Warning: The following article contains links to some material that may contain strong language. Reader’s discretion is advised.

Well, you might have noticed that between parts 1, 2, and finally 3, some images weren’t 100% connected to the sections they were in. It turns out 140-ish screenshots across many, many hours of a game set in a wonderfully bleak place might not have all the fun and vim you want to express with a bit of Robbie Williams, Rizzle Kicks, or The Fratellis. However, after part 3‘s light theming was based on more fun things, I wanted to take a look at the imports for the Watch Dogs: Legion soundtrack. Your American and European artists who are clearly just that, an import.

Of course, once again I’m going to tell you: I opted to use Spotify as the home of the playlist for several reasons, but most importantly ease of use. If you do enjoy anything from this playlist and end up exploring more of some artists, support them. Spotify is dreadful for royalty payments, so if you can buy t-shirts or something, do so. The touring industry is in the ditch right now, with royalties in many respects for platforms, such as this, equally being some that are missing revenue from elsewhere. That said, here is the link to the entire playlist of the official soundtrack and my lengthy additions, accumulating to over 17-hours of music.

Britney Spears – “Toxic”

I honestly love the people that say, “Well, Britney Spears isn’t real music; she uses auto-tune.” Yeah, and your point beyond clutching at straws is? I’d love to hear anyone tell me why the microtonal shifts in the vocals don’t count, simply because they are from South Asian music mostly. How about the G dominant 7 #9 chord being used at the tail end of the chorus, or as it is often called “The Hendrix chord?” To say her music simply isn’t that very thing is reductive to all music. This is especially true with “Toxic,” as it borrows from everything: Blues, rock, South Asian music, surfer rock, and more.

Right, but why is it here? Well, several reasons, including the fact that I’ve already stated that one of the game’s biggest faults (alongside a weak soundtrack) is the tone. If we jump over to the Saints Row 2 soundtrack and listen to some of the pop music, you’d be smattered with fun music all over the place. Watch Dogs has had a problem since it was in Chicago where the tone was very dark and the grey world reinforced that, but it is a stupid and downright silly world because it is a silly game. Also, Lady Cassandra O’Brien.Δ17’s “iPod” at the end of the world plays “Toxic.”

Ralph McTell – “Streets of London”

I think it would surprise no one to know that London is no stranger to homeless people, the lonely, and elderly; people who are simply walked past. Ralph McTell’s anthem (mostly) of the homeless has been just that since the late 60s, though it was actually meant as Paris when McTell was busking in the city. Conflicting both the perspective of the forgotten people of the city as McTell metaphorically takes us (the better off) by the hand showing us these lives. “She just keeps right on walking / Carrying her home in two carrier bags,” is personally a blow to the heartstrings.

Foo Fighters – “The Pretender”

Well, the imagery of the lyrics and the music video says it all, doesn’t it? The Dave Grohl lead group formed following that thing that happened to Nirvana and built on a bed of what I’d argue is a classic-style of rock, has never felt like it would be a failure. Maybe it is because the first album dropped before I was born, but they are just one of those things that simply is there. Like your nan’s furniture; You don’t question where it came from, why it is there, or what made her buy it, but it is there nonetheless.

Anyway, “The Pretender.” It is hard to part this one from the rather political film playing out in your head when you hear it. “What if I say, I’m not like the others?” As the chorus yells proudly, almost like a teenager yelling at his parents. As Grohl has stated, the lyrics are for the listener to take from with their experiences, and I’d say it is more or less about being an individual rather than falling lock-step in line.

James Brown – “Say it Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud – Pt. 1”

Well, this is an awkward title to say when you are whiter than Casper the Ghost’s codpiece. You see, one of the characters I’ve built up in my head is someone you’ll have seen in several screenshots, Desmond. What I am saying without saying it is, he’s the black guy you’ll have seen that wears Marcus Holloway’s jacket a lot and also has an Afro-Caribbean accent to him. I don’t know why I’ve imprinted this on him. Maybe it is because I think he likes good music, but it is the type of thing I think he’d shout at someone who’s just been racist to him in the street.

Of course, Legion plays it safe, as most games do, when it would come to this. However, as I’ve said and I’m sure the three other people who like Legion have said, a lot of the game is about you projecting something onto the characters. Understandably, I can see why that is a problem for some people; Some of you are uncreative and talentless hacks who shouldn’t be running Doctor Who. My personal gripe with Chris Chibnall aside, I was talking about really liking a character I’ve built up in my head.

Busted – “What I Go To School For”

As one of the crescendos to that mid-90s to mid-00s pop-punk thing, Busted became one of arguably only two British bands to fill in that gap which Avril Lavigne was doing around 2002 as well. Put together in the A&R-style of boyband mold, the lineup was Bourne, Willis, Simpson, and McFly’s Tom Fletcher; Who would a year later form the band that’s slightly more successful and sang about colors in her hair. The group was formed, the style of music was set, and the only thing left was to sing about wanting to sleep with a 40 or 50-year-old woman in a fetishistic way. Oh, and they did that small thing about the year 3000.

See, while the actual soundtrack does feature the band, it just happens to be something new that no one has ever heard of. More to the point, it is something that no one really wants to listen to. I say this as a far, Busted in a modern sense might be fine, but we all know why we want them rolled out every now and then. To sing about time travel and being in “love with a member of the staff.“

Tracy Chapman – “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution”

It feels wrong to not include such an on-the-nose song when so much of Legion is about “taking back our city” in a revolt against the police state. Next up is the anthem of a hundred revolutions, arguably Tracy Chapman’s second most successful song. It always surprises me to know both this and “Fast Car” are the first two songs anyone would hear. I think the only thing that can be said here about it is, I’d love to hear what the argument would be not to have it. It is literally everything the game wants to get across in the world-building in one simple folksy song.

Stratovarius – “Black Diamond”

Of course, it was only now that I realized I could have had anything from Eurovision, I could have gone ridiculous. I could have had those Russian grannies, I could have had “Hard Rock Hallelujah” by Lordi, or I could have used Ida Maria’s failed attempt with “Scandilove.” Sometimes I just hate myself for moments like this. Nonetheless, neoclassical Finish metal by a band with a slightly altered Latinized name to that of the 17th-century luthier by the name Antonio Stradivari will do. The Italian crafting instruments worth… millions?

I won’t lie and profess great knowledge of Stratovarius, as this is the only song I’ve even bothered to listen to all the way through, several times. For some reason, I kept being pulled into adding “Black Diamond,” and I don’t know why. I think it is simply because it blends the classical of that 17th-century namesake of the band and the modern (for the 90s) take on Finnish metal. It is much like London itself, a mismatch of buildings older than everything you’ve touched today, with the modern city of offices and tower blocks. That and I needed some metal in the soundtrack.

Vengaboys – “We Like To Party! (The Vengabus)”

We like to party! Yes, we do, and I love how this is whiplash in music form; much like my whole music library. The truth is, I am writing this section at three AM, with headphones on, and having a private little 90s Euro rave to myself with a dopey smile across my face. That’s why I had to include a bit of the Vengaboys. Unless you are born after the year 2000, you will now be singing “Boom, boom, boom, boom, I want you in my room!” Have your private little raves, I’d be doing that with Ethel as we infiltrate the Tower of London.

M.I.A – “Galang”

There are times when you listen to something and it will just work, it simply fits to whatever you are trying to fill. Sometimes when writing music, that will be an extra little note snuck in on the back end to reset the progression, allowing for you to set up for whatever is next. Other times it is a playlist with a lack of something simply chaotic in a nice controlled way. I don’t know why I added M.I.A’s “Galang,” I think it was just filling out something there isn’t there otherwise. It was the perfect bit of seasoning to an admittedly full plate of flavors, as it were.

Musical Youth – “Pass the Dutchie”

A bit of a play on the Mighty Diamonds’ “Pass the Koutchie” with a mix of U Brown and U Roy’s “Gimme the Music” and “Rule the Nation,” respectively. Musical Youth was (at the time) some kids talking about what only kids would. Of course, with anything Reggae, people (you know who) thought “black youth talking about ‘passing the dutchie?’ That must be drugs.” Well, no. It’s about a dutch oven, hence the line about “got no herb” changing to “food.”

Though, I can honestly say, throughout my life I’ve naturally thought “dutchie” was about passing a “phat blunt,” as I believe the youth of today would call it. If you want to (legally) pass a dutchie or a kouchie, just do it on the left-hand side. Come on, be civilized, will you?

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