Google Play Store's Twitter/X Account Goes on a Bizarre Sonic Rambling Spree, Leaving Even Sonic Himself to Question What's Going On 20 replies
ImPantsAtThis Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Here's the thing -- I love the vocal themes for Sonic games. Not just 'cause they're great pieces of music (most are though), but because something about them screams production values. I don't mean money put into the project -- funding doesn't always = the best -- I mean time; main vocal themes like Endless Possibilities and Reach for the stars exude passion for the game, as if the sound team have poured their hopes for each project into the main vocal track. They kind of... By putting so much force behind their main tune, the team make it an embodiment of the game, a shining example of its tone and themes. Lost world's music, to me, is pretty generic. More than that though, there doesn't seem to be any care, any tangible-seeming effort in making the game's OST tremendous. Nothing is a better metaphor for your commitment to a piece of entertainment than a talented vocalist belting out lyrics that personify its very spirit. And that's how it looks to me -- Lost World doesn't have spirit. The orchestral instrumental score makes it feel like a frolic through a field rather than an intense, new adventure. Maybe the lack of a vocal theme isn't what caused this, I don't know, but it seems to contribute to the lack of an atmosphere in LW at least. So, if they bring back vocal themes, I'd be tempted to say Sonic Team finally know what they're doing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Incarnate Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Here's the thing -- I love the vocal themes for Sonic games. Not just 'cause they're great pieces of music (most are though), but because something about them screams production values. I don't mean money put into the project -- funding doesn't always = the best -- I mean time; main vocal themes like Endless Possibilities and Reach for the stars exude passion for the game, as if the sound team have poured their hopes for each project into the main vocal track. They kind of... By putting so much force behind their main tune, the team make it an embodiment of the game, a shining example of its tone and themes. Lost world's music, to me, is pretty generic. More than that though, there doesn't seem to be any care, any tangible-seeming effort in making the game's OST tremendous. Nothing is a better metaphor for your commitment to a piece of entertainment than a talented vocalist belting out lyrics that personify its very spirit. And that's how it looks to me -- Lost World doesn't have spirit. The orchestral instrumental score makes it feel like a frolic through a field rather than an intense, new adventure. Maybe the lack of a vocal theme isn't what caused this, I don't know, but it seems to contribute to the lack of an atmosphere in LW at least. So, if they bring back vocal themes, I'd be tempted to say Sonic Team finally know what they're doing. I agree with you 100 and 10 percent (surprise surprise). Vocal themes are amazing IMO, because they're part of what gives 3D Sonic soundtracks an identity and describe the tone and feel of where the soundtrack is overall going in a nutshell. Whether or not they're downplayed is fine, I didn't mind it for Unleashed and Colors, but removing them all together doesn't make me feel like I'm listening to a Sonic soundtrack anymore(or at least in Lost World's case). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryusuke Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 For me, vocal themes were part of the fun of the 2000-era of Sonic games. They were pretty corny most of the time, but meh, this is a series about a talking blue hedgehog that doesn't even look like a hedgehog. Much of the early CRUSH 40 stuff (Open Your Heart, Live & Learn, What I'm Made Of, I Am All Of Me, and for their later stuff...I really liked Live Life), Endless Possibility, Fly In the Freedom (SA), Sonic Boom, With Me, Waking Up, Team Chaotix, Lazy Days (Livin' in Paradise), You Can Do Anything, Look Alike (if you can count anime songs : P), Sonic Drive, E.G.G.M.A.N, Un-Gravitify, and despite how much I complain about how long it'll stay in your head...the entire Sonic R soundtrack. XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kireek Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Most of the Sonic vocal themes are guilty pleasures for me; While I can admit that the majority of them aren't very good, I still enjoy giving them a listen. Endless Possibility and Reach for the Stars are probably the biggest exceptions to this, since I think they are both legitimately pretty good tracks- not just in a "so bad its good" way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VGamer Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 Oh boy, here we go. Endless Possibilities Dear My Friend Worth a Chance All Team Themes in Heroes & What I'm Made Of (Except for Team Rose) E.G.G.M.A.N (Shadow Remix) Blue on the Run (If this counts?) It Has Come to This Race to Win Free (Chris Madin, NOT Crush 40) Sonic Boom (Crush 40 ft. Cash Cash, not the original) Open Your Heart (Crush 40 vs. Bentley Jones) Open Your Heart (Chris Vrenna and Mark Blasques Remix) Dreams of an Absolution (Starry Night Remix) AlsoSonicX'sOpeningThemePlsDon'tKillMe Anything else I didn't mention I'm probably a bit hesitant about, or really just can't stand (unless it's from Black Knight, haven't listened to it's tracks yet). I'd say that the series has had it's really great hits, but it's also got some really annoying ones that I can't stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish David Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 My Favourites include: - We Can City Escape Live and Learn Believe in Myself Free Endless Possibility Sonic Heroes Open Your Heart Reach for the Stars I Am All of Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pit of Mystic Cave Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Open Your Heart, Escape from the City, and Lazy Days are literally the only ones I've ever cared about. I know Lazy Days' lyrics are cringe worthy, but I just can't get enough of the slide guitar and piano, especially during their respective solos. Honestly, I'm indifferent about almost every other vocal song. They just never stick with me like the infectious melodies of the stage themes or even the simplicity of some of the menu tracks (check out Sonic Adventure 2 Tutorial Music). I previously stated being indifferent to all other tracks, but it just struck me whilst writing this. The two vocal song I detest are Endless Possibility and His World. I realize it might be a bit of an unpopular opinion to hate Endless Possibility, but I just LOATH Jaret Reddick's voice. The lyrics of the song are well written, but the way Reddick sings just screams angsty, whiny, teenage douche bag (not saying anything about his character). It's such a shame, because his voice is the only problem I have with the song and I can't find tride and true instrumental version anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Shephard Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 My favorites: Un-gravitify, Seven Rings in Hand(and pretty much every song from Secret Rings), It Doesn't Matter SA1 version, What I'm Made of, Sonic Heroes, His World. There are pretty good ones(We can, Team Chaotix, Believe in Myself, Lazy Days) while others are terrible(nearly all vocal theme from Shadow The Hedgehog, My sweet Passion, Speak with your heart, Live and Learn(yeah, you read that right). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Failinhearts Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Reach For The Stars is my favorite Vocal Song! Honestly... also my favorite song, period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriendBot Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 To be honest, I like a big majority of the Sonic vocal theme songs. From Sonic Boom to It Doesn't Matter to Reach for the Stars, I just cna't pick a favourite, honestly. But my least favourite is My Destiny and Sweet Dreams since they are not that memorable to me and My Destiny lyrics heavily emphazies the "love" between Elise and Sonic, which I really don't like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggs Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I think it'd be interesting if we had vocal themes along the lines of those from Sonic CD's JP/EU soundtrack. A mixture of Japanese and English vocals with an upbeat nature akin to 'You Can Do Anything' would be quite charming, even if it doesn't exactly represent much due to how unpopular Sonic is in Japan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizcrybe Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I think it'd be interesting if we had vocal themes along the lines of those from Sonic CD's JP/EU soundtrack. A mixture of Japanese and English vocals with an upbeat nature akin to 'You Can Do Anything' would be quite charming, even if it doesn't exactly represent much due to how unpopular Sonic is in Japan. Actually, CD's JP vocal tracks were completely in English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indigo Rush Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 SA1's "It Doesn't Matter" is my jam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayhan Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Hah, just the type of topic I was looking for! When it comes to vocal themes, my absolute favorites are in order: Live & Learn, Open your Heart, What I'm made of and Knight of the Wind. This goes without saying that I'm a huge Crush 40 fan; the music they make is great. Johnny is a mad, talented vocalist, and Jun's riffs make me wanna jump around in my room while headbanging and doing some air guitar. I think that Crush 40 has done a tremendous job in creating memorable theme songs for this franchise. And as an aspiring singer who's passionate about Sonic, I'd like to do the same (if I'm ever fortunate enough to get such a chance). ;P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tani Coyote Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 That Crush 40 is releasing a new EP makes me optimistic about the future of vocal themes in this franchise, myself. I consider vocal themes, however delightfully campy they may be, to be one of the signature qualities of Sonic the Hedgehog's music, and seeing them in decline is a huge disappointment. I don't know many other bestselling franchises that make such heavy use of vocal music, and so this is saddening; Sonic's lost yet another of its most distinctive qualities. I guess SEGA just doesn't really want to use Crush 40's rock anymore, which is sad. I assume they instead want a "softer" musician who will stay around for more than a game; after the Bentley Jones controversy, I'm guessing that's become more difficult. If Boom doesn't have a vocal theme, I guess we can officially consider the whole concept retired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octarine Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 If Boom doesn't have a vocal theme, I guess we can officially consider the whole concept retired. I'm not sure why you would think that. If there's one thing that seems to be clear from SEGA's end when it comes to Boom, it's that it and Sonic Team's work are unlikely to conform to each other in that kind of way. Actually, I'd almost be willing to bet that whatever Boom does, Sonic Team is liable to do the exact opposite out of spite to keep the brands distinct. The Boom game is kind of a special case anyway since it'll probably just use whatever theme song the cartoon has. So probably vocal, but also probably not much like any theme the games have had before. Unless they actually use Sonic Boom~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Letters From Sonic Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I really like My Destiny & my all time favourite will be Dear My Friend and Endless Possibility for me they go very well with the mood of the game. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TearForFear Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I don't know why, but vocal songs such Endless Possibilities Believe In Myself Reach For The Stars Dreams Of An Absolution His World Speak With Your Heart make me feel... melancholic. Honestly. They're not sad like Dear My Friend (actually these songs are not sad at all!) and still I have a little lump in my throat when I listen to them Maybe it's their melody, I don't know.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 Man, I love these kind of topics. There fun to answer like really! Anyway what are the vocal songs I like. Well that's a easy answer. I love the likes of.... Escape From The City SA2, With Me Crush 40, Livin In Paradise Big's theme SA1, Dear my Friend actually is a very relaxing song. And finally What I'm Made is also a great song. I enjoy these songs because there just great to listen too and really bring up your mood for the most part. I would also love to see these return one day because the series really needs these again in my opinion. Besides there really fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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