“When a movie has a good soundtrack it leaves an impact, it helps me remember the movie,” says junior Neah Shaw, “I like the nostalgic feeling when I see something or hear something that reminds me of a movie I have seen.” 

     There are many components that make a good movie, but a good soundtrack can make the movie and its scenes more intense. According to Shaw, “a soundtrack is good when it fits the movie, and when the songs correspond with main characters.” Shaw states that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has one of the best movie soundtracks because the music is really upbeat, and the artists featured are “really nice”.

     According to On Stage Blog, “Soundtracks are such a vital part when creating and watching a movie – it helps the director set the tone of a scene and helps the audience member empathize with a character.” Shaw agrees with this and adds, “I don’t want a song to go with a side character when it means nothing to the overall plot of the movie.” 

     Shaw emphasizes that there hasn’t really been a movie that she believed to have a bad soundtrack but that even if it did, the plot, characters, and overall feel is ultimately more important, “I would still watch my favorite movie if it didn’t have its soundtrack because although the soundtrack is important, the other components are still there which makes the movie good.” 

    A great example of how the right song can really make a scene in a movie is in the 1987 film Good Morning Vietnam, “”What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong begins to play – this song hugely contrasts the visuals that accompany during the scene,” states On Stage Blog, “ it highlights the irony of the media’s perception of the war compared to the tragedy of what was taking place.”

     Shaw explains that when a scene has a song that doesn’t amplify what is taking place that it makes the scene look bland, “if a fight scene has an upbeat happy song playing, it makes the fight seem less important.” A good movie soundtrack can really bring life back into a scene which pushes the movie along, Shaw adds. 

      Author Kathryn Kalinak of book “Film Music: A Very Short Introduction” states why music is so vital to movies.  “It establishes setting; it creates atmosphere; it calls attention to elements; it reinforces or foreshadows narrative developments; it gives meaning to a character’s actions or translates their thoughts; and it creates emotion.” Shaw enforces this idea by including that she attaches memories and emotions to every song she hears in a movie.