*spoilers ahead*

Film soundtracks. Whether you’re aware of it or not, the music that soundtracks our favourite films provides a foundation for the film’s emotional impact. It inspires us. It engages us. It gives film an extra dynamic that heightens a film into that extra emotional dimension: music provides us an extra way to connect with characters on a more personal level. Whether it’s the The Lion King or everyone’s favourite (500) Days of Summer, film soundtracks have been vital in ensuring a film’s success

We have to ask ourselves why are soundtracks so important in films? Well let’s take Hans Zimmer into account, after all it wouldn’t be a music/film feature if you didn’t mention THE Hans Zimmer. His name alone signifies a hallmark of guaranteed success. Do you know what Interstellar, Inception and the Lion King all have in common? Aside from all being legendary – yes you guessed it – Zimmer composed/produced their soundtracks.

Take Inception for example, ‘Time’ is a haunting composition that just resonates talent and emotion. A friend introduced me to the song once when we revised together for A-Levels which is when I realised how simply raw it was, and also what a thought-provoking song it was to revise to, perfect for Psychology revision (I wonder how Freud would interpret that one). It is played during the final scene, and boy what a work of devastating magic it is as you feel the chill in your neck and goosebumps on your arms. It encapsulates the downright relief we feel as the story finally comes to an end. The underlying feature here is that music is a vital platform used by producers to heighten emotions in a film. Oh Hans Zimmer, darn you… I blame hay fever slash cutting onions slash stubbing my foot.

The quality of his music is effortless, refreshing and brilliant and this is one of the reasons why soundtracks are integral to movies – they produce emotion. Having your human emotions manipulated by sound screams power and a part of us, deep down, are thankful for that because it entertains us and also allows us to escape. To achieve that amount of power is admirable.

Now, I have to say I am all for cheesy rom-coms and when befriended by an outrageously eccentric soundtrack I just feel content. It’s almost like pieces of a jig-saw that fit together. The first time I watched (500) Days of Summer I was not a fan. I even said multiple times that I preferred the soundtrack; and then I watched it about 20 more times and fell in love with it. Halls and Oates ‘You Make My Dreams’ makes an appearance during one scene and all the glitz and glamour is rolled up into one; a huge band and flashmob congregate in the middle of the park alongside an animated blue bird which basically screams how important music is in a film – the scene is essentially a parody music video telling the world that Tom just had sex… erm hello why not just cue Akon’s iconic (cough cough) ‘I Just Had Sex’?

Another scene in particular broke me. Regina Spektor’s ‘Hero’ is played, distinguishing reality versus expectations of the Tom’s love life, and it is hands down my favourite scene in any film. A film’s soundtrack is a fundamental element in helping the audience to understand and guide us through the character’s feelings and the tone of the atmosphere. Tom does not say one word in this scene; the music speaks for him. Music and film are inextricably linked and they drive each other forward to create a personal viewing for each individual. The song compliments the scene exceptionally and, being horribly honest, sometimes I watch that scene alone just because…why not?

So why do I – and many other viewers – get horribly attached? Well in romantic genres typically boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-wins-girl and I believe that we need verification from music to guide us on how to feel. Lyrics match the situation. In Me Before You, Clove’s ‘Don’t Forget About Me’ takes control of a particularly heart-breaking scene and the words “Where have you gone?…I just need to know / That you won’t forget about me” are so delightfully depressing that it makes you overthink that one ‘what if’ relationship you never risked trying out.

A final thing to consider, perhaps, is the idea of how a soundtrack can become just as prolific as the film; they can even inspire a cult following. Take the Great Gatsby for example, Baz Luhrmann’s soundtrack is famous in its own right. Pop stars such as Fergie, FloMo and Lana Del Rey were lined up to elevate this glamorous film. Essentially their names are a stamp of the film’s success and oh boy, did they do wonders to help increase it.

So there we have it people; which movie soundtracks came into your head whilst reading this? A fiver bets someone says Frozen.

Anika Vadukul

(Image: Amazon)