A few months ago, we reported that Civilization IV was the first video game to ever be nominated for a Grammy, with Christopher Tin’s “Babu Yetu,” otherwise known as the game’s title menu screen song that you’re always trying to sing along to but don’t know the words because it’s in Swahili. Well, Christopher Tin and Civilization IV Menu were made proud last night, when “Babu Yetu” won a grammy for “Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists,” making it the first ever piece of video game music to bring home a gramophone-based trophy.
For those wondering why “Babu Yetu” was nominated so many years after the release Civilization IV, it’s because the piece of music was featured as the opening track on Christopher Tin’s debut album, Calling All Dawns, which also happened to win a Grammy for “Best Classical Crossover Album.” While it’s great to see everyone’s favorite video game song be nationally recognized for being awesome, seeing as how the song wasn’t nominated until it released on a non-video game album of music, it seems video game music still has a long way to go until it is considered a legitimate source of award-winning music.
For those who wish to get the song stuck in their hand for the rest of the week, here’s a link to a previous post of ours which contains the video, and below are the lyrics which were painstakingly transcribed by CivFanatics forum user MSTK:
CHORUS
Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina!
Baba yetu, yetu, uliye
Jina lako litukuzwe.
(x2)Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, milelea milele!CHORUS
Ufalme wako ufike utakalo
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni. (Amina)CHORUS
Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, simovu mwehu (?)Baba yetu, yetu, uliye
Jina lako litukuzwe.
(x2)
(Grammy.com via Joystiq)
