Scenic Sounds: Blue Valentine
The Blue Valentine Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a stunning variety of eclectic instrumentals and vocal pieces, which detail sounds of euphoric love and heartbreak with an added dose of nostalgia. Grizzly Bear serves as the mastermind of this filmic project, as they perform most songs on the soundtrack.
The Brooklyn based folk band’s pensive tunes serve as a time warp, drawing the viewer into the relationship of two lovers, Cindy (Michelle Williams, Shutter Island) and Dean (Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl) through the life span of their relationship. “Dory (Instrumental),” “Shift (Alternative Version)” and “I Live With You” detail the breakdown of the contemporary couple’s relationship. Grizzly Bear utilizes stringed instruments’ piercing sounds to enhance this serious but very down to earth drama. “Dory (Instrumental)” splendidly narrates the descent into romantic turmoil; heavy drumming beats and a strung out vibrato on the banjo and guitar create downhearted melodies and serve as a great instrumental voice.
Vocal contributions also accentuate the recurring flashbacks in Blue Valentine, as the undertone of polyphonic melody creates a blurred sense of time. “Shift,” one of the few vocal pieces in Blue Valentine, places more emphasis on electric guitar, vocal harmonic contributions, and whimsical use of the triangle to connote a sense of transition towards a nearing devastation. In a lyrical sense, “Shift” is quite simple and lends itself mostly to repetition and crooning to magnify the song’s presence, which surprisingly doesn’t create a humdrum effect. Although the track’s tone is dismal, Grizzly Bear’s added whistling in “Shift” prevents it from becoming overbearing and also signifies couple’s dwindling but nevertheless remaining innocence. This metaphorical track’s intricate elements give a stellar portrayal of authentic complexity in a piece of music thereby making it a key song in the soundtrack.
The path towards severed ties comes to a head in “I Live With You.” The track acts as a vessel, for it catapults Blue Valentine into fiery clash of colorful emotions. Grizzly Bear utilizes raspy vocals and a fierce distortion on the electric guitar to create a crescendo of sound, evoking a sense of uncertainty and turmoil that exists between the couple in the film.
The Brooklyn based folk band’s pensive tunes serve as a time warp, drawing the viewer into the relationship of two lovers, Cindy (Michelle Williams, Shutter Island) and Dean (Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl) through the life span of their relationship. “Dory (Instrumental),” “Shift (Alternative Version)” and “I Live With You” detail the breakdown of the contemporary couple’s relationship. Grizzly Bear utilizes stringed instruments’ piercing sounds to enhance this serious but very down to earth drama. “Dory (Instrumental)” splendidly narrates the descent into romantic turmoil; heavy drumming beats and a strung out vibrato on the banjo and guitar create downhearted melodies and serve as a great instrumental voice.
On a much more jovial note, a blissful luster envelopes Blue Valentine some key tracks. The seventies classic “You and Me” by Penny Quarters is a light hearted and iconic song which genuinely contributes to the earlier phases of the couple’s relationship. The song serves as a magnet, which draws the couple together in spite of the many upheavals in the film. “You Always Hurt The Ones You Love” by Ryan Gosling is another track that adds to the soundtrack’s variety and down to earth characteristics. Gosling’s bellowing voice amidst a playful, high-pitched banjo is an exceptional contrast. Furthermore, the simple yet poignant lyrics mark this track as a sweeping portrait for the film itself.
The Blue Valentine Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is an impressive compilation. The soundtrack’s lineup is courageous, never shying away from the many musical modes of expression while clinging to the film’s plot. Viewers will surely notice that whether Blue Valentine’s soundtrack is a whirlwind of musical dissonance or consonance, it sounds quite at home in this romantic drama.
(9.3/10)
- Megan Acheampong
Great movie, great soundtrack, great review!