Ultravox legend Midge Ure says most-streamed song is Metal Gear Solid V track after Hideo Kojima begged to use it
HIDEO KOJIMA is considered one of the top minds in gaming — but the great man has his own hero . . . Scottish singing legend Midge Ure.
The 56-year-old from Tokyo even engineered a meeting with the Vienna star. Midge said: “I didn’t know who Hideo was, only that he was a games designer/director and that he was a huge Ultravox fan.
“He pulled a few strings to get to meet Ultravox backstage before a concert 10 years ago. He told me through a translator he wanted to use my version of Bowie’s Man Who Sold The World in the final episode of the Metal Gear Solid series.”
But the singer was even more surprised to discover that Hideo credits his music with helping boost his gaming creativity.
He said: “He explained that he used to listen to us when he was younger and that would help him imagine the worlds he would create.
“The music resonated with him and aided his creativity. I think the term ‘fan boy’ might be a bit extreme! Hideo has a great mind and superior imagination. He also has a good sense of humour.
“He took great delight in showing me round the Konami headquarters in Tokyo before he moved on to form his own company.”
Hideo got his wish in using Midge’s song on MGS V, bringing the band’s music to a new audience.
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Midge admitted: “Out of all the songs I have written and recorded Man Who Sold The World is the most streamed by more than double anything else I have ever done.
"That is totally down to the gaming generation discovering a piece of music which has none of the usual periphery attached to it...no history, no hard sell, not current, not cool....just a piece of music they have discovered thanks to the game.”
Midge isn’t ruling out another collaboration.
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He addded: “I wouldn’t like to speculate but I have worked with and will hopefully continue to work with artists I respect and admire and I certainly have respect and admiration for Hideo.”
Midge’s new album Soundtrack is available now.
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