The Beauty of Fallout New Vegas Soundtrack

The Fallout New Vegas soundtrack has some of the best music in the series. Comprised of songs mainly from the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s, with some classical music as well, New Vegas‘ adventurous soundtrack fits in perfectly with the retro-futuristic, post-apocalyptic wasteland of the Mojave. Featuring legendary artists like Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra, and classical composers like Vivaldi, Mozart, and Bach, this soundtrack is full of absolute bangers. So crack open a cold Sunset Sarsaparilla and tune your rusty old radio as we dive in to the music of Fallout New Vegas.

Fallout New Vegas: The Soundtrack

Fallout New Vegas has one of the best video game soundtracks ever created, but in order to hear it, you must first turn on your in-game radio. The radio can be found within the Pip-Boy menu. There are three main radio stations; Radio New Vegas, Mojave Music Radio, and Black Mountain Radio. Radio New Vegas is run by DJ Mr. New Vegas, voiced by Wayne Newton himself. The station plays Las Vegas-inspired music from the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s while Newton also occasionally gives news on events of the wasteland and the Courier’s exploits. Mojave Music Radio plays mostly country/western music, while Black Mountain Radio plays the same music from Mojave Radio, along with unhinged broadcasts by Tabitha.

There is also an ambient element to the soundtrack composed by Inon Zur. You might not want to turn off your radio, but the ambient side of the soundtrack is worth a listen nonetheless. Zur and the Lyris Quartet employed strings and guitars that evoke feelings of mystery and danger, complimenting the brutal desert landscape perfectly. The haunting western twang that resulted gives the game world an inquisitive but wary atmosphere, ideal for building tension when exploring a location that feels too quiet. So whether you’re killing fiends while whistling along to “Big Iron”, or placing bets in Gomorrah while Bing Crosby echoes your sentiments of “Something’s Gotta Give”, there’s music for every situation.

Turn Up The Volume

Bethesda is known for including a well-rounded soundtrack inspired by the retro-future aesthetic in each one of the Fallout games, and New Vegas is no different. The mood is set as soon as the first cutscene begins and you hear Frank Sinatra’s “Blue Moon” playing in the background. Sinatra, along with other members of the Rat Pack like Dean Martin and Nat King Cole, mesh perfectly with the bright lights and high stakes of New Vegas. Sin City’s vibes are captured successfully as you can almost smell the cigar smoke and leather couches of a 1950’s cabaret club while listening to Radio New Vegas.

Mojave Music Radio plays mostly country and western songs from multiple decades. There’s Marty Robbins’ “Big Iron”; a song about a noble ranger dueling notorious gunfighter Texas Red, which matches the themes in the game well, especially if you’re going for a cowboy build. Peggy Lee’s “Johnny Guitar” is a heartbreaking track that adds to the feelings of loneliness that the Mojave Wasteland brings. “Stars of the Midnight Range” by Johnny Bond and his Red River Valley Boys is a nice, relaxing song to listen to at night while walking the desert. Whether you want some easy listening while gambling your caps away, or some heartfelt country music to help fulfill your cowboy fantasy, New Vegas has got it.

Play It Again, My Johnny

Along with the crooner and country style music, the Fallout New Vegas soundtrack also includes some classical compositions. Antonio Vivaldi’s masterpiece “Four Seasons No. 4, Winter” makes an appearance, and can sometimes be heard in casino lobbies. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major” as well as Richard Wagner’s famous “Ride of the Valkyries” can also be heard. Various jazz and swing tracks were added to the soundtrack, contributing to the game’s overall tone and atmosphere. Each and every piece of music has its place in Obsidian‘s epic RPG.

The well-crafted Fallout New Vegas soundtrack adds an extra layer of immersion to an already deeply engrossing game. From an upbeat, foot-tapping piece by the legendary Frank Sinatra, to a somber, yet soothing country melody, great music is always within earshot. The music playing through your Pip-Boy radio as you explore the Mojave Wasteland is just as a vital component to the game as the actual gameplay is. Great video game soundtracks serve to compliment the game’s emotion and atmosphere, and Fallout New Vegas delivers all of this in spades. If you’re lost in the hot, unforgiving desert of the Mojave, just turn your radio on. At least you won’t be alone.

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