What radio stations set the mood in each GTA game?

IMO, one of the best things about GTA is the radio. It keeps the game entertaining even when you're just driving.

I've always thought that with the expection of Vice City, there's always a couple stations that clearly set the mood of the game. I exclude Vice City, because in that case, most of, if not all, the radio stations set the mood.

So, my question is: Now that GTAIV is out, what radio stations do you think set the mood for each 3D game in the series? What are your favorite songs from each station you pick?

Here is my take:

In GTA III, I think Flashback sets the mood the best. All that Scarface music (Rush Rush to the yayo!) really works well in a GTA environment because it is somewhat thematic, yet the music is still poppy enough to fit neatly in with stations like Lips and Head Radio.

In Vice City (I know I said they all set the mood, but I'm going to pick one nevertheless) I thought that Wave set the mood the best, though stations like Flash and Emotion are extremely close runners-up. I thought that Wave perfectly embodied the plasticky pink neon feel of the exaggerated 80's environment.

In San Andreas, Radio Los Santos takes the cake easily. It's west coast gangster rap with the G-funk laid on thick. 'Nuff said. The natural second place winner, however, would be CSR (Contemporary Soul Radio). Songs like Poison and Don't Be Creul by Bobby Brown set the mood just as well as anything from Radio Los Santos.

In GTAIV, Vladivostok FM (the Russian station) destroys all the competition IMHO. Alot of GTAIV seems to be drenched in Eastern European/foreign atmosphere, and I think the Russian station communicates this. My favorite songs from this station are Schweine and Wild Dances. In spite of this, I think the song Flashing Lights by Kanye West is a good mood setter even if alot of other stuff on Beat (the rap station) isn't.

What are your thoughts?

Wow. I didn't expect this thread to be so badly ignored, which is why I am bumping it.

I tend to listen to Liberty Rock for the most part. The Who and Thin Lizzy always set the mood for me and have me singing along. Kind of disappointed by the talk stations though, thought they'd be better.

I tend to listen to Liberty Rock for the most part. The Who and Thin Lizzy always set the mood for me and have me singing along. Kind of disappointed by the talk stations though, thought they'd be better.

bar31

I thought the talk radio stations and commericals were way better than the ones in San Andreas (the talk radio was so forced in that game) but they fell short of the greatness of Chatterbox or the talk radio stations in Vice City.

Still, I loved when Lazlow shoved that immigrant's head in the hotdog water! :lol:

There's only one song I liked out of all the GTA games, and that was "behind the groove" by Teena marie XenoNinja

I think its kind of weird that out of all the music in the 4 games you only like that song, but each to his own.

VROCK, VROCK, and only VROCK.famicommander

Come on feel the noise. Girls rock your boys.

Raido Broker is probably my favourite.

But Libery Rock does have some great songs on it.

LCHC great to listen to during car chases.

I love The Vibe and in my opinion this station sets the mood for the whole game. Toriko42

This is an ESSENTIAL Vibe song and one of my favorite in the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CySYwZNH65I

This is an ESSENTIAL Vibe song and one of my favorite in the game

cool if you like it but my point exactly. song from 1987 setting the mood for a game set in 2007? thats just wrong.

[QUOTE="Tragic_Kingdom7"]

This is an ESSENTIAL Vibe song and one of my favorite in the game

blues3531

cool if you like it but my point exactly. song from 1987 setting the mood for a game set in 2007? thats just wrong.

Not really, by that logic all those compositions from 100+ years ago would be aswell however used right they have alot of emotion and can amplify atmosphere greatly. If your looking for more modern applications try Resivior dogs, a film set in the 90s using mostly (exclusively?) a 70s soundtrack.

as far as gta4 goes. they are all terrible. the sound track makes almost 0 sense. im not saying it has bad songs or anything but the soundtrack is supposed to capture the time period. this is set in 2007 and i havent really heard a song from 2007 in the game. besides kanye west what else is there that is currently popular and being played on the radio (even though i hate crap radio music it still helps the game atmosphere)blues3531

I'll agree with you that GTA4's soundtrack is less cohesive than the others.

But I don't think the music should only capture time period. I also think it should match the envirnoment, and I think most of the stuff on the Russian station does that.

as far as gta4 goes. they are all terrible. the sound track makes almost 0 sense. im not saying it has bad songs or anything but the soundtrack is supposed to capture the time period. this is set in 2007 and i havent really heard a song from 2007 in the game. besides kanye west what else is there that is currently popular and being played on the radio (even though i hate crap radio music it still helps the game atmosphere)blues3531

[QUOTE="blues3531"]as far as gta4 goes. they are all terrible. the sound track makes almost 0 sense. im not saying it has bad songs or anything but the soundtrack is supposed to capture the time period. this is set in 2007 and i havent really heard a song from 2007 in the game. besides kanye west what else is there that is currently popular and being played on the radio (even though i hate crap radio music it still helps the game atmosphere)Toriko42

the alt rock station has lots of early to mid 90's too which is awesome but just felt out of place to me. like someone above said the soundtrack is less cohesive.

[QUOTE="Toriko42"][QUOTE="blues3531"]as far as gta4 goes. they are all terrible. the sound track makes almost 0 sense. im not saying it has bad songs or anything but the soundtrack is supposed to capture the time period. this is set in 2007 and i havent really heard a song from 2007 in the game. besides kanye west what else is there that is currently popular and being played on the radio (even though i hate crap radio music it still helps the game atmosphere)blues3531

the alt rock station has lots of early to mid 90's too which is awesome but just felt out of place to me. like someone above said the soundtrack is less cohesive.

GTA III - Lips 106. lol, I'm kidding. Uh... Chatterbox.

GTA VC - KChat, it didn't set the mood, but it was so damn funny.

GTA SA - K-DST or Master Sounds. I hated K-Rose. Country music is the devil. :x

I tend to listen to Liberty Rock for the most part. The Who and Thin Lizzy always set the mood for me and have me singing along. Kind of disappointed by the talk stations though, thought they'd be better.

bar31

Exactly what I was gonna say.

in GTA3 flashback FM (scarface)

GTA Vice city: the ones with the classic 80s songs (I believe there are 2 in the game)

San Andreas: radio Los santos and that rock station (with ozzy osbourne, Guns n' Roses and Rage against the machines)

GTAIV: Vladivostock FM, Liberty Rock (Iggy pop:P) and Radio Broker(juliette Lewis :P)

those are my favs

in GTA3 flashback FM (scarface)

GTA Vice city: the ones with the classic 80s songs (I believe there are 2 in the game)

San Andreas: radio Los santos and that rock station (with ozzy osbourne, Guns n' Roses and Rage against the machines)

GTAIV: Vladivostock FM, Liberty Rock (Iggy pop:P) and Radio Broker(juliette Lewis :P)

those are my favs

killerfist

For me it goes

GTA3 = Chatterbox FM

Vice City = Wave 103/V Rock

San Andreas = Radio Los Santos/Radio X

GTA IV = Vladivostok/WKTT

mister mister broken wings:- opening cut scene http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqKZjt2-Gec&feature=related

but station for me Emotion 98.3 followed by Wildstyle Pirate Radio

GTA III - GAme Radio DOuble Cleff FM

GTA Vice CIty - WIldstyle,Flash FM,V Rock,VCpR and wave 103

gta sAN aNDREAS - rADIO lOS sANTOS AND rADIO x

LCHC great to listen to during car chases.

skrat_01

For those who don't know what the Benny Hill Theme is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6TXMsvgQg

102.7 the beat is my favorite in GTA4 seeing as I live near NYC (on long island) and that radio station is pretty much a spitting image of hot 97 or 105.1.

Next would be the talk stations because they update with the game which is awsome.