Monday, February 14, 2011

How a song from the 2005 Civilization IV won a 2011 Grammy

Civilization IV is now the first game to have won a Grammy... sort of. The game's theme music, "Baba Yetu," won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) at Sunday's awards show, despite the game being released in 2005.

Here's how that happened. We also have the song's official video and performance at Video Games Live.

"Baba Yetu"

The song may have been used in the game during 2005, but it was released on Christopher Tin's 2009 albumCalling All Dawns, allowing it to be included in this year's Grammy Awards. While the game wasn't mentioned during the show, the song has already had a long life in gaming before Tin's album was released in stores.

The song has also enjoyed a place in the Video Games Live show. "The fact that this song has had a life outside of the game is owed almost entirely to Video Games Live. They were the first to bring this music to concert stages around the world and to places I had never dreamed possible," composer Christopher Tin stated.

"Baba Yetu" on Video Games Live

The words "Baba Yetu," mean "our father," and the song's lyrics are a Swahili translation of the Lord's Prayer. Congratulations to Christopher Tin, as a beautiful song's long journey is rewarded.

[via Ars Technica]

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