From Flappers to Rappers

I think that the directors of "The Great Gatsby" chose the music that they did to make ties from that world into the world that we live in today. Gatsby's world is full of glitz and glam, parties and fun, and at the same time, corruption and violence. The music for the movies pays homage to the jazz age, as it would have been a travesty to leave that out entirely, it embodies the mindset of the movie. But on top of all of this, they blend a new, hip music that makes the movie relatable not just to the crowds of today but also as a sign of the times. The times now in the rich and popular society are very much like the times that Gatsby was in: full of drinking and massive, extravagant parties. It creates a metaphorical tie between generations, and it does it so beautifully. It sets the mood for the movie for every event. There are times when it is almost haunting, slow and sad undertones that make the movie to be truly emotional and caring. They use songs such as "Back to Black" to get across the complex and intermingled love story that goes throughout the story. Other times, it makes for an exciting and jubilant time. They are able to use these songs to tell the story of Gatsby and his lover, and all the pain and corruption that he has endure throughout his life. But no matter what mood the music is trying to convey, everything is all tied back into the storyline and even deeper into the play on the times. They do this spin on this music by using recent and popular musicians and changing some of the instrumentation to modern day synthesizers as well as all of the classic jazz instruments that were essential to shaping the times. The directors had these artists change the styles of old songs or write new material into more of hip-hop and rap genres, but with a classic feel to it to match the era of the movie. Had it been strictly jazz music, alot of the relatable feel that the movie gives off would have been utterly lost, and while it is likely that it still could've made for a good movie, the added factor took in to a whole new level. This choice of music made the movie truly remarkable in my eyes, and a truly memorable experience that was very well praised for the ties that it created.