[Beta]

Sixth edition is still ages away (likely especially for those of us not going to GenCon), so for the moment my head is in a bit of a 'generic shadowrun' sort of space, just thinking about ideas for characters, NPC, groups, or places that could be fun.

Even since I had my first taste of SR back in 1st edition, occasionally I've heard some song that makes me think "that makes a cool backstory for a character."  Not usually verbatim, but where at the least you could paraphrase it and have a character background.  I'm not talking so much 'generic shadowrun feel' but more ones that inspire specific characters or locations for you.

Here are a couple of examples of what I mean

Corb Lund: Student Visas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GM1RqWQ1gs

Easy enough to change a couple of lines to "Did Lofwyr give the orders? Did Tempo pay the bills / They said we's fighting Atzlaners, but it's kind of hard to tell" or other SR specific naming.  And those last couple of lines probably summarize 50% of 'burned company man' characters ever: 
"There ain't no fun in killin' folk and I don't wanna do no more
Believe me, I've done plenty boys, and I ain't gonna do no more
But of course if they back me in the corner they'll be dead before they hit the floor"

Steve Earl: Back to the Wall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbEIS1q6GZ0

Just makes me think of a runner who had worked up from rock bottom, but still had a contact there.  The song maybe is better for describing the contact than the Runner, but it could also serve to give a certain feel and background to a runner.

(I'm not generally a huge country/Americana listener, but I admit that the style of songs seems to often have the details and vibe that seems to inspire me)




Now I want to hear your songs that make you think of Runners (or other specific SR locales, runs, corps, etc), and what it inspires for you.

[Michael Chandra]

Not really about background but when I started gming I introduced a former-Star npc and things grew from there. At some point he sold himself to Knight Errant (or rather: started working for them since it was either them or get forcefully recruited elsewhere), and there this comes in (you may know it from a badass scene from The Blacklist)

Brothers Bright: Blood On My Name
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPSUtaW_oBo

A song fitting the scene where a former associate he's arresting demands he explains what he sold his soul to a Corp for, what he was afraid of.

There's also Fall Out Boy: The Phoenix, where the bridge makes me think of a slow-motion scene in a gunfight as the character gathers their courage to go in guns blazing.

[FST_Gemstar]

Celine Dion's 1988 Eurovision win look/song is a constant source of inspiration.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P2VPi5k1RD

[Beerhamut]

Rush - Red Barshetta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAvQSkK8Z8U

[Beerhamut]

https://mindinabox.bandcamp.com/

[Beerhamut]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzYxGZ7Hmc

[Shinobi Killfist]

The passenger. Iggy pop song though it’s the siouxsie and the banshees cover that gets me.

[Beerhamut]

I made a D&D 3.5 Alienist inspired by this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf0RmNY0Vso

[Finstersang]

A lot of the songs from Body Count (and other early Rap Metal/Crossover Bands). I always think that this is what Trog-Rock sounds like. Just change "KKK bitch" to "Humanis bitch" and you might have an actual song by CrimeTime (even somewhat biographical, given his liason with Tiffany Brackhaven )

The Song of the Golden Dragon by Estas Tonne, if for the name alone. I could imagine Lovwyr listening to this when alone in his office/lair. Can´t thrive on power alone, he surely has a thing for the fine arts. You can also add Pavaroti´s version of Nessum Dorma to Lofwyrs playlist. No doubt, that´s what he will turn on when S-K is back on first place!

When driving through any kind of deserted badlands: "Classical" Stoner rock, like Kyuss, Unida, Slo Burn...

Red Right Hand from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: The perfect song for a treacherous Mr. Johnson.   

Something for the germans: One of my previous runner groups had a running gag of listening to Abenteuerland by Pur ("adventureland", a catchy, but pretty cheesy german rock/pop song from the 90s) in the van when riding to their next mission. Gets me every time

And finally, when the plan for the stealth mission turns out to be utter shit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Erm8wJVXVao

[CanRay]

It's an odd choice, but Steve Earle's Mercenary Song.

[PiXeL01]

Most of Bodycount’s tunes would qualify as Shadowrun inspiring music as it is about life in the ghetto and other related shenanigans.
“Cop Killer” comes to mind as a cry out against Lone Star or Knight Errant.

Personally I have always seen industrial electronic or metal music as something which would fit the SR universe.

[Shinobi Killfist]

Most of Bodycount’s tunes would qualify as Shadowrun inspiring music as it is about life in the ghetto and other related shenanigans.
“Cop Killer” comes to mind as a cry out against Lone Star or Knight Errant.

Personally I have always seen industrial electronic or metal music as something which would fit the SR universe.

I guess it somewhat depends on the type of campaign you are running. Street level, vs prime. Mohawk vs mirrorshades etc.

Body count might hit one style, electronica another, punk yet another. You can shoehorn off characters into any campaign but electronica for example feels more mirrorshades to me, punk more Mohawk.  My familiarity with body count is non existent so I have no idea on that.

[Beerhamut]

https://intothealgorithm.bandcamp.com/

[kyoto kid]

...The Smiths: There's a Light That Never Goes out.

[Michael Chandra]

The Clash - Guns of Brixton: For Redmond runners taking matters into their own hands to clean up those misbehaving in their Barrens.