As Nietzsche once said: “Without music, life would be a mistake”. Though we’re not sure of the implications this has for the hearing impaired – the spirit of the message – that art gives lives meaning persists. Music reaches us in every part of our lives, and the entertainment industry is no different. It isn’t something many of us think about, but the forms of music used in the myriad forms of this landscape vary greatly. Here, we explore these forms and the reasoning behind the modifications they employ.
The Base Form
The purest form of music is that in its original and recorded states. These are performances where the artist’s vision can be captured and delivered without compromise. From going to live performances to putting on a vinyl, playing an MP3, or streaming on Spotify, society regards this form of interaction with music as the most direct and the freest from interference.
Music in Movies and TV
When moving into a visual medium, music is taken from the forefront and placed in the backseat. Rather than being the entire driving force, the music in movies and TV serves to augment what happens on screen. Here, it captures elements like the character’s mood or the emotion of the setting.
In movies and TV, traditional recorded music is usually heavily modified when it appears on screen. Often, we’ll hear the chorus or the most evocative part of a song before it fades out.
There are also elements like leitmotifs or smaller created tracks which apply an original feel to the on-screen action. Similar approaches are found in original orchestral or band tracks, which can tie closer to the film’s theme and message than already existing music borrowed from an exterior source.
Music in Other Sectors
Music in iGaming can find itself in an interesting place highly dependent on the type of game. Slot games online offer a range of examples here, both in original and licensed music. Original slot titles like Tiki Fruits and Wolf Gold use shorter original tracks to help players remain engaged in their themes. On the other hand, there are titles like The Goonies and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, which adapt tracks from their namesakes to build a stronger connection to the original property.
Similarly, Youtube and other social media videos may rely on short or repetitive instrumentals. This is perfect for longer forms like YouTube videos and slot games, where a person might be consuming the media for long periods of time. Also, the lack of lyrics may help users be able to focus on the content and not get distracted. Depending on the platform, this can be a piece of public domain music or something more original and paid for by the creators.
One of the strengths of music lies in its flexibility, and it’s this flexibility that makes it useful in other forms of media. Whether looking at movies, TV, or games, there’s a lot of room for exploration and experimentation. Flexibility gives artists room to explore and profit, it gives us more of what we love, and perhaps just as importantly, it helps us justify the price tag of our EarPods.
