Music can be the perfect way to elevate countless aspects of life, allowing you to infuse moments with beautiful sounds. As such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that music can also be used as an incredibly impactful tool. So, for those whose curiosity has been piqued, make sure to keep reading to learn more.

In Gaming

When it comes to gaming, music is a vital tool to enhance immersion levels and make gameplay far more authentic. After all, relying simply on visuals isn’t quite enough to paint a complete picture.

This specific element is even more important for games that are meant to simulate real-life aspects. For example, video poker uses cards, and to be convincing, should contain sounds such as cards being shuffled or placed – subtle though these noises are. It’s surprising what a difference this kind of audible cue can make to a player’s immersion, whether they’re playing on a physical machine in a brick-and-mortar casino or at a fully digitized one on a virtual platform.

Let’s say you’re playing video poker for the first time. You open a game such as Aces & Faces Multi-Hand. You get some ambient music, but in most online video poker games, you’ll also hear sound effects such as cards being shuffled or moved around. This helps immerse you in the game and makes you feel as though you’re handling the cards. It can also help you understand implicitly what’s going on – is the deck being shuffled? Have you thrown some cards back? The audible clues help you out here.

Of course, the background music shouldn’t be ignored either. When these games were in physical locations, they’d have had a specific kind of ambiance that can be hard to replicate in the online world. However, through the use of soundtracks, online players can enjoy a similar experience.

By including fast-paced, exciting music, video poker developers can make their games feel highly engaging. The sounds might seem like a minor detail, but they truly are quite a vital inclusion to enhance realism.

Moreover, music used in gaming can guide your emotions, so hearing a victory bell signaling your success can add to the positive feeling you have while playing. After all, hearing is a crucial part of our senses, allowing us to perceive the world more completely.

As we hinted above, beyond atmospheric and emotional value, music can also have a practical function by acting as a cue of sorts in games. A recent example of this can be found in the RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Here, the game utilizes music to make it easier for players to time their parries against foes. Combat in gaming often has a certain rhythm to it, so connecting music to this gameplay mechanics can improve this aspect by quite a lot.

In TV and Movies

Similarly to games, music’s involvement in TV shows and movies is essential as it adds an extra layer to already visually complex scenes. Music can at times be the unsung hero of many vital moments in this field.

Creators can enhance already profound moments by combining emotional writing and deeply meaningful songs. Think of Titanic, where Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On cemented the iconic scene of Rose being held by Jack.

Or how psychological thrillers utilize music to make people feel more uncomfortable. An example of this can be seen in the movie Psycho, where even Hitchcock himself stated that the music was one of the main reasons for its success.

But with how important music can be, its absence can be just as impactful. Here, we can take a look at How I Met Your Mother; when Marshall’s dad dies, where there is no music at all, just the simple sounds of a ticking clock. This added a unique depth to the episode, making it vastly more tragic.

Unexpected Intersections

Apart from entertainment, music has managed to permeate other fields you might find surprising, like fashion. Music genres are incredibly diverse, sometimes becoming the foundation of subcultures, each with its own distinct style.

Take punk music, for instance, which was created as a way to rebel against the so-called machine. As such, the fashion choices related to this genre would mimic its attitude by going against the norm.

Often, the fashion will feature basic clothes that have been modified to look more rough and unique. For instance, adding pins to leather jackets or adding patches to denim or going as far as creating rips in clothing.

Moreover, as this was meant to go against the trend of overconsumption that is typical in capitalist societies, the clothing would typically be thrifted. Then the person would embellish this to suit their specific preferences.

Nowadays, punk fashion has become somewhat more mainstream, co-opted by fast fashion, as it has gained popularity. This, in a way, undermines the original goal of punk music, but that is the way of the modern era.

Conclusion

Music is the lifeline of so many mediums, from games to movies to fashion, being far more impactful than you may initially perceive. So, the next time you play a game or wear a shirt with a band name, take a moment to appreciate the significance of music.