For this week’s Pixel’s Picks, I wanted to share something different. A moment in a video game that I think about often. This moment was brought to life by soul and R&B legend D’Angelo. If you didn’t know, D’Angelo sadly passed away recently, and as a way to remember him and his work, I wanted to talk about a single he worked on for Red Dead Redemption 2 alongside music producer Daniel Lanois. A single that shaped, in my opinion, one of gaming’s most iconic moments.

The song is titled Unshaken, and plays at the end of chapter 5 during a critical moment for our protagonist, Arthur Morgan, as his story slowly reaches its climax. I won’t say too much else, just that this moment, these couple of minutes, as you ride towards Shady Belle with nothing but the clear night sky and light of the moon looming over you, as D’angelo’s smooth yet raspy deep voice, which acts almost as an inner monologue for Arthur, cascades in the background, is nothing short of perfection.

It’s one of those rare gaming moments where gameplay, music, and cinematic storytelling coalesce to create something special. Something that works on multiple levels in terms of plot, theme, and character. To use a pretentious journalistic phrase, this, to me, is the definition of ludonarrative harmony.

Recommending Red Dead Redemption 2 is too easy. The game is arguably one of the greatest achievements in gaming history. Recommending D’Angelo is also too easy. The man was an icon and shaped much of the Neo-Soul movement of the 90s. This moment, however, brings together two juggernauts to make something truly unforgettable. Whether you’ve played RDR2 or not, if you have a moment today, go and listen to this song. Or better yet, take this as an excuse to replay one of Rockstar’s masterpieces and to honour the legacy of a legendary musician. Rest in peace, D’Angelo.