Episode 596: Retro Game Lyrics

Game music hits different from, uh, "real life music," or whatever you want to call it. Many of us '90s kids who felt like pop music belonged to the popular kids at school (it's right there—"pop!") slid video game soundtracks into our Discmans to satiate our hunger for music. And what a time it was, for with the advent of the compact disc in music and video games alike came the addition of lyrics to game music. 

It's true that some Super Famicom RPGs have entire pop songs enfolded within their chips, but hearing lyrics in video game music for the PlayStation was a straight-up miracle for North American kids. Who wrote these songs? Who chose to use them? How complicated are the licensing issues to this day? (So complicated.) 

This week, Nadia Oxford forms a quartet minus one with Bob Mackey and Diamond Feit. They talk all about the lyrics you sometimes hear as a reward for killing your vampire father or passing other milestones. And let's not forget the angelic choirs given muffled voices by the PC Engine.

Edits by Greg Leahy. Proper episode art coming soon!

• 8:37 - Skate or Die (NES): Title Theme
• 9:47 - Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble: Title Theme
• 14:51 - Psycho Soldier (Arcade): Theme Song (International ver.)
• 18:00 - X-Men (Arcade): Junk Factory
• 19:56 - X-Men (Arcade): Island M
• 27:57 - Tales of Phantasia (SFC): The Dream Never Ends
• 29:06 - Aerosmith: "Eat the Rich"
• 36:47 - Pop Will Eat Itself: "R.S.V.P."
• 38:38 - Final Fantasy VII (PSX): One-Winged Angel
• 45:39 - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSX): I am the Wind
• 50:06 - Violent Storm: Feel My Power
• 51:59 - Rockman 8: Metal Heroes: Electrical Communication
• 59:15 - Starsailor: "Way to Fall"
• 1:01:54 - Silent Hill 3: You're Not Here (+ metal cover ver.)
• 1:06:45 - Sam & Max Hit the Road: King of the Creatures
• 1:09:37 - Mother (1989 album): Wisdom of the World (+ FC ver.)
• 1:13:09 - Persona 4: Reach Out to the Truth
• 1:14:01 - Persona 4: Your Affection
• 1:15:34 - Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (PSX): Let's Go On
• 1:20:55 - The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge: Dr. Finkelstein
• 1:22:48 - Metal Gear Solid (PSX): The Best is Yet to Come (+ ENG lyrics ver.)
• 1:26:45 - Civilization IV: Baba Yetu
• 1:27:55 - Conker's Bad Fur Day: Sloprano
• 1:31:23 - Super Smash Bros. Melee: Kongo Jungle
• 1:35:48 - The 8-Bit Big Band: "I Wanna Take you for a Ride"
• Closing - The Megas: "Don't Mess with Magnetman"