Really Serious

"Coming to America" chart - my first major film score

After receiving an original poster from the film "Coming to America" as a Christmas present, I had a flood of memories. It was the first major motion picture that I ever scored and one of the greatest experiences of my life.

The movie was challenging and fun because I had to use a wide range of styles to convey the film's comedic messages. When doing comedy, I believe the music has to be Really Serious.

Actor Paul Bates sang "She's Your Queen to Be" and ended with a deadpan Serious face. The high falsetto voice coming from the hefty Bates made it even more funny.

In one of the film's scenes, Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Halls' characters are watching a TV commercial which prompts one of them to change his hairstyle. This "Soul-Glo" moment is seriously funny.

In order for "The Royal Penis is Clean Your Highness" to work as a punchline, the setup music had to be Really Serious.

"The royal penis is clean, your Highness"

 

Semmi and Akeem watching the Soul-Glo commercial

Oha singing "She's Your Queen to Be"