Top 10 Zelda Songs
So I could turn this into a meme and tag a bunch of people, but really, it's just going to be professor_spork who posts a list of her own, so Leah, what are your top ten?
1. Don't Want You No More - Twilight Princess
This is the only official and fully orchestrated piece of Zelda music in existence. It adds an extra dimension to the piece, but even if the piece wasn't fully orchestrated, the actual composition itself is amazing capturing the beauty and excitement of Hyrule, while still embodying the darker world of Twilight Princess. Te surprising thing is that it wasn't composed by Koji Kondo, yet it captures so much that is the esscence and drama of Zelda. Koji Kondo is a genius, but with a piece like this I can't help but embrace the new blood.
2. Title Theme - Legend of Zelda
This piece IS Zelda; it is the signature of the franchise. You can't help but feel a sense of energy and excitement when the main melody sounds. A melody which has worked it's way into so many additional pieces over the course of the years.
3. Geurdo Valley - Ocarina of Time
Geurdo is very unique in that is very different from the majority of the Zelda music. It still bears the Koji Kondo's style, but the choice of instruments addes variety to a mostly wind and heavy string score. It captures the feel of the dessert perfectly, and I never get tired of it.
4. Dragon Roost Island - Wind Waker
This is a such a great and aeclectic piece. The mix of the main wind with a continual and energetic backbeat and complimentary strings makes this one of the most textured songs in the series. The melody itself is also one of Koji Kondo's stronger melodies. Dragon Roost, with it's nautical flair, captures the essence of the sea.
(NOTE: I particularly like the live addition I posted above, and how it replaces the main wind instrument with a violin, and mixed in a few more stringed-instruments. I also love how the emphasize the slapping beats.)
5. Borelo of Fire - Ocarina of Time
Though incredibly short in length, this is one of the best melodies by Koji Kondo. It'd be amazing to see this theme used again later, and lengthen into a full piece that further escalates the rush and warmth of fire and still commentating on the relationship between Link and Shiek at this point of the game (She acts like their friend, but she's so mysterious. Her movements are like a flame, flickering in and out; it's hard to tell what she'll do next, but there's something very comforting about her as well).
6. Toward the Downfall - Adventure of Link
I love this cover of the AoL song. While AoL is the Dark Horse of the series, it still has it merits. It makes me long for more music like this during the fight sequences in the games. I believe echoes of it are used in Brawl, but I want more. It makes you want to fight, it makes you want to be Link and save Hyrule! And I'm probably going to use it during the end credits of my Zelda movie.
(NOTE: The guy who did this cove was nice enough to type up the tab for me, but the summer swallowed me up and I never finish translating to ukulele -failure-).
7. Spirit Tracks Main Theme - Spirit Tracks
While it wasn't the best Zelda game I've ever played (the story was too cookie-cutter and lacked depth, but the dungeon system was a big improvement from PH), this main theme is amazing. The story wasn't incredibly reaching high, but this theme sold it the game. It's wonderfully captures the feel of adventuring, and I love the backbeak, which emulates the sound of a steam trains cranking engines, along with the mix of the train's whistle.
8. Oath of Order - Majora's Mask
Haunting and beautiful, just like the game it belongs to.
9. Lost Woods Theme - Ocarina of Time
A classic that brings back memories of playing Ocarina for the first time, which for many fans was their first and/or favorite game. It also represents the more fun and child-like aspect of the games, which nicely contrasts with some of the darker themes.
10. Ballad of the Wind Fish - Link's Awakening
While not a personal favorite, this song is a huge fan favorite, that captures the dream-like state of the island in Link's Awakening perfectly.
Honorary Mentions:
Zelda's Lullaby - A Link to the Past
Windmill Hut/Song of Storms - Ocarina of Time
Just for Fun:
Zelda Rap, 1988 Commerical.
Japanese Zelda Commercial.
I SHALL LEARN THIS DANCE, I SHALL!
PS All this Zelda music talk makes me want to get a new Ocarina. I have six-hole songbird, but it just doesn't do it for me. The twelve-hole sounds so much nicer and fuller.
1. Don't Want You No More - Twilight Princess
Click to viewThis is the only official and fully orchestrated piece of Zelda music in existence. It adds an extra dimension to the piece, but even if the piece wasn't fully orchestrated, the actual composition itself is amazing capturing the beauty and excitement of Hyrule, while still embodying the darker world of Twilight Princess. Te surprising thing is that it wasn't composed by Koji Kondo, yet it captures so much that is the esscence and drama of Zelda. Koji Kondo is a genius, but with a piece like this I can't help but embrace the new blood.
2. Title Theme - Legend of Zelda
This piece IS Zelda; it is the signature of the franchise. You can't help but feel a sense of energy and excitement when the main melody sounds. A melody which has worked it's way into so many additional pieces over the course of the years.
3. Geurdo Valley - Ocarina of Time
Geurdo is very unique in that is very different from the majority of the Zelda music. It still bears the Koji Kondo's style, but the choice of instruments addes variety to a mostly wind and heavy string score. It captures the feel of the dessert perfectly, and I never get tired of it.
4. Dragon Roost Island - Wind Waker
This is a such a great and aeclectic piece. The mix of the main wind with a continual and energetic backbeat and complimentary strings makes this one of the most textured songs in the series. The melody itself is also one of Koji Kondo's stronger melodies. Dragon Roost, with it's nautical flair, captures the essence of the sea.
(NOTE: I particularly like the live addition I posted above, and how it replaces the main wind instrument with a violin, and mixed in a few more stringed-instruments. I also love how the emphasize the slapping beats.)
5. Borelo of Fire - Ocarina of Time
Though incredibly short in length, this is one of the best melodies by Koji Kondo. It'd be amazing to see this theme used again later, and lengthen into a full piece that further escalates the rush and warmth of fire and still commentating on the relationship between Link and Shiek at this point of the game (She acts like their friend, but she's so mysterious. Her movements are like a flame, flickering in and out; it's hard to tell what she'll do next, but there's something very comforting about her as well).
6. Toward the Downfall - Adventure of Link
I love this cover of the AoL song. While AoL is the Dark Horse of the series, it still has it merits. It makes me long for more music like this during the fight sequences in the games. I believe echoes of it are used in Brawl, but I want more. It makes you want to fight, it makes you want to be Link and save Hyrule! And I'm probably going to use it during the end credits of my Zelda movie.
(NOTE: The guy who did this cove was nice enough to type up the tab for me, but the summer swallowed me up and I never finish translating to ukulele -failure-).
7. Spirit Tracks Main Theme - Spirit Tracks
While it wasn't the best Zelda game I've ever played (the story was too cookie-cutter and lacked depth, but the dungeon system was a big improvement from PH), this main theme is amazing. The story wasn't incredibly reaching high, but this theme sold it the game. It's wonderfully captures the feel of adventuring, and I love the backbeak, which emulates the sound of a steam trains cranking engines, along with the mix of the train's whistle.
8. Oath of Order - Majora's Mask
Haunting and beautiful, just like the game it belongs to.
9. Lost Woods Theme - Ocarina of Time
A classic that brings back memories of playing Ocarina for the first time, which for many fans was their first and/or favorite game. It also represents the more fun and child-like aspect of the games, which nicely contrasts with some of the darker themes.
10. Ballad of the Wind Fish - Link's Awakening
While not a personal favorite, this song is a huge fan favorite, that captures the dream-like state of the island in Link's Awakening perfectly.
Honorary Mentions:
Zelda's Lullaby - A Link to the Past
Windmill Hut/Song of Storms - Ocarina of Time
Just for Fun:
Zelda Rap, 1988 Commerical.
Japanese Zelda Commercial.
I SHALL LEARN THIS DANCE, I SHALL!
PS All this Zelda music talk makes me want to get a new Ocarina. I have six-hole songbird, but it just doesn't do it for me. The twelve-hole sounds so much nicer and fuller.