Gears of War: Music in Video Games

Since the arrival of Gears of War I haven't stopped hearing about its awesome graphics, it's become the must see game for the Xbox 360. I have yet to play it, I'm waiting for Brando to let me borrow his for a few days.

There has been a secondary, slightly smaller buzz about the music from Gears of War, notably its trailer. It's a brilliantly executed trailer, partly because of its choice in music. The despondent texture of the song accompanying Marcus's life and death struggle in a bombed out city is a delicious twist. Its somber note strikes with an impact harder than any driving metal or techno beat.

The song is "Mad World" performed by Gary Jules. Jules' version of this song also appears on the Donnie Darko soundtrack and is suspiciously climbing the charts. Mad World was originally written and performed by Tears for Fears, better known for the 1985 international pop hit "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". "Mad World" appears on their 1983 debut "The Hurting". The whole album is dark with Goth undertones. It's a truly depressing but powerful album with introspective songs about the singer's childhood.

It's not surprising music in video games have reached levels of sophistication to match the games themselves. I admit to having purchased 'premium' versions of games just to get the included soundtrack CD. My iPod has soundtracks of Guild Wars and Halo2. There's even a video game music tour called Play! A traveling symphony that performs the music we love from our favorite games. Play! just completed a tour that ended in Toronto last Sept but they're scheduled to begin again next year.

Imagine a symphony performing music from games. I can hear the musician now: "I got my music degree at Julliard so I can go on tour performing the music from Super Mario Bros.!?!".

It's a very, very mad world.
2 comments
Posted by Alissa on December 8,2006 at 5:30 PM
Wow interesting.  I've seen that trailer and it is, in a strange way, touching.  I almost feel like we shouldn't be feeling that way about a video game though, particularly when you think how we've become almost immune to commercials about the starving African children, telethons, and the like.

But that aside, it's definitely a  creative and well thought out use. It really does show how far we can take our talents for artful crafting these days...or maybe it just shows the power of a really good song - if they played Mad World in the World Vision commercials, i'd probably feel the same.
Posted by Brando on December 8,2006 at 10:04 AM
Great blog, Wayde.  Play! certainly interests me, at least far more than the mutant rock attempts to mainstream Halo's music via bands like Incubus and Breaking Benjamin.

Gears of War's trailer is certainly a success.  It's so unpredictable in a video game, especially for one with the raw, gloriously violent qualities it possesses.  A great title on all levels.

Music in games may be the next big thing, after all.  Imagine game soundtracks receive just the a portion of the attention some movies do.  If you've heard any of the orchestral scores in Bungie's FPS Halo, you'd know they deserve that public interest.