Today I am 40

[@MABMusicTTRPG]

This man is a gift to the world.

[@JimmyHales]

I'm legit so happy you're so young. I'm greatly looking forward to the rest of your life's work. Your music is absolutely incredible.

[@AnakinNikkilys]

I've finally jumped over every obstacle on my way to this video and to this series . To be honest I've got demoralized when I've found out that this series blocked from my part of the world. So much bad stuff is going on and this series has been one of few beacons of hope for me. Anyway I'm glad that this channel exist. Thank you Austin for everything that you do. Means the world for me.

[@laeianimation]

I sang "The Mourning Tree" from Rapture in a concert in my small village, middle of France, this summer. Jessica Curry's music is still resonating for me, and having the privilege to write an arrangement for singer and harp of this score and then performing it for people who didn't know anything about video-game music was a great moment for me. The content on your channel matters to me more than I could put in words, and it has ripple effects reaching even to our lonely lost neck of the woods; so thank you.

[@clark2109]

God, even five seconds of "When She Loved Me" sends me straight to tears. I only discovered Geisha maybe 4 years ago, and it might genuinely be my all-time favorite. Biased or not, it's a masterpiece for sure. Happy 40!

[@sectumsempra712]

Literally exact same.

[@germainb.]

So we share our birthday. Happy birthday !

[@Skadi_010]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The complete and utter joy I felt seeing Wolfwalkers and Bioshock on the long awaited top ten is nearly beyond words.

[@StarfallStream]

A GIFT to the world of music

[@AlexMoukalaMusic]

Once again happy birthday you freaking legend ❤

[@awintory]

[@TheLegacyOfJohnWilliams]

Happy Birthday, Austin! You're still super young! :) All the best to you and hope to check with you soon!

[@Mavrick7410]

I have absolutely loved this series of top 40. A LOT of similar tastes sprinkled with some new tracks I have never heard of or straight up missed. Happy Birthday Austin!

[@danaut3936]

Happy birthday Austin. I absolutely love your music and body of work. And this channel just overflows with passion and knowledge for the Art of Scores. Really loved this nod and appreciation to your peers. Here's to the next 40!

[@mattjavanshir]

Happy Birthday!

[@stewartmoore5158]

The Wind & The Lion is off the f*cking chain. If I won the lottery, it would be one of the first scores I'd commission to re-record. Amazing list. Happy birthday!

[@pavelsabacky]

Happy Birthday, I wish all the joy you give to us through your music comes back to you in tenfold.

[@garryschyman99]

Happy Birthday Austin! Your work and extraordinary breadth of passion and knowledge of our profession is an inspiration! Can't believe your only 40! Just a kid!

[@awintory]

I'm ever a student! Thank you for being such a massive inspiration yourself!

[@meegrob]

¡Feliz cumpleaños!

[@kell4055]

You have my condolences. Tomorrow your knees will start to ache.

[@awintory]

I've had back problems since I was a teenager so this is nothing new :)

[@ArcF2]

Happy Birthday, good sir. 🥳🎂

[@EchoesofColour]

Happy Birthday! Here is a hug...🤗 Thank-you for the Journey soundtrack, and the interview with Ben Star, the voice of Clive from FF16. Take care and all the best!😎

[@aaaydroz]

I loved this mini series you did, can't believe it's over and also happy birthday and never stop being who you are🎉

[@istvankrisztiantorok1995]

Happy Birthday, Austin! 🙂🎂🥳👍

[@davidh1318]

Happy 40th! Wish you all the best for the decades ahead. My father turned 70 today, funny seeing this pop up.

[@CTRNCC1701A]

Long live Jerry Goldsmith!! Happy birthday Austin! Great series, keep being a champion of great film music!

[@laeianimation]

Happy Birthday! Here is to many many more!

[@AngelaBermudez]

Every one of these I was like "BUT OF COURSE" I can't believe I forgot so many! 😂 This was a great compilation Austin, so fun! Thanks for working so hard and putting it out there for us. This was pretty amazing 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@awintory]

[@MrKnt93]

Happy Birthday man!! Garry Schyman’s score to BioShock was pretty much THE score that solidified my choice in going into composing. I was in high school when the game released and the game itself was just so not like any other game as it felt like an interactive movie and then the score was just insane. It’s typically played every couple of weeks as a reminder to do just as you said…”step it up” haha

[@grayfox8904]

Happy Birthday Dear Austin! ❤ I am wishing you good health and happiness and to fulfill the rest of your dreams! You are doing many great things for your audience and people, and for this you are a real treasure! Today is your day! 🎉🎉🎉

[@Dbenenenenett]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Funnily enough, today is the seven year anniversary of the most important musical moment of my life, seeing John Williams conduct some of his compositions with the Nashville Symphony. Lots of incredible music to be associated with the ninth of September. Happy birthday again, dude, so thankful for your work and your insights.

[@tayo_95]

i love Bear's "Galadriel" and "Ragnarok" both tracks never fail to give me chills and at the same time fill me with inspiration

[@jonalex_io]

Happy Birthday Austin🎉🥳! Thanks for so graciously taking the time to share the amazing composers that have influenced you, and especially those lesser know. You may very well be 41 by the time I’m able to finish my new listening list!😂

[@WIFFKING542]

Happy birthday! Your music in Journey, AC, and Banner Saga have been such great companions and comforts, especially during the pandemic. Thank you for allowing me some tether to my time in music school even if I can't continue with those pursuits. Hope to hear more new music soon!

[@qwagor]

Many happy returns!

[@firesupotree]

You have the same birthday as my dog! he's 10. He said the same thing as you this morning "we need to get to work!" I hope you get a long walk around all the parks and a big prime rib for dinner too brother. Thanks for the jams and Happy Birthday!

[@michaelbrignolo1245]

I don't recall if you said these were in any particular order or not, but man, Stored Memories...what a beautiful pick for #1! Happy Birthday, Austin!

[@lilyzuki4517]

Happy birthday!! Your works forever change my life and how I view music. Wish you another year filled with success and happiness!

[@blacxthornE]

I didn't see it at the time but happy 40th! I'm turning 40 very soon, and it feels wild that someone could be this accomplished by this age. thank you for all your amazing work.

[@BoonetheAgentsofHAILCreator]

Again, happy 40th!

[@Lmauoo90]

Happy Birthday Austin! I am forever grateful for all your work. Wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

[@marco_rigoni_]

It's your birthday, and yet you're the one gifting us and other composers with these music shoutouts. You're a gift yourself!

[@kujasan]

Happy Birthday =)

[@shortieXV]

Happy Birthday and thank you! Not just for sharing the music but for sharing your stories and passion for it!

[@tysoncazier]

Happy Birthday Austin!!!

[@blackdragonproductions121]

Happy Birthday Mr. Wintory! You've been doing an amazing job these last few years, and I only see brightness in your future! I can't wait to see what you do from here forth, and I hope the upcoming year treats you well!

[@Tenkenka]

Happy birthdaaaay!! :D

[@bpe-music]

Also here, all the best and Happy Birthday, Austin! I'll be joining the club in early December too, not sure yet what to make of it ^^

[@FlapJackDaddy]

I'm right behind you! Happy birthday, good sir! I look forward to atleast 60 more years of Austin Wintory magic!

[@croquisman8887]

Happy Birthday !!!

[@morank3]

Happy birthday, wishing you success, good health and many happy days for the next 40! Thanks for such an enjoyable series

[@tomekurgacz318]

Happy Birthday! You're not that old... yet :) I really like what You said in the intro. I think this sense of learning and building on work of other people, including those who passed away, helps with this fear of death. Seeing Yourself in context of people from who You've learned and people who will learn from You lets You be part of this collective work that transcends time and space. I think it's really cool. I first heard Your music in AC Syndicate and it grabbed my attention because of how creative and dynamic it was. I think it's amazing and very kind of You to share what You know with other on this channel. I've learned a lot. So thank You and Happy Birthday again

[@antb8183]

Happy birthday. Your music for Journey is still the best soundtrack for a game I’ve ever heard

[@halilheyman21]

I finished Stray Gods recently and as I expected you, sir, delivered on that soundtrack. As someone who turned to 21 just around 2 months ago "Adrift" touched my soul, my heart, my feelings, my mind as AC Syndicate soundtrack did many years ago when I first played it. Thank you Austin Wintory, happiest of birthdays to you!

[@robertdaniels2005]

Happy Birthday Austin. This was a fitting end to a great series. I have to admit that I paused before #1 and had to walk away from my computer for almost 20 minutes. I honestly did not want this to end. While I passed 40 a while ago, I'm 54 now, I still look back upon my listening habits and how much they have changed and how much they continue to change because of people like yourself. I recently discovered the score to "49th Parallel" by Ralph Vaughn Williams. While not directly influenced by you, your lists over the last year as well as your show "You Gotta Hear This!" got me to listen outside of the line up I usually listen to and I have discovered so much more out there. With my own show (Visions In Sound) on the cusp of its 25th Anniversary I am also spreading the word about the music from the composers I've interviewed and those I never got a chance to. When I first interviewed you back in 2009 (When I was on the cusp of 40 myself) I mistook a promotional photo from "Captain Abu Raed" for you. I remember saying to my self "Who's this old guy in the hat?" I'm so glad I got to know you better. Again Austin, Happy Birthday. Continued success,

[@awintory]

It's been a joy being your friend and periodic cohost these last 14 years! Also that Abu Raed story is hilarious!!

[@ITBahren]

Happy birthday Austin! Thank you for all you do and being such an inspiring and uplifting voice in music and in general. It warms my heart to see someone care so much about their colleagues, friends and people and not take everything for granted. You make me want to be a better person.

[@johnrogers1820]

First, thank you for your work on Banner Saga. It is truly one of my favorite video game soundtracks of all time. Second, 40 is such a great number. You have so many more years ahead doing what you love than what you have behind you. God bless, sir.

[@nicolehunt7548]

I truly appreciate being exposed to such a range of music on this channel. Thanks for sharing this expansive gift with us on your birthday!

[@TheCosmoosE]

Congratulations Austin! I can hardly believe it's been a year already! When I first heard your music so long ago I was still wistfully longing for a job in the games industry, and now many years later I am happily working as a gameplay animator. Your works (be it music or various podcast endeavors) have been a constant joy, not only through my own journey but I am sure many others' as well. Here's to another 40 years of creation! Cheers!

[@JungleJimAdventures]

"If you knock on my door and I'm not at my desk, it's 'cause I'm out there! (2:35) ...let's not also forget that getting sh*t done must come on the back of the wisdom and the memories that inform what to actually do when we actually sit down to do it." (2:54) This was so well said man! I was actually just having a discussion about this with someone and you summed up my thoughts and feelings that I was was unable to verbalize perfectly. Thanks for this :)

[@samwisegamgee1243]

I'm late, but happy 40 years around the sun! 🥳 It's been an absolute joy following your career and commentary over the years. I always learn so much, and you always put out incredible work! Cheers to many more amazing decades of doing what you love! 🎉

[@ant.survila]

Happy 40th Birthday Austin!! 🥳🥳🥳

[@darrickwhite1986]

🎉🎉Happy Birthday 🎉🎉

[@AynenMakino]

Thanks for sharing all these, as well as all the sharing you're doing in series like "You gotta hear this"! Here's to many more years of enjoying music communally! 🥳

[@lilyjkedits]

happy birthday!!! what an incredible project 🎉

[@skirwingle]

Yes! All amazing pieces (and "When She Loved Me" gets me EVERY damn time).

[@ExtraLifeReviews]

Happy Birthday Austin! 🎂 Here's to another 40 years of composing my favourite soundtracks!

[@DeadManProp]

Hey bro, I'm 33 and I just wanted to say, thank you for your releasing your content. It genuinely keeps me inspired.

[@Geologese]

I love how down to earth Austin is as a person.

[@JoeFilms5420]

Happy birthday, Austin! I'm sure LA feels the same way, lucky to have you. I can't wait to hear what all else you create in the future, here's to 40 more!

[@ГеоргийЛякин-с3э]

Happy Birthday!!! ✨

[@nolram]

Happy Birthday! I will say that the title briefly made me think we hade a x40 Austin Wintory multiplication. But the world could not handle that much musical genius :)

[@SweetflyRachel]

Happy birthday Austin Wintory! I admire not just your incredible music but also your openness to sharing so much about the world of soundtrack composition. This channel is so insightful and interesting. Congratulations and I am so excited to continue enjoying everything that you create!

[@ryanpatricksmith5795]

Leave it to Austin to celebrate his birthday with a project shouting out scores (pun intended) of other talents. One of my very favorite creators on the internet, and a continued inspiration to me to keep at it with my own creative endeavors (crosswords, screenplays and games).

[@cameron_scott]

Thank you for being open and accessible, not only actively and passively so through "Play Watch Listen" archives, but through your own chanel. I have never seen someone as tremendously passionate about their craft as you: you share and have so much knowledge about music craft and it's history, yet you are infinitely propelled by your sense of wonder and it has propelled your work to excellennce. Much love, and may you and you family continue to be blessed beyond possibility! -- Cam

[@Rebelhein]

Congratulations Austin! Looking forward to the updated list in another 40 years.

[@steealconwyrick1999]

Happy 40th birthday! After listening to your music for so many years, I can say without hesitation that you belong to the pantheon of composers you presented in this series. I can’t think of a better way to end it than with that specific cue from _A.I._ You mentioned _Fellowship_ and its victory at the Oscars, and now I feel compelled to tell a story. I occasionally do an Oscars movie binge that involves watching all of the Original Score and Best Picture nominees in a given year back-to-back. When I did the 2001 binge, I have to admit that _Fellowship_ won me over and remains one of my personal favorite film scores ever… but so does _A.I._ As much as I love Howard Shore’s grandiose and truly epic score for _Fellowship,_ I was only judging based off of how the music suited the film. When listening independently, it’s John Williams’ ethereal, bittersweet, and haunting score for _A.I._ that I find myself turning to far more often, even more so than _Empire Strikes Back_ (which is my overall favorite Williams score). I would even go so far as to name “Stored Memories and Monica’s Theme” not just my favorite Williams cue, but my overall favorite piece of film music - both when paired with the picture and when listened to separately. This experience taught me, more than any other, how different listening to music for visual media with said media and without said media are. When paired with images, it has to enhance said images, but on its own, it can be whatever it wants to be. Calling something your favorite film score has two different meanings, depending on how you’re listening to it. If I’m listening to that score independent of the film, for as much as I love “The Imperial March,” “Han Solo and the Princess,” “Yoda’s Theme,” and especially “The Asteroid Field” from _Empire Strikes Back,_ I’d take “The Reunion,” “Hide and Seek,” “The Search for the Blue Fairy,” and especially “Stored Memories and Monica’s Theme” any day of the week. With that being said, comparing these three scores only goes skin deep. This was an incredible series not just because it was an excellent display of your musical knowledge, but - more urgently - because it was a display of the comradely that all of us composers must have for each other and which you rightfully preach more than any other composer I’ve ever met. Thank you and, once more, happy birthday.

[@awintory]

Wow! Amazing story and seems we see it all very similarly :)

[@juliahenriques210]

Happy birthday to you! May you keep composing for so long that I'll present your music to my great-grandkids and tell them "and he's releasing this thing right this week!" And THANK you for citing Cinema Paradiso. I thought I was one of a handful people on Earth who remembered that score fondly, and it's quite validating to have a master arts&crafts-man agreeing with me on this.

[@submergedtapes]

Happy birthday Austin! If your maxim about composers just warming up until they hit their 40s is true then I can't wait to hear what you have in store for us next 🎉

[@acevaptsarov8410]

Happy 40th! Here's to the next 40! Thanks for the great series, love all the music choices and your great commentary and insights. Best wishes! :)

[@NyctoManiaX]

Happy birthday Austin! 🎊 Thank you for being so awesome and for sharing this amazing list + your cool work with us 🙌 Fun fact: you were present in my dream last night, and you told me something along the lines of "I'll be in touch!" I'm assuming you were talking about this video? If not, lemme know how I can help you 😎 haha enjoy man!! ❤

[@rupertfuller]

Happy Birthday! Here is to the next 10 years of entertaining/educational audio showcases!

[@peu_po]

Happy Birthday! Thank you for the joy you have brought into my life with your music!

[@gabzpot]

Happy birthday, Austin! I hope you are not in the middle of this beautiful journey on Earth. Have a great one, man!

[@jblitz1556]

Best of birthdays!!! Also that memoirs of a geisha used as the opening got me, goddamn

[@simonlealbarria6550]

I love Williams' score for A.I. One of my favorites, specially the piece you showed.

[@vinson3505]

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY AUSTIN! You rock!!! :D

[@oldmatttv]

“The world isn't in your books and maps, it's out there.” Now, that's a statement detached from context it has in the character building and overall story it's from, but it still rings true nevertheless. Just something your intro reminded me of...

[@stoicmom375]

Happy 40th

[@PeterTomlinsonComposer]

Happy birthday man. You’re an inspiration to all of us. Could not agree more about Bear and Black Sails. It’s peak Bear

[@britox.6216]

Happy birthday sir! Thank you for all your amazing work 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@cookiedragon8234]

Happy birthday, Austin!! Thanks for all the recommendations, wisdom, and inspiration over the years.

[@wryonion]

Happy Birthday! Here’s to many more years of success and joy. I have no doubts the best is yet to come. Cheers! 🍞

[@fodjet_]

Happy Birthday!)) You are one of my inspiration for my art, and knowing that you are 40... At my 23 I feel so old cause of my health condition and the problems of self-realizasion, even knowing that visual creation is my mission... I think I just have some kind of crisis, what makes me feel that way

[@oldmatttv]

Oh, I also went to a John Williams concert in Osaka recently, and they played Geisha. It was amazing. The whole concert was of course, but I really loved hearing Geisha this time.

[@LukeNemitz]

An beautiful final anecdote Austin, thank you for sharing it - a wonderful connective strand between you and John Williams. Happy Birthday to you, and many more to come! Cheers from DC. -Luke

[@EricGranata]

Happy birthday, Austin! 🥳 This was a really enjoyable series of videos. Regarding your own legacy, my man -you have nothing to worry about. Selfishly, I’m looking forward to hearing much more from you.

[@JamieLikesGames]

Happy birthday my man! You honestly dont look a day over 30. Keep doing what you're doing ❤️

[@liinasumera8211]

Happy birthday! Thank you for this channel, it's a true blessing!🥳

[@julcikis]

Happy Birthday! Thank you for all the stunning music you created and looking forward for what will come.

[@kwabzycomposer]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, absolute legend!🥳You're a very special person in this industry that shares so much knowledge, wisdom, and most of all, passion for this art form and the people that make it happen. I seriously thank you for all that you do, it's helped me so much with aiding and study for my own composing career.

[@alex_lpricem]

happy late birthday austin! A.I. has always been my favorite John Williams score, so imagine my surprise when you got to your number 1. super cool video and loved hearing your thoughts.