{"id":34117,"date":"2023-06-26T14:49:09","date_gmt":"2023-06-26T14:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/traklife.com\/featured\/my-top-3-movie-soundtracks\/"},"modified":"2023-09-16T21:54:45","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T21:54:45","slug":"my-top-3-movie-soundtracks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traklife.com\/culture\/my-top-3-movie-soundtracks\/","title":{"rendered":"My Top 3 Movie Soundtracks"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are many elements that go into making a film great, but I believe the most important is the music. The actors may be amazing, the sets breathtaking, but if the wrong music is added, the whole film could be destroyed. Imagine your favorite movie without the music; it just wouldn\u2019t be the same. A great soundtrack not only compliments the visual aesthetic, but it gives it a palpable rhythm. Appropriately placed songs enhance the story by connecting the audience to the characters and transporting them into the setting. There are countless films with great soundtracks but only three that I have watched have perfectly married sound and cinema. <\/p>\n

3: Detroit Rock City (1999)<\/h3>\n

Coming in third on my list, Detroit Rock City<\/i> is undoubtedly one of the most music-centric films ever made and has an absolutely killer soundtrack. Set in 1978, four aspiring rock stars and friends, Hawk, Jam, Trip and Lex, score tickets to see their favorite band, KISS. Unfortunately for the group, Jam\u2019s uptight, religious mother uncovers their plans, punishes Jam and sets the tickets ablaze. As the concert draws near and tickets sell out, the friends desperately attempt to find a way to attend while dodging numerous obstacles in their way. The movie is the essence of rock and roll and each song perfectly compliments the chaos of every scene. As expected, there are a lot of KISS songs peppered throughout the film but it still manages to include a wide array of genres. Throughout the movie, the rock-loving teens get into lots of different situations including physical altercations, breaking out of school and even falling in love and the music for each is impeccably matched. Some of my favorite songs from the soundtrack include \u201cSchool Days\u201d by The Runaways, \u201cBoogie Shoes\u201d by KC & The Sunshine Band, and \u201cJailbreak\u201d by Thin Lizzy. I personally loved the fact that although the movie was made in the late 90\u2019s, the creators decided to stick with music from the 70\u2019s which helped create authenticity and made the film more relatable to multiple generations of rock fans. The movie is a great example of how music can fuse with film to create a unique identity that the two elements couldn\u2019t do alone. Detroit Rock City<\/i> is a great watch for any fan of rock and roll, raunchy comedies and of course, KISS. <\/p>\n

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Detroit Rock City (1999) New Line Cinema<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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2: Valley Girl (1983)<\/h3>\n

Valley Girl may be second on my list for soundtracks but it is number one on my favorite movies of all time list. A loose adaptation of Shakespeare\u2019s Romeo and Juliet<\/i>, this 80\u2019s rom-com tells an updated story of star-crossed lovers Julie and Randy and the forces tearing them apart. Popular valley girl Julie meets Hollywood punk Randy during a chance encounter at a high school house party. Although their friends disapprove, the two begin a whirlwind romance but struggle with their wildly different social statuses. For a film about contrasting and conflicting characters, the soundtrack is very important, as you have to reflect the differences but also make sure it is cohesive. The film does an excellent job of distinguishing Julie and the pastel Valley kids from Randy and his trouble-making crew. Songs like \u201cJukebox\u201d by The Flirts and \u201cGirls Like Me\u201d by Bonnie Hayes bring a poppy and bubbly vibe to Julie and her friends while having sleepovers and shopping at the mall. On the other side of the spectrum, songs \u201cI La La La Love You\u201d by Pat Travers and \u201cAngst In My Pants\u201d by Sparks, reflect the harsh and impulsive Randy. Another wonderful aspect about this soundtrack is how heavily nostalgic it is. In my opinion, the 80\u2019s were the golden age of music, so to have a movie soundtrack with so many hits is unique in itself. Perhaps the best scene of the movie is the montage of Julie and Randy falling in love but what makes it so amazing and magical is the perfectly placed track, \u201cI Melt with You\u201d by Modern English. The lyrics match the character\u2019s emotions and conveys the feeling of falling in love. When the spark strikes, nothing else matters at the moment and the world quite literally stops as you melt into love. If you’re looking for the best 80\u2019s chick flick with an addictive throwback soundtrack, check out Valley Girl<\/i>.<\/p>\n

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Valley Girl (1983) MGM Studios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)<\/h3>\n

I absolutely cannot say enough good things about Scott Pilgrim vs. the World<\/i>. For those who may not know, the film is an adaptation of Canadian cartoonist and musician Bryan Lee O\u2019Malley\u2019s comic series of the same title. The main character, Scott Pilgrim, is a bass guitarist in a garage-rock band who hangs out with his friends and high school girlfriend. But when Ramona Flowers catches his eye, Scott is determined to win her heart. The only catch is that he must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her. The cinematography, the casting, character design, and animations were phenomenal. While all aspects of the production are great, what really puts this movie over the top for me is its amazing soundtrack. The soundtrack gained a bit of critical acclaim after the film’s release and includes tracks from Metric, Beck, the Rolling Stones and more. What is even more impressive about the soundtrack is that Beck composed four original songs for Scott\u2019s fictional band, Sex Bob-Omb. The songs are surprisingly  catchy and match the band’s aesthetic \u2014 it kind of makes you sad that they aren\u2019t a real rock band. When a movie soundtrack makes it into your regular music rotation, you know it\u2019s something special. If you want a movie that delivers it all, I highly recommend watching Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The awesome soundtrack is worth a listen and can be found on your favorite music streaming service.<\/p>\n