So I'm thinking about doing a MoFo Top Soundtracks list...

After what happened with the Top Albums Countdown (long story short, there weren't a lot of votes) I figured that, since a few people voted for soundtrack albums and this being a forum primarily dedicated to movies, it would make sense to launch a countdown dedicated specifically to film soundtracks. Originally, I wanted to make it about the soundtracks as standalone releases, but I reconsidered and decided that it didn't have to be decided like that. The soundtracks would be voted on with the focus on how well they complemented the films in which they featured. Or that could still be a matter of debate, but that's not the reason I'm adding a poll to this topic.

For the purposes of this countdown, I realised that there was a considerable difference between soundtracks that featured an original score and soundtracks that relied mainly on previously released pieces of music. Some chatter in the Shoutbox led me to consider that I should set up two countdowns, one dedicated to films that prioritised original scores (e.g. Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Jaws) and films that prioritised non-original music (e.g. 2001, Pulp Fiction, Trainspotting). Of course, there are a lot of films that feature a combination of both types, but even so I figure such films could be eligible for both countdowns. However, I have also had it pointed out to me that having two separate countdowns might be a bit confusing - original or non-original (or both), a soundtrack's a soundtrack, right? As long as it's good, why get hung up on specifics?

Well, that's why I started this thread. I'm going to open up a poll for the next month where you the users can decide whether or not the soundtrack countdown should be split into two distinct countdowns or if a single countdown will make sense. Personally, I'm of the view that the two types of soundtrack are too distinct in virtually every regard to lump together. We can debate the reasons why or why not over the course of the next month.

__________________
Iro's Top 100 Movies v3.0

I kinda wanna vote for a third option: Scores Only, since that seems like the purest "movie" list. But barring that, I pick having one list for both.

I vote one list.

Though either way I'm going to have trouble coming up with a full ballot.

__________________

Yoda - Well, it's not like you have to vote in both countdowns if it comes to that. I was originally going to limit it to scores only, but Rodent brought up the idea that people might want to vote for non-original soundtracks so I figured that into setting up my poll.

MV - why's that?

Yeah, but I'm a list whore.

Well I most definitely vote against scores only. If you want to limit it to original soundtracks, that's up to you, but limiting it to scores would disqualify original soundtracks from musicals and films about musicians. Like the two soundtracks I voted for in the albums list.

Yeah, sorry, I should say non-original soundtracks then; I was mainly just talking about the "quality of music apart from the movie" thing. Original soundtracks obviously wouldn't have that problem.

Oh you weren't talking to me there, Iro.

I rarely even notice most scores and there aren't that many soundtracks with songs that I really enjoy. Off the top of my head, I can only come up with seven. If I really gave it some thought I could come up with more, but it'll be a stretch to get to 25.

Hmm, that is a good point. I kind of skipped over including musicals because I assumed that that would be better suited to a proper film countdown, but I guess having good songs and being a good film are mutually exclusive. Didn't even consider films about musicians.

I went for One.


I think the score alongside the soundtrack make a whole.
Of course some films have only score but I think it'll make an interesting list to have them all alongside each other.

__________________

Dam right!

Just quoting myself here...

Either one countdown or no countdown. The more complicated you make it, the less likely you'll get feedback.

__________________
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. - John Wooden
My IMDb page

Wow, just over an hour and it's already 8-1 in favour of a single countdown. I think I might close this thing early.

Dam right! Start a countdown thread whilst I whip up a banner for it.

I'd say ask for people to provide 10 of each then if the totals are favourable do two lists of 50, otherwise merge them.

__________________
"Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how the Tatty 100 is done, they've seen it done every day, but they're unable to do it themselves." - Brendan Behan

That's not a bad idea. Other people - thoughts?

Like I said in the shoutbox, make just one countdown. After all we're voting for music in film here, so why should that include original compositions only? A soundtrack consists of score, songs and all the music heard in the film, so if you vote for a score just vote for that film's soundtrack, it's pretty easy.

That's a shame, for me coming up with just 25 is going to be a struggle

I think the argument (and I find it to be a pretty persuasive one) is that this is primarily about accomplishments in film, and that including soundtracks of lots of great songs created specifically as music--and not as part of a film--is kind of at odds with that.