The Power of Movie Soundtracks and Scores
Movie soundtracks and scores may not be the top music on MP3′s and iPods, but it is one of the most powerful ways to recall memories of a movie and/or a particular scene.
After a film ends, I like to listen to the end credits. The credits always contain the best parts of a score composed into one perfect song. Each song makes me remember that perfect fight scene or that one moment the hero(es) saved the day.
Who can’t listen to the Raider’s March, also know as the Indiana Jones theme song, and not picture Harrison Ford running from a boulder, cracking a whip, or the famous map scene with the red line showing the distance traveled?
What about listening to the Back to the Future theme song? Do you automatically imagine Marty McFly driving the Delorean trying to reach 88 mph? Can you see the lightning bolt striking the clock tower?
How about one of my favorites, the Superman theme? I can see the late Christopher Reeve running down the street revealing the “S” under his shirt then soaring through the sky of Metropolis as Superman.
While watching a movie, the score of the film can also add excitement to a scene or make you feel its sadness. The beginning of Star Trek (2009) was a powerful scene due to Michael Giacchino’s Labor of Love score. The beginning may have been an action scene, but the score reminded you of its intended sadness.
A lot of remakes of earlier films are hitting theaters. A great way to link the remake to the original film is to incorporate the original theme song. It doesn’t have to be the same, but a mild tweak can still give tribute to the original film and its creators.
Whether people realize or not, a movie soundtrack or score leaves a lasting impression that remains longer than your average music. I only hope people learn to appreciate it more.
