This song was first used in the 1958 horror film "Return of Dracula". It plays during the introduction credits. If you like retro horror, it's worth a watch.
This piece was playing in my head when i got lost in West Virginia. The GPS broke and the mountains were huge. I rarely say prayers but I did that night. I do not recommend Garmin GPSs.
Also I noticed that this is the only video with the original version of the theme and not some cheap remake that usually pops up on Halloween music CDs...
It's the most chilling opening theme I have yet heard, for any film....even more so with the stunning visual's for the opening credits.
For anyone interested...the bass theme is taken from the classical album "Symphony Fantastique" by the French composer, Hector Berlioz, The track is called "The Witche's Sabbaoth". Never heard Berlioz get any credit, or mention by film "experts".
this movie was so creative with the backround effects, & the long-shot camera angles of Wendy walking & Danny riding his bike. I'm 21, my mom raised me on the classics, & this will always be one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen (& "poltergeist")
Thank you for posting the original rendition from the actual soundtrack....the background effects in this song make this possibly the scariest song ever recorded. thank you again.
When i first heard of this movie when i was 10, it was an ad and it was first these voices and that face on the "T" of the logo (remember the yellow and black ad?). thats what did me in. I always thought those voices was the voice of the face on the "T". If anyone has any info how Rachel Elkind (Wendy Carlos' assistant) produced those "voices" link me up. BRILLIANT!
@DerekBayRoberts1 I'm not sure how exactly they were made, but I did see a video of Carlos saying it was electronically done. I thought originally they were done by a human. I did have the thought also that they some symbolizing the "T" face, and the chanting ones I'm sure are in represention of the story's Indian burial ground element.
One of the things that is so often overlooked about this theme song is that the echoing crying and chanting vocals relate directly to the story's hotel being built on an Indian burial ground.
As soon as the trilling and vocals begin in the "bridge" of the song it sounds remotely Indian, but listen closely to following the high-pitched shreak, and distinctive and stereotypical Indian chanting occurs. (2:04 -2:27). The rest is mostly general ghoulish.
By the way, this theme song which is alternately called "The Shining" and "Colorado" was derived from the Medieval Gregorian Roman Catholic Requiem "Dies Iraea," a chant for the dead, so in this context it is important to remember the stories Indian burial ground, and the mention by the hotel manager that Indians had to be slaughtered in order for construction of the building to be completed by the white man.
In the orginal opening you don't hear the last minute of the theme where the crying overlapps, but if you ever saw the tv version that aired on ABC or heard the radio ads in 1980 for the movie they played the tail end of it.
They had in in Stephan King's ABC remake? Yes, I noticed too that they didn't use the whole thing in the movies intro, but where they do use those same vocals without the instrumentals is the scene where Jack and Wendy are fighting while sitting on the bed discussing that Danny should leave the hotel.
This is the scariest tune i've heard since lavender town...
MrRetardization 1 month ago
This song was first used in the 1958 horror film "Return of Dracula". It plays during the introduction credits. If you like retro horror, it's worth a watch.
sevenheadedunicorn 4 months ago
It actually sounds like going from a dark inner evil to a maniacal, insane killer. Coincidence? I think not.
ShadowACS 4 months ago
This piece was playing in my head when i got lost in West Virginia. The GPS broke and the mountains were huge. I rarely say prayers but I did that night. I do not recommend Garmin GPSs.
jimamia77 5 months ago
if this doesn't theme doesn't send a chill from the top of ur head to ur toes ur clinically dead
BlacKnightRising 5 months ago
this is a latin funeral march. its been in many musical constructs. like Aieda march of the animals.
HunterTLock 5 months ago
What´s the name of this masterpiece?The best part is when Jack is at the bar with all those ghosts.
Dacafiss 6 months ago
goddamn do the vocals give me the creeps...
facecheek 7 months ago
The weird sounds we hear in between is only better
datasurferable 7 months ago
love dis song
xpccoffee 8 months ago
the scariest part is from 00:00-3:29
19737834119 9 months ago 4
oh no, we forgot grampa at the gasoil station :(
octaleereturns 11 months ago 3
@octaleereturns But what about Grampa? What about Grampa? I love that episode! "HEEERES JOHNNY! DOH!!"
Beerlejuice 11 months ago
Also I noticed that this is the only video with the original version of the theme and not some cheap remake that usually pops up on Halloween music CDs...
Jadama0 11 months ago 3
Where did you get that image? The film score doesn't exist or has been taken of the market. I want the soundtrack!
Jadama0 11 months ago
It's the most chilling opening theme I have yet heard, for any film....even more so with the stunning visual's for the opening credits.
For anyone interested...the bass theme is taken from the classical album "Symphony Fantastique" by the French composer, Hector Berlioz, The track is called "The Witche's Sabbaoth". Never heard Berlioz get any credit, or mention by film "experts".
Kristopful 1 year ago
this part sounds scary: 1:49 - 2:00
DanBallpromaster 1 year ago
This movie got me thinking. Was Stanley Kubrick right.? Is the use of classical masterpieces better than hiring a score composer?
NeverAloneForever 1 year ago
@NeverAloneForever
In my opinion no
spas16 11 months ago
@spas16 So he did good in his next film?
NeverAloneForever 8 months ago
This music honestly puts you in the right mood. Creepy, foreboding and chilling to the bone.
desotowrong 1 year ago
masterpiece of terror
betergigech 1 year ago
a theme song for a friend
saints25cain 1 year ago
classic horror theme even today it still scares the hell out of me
saints25cain 1 year ago 6
@saints25cain I know, right?
Chatterer305 1 year ago
this movie was so creative with the backround effects, & the long-shot camera angles of Wendy walking & Danny riding his bike. I'm 21, my mom raised me on the classics, & this will always be one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen (& "poltergeist")
JackieBorelli 1 year ago 2
Whenever your driving to your college university and you start hearing this theme playing, you know some sick shit is going down soon
Beltzer0072 1 year ago 4
BEST HORROR MOVIE I'VE EVER SEEN.....KUBRICK IS A GENIUS.....AND HE'S THE BEST DIRECTOR I'VE EVER KNOWN
TETTSUUO 1 year ago 2
@TETTSUUO have you ever seen Dawn of the Dead one of the best in the world
MrBranda24 1 year ago
@MrBranda24 I saw "Shaun of the dead' and lmao
44775107 1 year ago
@TETTSUUO I heartily agree.
desotowrong 1 year ago
Thank you for posting the original rendition from the actual soundtrack....the background effects in this song make this possibly the scariest song ever recorded. thank you again.
kringles4 1 year ago 2
This and Halloween had the best horror music
96gamerdude 1 year ago 3
What's the actual name of the song?
kainthornn 1 year ago
This is a very dark and haunting theme, perfect for a horror movie!
It gets even creepier when you hear the shrieks and whispers in the background.
TheMiguelvalles 1 year ago 3
the shining mite not be the most scary movie or the the most gory movie but its my top horror movie
toMMMMM832 1 year ago 7
I have this version on VHS! :O
noeyedeer2jk89sx 1 year ago
This theme is so basic in it's composition yet it is SO effective :D
ShadowAlex 1 year ago
i can play this on piano
nickatina40 1 year ago
Holy Shit 2:52 - 3:28 !
stealthboy19 1 year ago
@stealthboy19 LOL! What made you say holy shite about it?
SaxonBrit 1 year ago
@stealthboy19 LOL! What made you say holy shit?
SaxonBrit 1 year ago
@SaxonBrit Scary music !!!!
stealthboy19 1 year ago
Does anyone other than me hear what sounds like "coughing" at 2:04?
SaxonBrit 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
When i first heard of this movie when i was 10, it was an ad and it was first these voices and that face on the "T" of the logo (remember the yellow and black ad?). thats what did me in. I always thought those voices was the voice of the face on the "T". If anyone has any info how Rachel Elkind (Wendy Carlos' assistant) produced those "voices" link me up. BRILLIANT!
DerekBayRoberts1 1 year ago
@DerekBayRoberts1 I'm not sure how exactly they were made, but I did see a video of Carlos saying it was electronically done. I thought originally they were done by a human. I did have the thought also that they some symbolizing the "T" face, and the chanting ones I'm sure are in represention of the story's Indian burial ground element.
SaxonBrit 1 year ago 2
Comment removed
DerekBayRoberts1 1 year ago
"heres johnny"
BobaFett379251 2 years ago 2
Love the part at 2:00 to 2:20!
hdna12 2 years ago 50
finally the original theme song!
BADSYNE 2 years ago 13
My most favorite part is when this theme is playing at the beginning of The Shining.
hdna12 2 years ago 64
One of the things that is so often overlooked about this theme song is that the echoing crying and chanting vocals relate directly to the story's hotel being built on an Indian burial ground.
SaxonBrit 2 years ago 7
Freaky!
TIPTON340 2 years ago 13
As soon as the trilling and vocals begin in the "bridge" of the song it sounds remotely Indian, but listen closely to following the high-pitched shreak, and distinctive and stereotypical Indian chanting occurs. (2:04 -2:27). The rest is mostly general ghoulish.
SaxonBrit 2 years ago 3
By the way, this theme song which is alternately called "The Shining" and "Colorado" was derived from the Medieval Gregorian Roman Catholic Requiem "Dies Iraea," a chant for the dead, so in this context it is important to remember the stories Indian burial ground, and the mention by the hotel manager that Indians had to be slaughtered in order for construction of the building to be completed by the white man.
SaxonBrit 2 years ago 3
In the orginal opening you don't hear the last minute of the theme where the crying overlapps, but if you ever saw the tv version that aired on ABC or heard the radio ads in 1980 for the movie they played the tail end of it.
TIPTON340 2 years ago 3
They had in in Stephan King's ABC remake? Yes, I noticed too that they didn't use the whole thing in the movies intro, but where they do use those same vocals without the instrumentals is the scene where Jack and Wendy are fighting while sitting on the bed discussing that Danny should leave the hotel.
SaxonBrit 2 years ago 3