My Severe Problem With The Rock Station In Grand Theft Auto V
One of my favorite aspects of the GTA series is the music. The music budget for any GTA game must be in the tens of millions; more than entire budgets for 75% of all games made, would be my guess. 250 songs spread across 15 channels of music. I love a handful of stations in the current game (reggae, punk, funk and a pair of the hip hop ones), but was very disappointed in the rock station.
Technically, Los Santos Rock Radio, is listed as 'classic rock and pop rock' and the DJ is Kenny Loggins, who's not as lame as you would initially think. So, none of dislike is aimed his way.
I come to GTA games hoping to hear music that I can't normally get on the radio, a hidden gem, a 'deep track'. Especially from a genre I'm very familiar with.
GTA IV's rock station (DJ'd by Iggy Pop!) was littered with 'deep tracks' from major artists, great songs that are under (or never) played on radio. The Doors "Five to One", REM "Turn You Inside-Out", The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog", and the ever-creepy "Mama" by Genesis. Plus another 6 or 7 tracks I could easily list here. If a real station had these songs in its play list I would never turn it off.
All great tracks, all ignored by radio; but they make a great soundtrack when you're sniping hookers from a hilltop in a park.
The most recent game has just a pair of these songs. "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" by Small Faces and "I Don't Care Anymore" by Phil Collins. The rest of the play list consists of songs that are heard daily, across multiple formats. Its like they didn't even care about this station.
It's a giant pussy of a radio station.
If you're going to ask Elton John for a song, don't make it "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". Boring. Gimme "Burn Down The Mission" or "Razor Face". You choose "Higher Love" from Steve Winwood, where "Arc of the Diver" would have been a much better selection. Not only because its a superior song, but its got more of a driving groove to it.
The most disappointing was their choice of Queen song. Now while "Radio Ga Ga" is a good song, its got one of the silliest titles of any rock song in the universe. Hearing "Stone Cold Crazy" or "Death on Two Legs", infinitely more appropriate to the characters in the game, would have instantly made me want to stay on the station. I can't tell you how many times I clicked over when I heard "Radio Ga Ga".
I know Rockstar's argument about the pussy rock station would be, 'well, technically, its classic rock and pop rock'. Really? Is classic rock not good enough to have its own station? You've got multiple electronic stations that I can't tell apart. Why not a full classic rock station AND a pop rock station?
Especially when you could have geared that pop rock station towards a California sound (the Eagles, Poco, Loggins/Messina). Los Santos (the city in GTA V) is a pseudo-LA, right down to the large VINEWOOD sign in the Vinewood Hills; and Blaine County (the large desert county north of LS) includes every kind of terrain found in the rest of California. The two Bob Seger songs fit here, as do the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Nicks and a song that's on any soundtrack geared towards night desert driving, "Big Log" by Robert Plant. Drop in a Beach Boys song (preferably "Heroes and Villians") and something from CCR ("Lodi" or "Run Through the Jungle") and this station is golden.
As for fixing the classic rock station, dig up someone who cut his teeth on 60s rock, played giant stadiums in the 70s and has been through the wringer. Let them add some of their favorites; their influences, those they played with. Joe Perry of Aerosmith comes to mind, but I think Alex Lifeson of Rush would be a better pick.
If you saw his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame speech, you'd know he'd be perfect as a DJ on a radio station inside a game. Charismatic, a little off-center and famous; the trifecta of fake DJ qualifications.
All the DJs seem to have some pull on the play list. My favorite DJ in the current game, Keith Morris of Channel X (hardcore punk), was in Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, both contain songs in the game. As does his current band Off!
So clearly, Lifeson would add some of his favorites, chosen by me. If Rush's Feedback ep is any indication, then adding a Love song wouldn't be out of the question. "She Comes in Colors" or "Alone Again Or".
Neither would a song from the Who seem out of place. How about the live version of "Heaven & Hell" off Live at Leeds? Or even "Mary Ann with the Shaky Hands".
You can bet a young Lifeson tried to learn Jeff Beck's "Spanish Boots", so including it makes sense.
As for bands they toured with, Kiss comes to mind. "God of Thunder" or "Calling Dr Love" would be excellent additions. Blue Oyster Cult, another tour mate, could contribute "Burnin' For You" or "Cities on Flame".
Add in some of Rush's prog contemporaries, Genesis and Yes, maybe a Pink Floyd song and you're getting closer to a rock station worthy of the GTA franchise.
The right Rush song would be crucial. Maybe even two.
"Red Barchetta" is an obvious choice. Running from the cops while a song about running from the cops plays on the radio is so meta that even Rockstar wouldn't ignore poking fun at it. If not, then "La Villa Strangiato" would suffice. It also has the bonus of being instrumental, so people can't complain about Geddy Lee's voice.
Dig out a couple of other 'deep tracks' from some psychedelic and prog bands for flavor.
Throw in a dash of April Wine or Triumph for a Canadian connection with Rush, made all the more fitting because one of the characters (Trevor) is a Canadian, and the station is complete. 1000% better.
There you go Rockstar, solved your problem about the pussy rock station in your most recent game.
You can thank me later by letting me choose the tracks for GTA VI's classic rock station.
----------------------------
Okay, rant over. Here's my review.
Finished it Saturday night, somewhat unexpectedly.
Not going to spoil anything, but after the 'big one' I started another mission, which I've come to realize started the end game. Oops.
Triggering the end game, also triggers the ridiculously long credits. I can't tell you how long they lasted because I went to the supermarket after the first five minutes of unskippable credits. I understand you want everyone who sweated over the game to get their due, but truthfully, how many people you think actually sit through them? I've taken showers during the credits of Diablo 3.
I am going to go back and replay the other endings, this game is definitely worth a replay or two. With three major characters there are, coincidentally, three endings. Like other games I've replayed to see multiple endings (Fallout 3 & New Vegas, Mass Effect) this one had a great story.
Best of the GTA games I've played, easily a 9.5/10. A must play. Simple as that.
Technically, Los Santos Rock Radio, is listed as 'classic rock and pop rock' and the DJ is Kenny Loggins, who's not as lame as you would initially think. So, none of dislike is aimed his way.
 |
| The beard that rocks LS |
GTA IV's rock station (DJ'd by Iggy Pop!) was littered with 'deep tracks' from major artists, great songs that are under (or never) played on radio. The Doors "Five to One", REM "Turn You Inside-Out", The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog", and the ever-creepy "Mama" by Genesis. Plus another 6 or 7 tracks I could easily list here. If a real station had these songs in its play list I would never turn it off.
All great tracks, all ignored by radio; but they make a great soundtrack when you're sniping hookers from a hilltop in a park.
The most recent game has just a pair of these songs. "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" by Small Faces and "I Don't Care Anymore" by Phil Collins. The rest of the play list consists of songs that are heard daily, across multiple formats. Its like they didn't even care about this station.
It's a giant pussy of a radio station.
If you're going to ask Elton John for a song, don't make it "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". Boring. Gimme "Burn Down The Mission" or "Razor Face". You choose "Higher Love" from Steve Winwood, where "Arc of the Diver" would have been a much better selection. Not only because its a superior song, but its got more of a driving groove to it.
The most disappointing was their choice of Queen song. Now while "Radio Ga Ga" is a good song, its got one of the silliest titles of any rock song in the universe. Hearing "Stone Cold Crazy" or "Death on Two Legs", infinitely more appropriate to the characters in the game, would have instantly made me want to stay on the station. I can't tell you how many times I clicked over when I heard "Radio Ga Ga".
I know Rockstar's argument about the pussy rock station would be, 'well, technically, its classic rock and pop rock'. Really? Is classic rock not good enough to have its own station? You've got multiple electronic stations that I can't tell apart. Why not a full classic rock station AND a pop rock station?
Especially when you could have geared that pop rock station towards a California sound (the Eagles, Poco, Loggins/Messina). Los Santos (the city in GTA V) is a pseudo-LA, right down to the large VINEWOOD sign in the Vinewood Hills; and Blaine County (the large desert county north of LS) includes every kind of terrain found in the rest of California. The two Bob Seger songs fit here, as do the Doobie Brothers, Stevie Nicks and a song that's on any soundtrack geared towards night desert driving, "Big Log" by Robert Plant. Drop in a Beach Boys song (preferably "Heroes and Villians") and something from CCR ("Lodi" or "Run Through the Jungle") and this station is golden.
As for fixing the classic rock station, dig up someone who cut his teeth on 60s rock, played giant stadiums in the 70s and has been through the wringer. Let them add some of their favorites; their influences, those they played with. Joe Perry of Aerosmith comes to mind, but I think Alex Lifeson of Rush would be a better pick.
All the DJs seem to have some pull on the play list. My favorite DJ in the current game, Keith Morris of Channel X (hardcore punk), was in Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, both contain songs in the game. As does his current band Off!
So clearly, Lifeson would add some of his favorites, chosen by me. If Rush's Feedback ep is any indication, then adding a Love song wouldn't be out of the question. "She Comes in Colors" or "Alone Again Or".
Neither would a song from the Who seem out of place. How about the live version of "Heaven & Hell" off Live at Leeds? Or even "Mary Ann with the Shaky Hands".
You can bet a young Lifeson tried to learn Jeff Beck's "Spanish Boots", so including it makes sense.
As for bands they toured with, Kiss comes to mind. "God of Thunder" or "Calling Dr Love" would be excellent additions. Blue Oyster Cult, another tour mate, could contribute "Burnin' For You" or "Cities on Flame".
Add in some of Rush's prog contemporaries, Genesis and Yes, maybe a Pink Floyd song and you're getting closer to a rock station worthy of the GTA franchise.
The right Rush song would be crucial. Maybe even two.
"Red Barchetta" is an obvious choice. Running from the cops while a song about running from the cops plays on the radio is so meta that even Rockstar wouldn't ignore poking fun at it. If not, then "La Villa Strangiato" would suffice. It also has the bonus of being instrumental, so people can't complain about Geddy Lee's voice.
Dig out a couple of other 'deep tracks' from some psychedelic and prog bands for flavor.
Throw in a dash of April Wine or Triumph for a Canadian connection with Rush, made all the more fitting because one of the characters (Trevor) is a Canadian, and the station is complete. 1000% better.
There you go Rockstar, solved your problem about the pussy rock station in your most recent game.
You can thank me later by letting me choose the tracks for GTA VI's classic rock station.
----------------------------
Okay, rant over. Here's my review.
Finished it Saturday night, somewhat unexpectedly.
Not going to spoil anything, but after the 'big one' I started another mission, which I've come to realize started the end game. Oops.
Triggering the end game, also triggers the ridiculously long credits. I can't tell you how long they lasted because I went to the supermarket after the first five minutes of unskippable credits. I understand you want everyone who sweated over the game to get their due, but truthfully, how many people you think actually sit through them? I've taken showers during the credits of Diablo 3.
I am going to go back and replay the other endings, this game is definitely worth a replay or two. With three major characters there are, coincidentally, three endings. Like other games I've replayed to see multiple endings (Fallout 3 & New Vegas, Mass Effect) this one had a great story.
Best of the GTA games I've played, easily a 9.5/10. A must play. Simple as that.
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