An excellent soundtrack can do so much for a film; strengthening the impact of the story, intensifying the action or helping us connect with characters. At WSUM's Music Journalism Club, we discussed our favorite film soundtracks in preparation for this year's Oscars.
Isaac Hayes, Shaft
HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Theme From Shaft,” “Café Regio's,” “Ellie's Love Theme”
GENRE: Funk, soul, disco, jazz
RIYL: Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Roy Ayers
Isaac Hayes was an unstoppable force in cinema during the 1970s, producing the soundtracks for countless blaxploitation films including Three Tough Guys, Truck Turner and Shaft. The soundtrack for Shaft is my personal favorite of these. “Theme From Shaft,” with its driving four-to-the-floor drum pattern and lush strings, was one of the first real disco hits, receiving a great deal of playtime on club dance floors throughout the 1970s. Countless artists throughout the 1990s and beyond sampled this song on essential hip-hop joints like Young MC's 1989 hit “Know How.” “Café Regio's” is another favorite of mine on the album, a laid-back jazz track filled with relaxed guitar and piano rhythms. From start to finish Shaft is an excellent listening experience that can stand on its own independent from the silver screen.
— Quentin Holle
Various Artists, Black Panther
HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “All The Stars,” “King's Dead,” “Paramedic!”
GENRE: Hip-hop, r&b, neo-soul
RIYL: Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Future
The Black Panther soundtrack hit hard upon its release, coming out alongside one of the biggest movies of the year while containing absolutely formidable star power, with features from Anderson .Paak, Travis Scott, Vince Staples and The Weeknd. The main pull though, is of course Kendrick Lamar, one of the biggest rappers active today. While he isn't credited on every song, he appears on each of them as a common link, either providing a verse, ad-libs or just an occasional line. On the track “Paramedic!” Kendrick provides every ad-lib and chorus in between great rapping from SOB x RBE, all over a hard-hitting beat by DJ Dahi. When talking about this album, you can't forget about “All The Stars”, a massive hit featuring SZAs gorgeous vocals. When it all comes together in the end, it's hard to believe this was just made for a movie. It's extremely cohesive and a great listen that stands its worth entirely separate from the movie it hails from.
— Kian Murphey
Various Artists, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Come On Eileen,” “Asleep,” “Heroes”
GENRE: Alternative, indie pop, rock
RIYL: Joy Division, Talking Heads, My Bloody Valentine
As far as soundtracks go, watching The Perks of Being a Wallflower in middle school was the first time I fell in love with a soundtrack wholeheartedly. Pulling key and classic tracks from David Bowie, The Smiths, Sonic Youth and New Order – this soundtrack aims to captivate from the get-go. Complimenting the highs and lows as these characters navigate high school in the early 1990s, the musical journey is integral to immerse oneself with the lives and journeys of these teens. While the whole soundtrack possesses this urgency, my favorite would have to be “Heroes” by David Bowie. Outstanding in its own right, it contains a specific whimsy and boundless nature that amplifies the intensity of the main character's feelings flawlessly. Despite watching hundreds and hundreds of films since my first encounter with The Perks of Being a Wallflower, this soundtrack has remained a treasured entity for me.
— Stella Opahle
Michael Giacchino, Up
HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Married Life,” “Escape From Muntz Mountain,” “The Spirit of Adventure”
GENRE: Orchestral, cinematic classical
RIYL: Ratatouille, The Incredibles
If someone were to ever ask me about a movie score that has fundamentally changed my life, Up is the one I would tell them about. Even among the other film scores Michael Giacchino has composed, there's just something about this one that stands out. “Married Life” is almost definitely the most well known song from the score and I completely understand why. The simple piano line that is repeated throughout the score is an incredible storytelling device as it echoes back to the montage at the beginning of the movie. All in all this is one of my favorite soundtracks- Michael Giacchino's scores just can not miss.
— Elliot Novak
Various Artists, Chungking Express
HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “California Dreamin',” “Dreams,” “Things in Life”
GENRE: Dream-pop, cantopop, jazz, reggae
RIYL: The Mamas and the Papas, Faye Wong, Nino Rota
No film that I have ever watched has a soundtrack that fits quite as well as Wong Kar-wai's 1994 masterpiece Chungking Express. Throughout the first half of the film, Dennis Brown's “Things in Life” perfectly encompasses the relationship between the main characters of the first half of the film and the emotional state of each protagonist. In the latter half of the film, “California Dreamin'” by the Mamas and the Papas both represents the main character's idealistic life, her unrealistic dream of moving to California and her romantic relationship within the film. Beyond the vocal tracks featured on the album, Roel Garcia and Frankie Chan's instrumental selections are excellent as well. With a rich sound filled with saxophones and synthesizers, the instrumental pieces on the album create a warm and loving atmosphere that intensifies the impact of the film's plot.
— Quentin Holle
Justin Hurwitz & Tim Simonec, Whiplash
HIGHLIGHT TRACKS: “Overture,” “Caravan,” “Accident”
GENRE: Big band, jazz, swing
RIYL: Chick Corea, SEATBELTS
Jazz has always been one of my favorite genres to hear in movies and Whiplash was probably one of the first instances that I actually heard it in the limelight. From the captivating “Overture” to the anxiety-inducing “Accident”, composers Justin Hurwitz and Tim Simonec manage to perfectly encapsulate the trope of “the obsessed artist”. Even though I love all the songs in this movie, my personal favorite would have to be “Caravan”. This song is not only one of the pieces played in the climactic concert scene but also documents some of the best elements of jazz with its playful rhythms and various solo sections. No matter how many movies about jazz come out, it's a safe bet that this soundtrack will forever remain one of my favorites.
— Elliot Novak
