Sometimes a song sounds like it’s illustrating your life. Oftentimes, a song really does illustrate a movie scene. It’s incredible how different movies would play out if they didn’t have the words and melodies that set the scene for us. Every song has some purpose in a movie, but the following ones definitely help to transform the scene from a simple fragment of a movie to a work of art.
1. “Mad World” — Gary Jules — Originally a song by the band Tears for Fears, Jules covered this song for the film “Donnie Darko.” The movie’s ending scene is confusing for the audience as well as the characters involved, and this delicately reminiscent and depressing song seems to provide comfort and reasoning with the amount of confusion stirring. The melody played by the piano and Jules’ longing voice are elements that really make this scene and the move last in a viewer’s mind for quite some time.
2. “The Blower’s Daughter” — Damien Rice — In a film about love and the constant search for it — even while in a relationship — nothing gets the theme of “Closer” across as well as this simple yet incredibly moving song. Violin, simple guitar and the voice of Damien Rice fuel raw emotion and vulnerable feelings related to love that the characters in the film experience. It’s hard to explain the wave of emotion invoked by the combination of the scenes shown and the use of this song, but it definitely inspires some enormous emotions.
3. “Where Is My Mind” — Pixies — “Fight Club” is a cult classic that gets into the minds of viewers with every view. Some of the scenes in the movie are hard to comprehend and discuss issues much larger than the ones seemingly at hand. I will say (while doing my best not to give anything away) that at one point there is a major explosion, and this alternative rock song takes something as big as a building exploding and internalizes it within the audience. Playing off of the theme of the movie and the song lyrics, the song makes one question if his mind is correctly comprehending the complex plot, or if what one thinks is reality or reliable is actually either.
4. “Let Go” — Frou Frou — Singer and alternative vocalist Imogen Heap provides the vocals for the indie pop/electronic group Frou Frou. “Let Go” is a song about not holding back, about opening one’s eyes and minds to new possibilities while closing some doors that one left behind. This ties in well with the overall theme of “Garden State,” a popular coming of age film for the current generation. The lighthearted and bubbly nature of the song makes giant life decisions and leaps seem almost as lighthearted and easy to make.
Movies are an escape for many, much like music. When the two are combined, they make each other even better than before. While a lot of movie themes inspire song subjects, a lot of songs make movies memorable.