While it’s common for blockbuster movies and indie-film favorites to have soundtracks to accompany their films, the practice is relatively new. Sure, our older movie classics have soundtracks and movie scores we have come to know and love.
The Godfather has one of the most recognizable opening scores ever recorded, and the opening strings of Jaws still scares the life jackets off of people and keeps them out of the water. The notes of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is still recognizable to new movie goers, and the movies scored by John Williams and Danny Elfman are all excellent examples of superior songwriting.
Henri Mancini made several movie scores that are immediately recognizable, such as the slinky bass line of The Pink Panther, and the rising horn sections of the Peter Gun theme. This method of movie soundtrack making avoids the orchestras and world famous conductors. Instead, they choose custom fitted, radio ready club hits. Soundtracks may actually outsell the actual movie and possibly be more memorable.
For example, who remembers the terrible movie High School High with Jon Lovitz? Now how many of you remember the movie’s soundtrack? If you’re a hip-hop head, not only do you remember it, you might still have it in your collection. I mean, it was worth its weight in gold for “Wu Wear” track alone, as you could not get the song on any Wu-Tang Clan album. If you were a fan, you might have avoided the movie but you bought the CD.
Above The Rim stars Tupac Shakur, and is watchable enough, but the soundtrack is still better than the movie with the hip-hop classic "Afro Puff" by Lady Of Rage, as well as some classic joints from some of the best West Coast emcees. New Jack City had the classic “I Wanna Sex You Up”, another song still in rotation on radio today. This phenomenon of releasing soundtracks with A-list music celebrities doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down anytime soon.
According to Wikipedia, Victor Schertzinger recorded the first music to be used in a motion picture, and the practice of
commercially releasing songs used in movies became the norm in the 1930s. Personally, the first movie soundtrack that comes to my mind is Saturday Night Fever.
The combination of the movie and the music was undeniable, as the soundtrack had phenomenal sales and set the mark for future movies. With songs by K.C & The Sunshine Band, Kool & The Gang, and the inescapable Bee Gees, the soundtrack is still in rotation on dance radio stations worldwide. It continues to earn money for its publishers and provides an excellent template for movie soundtracks today. Find the hottest acts, write a script around whatever is “in,” and voila, a star and a million dollar hit is born!
.jpg?t=20120209092158)
Article comments
1 - alessandro nicolo
Good piece. Even though I'm only 34, Kelley breaking into 'Singin' in the Rain' still sends shivers down my spine for someone. There's something so enchanting and timeless to it. In fact, 'Good Morning' by Debbie Reynolds has the same effect. Is there any bigger legend than Judy Garland? Man, that gal had it going on. A little known Canadian film 'Men with Brooms' had a decent soundtrack. In the film score category, Italian film 'Cinema Paradiso' ranks among the most beautiful.