Music and sound design have always been key to our projects, but this time, they were more crucial than ever.
The soundtrack needed to be accessible, fun, and a bit rebellious—without sounding childish. Collaborating with Xavier Paradis, our go-to sound designer and composer, we drew inspiration from an eclectic mix: the Jackass intro, "Corona" by The Minutemen, the SpongeBob SquarePants theme, Jonathan Richman’s laid-back vibe, and the wild energy of the Toy Dolls. It was no easy task, but Xavi worked his magic again, pulling off what seemed impossible.
Xavi also crafted all the game’s sound effects, with a special focus on enhancing the cinematic scenes. Without them, those moments would have lost their comedic edge.
One of the standout elements of the sound design is the use of an invented language for the characters' voices. We opted for this approach to sidestep recording in multiple languages, adding an extra layer of humor to the story. A huge part of the credit goes to Vivian Reed, who voiced all the characters and even came up with this new language herself!
However, what we're most proud of is the game’s main song. The idea for the song emerged when we were contemplating the game’s ending. It’s a pivotal moment when the player realizes they've become the bully. The mysterious points they’ve collected (SN) turn into the Witch’s Sleepless Nights, leading her to be hospitalized due to a nervous breakdown. The player suddenly understands how easy it is to shift from victim to aggressor.
We wanted to avoid turning this crucial moment into a preachy lecture, so we decided to convey it through a song, much like in the movie Something About Mary, where Jonathan Richman breaks the fourth wall to deliver the story’s moral.
In a similar way, the Witch’s minions serve as an epilogue after each level, revealing the consequences of our pranks. And in the game’s finale, they sing about how empathy is key to combating bullying.
Or maybe it didn’t happen exactly like that. Maybe we just loved the original song "Wooly Bully" by Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs and found a way to include it. For those of us who aren’t native English speakers, the chorus sounds like “bully, bully,” perfectly aligning with the theme of PINEAPPLE.
We knew the song from the Bad Manners version back in our ska-obsessed days, and we figured we could use it with a lyric change. Although we’d used pre-recorded music in past games ("Synthetic World" by Swamp Dogg in Unmemory), we didn’t have the budget for the rights this time. So, we decided to create our own version. Once again, Xavi Paradis wowed us with a rendition where he even took on the vocals. It’s a delight to see how players start moving in their seats when those two minions start singing.
Here are the complete lyrics for you to karaoke:
—-- Verse 1—-
This tale might be pure fiction
or the true story we need
First time you heard its rendition
it had you laughing indeed
Bully Bully
Who’s the bully?
She’s the bully
—-- Verse 2 —-
As laughter ceased,
thoughts began to flow
From bullied to bully,
how quickly we can go
Bully Bully
Who’s the bully
YOU’RE the bully
—- Chorus 1 —--
Bully bully,
You’re the bully.
Bully bully,
You’re the bully.
Bully bully,
Who’s the bully?
You’re the bully.
—-- Verse 3 —-
The power of this story
lies in the golden rule
Empathy's the weapon
to keep bullying uncool
Bully Bully
Who’s the bully
No more bullies!
—-- Verse 4 —-
With humor's flair,
this message will spread fast
Disguised as a game,
it’s bound to travel far.
Bully Bully
Who’s the bully
No more bullies!
—- Chorus 2 (x2) —--
Bully bully,
No more bullies!
Bully bully,
No more bullies!
Bully bully,
Who’s the bully?
No more bullies!
We hope you enjoy it so much that you’ll demand we release an album!