Pandemic Playlist: Our Top 5 songs made famous by video games
With the global coronavirus lockdowns forcing people coming up with all sorts of ways to keep themselves entertained at home, the video game industry may very well be getting a lot more attention these days. For all the video game players and enthusiasts out there, as well as those keen to hear some seriously good music, today's Pandemic Playlist is dedicated to you. Check out our list of five songs made famous by video games.
Snoop Dogg ft The Doors - 'Riders on the Storm' (Need For Speed Underground 2)
The oldest on this list, 'Riders on the Storm' appeared on the much-beloved racing game from the Need For Speed franchise, 'Underground 2' in 2004. Originally a song by the psychedelic rock band The Doors, Snoop Dogg delivered a cover of the song for the game which was dubbed over the original track. Snoop Dogg manages to blend the laidback trip of the original with his rapping perfectly, and the result is a bop that gets you chilling to smooth-as-coffee music as opposed to busting moves on a dancefloor.
Listen to 'Riders on the Storm' here.
The Heavy - 'How You Like Me Now?' (Borderlands 2)
A band that certainly deserves a lot more attention, The Heavy is a musical force to be reckoned with. Take uptempo blues music, replace the volume control on your music players with a "rock and roll control" and crank it up to full: that would give you an idea of the sound of this epic band. 'How You Like Me Now?' was already breaking into fame in the music industry before it featured on the popular first-person shooter 'Borderlands 2' (which, by the way, has an epic OST of its own), but it certainly helps that the gaming industry fell in love with the game and the band. Also, don't forget to pump the volume when you listen to the track below.
Jeremy Soule - 'Dragonborn' (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
With several covers, remixes, mashups and live orchestral performances of this powerful track, the main theme, titled 'Dragonborn', of the Bethesda hit 'Skyrim' from 'The Elder Scrolls' series, is captivating for all those who listen to it. It is fantasy middle ages music on a grand scale. The song opens with warrior cries by a choir and leads to a booming orchestral score. You don't need to be a classical music fanatic to appreciate this awesome song.
Listen to 'Dragonborn' by Jeremy Soule here.
Imagine Dragons - 'Warriors' (League of Legends)
Imagine Dragons' music is already super famous on its own, but this particular track owes a lot to the massive community of the highly competitive online multiplayer battle arena video game, 'League of Legends'. To celebrate the 2014 League of Legends Season World Championship, Imagine Dragons produced the track 'Warriors'. "Here we are, don't turn away now, We are the warriors that built this town. Here we are, don't turn away now. We are the warriors that built this town. From dust." belts frontman Dan Reynolds in the chorus of a song that is uplifting and aggressively catchy.
Listen to Warriors by Imagine Dragons here.
Chvrches - 'Death Stranding' (Death Stranding)
This song by synth-pop songstress Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches, monikered with the same name of the mysterious and visionary game by Hideo Kojima, 'Death Stranding', released early November last year. Many of the lyrics of the song hit on fitting emotional levels during the coronavirus pandemic such as, "Let's tell the truth, just for once. Asking for an answer. Now that it's all said and done. Nothing really matters. What will become of us all if we dare to dream. At the end of the scene?"
Pandemic Playlist is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained instead of feeling drained while you're isolated at home. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEAWW to refresh your mood every day!