Every so often you see a movie that just has an awesome soundtrack. Afterward, there's always someone going on about how "awesome the soundtrack was, I wish my life had a soundtrack like that!" or some mumbo jumbo along those lines.
But do you, really, wish your life had a soundtrack?
I mean, as epic as it would be to start fighting some giant robots while an intense track of Linkin Park blares, I know that is never going to happen. Instead, lets' look at some slightly more "likely" scenarios.
Imagine, say, one night you're walking back to your apartment. It's kind of a dark, cloudy night, a little eerie, but not to much different from any other night. Suddenly some ominous music starts playing. I know, at that point, my reaction would pretty much end up being "Awww....s***!"
Or, you're having a kind of cruddy day, things didn't go well in classes or at the office, you're having some relationship troubles, or something else like that. Next thing you know, you're hearing something like "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind. Is that really going to help you out? I think it would just help to piss me off a little more than I already am.
How about the road trip montage? Y'know, some awesome classic rock track playing as you traverse various parts of the country. But, do you really want to be hearing the same song constantly as you spend three days driving from Chicago to San Francisco?
And imagine a laugh track gets thrown in! Oh, that would just drive me nuts...
I'll stick with listening to my iPod.
Interesting idea, and for the most part it makes sense. In the moment, you surely don't want to have the music give anything away or amplify your emotions. I mean, that amplification is meant for audience enjoyment, if the characters could hear it, they'd go OUT OF THEIR MIIIINDS! If you're talking to your girlfriend casually and suddenly you hear some break-up song, you don't want to know the worst is happening right then and there out of the blue. Alternatively, imagine if she's not ending it, and you're just put on red alert for no reason! That'd drive one crazy!
ReplyDeleteBut in the aftermath, that's when I find songs that match the mood. Once I know something bad has happened, I'm more likely to listen to sad songs... if something made me feel good, expect the happy playlist to pop up. That can be seen in movies from time to time as well... The after-events, so to speak, re-evaluated through music. Like in 500 Days of Summer! "You Make My Dreams" by Hall and Oates!
Good post, professor! :D
I want to listen to the soundtrack to Gladiator when I pwn people at drill
ReplyDelete