The never-ending scroll of choices on your streaming service can be a bit overwhelming when you’re trying to decide what to watch next. Here’s an idea, though: what if you could learn a lot about a show from the soundtrack before you even hit play? It is possible. A series’ vibe, genre, emotional depth, and even overall quality can all be inferred from the music, which is more than just background noise.
Consider it an early look at the essence of the show. The way we experience & understand a story is greatly influenced by soundtracks, which are much more than just a nice extra. They set the mood, affect our feelings, and may even hint at future developments.
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Ignoring them is like trying to enjoy a painting in the dark; you’re losing out on a whole aspect. The blueprint for emotions. The universal language of emotion is music.
While a melancholic piano melody suggests melancholy or introspection, a soaring orchestral piece conveys grandeur or high drama. Tension or contemporary action is screamed by a strong electronic beat. The soundtrack can tell you whether a show is going for heart-pounding thrills, lighthearted comedy, or tear-jerking drama before you’ve seen a single frame. It’s like a straight line to the series’ emotional core.
The music is your best filter if you’re feeling a certain emotion. hints about genres. Every genre has a standard musical vocabulary. Science fiction frequently employs epic orchestral scores & atmospheric synths.
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Dissonant noises, abrupt stabs, or unsettling, simple compositions are the hallmarks of horror. Upbeat pop or indie music is typically featured in romantic comedies. Grand, sweeping scores or instruments appropriate to the era are frequently used in historical dramas.
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You can frequently identify the genre with surprising accuracy by listening to even a brief clip of the soundtrack. This keeps you from unintentionally getting sucked into a serious drama when all you wanted was a lighthearted sitcom. Production excellence and meticulousness.
A good soundtrack is neither inexpensive nor simple. Expert musicians, sound engineers, & composers are needed. A series that makes significant investments in its musical score frequently demonstrates a production that is meticulous in every way.
It may be a warning sign that other elements of the production are hurried or low-budget if the music sounds generic, stock, or poorly integrated. On the other hand, a show created with care and ambition is frequently indicated by a distinctive, memorable, and skillfully written score. Although it’s a good indicator, it’s not a perfect rule.
Setting and Cultural Indicators. When and where a story is set can be inferred from music. You can be transported to a different culture or era by using traditional instruments, particular musical genres, or even the language of sung lyrics. While a series set in medieval Europe would have a more orchestral or folk-inspired sound, one set in 1980s America would probably have pop and rock with a lot of synths. The soundtrack can serve as a useful guide if you’re searching for something with a particular cultural flavor.
To employ this tactic, you don’t have to be an expert musician. To get a sense of a show’s musical identity without having to watch the entire thing, there are a number of simple methods. Trailer Songs: Your Initial Tryout. The music from a show is most likely first heard in the trailer.
Here, pay special attention. The music selections in trailers are deliberate and painstakingly created. They are intended to capture the spirit of the program in less than two minutes. recognizing the main themes in music.
Keep an ear out for recurrent themes or noticeable styles. Trailers frequently feature the show’s central theme or a key section of its score. Does it sound epic, intimate, eerie, or humorous? Observe the genre and time period of any licensed pop songs used in a trailer. Are they contemporary hip-hop, classic rock, angsty indie, or something else? This choice typically fits the tone and demographic of the show.
Recognizing Original vs. Music under license. Is the trailer full of well-known pop songs or does it have an original score?
Programs that use a lot of licensed pop music, like Stranger Things, Yellowjackets, or Ginny and Georgia, tend to lean toward nostalgia, particular eras, or a certain trendy style. A more cinematic, frequently epic, or intensely character-driven story is typically indicated by original scores (such as those of Game of Thrones or The Crown). Although neither is intrinsically superior, they convey distinct information about the style & tone of the show. Snippets and previews from streaming services. Short “next up” segments or previews are available on many streaming services. They occasionally play some of the show’s music, but they are typically visual.
Don’t just brush them off; pay attention. Leveraging Autoplay for a Quick Listen. Allow a few seconds to pass if a streaming service automatically plays a trailer or a brief video. The music may give you an idea even in the absence of the complete visual context. These auto-previews frequently feature music that reflects the primary theme or overall tone of the program.
platforms for dedicated soundtracks. Here’s where you can truly get started. The soundtracks for the majority of popular series, particularly those with original scores or well-known licensed tracklists, will be accessible on music streaming services. YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify.
Look up the show’s title on websites like YouTube, Apple Music, or Spotify. There will be official soundtrack albums for a lot of shows. Listen to a few songs, especially the first few or the main theme. If the music is captivating enough to stand alone, that’s a clear indication of a well-produced series. Does it catch your attention? Does it sound like something you’d enjoy listening to on its own?
Finding the Composer. If the name of a particular composer is attached (e.g. The g. Look them up (Ramin Djawadi for Game of Thrones, Ludwig Göransson for The Mandalorian). Typically, composers have a unique style.
It’s likely that you will enjoy that composer’s most recent work if you enjoy their previous compositions. This is similar to picking an actor or director in that having a known quantity can be comforting. Studying music supervision. A show’s music supervisor or the music selection process may occasionally be mentioned in an article or interview.
Deeper understanding of the show’s goals may result from this. Composers and music supervisors were interviewed. A simple Google search such as “[Show Name] soundtrack interview” frequently returns articles in which the composers, music supervisors, or showrunners talk about their musical preferences. They may discuss the difficulties they encountered, the reasons they chose a particular genre, or how they created a particular mood.
You can learn a lot about the show’s overall creative vision & whether or not it suits your tastes from this insider viewpoint. It’s important to comprehend the message that a piece of music conveys, not just whether you like it or not. Different messages are conveyed by different musical elements. Both orchestration & instrumentation.
The instruments in use have a lot to say. significant orchestral scores. suggests fantasy, historical settings, high drama, or epic scale. Imagine expansive vistas, spectacular conflicts, and intensely felt moments. It frequently suggests a serious, possibly even conventional, approach to storytelling as well as a high production value.
Electronic sounds and synthesizers. suggests dystopian futures, sci-fi, contemporary thrillers, or nostalgic retro (particularly synths from the 1980s and 1990s). It may evoke suspense, enigma, or a feeling of distance. A more modern or stylized style is frequently indicated by a heavy synth score.
Folk instruments and acoustics. frequently denotes stories set in particular cultural contexts, period pieces (particularly those from before the 20th century), or intimate dramas. Warmth, melancholy, or unadulterated authenticity are some of the feelings it can arouse. Consider television programs that focus on relationships, the natural world, or simpler times.
Swing, Jazz, and Blues. can allude to urban environments, particular historical eras (especially the early to mid-20th century), or a more sophisticated tone that might be gritty or rebellious. It frequently suggests complicated characters & subtle storylines.
Rhythm & Tempo. The music’s beat and tempo are effective mood-setters. fast-paced, motivating rhythms. Show a lot of energy, humor, suspense, or action.
It advances the story and may arouse fear or excitement. A similar kinetic energy is probably present in the show if the soundtrack inspires you to move. slow and deliberate tempos.
Introspection, drama, melancholy, or an emphasis on emotional depth are some suggestions. It gives the viewer a chance to pause & think. Character growth and emotional resonance are frequently given precedence over quick plot development in these programs.
irregular or fragmented rhythms. frequently employed to evoke uneasiness, discomfort, or confusion in avant-garde works, psychological thrillers, and horror. Like the story itself, it’s meant to keep you off balance. Both harmony & melody.
The arrangement and interactions of the notes. Memorable and catchy tunes. suggests a show with a strong sense of identity, iconic moments, or widespread appeal.
Consider major themes that become ingrained in your memory & come to represent the show itself. These frequently appear in shows that aim to gain widespread recognition & popularity. Atonal or dissonant harmony. a defining feature of stories about psychological breakdown, experimental drama, or horror.
It is intended to arouse anxiety, tension, & a sense of wrongdoing. If the music seems “off,” you’re likely to be disturbed by the show. Major versus.
Little Keys. Minor keys typically sound melancholy, enigmatic, or solemn, while major keys typically sound joyful, radiant, or victorious. This is a simple yet useful way to gage the general emotional tone of the program. A performance that mostly employs minor keys could be more moving or dramatic. Use of Quiet. Another musical element is silence.
Quiet moments and strategic pauses. When a score knows when to stop playing music, it can work incredibly well. It allows for raw emotion, dialogue, or sound design to take center stage.
Shows that use silence deliberately often have confidence in their acting and writing, and aren’t afraid of quiet intensity. This indicates a sophisticated storytelling technique. You can use it to determine whether a show is right for you in addition to simply describing the music.
Red Flags: When the music may be warning you to avoid certain situations. Certain musical cues may indicate that a performance isn’t quite what you’re looking for or may be of lower quality. either stock or generic music. If the music sounds like something you’ve heard a thousand times before in commercials or cheap documentaries, it might indicate a lack of originality or a limited budget. While not always a deal-breaker, it suggests the production might not have invested heavily in its artistic elements. This may occasionally result in a less memorable viewing experience.
excessively recurring themes. While a good theme can be iconic, if the same short loop or motif plays incessantly without development or variation, it can become grating. This could indicate a lack of musical creativity or sloppy scoring. A truly good score evolves with the narrative. Mismatched Tone.
If the music in the trailer or a sample sounds completely out of sync with the visuals or the implied genre, it’s a huge red flag. For instance, a serious drama trailer with overly upbeat, cheesy pop music might suggest a lack of coherence in the production’s vision, or an attempt to mislead the audience about the show’s true nature. Absence of a unique identity.
If you listen to a few tracks & they sound utterly forgettable or could belong to any number of other shows, it might mean the series itself lacks a strong unique identity. Scores for memorable shows are frequently memorable. Green Lights: Indications of a Potential Soundtrack (and Show). On the flip side, certain musical characteristics are strong indicators of a potentially great series. original & creative soundscapes.
If the music introduces you to a sound you haven’t heard before, or uses instrumentation & techniques in a fresh way, it suggests the show itself is pushing boundaries. This is often a sign of creative ambition and a willingness to take risks. Think of scores that become conversation pieces on their own. resonance of emotions. Does the music stir something in you?
Does it make you feel intrigued, tense, sad, or happy, even without the visuals? If the music alone can evoke strong emotions, it’s a very good sign that the show will also be emotionally engaging. This indicates a deep understanding of storytelling through sound. Cohesion and Purpose. A great soundtrack doesn’t feel like an add-on; rather, it feels like a crucial component of the story.
Every component should have a distinct function in the narrative and feel like it belongs. A well-planned production can be identified by how well the music fits the scene or theme. Record of the Composer.
If the composer has a reputation for producing excellent work (e.g. “g.”. It’s safe to assume that the score will be superb (Hans Zimmer for movies, but many equally gifted composers work in television). Like great directors, great composers infuse their work with a distinctive quality. So, how can this be implemented without devoting hours to each and every show’s research?
Audio’s “Five-Minute Rule”. While browsing, look for a brief audio clip rather than just reading the synopsis. Use YouTube or Spotify if there isn’t a trailer easily accessible. Listen to five minutes or so of the official soundtrack or trailer music for the show. You can learn more from this brief audio scan than from reading endlessly. Building Mood Boards with Music.
Look for soundtracks that match the genre you’re in the mood for, such as a futuristic sci-fi epic, a gritty crime drama, or a charming period piece. Check to see if any resonate after listening to a few. You can then link those soundtracks to the corresponding television programs. For instance, searching for “sci-fi soundtrack” may bring up shows you hadn’t thought of.
Don’t ignore the “Vibe Check.”. Sometimes the music just gives you a “vibe.”. Have faith in that emotion. If the music makes you feel excited, intrigued, or at ease, you’ll probably feel the same way about the performance. Our emotional reactions to music frequently happen instantly and intuitively, bypassing a great deal of critical thought. Follow Composers You Admire.
Once you identify a composer whose work you consistently enjoy, keep an eye on their new projects. Finding a composer you enjoy can open up a whole new world of possible viewing experiences. Many composers work in both film and television. Finding new shows that suit your esthetic tastes is very easy with this method.
Choosing a series based on its soundtrack ultimately has nothing to do with being a music critic. It’s about using media more actively and intelligently. It’s about making better decisions for your valuable viewing time by utilizing a potent but frequently disregarded aspect of storytelling. Learn to pay attention to what the music is trying to tell you.
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