March Madness March of the Day: "Monster Battle March (Main Title)" from Invasion of the Astro-Monster by Akira Ifukube

Invasion of the Astro-Monster director Eiji Tsuburaya tells Godzilla to stop indicating and be less plastic.
(Photo source: Rapsodie Japonaise--The Akira Ifukube Blog)

This one's for any Godzilla fan. Unlike say, Tracy Morgan, I'm not much into Godzilla movies, but as someone who's a fan of the 2006 Korean monster movie The Host, I can understand why some of my listeners in the past were so enthusiastic about Godzilla flicks and would request to hear themes from those films. Out of all the Akira Ifukube marches I've heard from Godzilla score compilations, "Monster Battle March" from Invasion of the Astro-Monster, a.k.a. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero, is the best-sounding one.

Is it me or do Ifukube's Godzilla scores sound more like Jewish monster movie music than Japanese monster movie music? I keep expecting Godzilla to dance the hora.


All the other "March Madness March of the Day" posts from this week:
"Stripes March" by Elmer Bernstein
"Main Title" from Batman by Danny Elfman
"Fruit of Islam" from Malcolm X by Terence Blanchard
"Washington Ending & Raiders March" from Raiders of the Lost Ark by John Williams

AFOS: "Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives" playlist

1. Michael Giacchino, "Roar!" (from Cloverfield), Little Jacket Music, Inc.
2. Akira Ifukube, "Godzilla Main Title" (from Godzilla), The Best of Godzilla 1954-1975, GNP/Crescendo
3. Akira Ifukube, "Four Monsters Attack Tokyo" (from Destroy All Monsters), The Best of Godzilla 1954-1975, GNP/Crescendo
4. Akira Ifukube, "Ending Title" (from Godzilla vs. Destoroyah), The Best of Godzilla 1984-1995, GNP/Crescendo
5. Takayuki Hattori, "Godzilla Roars/Godzilla's Theme: 2000 Millennium," Godzilla 2000: Millennium, GNP/Crescendo
6. Max Steiner, "Main Title," King Kong, Turner Classic Movies Music/Rhino Movie Music
7. The Radio Symphony Orchestra of Cracow, "Main Title" (from The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms), Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits Vol. 3: The Uninvited, TVT
8. The Radio Symphony Orchestra of Cracow, "Main Title" (from Them!), Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits Vol. 3: The Uninvited, TVT
9. Jerry Goldsmith, "Parker's Death," Alien: Complete Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Intrada
10. Alan Silvestri, "Main Title" (from Predator), Sci-Fi's Greatest Hits Vol. 3: The Uninvited, TVT
11. Dimitri Tiomkin, "Main Title" (from The Thing from Another World), The Thing from Another World/Take the High Ground!, Film Score Monthly
12. Ennio Morricone, "Humanity (Part II)," The Thing, Varèse Sarabande
13. Byeong Woo Lee, "Sudden Attack in Broad Daylight," The Host, Milan
14. Byeong Woo Lee, "Hyun Suh!," The Host, Milan
15. Mel Tormé, "Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives" (from Daffy Duck's Quackbusters), Mel Tormé at the Movies, Rhino
16. Jerry Goldsmith, "Gremlin Credits" (from Gremlins 2: The New Batch), Hollywood Soundstage: Big Movie Hits Volume 1, Varèse Sarabande