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Episode 289: The Power of Music in Movies. Plus the Nintendo Switch 2

LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 289

We tend to think of movies as a visual experience. We watch movies, we say. But what we hear in them can be just as important. A movie’s music can make a titanic difference in how we watch—and in a way, what we see.

 “When you write a theme, one of the things you want to do is … see how much life it really has,” composer Hans Zimmer once said. “How many possibilities there are. Can it speak to you in joy? Can it speak to you in sorrow? Can it be love? Can it be hate? Can you say all these things with just a few notes?”

We discuss movie scores in today’s installment of The Plugged In Show, exploring not just how it makes us feel, but why. In the manipulative world of cinematic storytelling, music can be one of the most persuasive forces of all. I sit down with music lovers Bob Hoose, Kennedy Unthank and Adam Holz to unpack the power of cinematic music—and how we can better understand, appreciate and, in some cases, guard against its influence.

Then we’ll pivot to another entertainment medium: video games. Nintendo’s Switch 2 is releasing today. Our gaming expert Bob Hoose tells us what we can expect from the new console—and if there’s anything that parents especially should be wary about.

Are you excited about the release of the Switch 2? Are you going to race out and get one, or are you more inclined to switch off all that excitement? What about movie-based music? Do you have a favorite theme? A beloved score? Tell us! You’ve got plenty of ways to connect with us. Instagram, Facebook and YouTube are ready to take your opinions. Our email tray at [email protected] is waiting for your response. And if you want to leave a voicemail, you can do that, too. Just go to www.thepluggedinshow.com and click on the black tab to the right.

And let’s reconvene around this time next week, when we talk about the new How to Train Your Dragon movie.

paul-asay
Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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