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Post by Vits on Sept 14, 2018 20:08:51 GMT
Do you think there is one?
I started to wonder about this after reading 2 articles. One was about James Cameron originally not wanting MY HEART WILL GO ON in TITANIC. The other one was about how a lot of musicals adapted from the stage have a new track just so they can get a Best Song Oscar nomination.
There are many elements that are necessary in a movie. That includes the music score. Whenever a movie doesn't have it, it's because the director is trying to convey something. But what about theme songs? If the director wants a song to be played during the opening and/or end credits as a way to represent the movie... of if they want to place a song during a certain scene... the director can use an already existing song. Yes, there are rights to get, but assuming that's not an issue, the director has to ask themselves "Do I choose a song that already exists or do I hire composers to write a new one?"
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Post by moviebuffbrad on Sept 14, 2018 20:46:18 GMT
Not "necessary", per se. No movie is lesser for not having a theme song, though some movies are better for having one.
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Sept 14, 2018 22:49:25 GMT
It's not a necessity, but it's always a major plus in my book (unless said theme sucks - in which case it's a massive minus).
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Post by Vits on Sept 15, 2018 16:53:09 GMT
it's always a major plus in my book Why? |
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Post by ck100 on Sept 15, 2018 17:17:30 GMT
I don't think a movie necessarily needs one although it helps to make it stand out.
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Post by johnspartan on Sept 15, 2018 17:18:44 GMT
Memorable scores add a ton to improve a movie. They are non existent to movies of the past TWENTY years. Come at me Hanz Zimmer fans!
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Post by vegalyra on Sept 15, 2018 19:53:43 GMT
I would argue one franchise that theme songs are essential for are James Bond films. Some are weaker than others but where would the films be without the iconic James Bond theme.
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Post by deembastille on Sept 15, 2018 20:09:47 GMT
there are some movies that kind of need a theme song. the ghost busters one was needed because they were a new business in nyc and that was partially used to promote it within the movie.
I am, however, unsure on the 're-makes' or 're-invents' using the same theme/music. superman returns is a medium favorite of mine but they used the CAN YOU READ MY MIND song and Ms Kidder was nowhere in sight! thank god they didn't use the SUPERMAN OVERTURE though.
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Post by Archelaus on Sept 15, 2018 20:20:05 GMT
While I won't say it's a necessity, but a theme song can be a powerful storytelling tool and when used properly, it can really benefit a movie. Think Star Wars. Not everyone held a high opinion of the film while making it, but when John Williams composed the theme that opened the film, it gave the film a victorious, symphony-like musical sound that gave the film some weight. I don't think Star Wars would be as popular if not for the musical themes.
In the end, they are essential for character symbolism and introducing the mood of the film.
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Sept 16, 2018 0:21:35 GMT
it's always a major plus in my book Why? Memorable scores add to a movie. A great tune can generate a powerful emotional reaction. Imagine Halloween (1978) without John Carpenter's iconic theme song. Or Star Wars. Or Ghostbusters. Or Back to the Future All of those movies and many others would have been worse off without the accompanying theme music. It's part of what makes them so memorable. |
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Post by Vits on Sept 16, 2018 10:50:50 GMT
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Post by koskiewicz on Sept 16, 2018 14:59:48 GMT
I, for one, never understood why the film "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valens" did not include Gene Pitney's masterful vocal of the same title. It could be Pitney's song came out after the film.
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Post by vegalyra on Sept 16, 2018 15:19:11 GMT
Okay, gotcha. I'm still thinking the James Bond films would be much different without their opening titles music (with lyrics)... I realize Dr. No and On Her Majesty's Secret Service just had music with no lyrics, but the rest all had pretty memorable songs... Thunderball, Live and Let Die, For Your Eyes Only, etc. Some of them still get radio airplay even today. Thematically they play in the background during much of the films (sans lyrics). |
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Post by twothousandonemark on Sept 16, 2018 15:40:52 GMT
Sung songs? I don't think they're a necessity at all whatsoever. Titanic got it right putting Celine in the end credits.
A signature audio track certainly helps. There are excellent movies like Once Upon a Time in the West or LOTR TTT where there seems to be more nuanced themed music for people & places rather than the film as a whole.
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Post by jamesbamesy on Sept 16, 2018 18:28:22 GMT
I guess to have a lyrical song, it further explains the film's message. That's the best I got.
If we're talking about scores, then it'd be to get you in the mood of the feature. But that isn't what we're talking about, so...
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Sept 17, 2018 4:06:06 GMT
Oh, I see. Well, that's different then. Songs with vocals and lyrics aren't typically in any way essential for a movie. The main exceptions to this would be a number of classic James Bond movies. |
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Post by Fox in the Snow on Sept 17, 2018 4:56:41 GMT
I rarely think they are a necessity to the artistry of the film. In most cases they're just another way of promoting the film.
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Post by cybajedi on Sept 17, 2018 5:05:17 GMT
Kenny Loggins loves a theme song or two.
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Post by Vits on Sept 17, 2018 10:16:25 GMT
Songs with vocals and lyrics aren't typically in any way essential for a movie. The main exceptions to this would be a number of classic James Bond movies. Why is it different with those movies? I mean, I know they're a tradition, but things like the gun barrel sequence are also tradition yet they're not used in every single installment. In most cases they're just another way of promoting the film. True... although I think there's been theme songs that weren't released before the movie's release. |
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Post by moviemouth on Sept 17, 2018 14:44:37 GMT
Songs with vocals and lyrics aren't typically in any way essential for a movie. The main exceptions to this would be a number of classic James Bond movies. I mean, I know they're a tradition, but things like the gun barrel sequence are also tradition yet they're not used in every single installment. In most cases they're just another way of promoting the film. True... although I think there's been theme songs that weren't released before the movie's release. It serves a much larger purpose in the James Bond movies. They add to the personality of the franchise in the same way the opening credits sequences themselves do. |
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