footloose soundtrack
footloose soundtrack!
A song is meant to invoke a mood, an emotion, an era or a symbol. The right choice can leave an indelible image, the wrong choice can live on in infamy. Some soundtracks seem timeless, others aren't so lucky. One this is certain, the way music is used in film goes a long way in determining whether it's remembered for the right reasons or not.
footloose soundtrack!
There is always a matter of taste involved. If you like rap music, you're more apt to check out 8 Mile, fans of classic rock will probably enjoy Easy Rider. Yet no matter what your tastes may run, certain film soundtracks simply stand out.
footloose soundtrack!
It's a common practice in Hollywood to go with something that's either popular or well-known. However, proving that there are always great exceptions to the rules the mind of Quentin Tarantino seems to be on the cutting edge of creating a wholly original soundtrack that fits the scene. Think of "Stuck in the Middle With You" in Reservoir Dogs or "Miserlou" in Pulp Fiction. Whether you think his films are good or not, you have to admit the man has great taste in music.
footloose soundtrack!
Other than big hair and acid wash jeans, the 80s also have some memorable soundtracks and who cares if they really show their age. I'm thinking Top Gun, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, Purple Rain and you can probably name ten more that scream "totally 80s" but love them or hate them - at least you remember them.
footloose soundtrack!
You can go further back to get great soundtracks as well. The Graduate found great success with Simon and Garfunkel. The Beatles opus A Hard Days Night came at the height of their popularity (let's just forget the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie came along later). And disco may be dead, but in Saturday Night Fever it remains fresh.
footloose soundtrack!
To evoke a time and place, music is a must. American Graffiti was made in '73, but harkened back to '62 and the soundtrack followed. Almost Famous is semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story set in 1973, and the 50-plus songs it uses helps set the scene. It takes time, but if you can craft a soundtrack around the film, it transports the viewer to that time and place.
Even one song can change the way you view a film. Think of "Fight the Power" in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing or "Don't You Forget About Me" in The Breakfast Club. Even an unknown group like Creation make an impact when Wes Anderson put "Making Time" in Rushmore. If you find the right song for the right moment, it creates an instant memory.
You can end up on the other end of the spectrum as well. Scarface may have found a second life thanks to rappers, but it sure wasn't the soundtrack that inspired them. Whether or not Xanadu is a musical or not, the soundtrack is a bust. There are plenty more examples of ineptitude out there, but music is subjective, so I'll leave well enough alone.
A film can be an escape or a destination and with the right soundtrack it can also me a memorable experience, hopefully one that keeps you coming back again and again.
