When I first heard they were doing a sequel, my biggest fear was that it would be "updated" with a hip-hop soundtrack. Good news, everyone! Our favorite epic composer Hans Zimmer did the music for this. The guy's on a roll this year.
 
Check out this musing re the Vangelis version...
 

I love the voice that starts around 7:18 at the end.  I've heard that in a few trance songs before, but still love it!

bitflipper
When I first heard they were doing a sequel, my biggest fear was that it would be "updated" with a hip-hop soundtrack. Good news, everyone! Our favorite epic composer Hans Zimmer did the music for this. The guy's on a roll this year.

Thanks for this video link - a great way to spend 8 minutes.  How did you come across it, Dave?
 
As to Mr. Zimmer, however, he's not the primary composer for this movie.  That would be Jóhann Jóhannsson, about whom I know nothing.  He's the guy they are going to praise or blame for recreating the brilliance of the original score.  I certainly would not want that kind of pressure on me.

Hi,
 
I'll probably listen to all the music first before even catching the film ... but I really do not want the image of the original film to fade from my mind ... it is so well done, and one of the few true mixes of directing, film and music EVER done in film. A film where even the music tells the story.

dmbaer
 
As to Mr. Zimmer, however, he's not the primary composer for this movie.  That would be Jóhann Jóhannsson, about whom I know nothing.  He's the guy they are going to praise or blame for recreating the brilliance of the original score.  I certainly would not want that kind of pressure on me.

According to this article, Mr. Johannsson is out and only Hans Zimmer's name is on the credits now. I'm sure there's an interesting story in there, but nobody's talking.

bitflipper

dmbaer
 
As to Mr. Zimmer, however, he's not the primary composer for this movie.  That would be Jóhann Jóhannsson, about whom I know nothing.  He's the guy they are going to praise or blame for recreating the brilliance of the original score.  I certainly would not want that kind of pressure on me.

According to this article, Mr. Johannsson is out and only Hans Zimmer's name is on the credits now. I'm sure there's an interesting story in there, but nobody's talking.

Hmm, imdb.com lists three composers.  But I guess their MO would be to list credits cumulatively.  If at any time you worked on X, you be credited as one of the contributors to X.
 
As much respect as I have for Mr. Zimmer, however, I just can't match him up with what's required to pull off music suitable for a Bladerunner follow-up.  The original score is probably among the top five most iconic scores ever - now there's an interesting thread topic.

dmbaer
The original score is probably among the top five most iconic scores ever - now there's an interesting thread topic.

Without spending too much time on it, W. Carlos (ignoring the sex name change) did a great job with A Clockwork Orange.  I'm guessing William's original Star Wars score would have to be up there as well.  Who else?

craigb
 Who else?

The name is Bond, James Bond.
 
And Jaws.
 
And Psycho.
 
And...
 

You're in a desert, walking along in the sand, when all of a sudden..." (Holden)
"Is this the test now?" (Leon)
"Yes! You're in a desert and you're walking along in the sand and all of a sudden you look down and..." (Holden)

craigb

dmbaer
The original score is probably among the top five most iconic scores ever - now there's an interesting thread topic.

Without spending too much time on it, W. Carlos (ignoring the sex name change) did a great job with A Clockwork Orange.  I'm guessing William's original Star Wars score would have to be up there as well.  Who else?

Gratuitous comment. The greater job was Stanley Kubrick illustrating how the music was used, which was more satirical than anything else.
 
Most iconic movie scores for me? (Not in order)
 
Blade Runner (Vangelis)
The Last of the Mohicans (Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman)
Little Buddha (Ryuichi Sakamoto) (remember he also won an Oscar for The Last Emperor)
Performance (Jack Nitzsche and songs by MJ and RN)
Doctor Zhivago (Maurice Jarre)
Journey of Hope (ECM stuff with Rypdal and Garbarek featuring)
Bad Timing, A Sensual Obsession (Nicholas Roeg directed and he used music in films better than anyone. Various songs including The Who)
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Popol Vuh - the ending of the film is the complete side 2 of the album which was played exactly in time with the music and sound effects)
Bernard Herrmann in his Science Fiction films had unbelievable music. Jason and the Argonauts is a great example.
 
There are others that matter ... and stood out. It's hard to not mention Nino Rota and his incredible amount of music in film, even if some of it was to a Federico Fellini film, but at least, the venerable director had an appreciation for great music. There are some French films that have great music, but it is mostly classical music (Tous Les Matins du Monde -- In Coeur en Hiver), and it is great. Lastly, the way music was done and shown in "Amadeus" was phenomenal and helped mix the visual with the notes/chords, and that is something that is difficult to do (a total individualistic thing), and so completely mis-understood and appreciated, that rock music has a tendency to even say it doesn't exist! They lyrics cover it, instead! Duhhhhh!!!!!