Music cliches you're getting sick of (esp on TV/in movies)

Trollheart · 08-15-2012, 09:29 AM

It's driving me mad how many different TV shows (especially game/reality shows) and movies are now using the same (or same-sounding) choral vocal effects to "trailer" things. You know the ones: short, stabbed synth chords, and a choir (or effect) going like "AH-AH-AH-AAAAAAH!" really loudly.

Also, the practice of is it pitch-bending or something on a synth, in a TV show where the tension is being built up, usually right at the end of a cliffhanger or even season of a show. Drives me mad! I'm sure you know the sort of thing, happens in almost every "cliffhanger" or dramatic scene.

Nothing original seems to happen in TV music these days. Anyone else got any cliches in music/TV they hate? No? Just me then...

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 08-15-2012, 11:38 AM

I have this thing with music montages in TV shows. They just seem to take away from all the drama and inject Grade A cheese into an otherwise respectable episode. I think they can be done right, but TV shows fuck them up almost every single time — usually by using some terrible "contemporary" song.

TheBig3 · 08-15-2012, 12:11 PM

Like this, Conan?

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 08-15-2012, 12:16 PM

Oh 30 Rock, you tell it like it is.

~~[MERIT]~~ · 08-15-2012, 04:35 PM

I find it humorous how Scrubs cannot have a serious moment without cutting to a song by The Fray.

Geekoid · 08-15-2012, 06:59 PM

This is becoming a cliche: the whole groaning bass sound (the shaky, metallic, single-note buzz) they use in so many action movie trailers. The Avengers trailer uses it at the beginning and near the end. I know it's supposed to be dramatic and exciting and all, but I find it annoyingly repetitive.

**Frownland** · 08-16-2012, 09:21 AM

^ ^ ^ agreed on that, Geekoid. What I really hate are meaningful glances and string music tied together so that you reallly understand how deep and important those characters' stares are affecting their relationship. Seriously, cut the strings and find better actors if you feel like you need a trademark sound to go along with something that's pretty apparent.

Trollheart · 08-16-2012, 12:25 PM

And as for acoustic, emo-style angst-ridden songs to accompany the love scenes... don't get me started....

technitone · 08-17-2012, 11:46 AM

Key changes in the sob stories during X-Factor, the only way they could literally tag more violently on the heart strings of the idiot masses - is if they televised a bonfire of chocolate and puppies

Plankton · 08-17-2012, 11:51 AM

When the Brady kids run down the stairs.

08-15-2012, 09:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Music cliches you're getting sick of (esp on TV/in movies) It's driving me mad how many different TV shows (especially game/reality shows) and movies are now using the same (or same-sounding) choral vocal effects to "trailer" things. You know the ones: short, stabbed synth chords, and a choir (or effect) going like "AH-AH-AH-AAAAAAH!" really loudly. Also, the practice of is it pitch-bending or something on a synth, in a TV show where the tension is being built up, usually right at the end of a cliffhanger or even season of a show. Drives me mad! I'm sure you know the sort of thing, happens in almost every "cliffhanger" or dramatic scene. Nothing original seems to happen in TV music these days. Anyone else got any cliches in music/TV they hate? No? Just me then... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-15-2012, 12:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	Like this, Conan? __________________ I've moved to a new address

08-16-2012, 09:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	^ ^ ^ agreed on that, Geekoid. What I really hate are meaningful glances and string music tied together so that you reallly understand how deep and important those characters' stares are affecting their relationship. Seriously, cut the strings and find better actors if you feel like you need a trademark sound to go along with something that's pretty apparent. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

08-16-2012, 12:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	And as for acoustic, emo-style angst-ridden songs to accompany the love scenes... don't get me started.... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-17-2012, 11:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	When the Brady kids run down the stairs. __________________ See location...

08-15-2012, 11:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	I have this thing with music montages in TV shows. They just seem to take away from all the drama and inject Grade A cheese into an otherwise respectable episode. I think they can be done right, but TV shows fuck them up almost every single time — usually by using some terrible "contemporary" song.

08-15-2012, 12:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	Oh 30 Rock, you tell it like it is.

08-15-2012, 04:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
~~[MERIT]~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 4,814	I find it humorous how Scrubs cannot have a serious moment without cutting to a song by The Fray.

08-15-2012, 06:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Geekoid Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 171	This is becoming a cliche: the whole groaning bass sound (the shaky, metallic, single-note buzz) they use in so many action movie trailers. The Avengers trailer uses it at the beginning and near the end. I know it's supposed to be dramatic and exciting and all, but I find it annoyingly repetitive.

08-17-2012, 11:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
technitone Groupie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: london Posts: 19	Key changes in the sob stories during X-Factor, the only way they could literally tag more violently on the heart strings of the idiot masses - is if they televised a bonfire of chocolate and puppies