Line #88 AwesomeMusic/Civilization


1	* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snYKlv41yZ0 original Civilization Opening Theme]] took players from the very beginning of the Earth's formation to the Dawn of Man, and is a suitably epic piece that mixes anticipation with the promise of marvels to come.
2	* While only a few of the songs from ''Civilization III'' have names, many of them still stand out, like the drums-and-trumpets [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb-4OOGbtFU Ancient European theme]], and especially the Modern Era songs: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlknGt-dKVs Smash]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQiq578BzII Techno Mix]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyAnyqYmjdo Stars Full]].
3	** There's also the "Greco-Roman" Industrial Age theme...better known as the finale of Music/JosephHaydn's Piano Sonata No. 49 (in the Hoboken catalogue; it's No. 59 in the Landon catalogue) in E-flat major. It's a bit slower and played more ''legato'' than most interpretations, but it's not that far off from the way some pianists actually play it; Alfred Brendel's is particularly close.
4	** And then there's the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgqqAvG-1og "East Asian" Medieval theme]]...a remix of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C55Ae3apn5s The Shining Path]]," one of the most beloved themes from ''Civilization II''.
5	%%** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgT4TE9ILT4 theme that plays in the Sengoku scenario]] is excellent.
6	%%What's excellent about it? This is zero-context as written.
7	* ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}} IV'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJiHDmyhE1A Baba Yetu]], which has become a {{Leitmotif}} for the entire series. In fact, it has won a Grammy, the first ever piece of computer game music.[[note]]Technically, it didn't win as videogame music. Rather, as part of the live album from ''Videogames Live'' tour.[[/note]] It was even played at the New Year's Concert of the sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly.
8	* ''Civilization IV's'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__29A8qWkrc Warlords]] expansion theme also counts.
9	%%* The [[Music/JohannSebastianBach Brandenburg]] [[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeDpZHbB2cKF2vnSTG1vm5rIaMPcDHmsm Concerti]] played during the Renaissance era in ''Civilization IV'', though not original to the series, are not the only already-existing music pieces in this series.
10	%%But what's awesome about them? This is zero-context as written.
11	* Most of the BackgroundMusic in ''Civ IV'' is this way. It's been described as "one of the few games that lets you change the background music, and one of the few games where you don't need to". This is largely because after the Classical Era, the pieces consist entirely of the cream of Western ClassicalMusic (some of the selections, like the ''Miserere'' played in the Middle Ages, are considered to be absolute masterpieces), and the pieces chosen are furthermore beautifully tailored to the experience of playing the game.
12	* Just the fact that every leader got their own piece, which is performed by increasingly more (modern) instruments as the civilization advances. And especially the tunes that are newer versions of old themes, which give an awesome moment of nostalgic realization, and of course, an opportunity to remember how amazing ''those'' songs were as well.
13	** Like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1H_oyVeoyI Mao Zedong's Theme]], which becomes ten times better when you realize it's (another) new arrangement of ''Civilization II''[='=]s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C55Ae3apn5s The Shining Path]].
14	** [[https://youtu.be/RxycdY_Dqa4 Montezuma's theme]], a brand spanking new arrangement of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw-ele8Q0iE Tenochtitlan Revealed]].
15	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5m7TSMszl0 Hatshepsut's Theme]] every bit as calmingly amazing as when it was [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mH2p-iOr_Y Harvest of the Nile]].
16	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW8_LSx-jOM Julius Caesar's Theme]], which at its most elaborate evokes both UsefulNotes/TheGloryThatWasRome and the earlier [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxkHAbNbrxM Augustus Rising]].
17	* ''Civilization V'' has a number of great pieces as well, full of GeniusBonus for anyone familiar with the music that they're based on.
18	** From the vanilla game:
19	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D445R78w-7o American peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFaEsP3fzw4 war]] ("America, the Beautiful").
20	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_6JdWK3Hnw Aztec peace]] ("Cora Mitote Song from Santa Teresa").
21	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEKRE2uamyg Greek peace]] (the Epitaph of Seikilos, the oldest surviving complete musical composition in the world).
22	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5oO6wBrp8s English war]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30r_1NoKldo peace]] ("I Vow to Thee, My Country"--aka "Thaxted", aka the middle section from Music/GustavHolst's "Jupiter" from ''The Planets'').
23	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmHLYpDX2Ak Japanese peace]] ("Rokudan no Shirabe").
24	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W31QFFXWr6g Indian peace]] ("Raga Asa").
25	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AB0k4Itneg Ottoman war]] ("Ceddin Deden", a Turkish march).
26	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cwOD8KvG-E Persian peace]] ("Morq-e sahar").
27	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IptPXxtWrEQ Russian war]] ("Montagues and Capulets/Dance of the Knights", from Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev). This is one of the few ''Civilization'' themes with lyrics, taken from Creator/AlexanderPushkin's poem "The Bronze Horseman". The first few lines are about the beauty of Saint Petersburg, but then the lyrics quickly develop into a depiction of a massive flood, and the devastation it brings to the city. It all ends with one sentence, repeated several times: "Все гибнет." And what does it mean? "Everything dies." In the context of the game, ''Russia'' is this flood. It is ''you'' who will make everything die.
28	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUzPSFwrg0U Songhai peace]] (Gambian folk music).
29	** From individual [=DLCs=]:
30	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHMK7OgDJjM Babylonian peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxS_HUHo3eM war]] ("Hurrian hymn").
31	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfpLk5AJ1ME Mongol peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHbXHIrpq6s war]] (a traditional Mongolian Long song).
32	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn3t1ZQKSPo Spanish peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X28q4EMMpW4 war]] ("Viva la Quince Brigada").
33	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9uL31B-YsE Polynesian peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXOLRXzs_qo war]] ("Hole Waimea").
34	** From the ''Gods & Kings'' expansion:
35	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdUzM7PIvNw The title theme]] (based on the Ambrosian Hymn).
36	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPcg65jRbQo Byzantine peace]] ("Phos Hilaron").
37	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TheJ9zo6k3g Carthaginian war]] ("Hymn to Nikkal").
38	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzeurlo37kM Celtic peace]] ("Lord Gregory, The Lass of Aughrim").
39	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4cxMF6F7WQ Dutch peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uf81Ikqnrw war]] ("In Naam van Oranje").
40	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy1w1Rg1iuA Ethiopian peace]] ("Selassie's National Anthem").
41	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhWaufQD9Uo Hunnic war]] ("Li Ling Si Han").
42	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFHNOJQimjY Swedish peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnNw5PWHnyc war]] ("Du Gamla, Du Fria").
43	** From the ''Brave New World'' expansion:
44	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bOBjZMJ2l8 The title theme]] (Terra Nova).
45	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX2CcrsxLcQ Brazilian war]] ("Chega de Saudade").
46	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF_DyBjWrvY Portuguese peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqFdUAZrrMw war]] ("Saudades de Coimbra").
47	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmuGoZI5R_M Indonesian peace]] [[note]]An excellent combination between traditional Indonesian gamelan and modern western orchestra, easily invoking a sense of grandeur of an Indonesia civilization[[/note]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2ejqyduBsI war]] ("Udan Mas").
48	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q04nJzKgQs Shoshone war]] ("Sun Dance songs").
49	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMCqfZLlYxY Polish war]] ("Bóg się rodzi").
50	*** [[http://youtu.be/icThznCrzC8 Zulu peace]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14YHs0375tY Zulu war]] [[note]]In constrast to the other war themes, this one is optimistic, almost as if the civilization is excited at going to war, which easily fits with Zulu's role as a warmonger[[/note]]("Inhliziyo Yami").
51	** Even the ambient music has some brilliant pieces - all culled from some of the best musical pieces from around the world. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1fY94bYAqQ Here's a small sampling. A SMALL sampling.]]
52	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPXOwjsjZuI main theme]] to Rising Tide, the expansion pack to Beyond Earth, is just awesome.
53	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfXlDRv4lDw Upon the Expanse]] is another note-worthy track, as is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWEUYZOZ76c Neptune's Glory]].
54	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFlxSgOEZrk This video]] gives us a preview of ''Civ VI''[='=]s evolving themes.
55	* ''Civilization VI'': A veritable goldmine of a soundtrack with several hits, aided by the genius of the evolving civ themes.
56	** The main theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j2s4EkR36A "Sogno di Volare"]] ("The Dream of Flight"), is amazing. As are the TriumphantReprise renditions that play for four of the five (six with Gathering Storm) victory conditions; Score/Time is a very basic excerpt through a developing city, Religion replaces the vocals with an ethereal choir as the cinematic treads stars, Culture's trumpet refrain punctuates scenes of the Hanging Gardens and a portrait of the Yosemite Valley, and Domination builds up in a minor key through the progression of war to a victory march with the {{Leitmotif}}. The song also gets a DarkReprise for the defeat cutscene. Then there are the lyrics (courtesy of Creator/LeonardoDaVinci).
57	--->Una volta che avrai,\
58	spiccato il volo, deciderai,\
59	sguardo verso il ciel, saprai,\
60	lì a casa il cuore sentirai!\
61	'''Translated:'''\
62	Once you have taken flight\
63	you'll decide,\
64	Gaze towards the sky, you'll know that\
65	that is where your heart will feel at home!
66	** The themes of each nation continue the style from ''Civ V'' with a bigger addition to its EvolvingMusic.
67	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oXkQvQmqwA Atomic Era theme]] ("Lullaby of Itsuki") for Japan. Reminiscent of cyberpunk, a mixture of electronic and traditional sounds for when JapanTakesOverTheWorld.
68	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRv501x6WP0 Industrial Era theme]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJqlNsGLmGs Atomic Era theme]] for America, which takes the American folk song "Hard Times Come Again No More" and gives it a distinct Music/AaronCopland vibe, which practically breathes {{Eagleland}} Type 1 and reflects America's status from Regional Power to Superpower.
69	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbpSQI17tOo Every single Australia theme]]. Possibly the most beautiful renditions of "Waltzing Matilda" ever composed. One Australian comments on how a bush song had become so extremely amazing. Special mention however has to go to the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNoy6AJ3-HY Atomic Era rendition]] as the combo of Aboriginal and Classical orchestra instrumentals combine to set the stage of Outback Australia at its finest.
70	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEQvHCEHKH0 Atomic Era theme]] ("Kalinka") for Russia. Unlike pre-Atomic iterations, it includes the musical spirit of the Soviet Union to drive the transition from the Industrial to the Russian Revolutions home, which of course means the inclusion of a pseudo-Red Army Choir singing the lyrics. This happens to make it one of the sole country themes in the entire game that has coherent vocals.
71	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t32ejtdsvlU Medieval Era theme]] ("Scarborough Fair") for England gives off the country's might and pleasantry on its current time - followed by the imperial magnificence of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG_AZky2Xkc Industrial theme]]. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyk4AZ7Y3ys Atomic theme]], however, tells a different story - story of a country ravaged by two destructive World Wars and [[BroughtDownToNormal the loss of its empire and international prestige]], hence the more sombre tones.
72	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBAvk-cMYBI Atomic Era theme]] for France ("Quand je bois du vin clairet") transforms a classic drinking tune into an epic film score, evoking images of a cyberpunk Paris. Or [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Jean-Luc Picard]].
73	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZTw6xEWj14 Industrial Era theme]] for Arabia ("Banat Iskandaria") really brings the image of say golden age Abbassid Arabia to mind, and the power and grandeur that once defined Arabia.
74	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU4oSd4b_hQ Industrial Era theme]] for Egypt has an epic, almost biblical feel that really sells the ancient opulence and magnificence of Egypt. "LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair" comes to mind.
75	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPZB7nuP758 Atomic Era theme]] for Rome ("Magna Mater") has this strange somber yet proud feel to it and the kind of sci-fi sound brings this image of a badass space age Roman empire. Pax Romana ''Galactica''. Or the Imperium from ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', which are essentially Romans [[RecycledInSpace In Space]] anyway.
76	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYYyaI3E-e4 Industrial Era theme]] for Greece ("Epitaph of Seiklos") has this upbeat daring tune, almost like something a marching band would play that one simply cannot help but love. Also an example of Heartwarming Music: The Epitaph of Seikilos is the oldest known complete musical composition, discovered on a marble stele and believed to be written in memory of a Greek woman named Euterpe, with Seikilos as her husband. It is sweet to know that Euterpe is still honoured and remembered in a small way even thousands of years after her passing.
77	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCvA-XmDZPw Atomic Era theme]] for Sumeria ("Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal, no. 6") is a theme straight from ''VideoGame/CivilisationBeyondEarth'' or ''Film/NationalTreasure''. Sumeria is perhaps the oldest civilisation featured in the game (only Egypt ''might'' be as old), and this theme really captures the grandeur of the hero king Gilgamesh leading his people into the stars.
78	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NMkAEFMStg Industrial Era theme]] for the Kongo ("Banaha") is so upbeat and optimistic and seamlessly mixes traditional African instruments such as the drums and xylophone, and a classy orchestral score, fitting for an empire so often overlooked in the grander scale.
79	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaktwHjp4dg Industrial Era theme]] for Brazil ("Brejeiro") is another upbeat tune that has an almost Disney Musical feel to it with its bombastic elegant score, and the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZyDClHOVJc Medieval Era theme]] brings this warm fuzzy feeling to heart, with its laid back and almost romantic tune.
80	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ondJKXISu3w Industrial Era theme]] for China ("Mo li Hua") is one of the most magnificent scores the game has to offer, evoking images of magnificent golden palaces, blissful peach orchards, and the sweeping misty mountain valleys of the Middle Kingdom. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP97jkvy7xs Atomic theme]] takes all that and gives it a magnified, sweeping epic flair.
81	*** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS31N24LFZM Atomic Era theme]] for Macedon (Tino Mori) masterfully exemplifies the duality of this civilization as it switches from a bright upbeat almost marching band like tune to a deep epic stirring war tune, showing off both the bright optimistic intellectualism of Alexander's world, and the grim reality of the conquests he waged.
82	*** [[https://youtu.be/x8_6lZyM_kM All versions]] of Spain's theme (Recuerdos de la Alhambra). Special mention goes to the Atomic era version, which turns the guitar piece into a romantic and intensely patriotic orchestral track that perfectly captures the strength of the Spanish Armada and the might of the Spanish Empire at its peak.
83	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLNPWJ45NuU All versions of]] India's theme (Vaishnava janato tene), which is played on classical Indian instruments throughout. It goes from an incredibly serene and soothing flute piece in the Ancient Era to a grand, upbeat piece in the Atomic Era, reflecting India's journey through her ancient glory, through subjugation as a colony, and back to being an independent nation and then rising to become a world power - all while retaining an emphasis on peace and spirituality. Doubles as a case of ShownTheirWork - the medieval hymn it was based off was Mahatma Gandhi's favorite hymn in real life, and sung around the world on his 150th birth anniversary as a tribute to him.
84	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOPh_m5bnM8 All versions]] of Indonesia's theme (Bapang Selisir & Rejang Dewa), but especially the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gib8VJuNVf8 Atomic Era]] theme. It feels even more epic than the Indonesian theme from ''Civilization V'', and that's saying something. It starts with a simple flute and ends up like you're watching a fleet of Jongs embarks from their harbor.
85	** From the ''Rise and Fall'' expansion:
86	*** Even during [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWyYBFyXrgc the First Look video]], the Ancient Era theme for the Cree drew attention for its vocals from [[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/poundmaker-singers-civilization-vi-game-cree-music-1.4475827 the Poundmaker Singers]], a drum group that comprises Cree tribe members and even descendants of Poundmaker, the Cree's leader in ''VI''. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xtgNeQctcs All of the Cree themes]] feature the Poundmaker Singers, starting with a cave-like acapella (Ancient), to a string-strapped drum beat (Medieval), before blooming into full orchestra for the Industrial and Atomic themes.
87	*** The powerful polyphonic chant that represents Georgia (based off of the hymns "Shen Khar Venakhi" and "Tsaiqvanes Tamar Kali") sounds epic enough in its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMkWCB4dKnM Ancient]] form, and each subsequent version only grows in scope and emotion.
88	*** Mongolia's [[https://youtu.be/9XwdjK0iLdw Atomic era]] theme does an incredible job of both blending ancient traditions and modern musical styles, and giving the sensation of summarizing their history. Starting with the traditional throat-singing and horse hair fiddle playing backed with subtle strings showing their rather humble and disconnected origins, it smoothly transitions into a brief orchestral which symbolizes the beginnings of their unification. Then there's a gradual increase in beat and pacing, indicating their campaigns across the known world, before quietly returning to the traditional throat-singing as a closer, reflecting the end of their part in the world stage and a return to a humbler life.
89	*** Scotland gets the much-beloved "Scotland the Brave", starting with a traditional pipe-and-drum in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnfnP-8rQo0 Ancient]] era, which will sound familiar to anyone that has heard bagpipes. While other instrumentation is used for the other eras (the fiddle in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9JqCMpBaLY Medieval]] version pays homage to Scotland's Celtic roots, for instance), the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdhBd0xlFGY Atomic]] version brings back the drum line at the end, combined with the full orchestral arrangement used in other countries' atomic eras, with the low brass and strings emulating the long droning of the pipes.
90	** From the ''Gathering Storm'' expansion:
91	*** Canada gets not just one, not just two, but ''three'' songs for its theme, which is a combo of "Vive la Canadienne" (representing the French-Canadians aka the Quebecois), "The Crooked Stovepipe" (representing the Anglo-Celtic Canadians) and "O Canada" (representing Confederated Canada). Starting out with just a simple string guitar and a fiddle in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cidq4JX7ag Ancient era]] to a more French Canadian influenced style in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUlwgrYK_8g Medieval era]] to the glorious sweeping epic orchestra march of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj9jSIk80gY Atomic era]], commentators admitted they couldn't help standing for the anthem at the end in the Atomic era theme.
92	*** Hungary's folk music theme starts out fairly simple, with the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-q1-5_UKNc Ancient era]] one sounding more like a spontaneous rehearsal between two musicians, but then slowly building up in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNvDU5m9Oqg Medieval era]] in tempo and variety of instruments, reflecting the growing population and the need for entertainment. Once you reach the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdO9kh-7-s0 Industrial era]], it sounds like a cross between a formal gala and a country town dance party, and by the time the player hears the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNaCHVUagAc Atomic era]] theme (complete with Eurobeat!), it really sinks in that Hungary has been refining their ability to party for hundreds if not thousands of years.
93	*** The Maori have two incredibly powerful and quite famous songs combined into great themes - "Ka Mate" and "Pōkarekare Ana" - but what's awesome about them is the order in which they are presented. In the [[https://youtu.be/5T_DhSxu4oM Ancient Era]] "Ka Mate" plays first, warning others that they are not to be trifled with but then it flows into "Pōkarekare Ana", letting people know that they can be as friendly as anyone else, if you get to know them. But then in [[https://youtu.be/5vjZw-egZJ0 Medieval era]] and the successive eras, "Pōkarekare Ana" plays first, giving the impression that they're no longer reacting with aggression first as their civilization expanded, but "Ka Mate" cuts in towards the middle, reminding you that they are, first and foremost, a proud people who will fight for what they believe in. Really heartwarming in its own way.
94	*** Sweden's theme combines three songs into one. "Helan går" is a drinking song, while "Polska efter Pelle Fors" and "Slängpolska efter Byss-Calle" are folk songs. The result is a very optimistic song that sounds almost whimsical in the Medieval era, [[https://youtu.be/aJDPaHolaS8 but reaches a triumphant crescendo in the Atomic era]]. Fitting for a civilization that, by that point, is likely a cultural and diplomatic powerhouse.
95	** From the ''New Frontier'' expansion:
96	*** Gran Colombia's theme is a mixture of popular folk songs from the countries that were part of it. It begins with "Velo que Bonito", a Colombian religious lullaby also repurposed as a Christmas carol, then continues with "Reir Llorando", an Ecuatorian pasillo and in the Medieval age, it has "Pajarillo", a joropo of Venezuela. The rearragement of this local music ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr72VXrgu2U especially the Atomic version]]) has an aura of courage and power, perfect for the powerhouse of Gran Colombia.
97	*** For Gaul's theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2jz22IqjzE its Industrial-era version]] is very powerful and grand, as if it were the opening theme of an epic film, and the theme, despite mainly being an original composition, even contains a short passage from the Belgian national anthem, "La Brabançonne".
98	*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otWCgk0-_ec Byzanthium's theme, Ti Ipermaho Stratigo]], truly brings to mind the pious power of the Eastern Roman Empire with its majestic swell of the male choir and graceful, ancient-sounding harmonies.
99	*** Babylon's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5GIh97HQOs Industrial-era theme]] has a very ominous tone that builds up to a grand crescendo in the final part of the track. It doubles down on this mood with the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57DAwjSWBMo Atomic-era arrangement]] as Hammurabi turns his science based civilization into an interstellar empire.

Context AwesomeMusic / Civilization