The Best Licensed Songs Used in Video Game Commercials

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Complex Original

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Using hot songs for commercials has been a winning formula for a very long time. Instead of composing a musical backdrop that may or may not win over viewers, why not go for a sound that people already know and like? From a business perspective, it's totally worth the money and if a publisher is smart and lucky enough to pair an entertaining commercial with the right song, the emotions struck within the viewer can easily translate into a multitude of pre-orders. 

With that said, we took a look at some of the best video game commercials that use liscensed music. What makes the use of these songs so great is that the music spans across a broad selection of genres. There's a good chance that if you haven't heard of some of the tunes before, it'll be an entertaining horizon broadener and might introduce you to your next favorite recording artist. 

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"Survival" - Eminem

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Album: The Marshall Mathers LP2 (2013)
Video Game: Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)

The commercial for the latest smash in the CoD series represents two milestones in popular culture. Call of Duty's first release on a next generation console and the long awaited return of one of hip-hop's greatest rap artists. It only made sense to pair Eminem with Call of Duty: Ghosts and the result was a tight-fisted, edge-of-the-seat, action packed, thrill ride. Alright, we overdid it with the cliched film descriptors but in all seriousness, Eminem's aggression on the track fits right in with the explosive scenes from the game. This is the perfect example of how to get fans and newcomers ready to queue up on the day one release.

Watch the Call of Duty: Ghosts commercial:
 

Listen to "Survival" on Spotify:
 

"Infinity in Your Hands Club Mix" - DJ Darkzone

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Album: Infinity in Your Hands Maxi-Single (2002)
Video Game: Midnight Club 2 (2003)

DJ Darkzone may be a fixture in the trance and techno scene but when the commercial to Midnight Club 2 aired, his song "Infinity in Your Hands" brought all the fanboys to the yard. The tricky thing is actually finding the version from the commercial. There are plenty of mixes floating around YouTube, iTunes and Amazon but the actual version that got everyone open was the "Club Mix." Spread the word on message boards if you've got the time and the world will be a much better place for it.

Watch the Midnight Club II commercial:
 

Listen to "Infinity in Your Hands" on YouTube
 

"O Mio Babbino Caro" - Cecilia Fusco, Opera d'Oro Players

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Album:Opera D'Oro - At the Movies  (2006)
Video Game: Grand Theft Auto III (2001)

The contribution of Grand Theft Auto III to the list of awesome video game trailer music still stands as one of the best ever. The opera classic, "O Mio Babbino Caro" made the game stereotypically mobsteriffic as it drums up visions of The Godfather film. It's when the commercial got to its end is when the true spine chilling beginsr. We saw an insane car jump in rhythm with a subtle fade-out of the music as it drove off across a grassy mound. Ever since then, Rockstar has been able to shake us down long before the release of a new game.

Watch the Grand Theft Auto III commercial:
 

Listen to "O Mio Babbino Caro" on Spotify:
 

"In For the Kill (Skream's Let's Get Ravey remix)" - La Roux

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Album: Quicksand EP (2009)
Video Game: Bayonetta (2010)

Granted, La Roux's "Bulletproof" was a bigger commercial hit but "In for the Kill" catered way more to the sensibilities of the hipster crowd who got down with her before the hype. Not only did the commercial for Bayonetta use "In for the Kill" but it used a remixed version instead, leading to higher gains of hipster nerd credibility. Too bad Bayonetta's main fanbase were blue collar pervs and otaku weirdos.

Watch the Bayonetta commercial:

Listen to "In For the Kill Skream's Let's Get Ravey remix" on Spotify:

"Public Service Announcement" - Jay-Z

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Album: The Black Album (2003)
Video Game: NBA 2K13 (2012)

While Jay's "99 Problems" in the Battlefield 3 commercial was somewhat frowned upon for coming off forced, the Brooklynite's contribution to NBA 2K13 felt a lot more organic.When Jay-Z exclaims, "allow me to re-introduce myself," you get the feeling that the game is a big deal. With "Public Service Announcement" being Jigga's reminder to listeners that he's rap's ruling elite, it was able to double-up and jog the memory of gamers as to who runs the court when it comes to basketball video games.

Watch the NBA 2K13 commercial:
 

Listen to "Public Service Announcement" on Spotify:

"Teardrop" - Massive Attack

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Album: Mezzanine (1998)
Video Game: Assassin's Creed (2007)

If you weren't looking at the TV screen, you'd think that Fox's medical drama House was coming on but alas, it the commercial for Assassin's Creed. Depending on how you ask, watching Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad stalk his prey to Massive Attack's "Teardrop" is a lot more interesting than seeing Hugh Laurie's grizzled mug and a bunch of gory doctor stuff.

Watch the Assassin's Creed commercial:
 

Listen to "Teardrop" on Spotify:

And for farts and giggles, the opening to House:
 

"I Ran" - A Flock of Seagulls

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Album: A Flock of Seagulls (1982)
Video Game: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

Dead smack on time with the beginning of the 80s revival, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City made its way to video game consoles. The most memorable thing about the commercial--besides Tommy Vercetti letting off rounds in the middle of the street--was the use of "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls. If there is any song that could reflect the the overly electronic sound of the 1980s, that would be epitome. The British accented whining over a synthesizer made all of the bright neon colors and tacky clothes pop like a rifle during a "Rampage" mini-game.

Watch the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City commercial:

Listen to "I Ran" on Spotify

"You Got the Touch" - Stan Bush

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Album: Stan Bush & Barage (1987)
Video Game: Transformers: Fall of Cybertron G1 Retro DLC pack (2012)

The existence alone of Activision's Transformers: Fall of Cybertron was enough to make 80s babies cry in a nostalgic fit, but when they released the commercial for Gamestop's exclusive G1 Retro DLC pack--where they re-created the classic scene where the Autobot leader approached his final fight with Megatron--was just too much to bear. Using the game engine itself, Optimus transformed into the the iconic red and blue truck with Stan Bush's "You Got The Touch" wailed in the background. Optimus gunned down the gang of Decepticons and turned the tide of the great assault on Autobot City. A collective "shut up and take my money" could be heard throughout the galaxy.

Watch the Transformers: Fall of Cybertron G1 Retro DLC pack:
 

Listen to "You Got the Touch" on Spotify:

Every fan of "You Got the Touch" knows very well that you cannot listen to it without singing along. Here are the lyrics to help out with that.

You got the touch, you got the power

After all is said and done, you've never walked
You've never run, you're a winner
You got the moves, you know the streets
Break the rules, take the heat, you're nobody's fool

You're at your best when when the goin' gets rough
You've been put to the test but it's never enough

You got the touch, you got the power
When all hell's breakin' loose
You'll be riding the eye of the storm

You got the heart, you got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch

You never bend, you never break, you seem to know
Just what it takes, you're a fighter, it's in the blood
It's in the will, it's in the mighty hands of steel
When you're standin' your ground

And you never get hit when your back's to the wall
Gonna fight to the end and you're takin' it all

You got the touch, you got the power
When all hell's breakin' loose
You'll be riding the eye of the storm

You got the heart, you got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch

You're fightin' fire with fire, you know you got the touch
You're at your best when when the road gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough

You got the touch, you got the power
You got the touch, you got the power

"Hatsukoi" - Kojima Mayumi

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Album: Me and My Monkey on the Moon (2000)
Video Game: Nintendo DS (2004)

At a time when techno-influenced Jpop was what one would associate with any game referencing Japan, Nintendo threw in the jazzy sounds of "Hatsukoi" by Kojima Mayumi. Even without the killer music, the commercial made you wonder "WTF" as Japanese school children floated through the air towards the same destination. Mayumi San's album Monkey on the Moon became a much sought after piece of work thanks to Nintendo and exposed the performer to many Western ears that would have otherwise missed out.

Watch the Nintendo DS commercial:

Watch the video for "Hatsukoi":
 

"Mad World" - Gary Jules with Michael Andrews

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Album: Donnie Darko soundtrack (2002)
Video Game: Gears of War (2006)

Often video game commercials will go with a fast-paced song in order to turn adrenaline into sales but this wasn't the case with Gears of War. Instead, guitar thrashing or speedy record scratches, Epic Games went with the solemn crooning of Gary Jules and Michael Andrew's 2005 remake of the Tears for Fears classic "Mad World." The switch-up worked perfectly and the commercial struck an emotional chord with gamers that felt like whatever the main character was up against was something worthy of unsurmountable dread. As if the song wasn't dope enough, the Gears of War co-sign made it badass and now every time a gamer hears it, they think of Marcus Fenix rolling on the ground to look up and find a monstrous beast leering down at him. Classic.

Watch the Gears of War commercial:

Listen to "Mad World" on Spotify
 

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