The Library of Congress has made a significant addition to its National Recording Registry, recognizing the soundtrack of the beloved sandbox survival game, Minecraft, as part of the “defining sounds of history and culture.” This noteworthy inclusion places the complete Minecraft: Volume Alpha album alongside iconic cultural staples such as John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville,” and Kermit the Frog’s “The Rainbow Connection.” The registry also features the well-known Super Mario Theme and the distinctive chime from Microsoft’s reboot.
Soundtrack’s Cultural Impact
In its announcement, the Library of Congress highlighted the pivotal role of the game’s ambient-style soundtrack, crafted by German producer Daniel Rosenfeld, known professionally as C418. The library noted, “Key to the game’s early success is the ambient-style soundtrack, created by German producer Daniel Rosenfeld under his alias, C418.” The influence of C418’s music is evident in the rise of ambient scores in video games since Minecraft’s debut, as well as the emergence of the ‘lo-fi hip-hop’ phenomenon that gained traction in the late 2010s, sharing a similar calming and nostalgic aesthetic with the original score of Minecraft.
C418 himself expressed his delight at this recognition, referring to it as “unique news” in a post on X. Markus Persson, the creator of Minecraft, affectionately known as Notch, also shared his excitement through a simple emoticon, “<<3,” symbolizing a heart.
Challenges Amidst Celebration
This acknowledgment arrives concurrently with the release of “A Minecraft Movie,” a cinematic tribute to the game’s enduring appeal. However, the film has not been without its challenges. Some theaters have reported disruptive behavior among audiences, particularly during a scene featuring an in-game enemy known as a “chicken jockey.”
The Washington Township Theatre in New Jersey addressed this issue on Facebook, stating, “We also received multiple complaints from other moviegoers who were trying to enjoy the film with their families.” They urged parents to discuss appropriate behavior with their children following a screening that was marred by what they described as “completely unacceptable behavior.”
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