Silvestri grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and attended Teaneck High School. He went to Berklee College of Music for 2 years and is of Italian descent.
Silvestri started his film/television composing career in 1972 at age 21, composing the score for the low-budget action film The Doberman Gang.
From 1977 to 1983, Silvestri served as the main composer for the TV show CHiPs, writing music for 109 of the show's 139 episodes.
Silvestri met director Robert Zemeckis when the two worked together on Zemeckis's 1984 film Romancing the Stone. Since then, Silvestri has composed the music for all of Zemeckis's movies, including the Back to the Future trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Death Becomes Her (1992), Forrest Gump (1994), Contact (1997), Cast Away (2000), The Polar Express (2004), Beowulf (2007), A Christmas Carol (2009), and Flight (2012).
Silvestri is also known for his work on Predator (1987) and Predator 2 (1990), both of which are considered preeminent examples of action/science fiction film scores. Since 2001, Silvestri has also collaborated regularly with director Stephen Sommers, scoring the films The Mummy Returns in 2001, Van Helsing in 2004, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra in 2009. His most recent work includes Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011, The Avengers in 2012 and The Croods in 2013.
Silvestri has also composed music for television shows, including T.J. Hooker (one episode), Starsky & Hutch (three episodes), Tales From The Crypt (seven episodes) and Manimal (five episodes).
In 2013, the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps used portions of the theme from The Abyss as the ballad in their 2013 Drum Corps International World Championship-winning show "E=MC2".
On 31 January 2014, it was announced that a stage musical adaptation of Back to the Future was in production. The show, which is being co-written by original writers Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, is expected to be performed in 2015, on the 30th anniversary year of the film. Silvestri will team up with Glen Ballard to compose a new score, with the addition of original songs from the film, including "The Power of Love", "Johnny B. Goode", "Earth Angel" and "Mr. Sandman".
Silvestri owns a vineyard, Silvestri Vineyards, located in Carmel Valley, California.
Silvestri has received two Academy Award nominations, one for Best Original Score for Forrest Gump (1994) and one for Best Original Song for "Believe" on The Polar Express soundtrack. He also received two Golden Globe nominations: Best Score for Forrest Gump and Best Song for The Polar Express.
He has also received four Grammy Award nominations, winning two awards – Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, for "Believe" from The Polar Express in 2004 and Best Instrumental Composition, for "Cast Away End Credits" from Cast Away in 2002. His other nomination was for Best Soundtrack Album, for Back to the Future. During the 2005 Grammys, Josh Groban performed "Believe."
He has won the Saturn Award for Best Music three times, for his scores for Predator (1987), Back to the Future Part III (1989/90) and Van Helsing (2004).
On September 23, 2011, he was awarded with the Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award by the City of Vienna at the yearly film music gala concert Hollywood in Vienna.
These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
Alan Silvestri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something you call love but confess
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
And now someone else is getting all your best
These boots are made for walking
And that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'
Now what's right is right but you ain't been right yet
These boots are made for walking
And that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt (HAH)
I just found me a brand new box of matches (YEAH)
And what he knows you ain't had time to learn
These boots are made for walking,
And that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
Are you ready, boots? Start walkin'
The song "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Alan Silvestri is a classic example of a woman standing up to a man who has been deceiving and betraying her. The song starts with the woman talking to her partner, who claims to love her, but she knows that he has been unfaithful. The woman warns him that he has been "a'messin'" around where he shouldn't have been, and now someone else is getting his best. The woman is standing up for herself and asserting that she won't tolerate this behavior any longer.
The chorus of the song is a repeated refrain of "these boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do. One of these days, these boots are gonna walk all over you." The boots in this context represent the woman's newfound sense of empowerment and independence - she is ready to leave and take control of her life.
The second verse reminds the man that he has been lying and losing, and that he should be changing his ways. The woman knows that what is right is right, and he hasn't been right yet. The third verse builds on this idea and warns the man that he's playing with fire. She has found a new box of matches, and he shouldn't underestimate what she's capable of.
Overall, the lyrics of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" convey a powerful message of female empowerment and standing up for oneself. The woman is not afraid to speak her mind and take control of her life, even if it means leaving behind someone she once loved.
Line by Line Meaning
You keep saying you got something for me
You keep making promises of love, but can't keep up with your words
Something you call love but confess
You claim it's love but seem to doubt it yourself
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
You've been meddling in things you shouldn't have
And now someone else is getting all your best
Someone else is getting the love you promised me
These boots are made for walking
My boots represent my power and independence
And that's just what they'll do
I will use my power to stand up for myself
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
One day you'll realize the mistake you've made and I will have the upper hand
You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You continue to lie instead of being honest
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
You keep taking risks that you shouldn't be taking
You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'
You're staying the same when you should be evolving and improving yourself
Now what's right is right but you ain't been right yet
You know what's right, but you're not living up to it
You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
You keep engaging in activities that aren't good for you or our relationship
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt (HAH)
You keep taking risks and don't seem to be worried about the consequences
I just found me a brand new box of matches (YEAH)
I'm ready to take control of the situation and make necessary changes
And what he knows you ain't had time to learn
The other person I'm involved with has taught me things you haven't
Are you ready, boots? Start walkin'
I'm ready to move on from this toxic relationship and start living my life without you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEE HAZLEWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind