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‘Guile’s Theme’ Gets a Second Life as a Cinematic Anthem on the Street Fighter Soundtrack

A mighty score rises from the arcade, a grand theme made anew for the silver screen, wherein Guile's name is sung once more.

By mitch·2 min read
A warrior stands beneath a neon sky, his name called aloud upon the air.

“Guile’s Theme” has left the arcade and joined the big screen. Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson have remade the Street Fighter classic into a cinematic anthem, and Billboard is revealing the full soundtrack list for the new film.

The track arrives ahead of the Oct. 16 theatrical release. It pairs the familiar melody with orchestral arrangements and electric guitar, giving the tune a heroic new sound. The duo said the Street Fighter music has shaped them since childhood.

“To describe the music of Street Fighter as an influence would simply be an understatement — it is legitimately one of the core musical works that forged our musical identities.”

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Birenberg and Robinson said they listened to Yoko Shimomura’s “Guile’s Theme” more than Raiders of the Lost Ark when they were starting out. They hope fans hear the love in their version.

The Soundtrack Details

The soundtrack, due Oct. 16 via Milan Records, features the duo’s original score plus two new songs from industrial metal band HEALTH. The film, directed by Kitao Sakurai, stars Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken Masters and Callina Liang as Chun-Li. The story follows Ryu and Ken as they reunite for the World Warrior Tournament in 1993.

The cast also includes Jason Mamoa as Blanka, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Cody Rhoes as Guile, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog and Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i as Akuma.

The Full Track List

The soundtrack runs through thirty-four tracks, including several that stand out by title alone:

  • “FIGHT!”
  • “NEGATIVE EDGE” – HEALTH
  • “Chun-Li: Woman of Vengeance” – Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson, Jiaju Shen
  • “World Warriors” – Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson, Charlie Robbins
  • “Guile’s Theme” – Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson, Jemma Heigis, Myrone, Jacob Umansky
  • “BRAINROT” – HEALTH
  • “The Final Awakening” – Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson, Charlie Robbins
  • “Hadoken!”
  • “To Live Is To Fight”
  • “Let Go Of What Binds You (Dhalsim’s Cave Rave Remix)”

The full track list is available at Billboard’s website.

The HEALTH contributions sit alongside Birenberg and Robinson’s originals throughout the running order. The remix of “Let Go Of What Binds You” closes the list.

This is a serious effort from a duo whose musical identity was shaped by Street Fighter. The reverence shows in the recording. Whether the film itself lives up to the score remains to be seen.

“Guile’s Theme” arrives Oct. 16. The full soundtrack follows the same day.

Source material: “‘Street Fighter’ Soundtrack Takes ‘Guile’s Theme’ From Arcade to Big Screen: See the Full Track List,” Billboard.

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