Civ. 4 Won a Grammy

edited February 2011 in General Chat
http://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2011/02/from-the-arcade-to-the-grammys-the-evolution-of-video-game-music/71082/

Game composer Christopher Tin released an album last year that featured his Baba Yetu track from Civ. 4. It got nominated for a rather obscure Grammy and won.

Congratulations, Video Game Muscians! This historic win is for you! Here's hoping Jared gets a Grammy of his own for a video game composition in the future.

Comments

  • edited February 2011
    Baba Yetu is badass, and is more than deserving of a grammy :)
  • edited February 2011
    der_ketzer wrote: »

    Oh, c'mon. This is a big deal for video games as an industry. It means that their medium is one step closer to being taken seriously as an art form.

    It's only a matter of time before a video game wins Best Soundtrack, Best Original Song, and a slew of other big name awards.
  • edited February 2011
    congratz gamers!
  • edited February 2011
    Definitely good news for the gaming industry. Congrats to him for winning and hopefully video game music continues to get this level of recognition!
  • jmmjmm
    edited February 2011
    Congratz indeed!
    It's about time those thugs finally recognized the talent invested in game music.

    And Jared.... now it's your time!
  • edited February 2011
    Between this and Arcade Fire winning, it sounds like the Grammies were almost not entirely a complete joke this year. (although the response to Arcade Fire winning is high-larious)
  • edited February 2011
    IMO this article is rather nonsense, as well as the song doesn't sound convincing. There is a lot more better video games music around but the problem is that you have to know it and take it for what it is. Up to now video games music mostly only got rewarded if it doesn't sound like video games music anymore. But on the other side who cares...
  • edited February 2011
    ShaggE wrote: »
    [...]it sounds like the Grammies were almost not entirely a complete joke this year.

    I know, right? For once. They actually managed to please even me, with Iron Maiden taking home an award. Admittedly, it wasn't even for the best song on the album, but still, it was nice to them given one.
  • edited February 2011
    taumel wrote: »
    IMO this article is rather nonsense, as well as the song doesn't sound convincing. There is a lot more better video games music around but the problem is that you have to know it and take it for what it is. Up to now video games music mostly only got rewarded if it doesn't sound like video games music anymore. But on the other side who cares...

    Uh... might I ask what constitutes as sounding like video game music to you? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me because 'video game music' isn't really a specific genre or style. *shrug*

    The reason why this song won a Grammy is because the composer included it on one of his albums and would have been completely ignored otherwise, like all the other music you might be thinking of. And I agree, there's a lot of really great music out there that lots of people disregard just because they're created for video games. In his acceptance speech, the composer made a point of noting that he originally made it for a video game, which I think was a good move on his part. Baby steps!
  • edited February 2011
    The fact that he said that probably opened a lot of people's eyes that ignored video game music because of the fact they are in video games.

    And yet, you have John Williams and Hans Zimmer dabbling in the medium because of the challenge of writing non-linar scores. I mean, Jim Dooley scored Epic Mickey recently, and he also composed music for Pushing Daisies!

    If composers clearly understand the medium and can take it seriously, why can't the music industry?
  • edited February 2011
    Uh... might I ask what constitutes as sounding like video game music to you? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me because 'video game music' isn't really a specific genre or style. *shrug*
    !

    Of course it can be as video games music like computer music generally also has a history and can be very dependent on certain hard-/software restrictions/characteristics like the C64's 6581, Amiga's Paula, Adlib's YM3812, ... up to todays softsynths/trackers which you still can listen to into in today's computer music, may they be pure chiptunes of just a part of a more common piece of music.
  • edited February 2011
    Game music doesn't have to fit into a niche sonically, it just has to help the experience and invoke a certain mood.

    If I was running about in a distopian future lovingly rendered to the sound of chiptunes it'd be rather jarring I think you'd agree

    Video game music = Music in games
  • edited February 2011
    I just made you an example.
  • edited February 2011
    That's lovely and all (it really is) but I still don't see the point of video game music having to have this 'synthetic' (for lack of a better word) style.

    If something calls for synth and midi sounds go for it, if those aren't the tools for the job to do the game justice then don't use em
  • edited February 2011
    Oh it doesn't have to be this way, it can be and if you, like me, have grown up with these sounds it's just insanely satisfying listening to them and making them on your own. But be assured that this isn't computer music which will win such prices soon as they are judging the music differently.
  • edited February 2011
    We can make fun of the award ceremony and all that, but they definitely picked one of the best pieces of video game music ever for the honor. Took them awhile to get to it, but whatever. I really need to consider seeing a Video Games Live concert when it comes to my city, if they plan on doing this song again. I'm somewhat fond of it.
  • edited February 2011
    This song may be why I love Civ IV so much. And maybe why I don't love Civ V as much.
  • edited February 2011
    Baba Yetu is a fantastic song. I can listen to it over and over. I'm a bit sad that when I saw Video Games Live, they didn't play it. I assume the songs they play depend on which soloists they have available, and other factors.

    It'll be interesting to see if nominations for video game music become more common in the future... I think as it stands it remains dependent on the songs being released on (or the video game soundtracks being released as) "real" albums. Soundtracks that you can order through the game company's website probably don't get enough attention, though this too may change in the age of digital distribution.
  • edited February 2011
    The song doesn't touch me, very boring music.
  • edited February 2011
    sorry to say it Taumel, but you're being a bit of a buzzkill.
  • edited February 2011
    Let me put it this way, it's less than the Heavy Rain of video games music. ;O)
  • edited February 2011
    This is one of taumel's musical picks.

    I think it's safe to say we can just go about our normal business of loving Baba Yetu :p
  • edited February 2011
    taumel wrote: »
    The song doesn't touch me, very boring music.

    I agree.
    JedExodus wrote: »
    This is one of taumel's musical picks.

    I think it's safe to say we can just go about our normal business of loving Baba Yetu :p
    There is nothing wrong with Günther.
  • edited February 2011
    JedExodus wrote: »
    This is one of taumel's musical picks.

    I think it's safe to say we can just go about our normal business of loving Baba Yetu :p
    Nope, not quite my type of lahlah but i appreciate your bravery offering one of your guilty pleasures. It's okay, go ahead, really.
  • edited February 2011
    I think i've gotten you and der_ketzer confused. Here be one of my guilty pleasures. Cracking tune, shame all round
  • edited February 2011
    JedExodus wrote: »
    I think i've gotten you and der_ketzer confused. Here be one of my guilty pleasures. Cracking tune, shame all round

    we cannot even see what it is. The video is blocked in Germany.

    Edit: did a google search. Why would they block that. Stupid Sony Music.
  • edited February 2011
    Maybe they feel just ashamed as well.
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