Civilization 7 Soundtrack/Music discussion

James_Champagne · Feb 19, 2025

Hellenism Salesman said:
Is anyone else beginning to find the soundtrack repetitive already?

YES. As I mentioned elsewhere, CIV VI had a staggering amount of music: not only did each civ have its own Ancient/Medieval/Industrial/Atomic theme, but also a number of ambient themes (as noted above, Sumeria was one of the sole exceptions in regards to ambient tracks). As a result of this, each civ tended to have 10-15 songs associated with it (with Australia having the most music, with, if memory serves, 26 or so tracks). So if you were playing on a big map with a lot of civs, chances were good that you'd hear a lot of music and that it wouldn't get too repetitious. But here, each civ only gets one theme each, and because each era only has two general peace themes and war themes, that only comes up to around 40 songs or so total. And the peace themes in particular in, say, the Exploration era I heard over and over again.

I must say, I really do miss the whole "each civ having a main theme that changes every two eras." It kind of captured the whole "rising to great things from humble roots."

Vandlys · Feb 20, 2025

I am going to check this when I'm home but I don't recall there being that many per Civ. I remember Australia having about 5--7 aside from the main theme and its two variations.

Other than that, couldn't agree more.

Edit: I remembered very wrong!

Vandlys · Feb 20, 2025

James_Champagne said:
YES. As I mentioned elsewhere, CIV VI had a staggering amount of music: not only did each civ have its own Ancient/Medieval/Industrial/Atomic theme, but also a number of ambient themes (as noted above, Sumeria was one of the sole exceptions in regards to ambient tracks). As a result of this, each civ tended to have 10-15 songs associated with it (with Australia having the most music, with, if memory serves, 26 or so tracks). So if you were playing on a big map with a lot of civs, chances were good that you'd hear a lot of music and that it wouldn't get too repetitious. But here, each civ only gets one theme each, and because each era only has two general peace themes and war themes, that only comes up to around 40 songs or so total. And the peace themes in particular in, say, the Exploration era I heard over and over again.

I must say, I really do miss the whole "each civ having a main theme that changes every two eras." It kind of captured the whole "rising to great things from humble roots."

I stand corrected. Australia had a whopping 27 tracks...

This is the full list.

Spoiler :

James_Champagne · Feb 20, 2025

I'm guessing they had a LOT of fun when it came to recording Australia's music. Maybe too much fun! It's weird, though, how some civs like Norway only got a small handful of songs by comparison. When I was setting up VI games and selecting civs to play against there were a few civs I would almost always play against just because I liked their music so much.

Vandlys · Feb 20, 2025

James_Champagne said:
I'm guessing they had a LOT of fun when it came to recording Australia's music. Maybe too much fun! It's weird, though, how some civs like Norway only got a small handful of songs by comparison. When I was setting up VI games and selecting civs to play against there were a few civs I would almost always play against just because I liked their music so much.

I had exactly the same. Looked into modding today but since I don't know anything about scripts I am not sure I will be up to the task seeing I also have severe time constraints.

SolsticeNight · Feb 20, 2025

Think we can all agree that the India line has the most euphonic set of tracks. *gestures aggressively*

Pleasing melodies, expert use of instruments, the vocals and chants, and the diverse musical styles. The Mauryan one in particular is very thematic what with the Jain, Hindu and Buddhist chants. The entire line does not feature the same stereotypical melody and instruments, at least not to the same extent.

Of course, it does help that it is one of the few lines currently present that attempts to represent a region or country indigenously in its "near"-entirety

I'd say the America line is quite good too. The Mississippi and American tracks are very good imo but I think as a trio, the India line just edges it.

I'd say the Chinese line is underwhelming for me. This is probably controversial for many. I guess, if I were to explain it, I would do so with a comparison with the India line. I think this is the best India music in the franchise, and perhaps that plays a part in me rating the India line highly. On the other hand, I do not think this is the best China has offered us in the franchise. I prefer Civ VI's China themes/music tbqhwyf over Civ VII's.

Zaarin · Feb 20, 2025

SolsticeNight said:
I'd say the Chinese line is underwhelming for me. This is probably controversial for many.

The Ming theme is one of my favorites in the game, but I agree that the Han and Qing themes are only okay.

SolsticeNight said:
On the other hand, I do not think this is the best China has offered us in the franchise.

Civ5's "Gao Shan Liu Shui" is a tough act to follow.

SolsticeNight said:
I'd say the America line is quite good too.

If by "American line" you mean Mississippian, Maya, Shawnee, and Mexico, then yes. :mischief:

I'm not fond of America's theme. It's a big let down after Civ6's rendition of "Hard Times."

Guandao · Feb 21, 2025

Siptah said:
Why not? It‘s the best fit of the available themes for sure. Theoderic ruled over the (remains of the) Western Roman Empire.

When you put it that way, it makes sense. I was just hoping for unique music to represent the Goths. Maybe the Goths won't end up in this game after all.

I'm planning on messaging Geoff Knorr and Roland Rizzo on their websites regarding the Civ themes whose origins we haven't figured out.

Baudshaw · Feb 25, 2025

My ranking of Civ 7 music after listening to it all:

Color-coded: brown is antiquity, blue is exploration, and green is modern

S tier

Live Gloriously (Obviously)

Carved in Stone (A more refined, orchestral version of Live Gloriously that I actually might like better)

From Dust to Dust (Very melancholic, which I like a lot)

Nation Against Nation (A more intense version of the above, with some melancholic parts as well)

Maurya (A triple song! Vocals! Slowly building in intensity with authentic classical instruments!)

Chola (Very good flow, and extremely catchy vocals)

Spain (Extremely underrated, very cheerful and nice to listen along to)

Hope Rising (Caught me really off guard, but in a good way. It barely feels like Civ, but that makes it even better)

Stand Firm (A better version of the above, with organs and military drums!)

Si Vis Pacem (A nice and calm piece, simple but effective)

Para Bellum (It’s extremely sad and tragic-sounding, which makes sense)

French Empire (Very underrated, I like how the two parts coalesce near the end)

Meiji Japan (The only “intimidating” theme of the main Civ themes, and I really like it.)

Mexico (Probably the song you could play at a regular, non-Civ function and have the least amount of weird looks. I think one of the comments pointed it out lol)

Siam (Very cheerful and catchy)

A tier

Strum the Lyres (A bit repetitive, but it has decent instrumentation)

Egypt (One of the simpler songs, but it works)

Mississippians (quite underrated, I really like the melody here)

Persia (The second song is really good, I wish they used that for the whole thing, the first song is just okay)

Abbasids (Quite underrated, starts off slow but has a catchy element to it)

Bulgaria (The two songs are extremely good on their own, but the transition is a bit jarring)

Mongols (A very slow start, but it’s a great buildup)

America (The beginning is just okay, I think they should’ve used the second song for the whole thing)

Britain (A bit simple, but a wonderful orchestration and really captures the feel of Britain)

B tier

Strike the Drums (A bit too calm for a war theme)

Aksum (Okay instrumentation, not that interesting)

Carthage (A better version of Rome, though the drums are a bit repetitive)

Inca (I can’t really explain it, but a lot of Roland Rizzo’s themes have the same rhythm)

Majapahit (See above)

Ming (This one’s very slow, but it’s nice I guess)

Buganda (The Rizzo effect, but I guess the instrumentation is cool)

Qing (I like how grandiose it feels, but it’s quite slow)

C tier

Maya (Too much jungle ambience and horns)

Hawaii (Way too quiet, a single drum and single vocalist isn’t enough imo)

Normans (Okay ish stock medieval music)

Shawnee (A bit too slow and repetitive imo)

Songhai (Rizzo effect)

Mughals (A massive disappointment, no vocals really hurts it imo)

D tier

Greece (Horribly repetitive and annoying instruments)

Khmer (Way too long, the instruments don’t sound that appealing, and the vocals are a bit droning)

Rome (Why is it so miserable sounding??)

All the Exploration ambience (Stock Renaissance music)

Prussia (Insane origin, and Rizzo effect)

Russia (Insane origin, Rizzo effect, and very boring)

Hildebolt Von Berenreuthe · Feb 27, 2025

Does anyone know where the music is in the game files?

canadamufc · Mar 4, 2025

How are the Carthage and Britain themes? (And Bulgaria/Nepal?)

Kankan · Mar 4, 2025

So far
Britain’s theme is based on Jerusalem

Carthage’s theme is once again based on the Hurrian Hymn

untitledjuan · Mar 4, 2025

Kankan said:
So far
Britain’s theme is based on Jerusalem

Oddly enough, it is a song related to England, not the whole Kingdom of Great Britain as a whole or the British Empire. I would have expected something like Rule Britannia for a British civilization, not something from a specific land within the United Kingdom.

untitledjuan · Mar 4, 2025

Baudshaw said:
Normans (Okay ish stock medieval music)

The Norman theme is based more on Renaissance music than traditional Medieval music and I really like it. However, it is weird that they went with Renaissance music and not Medieval, considering that the Normans were very powerful during the Middle Ages, not so much during the Renaissance, when they were already split between England and France and its dynasty didn't rule any nation anymore by the time the Renaissance was happening.

Kimiimaro · Mar 4, 2025

canadamufc said:
How are the Carthage and Britain themes? (And Bulgaria/Nepal?)

I didn't exactly feel excitement or much other emotion when listening to the Carthaginian theme, though I must say I liked the percussion present throughout it. I have a hunch this theme might be Roland Rizzo's work.

As for the British theme, I think it's quite pleasant to listen to (I especially like the oboe near the beginning). It's rather calm and orderly - about what you'd expect from a British theme - and its grand orchestral part feels rather tame in terms of bombast. It lingers for a fair bit once the grand orchestral part passes. I suspect Geoff Knorr was behind this one.

Hellenism Salesman · Mar 4, 2025

Kimiimaro said:
bombast

Be careful saying that word, you might summon him :shifty:

Anyway, having listened to an early recording of it on YouTube, Britain’s theme has already become one of my favorites. That lush orchestral landscape at the beginning- :love:

Also as obvious as it is, English horn is a great voice for a British theme, at least in terms of vibes.

I was hoping it would incorporate more Celtic elements, but I guess it took after the empire itself in that regard…

Kankan · Mar 4, 2025

untitledjuan said:
Oddly enough, it is a song related to England, not the whole Kingdom of Great Britain as a whole or the British Empire. I would have expected something like Rule Britannia for a British civilization, not something from a specific land within the United Kingdom.

Whilst Rule Britannia would likely have been a more fitting choice than Jerusalem, Jerusalem in itself isn’t a bad choice (especially given that France’s theme includes an Occitan song) as it is one of the last songs played during the Last Night of the Proms and the poem it was based on was written in 1804.

Zaarin · Mar 5, 2025

untitledjuan said:
Oddly enough, it is a song related to England, not the whole Kingdom of Great Britain as a whole or the British Empire. I would have expected something like Rule Britannia for a British civilization, not something from a specific land within the United Kingdom.

And Blake would have had a hernia if he knew his poem critical of the entire political system became a nationalist anthem. :crazyeye:

Uberfrog · Mar 5, 2025

Jerusalem is a great choice I think - you are definitely encouraged to build those dark satanic mills.

It is certainly better than the jingoistic nonsense of Rule, Britannia! which can only summon embarrassing, flag-festooned visions of the Last Night of the Proms (although now that I think about it the Royal Albert Hall would have been a great wonder…).

It might not properly encompass all the nations of Great Britain, but then again nor does the city list…

canadamufc · Mar 5, 2025

Britain theme uploaded by the official channel.

I think I like it.

By Geoff Knorr.

Civilization 7 Soundtrack/Music discussion

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