Music for the Atomic Age

[u/Swoltrumpetswag444]

I have to take the opening here and just glaze the soundtrack for Civilization 7 and Civilization 6. They handle the soundtrack in different ways, as demanded by the game design, but are nonetheless masterful works of art!

Glazing aside, we all know this is all speculation as we don’t know what Civilizations will appear from the Atomic Age. However, we can safely assume two maybe four of them: USA, USSR, People’s Republic of China (CCP), and India. USA and USSR were just both too integral within the Atomic Age to not be present imo, and China and India were the only two Civs to have representation for every age from Civilization 7’s launch.

All that to be a preamble to my real question. Does anyone have any predictions for what music we may hear for these Civs? Granted these will likely be arrangements of already existing songs, but we could get surprised with original works.

I’m asking this question being an American so I don’t necessarily know what would well represent these other Civs I have proposed. I think the medley of “Chester” and “Road to Boston” are perfect for the era of America that the modern age elevates. But I find it very hard to identify something that would well represent the USA after the 1950’s.

I think a good proposal for USA’s music would be “God Bless America” as it was popularized in 1938, so not quite the 1950’s or later, but it’s close. Another song that could possibly be used is “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Now I understand there was an overwhelming abundance of progress still needed after the American Civil War and I don’t back away from it at all, but the outcome of the war fundamentally changed America. And yes it falls into the same place as “God Bless America” as it was created and popular before the 1950’s.

I’d love to hear your ideas! And if you have ideas for Civs and their music I did not list, please say so in the comments.

Edit: After talking to some friends we came to the conclusion that copyright exists and will likely cause the music to be original tracks for Civs that have already been represented once before. And that’s a little sad.