Not to be confused with Flashback FM
“The mainstream never popped like it did in the early 1980s.. And there never was a radio host like Toni. She bopped her way into Vice City's heart to the tune of classic songs by Hall & Oates, Laura Branigan and many others.”
— GTA Vice City website
“We hate singing this shit, but our record deal fell through, it's Flash FM!”
— Station jingle in GTA Vice City Stories
Flash FM is a Vice City radio station featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories that plays contemporary pop and rock music.
Description[]
The station is hosted by Toni and Teri in 1984, with Toni becoming the sole DJ by 1986 following Teri's departure from the station. It reflects the general atmosphere of the 1980s. The station's idents and imaging voices claim that "if it is totally tubular, rad or awesome" it plays on Flash. Many of the biggest mainstream pop artists in history are in its playlist.
The station's format is reflected in future stations, such as Head Radio, as the station states "we tell you what's good, then play it 'til you like it". One of its imaging jingles claims that it play zero commercials, despite the fact that it is full of them, like all other pop stations.
The station also seems to target a young teen demographic, as it makes comments such as "if you have acne you'll love Flash!", "Now that you've found Flash FM, notice you've suddenly become more popular. Suddenly, everyone wants to hang out with you." and "if no one understands you, we do!"
Flash FM is the one of the favourite radio stations of the Haitians and the Streetwannabes.
Tracklist[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
| Song: | Preview: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| "Out of Touch" by Hall & Oates (1984) | ||
| "Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung (1982) | ||
| "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson (1982) | This song is missing from the iOS, Android, PS2 Classics (PS3, PS4 and PS5), Rockstar Games Launcher and The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition. | |
| "Self Control" by Laura Branigan (1984) | ||
| "Call Me" by Go West (1985) | ||
| "Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)" by INXS (1985) | ||
| "Run to You" by Bryan Adams (1984) | ||
| "Four Little Diamonds" by Electric Light Orchestra (1983) | ||
| "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes (1983) | ||
| "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles (1979) | ||
| "Japanese Boy" by Aneka (1981) | ||
| "Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk (1986) | ||
| "Your Love" by The Outfield (1985) | ||
| "Steppin' Out" by Joe Jackson (1982) | ||
| "One Thing Leads to Another" by The Fixx (1983) | ||
| "Running with the Night" by Lionel Richie (1983) | PlayStation 2 only. |
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
| Song: | Preview: |
|---|---|
| "Gloria" by Laura Branigan (1982) | |
| "Human Touch" by Rick Springfield (1983) | |
| "The One Thing" by INXS (1982) | |
| "Easy Lover" by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins (1984) | |
| "The Warrior" by Scandal (1984) | |
| "Love Resurrection" by Alison Moyet (1984) | |
| "Games People Play" by The Alan Parsons Project (1980) | |
| "Family Man" by Hall & Oates (1982) | |
| "Love Is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar (1983) | |
| "Wouldn't It Be Good" by Nik Kershaw (1984) | |
| "Together in Electric Dreams" by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder (1984) | |
| "It's My Life" by Talk Talk (1984) | |
| "Destination Unknown" by Missing Persons (1982) | |
| "Don't Let Go" by Wang Chung (1984) | |
| "Appaloosa" by Gino Vannelli (1978) | |
| "Turn It on Again" by Genesis (1980) | |
| "Living on the Ceiling" by Blancmange (1982) | |
| "Come Back and Stay" by Paul Young (1983) |
Deleted Songs[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
Several interviews and previews confirm that the following songs were cut:
- Hall & Oates - "Do It for Love" (2002)[1]
The Flash FM CD included in the European release of the 7-CD Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Official Soundtrack Box Set contains three songs that did not actually appear in the game. These are:
- Glenn Frey - "Smuggler's Blues" (1984)
- Toto - "Hold the Line" (1978)[2]
- Boys Don't Cry - "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" (1985)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
Flash FM[]
In an October 2004 issue of PSM2 magazine, a preview for San Andreas disclosed that Flash FM was considered for the game at some point. It is also possible that the GTA Vice City rendition was used as a placeholder before the radio line-up was finalized.
The magazine clipping from PSM2 magazine lists out the stations due to appear in the game (p.30).
Fragment mentioning Flash FM (p.32).
Prominent Appearances in Storyline[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
Individual tracks[]
- The songs on this station automatically play during certain missions:
- "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson will automatically play when the player enters Ken Rosenberg's Admiral or pink Faggio in the Introduction.
- In the mobile version and Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, the song's license expired, being replaced by "Self Control" by Laura Branigan.
- "Billie Jean" also plays during the second cutscene of Spilling the Beans.
- "Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk plays during An Old Friend.
- "Out of Touch" by Hall & Oates plays during The Party.
- "Steppin' Out" by Joe Jackson plays during the cutscene after buying the Sunshine Autos.
- Wang Chung's "Dance Hall Days" plays during the second cutscene of Supply & Demand.
- "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes plays during the cutscene of Alloy Wheels of Steel.
- "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson will automatically play when the player enters Ken Rosenberg's Admiral or pink Faggio in the Introduction.
- Wang Chung's "Dance Hall Days" and Go West's "Call Me" play inside the Malibu Club.
- "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles plays in the background during the Commodore 64-inspired logo sequence seen when GTA Vice City loads.
- "Self Control" by Laura Branigan is featured in the iOS and Android trailer for GTA Vice City.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
Individual tracks[]
- "Easy Lover" by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins is featured in the second GTA Vice City Stories trailer.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- During the beginning of the song "Life's What You Make It" Toni refers in her anecdote to a famous British band, but "can't say who". This is a reference to Duran Duran and the fact that on Flashback FM in all versions of GTA III her line "this song reminds me of waking up on the Duran Duran tour bus" was edited to mute the mention of the band's name (though the uncensored quote can be heard in the official GTA III website).
- For an unknown reason, Aneka's "Japanese Boy" was not included on the Flash FM CD in the 7-CD Soundtrack Box Set, but instead appears on the Wave 103 CD.
- The inclusion on the CD of Glenn Frey's "Smuggler's Blues" seems likely to be yet another of the game's nods to the television series Miami Vice, which featured an episode of the same name in its the first season; the episode was in fact named for the song, featured a plot that was heavily inspired by its lyrics, extensively featured the song in the soundtrack, and even featured Glenn Frey himself in the main supporting role.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- One of the imaging singers in the GTA Vice City Stories rendition is Julie Wemyss, singer in the songs credited to fictional band Conor & Jay, and who was also one of the main composers for several of the music featured within the early Grand Theft Auto games. She also provides vocals to some original songs in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and GTA III.
- The Vice City Inquirer misspells Philip Oakey's name as Phil Oakley, though Phil is short for Philip.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
- During the 2014 Halloween Weekend Event, a t-shirt with the logo of the radio station was available through Crate Drops.
- Later, during the Cunning Stunts update, a Flash FM cap became available to buy for $1895 at any clothing store.
See Also[]
- Head Radio - a pop and rock radio station in GTA, GTA 2, GTA III and GTA Liberty City Stories.
- Lips 106 - a contemporary pop radio station in GTA III and GTA Liberty City Stories.
- Flashback FM - an '80s pop radio station in GTA III and '70s pop in GTA Liberty City Stories which plays other songs by Giorgio Moroder and in GTA III is also hosted by Toni.
- Fever 105 - a disco and funk radio station in GTA Vice City which plays a song by Michael Jackson.
- Emotion 98.3 - a soft rock radio station in GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories which plays other songs by Phil Collins, Pat Benatar and Trevor Horn of the Buggles and Yes with Art of Noise.
- Wave 103 - a new wave and synthpop radio station in GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories which plays other songs of Philip Oakey with The Human League and Alison Moyet with Yazoo.
- CSR 103.9 - a new jack swing radio station in GTA San Andreas.
- Fresh FM - a hip hop radio station in GTA Vice City Stories which plays a song by Trevor Horn of the Buggles with Art of Noise.
- Vice City For Lovers - a soul and r&b radio station in GTA Vice City Stories which plays a song by Philip Bailey with Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Liberty Rock Radio - a classic rock radio station in GTA IV and GTA Episodes From Liberty City which plays other songs by Genesis and the Electric Light Orchestra.
- Vice City FM - an '80s pop radio station in GTA Episodes From Liberty City which plays a song by Hall & Oates.
- Los Santos Rock Radio - a classic rock radio station in GTA V which plays other songs by The Alan Parsons Project, Phil Collins, Pat Benatar, and Yes.
- Non-Stop-Pop FM - a pop radio station in GTA V which plays other songs by Hall & Oates and INXS.
- Los Santos Underground Radio - a house radio station in the enhanced version GTA V that plays "Steppin' Out" by Joe Jackson as part of The Black Madonna's set and a song by Trevor Horn of the Buggles with Art of Noise.
References[]
- ↑ October 2002 issue of PSM2: It's worth noting that the other magazines from the same time period correctly named the song "Out of Touch" that did appear in the final soundtrack; it might be a misprint.
- ↑ This song was later featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on K-DST.
