The Revival of the Movie Soundtrack
Illustration by Jena Williams
A movie is nothing without its soundtrack. This is something I’ve only learnt recently. This may sound strange, but I used to only watch movies for the story they were telling. Only when I reached an age where I felt like I could connect to the stories being told, I finally realized how the music in a movie can allow the watcher to emotionally connect to the characters beyond dialogue. 2023 has been one of the best years for movies with so many standouts, instant classics, and mesmerizing underdogs. I had never really noticed how much a soundtrack, whether original or not, could impact the perception of a film's tone and style. I had never even considered buying a movie soundtrack on vinyl until the Barbie movie came out. I have even found myself adding songs from iconic soundtracks like those of ‘Bodies, Bodies, Bodies’ to my monthly playlists! Now that I’ve come to recognize how much a soundtrack can elevate a film, I want to recap some of my favourite movie soundtracks from recent years, as well as all-time.
“Barbie The Movie”
Album by various Artists for the 2023 film “Barbie” directed by Greta Gerwig.
I think most people would agree if I said that the Barbie Movie soundtrack was the most anticipated soundtrack to come out in recent years. Especially with the current over-saturation of blockbuster superhero movies and sequels, soundtracks are rarely marketed or put at the forefront of the movie’s identity. The moment that the iconic “Barbie the Album” lineup announcement was dropped it was seemingly unanimous that we were in for a quality rollout. While in the end, I personally found myself listening to and liking only a third of the songs, I think this is a perfect example of a soundtrack done right. Every moment in the movie that involved original songs fit so well and heightened the scenes' atmosphere beyond what could have been accomplished with non-original music. Scenes that included songs like “What Was I Made For?” and “Journey to the Real World” were so memorable, that no inclusions felt out of place or forced in the slightest.
“Bottoms (Original Motion Score)”
Album by Charli XCX and Leo Birenberg for the 2023 film “Bottoms” directed by Emma Seligman.
I am going to start by stating a fact: Charli XCX is a genius. It just can’t be refuted at this point!
Charli and Leo Birenberg collaborated on the Bottoms soundtrack to back up the hilarious high school comedy set in a heightened version of reality. Throughout the movie, the music was not only used to enhance the emotionally charged scenes but also as a comedic device. Specifically, there is an Avril Lavigne needle drop moment that had myself and the entire theatre cry-laughing, but I won’t spoil anything beyond that. Watching this movie in a full theatre with loudspeakers is the best way to get fully immersed into the movie. While watching Bottoms in theatres may not be possible since it is now a few months old, I highly recommend getting a group of friends together for a movie night.
“Marie Antoinette (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)”
Album by various artists for the 2006 film “Marie Antoinette” directed by Sofia Coppola.
Who would have ever thought that a Marie Antoinette biopic would have an alt-rock soundtrack that included The Cure, The Strokes and Aphex Twin?
Sofia Coppola took a huge leap with the stylistic direction she took with this film. No matter what the critics may think with regard to it not being true to the period, it paid off in every sense. The movie portrayed Marie Antoinette as the teenager that she was, down to dancing to “Hong Kong Garden” by Siouxsie and the Banshees and the subtle peeks of high-top converses she wore under her ornate gowns. The ballroom party scenes where Antoinette and her friends were drinking, giggling, and spinning on the dance floor is so much more relatable when a familiar song is in the background. It’s a fitting choice and adds dimension, in comparison to the 18th-century song that could have been played when the audience realizes that she was only 18.
“Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)”
Album by various artists for the 2010 film “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” directed by Edgar Wright.
For a movie that is basically a giant battle of the bands, or… battle of the exes, an excellent soundtrack should be a given. The creators behind Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World went beyond excellence and delivered a truly iconic piece of art. The original grungy garage rock sounds of Sex Bob-Omb, (Scott Pilgrim’s band) makes it feel like you are hanging out, listening to your older brother’s band messing around with instruments. The scene that keeps me coming back is when Envy Adams and The Clash at Demonhead perform Black Sheep. Every moment of the performance is intense and cut together so well that it could be a stand-alone music video. It brings forward a mix of confusion and jealousy that the characters are feeling in that moment without having to outright say it. There are so many standout songs in this movie, and yet, it doesn’t feel oversaturated or musical-esque, which I think is a feat in itself.
“Dazed and Confused”
Album by various artists for the 1993 film “Dazed and Confused” directed by Richard Linklater.
I’ll be honest, the first time I watched this movie I was too young to care about any part of it, let alone the songs playing in the background. After a second watch a few years later, I can easily say that Dazed and Confused is high up on my list of top movie soundtracks. The movie is set on the last day of high school in 1976 and follows a rowdy bunch of teens and middle schoolers as they run around town for the night, in turn, forgetting about any and all rules or expectations. Their antics are sonically backed by a long list of iconic 70s rock songs that fit perfectly into every scene. Now, when I hear any of them, I am immediately brought back to Dazed and Confused and that crazy night in 1976.
If you’ve ever been like me, in a cycle of watching movies without noticing and digesting all the aspects that make the story come to life, hopefully, you have a new perspective. I hope I have encouraged you to revisit your favourite films and appreciate how much music can contribute to the story being told. I promise it will make you love any movie so much more.
