Music In Film .

Hi, Jeffery here. First off all, before I start the article, I'd like to ask my readers to E-Mail me. Did you agree with my Top Ten or disagree with my Oscar picks? Or did you like or hate my Horror article. Whatever the case Id love some feedback and, of course, some article topic suggestions. Now, on with the show!

Music In Film:

Music is to films like glaze is to pottery. It's an added touch that is not really necessary (unless it's a musical) but adds alot. Imagine a horror film without scary music. Watch Scream on mute, you'll see. Imagine Austin Powers without that catchy opening song. Imagine Star Wars without... you get the idea. Music is very important to film whether it's background, a theme song, or musical number.

Here are two different kinds of Film Music

Score:

Instrumental music composed directly for the film. Music should capture the feel of the picture. Some of my recent favorites include Danny Elfman's quirky score for MiB, Patrick Doyle's beautifully unmelodic score for Great Expectations and, of course, James Horner's haunting Enya-esque score for Titanic. Other, classic favorites are Danny Elfman ( my favorite Composer ) 's Batman, his Mars Attacks, John William's Jurassic Park and his Star Wars. For more info on Scores go to www.filmtracks.com.

Here's a favorite score - See if you can guess what Film. E-Mail me your guesses and the first e-mail I get with the right answer will win a prize. Click here for a Real Audio Clip!

Soundtrack Music:

More popular that score's Soundtrack music is non-instrumental music that was usually not written directly for the film and is available to buy at most music stores. A good soundtrack is full of different sounding songs by different artists that capture the tone of the picture. Here are some reviews of old and new soundtracks.

Top Gun (1986)

The classic Cruise flick about planes is filled with classic mid-eighties rock. Kenny Loggins sings the still cool Danger Zone and Berlin performs a wonderful song called Take My Breath Away. Yep, you probably remember them. Well, they're just as good as they were then. A great soundtrack that has aged very well. Although it does include some lackluster songs and only has 10 tracks. 3.5/5

Clueless (1995)

A really fun album filled with catchy tunes and remakes. Kids In America by the muffs and Shake Some Action by Cracker are cool remakes and Radiohead's Fake Plastic Trees is one of the best songs of that year. It includes early efforts by now famous bands like Radiohead, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Luscious Jackson. Jill Solebule's bubblegum anthem Supermodel is hilarious and cute, at first but starts to turn as do a few other songs. 3.5/5

Space Jam (1996)

Like Hip-Hop? Get this album. One of 1996's best CDs. All hits, No misses. Many of these songs are hit singles like Seal's Fly Like An Eagle, Coolie's The Winner, Quad City DJ's Space Jam, R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly, and Monaco's For You I Will. even Bugs Bunny raps a tune at the end. It's Great! 4.5/5

Austin Powers (1997)

An amazing CD that captures the mood of the great comedy exquisitely. A great, danceable, retro CD that is full of tuneful rhythm. Remakes of 60's classics are even better than the originals and many of the songs are perfect sing along, like I Touch Myself. If you like the film you must buy this but if you were not a fan of the movie than this CD may be a crap heap to you. If you liked Austin Powers 5/5. If you didn't like it 1.5/5

Spawn (1997)

A pretty good alternative effort that is ambitious in the way that each song is a duet of two of the best bands. Hit bands like Marilyn Manson and Chemical Bros. do great Techno-ish songs. However the songs get a tad tiresome and very few of them are memorable. 2.5/5

The Saint (1997)

The best electronica album of the year. Full of great songs that are perfect for a rave dance. The Sneaker Pimps sing the perfect 6 Underground and Duran Duran does an amazing Out Of My Mind. But if you don't like Techno beats the CD is worthless. 3/5

I Know What You Did Last Summer

A groovy alternative album that is going to make stars of Kula Shaker, Southern Culture On The Skids, and Goat Boy. Songs have a strange country--like sound mixed with and urban feeling that makes for a weird but fun CD. However it's tone is sometimes all over the place and it doesn't capture the Slasher Terror of the film at all. 3/5

Great Expectations

If you like alternative, and who doesn't, this is the album to beat. It's amazing how many hit songs they packed onto the CD. It's 1998's Space Jam. Beautiful songs by Tori Amos, Mono, Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Poe and more. It's a really, really good listen. 4.5/5

When buying a soundtrack look for these key phrases on the cover.

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - doesn't tell you whether the CD is great or not so great but it does tell you it's not very modern

Original Soundtrack - For Some reasons on really good CDs the take out the words Motion Picture. Dont ask me why.

Music From And Inspired By - A very good sign. It mean that the music matches the movie well

The Album - the best sign. It means that the music isn't all in the movie but that it is a good CD full of songs that match the film or subject matter.

Well, Now go out and buy yourself some Scores or Soundtracks. E-Mail me and tell me about it. I promise to mail you back and I'll even post your letter on the Web.

Bye,
Jeffery Bendix Sanders