By Mitch Rice
Video games have evolved into a major entertainment medium over the past few decades. As gaming has grown, the music featured in games has become increasingly important.
For example, SoCanadianCasinos created an immersive soundtrack that transports players into a real casino setting. The ambient background music mixes smooth jazz and lively lounge tunes to emulate the vibe of a Las Vegas casino floor. Sound effects like chips clinking and slots chiming add to the realism.
Many famous musicians have lent their talents to create iconic songs and scores for video games. The music helps set the tone and draw players into the gaming worlds.
“Warriors” – Imagine Dragons
The anthemic rock song “Warriors” by Imagine Dragons was written specifically for the League of Legends 2014 World Championship. With its pulsing drums, triumphant chorus, and motivating lyrics, “Warriors” became an unofficial anthem for League of Legends fans. The song was crafted to hype up players for the intense multiplayer online battle arena matches that the game is known for.
Lines like “Just like a warrior” and “Now I’m unbreakable” capture the competitive spirit of League of Legends gameplay. The song’s driving rhythm and energetic vocals match the fast-paced action of a League match. Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds sings about being a “warrior” and a “champion” – appropriate imagery for a song commissioned for the League of Legends championships.
“Warriors” elevated the visibility of League of Legends when it was performed live by Imagine Dragons at the sold-out World Championship finals in Seoul, South Korea.
“Touch it” – Ariana Grande
Pop superstar Ariana Grande brought her signature upbeat, synth-driven sound to the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius in 2019 with her catchy track “Touch It.” Grande said she grew up playing Final Fantasy games, so being asked to create a song for the franchise was a dream come true. As a long-time fan, she was able to make a song that felt authentically connected to the spirit of Final Fantasy.
“Touch It” features lyrics directly referencing Brave Exvius gameplay like “Level up and unlock the next chapter.” The high-energy chorus encourages players to “Touch it, grab it, feel it, having it, hold it” as they progress through the game. Grande’s soaring vocals and bubbly style match the futuristic fantasy tone of the mobile RPG. She sings about being “on a mission now” over a mix of pop beats, glitchy synths and sweeping orchestral strings.
The release of “Touch It” coincided with a new update for Brave Exvius and an in-game event featuring Ariana Grande. Fans appreciated Grande’s obvious passion for Final Fantasy and her ability to make a fun, catchy song fit seamlessly into the game universe.
“Immortal Flame” – Katy Perry
For the 2018 release of Fortnite Battle Royale, pop star Katy Perry lent her talents to create the uplifting dance-pop anthem “Immortal Flame.” The song’s themes of igniting your inner power and rising to any challenge pair perfectly with Fortnite’s survival-of-the-fittest gameplay.
Lyrics like “Feel the lightning run through your veins” capture the adrenaline rush of an intense Fortnite match. The driving beat and Katy’s soaring vocals are designed to energize and motivate players to achieve victory. In the bridge, Katy sings “we are immortal, we are the flame,” encouraging Fortnite gamers to unleash their strength.
Perry said she wanted to write a song that embodied the spirit of resilience and determination needed to excel at Fortnite. The lyrics speak to unlocking one’s potential and using your abilities to overcome anything. “Immortal Flame” aligned with Epic Games’ goal of positioning Fortnite as more than just a video game, but rather a meaningful social experience.
The song was debuted in-game during an interactive Fortnite event where Perry’s avatar performed on a virtual stage. For many fans, “Immortal Flame” became the perfect pump-up anthem while competing in their favorite battle royale game.
“Face My Fears” – Skrillex
Electronic music producer Skrillex and Japanese singer-songwriter Utada Hikaru came together to create “Face My Fears” for Kingdom Hearts III. The high-energy EDM-pop track captures the spirit of the famed Disney-Final Fantasy crossover video game franchise.
Skrillex brings his signature blend of booming bass, glitchy vocal samples, and larger-than-life builds to the production. Meanwhile, Utada’s haunting Japanese lyrics and wispy vocals speak to Kingdom Hearts’ blend of childlike wonder and supernatural themes. She sings about having the courage to “face my fears” as the music swells behind her.
The song was released prior to the launch of Kingdom Hearts III to build hype among fans who had waited years for the sequel. Skrillex said he jumped at the chance to make music for a game series that had impacted his childhood. The end result was an anthemic,
East-meets-West theme song befitting the unlikely mashup of Disney and Final Fantasy that Kingdom Hearts pulls off so well.
Upon the game’s release, “Face My Fears” was praised for capturing the essence of adventure, imagination, and darker undertones that makes the franchise so compelling. The Skrillex and Utada collaboration raised the ambition for what a modern video game soundtrack could achieve.
“Won’t Back Down” – Eminem (Ft. P!nk)
Legendary rapper Eminem recruited pop singer P!nk for the intense hip hop track “Won’t Back Down” made for Call of Duty: Black Ops II. The guitar-heavy production and Eminem’s aggressive battle rap lyrics match the military first-person shooter’s gritty tone.
Lines like “This is warfare, turn your tears to a smile” and chanting “No retreat!” capture the defiant, never-surrender attitude of Call of Duty gameplay. P!nk’s soaring vocals on the hook provide a cathartic release, as she sings about not backing down from any fight.
“Won’t Back Down” was revealed during a televised commercial for Black Ops II that featured both Eminem and P!nk. The high-profile collaboration generated major hype surrounding the integration of hip hop music and esports.
Activision said recruiting one of rap’s biggest stars like Eminem elevated their goal of making Call of Duty an all-encompassing entertainment franchise. The song’s themes of courage and resilience resonated with the militaristic tone of the Black Ops series.
The expert commented, “Ultimately, “Won’t Back Down” became an adrenaline-fueled anthem that enhanced the action-packed experience fans expect from Call of Duty”.
Conclusion
As these examples demonstrate, video game developers today are increasingly collaborating with top musical artists to create signature songs and scores. These high-profile partnerships elevate the gaming experience for fans, and provide musicians a compelling new creative outlet for their talents. The result is an ever-stronger marriage of gaming and music.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
