Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin became the first piece of video game music to win a Grammy Award. It’s the theme song for the 2005 video game Civilization IV, and a re-release version was announced last week as the winner in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) category.
Check the music video below which uses footage from the popular video game. You can also check the song which featured at the Dubai Fountain in one of my old posts from 2009.
Baba Yetu means Our Father in Swahili, a main language in East Africa. The lyrics, also in Swahili, are a translation of the Lord’s Prayer, a venerated Christian prayer.
Ron Ragin and the Stanford Talisman performed the original song in the game. The Soweto Gospel Choir performed the re-release in Tin’s 2009 album Calling All Dawns instead; and it’s the later version that won the Grammy. Tin also won the Best Classical Crossover Album award, congrats.
Over the years game makers have produced some good music and stories etc. but never got much credit in mainstream entertainment awards. This win is a milestone, but I’m not sure if things will change in near future; video games music will remain a niche on its own.
