RADIO (Voice)

Radiolab: Famous Tumors

            When they first start discussing Ulysses S. Grant and his tumor, a flutelike instrument starts playing in a haunting Dark Shadows kind of way. This sets the mood for this kind of grim, mystical topic. However, once they explain it more and walk through the process of viewing the tumor, it seems less creepy and supernatural. Later when they start talking about Tasmania and describe the rocky, desert landscape often associated with Australia and that corner of the world, Indiana Jones-type adventure music is playing, but once he starts explaining this other part that is more green with scenery, the music shifts to a more romanticized classic Hollywood soundtrack. Throughout the broadcast, they use similar effects to these examples displaying an eerie tone surrounding the uninviting, microscopic subject matter of a tumor. The music really helps to set the tone. It can change the mood of the situation with different tempos and lighter or darker melodies that control an environment. Since we are so often focused on imagery, we often forget the impact that sound can have on a piece. Radio really demonstrates that since it relies entirely on sound with no visual aid. As the song says, video killed the radio star, but perhaps it’s not a dead medium. People still listen to radio in the car on their way to work. Some listen to podcasts discussing varying subject matter. Other people still use radio as a primary form of entertainment. However you listen to radio, we live in an ever changing world, and a majority of people in the United States have access to podcasts and radio sitting in their pockets. People often forget the true importance of sound until it is not there. Sounds and music can completely sway a scene without the audience even noticing. Radio then becomes even more impressive considering it needs to convey a message without any aid apart from voice and sounds. Especially when you actually end up doing projects with sound, and realize how important it truly is and how we take it for granted.