Most of us here take the beauty and supreme convenience that Netflix gives us for granted. I can assume that 2 of every 5 people have submerged themselves into a Netflix series or movie without even having the music that comes with the content put into their conscious. Music is what brings animation and filmmaking to life. It goes without saying, without any soundtrack, there’s no film or television show. We tend to put together filmmaking and music together because it makes sense to us. Simply put, music inside film makes it seemingly real and normal for us and worth enjoying with a friendly companion.
Aside from the dialogue, every Netflix series and film has a different soundtrack that in part, helps narrate the story easily for the viewer to understand.
For example, in “Lost”, the soundtrack is solely comprised of eerie and mysterious-sounding melodies that affects the viewer by pushing him or her to sense that something may happen to his or her favorite character. In the newly-released Netflix series, “Narcos”, the soundtrack is mostly covered with authentic Latin music that matches the location of where the series is taking place, and the dialogue of which most of the influential characters are speaking in. The rural and authentic Latin music of Colombia ties the soundtrack of “Narcos” together and simultaneously pulls the viewer into thinking that he or she is in the same world and era as the show.
Shying away from the instrumental and raw soundtrack music, we turn to a particular Netflix show that relies on a soundtrack substantially on rich and smooth vocals that makes you imagine that you’re standing a smoky dinner lobby scattered with a velvet red carpet, chairs and tables made of rich mahogany which are occupied by extremely well dressed men loudly discussing business deals and politics. Immediately, any person would correctly guess which show I’m referring to…Mad Men. The soundtrack of Mad Men gives us a taste of what was it like being a smooth, flawless ad man like Don Draper in the 1960’s on Madison Avenue. I’m talking about Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett (in his prime).
Of course there are all the “rom com” movies that have your usual soundtracks that include the essentials, like the “Bridget Jones Diary” or “Along Came Polly” movies that have your cliche rom com songs like”Everlasting Love” by Jamie Cullum or “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” by Barry White. Rom com soundtracks with this type of song choice takes the viewer through the main character’s journey to love and happiness with the “perfect guy”. It’s soundtracks like these that really forces your mindset to continuously take yourself away from all your cares and worries, and just makes you laugh and love together with the cast throughout the film.
Last but not least, there are soundtracks from kids’ and teens’ movies that really builds the film from the ground up. Everybody knows what I’m taking about…in “Shrek” there’s one song that I always get up and dance to and that’s “I’m A Believer” by Smashmouth. The soundtrack of “Shrek” completely gives the film a whole new makeover as the songs brings in the audience and interacts with him, because most of the audience already know what the song is.
It’s really important for music to be a part of the film because it makes the actual film come alive and it relates to the viewer as well.
As legendary filmmaker George Lucas once said “the sound and music are 50% of the entertainment in a movie”.
