Music Enhances Narrative in Shovel Knight

[@ajmachajewski]

"...inspired us" *shows Waluigi* Truly, inspirational.

[@ciarankeirle-singer1036]

Ayden Machajewski yes

[@gh8078]

Ayden Machajewski WA-la-WEE-gi, number wahn!

[@ZxCrono]

he Waa's there when no one else WAA's T_T

[@papi1050]

WAAAAAAA

[@snootboi6988]

Now, I want Waluigi in Smash.

[@MichaelPerlmutterIsTheBest]

I'm back. Shut the video off, bought Shovel Knight yesterday. Beat it tonight. Back to watch.

[@8bitMusicTheory]

You're my hero

[@mr._2994]

Jesus. How did you manage that?

[@deanciampa3620]

8-bit Music Theory Already beat Shovel of hope, Plaque of Shadows, And zspectar of Torment.

[@deanciampa3620]

Mikail van Dartel Me aswell

[@HarrisonVig]

Michael Perlmutter good man you've truly done yourself a favor

[@carterpadrick6029]

Sometimes I just listen to your explanations of chord progressions and see it written out and it gets really complex and I just stop and wonder how tf anybody does this intentionally. There's so much depth and complexity to nearly each and every note and It's so easy to get lost, but they somehow create whole tracks out of it. Ugh, I want to understand to that level of depth. I guess your videos are the best place to start.

[@MasDouc]

When that shovel Knight theme started trudging through the insanity during the final boss theme... Goosebumps.

[@seseiSeki]

I thought: "Hey, let's see what he thinks about the Shovel Knight music." But then: "Go play the game or get spoiled." Dayum. Now I have to put this video onto my "Watch after game completed" playlist.

[@dBradbury]

Alright, picked up Shovel Knight, just finished it - Watching the episode... And hey! Don't tell me to play Shovel Knight and then don't believe I'll do it before finishing the episode!

[@dBradbury]

Alright, done - Great overview. This game has fantastic music and I'm glad you covered the Shield Knight motif as extensively as you did, as that was certainly a part that stood out as great writing throughout. Thanks for continuing this enjoyable analysis!

[@8bitMusicTheory]

Thanks so much! Props for actually heeding a spoiler warning!

[@antimonia]

DarkEternal49 the main campaign isn't too bad. What level are you on?

[@OrangesofSymmetry]

My God there is some crazy stuff going on in that final boss theme. Even just glancing at the sheet music you know something is up. Cant wait to see more videos man!

[@EverydayEmira]

This all went over my head, but I still enjoyed the video.

[@atomicnarration1740]

Basically every video from this channel in a nutshell

[@hibiscusman]

Oh my god... Shield Knight's theme is my favorite part of the whole game, but I haven't finished it. Though I think I already anticipated the spoiler-y bit you're talking about, so here goes!

[@hibiscusman]

Yes. Yes yes yes. You're hitting on all the right points. That piece of music freaking DEFINES this game. So gud.

[@SharPhoe]

I loved this soundtrack already, but you'v opened my eyes to a new level of respect for these themes in particular, and earned yourself a subscriber.:)

[@lennonbarbosa5192]

11:35 Both chords AND notes are on phrygian mode. It fits perfectly in this case so he doesn't have to change the chord function intented for the motif, as he always change the fundamental note by a minor third in EVERY other music with the Shield Knight's motif. It's a simple yet genius way to keep the theme intact in the last boss's music.

[@InvalidFingerprint]

Once again, yet another brilliant video. Please keep up the fantastic work, I can't get enough of this!! As a theory nerd myself, these videos just make me feel like a bVI-bVII-I progression (I know, that was not funny nor cool)

[@8bitMusicTheory]

Thanks so much! Thats the highest compliment I think I've ever gotten

[@jayphonic9244]

I've watched this video so many times for so many reasons. I love Shield Knight's theme, I love when character motifs are reused in different pieces to represent a character's connection with other people and places within a game, and I just love Shovel Knight (well, as much as you can love any game without having played it)

[@Descenacre]

I really *dig* shovel knights music, i'm glad I *unearthed* this video! I love your videos you really know how to *work your ground* :D

[@smakyakproductions4466]

Canana Man ......why?

[@drnarwhal2888]

Bless this man

[@greatspaceadventure]

I can tell that you love music in all your videos. This is fantastic! I’m not so great with music theory, but you are exceedingly clear in all your explanations, which is immensely satisfying as well as educational. Cheers!

[@absoutezeo2126]

I'd really love to see a video on Plague of Shadows and Spectre of Torment as well, since they have great soundtracks too.

[@pianodan10]

Fantastic stuff, thanks. I think this Soundtrack is the greatest retro 8 bit OST ever composed. Subscribed, without question!

[@pianodan10]

Any plans to do Ogre Battle?

[@jasonulloa]

6:48 **whole note arpeggio** "yOu ArE gEtTiNg sLeEpY.... **thud, thud** No, wait." Haha, LOL.

[@kanikwami]

I already lost the count of how many times I watched all those videos. I keep learning more and more, while the video itself is amazing. 2 years passed since the beginning, and it passed fast. I really love your videos

[@cupriferouscatalyst3708]

kaufman is such a genius

[@pepn]

It's funny to see how small comunitites are a lot nicer, in general! This comment section seems nice!

[@FredrikJonassonMusic]

One of the best scores I've heard. Thanks for the vid!

[@IsaacClodfelter]

I went into this video knowing that shovel knight had some fun kick-ass music. I leave this video having had more fun looking at the actual notation of music than I think I ever had before just because of how you echoed my feelings for the music so well. Great video.

[@OdinComposer]

Once again great video! Keep it up. This is no joke my new favorite channel. I love how you are fast and to the point, while covering useful, interesting and challenging topics :)))

[@thrillhouse_vanhouten]

Absolutely awesome analysis. I'm working on a video about small details in Shovel Knight that never get talked about, and spent a couple hours this weekend going over Kaufman's score with a fine-toothed comb. Something I got really excited by was how you can detect Shield Knight's theme as a brief quote in the boss music for your Black Knight encounters. Why would this appear there? Because Black Knight has some connection to Shield Knight, and a rivalry to Shovel Knight. I'd love to hear you speak at length about even more of Kaufman's score for Shovel Knight, it's a real musical gem that sadly does not get enough credit, due to its quality as a chiptune score. If the score was played by a proper orchestra, it would be stunning.

[@dsdude8441]

They made a new variant of the shield knight theme where you fight shield knight in Specter of torment

[@lighttstrike6801]

Took your advice and played the game first and came back, and I'm so glad I did! This game is amazing.

[@depp657]

you are doing an excellent job bruv!! keep up the good work. much love!!

[@adamholm2436]

Great work as usual. I agree with the others about isolating certain bits when they can easily be drowned out.

[@EuryBartleby]

Having to catch Shield Knight is one of the most underrated moments in gaming. That's the moment I knew I was getting through the whole game. It's amazing.

[@EuryBartleby]

It's when the whole quest becomes clearly worth it.

[@Johnsonicv]

Love your videos, man. Keep it up~

[@ieria1443]

I couldn't help thinking back on this video when I played Spectre of Torment, both for _a certain reason_ and in general it made me appreciate the game's soundtrack even more

[@kiwikenobi]

I love Shovel Knight, I love its music, and now I love its music even more because of this video. Awesome job!

[@cesque]

good god, i don't envy the task of transcribing any of virt's music, most notably the portion at 9:30 ... also i'm not sure if you will have already listened to it, but his album FX4 has quite a lot of passages and tracks like this one, i'd definitely recommend it!

[@Khae.]

Finn Mefford already said it, but it is good to mention again in my opinion, it'd be great if you could isolate tracks in the future so we can actually hear the parts you're talking about, especially when it's a track as busy as the Shovel Knight soundtrack. Otherwise, fantastic work!

[@EmmaViv]

The main figure in Shield Knight's theme reminds me a lot of a musical figure from Beauty and the Beast: it shows up in the Prologue and the song "Home" from the stage show. It has a similar progression for large leaps up of an octave or seventh, then resolving down a step, while steadily descending. Considering the similar themes of love, loss, and curses, whether it's intentional or not it sure is effective.

[@mitchellsoares9328]

These videos are so impressive dude, awesome work

[@bigrich693]

This is great!!! Thank you for this, you now have a loyal subscriber! Love shovel knight!

[@michaelfranzosa158]

This video actually got me to play the game, absolutely brilliant music. And despite the spoilers, I still cried at the ending...

[@thelegomaster2830]

i played shovel knight before i knew about you channel.

[@bazzfromthebackground3696]

I was listening to this soundtrack all day at work. Got an idea for an orchestral arrangement album. Wouldn't do the whole ost (I don't have the wherewithal) just some select tracks I think mesh well.

[@specterthespectator8798]

Shovel Knight: You're gonna dig the soundtrack, that's for sure!

[@tangy3003]

Jake Kaufman (virt) is such a genius

[@roflomaozedong]

Oh you talked about my favorite track! so nice

[@jacobdagun3670]

I appreciate your concern, but I can't afford games right now! Rather, I shouldn't. ...I could... ...Lemme get back to you on this...

[@Garbageday666]

I have never been more affected emotionally by anything as much as the end of persona 3 between kimi no kiouku and living with determination combined with the bittersweet beauty of the concept and the moment

[@Neonator]

0:40 I actually stopped right here before you said anything else and I've finished playing Shovel Knight yesterday :3

[@elektrikhd]

I love minor 9th/add 2 chords. The song "Round Midnight" has some great ones, and the band Chicago is probably where I first got to know there sound when I was a kid listening to my dad's records. I like working them into my own music when I can.

[@IanKnowland]

I haven't beaten this game yet but I absolutely adore the soundtrack. Probably listened to it 10x more than I've ever spent playing the game. I know experiencing those moments is important but damn if I don't just like listening to it!

[@shiningarmor2838]

0:52 Thank you for not making a Bridle Gossip reference there.

[@pulsingutopia5523]

You point out the G and C#. I wonder why you didn't mention the tritone. By the way, excellent video! I'm glad that there are still people on the internet who deconstruct video game soundtracks like you. :D

[@kylerhamilton6676]

Phenomenal video thanks so much 🙏🏾

[@thetrooper507]

Awesome job! The soundtrack for Shovel Knight kind of reminds me of Elder Scrolls: Arena, especially the main theme. That would be a neat soundtrack to take a look at as well.

[@brandon-cs7fw]

makes me cry every time.

[@Gwunhar]

I let the video spoil the ending for me, but between this and Johnny Atma's cover I did buy and beat Shovel Knight this past Thursday. It's super good.

[@emerylafleur]

i'm not super musically literate but i know damn well that requiem of shield knight makes me cry every fucking time

[@rampagegaming3557]

What a taunt. I love these videos and I was really hoping to see undertale in here because of how popular of an indie game it was and was decently shocked when you havent done a video on it. I was wondering if you had played it but then a clip of the toriel battle played.

[@rampagegaming3557]

I was watching the shovel knight video and autoplay made the comment go here... Im not crazy

[@cuddleslapine]

I love Jake Kaufman's work.

[@QuikVidGuy]

all those ties... please, Kaufman, let your measures break for a second

[@FreekaNachuh]

I personally have never played shovel knight, but I have gotten an extreme liking to their music, and this video was done very well! I knew if anyone did a musical examination, it would be you! I really do how they reuse themes and motifs throughout the piece, but what really appeals to me are the bosses to their proper world themes. For me, examples of this include Strike the Earth! + The Rival, An Underlying Problem + The Claws of Fate, Adventure Awaits + End of Days, and, my personal favorite, Flowers of Antimony + The Vital Vitriol. The way they reuse melodies and chord structures to get familiar feels is just pure genius. What do you think?

[@CGammer101]

I didn't understand 5/6 of what you said, since im still a *very* beginner in music theory; but I love this game and I love this song.

[@karplusstrong]

this music makes me cry every time

[@zachindes]

What have you started in me? (Been listening to this soundtrack for the last two weeks and even downloaded Famitracker)

[@zachindes]

So...watching this for the 4th time.. Could you make another Shovel Knight video??? Let’s say 1 video per playable character and a focus on 1 song from each campaign? Yes? Yes!

[@zachindes]

Still watching this vid

[@YoungTheFish]

Watching Jake Kaufman's composition in sheets makes me feel like that man has an IQ of over 9000

[@hansbrackhaus8017]

Seeing this analysis made me laugh like an insane person. Someone who just saw beyond the veil of reality and trying to make sense of it.

[@hansbrackhaus8017]

That deluge of notes, and in chiptune style, too. How to even transcribe something like this? Play it back slowed down? In slices? Sheesh.

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

bII to bvii is frequent in Phrygian Renaissance European music trying to sound Arabic or Indian. You can also hear it or at least a bII - bII6 in Bowie's Blackstar

[@maxieprimo2758]

That thumbnail is awesome.

[@aximlii]

Was that a little nod to "So What" by Miles Davis at 10:54 ?

[@Marc-lf4du]

I aldo like how they called the final boss's theme the betrayer, because it kinda feels like we were betrayed because the enchantress was meant to be the last boss

[@GameSkeleton]

Hey, your video's are fantastic! You just got another sub! Would you be opposed to doing an episode on Gwyn's Theme from Dark Souls 1 and 2? I love that piece and I feel like it does a fantastic job of establishing the mood of the final boss fight both in Dark souls and Dark Souls 3. Thanks so much and keep it up!

[@8bitMusicTheory]

I do plan on doing a Dark Souls video eventually. There's so much great game music to get to!

[@garrec3]

Could you do a video on evolving osts? Like Strike the Earth -> The Rival -> The Defender. Or similar osts that involve elements from previous osts in an Evolving Line of OSTs?

[@mcclano]

The final boss fight music is nuts!!!

[@Cushinho]

This is also one of my favourite gaming moments of all times, and i'd dare say this is my favourite chiptune OST of all times! Do you have any thoughts on the relationships between the motives of Shovel Knight, Shield Knight and the Enchantress? Cause i think it's awesome! Also, Fb? C'mon dude, don't be a [Mia Wallace's hand gesture] :P Oh, and i'm not sure about this but i feel that bII to bVII- is a very common move on flamenco. The harmony over that 4 against 3 part you talk about did blow my ears too though!

[@AnimusInvidious]

verification that "kickass" is a proper technical term

[@finnmefford5466]

Hey I really love your videos but I think it would help if you isolated the tracks you were talking about so we could hear it more easily. For example when you were talking about the whole tone clusters it was hard to hear them because of everything else going on.

[@8bitMusicTheory]

Good to know! I'll try and figure out how to do that haha. Thanks!

[@JRokujuushi]

The NSF player I use, the Winamp plugin NotSo Fatso, has the ability to enable and disable individual channels, including those made available by the various Famicom expansion chips. Use that in conjunction with Winamp's disk writer output plugin and you've got isolated WAV files of each individual channel in the NSF file. Other plugins have similar functionality for other classic systems, like Alpha-II's SPC player (in_snes) for SNES music, and the VGM Player (in_vgm) for Genesis music. Maybe there's a more modern alternative, considering Winamp is old as butts, but it still works for me so I still use it.

[@oresteszoupanos]

You can also isolate individual tracks for many VGM files using foobar2000 and its Game Emu component. foobar2000.org/download foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_gep

[@badradish2116]

theres always piano covers, too

[@draj8590]

best series ever

[@Charlyfromthenuclearcity]

I'm a fan of this soundtrack, but I never figured it was so complex. I only get 50% of what you explain here. ^^

[@Wwise_sounds]

excellent decision on putting long examples.

[@ForkySeven]

I love your channel. You should do some Pokemon music.

[@pulsingutopia5523]

He already did. If only he'd do the final boss theme from Gen 1 though, or Lusamine's theme from the new games! +8-bit Music Theory, if you're reading this now, Lusamine's theme is increidbly interesting due to the fact that the placement of the accents in the piece makes it feel like it's in 3/4 instead of the actual 4/4 time signature.

[@JoeyKastelic777]

okay but can someone please tell me how the heck he transcribed the final boss fight at 9:30

[@halfprice06]

Thanks! Great Vid. Shovel Knight and Chrono Trigger Best soundstracks of all time.

[@EverydayEmira]

Throw Mega Man X in there and you have my top 3.

[@roflomaozedong]

haha yeah

[@zachreddy]

Curious if you've listened to the new variation of the soundtrack in the Specter of Torment campaign, I just started playing and didn't realize they'd changed so much. I'd love to see a followup video with your thoughts on how the new music differs from the original game themes. Umm, there's a bandcamp page for it, too, here: virt.bandcamp.com/album/shovel-knight-specter-of-torment-ost

[@azenar1894]

Could you talk about the Specter of Torment soundtrack I think you should talk about the main theme and the change of king knights level theme

[@LowonDutch]

At 5:23 he calls it a " 1 -flat 7 - 1 - 5 " line, what exactly is flat about the 7? E is just the 7 of F# minor and the line just goes "F# E F# C#" , so I don't understand why he calls it a flat 7? Can anybody explain it to me?

[@comfymoder]

Why is it at 5:38 we get two chord progressions but the notes don't change?

[@zzzzzzz774]

What is the one referred to @3:10 is it A or F# because all I see is the G# resolving to A?

[@FlergerBergitydersh]

*"NOWAITNOWAITDON'TFALLASLEEPTHISISSUPEREXCITING"*

[@R4ndomNMBRS]

Haha, I stopped before the "we both know" have a little faith in me!

[@purplehatguy]

Months later I'm back and I finished.

[@EllieMcEla]

Hey by the way, if you're gonna do an episode on the Mother series, you don't need to transcribe the music, I've got you covered already: kobbelobbe.tumblr.com/mother

[@8bitMusicTheory]

Thanks man! I'll check these out

[@EllieMcEla]

I'm not a man, but thank you!! :))

[@musicmakraj]

Question. What is the chord that is played at 7:13? It sounds amaaaaaaaaazing!!!

[@607]

I'll have to play it some time, then. :) I hope it isn't only available on digital download.

[@AnimusInvidious]

"just adds a layer of complexity"

[@Marioroops]

So good.

[@DouglasZwick]

Great video, excellent analysis. I'm a huuuge Virt fan myself so seeing someone pore over his work like this is a real treat. One thing I would like to mention, though, is that the soundtrack was written by Kaufman AND Manami Matsumae! Pointing this out somewhere would seem only fair.

[@MrBorderlands123]

Friendly reminder that E flat minor is, objectively speaking, the best key.

[@8bitMusicTheory]

It's . . so great . . . Fun to read and notate . . . Just the best . . .

[@CoClock]

mjetter432 , 8-bit Music Theory 😂😂😂 Surely you meant to say C sharp major? I can name 7 reasons why it is objectively better!!

[@akselai]

@@CoClock Which seven reasons? A sharp, B sharp, C sharp, D sharp, E sharp, F sharp and G sharp, did I guess it right?

[@OscarGeronimo]

I know is a good soundtrack (and it's usage) when it's watering my eyes...and I haven't even played it yet. Like a great Kurosawa or Ang Lee (eastern work) tragedy.

[@XularusXIII]

A thought struck me, and I began to wonder if you've ever taken a look at the music of Pikmin 2. If you've never played those games, I encourage you to play the main 3 in release order. I may not have much of a musical education, but I'd say they're a musical treasure trove, filled with nuance. I know I'm not a patron (sorry, yo. I'm po'.), but I hope you'll see this and look into it.

[@countdeku646]

Jake Kaufman aka God