If the thought of writing creates a barrier then you have to ask yourself why. Why am I finding this so difficult? Upon reflection, writing a post about why there aren’t enough video game concept albums was probably a bit of a stretch. I blame Robert Florence. And Lollipop Chainsaw. And the 80s.
On another day, writing a passionate love letter to video game music would be easy.
When you recognise Halo or Final Fantasy theme music being played orchestrally at a Humanist wedding, you realise how beauty exists in mediums and places that some people wouldn’t even consider art. Then again, a urinal was once not considered art and look how that turned out.
Music evokes such strong memories and emotions that it can transport us instantly to another time and space. No matter how cheesy that sounds, the fact is it’s true.
At Robert Florence’s recent show at the Glasgow Film Festival, Rab’s Video Game Empty, he opened by singing ‘Snake Eater’ to the tune of ‘Goldfinger’. Genius. At least I think that’s what it was.
And it got me thinking about video game music. Zombie-killing game Lollipop Chainsaw has a particularly fun soundtrack which some Spotify users have created due to the lack of an official soundtrack presence.
One song in particular, Pac Man Fever, is 80s-tastic. You have to listen to it.
With Social Media anything and everything can be shared instantly. A concept video game album could be a great creative outlet for musicians stuck in a rut. Imagine what miaoux miaoux could do with a GTA night time mission. Or what Man Without Machines could bring to a Mass Effect exploration set-piece.
I don’t see it as any less important than cosplay or fan art.
So if SEGA make another House of the Dead game, let’s hope the band Fat Goth get a phonecall.
