💃Jamming with the VGA Staff🕺
Whether you’re listening to music to get hyped for a heist or looping the Coconut Mall Mario Kart song to help you finish your essay, we all have a deep connection when it comes to music and video games. From The Last of Us’ enchanting Spanish guitar ballads to Taio Cruz to K.K. Slider, this is what the VGA Staff has been listening to.
🎶Brice Puls🎵
What's your favorite song from a video game?
Mirror’s Edge
Metal Arms: A Glitch In The System
Baba Yetu - Civilization V, Christopher Tin
Main Theme - Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, Michael Giacchino
Neon Night- Halo 3: ODST, Martin O' Donnell & Michael Salvatori
World Of Goo Beginning - World Of Goo, Mark Farmer
HIGH RISE HUNTING GROUND BOUND - Heavy Bullets, doseone
Whole-ass Soundtracks:
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - Amon Tobin
Tetris Effect - Various Artists
Sword & Sworcery LP: The Ballad of the Space Babies - Jim Guthrie
Metal Arms: A Glitch In The System - Keith Arem
Jet Set Radio Future - Various Artists
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons - Gustaf Grefberg
What songs do you listen to while you play?
“I usually stick to the music the games give me, though I do love throwin' on the Hard Knocks soundtrack while playing Madden, or making a playlist of high-intensity orchestral scores while doing a race in Forza.”
Got a link to a playlist you'd like to share?
“I made a handy playlist of various soundtracks of games featured at Bit Bash Chicago over the years, check it out! There's plenty of hits in there.”
🌸Eleanor Schichtel🎧
We Love Katamari
What's your favorite song from a video game?
“My Favorite song from a video game is Katamari on the Swing, We ❤ Katamari. Nothing gets me hyped up to re-populate the solar system than this jazzy, swingin', Tom-Jones-esque classic that seems to go on forever.”
What songs do you listen to while you play?
“In college I got into the habit of playing Runescape in my bunkbed while listening to disco hits. To this day, it's a vibe I truly cherish.”
Got a link to a playlist you'd like to share?
“I'm just gonna leave this here. Maybe don't post it. I don't know. It's my life's work.“
🎼Chaz Evans🌙
What's your favorite song from a video game?
Kentucky Route Zero
“It's hard to beat Junebug's classic "It's Too Late to Love You" from Act III of Kentucky Route Zero. But don't stop there! Fans of KRZ may already be familiar with this, but if you enjoyed Ben Babbit-as-Junebug in Kentucky Route Zero Act III there is also the follow up smash hit ‘Static Between Stations.’”
What songs do you listen to while you play?
“I only listen the the sounds that the game provides or else I feel torn in too many directions.“
Got a link to a playlist you'd like to share?
“Recent VGA Fireside guest Kara Stone's game Ritual of the Moon has a soundtrack composed by Maggie McLean and Halina Heron that is perfect for scoring whatever rituals you may have planned at home.”
🎷Stef Luthin🎸
K.K. Slider performing K.K. Bossa. Animal Crossing
What's your favorite song from a video game?
Main Theme - Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Animal Crossing Gamecube Full Theme Song
Secret Course - Super Mario Sunshine
What songs do you listen to while you play?
“It's been a while since I listened to music while playing games, but when I do, I love to do nostalgic mid-2000s pop. Songs like Dynamite by Taio Cruz, or DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love Again by Usher. The nostalgia of those tunes makes gaming an even funner experience!”
Got a link to a playlist you'd like to share?
"No Thoughts, Head Empty" Nintendo playlists on YouTube are absolutely AMAZING, and perfect background music during whatever task you need to do!”
💿Amy Chen🥁
What's your favorite song from a video game?
“Splatoon 2 music is always good vibes, its fast and catchy. I think some songs are Shark Bytes and Ebb and Flow. Other than that I have been listening to other music as I play my games. My switch port is too far for headphones so I just use my laptop to listen to other things.”
What songs do you listen to while you play?
“I listen to J POP a little too much while I play. Sometimes its super upbeat which matches the mood, but since I'm into ballads and slow songs too its such a strange feeling to have while I'm trying to murder monsters in Monster Hunter Rise. There's also been times where I'm listening to alternative rap (in Japanese) while I play Animal Crossing.”
Got a link to a playlist you'd like to share?
“This channel is called The First Take, I think its mainly JPOP but like, Sony based? They have a large variety (high key anime music OSTs too) I've been listening to the music here as I play my RPGs after work. Anyhoo I hope this helps!”
🔮Bianca Crockett🔈
What's your favorite song from a video game?
“Nothing beats the The Last of Us soundtrack in my opinion. The guitar in it is just so beautiful. Lest we forget the C418 discography, such incredible pieces like Wet Hands and Sweden, of course! When I am studying, I love to put on the Skyrim soundtrack because it makes my work feel THAT much more important.”
What songs do you listen to while you play?
“When I am playing online games or just sitting around playing Mario Kart, I tend to put on 1 of 3 playlists that I am continuously curating: Electrash, feeling eDgY, or throwback that make me bop til I drop. However, when I am playing a single-player based game I tend to just listen to in-game music and sounds for immersion.”
Got a link to a playlist you'd like to share?
“It’s really all I listen to. Special mentions include: Prom night – Anamanaguchi, Say Goodbye – Cheat Codes, Pull The Trigger (Maduk Remix) – Flux Pavilion, and POP/STARS – K/DA”