Robert Johnson Album in Protagonist's Room?

[faultyhook]

Background: The rumor is that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads to become a musician

I found the compilation album "The Complete Recordings" by Robert Johnson in the protagonist's room on the bottom of his shelf. I noticed it during the Midnight Channel near the beginning of the game. Does this album have a connection to the themes of this game by any chance with the rumor around the artist? I'd love to hear if anybody found this while playing the game and if anyone has theories on it as well!

[Felicia Fulana]

Robert Johnson slaps.

The Devil at the Crossroads myth might be an allusion. That said, the story of the Devil at the Crossroads has a variant where it was a West African god of music that met Robert Johnson at the crossroads and blessed his guitar. That sounds pretty Persona-ish. The Japanese love music influenced by Robert Johnson, so I wouldn't be surprised if the devs know enough about Johnson to make an allusion.

[faultyhook]

Originally posted by Felicia Fulana:

Robert Johnson slaps.

The Devil at the Crossroads myth might be an allusion. That said, the story of the Devil at the Crossroads has a variant where it was a West African god of music that met Robert Johnson at the crossroads and blessed his guitar. That sounds pretty Persona-ish. The Japanese love music influenced by Robert Johnson, so I wouldn't be surprised if the devs know enough about Johnson to make an allusion.

I was thinking that it could be an allusion too. I think it also could be a reference with the several gods and devils that are persona in the game. And they do love their Robert Johnson LOL. Thank you for your reply! I never knew about the West African god of music variant of that story!

[korsobar]

In the SMT games there is usually (maybe always?) a theme of signing a contract. Sometimes you explicitly make an agreement before you can use the creatures you summon, etc. Probably the games were inspired by that kind of idea.

[Felicia Fulana]

Originally posted by faultyhook:

Originally posted by Felicia Fulana:

Robert Johnson slaps.

The Devil at the Crossroads myth might be an allusion. That said, the story of the Devil at the Crossroads has a variant where it was a West African god of music that met Robert Johnson at the crossroads and blessed his guitar. That sounds pretty Persona-ish. The Japanese love music influenced by Robert Johnson, so I wouldn't be surprised if the devs know enough about Johnson to make an allusion.

I was thinking that it could be an allusion too. I think it also could be a reference with the several gods and devils that are persona in the game. And they do love their Robert Johnson LOL. Thank you for your reply! I never knew about the West African god of music variant of that story!

Just so my bases are covered and I didnt lead you in error, I dont think it was a God of music, but a trickster god. It might have even been Ogun, the Yoruba god of Iron. My source was the liner notes in the 1990 Sony compilation "The Complete Recordings" it's an outdated collection (they found one or two more tracks since) I found it in a library and I dont own it to double check. It was a very well written set of liner notes, very academic.

[Coppertank]

So glad somebody else noticed this! You can see Robert Johnson clear as day on the album cover on the shelf. Pretty interesting to think about how his supposed deal with the devil correlates to the game's theme.