As Russian, I really want to hear Swan Lake everywhere!I do hear a tiny bit of Swan Lake in Russia’s theme but that could be a coincidence.
Well, eyebrow-raising inspiration aside, I overall like the theme. I feel that the mixture of the cold, melancholic opening, the grand bombastic parts with bold brass and the soft woodwind part in the middle together create a theme with a distinctively Russian flair (I really like that they're managing to give the modern themes much greater variety than the industrial themes of VI had!). My only bigger criticism is that the pause between the first bombastic part and the flute feels a bit too long.
If we do get an Ottomans civ in future it is likely their theme will have incredibly intimidating vocals similarly as to in their masterpiece of a theme in Civ6.I still prefer the Russian themes in Civ5 and Civ6. I like those intimidating Russian vocals.....keep the legacy of the Volga Boatmen alive!
Civ6 Kongo is the only civ I permabanned because their music is insufferable (Brazil's is pretty close to permaban levels), and I know I'm in the minority but I loathed Civ6's Zulu theme. (I liked it at first, but it grows grating after you've heard it a few times.)Sub-Saharan African civs are allergic to having bad themes in the series
Kongo was the first civ I played in 6. I think I would hate their theme if not for the nostalgia. Brazil is on my ban list for their music too... Though for me the worst offenders are Khmer and Indonesia. Their themes in 7 are fortunately nowhere near as irritating...Civ6 Kongo is the only civ I permabanned because their music is insufferable (Brazil's is pretty close to permaban levels), and I know I'm in the minority but I loathed Civ6's Zulu theme. (I liked it at first, but it grows grating after you've heard it a few times.)
Neither of them were particular favorites, but I didn't hate them, either.Though for me the worst offenders are Khmer and Indonesia.
I think Buganda‘s theme might have been leaked already. It‘s very orchestral but features segments with typical Subsaharan African instruments (Kalimba, most prominently), while the melody and rhythm aren't Western. The rhythm is African (or African-inspired), while the melody could plausibly be from a lot of places. So, if it is any civ‘s theme, it is Buganda. Alternatively, it could be music that‘s played in the hall of fame, when you‘ve won, etc. It seems to pompous for being ambient music.I’m also hoping that Buganda’s theme is a banger as Sub-Saharan African civs are allergic to having bad themes in the series
I don't mind it that much myself, audially at least because the melody is rather nice to the ear, but I'd worry about something else: I wonder if appropriation of a motif this extensive, one written by an author who died less than 70 years ago, may constitute plagiarism. The melodic line is almost identical for a significant amount of time, the rhythm and tempo is similar, and I've heard about successful lawsuits about things as nitpicky as chord progressions. I'd say that the musical idea has been "borrowed" and a lot of people have recognised it.Disclaimer: I searched a bit but could only find that the Hymn from Hunt for Red October is an original piece for the movie.
Even with all that considered a Red Army song would still be a weird choice for the Russian civ as it’s largely based on the Russian Empire which the Bolsheviks not only strongly opposed but also later killed the Romanovs.I don't mind it that much myself, audially at least because the melody is rather nice to the ear, but I'd worry about something else: I wonder if appropriation of a motif this extensive, one written by an author who died less than 70 years ago, may constitute plagiarism. The melodic line is almost identical for a significant amount of time, the rhythm and tempo is similar, and I've heard about successful lawsuits about things as nitpicky as chord progressions. I'd say that the musical idea has been "borrowed" and a lot of people have recognised it.
So, what I think happened is that the Civ composer has seen a 12 year old video the piece from Hunt for Red October falsely labeled as a performance from the Red Army Choir, I assumed that it was an older piece and therefore didn't tell anybody about the inspiration. It's common practice to base civ themes on older compositions after all. I don't believe that he realised that the theme came from a Hollywood movie, otherwise I'd expect him to pick something else because picking soundtrack from a relatively new film for Civ is a ridiculous concept. And if anybody from legal team knew about this, they'd rather not bother and suggest the composer to search for a different theme, right?
What I think may happen is actually rather little, and that is assuming two moderately unlikely things: that Basil Poledouris' rightholders come to know of this, and that I'm not blowing this out of proportion. The maximal consequences of this I expect is that the Russia theme will get a co-author credit, which I see as reasonable in this case. Therefore, the 'disrespect to Russia' will stand in-game and woefully we will all have to work out how to live on with this.
Unless it's meant as a homage and in that case I wouldn't know what to say about this?????????
a) chord progressions themselves can't be copyrighted. In combination with, e.g., a non-generic bass line or top note movement that is perceived as melody, they can. However, it's very difficult to make a case for this.I don't mind it that much myself, audially at least because the melody is rather nice to the ear, but I'd worry about something else: I wonder if appropriation of a motif this extensive, one written by an author who died less than 70 years ago, may constitute plagiarism. The melodic line is almost identical for a significant amount of time, the rhythm and tempo is similar, and I've heard about successful lawsuits about things as nitpicky as chord progressions. I'd say that the musical idea has been "borrowed" and a lot of people have recognised it.
So, what I think happened is that the Civ composer has seen a 12 year old video the piece from Hunt for Red October falsely labeled as a performance from the Red Army Choir, I assumed that it was an older piece and therefore didn't tell anybody about the inspiration. It's common practice to base civ themes on older compositions after all. I don't believe that he realised that the theme came from a Hollywood movie, otherwise I'd expect him to pick something else because picking soundtrack from a relatively new film for Civ is a ridiculous concept. And if anybody from legal team knew about this, they'd rather not bother and suggest the composer to search for a different theme, right?
What I think may happen is actually rather little, and that is assuming two moderately unlikely things: that Basil Poledouris' rightholders come to know of this, and that I'm not blowing this out of proportion. The maximal consequences of this I expect is that the Russia theme will get a co-author credit, which I see as reasonable in this case. Therefore, the 'disrespect to Russia' will stand in-game and woefully we will all have to work out how to live on with this.
Unless it's meant as a homage and in that case I wouldn't know what to say about this?????????
That's the surprising part, yes. A lot of civ VII's (and VI's) music sounds inspired by Tchaikovsky. So, it's somewhat surprising that Russia of a all cases doesn't have that spirit.Even with all that considered a Red Army song would still be a weird choice for the Russian civ as it’s largely based on the Russian Empire which the Bolsheviks not only strongly opposed but also later killed the Romanovs.
Russia has more than enough clsssical music from when they were an empire that could’ve worked as the theme. Russian music is more than just Soviet music!
You're right, I was going off of the case of "Creep" by Radiohead, in which the co-author credit was granted. I didn't remember that the melody was also the matter though.a) chord progressions themselves can't be copyrighted. In combination with, e.g., a non-generic bass line or top note movement that is perceived as melody, they can. However, it's very difficult to make a case for this.