John Williams:"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977)-Main Theme

[JONNOG88]

Maybe John Williams is an extraterrstrial himself. That would explain alot : ).

Happy 80th Birthday John. The greatest living composer

[sauquoit13456]

UNLUCKY 13 or LUCKY 13???: Them from "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind" peaked at No. 13 and spent a total of 14 weeks on Billboard's Top 100 in 1977/78, it entered the charts on December 24th, 1977...

{Was it bad luck to have peaked at #13 or good luck that it spent 14 weeks on the charts???}

Also in 1978 Meco took a version of this song to No.25...

[ImperatorZor]

We are not alone.

[videruntomnes1]

A day in a life by the Beatles is also a remake of a piece by Iannis Xenakis called Metastasis.

[zazzwanzer]

Love this movie. And the soundtrack. Amazing work of art, all of it on behalf of both Spielberg and Williams. :)

[jayriggzy]

Not only did John Williams use "when you wish upon a star," he also uses the "Dies Irae" motive. You can hear it at 3:10.

[jeanlucchapelon]

On ne dira jamais assez combien ce compositeur est GENIAL!!!

Et d'autres comme John Barry,E.Morricone , le regretté M.Kamen (disque avec Metallica entre autres) etc... Sortons les mouchoirs!!!

[AbaddonSpanks]

Is it just me, or is that an evil alien-skull thingie on the Close Encounter movie poster...?

Looks KREEPY to me.

[SethGueko2008]

@AbaddonSpanks Is it just me, or are you retarded ?

[douglasmatley]

The score to this film by John Williams is one of his best, if not the best. Watched the film again and am still amazed at how magnificent the score is, especially from chapter 21 ( where the writing for the french horns is extraordinary) to completion. It is such a marvelous film, which I had forgotten that Steven Spielberg had written the story. I know he directed it.

[TheLeon96Ahuel]

4:26 Pinocchio !? xDD

[username20X6]

@TheLeon96Ahuel Pinocchio was referred to multiple times throughout the movie although I do not believe that particular piece was played at any point in the film

[TheLeon96Ahuel]

@username20X6 yes i know, That's what looks this passage in the music, for me.

[TheLeon96Ahuel]

2:59 is like Old Disney Music :O

[pathsounds]

2:26 is one of the most intense things I've ever heard in music.

[2paczfan]

@pathsounds check out A Day in the Life by The Beatles it will change your mind

[rosey2199]

really enjoy the ending of this song

[Hungarorum]

Re Mi Do Do So :)

[clanofshadows]

@Virtimera wAit there are two john williams?

[PurplephiHaze007]

@clanofshadows NO....its a joke, he wrote star wars and this, and got an Oscar for star wars...beating only himself...for composing this sound track...thus John and John

[Alonzo1460]

really believe that once we'll find Greys

[TheRockerchef]

John Williams was da shit. He did more more with three notes than others did with the entire scores.

[bma051000]

"They haven't even aged. Einstein was right."

"Einstein was probably one of them."

This movie is a cinematic gem.

[theguyonthepenny64]

DO DEE DEE DU DU

[rubyto14]

which "close encounter" was it when someone whistled "she'll be comin round the mountain" 

[MichaelHansenFUN]

re recording?

[PrimaveraPictures]

Why listen to pop music when something like this exists...

[ACruelPicture]

At 04:32, when you wish upon a star

[Project0061]

the climax 7:00 makes me long for the cinema of the 70's. That sense of fantasy and adventure we used to have. I'm not saying we don't have it anymore, its just its become somehow diluted as times gone on.

[impulsewithMiggyVee]

This means Something.

[cenzokong]

8:30 sounds like ET theme

[TheaterGeek7777776]

@cenzokong same composer

[bIancoitaliano]

Best UFO movie ever.

[TheCzechMexican]

@bIancoitaliano what about Paul?

[bIancoitaliano]

@TheCzechMexican Are you serious? That movie flopped at the box office!!

[TheCzechMexican]

@bIancoitaliano i thumbed you by accident lol, but i did like both movies

[TheLeon96Ahuel]

@bIancoitaliano yes! directed by Steven Spielberg. :D

[Kennychan222]

this song is relieving my soul from depression...i wanna studying more universe

[wearenotalone2012]

Is walt one of them?

[cdrnick]

Babymaking music for stars.

[bongoboyj]

3 people are deaf

[zelly7azul]

john williams is truly an amazing composer

[XXLSSBBW]

i liked it when this was in monsters vs aliens

the president makes first contact with the alien robot

[vardiss22]

Like a few other people posted .. i was kid in 77 when this came out and it kind of scared me ..the poster, the pubicity shots etc..... the abduction scene with the kid to me (as a kid) like a pure horror movie scene..not to mention the ET's themselves who seemed way too close the so called unfriendly Greys of real life accounts...i didn't watch this movie until i was well into my teens and actually own it now

[tomkat1983]

I have the 8 track of this.....I just need an 8 track player....

Thanks for posting this !

Memories of when I was 13

[PinkPunkyKat]

Old school dial up internet is what it always sounded like to me.

[thegoodgeneral]

@PrototypeAndroid Why the hell is Martin O'Donnell in this list?

[wearenotalone2012]

About the comment regarding the brain sucking thing I was only joking! Please do not be afraid. If they where going to hurt us then we would have known about it already! I would fear your own goverments and not alient or extraterestrial life!

[wearenotalone2012]

As my name applies we are not alone and it is great that back then they where thinking about other species and not about war and hurt. We are a race of warriors as that is in our DNA and blood but we can do more than fight. If we can save people why do we need to kill people? OK we need to control the world population but war and famin, disease and poverty is not the way.

[wearenotalone2012]

Why be scared they are only hear to suck your brains out. They where going to do me but thought against it!

[nick0is0ace]

this song scares the shit out of me

[TheLaluna1]

Wow this is a great version, thanks for posting it. It is powerful.

[acdc1496]

This movie scared the shit outa me....

[THRILL66ER]

i mean this is still my fav, so magiacl so dream like..close your eyes it's easy

[THRILL66ER]

i am 38 and this till my favourate movie ever and i qouote" they were chosen over we"

[MrBuc128]

This is a great  movie poster.If this was made today every scene of the film would be shown on it. Because everything in sci fi films today is so over the top and overblown. Dryfuss was great in this film and should have won an oscar. Try finding a performance like that in any sci fi film today. You would't because that would mean less time for special fx the only thing anyone wants in sci fi movies today

[optimus304]

7:00 BEST PART OF THE WHOLE SONG

[gameman661]

Greatest SiFy Film ever made. this if the flim that got me in to SiFy as a kid

[MarkyCool67]

If any aliens would ever come to this (our) planet. I would leave this place and go with them.This must be a great experience.But I won't leave without taking some John Williams soundtracks with me.

[KODfreak]

@MarkyCool67 you will probably be jammin on your ipod, then they will look at you like, what the hell is that guy doing?

[Virtimera]

It's shame John Williams didn't get an Oscar for this score. His music was beaten by music of John Williams, who scored Star Wars in the same time. Anyway, both Johns like each other.

[thecoatessisters]

@Virtimera I hope you realize that "both Johns" are the same person!

[Virtimera]

@thecoatessisters I hope you realize that was a kind of smart joke

[BugFilms97]

@Virtimera Nice.

[KODfreak]

@thecoatessisters it's okay, he didn't know.

[YTUBE508]

@Virtimera are you talking about the same person? cause i'm confused

[Virtimera]

@YTUBE508 same one

[ridely700]

@Virtimera Wut? XD

[Denray96]

@Virtimera there is one jhon williams for all thees movies jurassic park jaws star wars indiana jones and close encounters

[Virtimera]

@Denray96 Yeah, I know. That was a kinda joke.

[cywiringwlad]

@Virtimera We hope! ;)

[KonradKnudsen]

the best alien movie ever made in my opinion..

[DaveFromBrooklyn]

Throughout my 45 years of living, I have seen things outside of participating in war, that would break down the strongest human being. Brutality, extreme poverty, cruelness, death and dying, man's inhumanity to man. I was always indifferent. never felt sympathy. However, every time I see the ending of CET3, or listen to the respective soundtrack, I break down like an old grandmother at a wedding.

[stuntmanmike37]

7:00, deffinately the best part.

[chricolwould32rock]

I turned my volume all the way up at 0:30 like an idiot.

[ellissapurser]

@chricolwould32rock i did the same thing even after reading your post. had it down really low as precaution then turned it up coz i cauldnt hear it. feel like a pwoper dick!

[TheCOB98]

@chricolwould32rock me too

[Starshine672]

7:02 H-E-L-L-O

:)

[DaveWollenberg]

Hit #13 both pop and AC in Billboard. God bless!

[blackmamba99971]

One the most electric openers in movies to date. John Williams captured that wonderful mood of how our senses can work in over drive. Mixed with Spielbergs vision and Douglas Trumbulls special effects, we were given a beautiful movie unlike any other. A marvel in movie magic, with brilliant grandiose UFO scenes, and a heart felt feeling that leaves us wanting to see more.

[buggyboo81]

@blackmamba99971 you should have a job as a critic like maltin. u would be awesome

[VEGANSAM]

CLASSICAL MUSIC AT ITS BEST... Period.

[dorkfaceflutexo]

@VEGANSAM it isn't really classical music. this is more like modern music. although it has hints of classicism..classical music was the period when mozart was alive.

[dorkfaceflutexo]

@VEGANSAM it isn't really classical music. this is more like modern music. although it has hints of classicism..classical music was the period when mozart was alive.

[SuperEnderWiggin]

i love how Slew of damascus hit the road when i called him on his bull.

[osiris7127]

this is the internet you fucking idiot.

not a bar.

[BerryJoy]

god i love this song, especially the second half where it really takes off.

John Williams has composed some brilliant music

[j377yb33n]

agreed, although he did kind of rip off holst when it came to star wars.

[ThePureawesomness]

you must use the force

[Munchinator777]

****MAGIC****

[CambotSOL]

It's really a shame that they just don't put out movie scores like this anymore...at least not to the extent of decades past.

[slewofdamascus]

Does anyone see the subliminal image in the "poster"? It's classic.

[Blackblood624]

i dont see it......

[slewofdamascus]

unfortunately, the image is too small to get a real good view, but it is still there. Think of the moon/sun (whatever that is) as the head of a woman. I'm using that to locate you, from there you have a woman with her legs spread (knees up). This is a subliminal that is used in many pictures-products over the years.

[Hislittlepanda]

@slewofdamascus

I have now lost faith in humanity because of you.

Seriously. Have you ever head of reading too much into things?

[slewofdamascus]

@Hislittlepanda I can't respond to that kind of nonsense. Good luck, however.

[Hislittlepanda]

@slewofdamascus

Alright.

YOU made an assertion, now give evidence. Show me why that assertion is correct other than speculation.

[slewofdamascus]

I have no idea why you are claiming some great injury because of a terribly innocuous posting that I happened to make, a posting so trivial that it hardly bares notice. I typically post on more serious topics.

I happened to see this poster in its full, moviehouse-lobby size a couple months before I inadvertantly saw this video and I was struck by a very common subliminal image, the one I have already described. That's it. There is nothing left worth saying about this from my perspective.

[Hislittlepanda]

@slewofdamascus

So, you have no evidence for that assertion, and immediately take up a defensive position when called on that bull. Ever consider that you, oh, I don't know, have a dirty mind? My great injury is no injury, just fulfilling my duty to discredit people trying to sound intelligent and knowledgeable but spewing falsehoods and lies.

[ThePureawesomness]

something about root beer right?

[waddewel]

please explain

[monkeynuts76]

I always loved this movie poster above!

[7070timo]

i love it and i love it its a 5/5

[ThePercyMeza]

so scary-ly beautiful

[PMcM1007]

Close encounters and Jaws always remind of the summer time. Thats when i got to see them 2 mega movies...

Altho the sound track to close encounters is the best i have heard yet by John Willaims...

Gives me goose bumps..Love it.....

[BizarreWorks]

John makes the sound magi in movies.

[Dodo251]

8:34 simply gorgeous.

[Dodo251]

Will you ever comprehend that this is not a song? There are no lyrics so it certainly is not a song. It's a composition, score, piece.

[death347]

wht do u mean lights? orange ones without an engine sound that fly one after the other in formation? its what were getting here in england and yea its pretty freaky

[OrdoMallius]

@death347

relax that just blue beam project

[Teladian]

If you recall from the movie Richard Dreyfus' Chareacter tries to have his family all go see Pinochio. My recollection is that this stemmed from the fact that Spielberg at the time thought the idea of meeting aliens was a very innocent aspiration much like wishing upon a star, and so he wanted to use the theme in the movie. That's why John Williams quotes it.

[mikehenriquez]

great song, great movie. just one question...¿from 4:29 to 4:48 is it me or it sounds just like disney's music theme introduction? ¿maybe an homage to W. Disney by both Williams and Spielberg?

[jdvr3891]

You're right, it's almost exactly the same as the Disney tune! I guess the implication clould be that aliens could be something wonderful, which is exactly the feeling that the tune evoced in me as a child when a movie started; that this would be a wonderful experience.

[XxALLKCFANxX]

John Williams is master song artist

[chives123456]

The only thing that needs to be said to prove that claim is: Force theme.

[arqMarioReyes]

this is a masterpiece!

[HankJKennyton]

This sounds creepy in the beginning, is there a catch to the aliens. Or were they completely peaceful?

[Dodo251]

Completely peaceful. Haven't you seen the movie? If you haven't, you must see it.

[KSpie2009]

Spielberg originally intended to actually have Jiminy Cricket singing "When You Wish..." at the end of the film, but cut it out after a test screening. That quote is intentional.

[OptimusTrooper]

oh john william's, you sneaky bald man. I never caught that' pinocchio theme in there before......i love ya jonh williams

[masterlinkx101]

Holy crap, it sounds exactly like "When you wish upon a star".

[YouFailBigTime123]

sounds very star wars-ey, brilliant song

[triplepogi2009]

@YouFailBigTime123

He also made the Star Wars ost...

[JakeRB211]

John Williams-what a genius...

[mtm81989]

this first part of this CREEPED me out... i kept looking over my shoulder... expecting something to jump out and grab me....LOL

[megaexplosions]

at 4:30 the song becomes 'when you wish upon a star'

[mtm81989]

HAHA... i does sound like that doesn't it

[santy300]

@megaexplosions And at 3:46 you can listen a vague reminiscence of what will be, many many years later, "Harry's Woundrous World".

I love it when music exposes the composer's tendencies, in this case, melodic tendencies. There is this "concept" laying beneath every song.

Anyway, John Williams is the greatest movie composer ever.

[halodystroyer44]

@santy300 no doubt

[SammEater]

@santy300

Wow, it really sounds like "Harry's Woundrous World", damn, John Williams is awesome. :D

[AwaTu]

@megaexplosions That, actually, is one of the more notable things about this composition — Borrowing the 1st 14 notes from Leigh Harline's iconic, instantly recognizable song was a brilliant stroke by JW —Remember, this movie, unlike all the scare tactic alien-genre films, eg. "Independence Day", etc., this film was communicating the holistic wonder of possibility in such a contact —And, the moment you've pointed out clarifies and underscores the intent —It's that 'smile 'n ahhh' moment...

[acebunny17]

@megaexplosions Yes,remember Roy wanted the kids to go watch Pinnochio,and that song is played several times there

[cochranexyz]

This is one hell of a good movie!!!!

[AgathaVincent]

just brilliant by far.

[avatarnarutochuck]

Yep you're right rocketrodder! No wonder since that's Steven Spielberg's favorite song.

[RocketRodder]

I'm hearing "When you wish upon a star" at 4:30"...

[exgld]

Yes, I have also heard it. I suppose that it's an homage to Disney's film 'Pinocchio', which also is mentioned in this film.

Very nice theme.

[JoeSnyderwalk]

Wow, John Williams sure is the king of writing for aliens.

Star Wars

Close Encounters

ET

War of the Worlds...

Indiana Jones 4, to be picky about it...that's 10 movies. Wow!

[stoneandeddie]

yeh & we aliens love him & have been watching you from our echoes submarine Planet Helena & wondering for decades what the hell you're doing with your fragile Planet Earth.. it makes us feel happy to have our safe heaven as some of those Earth citizens are wicked! destroying that magical Blue Planet is far from what souls like John Lennon, Lady Diana, Pres. Kennedy, Olga Havel, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Syd Barret, Rick Wright, Jim Morrison, Freddie Mercury, Mother Theresa would have wanted??

[Timedoctor23]

Go John Williams

[klistarf]

I just adore John Williams score writing! Always have! No-one comes close! It's beautiful music in it's own right, but as a backdrop to the films he scores it is mesmerising. He can do Happy, sad, downright creepy and all stops in between. A true master! (:o)

[El135o]

CHILLS at 7:02!!!!

[laskroto77]

Bingo. Best part of any John Williams song starts right there.

[BWFSabian]

Don't care. JW is top scorer.. Just 'cause a dick got the tracks in the wrong order, makes fuck-all difference,,

[darkram13]

This almost sounds exactly like the 1999 "Greatest Hits" John Williams set.

I'm not entirely sure there because although the notes and rhythm are the same, there are a few bits where the instruments sound different.

Maybe it was my CD player, or maybe it's this video, but it sounds identical except for those few instrumental differences.

For example, the first 40 seconds have a male choral sound in my CD, whereas this upload has just music.

[pannoni1]

The single version only lasts 3:13!

[CDClock]

whats with the random "when you wish upon a star" segment at 4:45?

[TED5165]

Because Pinocchio, the movie, plays a small role in the plot of Steven Spielberg's film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, John Williams's score quotes "When You Wish upon a Star".

[maidenaust]

Incorrect.

I believe it was a secret fetish that led to the inclusion.

[pitch89]

i think that there is a simililarity between the film and pinocchio... the insertion of that fragment is simply brilliant...

[IngaMarr]

What recording is this? I recognize all the various bits and pieces of the soundtrack (that were presented as individual tracks on the soundtrack that was released in 1977) but this contains all sorts of other cuts (including Special Edition music that was used in the interior scenes of the Mothership). Is this some rare import from 1980?

[ytcomposer]

It probably comes from the last track of "John Williams' Greatest Hits" (1999). I have that CD, and the track sounds identical.

Hey, does that mean we might have a 40th anniversary CD coming out this year? That would be killer.