Soviet Connection was composed by Michael Hunter as the theme for Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar Games' 2008 open-world game set in Liberty City. The track's Russian folk influence mirrors the story of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant arriving in America, and it quickly became one of the game's most recognisable pieces of music. Online, creators have reused the short intro as a dramatic opener for edits, parodies and gaming videos, keeping it in circulation long after the game's release because its instantly recognisable melody sets a serious, cinematic tone in seconds.