It's unfortunate that the reality of the Presidency and the day-to-day politics and governing depart so greatly from the noble concepts that are taught in textbooks.
Just to clarify, the instrumental version is referred to as "Main Titles from 'The American President'" or "Theme from 'The American President'". Shaiman also produced an orchestral choral version of the song with lyrics. That version is referred to as "A Seed of Grain".
I somehow think that this score it written by Thomas Newman everytime I listen to it. but its not. but the orchestration is very Newman-esque (sounds like Shawshank here and there) - anyway good work by Shaiman!
@urbanfantasyfan They definitely used it on the news as his plane was taking off for California, no matter your politics tears were streaming down my face!
@100rrh Hey, I'm no longer a Republican, but a decent composer who just finished a video using this for opening & closing credits (my first video edting) for a memorial honoring my family's fallen Marines, and have choked-up some 30 times over the past 3 weeks due to this composition. Just beautiful!
This is such a beautiful theme song. I've been trying to find words to put it in. With more than a hint of grandeur. Classy, so fitting for a movie called American President. This theme music has been used in various places, I noticed. Thank you for the posting.
Many thanks PureDanceBiscuit for this gem! Last year just after Obama took office saw this wonderful movie on train from Seattle to Portland, and it really moved me!
For those who don't know, this was scored by Marc Shaiman. One of the great melodists of his generation, and a master of tonal harmonic movement. His attention to every voice within the orchestra is evident here in the counter lines of the horns and woodwinds. The voice leading is flawless and the orchestration sublime. This is a shining example of taking a rather simple musical gesture and masterfully manipulating the orchestra to show all that it can say, in eloquent style and variety.
@yisacknayrabin Actually, shaiman didn't orchestrate and score this piece. It was orchestrated by Jeff Atmajian. I know this because I have the score...
@oklahomma Check out Marc's sketch mate, it's all there. Jeff is a colleague of mine, he'll tell you the same. Orchestrators are used on every film project whether a composer can write or not. In the case of someone like Hans it's because he can't. In the case of cats on the level of a Williams, Goldsmith, or Shaiman...it's because you've got two weeks to turn around 120 minutes of music.
@yisacknayrabin Agreed on Hans Zimmer. The other thing is the Avatar soundtrack by Horner. He had what, a year? Imagine what Williams or Shaiman, or Silvestri could have done with a year to work on one score haha
This is really one of the most amazing movie themes I have ever heard in my life. And it suited the movie. I remember when I first saw this movie, being really disappointed that all those rich, crafted characters were just there as support for the movie when they could have built up a whole series around themselves. (I blame Sorkin for overacheiving--again.) That's why I privately think of this movie as directly related to The West Wing. A previous administration in that universe, perhaps :)
@grumpytosnowwhite The reason you think it's related to the West Wing is because it is. When Aaron Sorkin wrote The American President, he had something on the order of 4 or 5 hours of script. When they chopped it down to an acceptable movie length, the "leftovers" became fodder for the Pilot and first few episodes of The West Wing when he pitched it to NBC. It helped that he had this movie as backup on how it could work.
@Ethmae I know that - I'm a huge West Wing fan so I noticed that Sorkin wrote the movie right away. What I mean by "related" is that the supporting characters - who did almost nothing - were so memorable that it seems a shame that they only existed in that movie. So I privately imagine that they were part of a previous administration in the West Wing universe. It would have been awesome if an episode of the West Wing had a character offhandedly mention a President Shephard.
Correct if I'm wrong, but if there is a song out there called "Seed of Grain", then it is a cover of this tune; because Marc Shaiman wrote and composed this piece (and the other instrumental pieces throughout the film) originally for this film. They were then subsequently used for the promotional trailers for Saving Private Ryan and as one of the queuing tunes for Soarin' Over California.
You can go to Amazon and search for "The American President" -- that's what I did. There's an alternate version available on iTunes, if you're interested. It has vocals, and sounds very Christian. Search for "Seed of Grain" by the Clurman Singers.
They've also used this in some figure skating documentaries during the Olympics and other major competitions. I first heard it during the 98 winter games, when Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski were battling each other.
It's unfortunate that the reality of the Presidency and the day-to-day politics and governing depart so greatly from the noble concepts that are taught in textbooks.
nooyawkfun 3 months ago
it was in soo many trailers...
laamchops 4 months ago
my favorite movie soundtrack of all time. . .
jrf14032 4 months ago
"If that earns me the right to get back home to my wife, well, then... that's my mission."
adamzanzie 5 months ago
There are a few staple songs that are reused in soundtracks. Music from Shawshank Redemption, Legends of the Fall, this of course.
Soundtracks come and go, but these are timeless. thrity years from now I'll still be listening to them.
VisionofOrion 6 months ago 2
Just to clarify, the instrumental version is referred to as "Main Titles from 'The American President'" or "Theme from 'The American President'". Shaiman also produced an orchestral choral version of the song with lyrics. That version is referred to as "A Seed of Grain".
Playhouse76 8 months ago
This song was used in the trailer for Saving Private Ryan
jrs689 8 months ago
i searched for this is because i heard it on the 58th prime emmys durning the in memoriam segment. i'm so glad it's on here.
chris97951 9 months ago
I FINALLY FOUNDED :')
tonilerma 1 year ago
I somehow think that this score it written by Thomas Newman everytime I listen to it. but its not. but the orchestration is very Newman-esque (sounds like Shawshank here and there) - anyway good work by Shaiman!
PeterKneter1 1 year ago
thanks for posting this! I read it was used at Regan's funeral/memorial.
urbanfantasyfan 1 year ago
@urbanfantasyfan They definitely used it on the news as his plane was taking off for California, no matter your politics tears were streaming down my face!
100rrh 1 year ago
@100rrh Hey, I'm no longer a Republican, but a decent composer who just finished a video using this for opening & closing credits (my first video edting) for a memorial honoring my family's fallen Marines, and have choked-up some 30 times over the past 3 weeks due to this composition. Just beautiful!
laaxe 1 year ago
This is such a beautiful theme song. I've been trying to find words to put it in. With more than a hint of grandeur. Classy, so fitting for a movie called American President. This theme music has been used in various places, I noticed. Thank you for the posting.
nooyawkfun 1 year ago
This is the saving private ryan trailer music!!!!
thedoctor2199 1 year ago
Many thanks PureDanceBiscuit for this gem! Last year just after Obama took office saw this wonderful movie on train from Seattle to Portland, and it really moved me!
Highlander542 1 year ago
For those who don't know, this was scored by Marc Shaiman. One of the great melodists of his generation, and a master of tonal harmonic movement. His attention to every voice within the orchestra is evident here in the counter lines of the horns and woodwinds. The voice leading is flawless and the orchestration sublime. This is a shining example of taking a rather simple musical gesture and masterfully manipulating the orchestra to show all that it can say, in eloquent style and variety.
yisacknayrabin 2 years ago 2
@yisacknayrabin Actually, shaiman didn't orchestrate and score this piece. It was orchestrated by Jeff Atmajian. I know this because I have the score...
oklahomma 1 year ago
@oklahomma Check out Marc's sketch mate, it's all there. Jeff is a colleague of mine, he'll tell you the same. Orchestrators are used on every film project whether a composer can write or not. In the case of someone like Hans it's because he can't. In the case of cats on the level of a Williams, Goldsmith, or Shaiman...it's because you've got two weeks to turn around 120 minutes of music.
yisacknayrabin 1 year ago
@yisacknayrabin Agreed on Hans Zimmer. The other thing is the Avatar soundtrack by Horner. He had what, a year? Imagine what Williams or Shaiman, or Silvestri could have done with a year to work on one score haha
oklahomma 1 year ago
This is really one of the most amazing movie themes I have ever heard in my life. And it suited the movie. I remember when I first saw this movie, being really disappointed that all those rich, crafted characters were just there as support for the movie when they could have built up a whole series around themselves. (I blame Sorkin for overacheiving--again.) That's why I privately think of this movie as directly related to The West Wing. A previous administration in that universe, perhaps :)
grumpytosnowwhite 2 years ago
@grumpytosnowwhite The reason you think it's related to the West Wing is because it is. When Aaron Sorkin wrote The American President, he had something on the order of 4 or 5 hours of script. When they chopped it down to an acceptable movie length, the "leftovers" became fodder for the Pilot and first few episodes of The West Wing when he pitched it to NBC. It helped that he had this movie as backup on how it could work.
Ethmae 1 year ago
@Ethmae I know that - I'm a huge West Wing fan so I noticed that Sorkin wrote the movie right away. What I mean by "related" is that the supporting characters - who did almost nothing - were so memorable that it seems a shame that they only existed in that movie. So I privately imagine that they were part of a previous administration in the West Wing universe. It would have been awesome if an episode of the West Wing had a character offhandedly mention a President Shephard.
grumpytosnowwhite 1 year ago
Correct if I'm wrong, but if there is a song out there called "Seed of Grain", then it is a cover of this tune; because Marc Shaiman wrote and composed this piece (and the other instrumental pieces throughout the film) originally for this film. They were then subsequently used for the promotional trailers for Saving Private Ryan and as one of the queuing tunes for Soarin' Over California.
hempyexxy 2 years ago 3
anyone know where i can get it? limewire? itunes? wat should i put in the search bar to find it?
Haflor 2 years ago 2
You can go to Amazon and search for "The American President" -- that's what I did. There's an alternate version available on iTunes, if you're interested. It has vocals, and sounds very Christian. Search for "Seed of Grain" by the Clurman Singers.
ErikNikolai 2 years ago
Considering the title of this video is "American President Main Title", I might try that. Fucking obnoxious people....
bababooey2002000 2 years ago
Very similar to John Williams '' JFK suite '' and just as moving
thanks you !
luxyaltz219 2 years ago 4
Unfortunately, I can't think of a single modern-day President worthy of this theme.
ErikNikolai 2 years ago
Agreed... I'd include most in the past. too. The truth is, politicians of any era aren't really worth being the subjects of such adoration.
usedbymyusername 1 year ago
Haha, I love this piece. The horn swell at 1:40 is intense.
My marching band has this as the ballad for this season's show. It's pretty intense.
EthanTheDilts 2 years ago 2
just so you know this song is called "A Seed of Grain"!
yotusi8aol 2 years ago 8
Thank you, I've been wondering for an eternity what this song was called!
audgeyp 2 years ago
This is one my favorite movie themes of all time. I really wish I would man up and just buy this soundtrack.
meh1310 2 years ago 2
They've also used this in some figure skating documentaries during the Olympics and other major competitions. I first heard it during the 98 winter games, when Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski were battling each other.
disgrl4 3 years ago
I'm so pissed that I lost this soundtrack :(
oehieze 3 years ago
they use this song in Soarin' in Disneyworld
DonCorleone87 3 years ago 11
Yes, they do and I now I finally know what it is called!!!
Shelled 2 years ago
@DonCorleone87 They play it at California Adventures in Soarin' too!!
szeretetesbeke 9 months ago
@szeretetesbeke of course!! My favorite Soarin' in DCA!! :D haha
DonCorleone87 9 months ago
@DonCorleone87 what!? do they really?
blowtrabajo 8 months ago
It's also the music theme of Saving Private Ryan official movie trailer. Best theme ever. Thank you
dellniquet 3 years ago 2