The other day, I was browsing a retail establishment when Chicago's "You're the Inspiration" came over the store speakers. Suddenly, I felt very sad.
It was an interesting reaction and not one I would have had a few years ago. Having surrendered my youth to the modern day equivilent of potato mines (retail), I'm familiar with the safe music that's piped over the speakers to keep the masters and beasts complacent. I would never give Chicago another thought ever again if not for an Elite Beat Agents scenario involving an anime girl's dead father.
Surely I'm not the only one who's come to associate games with certain licensed songs. The Japanese have been sneaky about it since we were kids: Mario's invincibility music is lifted straight from Jesus Christ Superstar and more than one tune in the early Mega Man games sounded like a tribute to Guns n Roses and/or Metallica. But legitimate songs being used in games (or to advertise games) is quickly becoming popular and I'm increasingly interested in the association aspect. This doesn't apply so much to games like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, which usually have you belting out tunes in a club, or possibly a fancy club. I'm referring to instances where a song is used to define a game, or an in-game scenario like the ones in Elite Beat Agents.
For instance, I will forever associate the song "Mad World" with Gears of War--more specifically, a giant goddamn spider from Gears of War (Sidenote: I very much prefer Tears for Fears' half-frantic original to Jules' whiny lamentation). Gears of War 2's commercial has taken the song association route as well, though I don't remember anything about the choice. I am uncool--but perhaps the song is not as an effective choice as Mad World since there's no association in my head?
"Under the Sea," of course, belongs to Bioshock. In fact, Bioshock's licensed selection is brilliant and goes a long way in defining the game overall. "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window" is benign, but "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window" stuttering over and over on a damaged jukebox in a silent, busted-up bar is a memory that will visit your dreams often, if you're like me. Also, there is a specific instance wherein the player hears the sad drone of "Danny Boy". It is a brilliant touch of atmosphere.
I'm limiting myself by gushing on about my experiences alone. What songs have embedded themselves into your memory because of a game? Bonus points if your parents made out to the song as youth and are now horrified to see it squandered in a video game.
Related Links:
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The Economist Weighs In On Music Games
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