New Interview with Mark Menza - Composer of Dragon Ball GT

[DerekPadula]

Hi everybody. I have an interview with Mark Menza tomorrow morning at 8 am PST (Feb 21, 2012). I'm sure you know who Mark is... Composer of GT, added music to a few DBZ films, etc.

Have any questions you'd like answered? You have until that time tomorrow to post them here. The sooner the better so I can finalize my list.

Thanks!

[Ringworm128]

Can you ask him what he enjoyed working on more, GT or the movies? Also does he know who did the rapping for the GT opening? Also tell him he's a good composer and that its easy to get his music stuck in your head.

[Perfect]

I'd like to know how feels about the skepticism of how his work from all the DBZ fans out there and how he feels he music compared to the original score.

[dbboxkaifan]

Hi everybody. I have an interview with Mark Menza tomorrow morning at 8 am PST (Feb 21, 2012). I'm sure you know who Mark is... Composer of GT.

American Dragon Ball GT composer, just to be clear.

My question is, will Menza's GT Soundtrack ever be released on CD?

I did enjoy his replacement soundtrack for Dragon Ball GT, and it did have silence moments.

DBGT NEPs with Menza's music is pretty good too.

[DerekPadula]

Thanks, I'll add these to the list.

DBGT NEPs with Menza's music is pretty good too.

What does NEP stand for?

[Perfect]

Next episode preview.

[xzero]

To the extent that he can answer, how much of the GT music direction was his own creative decision rather than corporate directives?

[cRookie_Monster]

I heard he was asked to not listen to the Faulconer music at all. That might be cool to ask about.

[DerekPadula]

Hey Scott. I'll definitely ask him that one! All the others too. Thanks guys, working on the list right now. Keep 'em coming.

[kei17]

I'd like to know whether he listened to the original Japanese score before he composed his one, and whether he wants to get involved in the DB franchise again or not.

[dbboxkaifan]

Padula, how did the interview go?

[DerekPadula]

Padula, how did the interview go?

Very well! The first part just went up a few seconds ago!

http://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/inte ... ew-part-1/

Get it while it's hot!

[dbboxkaifan]

GT’s music by FUNimation staff, the chances for a Dragon Ball GT album

yay!

Never seen a photo of Menza, but he looks like a pretty cool old guy. Remind me of Bebi Vegeta for some reason...

[DerekPadula]

Yeah, he was very nice. Gave me a whole new perspective on the guy, because I really disliked his GT music when the series first came out.

After working on this interview and repeatedly listening to the soundtrack, I realize it wasn't his fault and the music isn't actually all that bad by itself. It's just that it wasn't right for the series as a whole. In my opinion the music didn't fit the tone of the original animation, so there was always an emotional disconnect. But as you can read in the interview, he did what the producers wanted him to do. Namely Barry Watson. And a lot of people like it. GT was a financial success in America, so they clearly made a smart business decision.

Also, I tried to ask most of the questions you guys wanted answered. So if you don't see it here, look for it in Part 2, soon.

[Attitudefan]

Menza seems like a really awesome guy! I feel so bad for all the harassment the gets It makes me feel so bad

[Gonstead]

I really can't hate on the music in Funimaton's GT Soundtrack. Sure, it can be a little bit bland at times but I wouldn't have a problem watching it with the English dub if I chose to again.

Probably one of my favourite Menza-Music moments was from this scene - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXBrmlcADJA

[xzero]

Even as someone who doesn't care much for the GT soundtrack due to its repetitive nature, there's nothing inherently wrong with it other than the fact that it doesn't fit the show. I do have to disagree with him on one point, though. He noted that generally people always like the way they first were exposed to something, implying that Japanese fans will like the original score and dub fans will like the dub score if that's what they saw first. That arguably applies to DBZ, but, at least in my case, it totally doesn't apply to GT. The Japanese score is perfect for GT, and this comes from a person who watched all of one episode of DBGT subbed before watching the dub in its entirety. The Green Brick sets were a godsend for GT for the music reason alone.

All the same, from reading this part of the interview, Menza seems like a really nice guy (and a really competent musician). I look forward to part 2.

[KingofWisdom]

I honestly don't even like the Menza score as standalone music, but regardless, I like the interview so far and seeing him talk about how it happened.

[cRookie_Monster]

Nice job!!

Hehe the schedule and transition problems are exactly the issues we had as well. It's nice to hear confirmation that the nonstop music decree really was from Funimation, hardcore. I always had a little bit of doubt.

It's an insane thing to have to do...transition after transition...so awkward.


oh and btw I actually modded one of my guitars to have the pickups he mentions (Seymour Duncans)..and of course you use the bridge position ^^

Oh but mine's not the split Jeff Beck model. Mine's a specific 7string one, for my Ibanez.

[DerekPadula]

Nice job!!

Thanks, Scott!

During the interview I mentioned your name while we were talking about Bruce Faulconer. He said he hadn't heard your name before, but he did know Mike Smith. Mike had come by his studio looking to be hired as an assistant after his days with Bruce came to an end. Mark felt he was still a little bit green, and didn't have the budget at the time anyway. But he said he was "a super nice guy."

I'm not sure if I'll include that bit in Part 2 of the interview, so I just thought I'd tell you directly.