I realize there is already a music thread but this is more concerned with the styles of music that would be appropriate to the setting, rather than specific song suggestions. (posted in the beth forums but they've devolved to something pretty worthless in the last week)
The Ink Spots recorded and published most of their music in the 30's and 40's. This is really the style of Fallout music from the first 2 games (Louis Armstrong's most significant period was the 30's-40's as well). The music isn't really 50's, but more pre- and post-WWII swing/doo-wop. Actual 50's pop music includes rockabilly, rhythm and blues, crooner swing, rock and roll, boogie woogie, memphis and chicago blues, and bee-bop jazz. The Beatles were formed in the late 50's.
Almost all of these styles would not really fit the setting. Many of them prelude a more liberated musical, political, and social atmosphere. Fallout's prewar era was stuck in post-WWII/Korean War patriotism and conformity.
The music in the series is (or should be) limited to a very dry, Irving Berlin/early doo-wop and swing style that had a Soma-like effect on the population; i.e., something escapist and safe. So I'm curious then, how would other styles of music, which fit may the era, alter the perception of the gameworld?
Some examples:
* very moody (and scratchy) delta and Chicago blues from the late 20's/early 30's (Charley Patton, Robert Johnson).
* strait-up-yet-non-Elvis 50's rockabilly
* accessible bee-bop (Davis and Coltrane, not Monk or Coleman)
* mid to late 50's Sinatra (with its very high production values)
* early-50's Rhythm and Blues (Muddy Waters)
* frikkin early Rock (Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard)
One thing that bothered me about the trailer was that they used such an obvious song (a track the original developers thought was too on-the-nose) when they had the chance to be a little creative.
Here's a story on boogie-woogie on NPR that got me thinking about this: link
The Ink Spots recorded and published most of their music in the 30's and 40's. This is really the style of Fallout music from the first 2 games (Louis Armstrong's most significant period was the 30's-40's as well). The music isn't really 50's, but more pre- and post-WWII swing/doo-wop. Actual 50's pop music includes rockabilly, rhythm and blues, crooner swing, rock and roll, boogie woogie, memphis and chicago blues, and bee-bop jazz. The Beatles were formed in the late 50's.
Almost all of these styles would not really fit the setting. Many of them prelude a more liberated musical, political, and social atmosphere. Fallout's prewar era was stuck in post-WWII/Korean War patriotism and conformity.
The music in the series is (or should be) limited to a very dry, Irving Berlin/early doo-wop and swing style that had a Soma-like effect on the population; i.e., something escapist and safe. So I'm curious then, how would other styles of music, which fit may the era, alter the perception of the gameworld?
Some examples:
* very moody (and scratchy) delta and Chicago blues from the late 20's/early 30's (Charley Patton, Robert Johnson).
* strait-up-yet-non-Elvis 50's rockabilly
* accessible bee-bop (Davis and Coltrane, not Monk or Coleman)
* mid to late 50's Sinatra (with its very high production values)
* early-50's Rhythm and Blues (Muddy Waters)
* frikkin early Rock (Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard)
One thing that bothered me about the trailer was that they used such an obvious song (a track the original developers thought was too on-the-nose) when they had the chance to be a little creative.
Here's a story on boogie-woogie on NPR that got me thinking about this: link