The Sounds of the Cinema: Soundtracks and Scores
Image via @sunnyskies__ on Pinterest
When it comes to film, the visuals get most of the credit. Don’t get me wrong, I love cinematography as much as the next movie-lover, but what about the music? That’s what really gets you emotionally involved in the story. From killer soundtracks packed with popular artists to haunting orchestral scores, music completely changes how we experience film.
So…what’s the difference between a soundtrack and a score?
A soundtrack is usually a curated playlist of songs (some could be older, and some are made specifically for the film) that are featured or inspired by the film. Soundtracks are typically described as the mixtape for a film and, in the best cases, can take on a life of their own.
Some of my favorite movie soundtracks? Forgive me if I leave out a few of the greats, but I’m so glad you asked:
Baby Driver → Who doesn’t love a film that literally syncs its sound effects and editing with the music?
Grease → A classic. Maybe the film that started my love for movie musicals.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World → An indie rock and video game lover's dream.
Marie Antoinette (2006) → I love a period piece that’s juxtaposed by more modern music.
Black Panther → Thank you, Kendrick Lamar!
La La Land → Jazzy, dreamy, devastating. What’s not to love?
NOPE → Western throwbacks, and unexpected needle drops (Cory Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night” in a horror scene? Genius.
A score, on the other hand, is original instrumental music that is composed specifically for a movie. It doesn’t usually have lyrics and is designed to match the emotion, pacing, and tension of each scene. A great score can be unforgettable, think of the iconic themes in Harry Potter and Star Wars.
Some of the best of all time, in my opinion:
Jaws - John Williams → The iconic two-note theme that changed scores forever.
Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark - Also by John Williams → Adventurous and swelling with cinematic grandeur. Raised by blood pressure as a kid.
Interstellar - Hans Zimmer → What kind of person would I be if this wasn’t on the list?
Arrival - Jóhann Jóhannsson → Eerie, intimate, and otherworldly—just like the film!
Dune - Hans Zimmer, again → The sounds in the theater changed what I thought sci-fi could feel like.
Little Women (2019) - Alexandre Desplat → Soft, emotional piano that stabs you right in the gut.
The Zone of Interest - Mica Levi → An unsettling sound that made silence feel loud.
Music shapes how we feel about movies. The soundtrack can make you dance, while the score can make your eyes well up with tears before the emotion hits the screen. Next time you watch a film, pay attention to the music, and it might just be your favorite part.
