DBZ just isn't the same...

[Kroni_Hunter]

My bad, fixed the link.

[caejones]

It may have been a minor scene, but it did have a significance. It was really the first time we could see the Z fighters fighting against the Freeza saga level warriors. It shows how much the Z fighters have improved and an enemy that would have maybe caused them a lot of trouble before was completely insignificant now. The fact that it was with Vegeta made it even more significant. He spent his whole life following those type of people and trying to become superior to Freeza and his henchman. Here we finally get to see that as a reality.

Oh, totally agree; it's just not the most dramatic battle in the series, so I can see why the bgm in both versions got less attention than it could have.
(Something about the FUNi score that bugs me is how themes that have a rather strong association with a specific scene get used elsewhere simply for lack of something more appropiate ... I'm thinking just about every version of everything has the same problem, though. . I really noticed this s- during the Vegetto fight... no new stuff, just a bunch of dramatic character themes we haven't heard in a while thrown together... Hmm.)

[Kroni_Hunter]

You gotta point there. The original scene for that was the SSJ Vegeta fight against 19, which was extremely significant for Vegeta's character.

[verto]

I have to agree with Kroni on both of those scenes, the English score fit much better.

[caejones]

Japanese SSJ Transformation:
Oh, good grief... the sound quality ruins the whole thing. I'm going to go ahead and guess that the equipment used to record that was the same equipment used in DB Episode1. T.T
I think if the same song were redone with the exact same notes, dynamics, Etc, but as few as two years later with better equipment, it'd be epicly awesome.
Not that there aren't parts that seemed weak. Like that first... 'DCD...' bit... weh. (And WTFish is up with Nozawa's first scream? Not the monstrous one, but the one that sounds like Dende in Sagas... o.o).

This brings up a question... what sort of equipment was used in recording the differing scores, and was it ever upgraded or otherwise modified? Just in the two clips that Croni_hunter posted comparisons for (PuiPui Vs Vegeta and Goku's Transformation), the difference in recording quality and style is mega apparent.
meanwhile the Faulconer score had consistent soundquality (regardless of the quality in the music itself).
I think the music itself in the Japanese SSJ transformation wins stylistically, but that aweful recording quality that sounds outdated even in the 1989-1991 timeframe kills it.

[Onikage725]

For younger generations, Funi's music is more modern than it's Japanese counterpart that was composed in the previous decade.
I am from the generation that enjoyed lots of cartoons with similar soundtrack as heard in Dragonball. So I can tolerate it.
But if you watch the shows for the kids today, they all have more or less modern music, a lot different than the music we heard in my generation.

I'm gonna call bull on this one (with no offense meant to you). Cartoons at the time of DBZ tended to have decent scores, aside from the throw away ones. For example, Batman: The Animated Series, and the DC shows that followed (Superman, Batman/Superman, JLA, etc) had anything but that type of soundtrack. Likewise, 4Kids programs and stuff on Jetix (or whatever it is now of days) doesn't seem to automatically try to over-rock or synth their shows, with some exceptions. But even if their are a number of US shows doing it now, the current US anime market supports just the opposite. You either get the original score, or you get a shitty kiddified saturday morning dub with a cheery soundtrack.

I think Levy was just trying to fill the void. It just seems like a placeholder. It didn't stand out at all. I think Faulconer was trying to channel Vince DiCola, and failed at it.

[Super Sonic]

As I recall, Levy did write some of the best cartoon themes of the 80s along with some music.

Have to say Onikage, what you mentioned reminded me of question I thought of making a thread to, but not sure. If f the dub had original songs that weren't just instrumentals, think the dub music would've been been remembered more fondly like how others like Pokemon, Sailor Moon, and Digimon's original songs are? And heck, outside the One Piece rap, 4Kids teneded to make better dub themes than their dubs.

[laserkid]

Among other things Shuki Levy wrote the theme for the 1980s He Man theme. So yes, Shuki Levy knew how to make music and it shows.

While I still preffer the Japanese original, the Shuki Levy score on the first dub of seasons 1 and 2 did not ever offend my senses the way the Falconer score often does.

[caejones]

Among other things Shuki Levy wrote the theme for the 1980s He Man theme. So yes, Shuki Levy knew how to make music and it shows.

While I still preffer the Japanese original, the Shuki Levy score on the first dub of seasons 1 and 2 did not ever offend my senses the way the Falconer score often does.

Hm.

I think the Levy score works better than those that came after it in terms of the modified-but-not-overdone tone, but it certainly has the "two songs" and "generic" and "not really casual listening music" strikes against it.
Whereas the Faulconer score is the sort of thing that has music that works as both background for events as well as just plain music.
There are pieces of the Japanese score that seem capable of both, but I'm not so sure all the way through by virtue of lack of experience. D:

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

I'm gonna call bull on this one (with no offense meant to you). Cartoons at the time of DBZ tended to have decent scores, aside from the throw away ones. For example, Batman: The Animated Series, and the DC shows that followed (Superman, Batman/Superman, JLA, etc) had anything but that type of soundtrack. Likewise, 4Kids programs and stuff on Jetix (or whatever it is now of days) doesn't seem to automatically try to over-rock or synth their shows, with some exceptions. But even if their are a number of US shows doing it now, the current US anime market supports just the opposite. You either get the original score, or you get a shitty kiddified saturday morning dub with a cheery soundtrack.

I think Levy was just trying to fill the void. It just seems like a placeholder. It didn't stand out at all. I think Faulconer was trying to channel Vince DiCola, and failed at it.

The difference with Batman the animated series and other cartoons was the fact that this show was aimed at an older audience. It wasn't your typical cartoon for kids. It was aimed for older comic book fans and fans of the movie in the 80's. Bruce Timm hired Danny Elfman(the man who orchestrated the movie sound tracks) to do the soundtrack for the show. Shows done by Bruce Timm stand out from the typical moldings. A lot of WB show of this same time period used zanny theme songs that fit the mood of the show.(Animaniac's and Freakazoid for example).

Dragonball(the DUB) took from the standard mentality of most shows from today and the late 80s in America(The 90's did something different, they were really original). Most shows use popular styles of music when it comes to righting the theme song. Now a days you can here hip-hop or whiney teen music in kids cartoons(Finius and Fuurb come to mind...if I spelled that right) and in the 80's the typical sound was a more hair metal sound.

Personally I think Falconer did a good job with his music. The original soundtrack was fitting for its time but like someone pointed out in some cases it really doesn't fit. To be honest As it stands I'm really liking Kai's music the best. The scene where Vegeta kills Nappa and the Trumpet plays like something out of The Godfather really was neat.

[Raki]

The scene where Vegeta kills Nappa and the Trumpet plays like something out of The Godfather really was neat.

Falcouner didn't do that scene.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

The scene where Vegeta kills Nappa and the Trumpet plays like something out of The Godfather really was neat.

Falcouner didn't do that scene.

Uhhh, I know.That's why this was followed by "I like the music in Kai the best."

[JulieYBM]

I'm gonna call bull on this one (with no offense meant to you). Cartoons at the time of DBZ tended to have decent scores, aside from the throw away ones. For example, Batman: The Animated Series, and the DC shows that followed (Superman, Batman/Superman, JLA, etc) had anything but that type of soundtrack. Likewise, 4Kids programs and stuff on Jetix (or whatever it is now of days) doesn't seem to automatically try to over-rock or synth their shows, with some exceptions. But even if their are a number of US shows doing it now, the current US anime market supports just the opposite. You either get the original score, or you get a shitty kiddified saturday morning dub with a cheery soundtrack.

I think Levy was just trying to fill the void. It just seems like a placeholder. It didn't stand out at all. I think Faulconer was trying to channel Vince DiCola, and failed at it.

The difference with Batman the animated series and other cartoons was the fact that this show was aimed at an older audience. It wasn't your typical cartoon for kids. It was aimed for older comic book fans and fans of the movie in the 80's. Bruce Timm hired Danny Elfman(the man who orchestrated the movie sound tracks) to do the soundtrack for the show. Shows done by Bruce Timm stand out from the typical moldings. A lot of WB show of this same time period used zanny theme songs that fit the mood of the show.(Animaniac's and Freakazoid for example).

Dragonball(the DUB) took from the standard mentality of most shows from today and the late 80s in America(The 90's did something different, they were really original). Most shows use popular styles of music when it comes to righting the theme song. Now a days you can here hip-hop or whiney teen music in kids cartoons(Finius and Fuurb come to mind...if I spelled that right) and in the 80's the typical sound was a more hair metal sound.

Personally I think Falconer did a good job with his music. The original soundtrack was fitting for its time but like someone pointed out in some cases it really doesn't fit. To be honest As it stands I'm really liking Kai's music the best. The scene where Vegeta kills Nappa and the Trumpet plays like something out of The Godfather really was neat.

Uh...Shirley Walker did the score to Batman--and Superman, although Elfman's theme was used for the opening and ending.

[Raki]

The scene where Vegeta kills Nappa and the Trumpet plays like something out of The Godfather really was neat.

Falcouner didn't do that scene.

Uhhh, I know.That's why this was followed by "I like the music in Kai the best."

Oh my mistake. I thought were typing about Z.

[SparkyPantsMcGee]

Uh...Shirley Walker did the score to Batman--and Superman, although Elfman's theme was used for the opening and ending.

I meant just the theme. I didn't know who did the score for the show but thanks for the info! Did she also work for JLA/Unlimited?

Oh my mistake. I thought were typing about Z.

It's ok. So far(knock on wood) Kai's music has been really good.

[JulieYBM]

Uh...Shirley Walker did the score to Batman--and Superman, although Elfman's theme was used for the opening and ending.

I meant just the theme. I didn't know who did the score for the show but thanks for the info! Did she also work for JLA/Unlimited?

Oh my mistake. I thought were typing about Z.

It's ok. So far(knock on wood) Kai's music has been really good.

No, I don't believe she did anything for JL/U, and she sadly passed a few years back.

[Onikage725]

Dragonball(the DUB) took from the standard mentality of most shows from today and the late 80s in America(The 90's did something different, they were really original). Most shows use popular styles of music when it comes to righting the theme song. Now a days you can here hip-hop or whiney teen music in kids cartoons(Finius and Fuurb come to mind...if I spelled that right) and in the 80's the typical sound was a more hair metal sound.

See, again, that lends to my point that they weren't following a modern example. If we assume that they were going for an 80's US cartoon flair, then we assume not that they were "updating" the soundtrack but rather that they were creating a parallel to what the US might have initially used had it aired simultaneously in both countries. The first dub aired in the mid-90's, and the second-current dub started in the late 90's. Also, having been a middle school - high school kid back then... I really don't remember a major movement towards cheap synth. Maybe it's a regional thing.

Personally I think Falconer did a good job with his music. The original soundtrack was fitting for its time but like someone pointed out in some cases it really doesn't fit.

This is why I mentioned quality earlier. I fully enjoy the Budokai 3 soundtrack. I used to click through tracks on the main menus of the Shin Budokai games. I also think Burst Limit has a damn fine soundtrack. Many old school fans enjoyed the Butouden soundtracks, which were faster paced than the series. Implemented well, it isn't like a rock-inspired approach to Dragon Ball has never been taken. Another example, while not my preference between the two I think Movies 5 and 8 have interesting soundtracks in the dub. Unlike some of their other attempts (I'm looking at you, Movie 4), they seemed to use a little direction in placing the songs where they would work best. The problem with the dub score is that, aside from a handful of inspired themes (which tend to lean more towards orchestral or rock arrangements and less towards the usual ear-bleeding noise) it was cheaply mass produced throw away kiddie BGM aimed at keeping kids with ADD distracted.