Watching a film, particularly if you are on a date, should be an immersive experience. Without a good soundtrack, you may as well be watching a long TV show. That’s why smart filmmakers work with amazing composers and music directors to provide you with the kind of multimedia experience that takes you out of your current reality. It’s like cinematography for your ears.
When it comes to romantic movies, the soundtrack can truly make a film exceptional. There are some films where the music truly stands above the rest. Take a look at five romantic movies with the best soundtracks.
1. Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing and its soundtrack have been lampooned by comedians and on sketch shows since it was released. If you scratch the surface of that, there’s always been a tinge of admiration beneath the mockery. Maybe that’s because the sound track elevates what might otherwise be a mid script and makes it amazing.
Every track on the Dirty Dancing script fits the scene it supports perfectly. Even better, the musical choices build to the film’s triumphant finish. Dirty Dancing combines pop classics, original hits, and a fabulous score from genius composer John Morris to create a fabulous listening experience.
2. Love And Basketball
This film, starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan is about two young people pursuing their dreams of playing professional basketball. This pursuit is sometimes disrupted and sometimes spurred forward as they fall in love. It is a compelling story that is made even better with songs from Al Green, Angie Stone, Chaka Khan/Rufus, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Roger Troutman.
3. Somewhere in Time
If you want to have a romantic night in, find this film streaming somewhere. Pay for it if you have to. If you need to find a date to share your love of romantic movies, get started here. Somewhere in Time is an epic film about a man in love who uses self-hypnosis to travel through time in pursuit of love with a woman he sees in a painting.
It’s a great movie. The acting by the late Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour are superb. But, it’s really the film’s soaring score by composer John Barry that stands the test of time.
4. Waiting to Exhale
When people think of Whitney Houston’s contributions to film, The Bodyguard is usually their first thought. It’s a good movie, but it doesn’t approach the emotional depth of Waiting to Exhale. Then there’s that soundtrack! Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and so many others brought together to create something truly special.
5. Romeo And Juliet – 1996
Romeo and Juliet has been interpreted for the big screen many times. Let’s talk about the 1996 version featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Because the filmmakers decided to take extensive creative license with the story, it only made sense to take a left turn with the music as well.
The film’s soundtrack is essentially a who’s who of nineties alt-rock and pop sensations. What makes it even more interesting is that every song contributes perfectly to the tragic-romantic storyline.
However, it is unfair to give credit solely to the contemporary music acts that appear on the soundtrack without acknowledging the film’s score. Yes, songs like LoveFool by the Cardigans are earworms, but the work by Kym Mazelle, Craig Armstrong, and others is what makes the music here truly memorable.
What Makes a Romantic Soundtrack
That depends! In some cases, star power clearly drives a memorable soundtrack. That’s certainly the case with Waiting to Exhale and Romeo and Juliet. On the other hand plenty of romantic classics, like Somewhere in Time, don’t produce any chart-topping hits. Perhaps the important thing is to stay true to the storytelling rather than attempting to eclipse it.
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