I Know that Song from Somewhere…

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF JUNE 25 | VIDEO GAME MUSIC FESTIVAL

I Know that Song from Somewhere…

Cover Story: Rare instances when licensed tracks made a positive impact in video games.

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nyone modestly familiar with cinema is aware of the common use of licensed music to compliment the unraveling action on-screen. Wes Anderson is one director whose frequent use of a vast smattering of audio genres has become possibly his most significant trademark. The revenge and arrest of Max Fischer near Rushmore’s climax accompanied by the rollicking bliss of The Who’s “A Quick One While He’s Away,” is a prime example of how the use of established music with a moving picture can enhance both. But licensed music, whether for monetary reasons or otherwise, has seen little use stylistically in the gaming medium. Despite this, there are a few examples that prove that licensed tracks can be utilized just as prominently to define a game’s tone or punctuate a point of narrative importance.

The Rolling Stones, “Paint It, Black” — Twisted Metal Black