I hear it. The part of the Russian theme between 1:28-2:24 sounds very similar to a part of the Hymn to Red October which starts at 1:24.
Civilization 7 Soundtrack/Music discussion
- Thread starter Guandao
- Start date
Klaus Hergersheimer
Emperor
It sure is close to the "Red October" theme song there. The only word I ever knew in it was dasvidaniya
2:45 to 3:45 most definitely sounds like the opening bars of "In the Steppes of Central Asia" by Borodin.
After, it's too generic to make out.
2:45 to 3:45 most definitely sounds like the opening bars of "In the Steppes of Central Asia" by Borodin.
After, it's too generic to make out.
stealth_nsk
Deity
Could it be common inspiration for them?
Guandao
Rajah of Minyue, Hlai and Langkasuka
I still prefer the Russian themes in Civ5 and Civ6. I like those intimidating Russian vocals.....keep the legacy of the Volga Boatmen alive!
I was gonna say... I presume it's based on a classical piece, but my brain recognizes it from The Hunt For Red October.
stealth_nsk
Deity
As Russian, I really want to hear Swan Lake everywhere!
(Clarification: it's a bit of a meme. During 1991 coup attempt, all TV channels in USSR were showing Swan Lake because they didn't know how to react. So, for Russians "want to see/hear Swan Lake" means wanting the current Russian regime to fall)
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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.
I also like that the theme sounds somewhat less dark and ominous than Civ V's peace theme and VI's industrial and atomic themes. Not that I hate melancholic music (Civ V's Mongolia and VI's Scythia are my favourites from the respective games), but the attempt to go in a different direction rather than repeat the same formula is what I appreciate here. The Saint Petersburg illustration is spot-on, the city's opulent tsarist architecture is precisely what I imagine when hearing the bombastic parts.
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Kankan
Ọba
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2024
- Messages
- 117
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.
Disclaimer: I searched a bit but could only find that the Hymn from Hunt for Red October is an original piece for the movie.
So the theme for Russia is a copy of a Soviet melody from an American movie by an American composer.
Man, the disrespect towards Russia these days...
So the theme for Russia is a copy of a Soviet melody from an American movie by an American composer.
Man, the disrespect towards Russia these days...
canadamufc
Warlord
Love Russia’s theme. Builds up very well to a grand final minute of music. I can see this becoming one of Civ VII’s more popular themes easily.
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.)
Hellenism Salesman
Emperor
Kongo and Brazil's themes were what I'd describe as "cute." Very tightly orchestrated explorations of a repeated theme that make for a pleasant listen every once in a while.
The problem arises when you remember you're playing Civ, it's only turn 150, and you have at least another hour to put into this game. I hope you weren't ready for Banaha and Brejeiro to leave just yet
Civ VII seems to be taking a slightly more atmospheric approach to its compositions with less "intentional" melodies. It's less of music from a game and instead just game music. I hope that makes it feel less repetitive.
The problem arises when you remember you're playing Civ, it's only turn 150, and you have at least another hour to put into this game. I hope you weren't ready for Banaha and Brejeiro to leave just yet
Civ VII seems to be taking a slightly more atmospheric approach to its compositions with less "intentional" melodies. It's less of music from a game and instead just game music. I hope that makes it feel less repetitive.
Leucarum
Deity
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2018
- Messages
- 2,218
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...
Neither of them were particular favorites, but I didn't hate them, either.
canadamufc
Warlord
I didnt care for Kongo's main themes, but one of their ambients (Mama Munu Dile Late) is seriously one of the gems of Civ VI's soundtrack.
DeutschDachs
Emperor
I think it's disappointing to have a Civ represented by a Hollywood version of their culture/music instead of something homegrown
And yet... It does sound very nice. I would never be upset to have that track come up in a game
And yet... It does sound very nice. I would never be upset to have that track come up in a game
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.
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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?????????
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