Christopher Tin - Baba Yetu (Official Video) feat. Soweto Gospel Choir
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN commenters hold it up as the greatest video game song, evoking wonder and pride in humanity.
What it is
The official video for Baba Yetu, Christopher Tin's Swahili-language choral piece written as the theme to Civilization IV. It was the first video game music to win a Grammy.
Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2016 to 2022.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec jointpdf · 2020-05 · on “Sid Meier’s Civilization VI free until May 28th”
> I honestly can’t remember anything special about Civ4/5/6 Aww c’mon, not even one thing? What about the greatest video game song ever produced (Baba Yetu): [this video] Agree on Alpha Centauri—definitely recommend picking up a copy on GOG for anyone in the mood for a classic strategy game timesink.
Recommends redthrowaway · 2016-10 · on “What Sid Meier’s Video Game Empire Got Right and Wrong About ‘Civilization’”
Complaints about Civ's omission of the dark side of history ring hollow to me. Civ is, at its heart, a deeply aspirational and optimistic game. Watching the Baba Yetu intro from Civ IV[1] gives me the same sense of wonder and pride in humanity that Chris Hadfield's rendition of Space Oddity[2] does. Dwelling on the darkness in our history would be so discordant for a game like Civ. [1] [this video] [2] [LINK]
Recommends watersb · 2022-06 · on “‘The War on Music’ Review: Songs Without Listeners”
ABSOLUTELY. I am not plugged into a community of musicians these days, but in college and the decade afterwards we were hearing, performing music written by contemporary composers. Choral music, mostly. But cello concertos, crazy harpsichord binges, and banging on drums were there, too. A "Classical vernacular" these days would be blockbuster movie soundtracks! Are you (the article, its author) telling me that doesn't matter? To say nothing of new venues and art forms. I learned about Christopher Tin's song cycles via a soundtrack bundle marketed to video gamers. I am not a gamer, but I think I was shopping for a gift for my kids and holy cow I love his work. [this video] Eric Whitacre! Arvo Pärt
Cites dmichulke · 2022-03 · on “How Swahili became Africa's most spoken language”
Olbigatory reference to Baba Yetu, the Swahili language song that the UN uses sometimes as kind of hymn [this video] (Original from Civ 4) [LINK] (my preferred version)