In past posts, I've frequently alluded to the fact that music possesses the ability to "name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable." For instance, when I'm struggling with life's greatest problems, I often find comfort and vindication in the sound of the keys upon a piano, or the strum of a guitar. Yet, being able to evoke such emotions within the human race can be a difficult and sometimes impervious task for composers to accomplish. This is especially true within movie scores, as musicians must compete with additional sources of visual and auditory stimulation. So while I've made it my mission to highlight the films that have toppled said threshold, I must admit that I've been a tad selfish in my selections. All of my choices have featured soundtracks with vocals, totally ignoring my love of EDM music and the synthesizers that accompany it. Therefore, my selection for this week's Music & Film series is none other than Tron: Legacy.
Composed entirely by Daft Punk, the Tron: Legacy soundtrack took nearly two years to complete, and features an impressive 85 piece electronic orchestra! Yet while many of their hits can be described as an 'electric powerhouse', the clip above shows off their talents in 'trip-hop' as well. The beat could not go any better with the scene at hand, as it accurately reflects the seductive synchrony of the Sirens. Plus, it includes one of the best one liners in the entire movie, as Sam asks "What am I supposed to do?" In response, one of the Sirens tells him "Survive," sending both a shiver up the spine and simultaneously illustrating the seriousness of the situation.
Packing a little more punch, "The Game Has Changed" features an attractive beat that deserves to be included on anyone's workout playlist. Having grown up on classic arcade games such as Pac-Man, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Battlestar Galactica, I couldn't help but feel but feel a little nostalgic as I watched Sam embark on his quest through this spectacular, futuristic world. It all seems so real, mainly due to the brilliance of the visuals and Daft Punk's golden composition. Plus, it's almost eerie how well the song matches up with the dynamics of the Light-Bike scene.
Although I was raised a peace-loving individual, I feel as though I have to take a karate class or get into a fight after watching this movie-music compilation. Each successful song intensifies the mood beyond my wildest expectation, and truly gets the blood flowing. Thus, while Tron: Legacy has it's stunning visuals and stellar accompaniment to rely on, Michael Sheen's performance as Castor/Zuse acts as the cherry on the top of a delicious sundae. His sporadic, yet flamboyant behavior can be classified as a true "scene stealer," is it represents one of the only times that the acting outshines the musical score. Yet don't let this deter you from seeing the movie, I promise you won't be disappointed.
Despite being entirely unrelated to the film, I simply had to include one of Daft Punk's classic jams "Around The World." Originally released in 1997, this song has managed to withstand the tests of time and provide a marvelous example for all other EDM artists to follow. Not to mention, this music video used to give me nightmares (I always thought the Frankenstein characters would catch up to the Synchronized Lady Swimmers on the stairs), and features a top Youtube comment of "Says three words...lyrics still better than Lil Wayne." Not too shabby for a song that's over fifteen years old!
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