Opinion Piece- That's the power of music
As you may have been able to tell from the topics of my recent Top 7 posts, I'm a huge advocate of the use of music in everything. And the gaming edition of that is coming next week. But I think it's something that many people overlook and it adds an edge to that just can't be underestimated. And let me explain why it's so great.
Anyone who saw Guardians of the Galaxy over the summer will tell you it has an incredible soundtrack. Fans of Forrest Gump are just waiting for an opportunity to jump up and praise the music. Tarrantino geeks, almost without exception, agree that all his films have brilliant soundtracks. And that sums it up. A soundtrack adds so much to a film, yet it's rarely noticed. In these moments though, when a soundtrack becomes so perfect that it gains actual appreciation. It's the kind of thing that transcends bad films. Even though Where the wild things are is a piece of crap, it has a fairly decent soundtrack. I don't know if this is because I got desperate and started looking for something about the film that wasn't awful but I liked the music. It's just impossible to reason that a film without any music would be anywhere as good as one with it.
Probably the most important reason that music is so great and important in films is that it can often create Pathetic Fallacy, a very powerful technique. For those who don't know, it's when something that isn't directly related to the action, is mimicking the feel of the action. For example, in a sad scene, you could set it in a graveyard while it's raining and some somber music is playing. A happy scene could be set on a beach, the sun shining down and some cheesy feel good hit over the top. It's a technique that's frequently used for bloody good reason. It has the power to make a great moment a perfect moment. Music can also be used for the opposite, If you have a really dark or messed up moment and want to add a sinister tone, why not add a nice or sweet sounding song. See the last episode of Orphan Black for a bloody great example. No filmmaker should ever discredit the power of effective music.
The problem is, some people end up focusing either too much on the soundtrack or just try and fill the soundtrack with so many songs that are hits that the focus falls on the soundtrack not the film. As much as films are entitled to great soundtracks, it should always be about the film. And while Guardians does have a soundtrack full of hits, it uses them in down time and to bring across the films themes in ways that the dialog can't even dream of reaching. It's a fine line and while some films fall off, some (like Guardians) tread the line like a tightrope.
Basically, (warning, food metaphor coming up) music in films is like seasoning. Without it, your dish will be awful. With too much, it's just peppery salt. But when you have the right amount, it not only tastes great but adds something incredible that amplifies the taste eight-fold. But that doesn't work as a metaphor because even a little bit is great. It's just that more is better.
Anyone who saw Guardians of the Galaxy over the summer will tell you it has an incredible soundtrack. Fans of Forrest Gump are just waiting for an opportunity to jump up and praise the music. Tarrantino geeks, almost without exception, agree that all his films have brilliant soundtracks. And that sums it up. A soundtrack adds so much to a film, yet it's rarely noticed. In these moments though, when a soundtrack becomes so perfect that it gains actual appreciation. It's the kind of thing that transcends bad films. Even though Where the wild things are is a piece of crap, it has a fairly decent soundtrack. I don't know if this is because I got desperate and started looking for something about the film that wasn't awful but I liked the music. It's just impossible to reason that a film without any music would be anywhere as good as one with it.
Probably the most important reason that music is so great and important in films is that it can often create Pathetic Fallacy, a very powerful technique. For those who don't know, it's when something that isn't directly related to the action, is mimicking the feel of the action. For example, in a sad scene, you could set it in a graveyard while it's raining and some somber music is playing. A happy scene could be set on a beach, the sun shining down and some cheesy feel good hit over the top. It's a technique that's frequently used for bloody good reason. It has the power to make a great moment a perfect moment. Music can also be used for the opposite, If you have a really dark or messed up moment and want to add a sinister tone, why not add a nice or sweet sounding song. See the last episode of Orphan Black for a bloody great example. No filmmaker should ever discredit the power of effective music.
The problem is, some people end up focusing either too much on the soundtrack or just try and fill the soundtrack with so many songs that are hits that the focus falls on the soundtrack not the film. As much as films are entitled to great soundtracks, it should always be about the film. And while Guardians does have a soundtrack full of hits, it uses them in down time and to bring across the films themes in ways that the dialog can't even dream of reaching. It's a fine line and while some films fall off, some (like Guardians) tread the line like a tightrope.
Basically, (warning, food metaphor coming up) music in films is like seasoning. Without it, your dish will be awful. With too much, it's just peppery salt. But when you have the right amount, it not only tastes great but adds something incredible that amplifies the taste eight-fold. But that doesn't work as a metaphor because even a little bit is great. It's just that more is better.
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