A good driving song can make a boring journey into a memorable one, or a good trip into one of the greats. By that same token, while Gran Turismo is fondly remembered for the driving, there’s a lot of memories tied to the audio cues. A song will stick with you, intertwining itself with the game until you can’t separate the two. To this day, I’m still annoyed every time I walk into a Mazda dealership and this catchy tune isn’t playing.
This is the next step in our GT Week celebrations. Missed something? Catch up here:
GT Week: GTPlanet’s All-Time Favourite Gran Turismo Videos
Initial Announcement: Celebrate a Week of Gran Turismo with GTPlanet!
Before we get started, here’s a list of the songs that just missed the cut. All ten were no more than two points out from fifth place, and show just how many great songs have graced the franchise over nearly two decades.
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Daiki Kasho – Soul On Display (GT5)
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Garbage – I Think I’m Paranoid (GT2)
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Isamu Ohira – Slipstream (GT3)
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Manic Street Preachers – Everything Must Go (Chemical Brothers Remix) (GT1)
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Isamu Ohira – Light Velocity (GT3)
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Cubanate – Oxyacetylene (GT1)
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Federico Baltimore – Sweet Worlds (GTHD)
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Feeder – Buck Rogers (GT3)
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Apollo 440 – Cold Rock The Mic (GT2)
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Arcade Mode – Manufacturer Select (GT1)
#5: Feeder – Just A Day (GT3)
This should come as no surprise after how well the GT3 PAL intro did in our round-up yesterday. It’s a straight-forward, peppy rock tune that makes it nearly impossible to not bob your head or tap your feet. The latter of which isn’t advised when sitting in front of your wheel playing GT3.
#4: Rob Zombie – Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Remix) (GT2)
Is it just me, or did this song end up nearly every Sony driving game in the twilight years of last millennium? Not only did it show up in the grunge-heavy GT2 soundtrack, but it also popped up in such titles as Twisted Metal and Sled Storm. That snowmobile racing game shared this remix with Gran Turismo 2, softly sanding down the more outrageous parts of the song and making it even more drive-friendly. That seemed to be the theme for GT2…
#3: Soul Coughing – Super Bon Bon (GT2)
“Move aside, let the man go through” is almost too perfect a lyric for a song heavily featured in a racing game. Super Bon Bon was mostly laid-back other than the hectic, ear-worm chorus, but it was this oft-repeated line that stuck in most of the staff minds long after GT2 was supplanted by newer titles.
#2: Masohiro Andoh – Moon Over The Castle (Various)
The only surprise here is that Moon Over The Castle, Gran Turismo’s theme song since inception, didn’t top the list. All of us were torn between the GT2 and GT4 versions of the irreplaceable song, but the extended version as enjoyed in GT4 is the one featured here. It’s a doozy – a theme immediately recognizable to racing gamers as The Imperial March is to Star Wars fans. We hope it always remains a staple in each and every title.
#1: The Cardigans – My Favourite Game
Well, what else could’ve knocked over GT’s actual theme song as our definitive musical champ? The love for My Favourite Game was almost unanimous, with nearly every member of staff placing it near the pointy end of their personal lists. Surely the title of the song is representative of something here, no? GT3 might be the best-seller, but for a lot of us, it’s GT2 that holds the most prized spot in our hearts.
As an added bonus, GTP member Lain rightfully points out that the entire album this song appears on – titled, appropriately enough, Gran Turismo – is a good one. Give it a listen, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow for another round!
See more articles on GT Week 2016 and Polyphony Digital.
Here’s mine:
1. Garbage – I Think I’m Paranoid (GT2)
2. Cubanate – Industry (GT1)
3. Feeder – Just a Day (GT3)
4. Rock ‘n Roll Soldiers – Funny Little Feeling (GT4)
5. My Chemical Romance – Planetary GO! (GT5)
Garbage – I Think I’m Paranoid (GT2) wil forever be my most nostalgic GT song! My brother and i both feel the same way. I love the entire series as a whole but there was/is just something magical about the first 2 games
Friendly reminder that NTSC-J GT1 menu music needs more love. Here’s one from the Mazda dealership: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48j_gnj-_YA
How could Snoop’s Turismo 3 not make the list. smh
My top 5 had to be:
Garbage – I think I’m paranoid (GT2)
Million Miles Away – Ulrich Schnauss (GT4)
Ash – Lose Control (GT1)
The Cardigans – My Favourite Game – PAL Remix version (GT2)
Garbage – As Heaven Is Wide (GT1)
Epic, epic, epic tunes.
A solid list there, JacoJa.
Have fun on Friday!
MOON OVER THE CASTLE NO.1
Best way to enjoy Soul Coughing’s Super Bon Bon is to take a ride in a muscle car. Great song.
But i would never say how such a slow song can be good to racing. :)
On Seattle of course.
A GT40 at Seattle is exactly what I picture when I hear the song, good call.
Agree 100% with number 1. Listening to it now still gives me goosebumps and the same rush of adrenalin as it did the first time I loaded up the game, watched the intro and inhaled a good nose full of GT fumes all those years ago.
Back then I was still a teenager and the Gran Turismo series contained all my hopes and dreams.
When My Favourite Game comes on the radio at work it gets me pumped and I jump around like an idiot, and if I died tomorrow I’d want it played at my funeral, from beginning to end and at full volume.
Feeder – Just A Day is a very close 2nd place for me.
My personal list:
10) Getting Away With…(remix)- Papa Roach (GT4)
9) My Favorite Game – The Cardigans (GT2)
8) Are You Gonna Go My Way (Remix) – Lenny Kravitz (GT3)
7) Dragula (remix) – Rob Zombie (GT2)
6) Turbo Lover – Judas Priest (GT3)
5) Snoop Dogg’s Gran Turismo 3 – Snoop Dogg (GT3)
4) Glowl – Daiki Kasho (GT3)
3) Just a Day – Feeder (GT3)
2) Determination – Raekwon (GT3)
1) Obscure – Daiki Kasho (GT3)
The menu music from all the games is really good so I didnt include them because I couldn’t pick a favorite.
Back in ’98-99, I actually bought the album from The Cardigans just because it was named Gran Turismo and had the GT2 intro track on it. I agree that the entire album is good.
This said, my Top 5 would involve a lot from Daiki Kasho, which produced some of the most inspiring tracks (and song names) ever :
SURV1V3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjMu3gm2NOw)
Flow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gM3tFAXfy8)
Edge of the World (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWI3ho7911A)
What to Believe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-omD879axE)
All songs, for anyone interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daiki_Kasho
my favourite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1I9kAgO4HQ
thats good too. Makes a great atmosphere
Daiko Kasho songs are my favourite
Feeder is certainly my favourite, instantly reminds me of that era… better times.
This: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFZDBuPBYsM
Altough I love all these listed songs very much, my favorite one is probably this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEDukft1rgo
so calm and resty… I remember leaving GT6 in this pre-race menu for hours listening to this while studying as the music keeps looping :)
and of course, Daiki Kasho’s Soul on Display should have been there for sure.
DUH.. it is there.. sorry :D
For me it’s
#5: Van Halen – Panama (GT4)
#4: Moon Over The Castle – Orchestral Version (GT4)
#3: Ash – Lose Control (GT1)
#2: Feeder – Just A Day (GT3)
#1: Daiki Kasho – 5OUL ON D!SPLAY (GT5)
My favourite from gt5 was probably the one from london electricity. In gt6 it’s camo and crooked aurora. Rest of the list looks pretty cool!
Called My favorite game and Super bon bon ♥, but where’s are you gonna go my way??!!!
GTSport needs music like the old GTS
Along with some new good ones
The older GTs had more know artists
Your list is bad and you should feel bad.
That’s your opinion just like they can have theirs ;)
I know. I was intentionally being flippant for comedic effect. ;)
Leave it to GTP to make a completely horrible list.
You guys have odd taste in music. Not one Dakota Star mention?? I must return when my senses are more in order for my choices.
DAKOTA STAR! YES!
No Lenny Kravitz remix from GT3? Tsk tsk tsk.
Where’s this Elise photo? What a shot!
It’s an old shot of mine from GT5. A fair amount of post-game work there, specifically the black rear light surround!
Winter dreams – Makoto. Am I the only one?
That’s a perfect whisky song at 02am with your car resting with some soft rain and beautiful lights passing by…
It’s almost a dream. Damn you Gran Turismo, I’m melancholic now… It’s an eternal moment. I could die in it, is just amazing.
^ This! The GT5 and GT6 lounge music is just so perfect for any occasion! Driving into the night, or just sitting down, relaxing, watching the sunrise with your favourite drink! Perfect!
The Pop Rox remixes from GT4 are killers. My Favorite Game is an obvious classic though, but THE track which really represents Gran Turismo for me is the Drift of the Air.
Then there are also the 4 cardinal points tunes from GT2 (From the East, Beat The Corner, west and south city), which are also manufacturer themes in the japanese edition of GT1.
The japanese OSTs of GT1 and GT2 are a goldmine in general, most of the tunes seeing remixes / remasters in GT3 and GT4.
I’d have to pick Playing In 4D as my favourite. I think it’s the perfect dealership music and menu theme too. Also Nostalgic Rain gets another honourable mention from me
All of the GT1 menu/manufacturer music is amazing, especially Honda/Acura. I don’t think I’ve even heard any of the race BGM since GT3, since turning off the race music is the first thing I do after buying the game.
Where did the carbon on that lotus come from? Or has it always been there?
I disagree. Daiki Kasho has at least 10 songs that are better than all of these.
The whole top 5 list should be Daiki Kasho, and Panama by Van Halen.
100% agree, I can’t even believe #3, really???
You guys should do another round with original music for the series. Isamu Ohira’s Slipstream (GT3 Arcade Theme) and Light Velocity (GT3 Dealer Theme) would be my number one. Daiki Kasho’s Sky Scraper and What to Believe would probably be on there, as would the GT1 US post-race results theme.
*only original music, my bad
That’s an excellent idea, consider it noted!
moon over the castle love that so much im actually in tears every time i sing it so much memories hearing it non stop it seriously needs to make a huge return in GT7 and GTS
That music that came up when you bought a car in GT5… I must have tapped my feet to that a million times hehe
Just a Day and My favourite Game will always be my… favorites (pun intended).
Does anyone know where to get that Favourite Game Mix from the GT2 Intro from? I can’t find it anywhere on iTunes!
It’s there.
TFW no Soul Surfer
DAKOTA STAR!
Stop making me so excited!
All three of my favorite GT songs came from GT5. My favorite is probably Gentlemens Blues by The ******* Eagles.
Great list! I still remember the first time I played GT1. The opening is was like something that leaves you feeling uneasy and in awe at the same time, in a good kind of way. I had never heard anything like Everything Must Go at the time, it it didn’t really sound appealing to me the first time, but it just kept becoming more and more awesome! It was a new experience every time. I still get chills when I watch it today, especially the part when all the car model names are shown before “The Real Driving Simulator,” and then when the pieces come together making the GT logo just before the engines start screaming. Always gives me chills! That is the power of Gran Turismo! Speaking of which, there’s a menu song in GT5 called “The Power of GT” that’s pretty cool. I loved the menu music from GT5 and GT6!
…Nice!! With intros, I always skipped them (too much in a hurry to get going, see) but these songs – so. Much. Good. Memories.
Honestly, picking just five seems impossible a task. I don’t envy the GTP staff members here at all.
Planetary (Go) from My Chemical Romance has earned a spot on the playlist on my Galaxy phone. It’s insanely catchy, and probably the very first song in GT series that features a naughty word or two. Am I wrong though?
How dare you not even give Pnau-Baby Breakbot Remix a single mention. Awful.
Yes! A thousand times YES! I will forever associate this track with staying up WAY too late playing online shuffle races into the early hours. Awesome.
Only 2 of the 5 on this list, made my list :S
In my case, one, “My Favorite Game.” I should do a song sometime titled “My Favorite Game Series.” ;D
“To this day, I’m still annoyed every time I walk into a Mazda dealership and this catchy tune isn’t playing.”
I think you’re missing a link there.
GT4 Garage theme OP
I think my favourite song from GT was probably the opening theme for GT3 (or at least the action part). I still remember the day that I got my PS2, and it came with GT3. My brother popped in the game (i was only 6), and at that very moment my love for cars was sparked. Watching that opening theme on yesterdays article gave me so much nostalgia I had goosebumps. :lol:
Slipstream is the name for GT3’s Arcade Menu theme
Oh, is it? Of all the people to not catch that, too… whoops!
I’m losing my mind again…
Too many good songs to just pick 5!!!