decoupled components (for lack of a better phrase) that can be rearranged in so many ways, and you've made 100% use of that very thing. Love these extended tracks!

[@mattkylie6723]

The only show which kept true to the original Reeve movies was Smallville

[@jessycaeaston1505]

So true. What an honor it must've been for the cast and crew.

[@paulpolpiboon9535]

NO it didn't. The Reeve movies didn't have Lex and Supes ever aware of each other. Yet you somehow thought Smallville was true to Reeve movies, so you clearly never seen Superman the Movie. If Michael Rosenbaum and tom welling met by the time he wears a Superman suit they would've recognized each other carrying such a long history; which is the entire CRUX of Smallville!!😂😂 While Reeve they met for the first time, like wtf are you saying. Furthermore, the Reeve movies Lana Lang is TRUE to the comics as she is a Redhead, yet you say Smallville is true to Reeve movies with a Chinese Asian girl (the actress who plays tom wellings mom is how Lana has always looked, duh). Then Pa Kent in the Reeve movies is a wise calm person, but Smallville is this hot headed redneck who's always pulling out his shotgun, holy shit such a radical difference in character. Most of all, Smallville is full of darkness and teen angst, while the actual Smallville IN the comics of Clark growing up was bright, happy and adventurous with no heavy drama, thus Reeve movie adapted that positive tone of the comics and was a highly positive movie. Smallville show has ZERO relation to the Reeve/DONNER films, quite literally the opposite: 1. Pa Kent calm, cool, collective. Smallville pa shotgun every other episode, always upset about something. 2. Lana Red head per the character. Smallville a Chinese girl. 3. Lois + Clark met for the first time as reporters in Metropolis. Smallville they don't first meet as reporters nor even in Metropolis. 4. Reeve film is super bright, positive, happy. Smallville full of dark teen ANGST. Every single episode. 5. The BIGGEST thing; Superman + Luthor discover each other for the first time. While Smallville's primary premise is their long history. So I have no idea what you're referring to. At all. The "Superboy" series with Gerard Christopher was wayyyyy more true (definitely a follower) of the Reeve/DONNER films.

[@Cyber-300]

🤓🤓🤓

[@wildwoodwonder]

Are you smoking crack??? Hell no it didn't...

[@mattkylie6723]

@@wildwoodwonder that’s why is the longest running superhero series and most successful superhero series to date Dummy.

[@avageronimo9635]

Amazingly SUPERb. I almost ran out of breath!

[@lalo9440]

Viajé por toda la película y recordé cuando mi Padre que en paz descanse me llevo a verla siendo yo niño. Genial versión extendida! Gracias!!

[@jak_1894]

God bless you Christopher Reeve my superman ❤

[@user-bd3lf1oe2q]

I miss him too. Hard to watch th3 movi3s with him gon3 but as Luk3 says in TH3 Last J3di "Noon3's r3ally gon3." and as Dr.McCoy in Star tr3k 2 says "H3's r3ally not d3ad. As long as w3 r3m3mb3r him."

[@danlivni6993]

Amazing theme

[@artecomicine9860]

This soundtrack is Superman! It should come back in the new movies.😊 It's so epic

[@EHBradley]

Fuck yeah!

[@matthewdunham1689]

YOU WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE ME!

[@bletheringfool]

Oh God!

[@matthewdunham1689]

@@bletheringfool Zod.

[@sergioderossi3824]

Bravissimo che bella immagine di energia e di entusiamo! é fantastico

[@user-wt2km3hk4d]

とても感動した カッコよかったー😊

[@Batman1989-yl6ve]

Escuchas este tema y te dan ganas de ayudar a todos.

[@kennyverfaillie15]

This is asking, no....begging to be played with volume on max. Still one of the best themes made.

[@vegetasolo1221]

This is awesome ;)

[@The_Blue_Otaku]

Not just the music is awesome the movie is too

[@CyberScifi]

This music is totally awesome.

[@thehaunteddarkknight8309]

Ken Thorne is cool love this and Superman 3 theme

[@deadmanincCZ]

Dope!

[@Conan_the_Based]

Gilles Nuytens. Ruler of Australia!

[@GillesNuytens]

I'm not from Australia 😅

[@Conan_the_Based]

@@GillesNuytens Neither was Lex Luthor 😉

[@misterpinkandyellow74]

he liked his sea front properties though.@@Conan_the_Based

[@vicentekent4298]

Well done!! Thank you very much.

[@dugstutorials8456]

0:57 7:40

[@clydethurman2037]

Love it!!!!!

[@Batman1989-yl6ve]

Cambiemos el mundo como lo hace superman .seamos como el.

[@imb9806]

Does anyone imagine Christopher getting the shit out of bad guys while listening to this epic theme ?

[@ssgoku7192]

Yes

[@zeph0shade]

Like.... giving them enemas? I don't want to imagine it

[@rnw2739]

Colonic irrigation? Rank.

[@tony84.]

7:28, This is GOLD! 💯 Will Superman Legacy use the John Williams score? With shout out to Ken Thorne and his version too.

[@Nomiplus123]

Probably will as it's been so long since it's been used only exclusively for Brandon routh and Christopher reeve

[@John52Kain]

This theme makes you like all the comments down below!!!

[@lucasfan1138]

“If you’ve only seen the first part, you haven’t seen the best part!”

[@shane-irish]

Anyone know the name off the music in the first minute

[@SGTBizarro]

John Williams - The Planet Krypton

[@SGTBizarro]

For this film, it was a reworked track by Ken Thorne, titled Preface / Villains in the Zone / Main Title March

[@michaelsalvi6759]

Cool 😎, well done 👏

[@antmanmc1437]

Tema inmortal.

[@ronniesmith2170]

7:50/8:35 MARK IS AT ITS BEST 🔥

[@russziesmer4569]

Wish this was on Superman and Lois when goes against General Zod

[@axebomber2108]

I wouldn't complain if the Williams theme popped up on Superman & Lois but I think most people would prefer the show do its own thing and have its own music. They should flesh out their version of the Superman theme more, though.

[@kyzer6666]

If you read this, I have used this for my Superman collection on my media server as the collection theme, If that make you happy, Because It has my viewers, Much love

[@GillesNuytens]

If you've put a link back to this + credits, then it's fine for me.

[@kyzer6666]

@@GillesNuytens I have credited you in the movie info page.

[@gojira-lb4bu]

Hello,is the Superman 2 main theme from the director's cut different from the movie version?

[@JodaroKujo]

Yes the directors cut uses the first movies theme and Superman 2 changes the theme

[@gojira-lb4bu]

@@JodaroKujo thank you,i didn't know that

[@JodaroKujo]

@@gojira-lb4bu NP 👍

[@axebomber2108]

Yeah, generally, the Donner cut uses tracks from the first movie and replaces the Ken Thorne score as often as possible. There may be a few remaining bits but I don't recall what was left alone.

[@gojira-lb4bu]

@@axebomber2108 thanks

[@ronniesmith2170]

AND AT THE 8:14 MARK IS SOOOOO GOOD

[@miltonabbiati7598]

❤👏🏻

[@Edu.e3386]

Mejor Sountrack De Superman Theme más memorable 😢Heroico Descansa En Paz Christopher Reeves 😭🎶😟

[@mantuano]

👋👋👋👋👋👋👋

[@Munenushi]

if i may, some may wonder what Genre for this type of music is; for those who don't know, it is called a "March" a wonderful compilation, thank you for sharing!

[@91MoonKnight]

I need this in Superman Legacy

[@user-bd3lf1oe2q]

HIs son Will is to cam3o as a r3port3r in it

[@brunocamargo3711]

What themes you use to make this

[@iceomistar4302]

The Salkind's were stingy and so the 100 piece LSO couldn't be hired again to perform the score, leaving this to sound a bit weak in comparison to the first film.

[@axebomber2108]

I don't mind it. It's not quite as epic but it still sounds good to me. I like how each movie has its own sound.

[@Seeker1187]

What’s super interesting… is that even though that is factually correct… I’ve always felt this score was under appreciated for what it brings. The fewer pieces in the orchestra gives it a more immediate and right up in your face sound. It’s like distilling a song to just one guitar and vocals. This is no longer the epic space saga of Superman the movie. This is the down on earth in the trenches man of steel. It should be feel a tad bit more contained.

[@Kamandi1971]

Bigger is always not better this is a tighter rendition. Faster and more militant

[@smithwesson1896]

This is the LSA performing right?

[@SGTBizarro]

London Pops Orchestra recorded at Cine-Tele Sound Studios (CTS) in Wembley.

[@sensmuse9339]

holy shit, this piece from kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIunXoKBaq2bj6M is insane

[@ronniesmith2170]

SWEAR AT THE 7:50MARK IT START FOR ME

[@chrismc410]

3:31

[@jason-sp8nb]

Do you believe a man can fly 😊

[@ThieflyChap]

Sure! If he has an aeroplane.

[@jason-sp8nb]

@@ThieflyChap ha ha very good I like that 😂

[@Nomiplus123]

Yes if he's superman

[@MrBuckoP]

How was this extended? Was this in the original Superman II film? Excellent.

[@GillesNuytens]

I just mixed together different tracks from the original soundtrack. Thanks.

[@edcreyton268]

@@GillesNuytensthank you

[@cdbutler1204]

Why didn’t John Williams score the sequel? What’s the story?

[@raystantz2471]

There is a story! So he was going to score the film, and he was invited to an early screening of the film by the Salkinds and went into the room with Richard Lester. According to the Blue Box soundtrack release in the early 2000’s, he apparently walked out and told the Salkinds he couldn’t work with Lester. So they chose Ken Thorne to replace him. Side bar regarding the Donner Cut: the opening titles give the music by credit to John Williams. This is partially true. JW did not write any new music for the Donner Cut, so they took the cues he wrote for the first movie, as well as some of Thornes cues in certain spots, and hacked them up and used them wherever they could.

[@Batman1989-yl6ve]

Yo naci con solo 900 gramos y estuve a punto de morir .pero por alguna razon sobrevivi .yo creo que era para ayudar a la gente .ademas me ven raro a veces x mi epilepsia .me identifico con super.

[@GagiDragi]

3:51

[@jak_1894]

Only 1.1k likes WTF is wrong with people? 🤔😂

[@johnvanorder3581]

That was not the Superman 2 theme. It's missing several cues that differentiate it from the Original John Williams Superman Theme.

[@GillesNuytens]

Yes, it's the Superman 2 theme.

[@JodaroKujo]

Ken Thorne did the theme that’s heard in this video For the theatrical cut of Superman 2 The Richard Donner cut version used the original John Williams version

[@edcreyton268]

@@JodaroKujowait the music’s different in the Donner cut? I’ll have to go check that out!

[@sickheadache9903]

Wow! Ken Thorne and The London High School Band..Thanks to the Cheap O Salkinds. And Not Hiring Back John Williams and The LSO. Sounds Clucking Cheap. What continues as one of the worst deals ever!

[@mainstreetsaint36]

It was a studio session orchestra. So the point still remains.

[@PricelessDamnationV2]

John Williams was brought back to score Superman II but left because he couldn't get along with Richard Lester. As for whether or not they've would used a smaller orchestra instead of the LSO if Williams had stayed is anyone's guess.

[@sickheadache9903]

@@PricelessDamnationV2 I also heard he didn’t like how the Salkinds did Richard Donner..Fire by Telegram! True Story.

[@sickheadache9903]

Listen to The Salkind’s 50 Member London High School Band. Way to Go Salkinds...CHEAP!

[@iceomistar4302]

How did I know that when I scrolled down I would see you again?

[@sickheadache9903]

@@iceomistar4302 Did you know that lil dick Lester was used Ken Thorne again and The London High School Band again for Superman 3! 🥴

[@alfredodedarc]

This version excessive.. Too long, too repetitive. John Williams was busy with Indiana Jones and prepping for return of the Jedi. Also Salkinds wanted to trim budget.

[@acron21k]

"Return of the Jedi"? In 1979? What are you talking about?

[@alfredodedarc]

@@acron21k 1980. Empire not Jedi. My bad.

[@PricelessDamnationV2]

John Williams was going to score Superman II but he left after getting into an argument with Richard Lester. Williams told Ilya Salkind that he "could not get along with that man."