Music Review: The Music of Grand Theft Auto IV
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that although
Grand Theft Auto IV features more than 200 songs, 16 of
them were culled for a special edition CD available only
through Amazon's MP3 downloads -- or free if you buy the
special edition of the game. The songs are mix of genres and
appropriate-level (some repeat multitude swear words and are
very violent while others are sweet love songs or
instrumental).
Families can talk about whether the music plays a part in
Grand Theft Auto IV. If the video game's content is
definitely not for kids, does the music make such a difference?
Families can also talk about mixing consumerism with video
games. How do you feel about being able to buy an MP3 of a song
you hear within the game instantaneously on Amazon?
Busta Rhymes, Bob Marley, and Fela Kuti, contribute just three of the 200 or so songs in Grand Theft Auto IV, 16 of which make up THE MUSIC OF GRAND THEFT AUTO, available only via download on Amazon. There's a blend hip-hop, reggae, dancehall, southern rock, R&B, Russian rap, and even electro. Some of the songs aren't appropriate for teens' -- even older ones -- ears, but some are fine.
With music crossing all genres and appropriateness, this collection of songs -- a "soundtrack" of sorts -- wants to appeal to all teens. Unfortunately, as a whole and played in order, it's quite disjointed. It's best to pick the tracks that are OK for your kid and just download those. Some highlights: Fela Kuti's 12-minute "Zombie," with its deep afrobeat percussion -- packs a political punch by dismissing the "zombie"-like nature of the military ("Zombie no go stop, unless you tell am to stop/Zombie no go turn, unless you tell am to turn/Zombie no go think, unless you tell am to think"), and if parents can look past the few "N" words, the for-older-teens, determined, not-gratuitous, well-written "War is Necessary" ("War brings hate/war brings peace/war brings pain, but war is necessary") by Nas.
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