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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Soundtrack to my e-life
by Brent Jackson 
Aug 6th 2010 at 8:00AM
A few days ago, I noticed a comment on this very site that moved me. The commenter was responding to one of the dozens of voice clips that have been leaking from Cataclysm. The commenter was asking for a simple transcript of the clip, because he or she is deaf. I was instantly felt I had to write it out for them. It wasn't until later that I realized exactly why I was moved so much for this person: I love the game's soundtrack. The music of World of Warcraft is a huge part of the experience for me, and I can't imagine playing without it.
The soundtrack provides atmosphere for everything from a jaunty tavern to haunted forests and much more. Alliance players, do you remember the first time you journeyed through the Dark Portal? More specifically, Honor Hold? The trumpets, the last-stand vibe ... It was amazing. I still get nostalgic any time I happen to be flying through Dun Morogh at night. It should be a law that every Alliance player must have the game music on the first time they storm into Orgrimmar, and the same goes for Horde players raiding Stormwind. Every expansion, it seems I find one or two pieces that stick with me for years. In vanilla, it was the Song of Elune (played sporadically in Ashenvale). In The Burning Crusade, it was the theme to Honor Hold and Silvermoon City. Wrath, however, gave me my favorite: Wintergrasp.
Do you have a favorite WoW song? Is there one tune that plucks your heartstrings and makes you remember days long past? Or do you mute the game and play to your own music?
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 6)
Wildebeast Aug 6th 2010 8:16AM
Grizzly Hills is the best. And I played the game with no sound for two years on my hunter, once I learned that the guns make noise I love spamming [Volley] in random places just to appease my need for the firing sound.
thegatherer Aug 6th 2010 8:19AM
I must say that after a few hours of me running around the newbie areas with what seemed like sporadic music. Because of that, I now listen to non-game music. I have tried to listen to the in game music, but it doesn't seem to loop, even though I set it to loop. My loss.
Although one piece of music I will always remember is this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKj36GJj_i8.
Magnett Aug 6th 2010 8:20AM
Winterspring, Arathi and Hinterlands have amazing music. Nagrand, Storm Peaks and Wintergrasp are also up there.
A personal favourite of mine, though, has always been in SFK. You talk to the Undead guy, and you ask him to open the door to the courtyard and he's like lol u mad but does it anyway. Then the theme starts playing as soon as you look outside and see yourself surrounded by ghosts and worgen and you're like HAHA ACTUALLY ON SECOND THOUGHT GUYS LET'S GO BACK. It was done with pretty awesome timing and I wish they'd do more stuff like that.
Brouck Aug 6th 2010 8:21AM
Karahan - the first time I entered, was my first raid (I started at the end of Vanilla WoW). The atmosphere combined with the music made for the perfect first raid. I still get chills thinking about it.
Polecat Aug 6th 2010 8:23AM
You're going to hate me, but I turn the music off. I find it distracting and annoying at best... I honestly just want to immerse myself in the world, and that means hearing the sounds OF the world. I think it'd be a slick idea to hear music when you pass a bar, birds and stuff int he woods, the crashing of waves near the shore, etc etc etc.
In short, I want to hear the world, not the music someone felt should be there.
- Polecat
Marluxia.Kyoshu Aug 6th 2010 8:50AM
I feel exactly the same way. I'll turn the music on every now and again in towns or bars, but I never use it when I'm questing, it ruins the atmosphere completely.
Brimoonfang Aug 6th 2010 10:29AM
I'm glad SOMEBODY agrees with me. Too late for my reply above, that was voted
down into oblivion.
Thank you for being more articulate than I was.
Rai Aug 6th 2010 8:23AM
Bronjahm.
Hawkblaze Aug 6th 2010 8:57AM
This, I love the way the strange funky beat actually gels really well with the instance. I really like all of the ICC music, it really adds that 'Holy shit we're in the Lich King's house' vibe.
kevinblack16 Aug 6th 2010 9:18AM
hahaha! Totally this! Other than ruining my framerate, this boss is way more fun because of the music!
Kesely Aug 6th 2010 11:14AM
You can't be serious.
eresin Aug 6th 2010 8:31AM
Karazhan hands down is my favourite, the whole darn lot of it!
Sentess Aug 6th 2010 8:32AM
The night music in the Barrens give me chills. :D
Hairfish Aug 6th 2010 8:33AM
Eversong Forest, in the inn at one of the small outposts, the standard zone music plays, but with an echo-ey, ethereal tone, as if ghosts are playing it. First time I heard that, my blood froze.
Hairfish Aug 6th 2010 8:34AM
I think I screwed up the name of the place, but I usually play Alliance, so all Horde areas are mysterious to me. :P
Kylenne Aug 6th 2010 11:10AM
Haha, you got it (I won't quibble over "Woods" XD). And yes, it's very haunting and lovely.
Rezina Aug 6th 2010 12:14PM
Totally off-topic--Hairfish--you didn't used to be a modder for TheSims, did you? :)
eresin Aug 6th 2010 8:35AM
Oh and the music in Culling of Strat is great too!
Sergeant Anton of Magtherodin Aug 6th 2010 8:37AM
i've played almost 7 years now without music to be honest lol
dracoamericanus9 Aug 6th 2010 9:13AM
Hey everyone! Its a comment from the future.
So tell us, future-person, what happens to WoW in the next 2 years?