Warning: video links may contain story spoilers for Life Is Strange, given the various outcomes your decisions can have.Humor me, The Internet, for just a while.Something I've long wanted to do, since way before Waypoint was Waypoint, was take a video game renowned for its memorable soundtrack and switch it. The thinking being: the impact of that game's most memorable scenes is so intrinsically tied to the music that plays at the same time, that changing it could completely alter the connotations of the composition, the collage of sound and vision. It'd change the atmosphere, but doing that right could be really productive.
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It's hardly an original idea—British readers may recall the BBC rescoring the movie Drive, featuring material from the likes of CHVRCHES, Jon Hopkins and Bring Me the Horizon. You can see that playlist here, but the reaction to it wasn't exactly amazing. "A valiant idea that ultimately falls flat," wrote the NME. Viewers called it a "car crash," and labeled the results "redundant."A few days ago, my own itch returned—and this time, finally, I've scratched, hopefully respectfully. (If this is as bad as the BBC thing to you, though, sorry.)Now, I'm not saying I have the most amazing taste in music in the world, or that the selections I've made here are solid-gold substitutions. You can play this game, too, and could easily come up with your own awesome new combinations.But with well over a decade of music journalism behind me, I've heard a lot of great records, and have the physical collection to show for it. That background means I'm fairly well positioned to dive into what I have to hand, still bowing the shelves, and line it up beside video game scenes, seeing what fits and what doesn't, and ultimately arriving somewhere that works, just differently to what you already know.I don't know if this will be a recurring feature. It could be, if you like it, and you can tweet us your own blends of game scenes with all-new accompaniments, as we'll enjoy checking them out. You could even suggest future games to feature. I just don't know yet. But I do know that this was a lot of fun, and a challenge, too—because Life Is Strange is a game that is so carried by its music at some points, that to even think about changing the record will be sacrilegious for some fans.
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Well, I've done it now. Below, listed, are five key scenes from across the five episodes of 2015's Life Is Strange, Dontnod's time-bending graphic adventure game. Linked, you'll find alternative music for each of them—simply click through, mute the game but not the song, and pop the gameplay full screen. A little gets lost in translation when there's also dialogue (although subtitles are an option), but this system isn't perfect, not by a long shot. But it works well enough, for now.
SCENE 1: MAX WANDERS THE SCHOOL HALLS
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Think about the relationship between Max and fellow student Victoria Chase, and then look to the words of the song: "You are my bitter rival / But I need you for survival." And then there's "Another way to make the picture clearer / Point a gun at the mirror." This is almost too perfect.Click here to see the scene with Sleigh Bells' "Bitter Rivals" at YouTube Doubler (remember to mute the gameplay straight away, and then go large).
SCENE 2: THE ECLIPSE
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Maybe it's a bit more classic, or clichéd, "end credits," too. IDK. I like Mono, whatcha gonna do?Click here to see the scene with Mono's "Follow the Map" at YouTube Doubler (remember to mute the gameplay straight away, and then go large).
SCENE 3: MAX AND CHLOE HANG OUT THE MORNING AFTER THEIR BLACKWELL RAID
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Click here to see the scene with Sonic Youth's "Superstar" at YouTube Doubler (remember to mute the gameplay straight away, and then go large).
SCENE 4: THE VORTEX CLUB PARTY
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The BPM doesn't fit, but come on—Life Is Strange's cast could barely get their own words to fit their lips, so give me a break, yeah?Click here to see the scene with Pusha T's "Sweet Serenade" at YouTube Doubler (remember to mute the gameplay straight away, and then go large).
SCENE 5: MY ENDING
TBH, I could have filled this whole article just with music for this final scene. But I'll leave further alternatives to you, if you feel like making a suggestion. You know where to find us. Also, let us know if you like this idea! As if so, we'll do more.Follow Mike on Twitter.