"Visions are worth fighting for."

For a long while, I've noticed something unusual about a particular piece of music in Howard Shore's score for Ed Wood.

The piece (on the soundtrack) is called "Ed Takes Control". The strange thing is...just how damned patriotic it sounds (and now, the Fourth of July connection comes into play).

It starts with a combo of portentous horns and militaristic snare drums, seemingly heralding the arrival of a soldier come home from war. Bells and winds follow, upholding the parade-like feeling. The snare drums continue as the film's love theme (at about 1:26) works its way in. The horns and drums resume, now joined by a pipe organ. The melody can't be stopped or slowed down, not even by the opening narration of Plan Nine from Outer Space ("We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives!").

BTW, I may be one of the few people not bothered by the presence of dialogue on the CD. It's amusing stuff, quoted (and/or adapted) from Ed Wood's films.

A little peculiar, but I think that the piece inspires true emotion for and love of this country. It's even weirder when you consider that it was written by a Canadian and performed by Brits.