#Like Harrison Lemke's “Cost of Living.” Extremely good but also depressing. Like modern rural living! Not quite the tone for a farmsim tho

[ranchstoryblog]

March Community Poll: That Folksy Feeling

Way, way back, for the original Super Famicom release of the first Bokujou Monogatari, there was a Satellaview broadcast version of the game that had an accompanying live radio show that included Japanese folk music while you played. To my knowledge, this is the first time any sort of licensed musical performance was associated with the series, though later Japanese ads would use songs from pop groups like Dreams Come True.

So naturally, it got me thinkin': If they were to try something like that again with the modern series, and outside Japan this time, what would they pick? It could be for a trailer, opening, credits, festival, whatever. For those who've never heard these songs before, I threw together a playlist real quick for ya:

Of course, I'm no expert. This is hardly a comprehensive list and more of a jumping off point since folk music was what the Japanese side of the series used first. Plenty of stuff from Europe and before the 20th century out there too, like Scarborough Fair, or songs from other genres like Fields of Gold that touch on the themes and imagery of the series. There's a lot to explore.

Maybe some day it'd be worth talking to someone more well versed in older music and really digging into the concept. If nothing else, it'd probably give characters like Griffin and Gustafa more songs to play if there was some good traditional music that didn't need licensing at all. Might also be worth it for an indie dev out there looking to give their own game's musicians something to sing at their festivals.