“There’s two sides to every story”” in the remake of CAPCOM’s infamous Resident Evil 2 as you work through the story as either of the protagonists Claire or Leon, but when you finish the game don’t forget to run it back from the top on the other playable character to unlock a secret ending featuring our song, “Saudade (feat. Shim).”
20 years after the release of the original Resident Evil 2 in 1998, CAPCOM has recreated the survival-horror genre defining game with disturbing realism and we were asked to write and produce a song for the secret ending of the game.
The idea of nostalgia, specifically the pain of remembering the feeling of looking hopefully to the future for the potential life may hold, was an emotion CAPCOM wanted to translate through the song. Players of the original Resident Evil 2 in 1998 who are now returning to play in 2019 will feel a certain nostalgia for the game and their lives – including the music they listened to. We decided to approach the song by tapping into the iconic defining styles of the music scene of the 90s – genres like grunge and alternative rock. Without sounding dated, we wanted the song to feel influenced and inspired by 90s grunge and alternative rock music with a modern approach to production. The song needed to rock for returning and new players of Resident Evil 2!
The lyrics were a collaboration with Sick Puppies front man, Shimon “Shim” Moore. Sick Puppies started their rise to fame during the 90s before soaring to stardom with their enegetic performances and hit songs. Peter DiStephano, guitarist for Porno for Pyros, was also featured on the song as a soloist during the bridge and ending of the song.
Resident Evil 2 always has been, and still to this day, is about reunion. The lyrics paralleled the story lines of Claire and Leon as well. The lyric “there’s two sides to every story, the defeat or the pain of the glory” builds up the listener into the chorus through the song’s climatic finish.
“Saudade (feat. Shim)” by Cody Matthew Johnson, the secret end credits song and opening track on the Resident Evil 2 soundtrack is available digitally on all streaming and music platforms and was printed on a limited LP by Laced Records.
