Music Use in Movies and Commercials
Music in movies and commercials may not seem to contribute that much on the surface, but it can have a profound effect on how you perceive it. There is a huge reason that people critique the music in movies and that there is an Oscar dedicated to it. Music can lead to dramatization and can change the severity of a scene, while making commercials more compelling to the audience. It is a great tool for companies to use as long as they do it effectively. This article will focus on examples of the use of music and give it a rating between 1–10 on its effectiveness.
The rating system will consist of many different movies and genres as well as some commercials. The focus will be on how it affects our emotions and how it affects us physiologically, I will also look if it compliments the movie or if it is out of place. A rating of 1 means that they need to completely change the soundtrack or remove it all together, while a rating of ten means that it is perfect. I will be looking at horror movies, two commercials and trailers, and a different genre of a movie. Then I will explain how music affects you physiologically. I will also put the link to one of the soundtracks for each movie.
Horror Movies:
“The Shining”
The Shining is a classic horror movie that brings an excellent cast, story, and soundtrack. Listening to the track, it shows appeal to uneasiness and it is keeping you on edge. The track gives spine-chilling effect on the viewer alongside the horror, making the movie scarier. This helps the movie build a case to be one of the all-time horror films.
Rating: 8–10
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=178&v=1mzNO6MzFEg
“Halloween”
Ahh, an all time favorite, a movies soundtrack that is so great, a person that has not watched the film can recognize it. The music is great, creepy, memorable and perfect. With the off-key notes and sudden key change, it keeps you in suspense. John Carpenter is a great director and music writer that produced this masterpiece.
Rating: 9.9–10
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=104&v=pT4FY3NrhGg
“Us”
Us is a movie that was released not too long ago that was directed by Jordan Peele. The movie is about dopplegangers trying to take over the world, as they feel like they would be more appreciative of the things on the surface. Not taking stuff for granted like humans do. The movies soundtrack fits well with the tone of the movie, and it makes it more effective. I personally really enjoyed this one but my bias will not effect the rating.
Rating: 7–10
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGBO1mq9gN0
Non-Horror movies:
“Rocky IV”
Rocky IV does not have a soundtrack that stands out like the the earlier movies. Apart from the classic “The Eye of the Tiger”, many of the songs are cliche and uninspiring. Something that was meant to be the complete opposite. The effect does not really appeal to the audience as well and the soundtrack is corny.
Rating: 3–10
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxVR7Z_4Xjo
“Titanic”
While this may be an unpopular opinion, but the music track is not great. While the music is not bad for a mainstream movie, the music does not tell a story or go in depth. This makes the movie appeal to a larger demographic but does not make the movie better. It is corny but at least the track has a specific genre of music.
Rating: 5–10
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfyxJtpvl7g
Commercials:
In order to capitalize a sale for a company, it must stay consistent with its tone and the consumer type they are trying to sell to. That is why picking the right music can have a large affect on the product impressions. Here are some great examples of companies utilizing songs in their commercials:
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola made a commercial to signify unity, peace, and harmony. The song “I like to Teach the World to Sing” was a perfect representation of the theme, and it made the Coke more appealing to consumers. Coke made a very wise decision to use this song.
Rating: 8–10
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VM2eLhvsSM
Gears of War
Gears of War is an old video game that was very popular to consumers. In their promotion of the game, it included the song “Mad World”. At the beginning, it did not seem like it would fit with the tone of the game. However, going in depth proved that it not only makes sense, but it adds another layer to the commercial. This is a great pick for a song.
Rating: 9–10
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccWrbGEFgI8
Why is Music Important in Commercials?
It is clear that music really helps movies but does it really help appeal to consumers?
Music can have varying effect in commercials. They can appeal to your emotional side, making you sad and wanting to buy that puppy, or buying ice cream because it relates to happiness. Music can also inspire people when wanting to take action, making people stand up for what the organization believes. A catchy tune can also help people remember your product better, making it a higher chance they think about buying it. These are just a few reasons why music can be great for commercial use, and there is still plenty more evidence.
Overall, music can dramatically affect how movies and commercial appear. They can give a strong impression to audience of the product and how well it is thought out. Many people appreciate the consistency and surprises of music, while enjoy the film with it. Many films take into serious considerations of what music to play, as it can dramatically affect the tone, or add comical relief. To have a good soundtrack is based on your genre of movie or your commercial theme. However, the music needs to stay consistent unless it changes to catch the audience off guard. For example, many great horror movies keep you on edge with their music which adds creepiness to the movie, making it better and scarier. Things like this is why planning out music is very important in the movie industry and commercial use.