When people know you like film score soundtracks

[Trent B 354]

So when ever someone has asked you what type of music you are into and if you're like me and you tell them mostly into film score soundtracks IE: Star Wars, Star Trek, etc... do they sort of give you a weird look and say, "Oh okay" or maybe like "ooookay" and just think of you as being weird in general?

I know that's happened to me a lot when I've told people that over the years. Hell even my friends still think I'm a bit weird for listening to nothing but film score music. Now grant I will listen to other genre, IE: Rock, Country, etc... but if I'm by myself I generally have to be in a very rare mood to listen to it, which is almost like NEVER lol.

Even my girlfriend has called me a soundtrack freak in which I replied, "Yup and damn proud of it!".

So anyways have you gotten weird responses from people when you tell them that you like this type of music?

[Jilal 681]

Yes, of course, lots of weird looks. I mean, they would burst out laughing if i told them i like Jaws.

But then of course, they don't know what Jaws is, but if you hum dundundundun everybody knows it, lol.

[indy4 160]

I usually list film music after classical, jazz, and musical theatre. That way it seems like an extension of the other instrumental stuff I'm listening to.

[Datameister 2,586]

These days, my usual approach is to just lead with the "I'm super weird" stuff before I even describe what I listen to. Usually, the worst that happens is a vaguely interested sort of raise of the eyebrows, and sometimes, there's some genuine fascination in my unusual tastes. I've had some people tell me that long car drives must be "epic" with me.

[Jill Sandwich 11,166]

I make sure everyone knows my interest in film scores when this conversation comes up. After my two hour lunch breaks on Fridays, I love annoying my boss by showing her CDs I've bought. The look on her face is always priceless because she's such a hip hop fan. Even my publisher, who runs the Inside Film Awards, tried to convince me that listening to film scores is wrong because it's only one part of the collaborative process. He failed miserably.

[tannhauser 101]

I usually say classical and film music. Usually met with confusion. It's suprising the amount of people who don't acknowledge film music as an entity in itself. Once someone who was quite a big fan of the Lord of the Rings films assumed they had just "put some classical music in the background" and was astonished to find it had an original score composed by Howard Shore!

[Brónach 1,330]

I don't see the weird looks anymore. Usually I just say I enjoy orchestral music and some other stuff.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Richard P 5,303]

Most of the time I get the songtrack vs score reaction, i.e. I say "I'm into soundtracks" and they excitedly rattle off a list of bands/singers who they've heard in a film.

Then I explain that actually it's the orchestral score music, to which usually the reaction is 'oh, right' and the revelation that they've got like one score album (the last person I revealed it to had Dances with Wolves).

The strangest reaction I've ever had was when I showed someone the I, Robot isolated score. "what, there's.. orchestral music playing under all this? Hmm."

[tharpdevenport 4]

Yeah, strange looks and not getting it. Typical.

I can imagine a conversation between Trent and a stranger:

"So, what kind of music do you listen to?"

"Soundtracks."

"Rock?"

"Well, I like The Rock."

"Ahhh ... what about country?"

"What about In Country?"

"I don't get it."

Trent: "HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"

Nothing I lvoe more, if playing a good score loud in the car with the windows down, then when coming upside some dickhead playing aweful, aweful rap (especially one with lyrics about rap and cop killing -- yeah, they blare that stuff out!) I TURN UP my music. Embrace Henry Mancini, MF'er!

[Melange 448]

"Soundtrack lover! Soundtrack lover! We've got a soundtrack lover here!"

[Thor 9,362]

Most of the time I get the songtrack vs score reaction, i.e. I say "I'm into soundtracks" and they excitedly rattle off a list of bands/singers who they've heard in a film.

Then I explain that actually it's the orchestral score music, to which usually the reaction is 'oh, right' and the revelation that they've got like one score album (the last person I revealed it to had Dances with Wolves).

The strangest reaction I've ever had was when I showed someone the I, Robot isolated score. "what, there's.. orchestral music playing under all this? Hmm."

Same here.

I like all kinds of music, so I generally don't have a problem talking about things OUTSIDE film music too, but if the topic comes up, I may say that I'm, in particular, a bit 'nerdy' about film music. Very rarely encountered disparaging remarks in return, but a few puzzled looks and a few suggestions by the other person (that may be more or less common in 'normal people's' collections) before the conversation drifts off to other things.

[Richard P 5,303]

I think the least-appreciative reaction I've ever had was (and I remember this as pretty much an exact quote): No offence, but do you have any normal music?

I wasn't offended because I know it's a niche interest, but a lot of people out there really do think that music without singing (and that isn't strict classical) is plain weird and that no one could possibly enjoy it standalone.

I do think that everyone out there has heard something, score-wise, but I think it's our knowledge of the niche that freaks most people.

[Xander Harris 9,675]

I listen to other genres, I'm familiar with a lot of popular music, so I'm not a complete weirdo.

"Where are the words?" is the most memorable question I've been asked.

[crocodile 9,724]

I usually get a slap

Karol

[KK 3,313]

Well whenever anyone asks my what I like to listen to, I usually say something like "Hey, I'm a weird guy, so I listen to weird stuff". Usually I can get away with that But if they really persisted, I'd probably give in and confess my love for classical music and film music.

But a lot of my friends know I listen to film scores, and whenever I excitedly blabber on about some epic score that has come out, they tend to get annoyed However, I can proudly say that I've managed to convert a few of my friends into film score fans (and one of them into an especially ardent collector...the wonders LOTR can do to people ).

- KK

[Thor 9,362]

Well whenever anyone asks my what I like to listen to, I usually say something like "Hey, I'm a weird guy, so I listen to weird stuff". Usually I can get away with that But if they really persisted, I'd probably give in and confess my love for classical music and film music.

I usually end by saying that, i.e. I explain the type of music I like and cap it off with "yeah, I know it's weird/a niche etc.".

[OneBuckFilms 517]

Most people I bring this up to at first think I'm talking about a collection of ssongs from a film.

They get it when I point to Star Wars or Indiana Jones.

It really doesn't come into conversations too much.

[hornist 1,261]

Almost all of my friends are musicians, working for the theater or some other way working with the music, so I

don't have this problem. They know who John Williams is. (JW only mentioned here because I'm "the lonely rider" of this

forum, my love for film music is limited to this man only)

But I have to admit the attitude towards JW among the (classical) musicians has changed since the late 80's I started as a pro, now

he is taken much more seriously. Actually have heard quite many praising comments lately.

[Nick Parker 3,049]

Wouldn't admitting to this with a disclaimer like "I know it's weird..." only propagate the idea that listening to movie music is strange?

[hornist 1,261]

Indeed!

[Jill Sandwich 11,166]

Wouldn't admitting to this with a disclaimer like "I know it's weird..." only propagate the idea that listening to movie music is strange?

I'm seeing this a lot in this thread. Guys, take more pride in your tastes. Annoy people with your tastes if necessary; particularly if they're a little aggressive in their reactions, which is what I've encountered at work.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I'd say so, yes.

Recently a friend at work asked me how'd I describe myself. The topic of music was already established. I said classic rock and film scores. Another co-worker asked what a film score was, I explained simply by saying the obvious choices, "Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc."

Turns out my friend listens as well, to which she said "Howard Shore is my boy."

[indy4 160]

I went to a music store to buy some slide oil, and I heard Star Wars playing in the background. I observed "Star Wars?" and the guy behind the counter was like "Yeah, my friend just sent me a video about how everything John Williams has written is stolen from other things." I wanted so badly to educate him, but I didn't have a lot of time so I just said "Aww man" and left. I've regretted my not starting a debate ever since.

[Docteur Qui 1,581]

I used to be ashamed to tell people when I was younger. Now I'm a working musician, so my friends are mainly musicians themselves. There tends to be a bit more appreciation for varied tastes in the community, most of my friends love listening to the stuff I recommend them as I do when they share their interests with me. Tintin blew some minds recently.

[Charlie Brigden 7]

I try not to talk to other people who don't share the same taste, it never ends well.

[Thor 9,362]

Wouldn't admitting to this with a disclaimer like "I know it's weird..." only propagate the idea that listening to movie music is strange?

But it IS strange. It's a small, small niche and it's strange to listen to music that was originally composed as "background music in films". Even if it is perfectly normal to YOU. You can still be proud of your nerdy interest while at the same time acknowledging its position in the mainstream.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Thor 9,362]

Wouldn't admitting to this with a disclaimer like "I know it's weird..." only propagate the idea that listening to movie music is strange?

But it IS strange. It's a small, small niche and it's strange to listen to music that was originally composed as "background music in films".

How is that strange? It's music, for fuck's sake. Whether it was written for a film or not doesn't matter. In the end, it was written to create emotions, just like any other kind of music. Why wouldn't you listen to something that makes you feel good? How is that strange?

You're the one who's strange, Thunder God! You don't like Complete and Chronological scores! To the pyre!

Everything that is a niche is by definition 'strange', i.e. something outside the mainstream. That's just how it is. That doesn't say anything about the quality, of course, just its position in the public consciousness.

I've always wanted to increase the awareness of film music in Norwegian popular culture. And heighten the awareness of it as an artform. I use every opportunity I get to do some "missionary" activity - whether articles, radio interviews, lectures etc. So I'm definitely onboard with minimizing the odd and puzzled looks everywhere. Still, there's only so much you can achieve. It will never be a mainstream thing.

I think we should all be proud of our passion, but we should never lose sight of what it is we're actually interested in.

I also think many are attracted to this thing BECAUSE it's a niche thing in the first place. Most fans already come from a background on the fringe of the mainstream in the first place, so it's a connection there.

[tharpdevenport 4]

No, strange is wanting ahd having somebody poop on you for sexual pleasure. Strange is buysing a piece of chewed gun collected off the sidewalk after being spit out by Britany Spears, off eBay.

There is nothing strange about listening to film scores.

[Thor 9,362]

No, strange is wanting ahd having somebody poop on you for sexual pleasure. Strange is buysing a piece of chewed gun collected off the sidewalk after being spit out by Britany Spears, off eBay.

There is nothing strange about listening to film scores.

I think if you asked most people not into it (and a normal relationship to films in general), you would get a different response!

Remember -- even if it isn't strange or esoteric to YOU, it's often considered so by everyone else.

[tharpdevenport 4]

Not necessairly, but I'm not going to arguye with somebody who think TWoK is too "busy" and, as I recall, stopped listening to it or got rid of it.

[Thor 9,362]

Not necessairly, but I'm not going to arguye with somebody who think TWoK is too "busy" and, as I recall, stopped listening to it or got rid of it.

No, it would be more fruitful if we stick to the actual topic.

I think you would be living in a 'bubble' with its own set of self-constructed world views if you didn't agree that listening to film music is a niche/strange/weird/non-mainstream activity.

[Brónach 1,330]

Not necessairly, but I'm not going to arguye with somebody who think TWoK is too "busy" and, as I recall, stopped listening to it or got rid of it.

No, it would be more fruitful if we stick to the actual topic.

I think you would be living in a 'bubble' with its own set of self-constructed world views if you didn't agree that listening to film music is a niche/strange/weird/non-mainstream activity.

It's not weird.

Many people just love orchestral music, full stop.

A lot of people love film and music is part of it. I don't mean casual moviegoers, I mean people who are into films and appreciate the existence of music for film like any other part of film making in general. That some can even get specially interested in this or any other side of filmmaking is just not weird, with artforms of such diversity.

What's a "mainstream activity" anyway? Being interested in something without going beyond the superficial levels?

[Thor 9,362]

What is this, the Twilight Zone? Since when, in you people's opinions, did instrumental soundtrack listening become a mainstream, regular activity for most folks?

[pixie_twinkle 60]

[Koray Savas 2,260]

Thor is correct to an extent. Film scores aren't mainstream and a niche community, but not in the strange and weird way that he's saying. Trekkies and Star Wars geeks are the ones the public think are weird.

When I tell people I listen to film scores, they're interested and say that's cool.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Thor 9,362]

When I tell people I listen to film scores, they're interested and say that's cool.

People are lying to you.

The real question you guys should be wondering is: is something that isn't mainstream necessarily strange? I agree with Thor when he says soundtracks aren't mainstream (I don't think anyone can argue with that), but does that mean that listening to soundtracks can be defined as "strange"? I'll let you think about that. I want 5 pages on this topic. You've got one week.

Depends on how you define 'strange', I guess. I'm not attaching any value to it -- neither negative nor positive -- I'm just saying it's something 'off-the-beaten-track' and unusual.

I would say, however, that it is the niche's exclusivity that attracts many of us. We feel we're part of something 'special' that isn't for everyone, and find pride in that. I wouldn't be surprised if most of us have some sort of quirk otherwise too; that many of the film music fans feel they're a bit....uhm, unconventional. It's also very typical of such niche groups that they often feel misunderstood and maligned by the public at large. Threads such as this are a good example. We moan about not being understood, yet it is the same kind of exclusivity that makes the niche so attractive.

A very interesting paradox there that there has been much research about.

Btw, I'm endlessly fascinated by the sociology and dynamics of niche groups, fan behaviour, "nerd-dom" etc. and if I could write my master thesis all over again, it would be about that.

[Brónach 1,330]

I don't care a bit about the niche exclusivity.

In fact, sometimes I'm completely and utterly annoyed by it.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[tharpdevenport 4]

I'm more honest. I either tell them I listen to music not everybody else does and usually they drop it -- people are only interested if they share musicial tastes.

And when they insist, I tell them I listen to film and television scores. I have to sometiems further expand, "Not the songs, buy the instrumental musioc underneath". "Oh" and so forth are the responses.

They have a hard time understanding I'm not into songs. I don't listen to songs, except the odd rare occassions, which are usually then slipt with comedy songs.

I worked with a young guy once and he started naming off these flavor of the month boy/girl bands, "Do you listen to them?"

Me: "No, I don't listen to crap."

He laughed and smiled. I was serious.

I friend of mine just the other day told another person, after asking if I'd know who Neil Young was, "He listens to film soundtracks". I said:

"Yup. If you want to know who the composers on Gunsmoke are, I'm you guy. Neil Young has actually done a hadful of films scores, I think."

[Thor 9,362]

I would say, however, that it is the niche's exclusivity that attracts many of us. We feel we're part of something 'special' that isn't for everyone, and find pride in that.

So, are you saying that some of us are listening to soundtracks because most people don't listen to soundtracks? Are you saying that they're listening to soundtracks to feel different?

I'd say that's part of it, yes. We're obviously attracted to the music itself (or the films), but the reason for this attraction stems partially from a general non-mainstream form of thinking (that may be visible in other areas of our personality too). Most people don't have a particular passionate hobby, and among those who do, even fewer veer towards the peculiar and 'off'. That's why niches are created in the first place. Personally, I think this is a very positive property -- my favourite people are those who have a strong passion for something -- but it may obviously also have negative consequences if one stays within that 'bubble' and fails to see it in perspective.

[Nick Parker 3,049]

EDIT: Never mind.

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

When people know you like film score soundtracks

They call the men in the white coats. In my case, at least.

[Koray Savas 2,260]

I don't give a shit about exclusivity, I just listen to what I like. Don't care if only 3,000 other people like it or 300,000,000 do.

[Jill Sandwich 11,166]

I don't see what's exclusive about it. Anyone can listen to it if they want.

[Trent B 354]

I don't give a shit about exclusivity, I just listen to what I like. Don't care if only 3,000 other people like it or 300,000,000 do.

Bingo Mr. Savas is dead on with this one.

Honestly I could care less if people don't like film score soundtracks but I just find it funny I get weird looks and such when I tell people that I do like it and it's practically the only thing I listen to.

Like my gf said, "Soundtrack freak!" and my reply was, "Damn right and proud of it!". I am proud of being into film score music. I'd rather listen to this type of music than most other CRAP genre that's out there. If people have a problem with this, then I shrug my shoulders and move on.

[Thor 9,362]

Well, the attraction towards the exclusive or non-mainstream is more of an unconscious thing, it's not like we walk around and explain our interest that way, of course. I would bet hard money that most of us didn't quite "fit in" with the mainstream tastes and trends in our formative years. Again, that's a positive thing, as far as I'm concerned. It only becomes negative if you're like, let's say, a victim of abuse and bullying in your childhood and then create your own 'bubble' and stop relating to how the world around you works. Like certain hardcore Trekkies or LOTR fans or what-have-you. In other words, that you withdraw socially.

[Ravi Krishna 132]

Bollywood pop is the norm out here where I live, and virtually nobody cares about the "background score" in the films. I rarely ever share details about my music tastes with others though, and usually they just drop the topic after giving me a quizzical look or two. However, some more well-known pieces like Hedwig's Theme, He's A Pirate, the James Bond theme etc. seem to get a bit warmer reception from people. My parents used to be annoyed with my taste earlier, but have gotten used to it now and even like a few of the tracks.