Getting the music right was an important part of making the documentary Something To Entertain You. Successful music adds to the story without getting in the way of the story. Some viewers might not even notice the music, but they will feel its emotional effect.
Our budget did not allow for originally scored music. We first turned to the licensed music library Pond5, which offers millions of music tracks.
SEARCHING THOUSANDS OF POTENTIAL MUSIC TRACKS
Something To Entertain You tells the story of desert artists Karen and Tony Barone and their decades-long partnership in art, life, and creativity. We knew we wanted music that tells the same story as the film footage and helps engage the viewers emotionally.
Directors Mary and Jon Orlin wanted different music for different sections of the film. Because the story spans many decades, each era and location needed its own musical identity. We also created separate themes for Karen as an artist, Tony as an artist, and their love story. Even their car has its own entrance theme.
The Pond5 music tracks are searchable via keyword, so we started listening to many hours of music.
Mary says
finding the right song takes time. I can’t tell you how many thousands of tracks I rejected. For many, I could just tell within the first 10 seconds that the song wouldn’t work. But when I found ones that fit, I could just tell by the way the music made me feel or want to move.
Eventually, we had about 100 favorite tracks that needed to be narrowed down into 20 different final songs for the film.
GETTING THE OPENING RIGHT
Mary Orlin, who also took on the role of Music Curator, says
to me the most important piece of music is the one that opens the film. I knew it had to be catchy and memorable. When I heard the track we selected for the opening, I knew it was a perfect match. And how fitting that the track’s name is "Colorful Dots".
(If you haven't seen the film yet, you will understand this once you do.)
Mary adds,
A Music Curator’s role is complex. You need a feel for the emotions you want to convey, that also match the visuals. For example, you want the music to say, now we’re in the 70’s disco era, without that message being spelled out or saying a single word.
AS LONG AS I'M WITH YOU
Originally we selected a Pond5 track for the Love Story sections of the film.
We invited husband-and-wife musicians Wendy Jane and Jimi Fitz to one of our private screenings to view our rough cut. The Barones had turned us on to Fitz and Wendy's weekend music radio show.
We were a little nervous asking for their opinion on the music since they are both longtime professionals - singers, songwriters, performers, promoters, producers and TV and radio personalities. Fortunately, they liked what they heard.
But something unexpected happened.
We didn't know it at the time, but while watching the ending of the film, Fitz kept hearing another song in his head. It was a song he performs called “As Long As I’m With You,” written primarily by Wendy about their own love story.
Fitz later explained:
While I was watching the movie, I felt it needed a more dramatic musical close. I was thinking about Karen and Tony’s love story and realized the song fit their relationship perfectly.
He waited a day before even mentioning the idea to Wendy. Then he suggested to Jon and Mary that we simply listen to it—making it clear there was no pressure to use it.
We tested the song by replacing our original music with Fitz and Wendy’s track.
Mary remembers: “When we first heard it, there was no doubt. We loved it.”
As Fitz puts it:
It’s about a true partnership in all aspects—from best friends to lovers to every connection in a long-term working relationship. That’s exactly what Karen and Tony represent. At the end of the day, as long as I’m with you, baby.
The chorus reflects both Karen & Tony’s relationship and Fitz & Wendy’s own story:
As long as I'm with you,
it's all I'll ever need
There's just no place,
no place I'd rather be
I can be everything I've ever dreamed
As long as I'm with you
In the film, we use instrumental versions of the song during the Love Story sections as a musical “tease,” and then feature the vocal version during the end credits.
We hope you enjoy the film and the music. If you come out of the movie humming the song, even better.
Listen to an interview Fitz did with Mary and Jon Orlin for his podcast here. Fitz asks about how we started on the film project and what people may learn from the Barones after watching the documentary.
MUSIC RESOURCES
You can find Jimi Fitz's "As Long as I'm with You" on major music platforms:
Here's a link to some of the Pond 5 tracks.
