10 Best Songs In The Tony Hawk's Games
8. Born Fe Rebel - Steel Pulse
Born Fe Rebel is rightly considered a top-tier track from roots reggae titans Steel Pulse, as well as one of the most musically complex and thematically serious songs in the entire video game franchise.
Released as part of the group’s penultimate album, 2004’s African Holocaust, its poetic decrees regarding militancy, oppression, racial injustice, and the like may seem antithetical to the vibrant and carefree vibes of 2004’s Tony Hawk’s Underground 2. However, its seductive vibe and flamboyant instrumentation are what allow it to fit so well as the backdrop to gamers’ flights of fancy.
Kickstarted by a symphonic prelude that evokes progressive rock icons like Jethro Tull and Dream Theater as much as it does Bob Marley and No Doubt, Born Fe Rebel then glides into its silky flow. Singer David Hinds’ raspy confidence is thoroughly alluring, with plenty of backing vocals (ranging from soothing harmonies to swift hip-hop asides) adding to its sing-along zeal.
Meanwhile, tempting percussion, buoyant horns, mournful harmonica, and other timbres exude Afro-Caribbean warmth and rhythm. Thus, its subject matter is almost oxymoronically juxtaposed by vivacious sounds that flawlessly coat locations such as Barcelona, Berlin, New Orleans, and Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.