Soundtracks are essential for pieces of media to convey tone for scenes. If there is a tense scene where the protagonist sneaks by guards, you need a quiet, tense track that drones on to build tension. Is there a calm moment where everything is at peace? Then you need a track that calms the mind with simple yet happy notes. If you have a grand final showdown, you need a climactic, brazen song that is meant to cheer on the protagonist as they deal the finishing blow. However, something I haven’t seen done often is when tracks that are meant to play over scenes in movies, shows or video games contain lyrical elements.
Obviously, it wouldn’t work all the time as there is a good reason why many soundtracks don’t have lyrics. Soundtracks are meant to compliment what they go along with, not stand out on their own. Adding lyrics to a track may be a bit distracting while the audience’s attention should be on what’s occurring on screen. However, this isn’t the case all the time, as many media that have lyrical soundtracks wouldn’t be the same without them.
Take the “Metal Gear Solid,” franchise for example. It contains a plethora of tracks that contain spoken lyrics that actively compliment the game as it’s being played. Take “Metal Gear Rising Revengeance,” for example. It has a plethora of voiced tracks that play during major boss encounters that are outstanding pieces of music.
Take “The Only Thing I Know for Real” or “The Stains of Time,” for example. Both are amazing tracks that work excellently to make the boss they are meant to embody feel menacing and a major threat to your character. The lyrics only enhance this by acting as a major musical drive for the action occurring on screen rather than a distraction. The lyrics also embody their respective characters well by implying or even directly referencing their backstories, motivations and their character dynamic with the game’s main character, Raiden. Obviously, this isn’t something that would work for all soundtracks, but more composers should at least consider including lyrics for their soundtracks.
