Home Alone Soundtrack-01 Home Alone Main TitleĪt the time of the film’s release in 1982, E.T. ‘Somewhere in my Memory’ is teased in extracts and earworms throughout the film, and it isn’t until the final moment when Kevin is reunited with his family on Christmas Day that we hear the full theme in its entirety. The true artistry of this theme lies not only in its ability to convey all the main themes of the film’s storyline in just a few minutes of music, but in Williams’s backwards writing of the entire soundtrack. The encroaching terror of burglary is conveyed by a switch to the minor key, and eerie string glissandos swoop and stretch over the steadily chugging melody.
The title theme is a thoroughly festive affair complete with celeste, pizzicato strings and jingle bells that are purely evocative of reindeer and Santa’s sleigh. When eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally left at home alone over the Christmas period, he single-handedly defends the family home from burglars Harry and Marv with the assistance of cling film and feathers, toy cars, Christmas ornaments and a pet tarantula.
Over 30 years after its initial release, the 1990 comedy film Home Alone remains a yuletide favourite for millions. Home Alone – Main Title (‘Somewhere in my Memory’).
