What Should That Civ's Music Have Been?

[The Kingmaker]

Several civs have musical themes that I really enjoy. However, there's a few that I feel fail to adequately capture the spirit of the civs they represent.

I've always thought Germany's theme to be a bit too melancholy for my tastes. I would much prefer Palästinalied by Walter von der Vogelweide. It feels more "Gothic," with a more ardent sentiment, which I feel suits Barbarossa better.

As for Russia, Kalinka just gets on my nerves. I would much prefer a different traditional folk tune, Korobeiniki, which is both iconic and instantly recognizable.

 

[cosmicmangobear]

I would have loved something more modern for France like Berlioz or Debussy. Is it too much to ask for an Atomic Era Clair de Lune?

 

[AsH2]

Because of Song of the Volga Boatmen, I miss Stalin..

 

[Jeppetto]

Kaťuša for Russia. Just for lols what they'd be able to do with that. If they managed to turn Kalinka into demonic summoning, a song sharing name with rocket launcher would be even better.

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

"Meadowlands March" for Russia. Done as an instrumental, it sounds very classically triumphant, but it was the official marching song of the Soviet infantry during and after WWII.

 

[PhoenicianGold]

Several civs have musical themes that I really enjoy. However, there's a few that I feel fail to adequately capture the spirit of the civs they represent.

I've always thought Germany's theme to be a bit too melancholy for my tastes. I would much prefer Palästinalied by Walter von der Vogelweide. It feels more "Gothic," with a more ardent sentiment, which I feel suits Barbarossa better.

As for Russia, Kalinka just gets on my nerves. I would much prefer a different traditional folk tune, Korobeiniki, which is both iconic and instantly recognizable.

I suspect they didn't use either of these specifically to avoid falling into cliches. If Total War already used Palastinalied, then VI would want to distinguish itself away from Total War. And absolutely no one is going to touch Korobeiniki because Tetris effectively owns the tune. This is coming from someone who also finds Kalinka insufferable.

I initially wanted Hungary to have the first half of Hungarian Rhapsody, but I'm quite happy with what they chose instead.

The only theme I'm highly disappointed in is Waltzing Matilda. If we got Hard Times Come Again No More for America, there had to have been some slightly more obscure Australian folktunes to choose from than that.

 

[The Kingmaker]

But Total War didn’t use Palästinalied. The developers used their own original soundtrack. A Youtuber put Walter’s music to the game’s crusader silhouette backdrop, presumably for fun.

Meanwhile, my preference for Korobeiniki is precisely because of the hilarity of its overuse by Tetris.

 

[Sostratus]

I feel like gilgamesh's music was a little more punchy in civ4. Given his demi-god status he could use more of a beat in his ancient theme. I guess I don't really know how you come up with music for ancient sumer!

Regardless, I consider the best civ theme ever made to be Justinian's from civ4, specifically the variant with the organ.
Although the civ5 jingle for Buenos Aires + Hungary's theme in this game are right up there as well for me.

 

[Lord Lakely]

I loved the original compositions. Shining Path and Augustus Rises are two epic tunes that I would love to hear again.

 

[The Kingmaker]

I loved the original compositions. Shining Path and Augustus Rises are two epic tunes that I would love to hear again.

I concur. We could definitely do with some updated versions of the classic tunes.