To some extent, all music matters. To the same extent that I suppose all writing matters, or all fiction matters… which is to say that “matters” is a highly subjective thing. Maybe one of my books is somebody’s favourite book ever… I doubt it at this point in my career, but only because there are only about a thousand copies of my books out there, and the odds of being “the best thing I’ve ever read” if your pool is only about a thousand people is pretty small.
But who knows? It’s not impossible.
But I started talking about music, and I’d like to loop back to it. On Tuesday I mentioned that I had watched, and loved, the Cyberpunk Edgerunners series. Part of that love is how the director (or whoever is responsible) wove the music into the story. Music sets so much in our lives as meaningful or meaningless. The soundtrack of everything we consume is as significant, if not more, than the dialogue or actors for a good drama. There is an argument that comedy or sci-fi or other specific genres don’t hinge on the music as much (although I think the really good ones do), but drama and romance and horror and probably a bunch of other visual media definitely, absolutely require good music. Or perhaps less “good,” and more “appropriate.”
A lot of the Edgerunners music is not my style. Very heavy rock, or really synth-focused EDM, or whatever. But it always felt “right.” Any time the music was noticeable, it was great. It tied to the story and added meaning and punch to whatever was happening.
I almost always listen to music when I write, but rarely when I read… I suppose that is one area that reading lags behind television and movies. Because a good soundtrack is a thing of beauty.
Hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy!