The Music of Iron Chef Japan, Part III
by William “Blissey” Raymer
In this installment, I will focus on still more movies who contributed music to the original Japanese and Food Network U.S.-dubbed versions of our obsession.
A word of notation before I begin: I do not own the majority of the soundtracks you’re about to see listed here. Therefore, I may not know which particular cue goes with which usage and the exact length of the track used in each case. If you recognize which cues I reference, e-mail me at Blissey01@yahoo.com.
CONFRONT 3: EVEN MORE MOVIE MUSIC
I’d like to thank Keith Brock (you know him as “tuthead”) for providing me with the music list from the late and lamented ironchef.com website, which I used as research material for this article.
First up is Mulan, the 1998 Disney film (and number 36 on the company’s list of “Official Canon” animated features). Composed and conducted by the late Jerry Goldsmith, the soundtrack contributed various cues for episodes in the latter year-and-a-half of Iron Chef’s run. (Click Here to purchase this soundtrack.)
Most noted of these is the “Suite from Mulan” (Track 6 on the Walt Disney Records soundtrack album), which was used during the original U.S. version of the 2000th Plate Special (ICC episode number 631) in a recap of the 1994 Prawn Battle between Iron Chef Chinese Chen Kenichi and challenger Takashi Saito (ICC episode number 238). The recap was shown as part of the “Chairman’s Top 5” dishes countdown, whose Number 1 was Iron Chef Chen’s version of his father Chen Kenmin’s famous Prawns in Chili Sauce.
Three other scores composed by Jerry Goldsmith made their way to Kitchen Stadium as well.
- U.S. Marshals—used during the introduction of the 1999 Spiny Lobster Battle between Iron Chef Chen and Grand Chef Xie Huaxian of Hei Chin Rou (ICC episode number 701); (Click Here to purchase this soundtrack.)
- Air Force One—used in the 21st Century Battle (ICC episode number 901); (Click Here to purchase this soundtrack.)
- First Knight—used during the 1999 Stingray Battle between Iron Chef French II Hiroyuki Sakai and challenger Yoshihide Koga (ICC episode number 732). (Click Here to purchase this soundtrack.)
A movie whose music was only used in the original English dubbed version of Iron Chef was Akira, the 1988 anime classic. (Click Here to purchase this soundtrack.) Composed by Tsutomu Oohashi (under his pseudonym Shoji Yamashiro) and performed by his ensemble, the Geinoh Yamashirogumi, the Akira soundtrack contributed a cue here described in the list from the late ironchef.com: “Akira” Soundtrack – “Requiem” (track 10) The gong that is heard as we see the chef and challenger are pictured facing each other after the commercial break before the dishes are presented again and before judging is from the anime movie is from seconds 20 to 28 of track 10. This footage is seen in the International Iron Chef seen on the Food Network.
- Gong Excerpt
- Full Track
4TH CONFRONT: OTHER MEDIA, PART 1 Three more anime shows/movies had music used on Iron Chef—specifically, in the New York Battle (ICC episode number 802). These cues, all composed by Yoko Kanno (Yoko Kanno Amazon Store), were used in various places during the New York Battle special.
- “Flying Dragon” (from Escaflowne-Purchase Soundtrack)
- “Break out/Cantabile” (from Macross Plus – Purchase Soundtrack)
- “My Little Pony” (Brain Powerd - Purchase Soundtrack)
- “Home” (Brain Powerd - Purchase Soundtrack)
- “Power of the Light” (from Brain Powerd – Purchase Soundtrack)
The 1986 musical Variations, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, gives us the original ascension music of Iron Chef Italian Masahiko Kobe. (Click Here to purchase this soundtrack.)
Here’s the description from the ironchef.com list:
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Variations” – Used for Kobe’s introduction music. The Song & Dance musical, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, features singing in act one and dancing in act two. Since act two is just instrumental, it will sometimes be sold separately from the singing portion of the musical. Such is the case for the recording used on the show. The instrumental music is on a CD entitled “Variations” (Philips label, released 1986). Track 11, approx 2:27 – 2:57, is Kobe’s music.
- Variations 22-23 (Kobe Excerpt)
- Variations 22-23 (Full Track)
When Iron Chef Kobe’s music was replaced for post-2001 airings of the show on Food Network, it was changed to a cue from the anime series The Big O. This cue, entitled “Stoning” (composed by Toshihiko Sahashi) would be used until the music of Iron Chef was totally replaced for post-2008 airings of Iron Chef on the U.S. cable channel Fine Living Network (check out the “Fine Living Version” of the 1998 Mango Battle between Iron Chef Kobe and challenger Yousei Watanabe [ICC episode number 615-B] for an example of the new music).
- Stoning (from The Big O)
Finally on our itinerary this time is the 1996 Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire media initiative. The soundtrack inspired by the novel and later used in the videogame (composed and conducted by Joel McNeely based on original thematic material composed by John Williams) would contribute two cues (“Imperial City” and “The Destruction of Xizor’s Palace”) to the opening sequence of the U.S. version of the 21st Century Battle (ICC episode number 901).
Both of the Shadows of the Empire cues I just mentioned can be downloaded from Joel McNeely’s official website, which you can find here.
According to some reports, a theme from some incarnation of the Star Trek franchise was used in the original Japanese opening of the 21st Century Battle (and was subsequently replaced in the U.S. by the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire music). However, since I have not seen the OJV of the 21st Century Battle as of the date this article was written, I cannot comment on this myself.
Anyone who has a tape of the OJV (Original Japanese Version) of the 21st Century Battle, please send me an MP3 or video file of the opening at the e-mail address above. If I can correctly identify the Star Trek theme in question, I will properly credit you in a revision of this article.
In our last episode, we’ll wrap up our look at miscellaneous cues not mentioned up to this point.
William “Blissey” Raymer
Yuma, Arizona USA
15 September 2009
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:59 am
Again, very nice work. Very informative. Prior to reading this, I didn’t know that they sometimes used different music for the Japanese and U.S. versions. I did know, though, that they changed some music in the later Food Network years presumably due to copyright infringment.
Do you happen to know the name of the individual(s) who’s job it was to select music for the show? I would assume it would be in the Japanese credits somewhere. Whoever they are, they have very good taste and I wonder if they’ve worked on anything else.
If I may make a suggestion, you should add the track “Prism” from the second Brain Powerd soundtrack (OST 2) seeing as they use it in quite a few episodes. I also remember that they used, from the first OST, some of the music from the track “Run” at some point. I don’t remember which episode it was but the track “Chemical Dance” was also used starting 30 seconds in when they were showing a short montage of some of the worst prepared dishes in Kitchen Stadium history. I know this is very general information lacking episode numbers and what not, but when I have a chance to re-watch some episodes again, I plan to take notes on anything I recognize that you may not have documented yet. And if you’d like, I’ll send you my findings.
Have you thought about taking questions to identify certain cues that are more obscure as part of your project? I don’t know how many people will participate besides me, but I thought it might be kind of neat. For example, do you know what music plays during the first 1:40 of the France Battle Special? For the life of me I can’t figure it out.
Anyways, sorry for kind of rambling on and again, great job.
-Ryan
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:03 am
Hey Ryan,
No apologies for the long comment. It’s great to see people excited about Iron Chef.
In the process of acquiring the clips for this post, I did get my hands on Brain Powerd OST2. When I get home tonight, I’ll see if I recognize any of those tracks you mentioned.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Gday, Thanks for your work!!!
Does anyone know the name of the Iron Chef rising theme? When he summons them? You list it as “Charging_Fort_Wagner” but it doesn’t really sound like that… it only goes for like 20 seconds…? Some have said its called Yomegeru but I cant find that anywhere on the Internet. PLEASE help!
December 8th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Also, does anyone know the piano music that plays just before the verdict is announced? This is when the commentator is talking and the camera pans back. It is really cool!
December 8th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I don’t think we have ever found the music Food Network used to replace Fort Wagner as the rise music.
I think there were two piano pieces that were used for the pre-verdict scene. (One that is more staccato, and one that is more sustained.) I know I have at least one of the piano pieces somewhere at home, but I can’t think of the title right now. I think it’s part of a Michael Nyman piece.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Hello there… first of all, I’d like to say that I am just thankful that someone out there still cares for us who want to see everything about Iron Chef. It’s definitely an awesome show…
What I wanted to know was the artist and title of that one piano track that they usually play when showing dishes of challengers usually from Kyoto. Um, I’ll try to come up with the exact episode and the exact time it plays, but if you can come up with something from that, it would be nice… I find it very calming, and it just makes me want to go there!
Thanks! God bless you!
December 10th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I was referring to the Piano Track played at around 4:20, during the introduction of the challenger on the Natto Battle, Michiba vs Ishikawa. It just sounds so calming and cool…
December 11th, 2009 at 1:13 am
Damian,
If you can get your hands on the Two Zeds and a Naught soundtrack by Michael Nyman, listen to the first 30 seconds of track 11. It is the staccato piano track used right before the announcement of the winner.
(I’m pretty sure there will be a Music of Iron Chef, Part 4, so I’ll make sure it goes in there if you don’t have it.)
December 12th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Re: Comment 8 by tuthead:
There WILL be a “Music of Iron Chef, Part 4: The Final Confront,” in which I will list most, if not all of the music I have not brought up so far.
So, if it hasn’t been mentioned in Parts 1-3, it will be in Part 4.
It’s just that I will need a lot of time for research, so it might not be ready before the new year. Thank you for your understanding.
December 21st, 2009 at 2:11 am
Thanks for the info!
tuthead: I found that A Zed And Two Noughts soundtrack by Michael Nyman, but Track 11 isnt it.. its a deeper piano sound, but it is similar… perhaps you can please email me your version?
NeoBlisseyX: I really appreciate your work, but is it possible to perhaps email me the details of that rising song? I’m making a movie of the Iron chef with some friends and would *love* to have all the original music! The “pre-verdict” and “rising” are the only pieces I’m missing.
Thanks for your help!!
December 21st, 2009 at 9:55 am
The Nyman piece is one of two they use. Compare the first 20 or so seconds of track 11 to the pre-announcement part of episode 629 (Peach), and you will hear that they are the same.
I will send you my track when I get home just in case it is different from yours. As far as the lower, more sustained piece, I do not know its source.