GopnikPizzafox
Active member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2022
- Messages
- 104
- Thread Author
- #1
I feel like, given the WN timeframe of events, that there's certain niches of music that could still use some filling, a few of which would actually warrant a genuine crackdown from the Combine and declaration of contraband for some of them. I know that, technically speaking, everything that isn't showtunes and classical is considered non-sanctioned music, but a lot of the other genres have gotten mainstream acceptance among even CP and loyalist crowds at this point, to the point where no one will raise any eyebrows from playing "counterculture" and synth music in public areas.
With that in mind, my suggestion would be to add in radio stations for a few musical genres that the Combine crowd would find genuinely offensive to their sensibilities to the point of warranting actual crackdowns from Civil Protection on anyone caught listening to it or openly playing it. In particular, I had these three genres in mind:
1. Metal:
Now, metal does have many different genres within it, a lot of which had already developed by the time the portal storms happened in the Willard timeline, so it'd mainly be a matter of picking the kind of music that'd most fit a general vibe for the station. Personally, I think it could go in one of a few ways. The first would be to implement older heavy metal, from Black Sabbath up to and including the NWOBHM bands like Saxon, Judas Priest, Motörhead and Iron Maiden, as well as solo stuff from Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio, stuff like that. The second option, and the option that I think would fit the "genuinely offending the Combine's sensibilities" vibe better would be to make the station focused more on thrash metal, early death metal, some older satanic-themed bands like Bathory and Celtic Frost, mainly stuff like that. I would also say maybe 2nd wave black metal (the Norwegian scene) as well, but I think it'd clash a bit with the thrash and death bands to an extent, and I don't think I could justify having a dedicated black metal station, that'd be a bit much. These two options for the station I think would be the most appropriate ones, of which I'd prefer the 2nd, but I'd like to leave that open for discussion in the thread, too. As that 80s thrash and early death metal scene had music with themes of war and genocide in the lyrics, often also in protest of such things, as well as the more satanic themes of other bands in that time, it'd be a good addition as a counter to City 24's establishment loyalist culture.
2. Punk:
Yeah, so you'll notice that this is another kind of music that has quite a few genres and scenes within it. You may also notice that this is going to become a theme with my music suggestions. Anyway, punk. I can see a couple ways of going about this one as well. First would be to have it filled with the original 70s punk scene in the Ramones and Sex Pistols era, and all the stuff that was around at the time. Though, again, I think it'd be better to instead go with the option of focusing the station more on the hardcore punk scene from the late 70s and throughout the 80s and such. The "counterculture" elements would be a lot more highlighted this way, with the station playing music from groups like Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Black Flag, Bad Religion, TSOL, NOFX, generally more stuff from that old hardcore punk scene. Considering how much music from that scene was also mocking stuff that the Combine loyalist society tends to look on more favorably (the 1950s nostalgia exhibited in City 24's establishment), I think this addition would certainly be good for roleplay as well.
3. Rap/Hip Hop:
Well, this one was bound to come up soon enough as well. For this one, I am very explicitly thinking of 90s era rap and hip hop as the main theme of the station. East Coast, West Coast, or even a mix of both, doesn't matter. As long as it's in that period of groups like Public Enemy, NWA, Cypress Hill, as well as artists from 2Pac to Biggie, that'd all fit well into the station. Also adds onto the "counterculture" theme as well, as the explicit themes of violent crime in poor neighborhoods, use of drugs, and sexual profanity in the lyrics would definitely be against the establishment culture of City 24, and could also ICly be seen as a kind of music that speaks to the struggles of underclass people, especially those that live in the underground and Indigent, thus giving the Combine even more of a reason to ban it in public and declare a rap radio station as contraband.
So yeah, this is the general idea I have of what I'd like to see for pirate radio station expansion, if the idea is ever considered. If you'd like, I could help come up with playlists for these stations as well, whichever of the three you end up going with, if not all three, and run those by with staff. Of course, I'm happy to have this as a more open discussion as well, so I'd like to hear what others think, too.
With that in mind, my suggestion would be to add in radio stations for a few musical genres that the Combine crowd would find genuinely offensive to their sensibilities to the point of warranting actual crackdowns from Civil Protection on anyone caught listening to it or openly playing it. In particular, I had these three genres in mind:
1. Metal:
Now, metal does have many different genres within it, a lot of which had already developed by the time the portal storms happened in the Willard timeline, so it'd mainly be a matter of picking the kind of music that'd most fit a general vibe for the station. Personally, I think it could go in one of a few ways. The first would be to implement older heavy metal, from Black Sabbath up to and including the NWOBHM bands like Saxon, Judas Priest, Motörhead and Iron Maiden, as well as solo stuff from Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio, stuff like that. The second option, and the option that I think would fit the "genuinely offending the Combine's sensibilities" vibe better would be to make the station focused more on thrash metal, early death metal, some older satanic-themed bands like Bathory and Celtic Frost, mainly stuff like that. I would also say maybe 2nd wave black metal (the Norwegian scene) as well, but I think it'd clash a bit with the thrash and death bands to an extent, and I don't think I could justify having a dedicated black metal station, that'd be a bit much. These two options for the station I think would be the most appropriate ones, of which I'd prefer the 2nd, but I'd like to leave that open for discussion in the thread, too. As that 80s thrash and early death metal scene had music with themes of war and genocide in the lyrics, often also in protest of such things, as well as the more satanic themes of other bands in that time, it'd be a good addition as a counter to City 24's establishment loyalist culture.
2. Punk:
Yeah, so you'll notice that this is another kind of music that has quite a few genres and scenes within it. You may also notice that this is going to become a theme with my music suggestions. Anyway, punk. I can see a couple ways of going about this one as well. First would be to have it filled with the original 70s punk scene in the Ramones and Sex Pistols era, and all the stuff that was around at the time. Though, again, I think it'd be better to instead go with the option of focusing the station more on the hardcore punk scene from the late 70s and throughout the 80s and such. The "counterculture" elements would be a lot more highlighted this way, with the station playing music from groups like Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Black Flag, Bad Religion, TSOL, NOFX, generally more stuff from that old hardcore punk scene. Considering how much music from that scene was also mocking stuff that the Combine loyalist society tends to look on more favorably (the 1950s nostalgia exhibited in City 24's establishment), I think this addition would certainly be good for roleplay as well.
3. Rap/Hip Hop:
Well, this one was bound to come up soon enough as well. For this one, I am very explicitly thinking of 90s era rap and hip hop as the main theme of the station. East Coast, West Coast, or even a mix of both, doesn't matter. As long as it's in that period of groups like Public Enemy, NWA, Cypress Hill, as well as artists from 2Pac to Biggie, that'd all fit well into the station. Also adds onto the "counterculture" theme as well, as the explicit themes of violent crime in poor neighborhoods, use of drugs, and sexual profanity in the lyrics would definitely be against the establishment culture of City 24, and could also ICly be seen as a kind of music that speaks to the struggles of underclass people, especially those that live in the underground and Indigent, thus giving the Combine even more of a reason to ban it in public and declare a rap radio station as contraband.
So yeah, this is the general idea I have of what I'd like to see for pirate radio station expansion, if the idea is ever considered. If you'd like, I could help come up with playlists for these stations as well, whichever of the three you end up going with, if not all three, and run those by with staff. Of course, I'm happy to have this as a more open discussion as well, so I'd like to hear what others think, too.
