Awesome Mix
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“Releasing the mixtape on a cassette tape is a good strategy as it makes those of us who remember using cassette tapes and rewinding them with a pen feel nostalgic, and it is also a novelty for younger fans who might not have ever seen a cassette tape in real life.” (Wood, 2014)
The 1984 platinum soundtrack to Footloose (Ross, 1984) contained one of the best-selling pop songs in that year, showing how beneficial and successful it is to have a close relationship between the movie and the soundtrack (Dickinson, 2003. P. 84), presenting how important a soundtrack can be to the success of a film. The biggest pop culture reference from Guardians of the Galaxy is the soundtrack; Awesome Mix Vol. 1, a mix tape of classic songs from the 70’s and 80’s made by Peter’s mother, a reference to other mix tapes in films such as My Awesome Mix Tape #3 from Boogie Nights (Anderson, 1997).
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The success of the film led to the huge success of the movies soundtrack, the soundtrack spent multiple weeks at number 1 in the Billboard Top 200 (Billboard, 2014), available on digital, CD, vinyl and cassette. Having it available on vintage platforms such as cassette and vinyl plays on the nostalgic element of the film, audiences who remember when the songs came out, probably had them on either vinyl or cassette. Having the soundtrack from the film available to buy means audiences can experience the film without watching it, they feel a part of the world because the soundtrack tells a story in itself.
About the soundtrack, director James Gunn said "It's striking the balance throughout the whole movie, through something that is very unique, but also something that is easily accessible to people at the same time.” (Wood, 2014), meaning everyone has access to music and they feel different ways towards different songs. The songs might not have the same effect on the audience as they have on the character, but the audience will always have a song they have an emotional connection to.
Letts stated that “music is a universal phenomenon but not a universal language” (1997), however in this case the language is the music, whether it be upbeat or a slow ballad, the music in general evokes emotion from people, which is why it’s strategically placed within the film. Instead of just having the soundtrack play over the film, the directed has imbedded it into the film to provide meaning, to deliver the “narrative cues” (Buhler, 2016. P.84) to tell the audience when to be happy, when to be sad etc.
For example, towards the end of the film Peter opens the present his mum gave him just before she died; Awesome Mix Vol 2., [seen to the left]. The first song that plays is “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, an upbeat song to close the film, the conflict is over and the equilibrium has been restored, and the `Guardians’ are a team now. However, the lyrics relate to the relationship with his mother as well; “remember the day I set you free… although we’re miles apart… my love is alive way down in my heart” (Gaye, 1966), the song is meant to represent a fresh start for the character, Peter is channelling the love from his mother to save the universe, she still influences him now.
Guardians of the Galaxy - Letter Scene.
Going from Vol 1 to Vol 2 marks the growth of the character, from child to adult, him opening the Mix tape suggests he’s moved on, and the next chapter is starting. The music she has given him is the last thing he has left to remember her, but also to remember Earth. The music fills the silence of being alone and is a form of escapism, and allows us to forget “the ‘pain of existence’ itself” (Dickinson, 2003, p.40). Flinn states that music is used to reveal “glimpses of a better, more unified words” (1992, p.91), the songs are a way to express the emotion in scenes; to provide unity with the characters.
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The Sony Walkman is an iconic symbol within popular culture, and has a “distinct culture of its own” (Du Gay, 1997, p.10). The Walkman as a symbol represents the culture of the 1970’s and 80’s and the type of people who bought them; youth, the “cool” person, music lovers and busy people on the go (hence the name WALK – MAN [Du Gay]). An iconic part of Starlord is his Sony Walkman that hangs on his belt, his only way to listen to his home music. The Walkman becomes part of the character, which is why in the sequel (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), when Ego destroys the Walkman, it’s the push Quill needs to defeat the antagonist, but also represents Quill’s growth, he’s moving to the next stage of his life, similar to him going from Mix Vol 1. To Mix Vol.2.
Peter Quill is a walking reference to popular culture of the 70s/80s, surrounding himself with brands such as the Walkman, he becomes an advert for the 1980’s; whether he’s promoting songs, films or lifestyle, Peter Quill as a character is a combination of different texts, and becomes a ‘recycled’ cultural reference himself.