Film Musical
- Role of music in narrative telling
Music plays a critical role in telling the narrative in movies in several ways. Firstly, music manipulates the emotions of the audience and engenders in them desired feelings. For instance, the song “Tequila” tends to calm the emotions of the viewer when a bloody shootout ensues. Secondly, the music propels the flow of the story like the use of “Hocus Focus”s song in the movie is attractive to the mind and helps one to follow the storyline closely. Thirdly, music enhances juxtaposition. The song “Easy” by the Commodores is one that would be the perfect thing to listen to while having an easy time, something that Baby does not get to do. Also, music conveys meaning. For example, the song “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up” played after the last heist fails insinuates the cold-bloodedness of Buddy wanting to kill Baby by all means.
- How music adds to drama and action
In the film, music is essential in adding both drama and action to the storyline in the sense that the music featured becomes part of the story just as the characters. Other than engaging the senses of the audience, music also creates plot relationships and communicates time and place.
- Instances where music is used in the diegetic or un-diegetic way
In Baby Driver, the music is mainly diegetic as it comes primarily from Baby’s headphones or the car radio. Some of the scenes in which music is used diegetically include when Baby Driver and Deborah listen to songs that feature each other’s names like “Debora” by T. Rex as the two lovebirds do laundry together. Also, the song “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up” by Barry White is used after the last heist fails, and Buddy tracks Baby down and corners him. The song signifies the threat that is Buddy as a cold-blooded killer who will not stop until Baby is dead. Thirdly, the song “Neat Neat Neat” by The Damned accompanies the armored car heist in which Baby is first introduced to Bats. Besides, the song “Hocus Pocus” plays while Baby is forced to escape nearby cops on foot after he trashed the getaway car.