After picking up my mom from the airport from a long overdue trip, we sat down with some popcorn and watched the Oscars with the dogs. They weren’t particularly interested, though when anything from “Life of Pi” appeared on the screen they perked up, probably more so than the estimated 1 billion watching around the world. 

But for us human viewers, it was an entertaining night of quality television filled with laughter and great music. Seth MacFarlane, most known for his unmistakable voice on Family Guy, hosted and carried an all-around successful show.

Sunday night’s theme — music at the movies — hit a strong note at home, taking my thoughts to what music does for a movie or for anyone who listens to it. Music is everywhere. When I hear a song or score, I think of the emotional story it tells. Happy, sad, light, dark, legendary, subdued. It can do it all. Storytelling can take many forms, and music offers the artist an opportunity to engage listeners on a roller coaster of feelings.  

Music was the name of the game Sunday at the Oscars, and the producers of the show went for it all the way, from one musical performance to the next, going 35 minutes over the scheduled three-hour running time. As everyone knows, the show tends to drag on, leaving the viewers shifting through channels or walking away altogether. This year’s run time was around average, yet still 48 minutes under the longest show ever in 2002 — “A Beautiful Mind” won best picture that year. This wasn’t just a show about movies. Rather, it was a night about performance and, of course, the music.

The musical score is the defining characteristic of the movie. It does what an actor or actress cannot; it fleshes out the story, luring you in when you are most unaware and forcing you to experience the raw emotions coming to life. When I think of my favorite movies, it’s the music that brings those memories back.  

The score can lead a movie to new levels. Without the emotionally-driven scores of John Williams, Darth Vader’s entrance in the opening scene of “A New Hope” wouldn’t be as gratifying. Without the chilling and thunderous scores of Hans Zimmer, we wouldn’t feel the twisted fantasy each villain manifests in “The Dark Knight” trilogy. And without Howard Shore’s brilliance in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the tale of Frodo’s epic quest to destroy the ring would severely fall short. All these scores break the fourth wall and allow viewers to live in the world they’re watching, if only for just a moment.

Compared to other forms of art, music can be more easily enjoyed and understood by the masses. This is why it resonates so much with all people.

The highlight of the night, though, came from Ben Affleck’s acceptance speech for winning best picture for “Argo.” On what it takes to make it in Hollywood, he said that you can’t hold grudges and that it doesn’t matter how you get knocked down, you just have to get back up. And music can help remedy those issues.

I think these remarks can be expanded to being successful anywhere: Life is too short to let these negative feelings drive your actions. The power of negativity is stronger than we’re led to believe because it affects us subconsciously in the same way that music does.

Music is special because it can transcend this negativity. 

Music calms you down whenever you are stressed. It clears your head, accompanies you during times of trouble and occupies your thoughts when you don’t want to think.

If you’re going through a difficult time, turn on your favorite song, and let the music carry you.

Tommy is a senior in Business. He can be reached at [email protected].