Music From Movies and TV Shows Has a Bigger Impact on Us Than Many May Believe

Music Editor: Leah Hatherly

I’m a Music minor, so I really can’t escape music. Even before I added Music as my minor, I spent all of my time in the Batte Fine Arts Center, which is home to Wingate’s Music Department. It was a big part of my life prior to my time at Wingate, and being here has only elevated my love for music. There’s just something so beautiful about how music can communicate emotions that we sometimes can’t express with words.

Of course, music is a big part of most everyone’s life. I see so many people around campus with their AirPods in, whether it be walking around, in line at Chick-Fil-A or sitting in the dining hall. Part of what makes horror movies scary is the music. It’s utilized to build suspense. (Though, in my opinion, if you watch horror movies without the sound, they’re just as scary). That’s just the beginning of music. 

One of the things that I love about music is that it’s a way of conveying how you feel when you can’t really find the words. It’s a universal thing. Sure, some music has lyrics, but they don’t always explicitly state how the artist is feeling. It’s not always black and white. Of course some songs do state exactly how the artist is feeling (see “Happy” by Pharell Williams), but there are some that you have to look for a deeper meaning on (honestly, listen to most songs by Taylor Swift or Harry Styles). But it doesn’t get any better for me than listening to orchestral music. There are only instruments utilized and this music has the power to move people to tears or to make someone feel so much joy.

Music is utilized in so many ways. Think about one of your favorite TV shows. In Stranger Things, two of my favorite scenes are enhanced by music. One is the iconic scene of Max running to “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush and Eddie absolutely shredding “Master of Puppets” by Metallica in the Upside Down. To be fair, the main part of those scenes are the music, but my point still stands. Part of the reason that Supernatural is one of my favorite shows is because of the amazing playlist I can make out of the songs they use. Check out Season Two, Episode 12 and go to the 39th minute.. That scene is, without doubt, one of the most iconic moments where music is used in a show. 

So, the next time you watch a movie or TV show, pay closer attention to the music. Think about how it adds to the ambiance of the show. I challenge you to think deeper about what music means to you.