Leitmotif in Hollow Knight's Soundtrack

In the final installment of this series looking at the Hollow Knight soundtrack I follow the development of the game's main theme throughout several boss battle themes, analyze what makes each variation on the theme fit the emotional tone at hand, and explore some of the music's implications on the game's lore.
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#HollowKnight #videogamemusic #musictheory

[@DaSquyd]

Ah yes, "bloawwwoow", my favorite chord

[@arcu965]

all shall bow to the bloawwwoow

[@PseudOni_]

@@arcu965 "My king... Your *bloawwwoow* "

[@DaSquyd]

「Catch the Rainbow」 「Blackmore」 15:10

[@grapes5672]

bloawwwoow blowwwoow blowwow lowwow wowwow wow wow Wow Wow cowboy

[@starwindlea2819]

bloawwwoow, bloaw, blaow to Gorb!

[@XinGraves13]

"I want to continue the *tram* of thought, here..." as he gets on the tram. Nice.

[@Ben_R4mZ]

So I WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

[@XinGraves13]

@@Ben_R4mZ heh.

[@placeadrien5566]

@@Ben_R4mZ Is this a Radiohead reference ?

[@TheAvgCommentator]

@@placeadrien5566 No it's an 8-bit Music Theory reference, from the first Hollow Knight video when he announces the month of Hollow Knight.

[@placeadrien5566]

@@TheAvgCommentator Oh ok my bad. (In case you never did, I would recommend you to go listen to I Will by Radiohead, it's a beautiful song (1-2 min long iirc) ! :D)

[@Ooo-hw8nu]

So... if the silksong music is as good, which it probably will be, could we see another one of these?

[@sockknight3927]

Yes please!!

[@sato4768]

After watching this one I thought the exact same thing.

[@BassBoostingBrony]

PRETTY PRETTY PLEAAAAASSE!

[@michaelvisosky743]

I agree wholeheartedly (and am also the 69th person to like this comment [nice]). Looking forward to see what new musical motifs we get, too - I'm putting money on a "Weaver's" motif that'll be heard multiple times.

[@gaymothaunt]

i suspect there already is one, though i don't know enough about music notes/theory to give the notes it's in the trailer's main music when it picks up and becomes bombastic, and I noticed one of the NPCs Hornet visits sing it as well

[@titch8948]

"The melody is trapped in place, playing out a cycle that is destined to repeat itself" *plays Sealed Vessel* Yup, that's Path of Pain right there.

[@DigiTism]

“How often do you have to pay attention to a game’s menu music?” *Dark Souls 3 intensifies*

[@owenkaplan2179]

I was literally just thinking this exact same thing! dude...

[@JBzucc]

As weird as it might seem i thought of Dying Light The games soundtrack i think sets such a unsettling tone

[@DoomKitty3000]

Is this about the supposed lyrics to the track? because those are bogus.

[@Fartbruhs]

Chris's C i literally read this as he said it and didn’t realize until after...

[@alexiusbrown611]

[Me]: I'm looking at you Skyrim

[@TriteHexagon]

You really should team up with mossbag and make a collab exploring what the music tells about the lore. That would be incredible.

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

TriteHexagon Ahh... bapanada.

[@voldy3565]

Yea

[@mrqwebsonsayslol]

sixstringpsycho *Sigh* bapanada*

[@loogatdisdood]

PATAMAS GEO

[@why3994]

DOMA DOMAA

[@JairusC]

I bought the game because of you. No regrets whatsoever. Larkin is a godsend and so are you. EDIT: The endings are so much more impactful knowing just how intentional and phenomenal the music was scored to the game. EDIT2: I beat the radiance and the way the music was programmed to work with reaching the pinnacle was phenomenal. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS GAME.

[@pangalaxy2885]

Good luck, you're gonna need it.

[@ThisisKyle]

I'm thinking of doing the same

[@JairusC]

@@ThisisKyle I bought it three or so days ago and sunk 46 hours into it thanks to vacation. It's so worth it.

[@r4zpu71n]

@@JairusC I also watched the first video on Hollow Knight and bought the game that day.

[@numanuma20]

That is exactly how I biy my games, because he showcases the music theory behind the games.

[@Landis963]

I suspect that the use of the Hollow Knight theme in the False Knight and Watcher Knight boss themes is meant to foreshadow the player character's nature - like these bosses and the Hollow Knight himself, the Knight is an empty shell piloted by an outside force. Both these boss fights take place well before any inklings about the Vessels and how the Knight relates to them, IIRC, and the use of the theme here is an early notice of "Hey, keep an eye out for situations like this, they'll be important!"

[@orio-kami7601]

I'm french, what IIRC means?

[@Landis963]

L'acronym veut dire "If I Remember Correctly," ou "si je rappelle avec du raison" en francais.

[@orio-kami7601]

@@Landis963 Thank you very much!

[@bettyunicorn6132]

That makes sense 💎

[@abuffzucchini]

@Landis963 That is a good point, although the 'intended' route would involve beating the Broken Vessel before Watcher Knights. Most players wouldn't think to bounce off of background objects anyways lol.

[@olive5636]

10:45 "playing out a cycle that's destined to repeat itself" I got CHILLS when you made that connection to the game's vanilla ending - it makes the leitmotif in Sealed Vessel just so much more brilliant, holy shit.

[@darklusare7582]

16:46 and then this one. I never thought that soundtrack points at it that way as well as cinematics.

[@eadbert1935]

i don't fully agree with this... i think the vanilla ending is not a neverending cycle, but also an end to the infection. what i love about the cinematic is the orange eyes "going out", which usually would be a bad sign in most games. and as most people don't understand the lore at that point, the ending feels bad. but if you actually know the lore, the eyes going away actually shows you're a working vessel, possibly able to contain the infection forever. yeah, it's not as good as outright destroying it, but it's definetly a better ending than the non-flower godhome ending. and playing the game for the first time, i often felt like i was going around completing stuff, not fully understanding what is going on, therefore lacking an emotional bond to anything (except for the grubs). so i really fit the theme of the hollow knight having "no will to break". (we could also have a philosophical discussion about how gamers often complete tasks just for the sake of it, but that's not what i'm here for xD)

[@eadbert1935]

@@Goferek5 i do admit that my "good" view of this ending is purely speculative, as is yours... making the ending itself neutral as both viewpoints are valid. i thought nosk just mimicked its prey. i seem to recall that godhome gives creatures their best* state back. for nosk, that's the last moment it had wings. and the last person it tried to lure in was hornet, who then clipped its wings. i admit the hunters journal does give your theory sense, i can't really discredit it, but it doesn't really disprove mine either but what that would still mean is that the vanilla ending (with zote left to die) should still be somewhat good, while the "sealed siblings" ending is bad as not only hornet is trapped, but you've also had the time to bond with her and therefore fail. *PV before being corrupted, radiance before being forgotten, oro and mato (and probably vengefly monarchs) before being seperated

[@Mqstodon]

@@Goferek5 that is true...before gettinh the void heart. After that? Completely empty

[@pedroivog.s.6870]

I didn't recognize the leitmotif because of this pause but it's amazing

[@jonopens]

The Path of Pain is the place to most purely appreciate that song. The stress placed on the player and the lack of an enemy pushes the despairing music right into you, accentuating the accomplishment when you complete it. Love this game so much.

[@jyuppiter4540]

YES! Couldn't put this feeling into words for the longest time, thank you.

[@lukespore]

too bad the two guards at the end fucking ended all of that sensation LOL but it is really amazing

[@JustAWildSkullKid]

Also missing a jump in that platforming segments gives you the best impression of what having a blade penetrating you from side to side feels like without actually having to do it.

[@JustAWildSkullKid]

@@lukespore well if you want there's a modded version without guards. It doesn't break the immersion and fits the story a lot better.

[@danemp4727]

The first time I fought the hollow knight, and the music shifted into that slow sad sway of what I had been previously listening to over the entire game, and I realized he was actually trying to help me and kill himself while being used by the infection so much it was picking his body up and throwing him at me...I couldnt not cry. When hornet came in with the "git gud" and I dream nailed into the radiance fight the beauty of what this game is took me over and I lost it.

[@triangletriangle4520]

when \the music hit when the hollow knight start quirreling his own lake, it was very sad

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

WAIT YOU FORGOT TO ALSO NERD OUT OVER GRIMM’S MUSIC

[@LoraLoibu]

i think either there was no DLC when he made the video or he just didn't get the DLC

[@_maestro7168]

@@LoraLoibu well i mean, that dlc released nearly two years before the vid, and theyre all free and come installed with the game. so its more likely he just didnt have as much to say about them

[@TimeLordNivek]

@@LoraLoibu he talks about the path of pain, which was a part of the Grimm update

[@yeahkeen2905]

@@LoraLoibu did you even check the date of the video?

[@craigleverone414]

@@LoraLoibu when he shows the menu at the beginning of the vid, you can see all dlc's in the bottom left corner

[@nikhilm2803]

At first I was confused when the hollow knight started stabbing himself, but then I realized why, and it broke my heart

[@pumasd1085]

The Pure Vessel from the godmaster DLC also has a variation of the vessel leitmotif

[@jackdrye4348]

@@thealmightybreadloaf8042 He pissed on my fucking vessel

[@Big-Chungus21]

Plappy _ he said his void tentacles were ‘THIS BIG’

[@LoraLoibu]

@@Big-Chungus21 this is why i love the internet

[@spark1400]

If you don't mind me asking, where exactly in the song can the leitmotif be heard? I just listened to it and couldn't find it anywhere.

[@JustMaiyak]

Double A in Pure Vessels, Pale Court as well

[@PerpetualNoob]

Fantastic video. Thank you. God that second part of Sealed Vessel gets me every time.

[@rootbourne4454]

I thought I might see you in the comments of this video! I totally agree. Sealed vessel is such a powerful song.

[@SoməøneXD]

i literally had to fight tears, but a few were still let out

[@crocketlawnchair259]

It certainly helped out that utterly depressing section at the end of your Hollow Knight boss video.

[@uwirl4338]

The only game in which circlejerk I'm proud to be a part of.

[@DefinitelyNotShane]

You are a part of the problem. Who am I kidding? This game is great.

[@KhoiV]

I hate this so much because it's true

[@emmbeesea]

TL:DR; 8-bit Music Theory loves Hollow Knight and no one can blame them; its music is wonderful to analyze.

[@taiyosketches]

Both Hollow Knight and Undertale nailed this entire leitmotif thing. I never played either of them but wow they are like my favorite games.

[@gabeh9182]

Get them my guy

[@ClownLordi]

Taiyo Sketches snag hollow knight. It’s only 15 bucks

[@Big-Chungus21]

ehhhh, undertale has like 2 good leitmotifs, the rest are lazily slapped in. For instance a lot of the music is pretty much the same, but its used in a way that makes no sense.

[@otaku-chan4888]

@@Big-Chungus21 I'll say that the good thing about Undertale's music is that even to people who have no ear for background scores, the music made them stop to take notice. While I feel Hollow Knight's music is more evocative overall, Undertale did a good job of using 8-bit music in a way that could impress the uninitiated. Toby Fox may have been cheeky and slowed down, sped up or reused 90% of the soundtracks, but it never sounded forced. I feel like both games had good music in their own way. Undertale's genocide music is honestly kinda ehh. But the game never intended for you to have fun while playing it, so in a way even the music is punishing you. The pacifist run had a lot of remixed tracks, but it was goofily done in a way that lets you know you're supposed to have a good time. The music is never at odds with even the most trivial of gags on screen, and it helps even the most distracted players I've seen focus on whatever's going down in the pixelated visuals. Meanwhile Hollow Knight would _definitely_ not be the same if the music was in 8-bit. It has this somber effect of changing your mood the moment you open the game and the menu loads up. It successfully detracts from the fact that all the character designs are low-key adorable lol

[@cawareyoudoin7379]

A game where you play as a canonically non-gendered character with the appearance of a child, descend into a despaired, dying kingdom, where the queen has isolated herself because of the radical, deadly actions her husband had taken in an attempt to save the kingdom, where you have a special power because of the mysterious substance you contain, which can be dangerous to others, where royal children die sacrificing themselves and fail, where you can get a different ending depending on the actions you take, where the lore can be deduced from the dialogue and from the ancient tablets, where basically no characters are morally pure, even the main antagonist? Ah, yes, I love it, my favourite game!

[@eslushpuppy64]

you know the music is powerful when you tear up watching a music theory video for a game you have never played...

[@fizzystarsong]

Everything about the game is beautiful. The music fits it perfectly.

[@shadoninja]

The most premium of premium content on KZbin. We are all lucky to have 8-bit Music Theory around :)

[@sammy3212321]

Ah, 8-bit Music Theory: where mossbag and Sideways overlap, my favourite place

[@np_animation6319]

The part about watcher knights and false knight being literally hollow really blew my mind. It's really amazing how we can connect and deduce all of these little things from such unexpected sources, and just when i got done with like 4 hours of Mossbag + finishing the game 6 times thinking i noticed every little thing.

[@brawlman644]

There's actually a small issue with that connection, the hollow knight motif is found in other boss themes as well that are not directly connected to the knight (for example, "Decisive Battle" and "Dung Defender" feature the Fungal Wastes version of the motif). I take this as the motif symbolizing the knight, not the boss being fought.

[@CellBits]

this series was amazing ♥️ thank u for doing it

[@jaimeopedreiro5028]

Esperemos por silksong

[@brunorcordeiro5260]

@@jaimeopedreiro5028 HYPE

[@periclescomoeddie5215]

Krl tu aqui. Espero uma série de Silksong!

[@cenouraroxa9184]

Olha o zerbit :0

[@s4ddict_9]

Zerbit, vc aq?

[@nicholasrestrepo2555]

Okay, this is big brain time If the bass line is like the Hollow Knight theme, then the rushing notes is in refrence to the radiance

[@elijahrosen401]

Sad it's over, glad it was made. Can't wait to see what's next :)

[@chaset2628]

Hopefully Silksong after it is released

[@koin799]

E3 example was really good, go check it out if you haven't

[@konodinger]

0:58 He Protecc He attacc But most importantly He doesn't respecc the main menu tracc

[@Alchemyst326]

As someone with no prior musical training and only minor experience with instruments, I just wanna say that it's really been neat to have it laid out why the music of Hollow Knight has the effect it does. Since I don't know much terminology, I had to figure out some the phrases used from context, but you explained and laid out the information clearly enough that I could recognize the various patterns and permutations and see/hear how they linked the pieces together. I'll have to keep an eye on your channel and see if you do any other games I've played.

[@borisrebic]

Right, when I first booted up Hollow knight, I was impressed by the main menu music so much that I sat in place humming it as it played. Exploring my way trough hallownest, the music has helped me get the feel of the area I was in. And the bosses? Every boss has a rythm, and a tempo. When I went to challenge Nightmare king Grimm, I was thinking "lets f*kin dance", and when I thought about it more, The more I conaidered every bossfight a dance, the easier it got. And the more fun it got. I remembered how I loved dance school and how it helped me match the tempo of each boss, dancing their dance in a beautifully animated, excellently composed and masterfully programmed performance. My little knight went from the bumbling baby he was, to an excellent dancer that matched the tempo of the music and subsequently, each boss. Music is an amazing tool in the right hands, and this mans hands are the bloody best.

[@schrottinator]

I promise I'll watch this video once I finished Hollow Knight.

[@crgaming8102]

I love you

[@schrottinator]

@@crgaming8102 Thank you.

[@IronianKnight]

Good man. Managed it yet?

[@schrottinator]

@@IronianKnight I am a very slow player. Also doesn't help that I have a full time job. :\

[@IronianKnight]

@@schrottinator awh well no worries, it's not going anywhere. Hallownest lasts eternal and all. Good luck!

[@yee_thellamamcyee2698]

*Talks about viola alot* OMG we're finally noticed! *sees no alto clef on viola parts* Oh... Nevermind... -Violas-

[@gigabyte2248]

I think this may be the first solo viola feature I've heard in the entireity of gaming. It kinda makes me want to dust off my viola and play it.

[@crowmagnon]

I feel conflicted

[@shootthechicken2583]

You watch Twoset?

[@yee_thellamamcyee2698]

@@shootthechicken2583 I mean I've heard of them and watched a few of their vids abt like idk, a year or two ago?

[@themustardman219]

Why is it that the first thing I think od when I see "alto clef" is the scientist in SCP?

[@leedle2171]

Timestamps: 2:48 (idk if this helps but) 2:26 / 1:18 - Menu Theme 3:28 - Intro Piano 5:27 - Broken Vessel 7:16 / 7:42 - False Knight 9:38 / 10:46 / 12:17 - Hollow Knight 14:55 / 16:04 / 16:59 - Sealed Vessel 15:36 / 16:27 (Pale King leitmotif)

[@rootbourne4454]

Hollow Knight is my favourite game of all time. I am so happy that you made this series!

[@shattermelon496]

same

[@Kadaspala]

same

[@dariohenriquez7773]

hope this cheer you up kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3uooaeif7KHbJI

[@jenjenneration]

Me: *sees 8-bit music theory made a video* *Sees it's about leitmotif in hollowknight* *Sees its 18 minutes long* *Cries with happiness*

[@cullenlatham2366]

You start talking about the imperfect vessel theme and for nearly the entire rest of the video, i could feel a knot in my chest form from the power of the music in a pure form, without gameplay distractions and system limitations. the knot stayed up until you began to start discussing the best (non-godmaster) ending, where hearing the unresolved string start one final time tightened the knot just to, on que with you saying "finally giving closure..." have it all release at once. then the tears started welling up with the gravity of the sealed siblings ending. A perfect example of just how powerful music can be, and you definitely heightened my respect for the game as a whole hearing the music and your discussion of it with these past 3 videos.

[@jiffylou98]

The hollow knight theme is the cat's pajamas. When I hear the call and response, I think of the contrast with the Knight and the Hollow Knight. We hear the rising melody that stops at the chord's conclusion, representing the Hollow Knights legacy and journey, then the knight's "response" as we follow his path and then later, conclude the phrase, in more sense than one.

[@ThiagoCRocha-fh6lg]

i am crying and you are crying too!! this series was 10/10 now imagine what they'll do in Silksong!!!!

[@FloofiWan]

Out of every version of the lore of Hollow Knight I've heard, this has been the only time it's made me cry, the way you explained it really made me realise the impact of the game more, you did really well with this, thankyou

[@iveharzing]

15:52 "And has my favorite music of the three." No kidding, I seriously teared up when I heard that music (16:03-17:27) "Beautiful."

[@TheAdvertisement]

0:34 “Tram of thought.”

[@AlexMadCry]

This analysis legit made me cry over how deep the lore is explained in even the music Just wow, beautiful

[@creditworthy6414]

when you dove into the lore I thought I was watching Mossbag for a second

[@thek3nger]

This series gave me renewed appreciation for Hollow Knight.

[@emresimsek4679]

Time to be a REAL bug and grow two more hands to play the mantis lords theme

[@lodgience]

8-bit Music Theory, finishing the video with Dream No More theme: Beautiful. me, completely crushed by the full analysis, sitting in tears, leaving a like and subscribing: *yes*

[@RobinLSL]

This might be your best and most important series yet, because of what you said at the end: all that depth isn't obvious at all while playing!

[@EmjiAmsdaughter]

I really don't understand all this music theory, but these videos are still really nice to watch! I love Hollow Knight and its music.

[@PartyCow_]

I actually have tears in my eyes the music for the Hollow Knight's second phase and the true ending are so beautiful I can't handle it. Also thank you for these amazing videos

[@wodnyrak]

that last ending’s explanation combined with the music had me on the verge of tearing up. What a great game.

[@aaronedvalson104]

Tying the concepts together musically triggered my 'it's too beautiful' reaction where I tear up and laugh. Larkin did such an amazing job, and you did an amazing job analyzing it. I wouldn't have ever connected the dots between all these tracks. Excellent video! Where did you get the scores displayed in the vid???

[@jaseiwilde]

I agree with you man! The hollow knight boss theme sounded like a we meet again brother. The hollow knight replies with the second theme of help me. 😍😍Great vid man! More fulfilling than coffee.

[@MickSwanson]

I have a very feeble understanding of music theory, so a lot of this series has gone over my head. However, even though I don't totally understand it, you explain things in a way that I can at least understand the connections you've made. Not only is Hollow Knight one of the best gameplay experiences I've ever had, the music is such a strong pillar that supports the game to make it the masterpiece it is. You've given me even more to appreciate about it, and for that I am thankful.

[@sleepyboi6245]

I can't wait for you to analize Silksong's muisc, honestly. I always tear up or feel like fighting a boss fight when I hear HollowKnight's music and I really hope Larkin will also do Silksong and also make it something amazing.

[@runnersshade6612]

I can't wait either, just hoping this comment won't be relevant a year from now lmao

[@-Silent_G-]

@@runnersshade6612 I hope my comment wont be relevant a year from now

[@bengoodwin2141]

Yes, my favorite motif! I hope you cover “pure vessel” Edit: aw...

[@aestheticleo7507]

I'm so worried that Silksong won't have as much depth. It'll be hard to match the level that Hollow Knight reached, but I'll put my trust in Team Cherry

[@Zeldinion]

Christopher Larkin has a passion to make his music in Silksong even better than hollow Knight according to team cherry.

[@h_k_hellion7268]

@@Zeldinion well I'm even more excited now

[@jyuppiter4540]

Stop hyping youself up then. Can't be dissapointed if you don't expect anything.

[@Zeldinion]

@@jyuppiter4540 It's Christopher Larkin. I'm hyped as hell

[@professionalsleeper6281]

Probably why they're taking so long with it

[@randydator4848]

Knowing all of this stuff, I can only adore this soundtrack more and more

[@pedroscoponi4905]

Holy shit you just explained why the music from the Abyss Climb scene feels so sad, it's the main theme repeating itself, unresolved fuck, this video is good. Thank you.

[@patrickharris1340]

The main menu theme of hollow knights is easily one of my favourite themes in the game. The somber feeling it gives sets the tone for the game as a whole

[@ASquared544]

Please do one more video on this talking about the DLC, Silksong, and other more minor stuff. You’re probably one of the only people looking into Hollow Knight’s music to look for lore, and it’s probably one of the best sources for lore.

[@catalinaplaza7909]

I'm crying over how the musics ties so closely to the lore and the fact that the Dream no More ending gives closer to the siblings.

[@bennemann]

The bit at 16:50 about the Hollow Knight 2nd phase theme being played again, but this time finally resolving to the tonic to convey a sense of closure, made me shiver all over my body as I listened to it, which I haven't done in a long time with music. Incredible stuff, and amazing analysis!

[@blenjamin]

Ah, the crowning glory to this awesome trilogy!

[@eadbert1935]

i really like you mentioning how (some of) these things went over your head when playing, i noticed some music being similar, that's it i was also so strongly focused in the THK fight i didn't realise the music changing when he started stabbing himself (weird nowadays after defeating PV a few times that THK once was an issue)

[@davidwilson8432]

I never thought the HK soundtrack were that masterful, thoughtful, and meaningful..

[@hillwench]

I love how well you address the lore in these videos. Some youtubers that try to talk about the music act like they're only played a tiny bit of the game and don't understand any of it, so it's nice to hear someone that understands the whole scope of the experience.

[@opposumness3107]

Dude that was phenomenal! Watched until I had to learn these themes myself, only to get absolutely sold when the choir came in. Thank you for providing sheet music, splendid commentary and great insight on the making of music as a whole. Also, is anyone else hearing a lot of resemblance with the Night King's theme from Game of Thrones?

[@lazaruscomplexofficial]

I started Hollowknight days before the first video and i had to cram hollowknight in my life as much as possible to be able to understand these. Amazing music and lore, and AS ALWAYS you are so amazing breaking these down as a writer/composer i live for these types of breakdowns

[@leedle2171]

You forgot the one when The Knight sits on the Pale King’s throne and the vessel leitmotif is layered over the Pale King leitmotif. There was also another snippet of the vessel leitmotif in the cutscene in the City Of Tears.

[@obamaball6578]

Never once been intrested in learning about how music is made or why it works but this video was really interesting. Also your voice is beautiful.

[@carloslazcano98]

This game became my favorite game two years ago when I played it and I kept discovering things about it and liking it more. I thought I couldn't discover more things and like it even more but you made it. This game is fucking amazing and thanks for these videos man

[@DanaTheLateBloomingFruitLoop]

I can't believe I waited to play the game until this year. The more I learn about it the more I fall in love with it. I am so excited for Silksong.

[@fl1ps659]

I'm heading to Berklee this fall for film scoring and studying your videos have actually helped me a ton with preparing thank you bless

[@gameo7]

10:43 “A cycle that is destined to repeat itself”

[@BORN753]

Also Resting Grounds theme is somehow reminiscent of Hollow Knight theme bass line.

[@noahtucker8491]

The Hollow Knight OST: I can’t believe it’s not cello!

[@roy4173]

I still get goosebumps hearing this. Thanks for this

[@Majoraspersona]

I'd love to see a series a videos like this for Underale/Deltarun. Due to the composer/writer/designer all being the same person, everything has a unique relationship to the music in the game.

[@utternonsense1998]

Sorry to say this, but you misspelled both Undertale and Deltarune.

[@kewdii]

Underale: The Drinking Game

[@nemo84]

13:34 I think it makes more sense to imagine that the Hollow Knight stabs himself out of guilt. The two moments referenced by the leitmotif unite his story. The one that explains why he was created and the one pointing why he failed in its mission. The Pale King's mistake was to treat him like a son. As a child raised by a committed father, Hollow Knight always wanted to make his father proud. The Hollow Knight is not intentionally helping the protagonist, he has no reason to believe that the Knight can succeed where he failed. Yes, he stabs himself to attack Radiance, but in an irrational way, out of frustration and guilt. In the only emotion he feels, the one Radiance used to escape the seal, Hollow Knight finds that he disappointed his father. The only emotion he feels is the need to please the Pale King. Just a theory, but it fits the game tone, because it gives a conclusion to the paradoxical tragedy of the Hollow Knight.

[@stormRed]

Christopher Larkin is so talented, I'm glad he's back for Silksong, especially since music seems to matter a lot in that game.

[@Wonderland_Jutomi]

My gosh the music alone makes me cry; I envy the artist's genius :')

[@dufric88]

I could just hug you for doing this game and its soundtrack such justice in your deep analysis. Love your channel ❤️ These days I'm less in touch with the music theory roots I had in my childhood but watching your videos helps me feel closer to them, even when I no longer have the working knowledge to understand every "bit" (pun intended)

[@MrGoof-if8rb]

Sometimes when I start the Hollow Knight I just sit at the title screen and listen to the music

[@TheFrozenGeode]

the abyss also has a like 1000% slowed down or smth version of the theme in the main ambience, a really nice touch

[@hrothgarnogar]

Hollow Knight is a freaking masterpiece.

[@Primal_aspid.]

broken vessel's theme is so good

[@terdragontra8900]

beautiful analysis for a beautiful game, btw in my opinion your second deep lore dive is 100% legit

[@wombatpandaa9774]

Thank you do much for making these videos. This game is a work of art, and it's touching to see someone examine it as such. You covered a lot of things I missed, and that was awesome. I love this game so much, I was on the verge of tears again just hearing that beautiful music. One day, I'll get %112. Probably.

[@Jellylamps]

The fight against the Hollow Knight has my favorite music in any game. Thank you for talking about it

[@charliejulietdavies8715]

i suddenly remembered how amazing this game's soundtrack is, and i had to come back and rewatch this

[@asd-du3ey]

every time I listen to sealed vessel, I just feel... sad

[@ruthlesslistener]

Honestly super excited to play Silksong just so we can compare the tone set by Hornet's adventure compared to The Knight/Little Ghost. Already we see that it feels kind of like a faster, angrier, more desperate track by the samples we have of Lace's theme, which fits Hornet, really- she's the last truly living member of her family, born of God and Beast, and she still seems to be figuring out just what she's supposed to do with her life. She was born as bargain, and had to survive the death of her family and the fall of both her birth kingdoms, and now she's captured, in a foreign city, and has to fight back to escape. But with the Vessels, their journey is not a happy one- they were children born specifically for a sacrifice, killed in the egg and brought back to use as sacrificial soldiers. They cannot escape their duty, but many of them- pretty much all of them- are incapable of fulfilling it or being fully hollow (say what you will about The Knight being supposedly hollow, I always interpreted the sealed vessel ending as being equivalent to linking the fire in Dark Souls- eventually they'd fail, and then another would have to take their place). And even if they did, to what extent would their sacrifice be worthwhile? Hallownest stands eternal, in stasis, but it's a toumb. The vast majority of the civilians are dead or infected (and we don't see if killing the Radiance heals the infected bugs). They were killed in the millions to protect something that eventually fell anyways, and even the last ones still living are damned to die for this crumbling ruin. You're not playing as a big hero or a fierce demigoddess fighting for her freedom, you're playing as a dead child that only wishes to fufill their duty so that their siblings may see peace. Hollow Knight was not a happy story, it was bittersweet- about learning to healthily accept death (and other things). I'm curious to see how Silksong's music contrasts, then, with Hornet's own story, as well as the foreshadowing that it will give to tie certain characters together and/or the different endings presented (bc idk about y'all but when i heard the menue theme and it tied to all of the Vessels i knew we weren't gonna get a truly happy ending) Also, I interpreted the slow emergence of the Pure Vessel's theme in Sealed Vessel to be indication as to who was really 'in control' during the fight. The Radiance was puppeteering their body during the first half of the fight, but during the second half, you see them desperately trying to kill themselves before she uses them to kill The Knight. Their theme was still present in the first half of Sealed Vessel, buried under all the other stuff going on, but it slowly emerges as they fight to regain control over their body, and help carry out the purpose they failed- to kill the Radiance, and stop the Infection. No matter what cost it might take

[@tommapar]

Am I the only one that gets teary upon the realization that the music is so well interwoven with the themes and story of the game?

[@jellomiki]

Story telling via music might just be my favorite thing ever, thank you for translating it for us

[@commandermime38]

Shame you talked about Lost Kin, but not Pure Vessel. Oh well. Still a masterful examination of one of the best VGM soundtracks of all time.

[@Vladek16]

that conclusion about the hollow knight leitmotif only playing fully when he can rest, his duty fulfilled.. you made me almost cry man 😭

[@roselily20062]

8-bit Music Theory: talking about music terms and how the sound design brilliantly uses music techniques to amazingly use the leitmotif Me, only understanding that leitmotif means a part of a song used in other songs: :O

[@gojibbq]

thanks for making me cry all over again, dude

[@ABaier-pn1pl]

I just stumbled on your channel and am very happy! I'm a pianist studying music and was loving the soundtrack of Hollow Knight. Whilst knowing it has Lietmotifs as my other most favourite Soundtrack, the Lord of the Rings, you just really filled my heart by analysing it further and revealing so much lore connection! I'm looking forward to watch more of your content! :)

[@northrain0462]

I can't thank you enough for this serie!

[@commentingcommenter1230]

Sometimes I wonder how Silksong can beat this true masterpiece. I'm super excited and I doubt Team Cherry will disappoint after learning from Hollow Knight!

[@duality4y]

i am in love with the main theme i learned it on piano :) i also love "Enter Hallownest" a whole lot.