Writers Playlist: Soundtrack Songs and Scores

Photo via Assassin’s Creed II courtesy of Ubisoft Entertainment

Aiden Townsend | Contributing Writer

Good morning, afternoon, evening, whatever time it is you’re reading this. My name is Aiden Townsend, and I have a playlist of songs for you today, with a special theme! This theme is songs and scores from soundtracks of different types of media. There are two soundtracks, each from movies, video games, and TV shows. These are all specific scores and songs that I wanted to point out from these media and thought were really good.

Can You Hear The Music (Oppenheimer) – Ludwig Göransson

Oppenheimer is an incredible film, and the music only amplifies that. A great example of this is the score “Can You Hear The Music.” This plays after a scientist explains to Oppenheimer how to understand quantum physics, comparing it to music and saying to him, “Can you hear the music, Robert?” It would appear that he could, based on what followed in the film. When I heard this in the theaters on my first watch, I felt like I was ascending out of my seat. I can’t say much more about this other than that this is an incredible score and that Göransson is incredible at his job.

In The Pool (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc) – Kensuke Ushio

“Chainsaw Man” is one of my favorite series ever created in both of its forms, that being its manga series and its TV show. And now, one of its arcs is one of my favorite movies of all time as well. One thing I was really looking forward to with the film was how the music would sound, and it did not disappoint, especially with the track titled “In The Pool”. It plays during a moment where the two main characters are skinny dipping in a pool at night, with one teaching the other how to swim. One thing that’s important to note about the two is that their lives have been horrible up to this point, but they can finally confide in each other. So this moment feels like them finally getting to be free, in a way. This track showcases this perfectly, especially with the climax of it around halfway through. It also hits a lot more later, after you see what becomes of the two later in the film. It’s a perfect track for this film, and I’ve added it to my playlists. 

Dreiton (Minecraft) – C418

I’m a sucker for nostalgia, and Minecraft is the best media to consume to feel that. Especially when it comes to the two albums created by C418 for the game. I want to talk about one track in particular, though. “Dreiton” plays in Minecraft’s Creative mode, which I spent quite a bit of time on when I was younger. Because of this, every time that I hear this song, it sends me back to when I was 11, playing on my PS3 in my room, building whatever I felt like. The build from the second half of the track is what really gets me, though, because those memories just start becoming even more vivid as it plays. This is one of my favorite pieces of music ever created, and I think you should definitely give it a listen.

Ezio’s Family (Assassin’s Creed 2) – Jesper Kyd

Assassin’s Creed one and two are games that I loved growing up. I had a PS3 until 2022, and these were two of my favorites to play on it. “Ezio’s Family” was a very common background song that played often during the second game and has since become the main theme for the series. Nowadays, it really strikes a lot of nostalgia within me. The main thing that strikes me with the song is just how it sounds and feels like the perfect track for important story moments, which, if I’m recalling correctly, is what it was used for in AC2. This song just strikes the right nostalgia chords for me, especially with the guitar in the background. I’m glad this song has become such an important part of the Assassin’s Creed series, and I hope that they keep this song in future games as well.

The Line (Arcane) – Twenty One Pilots

I loved Twenty One Pilots as a kid. I hadn’t listened to them a whole lot since the pandemic, when my music tastes shifted a good bit. But when I heard they were singing a song for Arcane, I was excited to hear what they came up with. They did not disappoint. “The Line” plays during the final scene of the second-to-last episode, showcasing the main antagonist of the season reaching his final form. This song really amplifies this scene, with it representing how the character is crossing the line of humanity in this transformation and disappointing those he loves. This meaning really hits, and it makes me love the song more than I already do, and I think it’s one of TOP’s best.

Labor of Love (Severance) – Theodore Shapiro

Severance is a really weird show, but it’s also got some really good music. “Labor of Love” is in the first episode, and shows up right after we see the main character breaking down crying in his car and then going to work. Really weird timing, but I think that’s the point. I really like how much this song sounds like elevator music. It’s jazzy, it’s calming, it’s just a nice little tune from a wacky show. I will say, though, its jazzy nature did lead me to not expect a whole lot of what happens in Severance.