Music Monday: Don’t Be a Tuna Head!

Welcome to Music Monday, the best way to start off your week! Each week Jon or Jenny will profile a popular videogame-related musician/band to add to your music library.

In 1987, Lucasfilm Games released a point-and-click adventure game for the Commodore 64 and the Apple II called Maniac Mansion, a comedy game based on old B-movie cliches. The game was a hit, and was soon ported to the NES (among other systems) by Jaleco (after being altered, thanks to Nintendo of America’s strict censorship policies), which is where I first encountered it. It was soon followed by an even more successful sequel, and a Canadian television series that I desperately want to watch.

The original game’s composers, Chris Grigg and David Lawrence, put in an effort to compose distinct genres of music that really fit the characters’ personalities (the game allows you to select two of six playable characters, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses). At the time, I hadn’t heard of such a thing in a Nintendo game, and as I’ve aged and played more NES games, it’s something I haven’t seen repeated very often.

As I couldn’t choose just three we were without a Music Monday last week, I’m super-sizing this one: all of the character themes have been included. Enjoy!

“The Boys Are Still Back” (Dave’s Theme)

Dave is the only character you are required to play, as it’s his girlfriend (aptly named Sandy Pantz) that needs rescuing from the Edison Mansion. His theme’s a lot of fun, but he’s useless, and I usually ended up using him as bait.

“No No Never Never Well Maybe Sure Okay” (Razor’s Theme)

Fun fact: Razor, the punk rocker, is based on a then-unknown Tori Amos, back when she was the front woman in a hair metal band called “Y Kant Tori Read”.

“COMP-U-NERD” (Bernard’s Theme)

Bernard Bernoulli would become the main character in the game’s 1993 sequel, Day of the Tentacle.

“Psychedelic Brie” (Syd’s Theme)

Syd is a New Wave musician. I often used him to blow up hamsters because I didn’t know what to do with him (Razor was my go-to girl for music-based puzzle solving).

“Sonatina in G Opus 47 BVW 801″ (Wendy’s Theme)

Wendy’s a writer. I never used her; she’s boring. Moving on.

“Surf Face” (Jeff’s Theme)

Jeff is absolutely useless and has no special puzzle-solving talents. Avoid at all costs.

“Flashbulb Funk” (Michael’s Theme)

Michael is a photographer. And a total badass, as his theme clearly conveys.

“Meet the Edisons” (Edisons’ Theme)

Dr. Fred is a mad scientist, Nurse Edna is a crazy sex fiend, Ed is a hamster-loving turncoat, and Dead Cousin Ted lives in the bathtub. I freaking love this game.