Music is arguably the most evocative thing in the world. whether you listen to music on the way to work, hear it in a coffee shop, at a concert, or in this case in a film. A scene from a film can become twice as iconic with the right song, and certain directors have managed to find the perfect match, and if its done its job, then you will forever think of this scene/movie whenever you hear the tune going forward. These are my 5 examples of movies, in no particular order, with amazing, epic, and clever soundtracks, with a few special mentions too.
Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014, Marvel Studios
Its not every day that a movie soundtrack is released and goes straight to number 1 on the US Billboard Top 200, in fact it was the first time that has ever happened before, and would be the highest selling movie soundtrack ever if it wasn't for Disney's Frozen which was released in the same year. This isn't like a usual superhero movie, so neither is the soundtrack. It cleverly links in to the storyline too, as Peter Quill, a half human-half alien was abducted when he was young, and created a Walkman mixtape full of songs from the 60's and 70's as a way to keep him connected to Earth. Some of the tunes include 'Hooked on a Feeling', 'I Want You Back' and probably the most iconic of the film, 'Come And Get Your Love' by Redbone. This is a brilliant way of keeping the audience aware that he is just a human, who is on this big outer space adventure, and maintaining a human connection with the audience.
Purple Rain, 1984, Albert Magnoli
It seems only fitting to feature the music from a film that launched Prince into superstardom. Purple Rain, a rock musical drama starring the man himself, was made to showcase his talents, and through the release spawned not one, but two chart topping singles, the self titled 'Purple Rain' and my personal favourite, 'When Doves Cry'. A musical legend whose talents were way beyond this planet, Prince certainly left his legacy on this world. The soundtrack is certified 12x platinum and has sold over 25 million records.
Shrek, 2001, DreamWorks Pictures
I can't rate this film highly enough, I loved it growing up, I watched it a few weeks ago and I still do. A seriously funny movie for all ages, with a nice message, and iconic soundtrack. Songs like 'I'm a Believer' and Smash Mouth's 'All Star', mixed with Donkey's renditions of 'On the Road Again' and 'Try a Little Tenderness', makes you sign those songs, in Eddie Murphy's voice, to this day, years after the release. The use of these songs makes Shrek a memorable classic, and one of my all time favourite films. If I had to take 3 films on a desert island, this would be a dead cert for that list.
The Great Gatsby, 2013, Baz Lurhmann
A film set at the height of the Roaring 20's, The Great Gatsby soundtrack incorporates hits from that time and Jazz classics, and puts a modern spin on it, including a modern take on Amy Winehouse's soul record 'Back to Black'. The soundtrack includes genres such as Jazz, Hip Hop, and alternative music, and Jay-Z served as executive producer on the album. The soundtrack definitely immerses the audience into the story, and again makes it a memorable movie, with an impactful overture. The movie of course includes Leonardo Di Caprio, so it's no surprise that The Great Gatsby is a captivating film.
Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino, 1992
I had no idea which Tarantino movie to choose from here, but I decided to choose his feature-length debut, the cult classic independent film Reservoir Dogs. Tarantino has mastered a certain sound to his films, and he set the foundations to this here. He cleverly sets the soundtrack to a fictional radio station, K-Billy's Super Sounds of the 70's, and includes the classic track synonymous with the film 'Stuck in the Middle with You' by Steelers Wheel. Tarantino often chooses music that offers as a counterpoint to the onscreen action, a technique becoming more and more popular with cinema, setting Tarantino as the pioneer. Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill are more examples of his later projects that would go on to reaffirm Tarantino as the king of movie soundtracks.
A few honourable mentions are films such as Grease, Saturday Night Fever and Footloose, Trainspotting, Easy Rider, Scarface with its 80's feel, and Straight Outta Compton, which uses iconic 90's west coast Hip Hop.
Films with well thought out scores and clever use of music can make them iconic. A successful film captures the audience's emotions, and a powerful score can help to inspire those feelings. Music can make us feel sad, hopeful, scared, anxious, or elated. Music provides us with cues about how we're supposed to feel during a scene, and even the science behind that concept says it works.
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