Where it all began-
The very first full length film with a recorded soundtrack had a popular music subject and featured a widely acclaimed singer. Al Jolson, an American singer and actor was able to combine both talents in a film presentation for the very first time in 'The Jazz Singer' released in 1927.
Ever since then, popular music and films have enjoyed a mutually supportive relationship, which seems to have explored every permutation of music , dance, song, biography, fiction and narrative. A few example include:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djd1XfwDAQs&ebc=ANyPxKpdqsP4aK2z1B6MY4VvoqtHsCj6mueMBPTFuopIgLRopdUvXf_KRCCfL2zLHUwPTPB4zQWWO4A60rysF8t0noM_CnDDKA
When the movie's star, Al Jolson, sings, the film shifts to sound recorded on the set, including both his musical performances and two scenes with ad-libbed speech—one of Jolson's character, Jakie Rabinowitz (Jack Robin), addressing a cabaret audience; the other an exchange between him and his mother. The "natural" sounds of the settings were also audible.The success of The Jazz Singer was due largely to Jolson, already established as one of America's biggest music stars. The Jazz Singer earned a total of $2.625 million in the United States and abroad.
The songs from the 1939 musical fantasy film The Wizard of Oz have taken their place among the most famous and instantly recognizable American songs of all time, and the film's principal song, Over the Rainbow, is perhaps the most famous song ever written for a film. Music and lyrics were by Harold Arlen and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, who won an Academy Award for Best Song for "Over the Rainbow". As the film is musical, the songs that are used are important to help the story flow, and not just to be explained through dialogue. The fantastical features of the movie makes it unique and special to a viewer due to the fairy-tale theme throughout as the film is primarily intended for a younger audience. The film is an adaptation of the 1900 novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.' Therefore, the songs are surreal and contain unrealistic and illogical lyrics to enforce the fantastical theme that is being presented, whilst engaging the audience.
As you can see below, the lyrics are clearly reaching out to the younger audience with words such as 'wish upon a star' and 'lemon drops' which makes the child connect with the character and the story, whilst enjoying the song, which wouldn't be as engaging if explained through dialogue.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Way above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
In my opinion, in a musical film, the songs that are in the pivotal points of the plot are what makes the film memorable. Therefore, this is why music in films is important, not only in musical films, but in a film such as Titanic, 'My Heart Will Go On' is an extremely well-known song which belongs to that movie, as it links to the characters and their situation. Which is similar to the song 'Over the Rainbow' as it speaks the audience and enables them to connect to the character of Dorothy through the lyrics.
Ever since then, popular music and films have enjoyed a mutually supportive relationship, which seems to have explored every permutation of music , dance, song, biography, fiction and narrative. A few example include:
- Frank Sinatra was a key performer in stage musicals interpreted on film. Key film musicals include 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939) 'On the Town' (1949, starring Sinatra) 'West Side Story' (1957) and 'The Sound of Music' (1959)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djd1XfwDAQs&ebc=ANyPxKpdqsP4aK2z1B6MY4VvoqtHsCj6mueMBPTFuopIgLRopdUvXf_KRCCfL2zLHUwPTPB4zQWWO4A60rysF8t0noM_CnDDKA
When the movie's star, Al Jolson, sings, the film shifts to sound recorded on the set, including both his musical performances and two scenes with ad-libbed speech—one of Jolson's character, Jakie Rabinowitz (Jack Robin), addressing a cabaret audience; the other an exchange between him and his mother. The "natural" sounds of the settings were also audible.The success of The Jazz Singer was due largely to Jolson, already established as one of America's biggest music stars. The Jazz Singer earned a total of $2.625 million in the United States and abroad.
The songs from the 1939 musical fantasy film The Wizard of Oz have taken their place among the most famous and instantly recognizable American songs of all time, and the film's principal song, Over the Rainbow, is perhaps the most famous song ever written for a film. Music and lyrics were by Harold Arlen and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, who won an Academy Award for Best Song for "Over the Rainbow". As the film is musical, the songs that are used are important to help the story flow, and not just to be explained through dialogue. The fantastical features of the movie makes it unique and special to a viewer due to the fairy-tale theme throughout as the film is primarily intended for a younger audience. The film is an adaptation of the 1900 novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.' Therefore, the songs are surreal and contain unrealistic and illogical lyrics to enforce the fantastical theme that is being presented, whilst engaging the audience.
As you can see below, the lyrics are clearly reaching out to the younger audience with words such as 'wish upon a star' and 'lemon drops' which makes the child connect with the character and the story, whilst enjoying the song, which wouldn't be as engaging if explained through dialogue.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Way above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
In my opinion, in a musical film, the songs that are in the pivotal points of the plot are what makes the film memorable. Therefore, this is why music in films is important, not only in musical films, but in a film such as Titanic, 'My Heart Will Go On' is an extremely well-known song which belongs to that movie, as it links to the characters and their situation. Which is similar to the song 'Over the Rainbow' as it speaks the audience and enables them to connect to the character of Dorothy through the lyrics.