In this weekly feature, I recommend game soundtracks. I share a few of my favorite tracks, talk about why everyone should listen to the soundtrack, and a little bit about the composer. This week's choice is The Legend of Zelda by Koji Kondo.
THE STATS
Name: The Legend of ZeldaDeveloper: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: February 21, 1986
Genres: Action-adventure
Composer(s): Koji Kondo
ORIGINAL TRACKS
(The titles link to YouTube videos... and I highly recommend some good headphones to best enjoy all of the subtle elements of the music!)Title Theme
(Length: 3:00) Show of hands: Who DIDN'T press the start button in order to hear this music on the NES and speed-read the backstory on the screen? I'm guilty of it. This track was the epitome of epic!
Menu Theme
(Length: 3:01) I didn't mind when I died so much because it meant getting to hear this. It's very pretty in its own way.
Overworld Theme
(Length: 3:00) The adventure begins! Every time I hear this, I think about all the other noises and effects of gameplay. I also think of the a capella group that did this as part of their Nintendo medly. Dat boomerang!
Dungeon Theme
(Length: 3:00) This was always my favorite because of the constant, flowing movement -- it added to the suspense of being in the dungeon!
Ending Theme
(Length: 3:00) This is basically the Menu Theme with an uplifting, lilting melody more akin to Mario games. It's so-so.
You can listen to the full original soundtrack on YouTube:
OVERCLOCKED REMIX TRACKS
If you are a gamer and haven't heard of OCRemix, then allow me to educate you! Starting in the late 90's, this website has been a bastion of joy for game music. Not only do they want to preserve all the glory that is video game music, but they provide a platform for people to share remixes of game music. A lot of it... is surprisingly amazing. The following tracks are all based on The Legend of Zelda series' music (specifically the first game and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past).Zelda Heineken - Mattias Holmgren
(Length: 3:22) Made entirely with Heineken bottle sounds, sampled and mixed. It's kind of impressive.
The First Look at Gold - RebeccaETripp
(Length: 3:28) A Celtic twist? Yes, please.
Hyrulian - djpretzel
(Length: 3:39) Jungle techno never sounded so catchy or epic!
Link's Underworld Pressure Cooker - wRenchpilot
(Length: 4:29) This has always been one of my favorites. I loved the original, and this remix adds some great thumping beats and melodic distortion. (Is that a thing? I think it is.)
Dark World - AmIEviL
(Length: 2:01) I'm not sure I can really... um... explain this one. It just is. And it's not for everyone. It at least opens up some at the 1:00 mark. Give it at least that long, please.
The Darkness and the Light - MkVaff
(Length: 6:01) This is one that was always in my shuffled mix. You would almost mistake this for part of an actual Zelda soundtrack if not for some of the syncopated, less-than-organic beats just a minute into it. Certainly longer than most others (and double the length of the original pieces), it offers a lot of variation in sound and style without ever feeling disjointed. That takes some talent. I personally love the piano bit that starts at 2:42.
The Goddess Appears (Trinity) - Jayson Litrio
(Length: 3:26) I love the piano and the hip-hoppy beats/guitar in this. It's like the original was sampled and then a jazz ensemble improvised on the theme across several instruments. (Coming from someone who was in several jazz ensembles, this is a high compliment from me!)
Triforce Majeure - Disco Dan
(Length: 7:29) It takes a while to open up and is very dramatic about it... but once it gets into a groove, it's impossible to stop listening. In fact, maybe skip the first minute... or two. It's great right about then. Synthesizer meets orchestral sounds and a perpetual beat.
Technicolor Thunderstorm - Hylian Lemon
(Length: 3:23) This is a new one for me. It's strange, but I enjoy it SO MUCH. The chiptune sounds are what make this so outstanding.
Magic Fountain - Nixdorux
(Length: 4:19) This is another new one for me. But there's something great about the water sounds and bell chimes with the piano. It's mellow and relaxing. The 2:00 mark is especially pleasing to the ear. 💗
Raining at Hyrule Castle - WillRock
(Length: 5:36) I just found this one while researching for this entry, and I have to say -- it's the best of the bunch. The introduction and the title pay wonderful homage to Yoko Kanno's "Rain" from Cowboy Bebop.
WHY I RECOMMEND IT
I understand it takes a special kind of person (typically in their 30's or older) to appreciate the chiptunes of bygone days. But these older tracks paved the way for the game music of today, and the memorable quality of them says a great deal about the composers. If you can't listen to the original, you're sure to find a style you enjoy on OCRemix. I had a collection of Zelda music from OCRemix in college that I would queue up on repeat in Winamp and plug in my headphones, and I would churn out my papers like a machine.THE COMPOSER: KOJI KONDO
The man, the legend! Not only was he the genius behind the Zelda music, but he also composed the music for Super Mario Bros... and has a hand in every Zelda and Mario title since then. He apparently found Nintendo on the job board at his university during his senior year. Instead of applying to many jobs as was recommended to him, he only applied to Nintendo because of his love of games and making synthesizers. He never even had to provide any demo tapes, and he's been there ever since. Lucky guy, right?
Remember what I said about Jeremy Soule last week when talking about the Guild Wars 2 soundtrack? Well, Kondo is known as the Japanese John Williams. He is famous for having scored nearly every Shigeru Miyamoto game. He is also the man behind the soundtrack of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
It's no wonder so many remixes exist of The Legend of Zelda music!
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