Music overlay ideas

[oxford]

I am putting together some dvd of my kids for the grandparents. What songs do people like to use for overlay. I know this is kind of a random question but trying to think of ones off the top of my head is difficult. I liked Greenday's good riddance (time of your life) and Louis Armstrong - what a wonderful world. What is everyone else using. Thought it would be fun to get some ideas too.

[Retlaw]

It all depends on the video -- I have used parts of Beethoven's 6th Symphony for background music for videos of my kids before (same situation - making it for grandparents). If it is Christmas movies, I have bought some Christmas instrumental CDs and used those for the backgound music.

One thing I have noticed is to "turn the volume" down on the backgound music -- you don't want it to overpower the movie. I have seen several documentaries on PBS, etc. where you couldn't hear the narator/dialog over the "background" music.

Also, just my personal preference, but I use only instrumental background music - no lyrics. Again, because I don't want it interferring with the video dialog.

[ozymango]

Well, as a disclaimer, first I know that officially we can't recommend using copyrighted music as a soundtrack for anything without getting the appropriate clearances ... ...

I have stacks of old home movies (film, 8mm and Super 8mm) and used to work for a video transfer service, and this was always a major consideration -- what the heck kind of music to put on the videos? When I was a kid, in the "old" days, you'd watch 8mm films on small reels, maybe 5 minutes each, and between reel changes, projector noise (oh, I love the sound of projector noise!) and various hoots and catcalls from the audience members ("oh my gosh did I really wear those shoes?!"), soundtracks were never an issue.

But the "silence" of videotape (and DVD), just watching moving pictures on TV with no sound (or if you do slides/photos, the same thing) is just terrible. So what to put on for the background (finally getting back to your actual question?)

If I don't have much time to work with, I tend to use instrumental music, usually low-key, not quite "Muzak" but you know those $5 New Age CD Music Discs in the blowout section? Those can be very nice. And there's a link somewhere or other in these forums by a guy who does really nice piano compositions, genuinely good music, that he has okayed for our use as royalty free music.

Otherwise, I think of a video soundtrack like I would a "mix tape" -- you've got to sit down and watch it all the way through, and then, using intuition and hopefully a large music collection to work with, go with the flow and see what "feels" right for each scene. This can sound overwhelming but very often, through luck or coincidence or whatever, you'll get a "flow" going that goes through the entire video.

But quite honestly I find making the "soundtrack" for my home movie videos to be even more "work" than doing the video -- because you're working with a "mood" and each scene may require a different piece of music to go with it.

However, generally speaking, some sources of music I find I use over and over and work well with lots of different footage --

Enya
Tim Janis

They do lots of instrumentals that somehow always seem to fit into whatever it is I'm looking for. Good luck!

[kisrum]

I tend to agree with retlaw about avoiding lyrics. They can ALWAYS be, therefore always will be, misinterpreted by sensitive types, and they tend to "date" the video anyway, whereas light classical or traditional jazz lend an air of timelessnes, IMHO.

It really is what your gut tells you. If you're going for humor, then disregard above, but remember sarcasm doesn't transfer well, except in person. I relearn this every couple of years or so. I also pay attention to how music is used in professional documentaries/films.

edit:
Forgot you wanted ideas, although you'll have a lot more fun with your own.

all purpose upbeat-open-ended-don't even have to pay attention to editing? - Dave Brubeck Quartet, "Pick Up Sticks"

all purpose thoughtful-tasteful-just don't tell them it came from a heroin addict? Miles Davis "All Blues"

all purpose somber-pictures-of-dead-family members? Barber's Adagio in G minor (reference Platoon, Elephant Man, every AIDs documentary ever made). Maybe Gorecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (reference Fearless, various Holocaust documentaries), but I've never had the nerve to use any it.

all purpose children-playing-and-picking-flowers with slo-mo? Pachelbel's Canon.

There's always Boots Randolph's "Yackety Sax" (reference Benny Hill)

[HatchetMan]

oldies one hit wonders from the 50's, some early 60's, doo wop, stuff of that nature

[oxford]

Interesting to see everyones preferences. I wasn't necessarily asking for specific songs just though it would be interesting to see everyones preferences or if a particular song stood out. Adding music is very much part of the creative process, one I sometimes find the most fun but most challenging. At my level of movie making (which is novice of course) once I find a method of making the movies that works (which I finally have thank goodness) editing to me is the most fun. I am not much of a techy and am lost by most things on this forum but still like to frequent it often to learn something!

[byteguy]

The "guy who does really nice piano compositions, genuinely good music, that he has okayed for our use as royalty free music" is Bill Cushman at Ghost Notes.

I just used one of his for a quick little project. Oops, I should drop him a note saying thanks.

I primarily do "family projects" and stick with instrumentals. I like stuff by Tim Heintz and Jon Merriman. I've found some other great stuff at craft fairs.