What, and who, is behind the atmospheric melodies of The Sims 2? Eeyooma Mana Muki Vop anyone?
Take a spin around the radio dial.
The hip-hop station is keeping the neighbours awake with bass-thumping sounds of "Hoh! Abba Dah No"; the jazz station is featuring a mellow instrumental, "Prah Sesst Chi"; and the Top 40 crowd can't get enough of "Eeyooma Mana Muki Vop". Such is the musical world of The Sims.
For years the virtual denizens of the Sims universe have been rocking out to tunes sung in a language only they can understand. For the real-life humans behind the scenes, creating these audio concoctions takes as much work as recording a full-length CD. The Sims games have a tradition of marrying infectious melodies with nonsensical lyrics to create tunes that you want to hum, but can never quite sing along to.
Maxis audio director Robi Kauker is the man in charge of making sure that the rap, salsa, heavy metal, or pop songs sound like the real thing and feature top-quality production values. Each song has to be iconic to its musical style but, at the same time, variety is vital. Kauker knows diehard Sims fans spend virtual lifetimes playing, so the music can't be repetitive.
For the music in The Sims 2, composing and recording the musical tracks took about a year. Kauker said getting performers to abandon English and sing in Simlish, the made-up language of the Sims, was easy. "You'd be surprised how much the singers like it," Kauker said. Many artists, he notes, use their own form of Simlish when composing songs, and fill in real words later. It's not unlike the famous story of Paul McCartney, who reportedly used "scrambled eggs" as a placeholder when writing "Yesterday".
Rappers seem particularly adept at adapting to Simlish, and many have fun with it by adding secret messages, Kauker said. Laced among the gibberish, some singers will give a shout-out to their buddies by hiding friends' names in the lyrics. Kauker said the Maxis crew doesn't mind, as long as it's not obvious. That Easter egg tradition was started by Drew Carey, who appeared as a celebrity Sim in the House Party expansion and hid a friend's name in his Simlish dialogue.
In setting the tone for the Sims 2, Maxis enlisted Mark Mothersbaugh, a founding member of Devo. Mothersbaugh composed the theme and music for the create-a-Sim portion of the game. But for the music within the game itself, Maxis looked to replicate the variety of musical styles available on the radio. The developers turned to several producers, including the Humble Brothers, a pair of music mixers and composers who live up to their name by fiercely guarding their anonymity. The Brothers have worked on other games, as well as projects in the mainstream music industry. Their first hit was a mix of Linkin Park's "1stp Klosr."
Recording one of the Simlish tracks costs as much as recording a regular song. The Brothers use a different lead vocalist on each track, and finding the right voice sometimes means auditioning three or four performers. Occasionally, an artist just can't wrap their mind around the Simlish concept and, after hours of trying, the producers have to start from scratch with someone new. In some cases, after the artists get paid for the work, the Brothers find they've taken a loss on the project. But they don't mind because they feel they're creating art and they own the rights to all the music they create.
Some of the songs may get a second shot at the limelight, as the Brothers plan to rerecord selected Sims tracks with English lyrics. But true to their secretive nature, they won't say which ones. One candidate might be "360", a particularly catchy groove that could have come straight off the pop charts. The song was written in a single night on an acoustic guitar, and the Brothers seem particularly proud of it.
For The Sims 2 University, the recently released expansion pack, Kauker and his team wanted to tap a college radio vibe and so they looked for smaller acts on the cusp of hitting it big; the kind of bands called "emerging recording artists" in press releases. Among the 11 new tunes on the college rock station, listeners will be treated to performances by Dexter Freebish, Abra Moore, Charlotte Martin, Da Riffs, and Steadman. Other than a one-off project with the Black Eyed Peas, which recorded Simlish versions of its songs for Urbz: Sims in the City, University represents a change in Maxis' approach to Sims music. "University is the first time we're using real bands," Kauker said.
Each artist rerecorded one of their songs with new vocal tracks, replacing English lyrics with nonsensical Sim-speak. Simlish words don't have any real meaning, so the artists were free to come up with whatever sounded good, as long as English didn't seep in. The result isn't that different from what bands like the Cocteau Twins and Vas already do. The idea is to transcend words and use the human voice to express pure emotion.
Charlotte Martin, whose song "Beautiful Life" finds its way onto the University soundtrack, took things a step further than some of the other artists. She didn't just sing gobbledygook, she made sure all the Simlish words were consistent with their counterparts in the English version. "It still had the same meaning, I just had to write it in an alien language," Martin said. In rewriting the song, Martin said it changed the way she thinks about lyrics, letting her come at her creation from a more technical standpoint, paying closer attention to syllables and rhythm.
Martin isn't a gamer--though she swears she's going to try The Sims 2--but she enjoys recording game music. Among other projects, she cowrote and recorded "Greater Lights", a song for the upcoming Xbox title Advent Rising. That project found her singing with a 70-piece orchestra, so Martin understands how serious developers are about the music in their games and she's enthusiastic about being part of it.
For songstress Abra Moore, whose song "Big Sky" was used in the game, singing in Simlish gave her a new perspective on her music. "It's like jazz for me; I just take to it like a duck to water," Moore said. "It was very liberating creatively." However, Moore, who also speaks Italian and Spanish, said she took special care that none of her Simlish words ended up accidentally being curse words in foreign languages.
The experience made such an impression on Moore that she said she'd consider recording a song in Sim-like scat on a future album. She perceives the emotional lyrics, divorced of a specific meaning, in almost a spiritual light. She's fascinated that fans try to interpret the nonsensical lyrics. It represents the essence of human nature, Moore said, to take meaning from something that has no meaning.
Who knew The Sims was so deep?
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Teneil
18/11/2006 05:25 AM
When I had first played the sims in 2003 I couldn't belive my ears. I kept thinking "I know there saying something, I just cant make out what they're saying." But of course I learned that it was "Simlish". I just bought The sims 2 pets and there are a lot of nice tracks that I actually wish I could sing to. Unlike me, my boyfriend doesn't play the sims but loves when I play because he likes the music :) I love it too. One of my favorite parts of the game!!
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Seven Thorn
06/01/2007 05:30 AM
I personally love the song 360. I would love to know who sings it and if they have done anything else. If it was to be released in English, I don't know if it would be any better.
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DJ Maxtor Ritz
23/01/2007 06:11 PM
360 was done by those HUMBLE BROTHERS. Check em out @ thehumblebrothers.com, I found this song on itunes !
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mrflag
15/02/2007 11:21 AM
Where Do I find the lyric of 360 ?
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Georgia-Misfit
01/04/2007 07:19 PM
OMG! can someone PLEASE give me the list of all the recorded songs on the sims 2 - including all expansion packs, because ther is this really good song on there and I don't know what its called! :S hellp!!!
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Kellie*~
11/04/2007 12:56 PM
I love the sims2 so much. My record of how long to play on the sims for is 15 hours! Man, and i still didnt get enough. But i get frustraited, because there is a song i really love on the sims 2, but i could never find it and i was telling my friend about it and i clicked on a random one and it was the song i love! But she thought i was crazy cause i was sitting there dancing and lala-ing away to the song cause, i dont speek simlish, but hey thats next things on my list. But i do know some sentences in sims 1. And i know what they are trying to say then. People think im nuts. But nothing can stop me from being a simlish fan!
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rebandp
22/04/2007 11:27 AM
so does anyone know the nu metal artist for the ps2 version?
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ceicamaia
06/05/2007 03:24 AM
Where Do I find the lyric of 360?
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disorderly
25/05/2007 06:29 PM
lol i can't believe i heard "sway" by the perishers in 'college rock'
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k8mre
17/06/2007 10:49 AM
wow this site is soo interesting!! im pretty sure that on the sims2 there is a song by avril lavigne but i can't figure out which one!!!???
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Leon Kudohimi
27/06/2007 06:56 AM
I never used to pay much attention to a radio on these games because at first I thought they were a waste of an item to have. -dodges various projectiles- Anyways, one particular song caught my ear and it's called Another World and it's by Kitty Shack apparently. I was wondering if anyone here would be so kind as to tell me if they know where I can get a copy of that song, and maybe some lyrics? lol.
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mandy
09/07/2007 12:41 PM
on the sims2 they have a song on the little radio thing....and the title is all funky but next to it, it says "another world" its a very catchy tune and i want to see if it is a real song. and if it is where can i hear it in english?
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mrflag
13/07/2007 10:22 AM
So sad... No one has the 360 lyric... =(
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Kaffine Queen
21/07/2007 06:44 AM
Sims 2 got me into the band Paramore! i had never heard of them before I heard the Sims version of "Pressure". I really liked it now they are one of my favourite bands lmao. Shows the power of the sims, right? xD
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Jonno
23/07/2007 12:15 AM
anyone have the song "another world" performed by "kitty shack" ... i cant find it, but i am pretty sure it is a real song, i have checked youtube and limewire and still cant find it, however, pressure by paramore is quite easy to find...
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exodia547
11/08/2007 10:41 AM
I'm having a hard time finding all of the songs on the ps2 version of the sims 2. I was only able to find a few because they were listed in the radio. Can someone give me a list of all of them?
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Jean A. Mata
17/08/2007 03:34 PM
one of the song in sim 2,is "pressure" sang by paramore,.. its one of the great song there found in tha pop station ,.hope this can help
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inscom
20/08/2007 09:09 PM
whoa!!! the song "kitty shack-another world" sure does rocks!!!
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leoxs
27/08/2007 02:16 AM
ive learned the simslish songs, its not difficult to sing them
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Cupcake
29/08/2007 09:39 AM
How Come Not All Of The Songs Have Their Names Listed By Them On The Game? Does Anyone Have A List Of All Of Them?
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Cupcake
29/08/2007 09:47 AM
How Come Not All Of The Songs Have Their Names Listed By Them On The Game? Does Anyone Have A List Of All Of Them?
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Cupcake
29/08/2007 10:00 AM
How Come Not All Of The Songs Have Their Names Listed By Them On The Game? Does Anyone Have A List Of All Of Them?
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rudedude
11/09/2007 01:57 AM
i just love the songs on Alternative rock station. does anybody have any information 'bout them?
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iluvapplez
23/09/2007 01:32 AM
Does anyone know where to get the song, "Another World" by kitty shack? thx it would really help =]
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chbenjisgirl
23/09/2007 12:38 PM
does anyone know who sings the hero song in the sims 2 cause its so good it kinda sounds like eve 6?
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oneofthoseAHAHmoments
02/10/2007 05:22 PM
omg i KNEW that i recognized the paramore song pressure, i played the sims before i listened to paramore, that song was my fav one one the sims!
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imAgamerz
21/10/2007 04:45 PM
hey hey.. the list of the sims2 ps2 version song can be found at their credit.. juz click credit on the menu b4 u start playing the game.. juz wait n see.. ;>
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littleblondebabe
01/11/2007 08:35 AM
I had always loved the Paramore song when playing the XBox version of Sims. I looked everywhere to find the real song and eventually gave up. Then, I heard thereal song on MTV's The Hills, and I was stoked to think I'd finally find the real song by looking on their website, but they did not have the correct title. So, I searched some more and found this article. Thank you sooooooo much! You've ended my search! :-)
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tahts
03/11/2007 03:52 AM
kitty shack-another world and like light to the flies-trivium are the coolest.not tah mention pressure ofcourse(it's an alltime favorite of mine) i love simlish music!!!!!! but i hate that i don't get to download simlish
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My Chemical Romance Lover
05/11/2007 07:15 AM
i love paramore!!this game got me into paramore and trivium.That 1 by Ryan Ferginson is good to.
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Meow
14/11/2007 08:17 PM
I've looked through the credits on Sims 2 Xbox version, and it doesn't tell me all the songs that they play on the stereo. Is there any way I can find the songs? Btw, I love My Chemical Romance too, My Chemical Romance Lover. My fave band. They should totally do MCR songs in Simlish! XD
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Guest
21/11/2007 11:48 AM
To chbenjisgirl does anyone know who sings the hero song in the sims 2 cause its so good it kinda sounds like eve 6? Your ANSWER is IN http://www.thehumblebrothers.com/
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Hugo
01/12/2007 01:37 PM
I wonder if the songs were created by the sims game itself.
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qua
02/12/2007 10:27 PM
HELP!!! i really wanna know all d songs played on dis game(the sims 2 ps2 ver)! i've looked into their credits! not all of them r listedddd!!! HELPPPPP!
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birdbrain84
06/12/2007 05:03 PM
omg, i reeaallly wanna know all the songs on the stereo for ps2 sims2, is there any way to find out??? ive been searching everywhere!! =[ plz hellp! i really like pressure by paramore, i was so excited when i found it but i want to find the other songs that arent listed in the credits or in the stereo list!!!!
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JayDub
12/12/2007 05:52 PM
WHERE CAN I GET KITTY SHACK-ANOTHER WORLD?
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beingEmoisSucks
31/12/2007 05:41 PM
where can i download the kittyshack another world? thats the best song in sims ever!!
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damnthing
11/01/2008 02:12 PM
hey i found kittyshack another world on youtube!
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missfishee
20/01/2008 02:09 PM
does anyone know who sings 'this conversation is over' in college rock?
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katie-367
13/02/2008 11:04 PM
i found a song that i hav been looken 4 for ages and its the best song on the game and its in pop and it didnt hav a name and wasnt named in the credits its called upside by the humble brothers
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facedump
01/04/2008 04:46 AM
In the first Sims game, where can i download the background music??
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hazel girl
14/04/2008 11:21 AM
On the Sims 2 teen style stuff, sc8er boi was sung in simlish!! Now I play the sims so much I can speak simlish!!!
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Kori de awesome
20/05/2008 04:40 PM
Kitty Shack is soooo awesome if it isnt a real song they should make it one.tsubaki no nu wa...siko no wa...subeki na nu wa...wenle di...zego ni zego ni no way e...
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inter060708
08/06/2008 11:53 PM
I thought another world was english
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Guest
18/06/2008 07:16 AM
I can probably download pretty much any song in Simlish (and most in English - except for Another World by Kitty Shack which doesn't seem to exist in English) if anyone wants them. just E-mail my well-known e-mail address the-time-travel-project@physicist.net and I'll see what I can do:)
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adrian
20/07/2008 03:32 AM
Does anyone know what's the name of the only acoustic song in College Rock section???? And who sang that???
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LadyEvermore
04/08/2008 04:18 AM
who sings shagwa
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