Music That Matters: Top 50 Movie Symphonies (#28 Rose by James Horner)

When I watch the final few minutes of Titanic, I always break down in tears because of all of the drama happening on screen. What makes these scenes even more poignant is the wonderful background music from James Horner. Most people think it is Celine Dion's voice on the musical motifs in the movie. This is actually not true. Dion did sing the theme song, "My Heart Will Go On" which was also written by James Horner using the key melody with new lyrics. Both this song and James Horner's complete score both win Academy Awards. The actual singer is Norwegian superstar, Sissel Kyrkjebo. With the soft passion that emerges from Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebo's voice over the soft flutes and violins, the song just hits me so hard. I can't remember when this actual piece of music is played during the final minutes, probably during the scene when Rose says her final goodbyes to Jack. The melody was reused in multiple sections of the film which is why I always mix the songs up. What I do know is the music is brilliant. Based on the large sales numbers of the Titanic soundtrack, the music was a major reason why Titanic became the highest grossing movie of all time. I'm sure in 1997, you could not attend a funeral or a high school dance without hearing one of James Horner's gems from Titanic.

Ladies and gentlemen.. #28 Rose from Titanic by James Horner. Since it sounds very similar and is also so magnificent, also included is the Final Dream music which is used when all of the characters reappear including Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) appear in Rose's final dream before she dies.