Overview

It has become a trend that rock and soul songs from the 1960s can be heard in anything relate to the Vietnam War. Perhaps this started with the cult film Apocalypse Now and it inspired numerous imitators, including the video game Battlefield Vietnam. Electronic Arts licensed 14 classic tracks from legendary artists such as Jefferson Airplane, Deep Purple, and Edwin Starr to accompany the gameplay of this shooter. They released an official soundtrack featuring a selection of these songs.

Body

There are plenty of famous songs featured on this release, starting with "War" by Edwin Starr. A blatant anti-Vietnam protest, the lyrics of the chorus ("War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin'!") certainly resonated with the American public and the emphatic performance certainly left a mark on Battlefield Vietnam too. The Guess Who's "Shakin All Over" also ascends into glory with its chaotic guitar solos and memorable enigmatic lyrics ("When you move in right up close to me/ That's when I get the shakes all over me"). Talking of guitar solos, Deep Purple's "Hush" brings some heavy metal to the mixture while the vocals take a backseat. It's one of the most energetic accompaniments to the gameplay.

Another number one hit, The Box Tops' "The Letter" perhaps reflects a soldier's dream to go home to his loved ones ("Lonely days are gone/ I'm a-going' home/ Cause my baby just a-wrote me a letter"). It brings further variety to the in-game musical experience. The more bluesy "On The Road Again" by Canned Heat further relates to a soldier's unconditional life with lyrics such as "Well, I'm so tired of crying, but I'm out on the road again". The harmonica performance here especially captures pain and weariness. Another famous song that fits well with the Vietnam theme is "Nowhere to Run" featuring Martha Reeves' soulful vocals.

The official soundtrack release only features 11 of the 17 tracks that can be heard during the game. Among the tracks that are omitted include the nostalgic "All Day and All of the Night" and "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks, as well as the popular "Psychotic Reaction" by Count Five. But perhaps the most notable omission is the Budapest Symphony's performance of Wagner's "Rise of the Valkyries", a milestone of operatic music that was popularised by Apocalypse Now.

Summary

Overall, Battlefield Vietnam is a licensed soundtrack that works. It's fantastic that Electronic Arts invested the budget to integrate songs that weren't just memorable from the era, but also had some lyrical or stylistic relation to the Vietnam War. It's a pity that this rare soundtrack release omits a lot of the highlights, however, and it's probably better to enjoy the music in-game or seek out the singles or albums by the featured artists instead.