Under The Music Influence
I was recently
asked a question through Ask SD Tracy Harper that was too good to let go with a
few words.
Being a former Pro DJ, Music was, is and will always be an important
passion in my life. What the question did was gave me a new view on something
everyone realize, but rarely utilize or completely overlook. What this person
had a question on was using music to set their mood before they write was it a
good thing or bad? I dearly hope parents around the world aren’t going to start
making picket signs with my logo with a red circle and a slash in its center
when they hear this (No Disclaimer Needed),
but it’s a good thing. But, hold your horses’ young buckaroo. I’m not saying
blasting music while you are doing your homework, or pumping yourself up to
read Shakespeare is a good thing (although
some classical music played at a barely audible level can cause you to
concentrate and not pass out between the THEEs and THOWs.) What I am saying
is that music can help you change moods, focus on a particular topic and is an
excellent way to relax and reduce stress. I didn’t have to think hard about
this topic and three things came to mind. What part does music plays in
influencing culture, the cinema, and in writing.
Music’s influence in
Culture
Some of my
favorite artists are BB King, Janis Joplin, Minnie Riperton, Cheap Trick, Eric
Clapton, Queen, Prince, Run DMC, Parliament, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Elton
John, The Doors and the spectrum continues. My point is, depending on one
generation trying to separate themselves from the previous or draw a line in
the sand that marks the end of what they consider music or musical talent to
the next generation, it has always been markers of cultural change. Music and
culture have always been close cousins to one another, and shall always be the
string that binds us all together in one way or another. It doesn’t matter if
it is political, spiritual or physical, Music as both separated and joined one
generation to the next through every range of emotion no matter if the listener
is newborn to a respected elder. This is most evident in today’s musical taste
of remixed of genres, styles, tempo and languages. How many times have you
found yourself singing along to some catchy tune when you didn’t understand a
single word being said or thought you understood. (Look up the lyrics to Elton John’s Bennie and the Jets and freak
yourself out) You may not even understand the language being sung, but you
do feel the emotion of the singers and the music itself. And yes, music is an
emotion. In most cases, it is just as important as visual story telling
Music’s influence in
Cinematic
If anyone tells you a musical score or original Sound Track (OST) isn’t as important as a good story or great actors, try and watch a none dialogue scene with the sound turned off. Horror films are no longer scary without the beating heart or eerie melody or the harsh violin strikes (Hello Psycho Shower Scene). Think about it, how would your favorite movie most memorable seen be if it didn’t have that galvanizing score lighting the spark to your emotions or imagination. What would the head banging while driving scene from Wayne's World be without Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody or The Breakfast Club’s Simple Minds - Don't you Forget About Me. Just look at the pandemonium Demi Lovato’s Let It Go from the movie Frozen has done. And this isn’t just for the big screen where a soundtrack can influence generations as well as hearts. Shows like M.A.S.H., Firefly, Fresh Prince of Bell-Air and (my kids will kill me if I don’t mention) Pocket Monsters or better known as Pokémon. As you can see music is a very important part of the cinematic universe and there are a few composers who are sometimes overlooked, but have influenced generations from the background. Composers like Hans Zimmer, John Barry, Akria Ifukube, Bernard Herrmann, and what would the epic space adventure Star Wars, Jaws and Indiana Jones would be without John Williams? As for me, my personal favorites are Max Steiner, Lalo Schifrin and Henry Mancini. Now the big question is does music affects other arts or other arts effects music. My answer: They are symbiotic (equally depended)
If anyone tells you a musical score or original Sound Track (OST) isn’t as important as a good story or great actors, try and watch a none dialogue scene with the sound turned off. Horror films are no longer scary without the beating heart or eerie melody or the harsh violin strikes (Hello Psycho Shower Scene). Think about it, how would your favorite movie most memorable seen be if it didn’t have that galvanizing score lighting the spark to your emotions or imagination. What would the head banging while driving scene from Wayne's World be without Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody or The Breakfast Club’s Simple Minds - Don't you Forget About Me. Just look at the pandemonium Demi Lovato’s Let It Go from the movie Frozen has done. And this isn’t just for the big screen where a soundtrack can influence generations as well as hearts. Shows like M.A.S.H., Firefly, Fresh Prince of Bell-Air and (my kids will kill me if I don’t mention) Pocket Monsters or better known as Pokémon. As you can see music is a very important part of the cinematic universe and there are a few composers who are sometimes overlooked, but have influenced generations from the background. Composers like Hans Zimmer, John Barry, Akria Ifukube, Bernard Herrmann, and what would the epic space adventure Star Wars, Jaws and Indiana Jones would be without John Williams? As for me, my personal favorites are Max Steiner, Lalo Schifrin and Henry Mancini. Now the big question is does music affects other arts or other arts effects music. My answer: They are symbiotic (equally depended)
Music’s Influence in
Writing.
Understanding that music is deeply linked to emotions, it would also be logical to say that it is just as deeply linked to writing and vice-a-versa. It is all a matter of inspiration, perspective and need. You can say with very little objection that it is a valid tool to help with writer's block and more helpful and healthier than using other chemically induced inspiration. This isn’t something new or groundbreaking. For me, I learn using music to affect my emotions to obtain the perfect outcome in writing from a professor during a creative writer’s course I took while in the service (stationed in Greece). Personally, I rarely use music to influence my writing (except on special occasions) because I end up writing more material than necessary. For instance, we had a writing project to script a story to take the reader on the brink of shedding tears, then just as fast bring them to uncontrollable laughter or joy. We had to receive a passing grade for the first part before we could finish the story.
My story was about a little boy whose father had gone off to war (I was in the military after all) and before his father left, he told his son when he truly needed him he would be there. For two whole days I listened to nothing but songs of love and life lost to write the first part of the story. I nearly flunked the entire course because I had my teacher bawling and she wasn’t have way through my story. Reason; the boy’s father was missing in action and presumed dead, mother life spirals out of control and he had to deal with nightmares of his father’s promise every night throughout his life. Ending; the boy becomes a doctor and joins Doctors without Borders at the time POWs are released from captivity. One of the POWs was near death and he was the only doctor capable of saving the man’s life. He takes his father home. Songs used in part 1; (What I could remember) Phil Collins Against All Odds, Crying - Don McLean, Richard Marx- Right here waiting and Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2U (written by Prince). Songs used in Part 2; Blondie - Call me, Soft Cell- Tainted Love, Duran Duran - The Reflex , David Bowie - Let's Dance, Soul II Soul - Back To Life, Nena - 99 Luftballons The German Version and Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World. As you can see, it took a lot of upbeat music to get me out of one hell of a funk. Perfect reason using music can be both inspiring and heartbreaking. But, no matter how you look at it, we’ve has been, is and shall be Under The Musical Influence. SD Tracy Harper
Understanding that music is deeply linked to emotions, it would also be logical to say that it is just as deeply linked to writing and vice-a-versa. It is all a matter of inspiration, perspective and need. You can say with very little objection that it is a valid tool to help with writer's block and more helpful and healthier than using other chemically induced inspiration. This isn’t something new or groundbreaking. For me, I learn using music to affect my emotions to obtain the perfect outcome in writing from a professor during a creative writer’s course I took while in the service (stationed in Greece). Personally, I rarely use music to influence my writing (except on special occasions) because I end up writing more material than necessary. For instance, we had a writing project to script a story to take the reader on the brink of shedding tears, then just as fast bring them to uncontrollable laughter or joy. We had to receive a passing grade for the first part before we could finish the story.
My story was about a little boy whose father had gone off to war (I was in the military after all) and before his father left, he told his son when he truly needed him he would be there. For two whole days I listened to nothing but songs of love and life lost to write the first part of the story. I nearly flunked the entire course because I had my teacher bawling and she wasn’t have way through my story. Reason; the boy’s father was missing in action and presumed dead, mother life spirals out of control and he had to deal with nightmares of his father’s promise every night throughout his life. Ending; the boy becomes a doctor and joins Doctors without Borders at the time POWs are released from captivity. One of the POWs was near death and he was the only doctor capable of saving the man’s life. He takes his father home. Songs used in part 1; (What I could remember) Phil Collins Against All Odds, Crying - Don McLean, Richard Marx- Right here waiting and Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2U (written by Prince). Songs used in Part 2; Blondie - Call me, Soft Cell- Tainted Love, Duran Duran - The Reflex , David Bowie - Let's Dance, Soul II Soul - Back To Life, Nena - 99 Luftballons The German Version and Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World. As you can see, it took a lot of upbeat music to get me out of one hell of a funk. Perfect reason using music can be both inspiring and heartbreaking. But, no matter how you look at it, we’ve has been, is and shall be Under The Musical Influence. SD Tracy Harper
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