The overall texture of the new Great Gatsby movie soundtrack
is a mixture between the 1920s and 2013. If one were to fuse together the two
time periods’ music, it would end up being the soundtrack.
While some might think that the fusion would be a disaster,
the rap music infused with the pop and jazz sounds of the 20s has a wondrous
sound that allows the listener to relate to the music and yet experience a new
sensation. With vocalists such as Lana Del Ray and Jay-Z (who also helped
co-produce the movie), the soundtrack introduces many different variations of
the sounds of the roaring 20s and 2013 and many different artists who help the
listener hear how much the music of the United States has changed and how much
from the past has remained an important part of today’s music.
Critiques view the incorporation of modern music into the
soundtrack as untrue to the original vision of the film and book, however, as
the book focuses upon achieving the American Dream and the equality of the
pursuit of happiness, how better to portray the continuance of the message and
the perseverance of the American Dream than through the music industry which
stands to be an icon of that very dream, that with hard work and dedication,
one can achieve success.
We’ll focus on Jay-Z as he plays an important process in
producing and creating the music for the film. Jay-Z was born Shawn Carter in a
housing project in a neighborhood in Brookelyn. His father abandoned him, his
mother, and his three siblings. Jay-Z’s story almost replicates that of
Gatsby’s (without the illegal bootlegging). He got a small job which lead to
more and more success until he became the success that he is today, having an
estimated net worth by Forbes of $500
million.
Although, no one can really argue at the lack of depth
within Jay-Z’s songs “100$ Bill” and “No Church in the Wild,” I still believe
they capture the confusion of the quickly successful Gatsby as he rushes into a
world that he had only heard about. The lyrics are rough and vile, but I felt that
the songs fulfilled their purpose: to draw people into the raucous, roaring 20s
and introduce them to the crazy old New York. “Bang Bang” by will.i.am also
served the same purpose, but I felt did it better. The music was a large factor
in the “over dramatization” of the film, but that didn’t change the fact that
it made for a killer soundtrack. Will.i.am’s use of vocals and scatting made
the song fascinating and tied back to the introduction of jazz which was taking
place in the 20s.
The songs “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)”
and “Young and Beautiful” stuck with me through the entire film.
“Young and Beautiful” captured the love and angst between Gatsby and Daisy.
Performed by Lana Del Rey who has such powerful female vocals, the song
captured the yearning and immensity of the issue. “A Little Party Never Killed
Nobody” performed by Fergie, Q-Tip, and GoonRock, I felt best mixed modern
music with music of the past. With its use of the saxophone and other jazz
instrumentals as well as scatting, and the use of the modern electronica and
remixing, the song combined the two different centuries quite beautifully. Fergie
also belted jazz style vocals with the spirit of a flapper adding to the
believability of the times of the song. The lyrics also related to the story
and Gatsby’s desire for Daisy to choose him over Tom. This song, like many
others on the album, plays off of famous songs from the times.
Each song on the albums contains a different album which
contributes to the success of the soundtrack.
Whether modern listeners yearn for the alternative rock sound (The
XX-Together, Jack White- Love is Blindness, or Florence + the Machine-Over the Love), techno
songs (Nero-Into the Past), or rap songs (Jay-Z- 100$ Bill), they can probably
find a song they like on the Great Gatsby soundtrack and enjoy the music they
enjoy enhanced with the sound of the 20s.
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