One thing that's been consistent with every World of Warcraft expansion has been the great music. Even the real-time Blizzard strategy games of the 1990s had memorable soundtracks.
Here are some of the great tunes you'll hear when playing World of Warcraft Classic, whether you're resting at an inn or wandering through the wilderness. Variations of many of these songs were also featured in the Warcraft movie.
10 Legends of Azeroth
World of Warcraft players recognizes it as the song that plays in the game launcher when you sign in to choose your realm and your character. That makes sense, as it sounds like a mix of Horde and Alliance, with the heavy drumbeat of marching Orcs set in contrast to a triumphant melody that sounds like something a Night Elf or a Human would enjoy. The song was composed by Jason Hayes in 2004 for the album entitled World of Warcraft.
9 The Brill Tavern
Even music isn't safe from Deathwing. Unlike every other song in this list, the ditty of minor chords that used to play in the Brill Tavern was removed in the Cataclysm expansion. The invisible "band" that played the tune sounded like it consisted of a flute, an oboe out of tune, and a wind chime. That's just as strange as it sounds and perfect for the grotesque tavern filled with Forsaken. No other song in the game was like this, which is why there was an outcry among players when it disappeared. The song is still easy to find on YouTube and it's been resurrected in World of Warcraft Classic.
8 Song of Elune
Another classic tune from Jason Hayes, this is a song that you'll immediately know if you played a Night Elf. It's their main theme and plays in almost every zone inhabited by the mysterious Kaldorei. It's also the song you hear playing in the background in zones like Ashenvale and Teldrassil. It's mellow, soothing and maybe just a little too pleasant when it's time to head out and slay. On the other hand, it's perfect for this elusive and isolated race that's as old as Azeroth itself.
7 The Booty Bay Theme
A perfect little pirate tune that follows you into the tavern after you've done a busy day of grinding, and it's deceptively cheerful considering how brutal the surrounding jungle can be. Plenty of players use Booty Bay as their hearth for questing, grinding resources, raiding or PVP, all of which take place in or near Booty Bay. It does feel a bit weird to be sitting across from the same 'toon who ganked you near the arena about ten minutes ago, but that's life in Azeroth.
6 A Call to Arms
With it's booming horns and rolling drums, this tune takes epic adventuring to the next level. The song was composed in 2004 by Glenn Stafford and is the unofficial World of Warcraft theme, easily as popular as tunes like "Legends of Azeroth" and "Ironforge."
The song is connected with all the heroes in the game but has a special place reserved for Tirion Fordring and his equally famous sword, the Ashbringer. You'll hear this song play in Stormwind and other Alliance-dominated areas of the game. It also played on some of the commercials featuring Mr. T. and his "night elf mohawk" just to drive all the heroic points home.
5 Thunder Bluff
Another entry from the 2004 album, this one was written by Glenn Stafford, and he must have been in a happy place because this song is lovely. It's relaxing, peaceful and soothing, much like a day on the lower rise, enjoying the view. The music is dominated by drums and has a steady beat, like a hardy warrior on the march. The windmills spinning gently on the horizon seem to move at the same pace. We're not sure if that's an accident or not, but it still looks great.
4 Ironforge
A song of dwarves and mountains, the theme song for everyone's favorite city can be found on the World of Warcraft album. It was composed by Glen Stafford in 2004. This is such a fan favorite already that it's the unofficial theme song for the whole Alliance side. It's got a very steady beat, mimicking the sound of war drums as an army marches to war, and it fits the massive fortifications of Ironforge perfectly. Nothing gets past this song or the gates of the mighty Dwarf capital.
3 Elwynn Forest
Not only is this the main theme for anyone questing in the idyllic Elwynn Forest, but it also plays in neighboring zones such as Westfall and in other Alliance areas, like Ashenvale. It's definitely more of an Alliance song than a Horde one, with a long and drawn-out melody that sounds like it was written by a Tauren wandering placidly through a meadow. One of the few Horde areas you hear this song in is Mulgore, the Tauren homeland. It's better for low level questing and gathering resources than hunting and slaying, which is why you hear it more in low-level areas.
2 Night Tanaris
It's a unique tune for a unique zone, and despite the name, the song also plays in the daytime. Unlike other areas in Azeroth, there are no geographic features like mountains or rivers to divert your path in Tanaris. The whole desert is a wide-open space and this is the music that takes you through it. You seem to hear the wind whistling through the eerie melody in the background, which uses minor chords on strings to give the sandy dunes a dangerous and yet empty feeling. The song was composed by Tracy W. Bush in 2004.
1 The Undercity
There's a faint echo of the Brill Tavern theme in the music that plays in the background while you're in Undercity. It uses some of the same minor chords and creepy notes. Written by Derek Duke in 2004 as part of the World of Warcraft album, this tune starts out in deathly silence and then rises triumphantly from the grave to wreak havoc on the living. It fits perfectly with the somber and foreboding ambiance of the Undercity, complete with ghosts in the throne room above and abominations roaming the halls below.