Introduction
Blockbuster films have incorporated music that serves a wide array of things. Music shapes how people perceive the visual imagery on a screen and accentuates filmmakers’ intended effects. Squid Game, a popular TV series, is one of the films that successfully and aesthetically used music to capture the audience’s attention. The film presents unflinching brutality that burst on gore blaze, shock, and mystery screens. While the film uses a mashup of music, “By the Beautiful Blue Danube” stands out in every horrific scene. The music establishes the setting, creates atmosphere, reinforces narrative development, gives meaning to characters’ actions, and creates emotions in the Squid Game. Music makes Squid Game nerve-racking, but with the audience glued to the screen.
Scene Overview
Squid Game features characters who accept an offer to play children’s games for a chance of winning a large cash prize. About half an hour into the first Squid Game episode, the players are woken up by the game’s hosts, ready for their first game. Johann Strauss’ “By the Beautiful Blue Danube” plays as the players move to the game scene. Everyone, including the audience, is unaware of the kind of the first game to be played. Every character is nervous, making the audience eagerly wait for their next move. Shockingly, the players are introduced to the game ‘green light, red light’ (Dong-hyuk, 2021, 0:30). The game is seemingly straightforward, but the consequences of failing are dire: the players are killed. The scene is eerie to the audience and gruesome to the players.
Music Cue Review
Strauss’ “By the Beautiful Blue Danube” serves various functions during Squid Game’s first game scene. The music establishes a setting and gets the audience ready for the eagerly awaited game. The piece starts with shimmering strings and a glorious tone making the scene enjoyable. The shrilling and strained timbre demonstrate the existing confusion among the audience and the characters since none knows the game to be played. The melody’s mood shifts from confusion to perplexing realizing that players are killed if they fail in the game. As the game continues, the players become indecisive on whether to continue with the game or not.
Moreover, the music gives meaning to the characters who doubt their decisions. The main character, Seong Gi-hun, or player 456, among other plays, shows signs of giving up the game (Dong-hyuk, 2021, 0:30-0:45). The music’s crescendo demonstrates that there is no other option for the players but to choose between life and death. Furthermore, the musical notations and forte dynamic create a sad mood reinforced by the massive killings of players. The music becomes louder as the players approach the ‘survival line.’ The piece ends with a bright timbre indicating the success of the surviving players. Although the players make it to the end of the game, they are confused about their decision and the next round. The music’s mood manifests the player’s bewilderment and somberness upon losing fellow players. “By the Beautiful Blue Danube,” dissonance follows the players’ actions and supports their emotions.
Conclusion
Music plays an essential function in films since it helps in expressing emotions. Squid Game uses music that makes it interesting to the audience. Strauss’ “By the Beautiful Blue Danube” uses various musical elements like timbre, mood, and tonal variations, among others. The choice of the song before and after every game in the film connects the audience with the film’s mood. The music is incorporated into the film’s first game to create a game setting, evoke emotions, and reinforce the film’s narrative development. Furthermore, the music’s dissonance connects the players with their actions and emotions. “By the Beautiful Blue Danube,” music plays a significant role in Squid Game, making the film aesthetic and nerve-jugging.
Reference
Dong-hyuk, H. (2021). Squid Game [Film]. Siren Pictures Inc.