Throughout his prolific career, James Newton Howard has scored films of all scales and genres, earning multiple award nominations for his work. Howard began studying music as a young child and went on to attend the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California and then majored in piano performance at the University of Southern California. After Howard left college, he toured with Elton John and Toto as a keyboardist during the late 1970s and early 1980s before moving into film music in the mid-1980s.
By the 1990s, Howard truly hit his career stride, scoring the surprise blockbuster romantic comedy Pretty Woman (1990) and receiving his first Academy Award nomination for his score for Barbra Streisand's drama The Prince of Tides (1991). Setting the musical mood for numerous films throughout the decade, Howard's skills encompassed a plethora of genres, including two more best original score Oscar nominations, the Harrison Ford actioner The Fugitive (1993) and the Julia Roberts romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding. In addition, Howard scored the Western epic Wyatt Earp (1994), the legal drama Primal Fear (1996), and the blockbuster M. Night Shyamalan suspense thrillers The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable (2000), Signs (2002), and The Village (2004). His collaborations on tunes for One Fine Day (1996) and Junior (1994) garnered Best Song nods. Along with scoring such smaller, character-driven films as Five Corners (1988), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), and American Heart (1993), Howard proved equally skilled at composing for big-budget Hollywood spectacles, including Space Jam (1996), Dante's Peak (1997), Dinosaur (2000), and Collateral (2004). Although for Dante's Peak he only composed the main theme only, the score itself was composed by John Frizzell. Though he concentrated primarily on films, Howard has also contributed music for TV series, earning an Emmy nomination in 1995 for his theme to NBC's ratings smash ER.
Howard is now one of the most recognized composers for film. His work in 2004 on The Village, with violin solos by Hilary Hahn, earned him an Oscar nomination. Since, he has composed for several major motion pictures, notably the score for Batman Begins which he co-wrote with Hans Zimmer. On October 14, 2005, it was officially announced that Howard would replace Howard Shore as composer for King Kong, due to "differing creative aspirations for the score" between Shore and director Peter Jackson. The resultant score earned Howard his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Score.
Since then he has been nominated for Best Original Score for the legal thriller Michael Clayton in 2008 and the war film Defiance in 2009. Since then he has composed music for blockbuster franchises and solo films including I Am Legend,The Dark Knight with Hans Zimmer, all of The Hunger Games films and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He was nominated for another Academy Award nomination in 2021 for his work on News of the World
Where The Dream Takes You
James Newton Howard Lyrics
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They will say your wrong
But they will never understand
The journey that your on
They'll try to change your mind
They'll try to change your heart
But they will never understand Who you are
And you'll still believe
And you know, you must go
Where the dream takes you
Where your dream takes your heart
Where your heart longs to be
Your dream will lead your on
When you finally find that place
You'll find all you need
Where the dream takes you
There's something in your soul
That won't be denied
It's the faith to dream that keeps
The dream alive
So you'll still believe
And you know, you must go
Where the dream takes you
Where your dream takes your heart
Where your heart longs to be
Your dream will lead you on
When you finally find that place
You'll find all you need
Go where your heart is meant to be
And you may find somebody there
So won't you share your dream?
Where your dream takes your heart
Your dream will lead you on
When you finally find that place
You'll find all you need
Where the dream leads you
Your dream will lead you home
Where your eyes can see
Your dream will lead you on
There's a world that waits for you
Can neither hold
You'll find your home
Where the dream takes you
They'll try to change your mind
Where the dream takes you
They'll try to change your heart
Where the dream takes you
But you must go
Where the dream takes you
The lyrics to James Newton Howard's "Where The Dream Takes You" recognize the struggle that each one of us experiences when we try to follow our dreams. The opening lines acknowledge that others may doubt our decisions, saying that we are wrong, and attempting to dissuade us from pursuing the journey we have envisioned for ourselves. However, the writer asks the listener to "hold on" to their dreams, for they will eventually lead them somewhere they were always meant to be.
The song reassures the dreamer to recognize that there is something within them that will not be denied. Their faith, and willingness to dream, will keep them steadfast on their course. When they have found that place their heart longs to be, they will know that they have found all they need. In essence, the song cues the listener to have unwavering trust in their intuition and move forward on their life’s path, wherever it may take them.
Overall, the song encapsulates the idea that the real journey of life is the journey within. It is only when we trust ourselves and take risks that we are able to achieve our dreams, find happiness, and realize our true potential. Listening to the song deeply may help one remember that across all our endeavors as humans, we are capable of beauty that can come when we less expect it, and that it is important to take risks to fulfill our destinies to wherever they lead us.
Line by Line Meaning
They'll try to hold you back
People will attempt to prevent you from achieving your goals.
They will say your wrong
People will criticize and doubt your decisions and actions.
But they will never understand
Others will not comprehend your motivations or thought processes.
The journey that your on
Your individual path in life may not be comprehensible to others.
They'll try to change your mind
People will try to convince you to alter your beliefs or opinions.
They'll try to change your heart
People will attempt to manipulate or alter your emotions.
But they will never understand
Others will not be able to fully grasp your innermost emotions and feelings.
Who you are
Your true identity and character are unique and cannot be altered by others.
And you'll still believe
Despite others' attempts to dissuade you, you will maintain your faith and conviction.
And you know, you must go
You are aware of your goals and have the determination to pursue them, regardless of obstacles.
Where the dream takes you
Your aspirations and desires will guide you on a personal journey.
Where your dream takes your heart
Your passions and emotions will direct you to where you wish to be.
Where your heart longs to be
Your heart is drawn to a particular place which fulfills your deepest desires.
Your dream will lead your on
Your aspirations will be the driving force behind your journey.
When you finally find that place
When you reach your intended destination that fulfills your desires.
You'll find all you need
All necessary resources and fulfillment will be found at your desired destination.
There's something in your soul
There is an innate desire within yourself that cannot be rejected or ignored.
That won't be denied
This desire cannot be dismissed or disregarded.
It's the faith to dream that keeps
Your belief and determination to achieve your dreams motivate you to continue forward.
The dream alive
The dream of achieving your aspirations remains a driving force in your life.
So you'll still believe
Despite challenges and setbacks, you maintain your hope and faith.
And you know, you must go
You remain committed to achieving your dreams and know that you must persist.
Go where your heart is meant to be
Travel to where you feel a deep connection and sense of belonging.
And you may find somebody there
You may encounter people who share your desires and aspirations.
So won't you share your dream?
Discussing your dreams with others may lead to support and encouragement.
Your dream will lead you home
Your aspirations will guide you back to a place of contentment and fulfillment.
Where your eyes can see
You will find your desired destination in a place which is visible and identifiable to you.
There's a world that waits for you
There are numerous opportunities and possibilities available for you.
Can neither hold
No one can restrict or control your journey towards achieving your dreams.
You'll find your home
You will find contentment and fulfillment when you achieve your goals and desires.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES NEWTON HOWARD, DIANE WARREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind