The meaning behind Fallout’s famous theme music
Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Three musical notes have come to define Fallout: C, E-flat, and E. Together, they make up a motif so powerful that it underscored one of the Fallout TV show’s most impactful moments.
That’s important, because when I say “Fallout music” you’re probably just as likely to imagine a jaunty tune by the Ink Spots as you are a lush orchestral theme. But the latter is the emotional underpinning of the Fallout world. It evolves to suit the narrative of each subsequent Fallout game, and it gave fans goosebumps when it finally appeared in the Fallout TV show. And it exists because of Inon Zur.
Zur has composed the soundtracks for the series since Fallout 3, as well as a slew of other beloved games from Everquest to Dragon Age 2.
I spoke with him about his process of composing and re-composing the Fallout theme to suit each new entry in the franchise — and how he feels about its appearance in Prime Video’s Fallout series, which debuted in 2024 to critical acclaim.
