The hit Hollywood movie LaLa Land”must have one of the best musical soundtracks ever.
I am obsessed with the film, and it uses the tool of music so well to convey the story.
“The soundtrack beautifully uses instruments and signing to capture the innocent and romantic nature of Mia and Sebastian’s relationship,” Gracie Taylor said.
Warning: there will be minor spoilers ahead, but here is my review of the LaLa Land soundtrack.
Setting the tone for the film is “Another Day of Sun” opening the movie. It features a traffic stop in busy Los Angeles, and a flash mob breaks out in the street. This song documents the dream of moving to Hollywood and becoming a film star.
I think the lyric “it called me to be on that screen” perfectly encapsulates that feeling of yearning for a dream, a theme heavy in the film. The singers talk about money running low and situations becoming discouraging, but their goals keep them going.
I love how joyous this song is, and it is so fun and exciting to watch. I think it is the perfect opener for the film.
After being briefly introduced to our main characters, we meet Mia’s roommates in the song “Someone in the Crowd.” In the scene featuring this song, her roommates try to convince her to go to a party by explaining how this may be where she meets someone in the crowd, leading to her big break.
In the film, this song features a gorgeous dance scene in the streets where each character is in a bright, flowy dress. The lyric, “you make the right impression, then everybody knows your name” sums it up perfectly. My favorite thing about this song is that she gets in contact with Sebastian at a party, and in a way, he does end up being someone in the crowd, getting her the starring role later on.
The next song is an instrumental and the most essential piece of the film. “Mia and Sebastain’s Theme” first plays as Mia stumbles into a restaurant where Sebastain plays piano. This scene becomes a focal point for the two as it replays during a montage of what could have been for them at the end after their lives change and they grow apart.
This song is beautifully done and composed of highs and lows and, in a way, tells a beautiful story just in the music, a characteristic of jazz Sebastian discusses. This song constantly plays in the film in slightly different versions as the two have their most significant moments, and as it is the theme for the couple, it has also become the theme for the film itself.
“Mia and Sebastian’s theme will always, in my heart, be the album’s pinnacle,” Taylor said.
My favorite song is “A Lovely Night,” which I think shows off the talent of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. As the two walk to their cars together after a party, they try to deny the chemistry they have while saying the ‘lovey night’ surrounding them is going to waste on the two. This scene has stunning cinematography and fantastic choreography.
About midway through the song, the two have a sort of spat full of witty banter on a bench to prove their distaste, but it does nothing but that. While the song is relatively short, it is so much fun to listen to and watch, and it fills me with a sense of excitement and joy as I cannot help but giggle at the soon-to-be couple overlooking Hollywood.
Following a date between the two is “City of Stars,” Sebastian sings a short and simple song. With only seven lines accompanied by some whistling, Sebastian considers what may come of this new relationship.
He sings, “Is this the start of something wonderful and new? Or one more dream that I cannot make true?”
While those lines are full of anxiety, the songs are full of hope, and I find comfort in them. It is not a song I find myself listening to often, and I would not consider it anywhere near a favorite.
Later in the film is another full version of “City of Stars,” sung by Mia and Sebastian and accompanied by a piano. In the short version, Sebastian anxiously ponders whether his dream of this relationship will come true. In this version, the two of them sing about how the dream is indeed coming true, how “City of stars, You never shined so brightly,” and how the relationship could not be better. I prefer the dreamy sound of this version and the hope it’s full of.
“The melody is so relaxing, but it also ties in the whole movie from beginning to end,” Keona Roemermann said.
My favorite lyric would have to be “and through the smokescreen of the crowded restaurants, It’s love” because I think it encapsulates the trials and tribulations the couple has and will go through for their relationship.
Sort of taking a turn in the soundtrack is the song “Start a Fire,” sung by John Legend’s character Keith, who starts a jazz band with Sebastian. The music itself does not affect the plot much compared to the others, but the scene’s content certainly does.
Throughout the film, every song that consists of jazz elements is very cozy or emotional. In contrast, this song is rather flashy and features many techno additives (which Sebastrain’s character ironically contributes even though it goes against the morals of his character). Sebastian becomes a part of Keith’s jazz band in an attempt to get big and further his jazz career, but it later ends up pulling him and Mia apart in the film.
I do not have much else to say about the song except for the fact that I skip it whenever I listen to the soundtrack. I feel it takes away from the vibe created and throws a wrench in it.
The last song of the film is “Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” which is a very emotional song sung at an audition Mia takes. She is told in this audition to simply tell a story, and she tells the story of her aunt, who used to be an actress and remains Mia’s biggest inspiration and role model.
The lyrics “and here’s to the fools who dream Crazy as they may seem Here’s to the hearts that break Here’s to the mess we make” perfectly illustrates what Mia has been through over the course of the film, and she tells a beautiful story in the lyrics.
I admire this song as it is beautifully written and composed, and Emma Stone performs it with such emotion and grace.
Obviously, with it being a musical, the songs in the film play such a significant role, even with there being so few in comparison to other movie musicals. You can tell with each listen that so much effort and careful craftsmanship went into making this album, and that plays a massive role in why I love it so much.
