Battlefield Vietnam Official Soundtrack
 |
Album Title: Battlefield Vietnam Official Soundtrack |
| Record Label: Electronic Arts |
|
| Catalog No.: N/A |
|
| Release Date: March 16, 2004 |
|
| Purchase: Buy Used Copy |
Overview
It has become a trend that rock and soul songs from the 1960s can be heard in anything relate to the Vietnam War. Perhaps this started with the cult film Apocalypse Now and it inspired numerous imitators, including the video game Battlefield Vietnam. Electronic Arts licensed 14 classic tracks from legendary artists such as Jefferson Airplane, Deep Purple, and Edwin Starr to accompany the gameplay of this shooter. They released an official soundtrack featuring a selection of these songs.
Body
There are plenty of famous songs featured on this release, starting with “War” by Edwin Starr. A blatant anti-Vietnam protest, the lyrics of the chorus (“War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin’!”) certainly resonated with the American public and the emphatic performance certainly left a mark on Battlefield Vietnam too. The Guess Who’s “Shakin All Over” also ascends into glory with its chaotic guitar solos and memorable enigmatic lyrics (“When you move in right up close to me/ That’s when I get the shakes all over me”). Talking of guitar solos, Deep Purple’s “Hush” brings some heavy metal to the mixture while the vocals take a backseat. It’s one of the most energetic accompaniments to the gameplay.
Another number one hit, The Box Tops’ “The Letter” perhaps reflects a soldier’s dream to go home to his loved ones (“Lonely days are gone/ I’m a-going’ home/ Cause my baby just a-wrote me a letter”). It brings further variety to the in-game musical experience. The more bluesy “On The Road Again” by Canned Heat further relates to a soldier’s unconditional life with lyrics such as “Well, I’m so tired of crying, but I’m out on the road again”. The harmonica performance here especially captures pain and weariness. Another famous song that fits well with the Vietnam theme is “Nowhere to Run” featuring Martha Reeves’ soulful vocals.
The official soundtrack release only features 11 of the 17 tracks that can be heard during the game. Among the tracks that are omitted include the nostalgic “All Day and All of the Night” and “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks, as well as the popular “Psychotic Reaction” by Count Five. But perhaps the most notable omission is the Budapest Symphony’s performance of Wagner’s “Rise of the Valkyries”, a milestone of operatic music that was popularised by Apocalypse Now.
Summary
Overall, Battlefield Vietnam is a licensed soundtrack that works. It’s fantastic that Electronic Arts invested the budget to integrate songs that weren’t just memorable from the era, but also had some lyrical or stylistic relation to the Vietnam War. It’s a pity that this rare soundtrack release omits a lot of the highlights, however, and it’s probably better to enjoy the music in-game or seek out the singles or albums by the featured artists instead.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
3
Posted on August 1, 2012 by Harris Iqbal. Last modified on January 22, 2016.
About the Author
Harris Iqbal Lover of games and humble listener of music, not to mention A HUGE FAN. I love anything that has memorable melodies in it, or a good story to tell. Also... huge horror fan... HUGE! So, Silent Hill is the best Survival Horror game ever... NO DEBATE! Anyways, the previous version of this site was where I first got my writing start in 2009, with the help of Chris Greening. Now, with around 5 years of experience writing for various websites, I plan to give you some really kickass articles!
Related Posts
Final Fantasy VII Remake Acoustic Arrangements →
Fleeting Symphony →
Final Symphony II – music from Final Fantasy V, VIII, IX and XIII →
