The Simpsons. One of the most legendary shows to ever grace the earth. A show that has brought joy to millions worldwide thanks to the antics of a family of whackjobs. And one that was definitely a key part of my early childhood and my love of cartoons. I had about half a dozen compilation tapes on VHS and would watch them time and time again because the show was that damn good.
Was being the key word here.
Yeah, nowadays when The Simpsons is brought up online, chances are it’s going to be a rehash of that age-old debate; when did the show go bad? When Principal Skinner was unmasked as an impostor? When Jerkass Homer reared his ugly head? When Maude Flanders died? When Phil Hartman died? When season 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or whatever number you pluck out of thin air was aired? When the first episode aired? It’s a depressing cycle of retreading and rehashing the same old arguments.
So allow me to throw my own hat into the arena. The Simpsons went bad after the release of the 2003 classic, Simpsons Hit & Run.
This game was Grand Theft Auto for kids in the world of the Simpsons. It’s a delightful concept, one I ate up as a child, and played religiously in spite of how formulaic and how hard it got (If you know this game, you’ll know Set to Kill was pixelated PTSD). Why? Because the writing and the voice acting was top notch, you had such a wide range of cars to use from the long history of the show, and it just felt so good to be immersed into the faraway world of Springfield.
Oh and the soundtrack was bloody phenomenal too. Despite not being done by then-resident musician Alf Caulsen, the game’s developers brought in Marc Baril who managed to capture the feel of the show’s music and gave each level and character a track tailored to their needs. Here’s a few choice tracks which, even if they don’t convince you to somehow find and play the game, will immerse you in the wild world of Springfield and its inhabitants.
Homer’s Day
A grand day out for the jolly fat man. Perfectly encapsulates both the day-in-suburbia tone of the game’s first level and Homer’s daftness. Not ashamed to say this one always makes me nostalgic and brings me back to exploring Springfield for the first time as a wee lad.
The Fat and the Furious
Speaking of memories and nostalgia, I’d say that this track is on the opposite end of the spectrum because of how ball-aching that last mission of the game was, and how often I’d have to listen to this as a result. But before we get there, this is still an epic tune with a real save-the-day feel. Special mention also needs to be given to the second half of the track, which you can only hear in the whole game for a few precious seconds or as long as you dare to let Smithers get away before you race him to Burns’ mansion. Wasted effort, that part.
Alternatively, you could just do what the player in this video does – Glitch the game and run like hell through the power plant while Smithers drives around the map. Who will make it first? Only one way to find out, but Fat and the Furious’ mostly unheard second half will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.
Flowers By Irene
Combining sneaking with foot-hard-on-the-pedal driving ain’t easy but Flowers By Irene makes it work admirably.
Legitimate Business
It’s a throwaway track on a 10-second loop but it’s so reminiscent of Woke Up This Morning that I have to give it a nod.
Monkey See Monkey D’oh!
Dare you to find a more jaunty tune than this.
Vox Nerduli
There are two pros and two cons of Vox Nerduli, the mission:
Cons: The car is a bit crap and the race itself is the first real ball-breaker of the game that takes a few attempts to get right.
Pros: The track is a wonderfully theatrical sci-fi pastiche, and Comic Book Guy’s trademark snark complements it perfectly.
The pros outweigh the cons just about enough for me to not dread coming back to this mission on a replay every once in a while.
Cell Outs
Ask 7 year old Ollie what his favourite tune was in this game and he’d say it was this. Ask me now and it’s still comfortably top 5. It’s the right balance of funny, creepy and dramatic.
Harbour Hustle
Seaside jazz. Oh yes please.
Ketchup Logic
It’s not unusual to love this little ditty. Each character’s theme encapsulates their musical side – Bart has his guitar-led rockers, Lisa is accompanied by slightly pompous jazz and Marge gets the Tom Jones treatment. I love the way the main Simpsons theme is sprinkled into the middle part of this track.
I have to say though, I did read a comment online recently that questioned why Homer’s theme is recycled for level 4. It doesn’t really suit Marge at all whereas this tune does, with her in full-investigative mode trying to work out what happened to Bart. Lack of Ketchup Logic from the sound designers, there.
This Little Piggy
Level 5 is my least favourite level in the game. The downtown map is the weakest of the three, the missions are tough as nails (Do NOT get me started on Never Trust A Snake), and for whatever reason Apu lacks a main driving theme.
But while I’ve been revisiting the soundtrack recently, it’s actually the level 5 tunes that I’ve been listening to more and more. Bollywood takes Springfield whilst Apu is behind the wheel, and This Little Piggy especially makes you want to rush from point A to point B and twat the odd car on the way. Like Cell Outs, firmly cemented in the top 5.
Milking the Pigs
If there is one thing that this track proves, it’s that modern music needs more church bell. The end of days is here but good lord it rocks!
Kang & Kodos Strike Back
Another tune that nicely weaves the show’s main theme into the mix, and very appropriately retro for a car chase with you behind the wheel of the 70’s sports car.
Halloween Havoc
Shit has hit the fan and this tune pounds you over the head to prove that. That drumbeat is vicious and the organ work is a barely contained mess that demonstrates how off-the-rails things have become in Springfield. Level 7 starts off so well, at least where music is concerned…
Long Black Probes
One for the Gerry Anderson fans, and just a great intergalactic-style chase theme in general.
The main theme
Well I couldn’t finish this entry without mentioning the game’s main tune could I? It might be the sound team doing the standard show theme with a quick break of alien noises to foreshadow Kang and Kodos’ role as the main villains, but it is still the theme tune to The Simpsons. And whatever you may think of the show then or now, it is still one of the best themes of all time.
A-Side Glance 