Video games can’t reel in loyal support on the mere basis of gameplay, and Riot Games, the record label of League of Legends knows and executes this idea better than anyone else. Having released several anthems over the year since the multiplayer battle game, also known as LoL or League came out with its first design back in 2009.
And in the right sense of the word, they’ve established their position as cinematic anthems not only for the avid players of the game but also in the hearts of those who have nothing to do with the game itself. With extravagant music as the common denominator, Riot Games has united these two groups of audiences under the same roof.
The songs so released under the LoL banner are not only catchy and addictive but also uplifting in terms of the lyrics that spell out the story of the games therein, accompanied by the aesthetical gameplay visuals that set the tone. Fans not only love the grand scheme of design but also respect the efforts put in by the developers along with the artists involved in the music-making process for the same.
Various famous personalities and artists have adopted character avatars from the endless storylines especially with the birth of the most stellar virtual K-pop girl group K/DA consisting of characters Ahri, Akali, Evelynn and Kai’Sa from the game. However, singers Miyeon, Soyeon (both from (G)I-dle), Madison Beer and Jaira Burns helm their singing voices respectively. The pantheon is never ending and awe inspiring as always.
Without further ado, let’s get sucked into the musical side of the video game to celebrate the the recent League of Legends Worlds 2022 championship. As we know it, the company responsible is already infamous for “making games only to promote their music”, and keeps winning in that arena everyday.
Let’s First Check Out the League of Legends Worlds 2022 Opening Ceremony
The Worlds 2022 Opening Ceremony was uploaded on LoL‘s official YouTube channel, featuring live performances of The Call by Edda Hayes, Fire to the Fuse by Jackson Wang and Star Walkin’ by Lil Nas X (in the same order), with the third most song being this year’s Anthem.
7 Previous League of the Legends Songs That Still Reign Supreme
Warriors by Imagine Dragons
The Anthem of Worlds 2014, this track by Imagine Dragons still sticks the landing as one of the most headstrong and best titles of the game. It both fits the game’s hype and builds a crescendo that is hard to beat to this date. Visualizing the gamers in their race to win the title, it’s still one of the grandest songs to invoke goosebumps.
A rather cinematic and chills inducing version of the same song was released in 2020’s season featuring 2WEI and Edda Hayes.
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Legends Never Die by Against the Current
The lyrics of this 2017 Anthem are a direct bullet to the heart as it preaches about the burdens of attaining greatness and the perseverance demanded by the same. But like the song said, “Legends never die. They become a part of you.” Yet another track that inspires positive action and justifies the title of a Worlds’ theme track.
Whether you play the game or not, this song is a sound proof of getting you through some hardships that you never thought you could overcome.
GIANTS by True Damage
Featuring Becky G, Keke Palmer, Soyeon, DCKWRTH and Thutmose, this 2019 song was high on trippy rap and the fans have been sour since then because this group never reunited for another banger of the sort again. The individual character designs in the video are so rich that you may want to bless the animators responsible for this.
Rise by The Glitch Mob, Mako and The World Alive
If this song doesn’t pull you to rise above all the unsavory experiences in life and push even harder to achieve an even sweeter prize, then I don’t know what will. The ultimate hype song that it is, you thought nothing could beat the Worlds 2018 song, but it’s own alternative version featuring the South Korean rapper Bobby from the K-pop group iKon is its ultimate match.
Phoenix by Cailin Russo and Chrissy Costanza
The beauty of the seamless transformative visuals switching between a cyberpunk vision of our world and the game design is something that just can’t be captured in words. With lyrics like “It’s your reflection looking back to pull you down” and “You cover your wounds, but underneath them a million voices in your head that whisper, ‘Stop'”, this song compels you to face your demons and fight them so that you stop playing your own enemy, and just like a Phoenix, experience a rebirth and soar above to reach the sky.
Villain by K/DA
Madison Beer and Kim Petras playing and voicing the dual and collaborative personalities of Evelynn deliver a spine-chilling track that could easily serve its signature as a horror survival movie’s soundtrack. The sinister combination of the majorly veiled and unclear video and the song are what made me put this track in the list instead of the other K/DA songs.
Check out the entire K/DA playlist here because, honestly, all of their tracks deserve to be here.
Burn It All Down by PVRIS
The Worlds 2021 song’s video was even appreciated by the artist, who went on to leave a comment under it as a vote of thanks to the animators, “Cannot get over the animation in this! A huge congratulations to the hundreds of animators who spent the past eight months bringing this extraordinary vision to life!”.
Fans claimed it to be a “certified banger” due to its decisive music that embodies all the action captured in the games and reflects the same in its soundscape, thus producing a shocking musical masterpiece. Also, Faker is in it.
Special Mentions
Enemy by Imagine Dragons (2021)
Pop Stars by K/DA ft. Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE, Jaira Burns (2018)
Awaken by Valerie Broussard (2019)
Playground by Bea Miller (2021)
Worlds Collide by Nicki Taylor (2015)
Warriors by 2WEI and Edda Hayes (2020 – alternate version)
Which of these ultimate gems is your favorite song from the game series? Do you love the overall cyberpunk or industrial heavy-hitting sound of some of these tracks? If we forgot to add any of your personal favorites to this list, then please mention your list in the comments. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.