Highlight Musical Scores

ES Posthumus has great stuff - Matrix and Pirates of the Caribbean are standards as well. Also, one that is really good...the soundtrack from Eagle Eye.

Try using IMDB.com for cool background music to movies/scenes you like. I hit up IMDB, look at the sound track listing, and then youtube any that I don't know/think are the ones I'm looking for to see if I'm correct. I also like moviewavs.com for funny quote clips, etc. At the end of our highlight film this year I used a clip of Vince Vaughn sarcastically saying, "Well at least that wasn't weird...", making fun of my taste in music/style/etc. Someday I'll get around to posting that SOB.

Can additionally be used to scratch that 'brain itch' where you're wondering "WTF was that song from that movie last night?..." Which I get constantly.

Great stuff thanks for the info fellas.

Backdrafts "show me your fire truck"

I am Lincoln the Island Soundtrack I put it on this video I did.


Not the best video haha rushed in certain parts like where we did an onsides after the first score and got it.

I also used Peace by Paul Kelly and the Contender intro for this other one.


In the game footage part, the first play you see was also the first play of the semifinal game. Set the tone for the whole rest of the night.

BTW sorry I don't know what the rules are about posting your own videos on a thread. If needs be delete this post.

NFL films actually has some great classical stuff that I used this year.

Molossus from the Batman Begins sountrack.

Superman Theme.

i used these two on our highlight video this year.

I'll second Lux Aeterna. SWEET SONG

Indiana Jones theme is fun too.

Interesting concept of using soundtracks.

to me, it makes more sense to use soundtracks - instrumental types. think about it, why don't most soundtracks have tons of lyrics? because the focus isn't the music, it's on the video... on what is taking place on the screen. the music is part of the "background" and is merely what supplements the video. it needs to add to the action rather than overpower it. words from today's hits can actually deminish the feel of what is happening.

movies must flow in conjuction with their music. soundtracks are designed specifically for this. finding the right music for any video is probably the #1 key ingredient. it can both help or harm your production.

It is interesting ( I agree with Huey's perspective ) to see highlights treated differently (how each coach interprets them).

Admittedly, I'm not used to the "slo-mo epic NFL Films" thing. So as a viewer, I'm kind of thrown for a loop when I see a fast-paced, violent sport turned into a maudlin encounter (just different is all). It works.

I suppose the music selection (as Huey points out) is important to pair with the video you are presenting. If you're throwing non-stop action at a viewer, I suppose selections from 'Turandot' may not really work.

It also depends on the intended audience and how you intend to reach them.

Personally, the only ones I like are the ones that come out and punch you in the face and make little children cry. Something so over the top with action that the viewer HAS to take notice (get your attention!!).

My personal video preferences:

Coaching/game DVD's - Remove all audio

Player highlights - Remove all audio

Team Highlights - All game audio is removed unless it is the cheering from the game winning play. Then I just mute down the music and have the sounds. I did this when one of our guys blocked an 2 OT PAT that got us to the championship game.

Now, when I get to the background music for the team highlights:

On the one hand: Audio is replaced with music that sets and/or works with the theme/emotion of the plays. Songs with vocals work and are instrumental in setting the overall feeling of the highlights. This takes time to synch the clips to the audio.

On the other hand: The audio is there to keep part of the brain from wandering off somewhere else. In that mode I use audio that has no vocals. The style is usually moving, upbeat, etc. and is often tied into the emotion of the clips. I use a lot of tracks from freeplaymusic.com for this type of highlights.

It also gets into how the highlights are organized - game by game in a somewhat linear fashion? Or all the big offensive plays in somewhat random sequence (run plays followed by passes), followed by the defensive plays (big hits followed by sacks followed by picks)? Or are players highlighted so Johnnies plays are lumped together as part of the flow. If this is linear then the music is less important and tends to flow for the whole presentation, not just the specific clips/sequence.

I usually follow the season in a linear mode. Hit Play and it starts with the off-season then game 1 then game 2. I also add DVD menu's so the user can access each game separately, not just "skip to next" after hitting Play.

I have an opening sequence that shows the roster/players and coaches, record, overview of the season. 30-45 seconds and then into the highlights.

I usually have an off-season/preparation sequence that shows the weight room, summer training, double-days, activities, etc. The music for that is upbeat and energetic.

I always have a "Goodbye" sequence for the departing seniors and coaches/staff. That's where I use the sad/lonely/goodbye music. We use tape on the lockers for their names. I tape a hand (mine) peeling the tape of the locker. Slow it down, manipulate the video (black and white, fades, something), add slow sad music and there are tears everywhere.

I also print the CD's using an inkjet printer. These cost about $100-200 and work very well. Can do a lot with these. I also print all of our master and exchange DVD's.

That's way too much for the original question, but that's what I've done the past 7 seasons. I'm also Mac-based and use miniDV tapes as the source format.

Music I'm looking at for this season include
One of us is going down - Sick Puppies
I will be heard - Hatebreed
Every breath you take - Police - for the summer/pre-season sequence. We're watching everything you do kind of impression.