You Cannot Have a Good Film Without Good Music (Editorial)

You Cannot Have a Good Film Without Good Music (Editorial)

Name one feature length film that you absolutely adore that you remember having bad music. Chances are, either your favorite films have music so amazing that you can't help but think about it OR you simply forgot about the music altogether. And the fact that the vast majority of us don't even notice the orchestral movie score 90 percent of the time shows that we, as a society, have taken film scores for granted. You don't remember when it's bad because you simply don't remember it being there at all.

If you disagree with the title of this article, chances are it's because you simply don't remember the music. If you find yourself thinking of your favorite film and try to think about the music in it, you just don't remember. And that has nothing to do with the music itself but rather the fact that we just don't pay attention as much as we should.

The fact that films like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park (coincidentally, or not, composed by the same person...) have such iconic, recognizable music is because John Williams is able to transcend the human consciousness and elevate any scene that is put in front of him. Recently, Avengers: Endgame, whose score was composed by Alan Silvestri, was much the same.

In order to fully illustrate my point, I feel the only way to do so is to think of your favorite movie, or even movie scene, and imagine that there is no music there. Perhaps it is a scene that does not have music underscoring it at all, but more likely than not, there's a bombastic, or perhaps quiet orchestral score that highlights the emotions of the character and the mood and tone of the film. 

Think of the epic Portals scene in Avengers: Endgame. Think about all the Avengers assembling together, appearing out of the portals, returning from their momentary deaths. Think of Captain America saying "Avengers Assemble" and the entirety of the MCU charging at Thanos and his army. Think about all the raw emotion that that scene conjures up within you. Now imagine it without music. Perhaps you don't even remember what the music was. In which case, you truly have been taking the music for granted. But the score from that scene has become synonymous with the scene that chances are, you at least vaguely remember the music. Imagine if that bombastic, energizing, high-octane orchestra had been replaced by something mediocre. Something that was just noticeable, but just barely. 

The reason that John Williams has become so iconic among the film composers is not just because he composes wonderful music (which of course, he does). It is rather because he is able to infuse his music so seamlessly into the scene, but then elevate it and take it to the next level. Perhaps we also have Williams to blame for taking music in film for granted. Because his seamless integration allows to experience the scene holistically while also appreciating the music.

Music is integral. it permeates our culture, it reaches our souls. It has the power to change how we feel on a dime. There is no doubt that music is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of a director. And how the director and composer decide to utilize it can make or break a scene, or even an entire film.

The next time you watch a film, I would challenge you to listen for the music and see how it integrates itself into the movie. Is it so mediocre that you barely notice it? Have you heard that "musical phrase" thousands of times before? Or perhaps do you begin to realize that you feel a certain way because of the musical notes playing underneath.

Either way, whether or not you realize it, music in film is manipulating you to feel a certain way. And that is why film cannot exist without music.