Planet Earth II Suite

Hans Zimmer has a knack for the dramatic, and the theme to Planet Earth II is a perfect example. It starts slowly, building layer upon layer until a full orchestra is pulsing in a stampede of instruments all combining. It takes a full 3 minutes to reach the climax, where each sweep of the strings takes a moment to draw out every bit of feeling it can. When it feels like it can build no higher, an undertone of vocals elevates the finale one last time. The power and size of the earth is hard to comprehend. Each time the song raises one level higher, the vastness of the planet becomes more and more real.

From plains to oceans to deserts, the pure grit it takes to survive on earth is far from negligible. And the combination of Zimmer, Shea, and Klebe accurately conveys that.