| A film trailer is a short montage crafted from the hottest scenes in a new movie release. They are essentially ads for the movie, aimed at getting viewers excited enough to go see the film. |
A blockbuster trailer can mean big box office sales. Today’s trailers often use a certain type of song—one with an epic, emotion-charged, cinematic feel—to ratchet up audience enthusiasm.This type of song is referred to as a “trailer-style” or “trailerized” song.
If you are asked to deliver a song that is over-the-top, heart-pounding, dramatic, or exhilarating, you’re probably looking at a song for a film trailer!
| A song used in a movie trailer can earn more than other placements. A major studio trailer might pay between $15,000 and $60,000 or more for the sync rights to a song by an indie artist. Another plus: these songs are usually featured rather than being tucked behind dialogue, so it has a better chance of being noticed by viewers. |
While trailer songs are usually associated with movies, they can also be used for action-filled TV series (TV promos), video games, and ads for popular books and sports events. (Check out this 15-second spot for March Madness featuring Lady Gaga. )
WATCH THE VIDEOS AND READ THE LYRICS
| A recent TAXI.com listing for a music library cited three epic, cinematic trailer-style songs that are great examples of the genre. (You don’t have to be a TAXI member to receive the listings. Just sign up on their website to get the daily email.) |
| “Fallout” – UNSECRET with Neoni Watch the video on YouTube. Read the lyrics. “Heart of Darkness” – Steelfeather Watch the video on YouTube. Read the lyrics. “Hero” – Tommee Profitt with Mike Mains Watch the video on YouTube. Read the lyrics. |
| All three of these songs have been used in film and TV and they share the dynamic builds, sweep of sound, and sense of urgency that is characteristic of trailer-style songs for film. This is partly a result of production and arrangement choices, but lyrics, melody, and song structure also play a big role in the impact of these powerful tracks |
SONG STRUCTURE
| There’s an unusual feature that you’ll hear in all three of these songs: big, dramatic musical contrast between song sections. Whispered verses are followed by huge choruses, then back to a whisper again. You might also notice that the verses and choruses are shorter than in most songs. This allows the track to climb and fall rapidly over and over again. “Fallout” starts with a verse. Notice how short the lines are. |
Hush now
Dry your eyes
Fate is upon us
The changing of times
Welcome
Blood red skies
Burn in wake of
A world left behind
There is a wordless vocal melody between the verse and chorus before the track drops into a dark, aggressive (and short) chorus section.
Can’t escape the fallout
Feel the fire rain down
See the shadows rising all around
Can’t escape the fallout, fallout
| Trailers are filled with quick edits between action scenes and romantic moments, wild parties and shoot-outs. A trailer-style song’s short, contrasting sections can be lined up with those edits, adding even more energy to the trailer. |
| Try It Now Listen to “Fallout” By UNSECRET and notice the big builds and breaks throughout the song. Look for all the ways the song is creating that contrast. |
LYRICS
Mix poetry with direct statement
In the opening lines of “Hero,” a low, male vocal sings: There’s a fire in the city. Panic in the air. Far from your mother’s arms with a heart full of fear. The imagery conveys feelings of insecurity, hopelessness, and loss—dark times, indeed— especially when followed by more images of “black clouds” and the “last savior” leaving town.
There’s a lot of poetry in the verse in stark contrast to the direct statement of the chorus: Let me be your hero. Let me be your hero. Poetic lyrics in the verse and direct statement in the chorus: it’s a great way to make sure your listeners both feel and understand what your song is saying.
Try It Now
Put together a list of images, actions, and physical sensations that suggest danger, threat, survival, and epic clashes. A thesaurus is a good place to start, or look through a few of your favorite Goth novels and songs.
MELODY
| In these songs, verse melodies tend to feature repetition and a limited note range, while the chorus melodies thrust upward, sometimes in octave leaps, taking advantage of the sudden explosion of instrumentation that often happens at that point. Given the dark themes and lyric imagery, the melodies tend to favor minor scales and chords. The vocalese pre-chorus of “Fallout,” with its eastern Mediterranean modal feel, adds a mysterious quality to that song. This is a technique that Lisa Gerrard also uses in her very successful trailer songs. |
Try it now
Listen to the melodies of all three songs and notice where they create contrast in note range. Also notice changes in note pace, from smooth to choppy, and volume changes from loud to soft.
Good luck and may the trailer force be with you! ~ Robin