Line #41 Main/VirtualSoundtrack


1	The distant cousin of the SongFic, this is the practice of annotating a FanFic with music cues in such a way that, if followed, produces the rough equivalent of a motion picture's soundtrack for that fic. Very often these are the same pieces of music that inspired the author as he or she was writing. Regardless, they are intended to provide extra atmosphere and drama to the written material.
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3	The cues themselves can range from inobtrusive citations styled like pullquotes and set off from the story text proper, to elaborate instructions as to where to start playing on the track and for how long, often delivered by the narrative voice as part of the story. More recently, embedded links directly to the music videos have started to replace more intrusive text cues.
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5	Some authors may provide soundtrack listings in separate files, but these qualify more as [[AllThereInTheManual supplemental material]] than examples of this trope.
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7	One key element which defines a Virtual Soundtrack is that it is ''optional''. You can ignore a Virtual Soundtrack cue without losing anything in the story, unlike the SongFic, where you must wade through the lyrics to extract the story. Also, if the music is part of the ''action'' -- for instance, in the description of a concert -- it does qualify as this trope. (Although a listing of all the pieces played at the concert would be a good candidate for supplemental material.)
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9	This trope is usually limited to larger pieces of {{fan fiction}}, on the order of a novellette or longer. However, while it is most prevalent in fan fiction, examples can rarely show up in other text-based media (original stories, online roleplays) as well.
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11	!!Examples:
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14	[[folder: Fan Works]]
15	* Each story of the Doctor Who fanfic series ''[[Fanfic/SomeoneYoudAdmire Someone You'd Admire]]'' has a short excerpt of the lyrics of a song, and in a few cases, links to the music videos of said songs.
16	* The "pullquote" version is a common feature in stories produced by Creator/EyrieProductionsUnlimited, although it is by no means universal. It is particularly prevalent in the Future Imperfect era of ''Fanfic/UndocumentedFeatures'', especially works written mainly by Gryphon.
17	* Chapter six of Eric Hallstrom's epic ''Ranma And Akane: A Love Story'' begins with the explicit note, "By popular demand, the majority of this episode should be read to Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana" and offers a (long-defunct) link to an [=MP3=] of the piece. When the great battle in Hell begins, the narration pauses to specifically inform the reader to start playing it, and much later bookends the action with the note "You can turn it off now."
18	** ''RAALS'' verges on this trope elsewhere, as well, with a large number of songs, often from British/Irish/Scottish folk music tradition, that are sung throughout the story by the various characters. [=MP3=] links were provided for these as well. This only edges up to the trope because the song lyrics are provided whole within the story, and are ''part'' of the story rather than supplemental atmosphere. In this regard, ''RAALS'' is much like a [[TheMusical musical]] rendered in text.
19	* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7473997/1/Bubblegum_Disaster Bubblegum Disaster]]'' by dialNforNinja includes soundtracked sections.
20	* The parody {{lemon}} {{megacrossover}} ''[[http://www.thekeep.org/~wombat/Stories/Lemon/ls.html Lemon Sherbet]]'' by John Biles.
21	* ''[[http://homepage.mac.com/dgoldsmith/gd/daughter.html Genma's Daughter]]'' and its sequel ''[[http://homepage.mac.com/dgoldsmith/nj/juilliard.html Notes from Julliard,]]'' both by Deborah Goldsmith, drift into this trope with in-story violin performances of specific classical pieces that a dedicated reader can locate easily enough; in addition, Goldsmith provides recommendations for (and sometimes links to) specific performances which inspired her work.
22	* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' trollfic ''Fanfic/StarkitsProphecy'', in the final chapter, the author's note recommends that the reader listen to ''Romeo and Juliet Overture'' by Tchaikovsky.
23	* The ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'' fanadventure ''{{Fanfic/Promstuck}}'' occasionally links to music to depict what is playing in-canon at the time.
24	* The ''Literature/{{Gate}}'' fanfic ''FanFic/HereWeGoAgain'', frequently features musical recommendations in the form of "X's Album of Awesome". From the OST's of media like ''VideoGame/Halo3ODST'' or ''Film/{{Fury 2014}}'', to certain artists like Music/TheLonelyIsland, Music/TearsForFears, and even Music/JohnnyCash.
25	* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7555367/1/Higher_Flier_OR_My_Little_Blackbird Higher Flier, or My Little Blackbird]]'' by Admiral-Tigerclaw.
26	* The ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fan-comic ''[[http://escagorouge.deviantart.com/art/A-Brony-s-Blue-275549858 A Brony's Blue]]'' advises listening to the author's chosen songs to "view the story to its fullest quality".
27	** There is also ''Fanfic/AceCombatTheEquestrianWar'', which has links leading to ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' themes in every chapter, except for chapter 15.
28	** ''FanFic/TheApprenticeTheStudentAndTheCharlatan'' also uses this, featuring music from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'', ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', ''VideoGame/PokemonStadium'', and even ''Franchise/TouhouProject''.
29	* The ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' fanfiction [[Fanfic/TheLife The Life]] usually mentions music being played on one of the squad member's loudspeakers.
30	* Several musical cues are inserted as links to music videos embedded within the text of ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionApotheosisEcho'', especially during action scenes or at the end of a chapter (where the ''"Next Episode"'' soundtrack is used). A particular trend of using tracks from the Ace Combat 7 soundtrack is notable, though other instances of music do appear throughout the fic. [[spoiler:Perhaps the most prominent use of a non-soundtrack song is the cover of ''"The Trooper"'' performed by The Protomen, used diegetically as part of a plan to stun the attacking Mass-Production Evangelions.]]
31	* ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse'' provides one song for each chapter in the "Music" section of the Website/LiveJournal entry.
32	* The ''VideoGame/{{Ib}}'' fan-LightNovel ''[[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lmE5QjoUb8cW1g4FD6Vndd7QITO4TmU5TgWjRw9XkIQ/edit Purple]]'' manages to incorporate songs and pictures to the story.
33	* ''[[Fanfic/TotalDramaIslandByGilbertAndSullivan Total Drama Island, by Gilbert and Sullivan]]'' comes with a virtual soundtrack that would last several hours if played in its entirety. All of the verses, except for those very few that are spoken rather than sung in the [[{{Opera}} operettas]] (or those drawn from ''Theatre/{{Thespis}}'', for which most of the music has been lost) come with links to MIDI files so that interested parties can hear the tunes. In contrast to the lyrics, which can't be skipped without defeating [[SongFic the whole point]] of the crossover, the music is strictly optional and is included mainly for people who think that [[Creator/GilbertAndSullivan Gilbert is incomplete without Sullivan]].
34	* ''Fanfic/ConceptRoad'' has several Website/YouTube musical cues with links that are provided within the story. The [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/620663/chapters/1119976 AO3 version of the story]] has working hyperlinks.
35	* The ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' HighSchoolAU fic ''1994'' is full of in-story shout outs to late 80s and early 90s hits and not-quite-hits, including a scene where one character sings along to The Indians' "Look Up to the Sky."
36	* It's actually very common for [=Webidolchiu94=], but the most notable example of a virtual soundtrack is for ''FanFic/EternalFlowers'', where she suggests a song or two to listen to for the chapter, to set the mood. In one Omake, the author also revealed each character's {{Leitmotif}}.
37	* ''[[http://forums.nrvnqsr.com/showthread.php/900-Fate-Far-Side Fate/Far Side]]'' has music from the Nasuverse visual novels and anime to accompany each scene.
38	* Perpetrated by ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fic author Creator/AAPessimal in several fics. The crossover fic with ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', ''Fanfic/TheManyWorldsInterpretation,'' has its own soundtrack which can be found on the author's You Tube account. The ''Literature/GoodOmens'' fic ''All The Best Tunes?'' on his A03 account takes the Virtual Soundtrack to extreme levels - justified, as Aziraphale and Crowley are sponsoring rival musical talents in the 1940's to 1970's. Crowley kick-starts Music/BlackSabbath, the Angel gets people like Music/CliffRichard and Music/VanMorrison, both claim responsibility for Music/TheBeatles, and Crowley [[SympathyForTheDevil whispers possible lyrics in the ear of Mick Jagger]]. Even the [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse Four MotorcycleRiders of the Apocalypse]] get in on the act - War, [[PunkRock Pestilence]], Famine and [[Music/BlueOysterCult Death]] get their preferred musical genres. [[note]]War is attracted to the primal rebellious energy of 1950's rock 'n roll music, seeing possibilities in the anger and frustration of disaffected youth and viewing it as getting them into good habits early. She encourages the notorious wrecking of a London cinema in a riot during the screening of Bill Haley's movie. Meanwhile Famine is drawn not so much to the music as to the pathological eating habits of some musicians. Karen Carpenter's bulimia and anorexia, for instance, or the compulsive over-eating of Mama Cass... anorexic disorders, people deliberately starving themselves, are something he regards as a career triumph.[[/note]]
39	** There is now [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIa36ETako3MaZaw7-I0qEuflOniBvTWd a soundtrack to "Gap Year Adventures,"]] involving lots of otherwise obscure South African/Afrikaans music used as incidental detail. Some of it is actually quite listenable.
40	* ''[[Webcomic/KillLaKillAU Aikurou Babysits]]'' has a link to Lulickma's "[=PoPoPo=]-N Is Dead"
41	* ''Fanfic/KiryuuinChronicles'' has this at different points. In chapter 12, it has a link to "AdラLib" (from the original ''Anime/KillLaKill'' soundtrack) by Hiroyuki Sawano [[labelnote:Tidbit]]Originally, it was had a link to the piano version of ''[[Literature/TrinityBlood Broken Wings]]'' but Victor Entertainment blocked the video in the US.[[/labelnote]] and Chapter 10 has [[Anime/SamuraiChamploo Obokuri-Eeumi]] playing.
42	* ''Fanfic/CellarSecrets'':
43	** Chapter 7 has the links to Molly Svcina's "I'm finding my way" and Fernwood's "Kalyan" playing in the background.
44	** Chapter 12, when Ragyo dies, has Music/IkueAsazaki's "Yoisura".
45	** Chapter 24 has ''[[Anime/PrincessMononoke Mononoke-Hime]]'' playing in the background. It fits.
46	** Chapter 25 has Helen Jane Long's "Embers" playing.
47	* ''Fanfic/ConcerningADrifter'':
48	** Chapter 11: ''[[Anime/WolfsRain Sold your soul]]''
49	** Chapter 12: ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsFromZero A Victim's Past Wish]]'' (from the original soundtrack, not the ''Evolution'' soundtrack)
50	** Chapter 17: ''[[VideoGame/BravelyDefault World of Scattering Flowers]]''
51	** Chapter 19: ''Deep Blue'' by Jia Peng Fang
52	** Chapter 20: ''Balcony'' by Exist Strategy
53	** Chapter 22: ''Pale'' by Exist Strategy
54	** Chapter 23: ''[[Film/TheHelp Constantine's Theme]]'' by Music/ThomasNewman
55	** Chapter 30: [[Manga/YonaOfTheDawn Jeaha, Elegy of Moonlight]]
56	* ''Fanfic/AsTheWindBlows''
57	** Chapter 5: ''Beyond Dreams'' by [[Franchise/TouhouProject Akatsuki Records]]
58	** Chapter 12: The piano cover of [[Music/IkueAsazaki Anma]] by Masashi Yamanaka
59	* The ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' {{Fanfic}} ''Fanfic/{{Visiontale}}'', [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/8779618/chapters/20125687 posted on Archive of Our Own,]] uses music annotations to enhance the atmosphere of iconic moments from the game and particularly important events exclusive to the story.
60	* In the ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' fanfic ''Fanfic/ExtraLife'', at two occasions the author's note suggests that the reader listens to (or imagines) a specified song at a particular moment.
61	* Each chapter of ''Fanfic/TheirBond'' has at least one song recommended to be read alongside it.
62	* The title of each chapter of ''Fanfic/ParagonKimPossible'' come from the song the chapter is associated with.
63	* Each chapter of ''Fanfic/{{Chemistry}}'' is TitledAfterTheSong that acts as its soundtrack.
64	* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': Given the sizable number of music references in the stories, a virtual music underscore is frequently implied. This is especially true in fics that involve dancing such as “The Wedding Reception” and “The Funkmeister,” or ones where the characters are listening to music such as “The Car,” “The Mall,” “The Walk,” “The Cameo,” “The Blood Brother,” “The Paris Trip,” “The Ship,” “The Survivor,” “The Rings,” “The Seer,” “The Spaceship,” “The Teacher,” and “The Coffee Shop.”
65	* The [=AO3=] mirror of ''Fanfic/BeyondTheBorders'' has pullquote-style links to appropriate mood music, borrowed from various sources, mostly video games.
66	* The ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers'' HistoricalAU ''Fanfic/TheRodSquad'', a ScriptFic made to look like an episode of a TV series, mentions music whenever the Rescue Rangers, now named the Rod Squad, [[UnusualEuphemism boogie]] somewhere in their [[ThemeMobile dune buggy]]. Music/PeterFrampton's ''Frampton Comes Alive'' plays when they boogie to baseball manager Charles O. Finley's office. When they boogie to [[TheCity the gritty inner city]] to meet Dale's girlfriend [[BlaxploitationParody Foxy Glove]], Seals and Croft play, and the Average White Band can be heard upon their arrival. The fic's theme tune is unspecified and only described as "[[{{Funk}} chukka-chukka]]". You should now be able to tell that this fic takes place in TheSeventies.
67	* ''Fanfic/{{Boldores and Boomsticks}}'': Links to appropriate music for the scene are often embedded in transitions, like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Sx25tAd9I Plumeria's theme]] while she battles Yang or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYsfIYUV4Gk Spooky Scary Skeletons]] while the team is being scared by Ghost-Types.
68	* ''Fanfic/{{Cinderjuice}}'' and its sequels have one of these, as indicated in the author's notes on certain chapters. Each main volume of the series has seven songs mentioned in the notes (plus one for the {{interquel}}), which somehow correspond to the events of the chapters in question. For some reason, the soundtrack includes a lot of Music/{{Nickelback}}.
69	* ''Fanfic/TheUnlikelyAlly'' Uses it rather often. As should be expected, most of the music comes from the original Anime ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. Other music piece have cropped up, such as from ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'', ''VisualNovel/SayaNoUta'' (when those characters show up), ''VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest'', and other miscellanous pieces.
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72	[[folder:Literature]]
73	* ''[[http://www.baenebooks.com/p-1612-foreshadows-the-ghosts-of-zero.aspx Foreshadows: The Ghosts of Zero]]'' is an eBook from Baen which includes an archive holding two hours of original music to which the text of the eBook links. The blurb about the book at Baen's website explicitly calls it an "illustrated anthology and soundtrack album in one."
74	* Creator/JodiPicoult's ''Literature/SingYouHome'' is a rare example of a full book using this. To go along with the book, there is a 10-song CD recorded by Picoult's friend Ellen Wilber, and there are suggestions on when to play each song in the book.
75	* Creator/JacekDukaj's short novel ''Linia oporu'' sometimes has the narration mention what song is playing on the "soundtrack" at the moment (presumably played by the protagonist's AugmentedReality system, or maybe just in his thoughts). It's fitting since the protagonist is a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture young man who spends nearly all of his time in virtual simulations and movies, and thinks in their terms.
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78	[[folder:Roleplays]]
79	* As of season 3, the players of ''Roleplay/TheMassiveMultiFandomRPG'' sometimes include [=YouTube=] links to appropriate music snippets for whatever they are doing at the moment.
80	* In ''RolePlay/WeAreAllPokemonTrainers'' players often use music to set the mood of the scene they're doing for better atmosphere.
81	* ''Roleplay/CityOfLostCharacters'': The GM underscores key moments (such as boss battles or the beginning of a new day) with [=YouTube=] links to appropriate songs.
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84	[[folder:Webcomics]]
85	* ''Webcomic/AerialMagic'' has a [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mYi_DYSiq4UgU1Q Youtube playlist]] to go along with it.
86	* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': During the [[UnusualChapterNumbers "Chapter ???"]] sequence that follows Chapter 18, the AltText on each page gives the name of a song to match the atmosphere of the scene.
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Context Main / VirtualSoundtrack