Beyond Writing: Ten Enchanting Soundtracks

As an author, I feed off inspiration.  And one of my favorite ways to get inspired is to just sit back, plug in my headphones, and be transported to another world with the power of soundtracks.  Here are ten of my favorite scores that will both delight and inspire the listener:


10: Titanic (1997)
Just because you haven't seen a film doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy its soundtrack.  In fact, you may end up enjoying the soundtrack even more.  The famous 90s film Titanic is no exception for me.  This glorious score is glazed with nautical themes, sounding authentic and original.  A fascinating listen.

9: Avatar (2009)
Not to be confused with the Avatar: The Last Airbender TV series (which also has a great score), Avatar displays sounds completely unique in a new approach to soundtracks.  The film is based on the supernatural, so why wouldn't the soundtrack host some of the supernatural as well?

8: The Hunger Games (2012-2015)
Four films make up the incredibly successful series known as The Hunger Games, and the soundtrack is undeniably one of the highlights.  With very unique themes and instrumentation, these sweet, haunting scores will leave you brimming with inspiration.

7:  Maleficent (2014)
A deliciously beautiful fantasy soundtrack, Maleficent stunningly combines the dark and haunting with the bright and magical.  Bold, beautiful melodies and a delightful diversity of sounds and instruments make this score especially memorable.

6: Life of Pi (2012)
Life of Pi's score is so unique and special, with a cultural blend of traditional Indian sounds, with French aspects and a surprising strong nautical twist halfway through.  This soundtrack is a drama in and of itself, and captivates me every time I hear it.

5: How to Train Your Dragon (2010, 2014)
This animated film's score has one of the most memorable main themes of any animated movie.  Epic, fast paced tracks accompany the flying scenes in the movie, and more melancholy tracks go along with the more emotional moments.  Strong Nordic themes accompany the scores of both the original and the successful sequel.  A fun and satisfying listen to say the least.

4: The Hundred Foot Journey (2014)
Do I have a thing for India meets France?  Similar to Life of Pi, this soundtrack brings both French and Indian aspects to the table, but this time focusing more on the French side of things.  Since this film is all about Indian and French cooking, the soundtrack carries over the delicious aromas that the film offers.  A true feast for the ears.

3: The Chronicles of Narnia (2005, 2008, 2010)
With three Narnia films out there, this option will yield hours of inspirational soundtrack music.  The film series, in which four children living in 1940s England travel to the magical fantasy world of Narnia, features a fantastic soundtrack with plenty of diversity.  With a mix of intense battle-themed songs, sweet and tender tracks, and even some intense and rather scary songs, you won't have any difficulty finding the perfect set of songs to fit your mood.

2: The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
As probably the most successful fantasy film series of all time (successful enough to have a sequel series, the Hobbit), the scores accompanying the three Lord of the Rings films are critically acclaimed as some of the best soundtrack music ever produced.  With unforgettable themes, incredible diversity, and gorgeous arrangements, these scores deserve every bit of their fame, and I can't imagine the Lord of the Rings films without them.  Literally a perfect high fantasy score.

1: Finding Nemo (2003, 2016)
I know, I know, it's basically sacrilege that I ranked this score higher over the Lord of the Rings, but I'm sorry, I had no choice.  First of all, let me say that this is the only soundtrack that I've actually purchased (the rest I've listened to many times on Youtube or Spotify, besides watching the movies).  The first time I heard this score (when watching the movie for the first time), it literally blew me away.  I'm not going to lie when I say that the movie would basically be terrible if not for this soundtrack.  But with it, the movie is my favorite Pixar film of all time.  The score itself is amazing, and I cannot lie when I say that I haven't really heard anything like it before.  The instrumentation is smooth and eye-catching, the melodies and themes are utterly amazing, and the amount of emotion captured in the score is unreal.  If this doesn't sound like an underwater reef, I don't know what will.  Absolutely incredible score, it never ceases to inspire me.

Even though I ranked these, I still love them all dearly.  Also, you certainly might have a different opinion than me, but that's okay.  We can all be inspired by different things, because otherwise, we would all apply that inspiration in the same way.  Happy listening, see you guys next time! :)

Comments

  1. Great list! I love all of these scores. How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack is huge for my inspiration and I listen to it very often while writing. And pretty much anything by John Williams or Hans Zimmer. Great blog, keep up the good work!

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    1. Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :) Yes, the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack is incredible. Also, sorry I'm a little late replying to this, but since I'm a little new to this Blogger thing, I didn't realize you posted a comment until recently. Anyway, I greatly appreciate your thoughts! Your blog is amazing as well. :)

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