Why the Kung Fu Panda soundtracks sound so ICONIC

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Let's talk about why the Kung Fu Panda soundtrack sounds so good. MUSIC THEORY.
Why China Cared About Kung Fu Panda: • Why China Cared About ...
Patreon: / cadencehiramusictheory
0:00-1:12 Intro
1:12-5:25 What is the genre?
5:25-7:50 The Pentatonic Scale
7:50-13:31 Motifs and Themes
13:31-21:02 THE VILLAIN THEMES
21:02-24:45 Kung Fu Panda 4 was...
24:45-27:42 Sponsor
27:42-28:05 Outro
Tunes used:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Bandcamp: cadencehira.bandcamp.com
Soundcloud: / cadence-hira

[@CadenceHira]

3:29 The Big Boss section got copyright claimed and muted. sorry!

[@SPAMMER_G]

Dang it! It's so hard to focus on the cool elements of Kung fu Scores you're breaking down when Sifu Po is on screen kicking but. 😭

[@PauLtus_B]

(I think it's Sifu)

[@SPAMMER_G]

@@PauLtus_B Thanks! I'll just fix that real quick. 😅

[@pilphantom]

the chinese style giant steps 😭😭 caught me so off guard

[@SisselOnline]

Fun fact: Traditional Chinese music uses pentatonic music as CENTER. So actually we still have, sometimes, sixth and seventh note in a scale (not just talking about fast runs, but like (sometimes) legit semiquaver of 6th/7th note, with semitone distance mostly). We also change modality, especially in folk songs of central regions of China, like from set of C-D-E-G-A to C-Eb-F-G-Bb (ofc, this is from Westerner's view, in fact it's more of a habit to give variety, thus not really an accurate pitch).

[@muffinconsumer4431]

I love the internet lmao, imagine trying to find this information decades ago

[@jenkinsfamily2229]

Far too often, people just give sole credit to Hans Zimmer for all of these scores. John Powell, Lorne Balfe, Steve Mazzaro and all of the other writers are just as much architect

[@fishpit000]

"in recent years", I had to look it up- Megamind was nearly FOURTEEN years ago! HOW?!?

[@sophistic9907]

What …. Wait I’m 26. Shiiiit 😮

[@deaglan6641]

That giant steps bit was incredibly funny to me and idk why

[@mannymarotta]

I like your Excursions pfp

[@Dark_0verlord]

I want to mention a particular motif that I'd argue is the most underrated motif in the franchise. I call it "The Dragon Warrior Motif". It appears once in the first movie, specifically when Master Shifu retrieves the Dragon Scroll. It appears twice in the second movie, the first being when Shifu introduces Po to the concept of Inner Peace, and the second being when Po begins to find Inner Peace by confronting his past. It appears three times in the third movie. The first is when Shifu introduces Po to Chi, similar to what transpired in the second movie when the motif first appeared. The second and third times both appear in the final battle with Kai in the Spirit Realm. It is used when Po forms the Chi Dragon and when Po gives Kai his Chi, resulting in Kai being overloaded and exploding (the latter is my favourite use of this motif in the franchise). By examining when this motif is used, you'll notice that it appears during important steps in Po's journey of mastering himself and fully becoming the Dragon Warrior. Getting the Dragon Scroll is imperative to Po learning to accept himself as he is, thus mastering his physical aspect. Shifu introducing Po to Inner Peace and Po later using what Shifu showed him to find Inner Peace are how Po masters his mental aspect. Shifu introducing Po to Chi and Po achieving mastery of self, thus mastering Chi, are how Po masters his spiritual aspect. The final instance of this motif signifies the completion of the Dragon Warrior prophecy through the defeat of Kai (since Oogway banished Kai 500 years ago and Shifu states that the Dragon Warrior prophecy is 500 years old in the third movie, it can be inferred that the creation of the Dragon Warrior prophecy is connected to defeating Kai when he inevitably returned).

[@plank3543]

Comment is fucking epic and only has 3 likes

[@Dark_0verlord]

At least it's more than 2.

[@ChocoFeather]

that motif is called "inner peace" it is used in "sacred pool of tears" soundtrack at around 4:56 and in "the dragon warrior" at 2:08. it even released separately as "Inner peace" in KFP 2 soundtrack

[@ChocoFeather]

I also like the final version of that.. the entire buildup from 1:52 in the soundtrack "The Dragon Warrior". Zimmer went nuclear with that one

[@Dark_0verlord]

@@ChocoFeather I didn't know it had an official name. That's pretty cool, though personally I prefer my title since it better reflects its purpose in the trilogy.

[@Wingedlizar]

Kung fu panda 2 is absolutely amazing we need more bird villains frfr

[@fresamouse]

You have no idea how hard i laughed at the GIANT STEPS REFERENCE.

[@raindio7169]

i cannot get over the Sifu Po gameplay footage

[@justmeandmythoughts9839]

Wait a second, this isn’t Over the Hedge… Great vid as always

[@CadenceHira]

Maybe I'll do Over the Hedge video for the 100,000 sub special lmao

[@RememberThe67Pikmin]

@@CadenceHira I'm going to convince my sister to subscribe so we can get this. This is necessary.

[@chilibean3427]

This is the sister. I second this ^

[@elver2218]

That Crazy Train Cover that Hans Zimmer made that isnt connected to any movie at all its cool af though

[@Andrew_Ikhy]

Kung Fu Panda has such an amount of leitmotif that even I discovered it throughout the series’s installments.

[@thespeedyyoshi]

19:45 HAHAHAHAAHAHA oh my goddd XD That caught me so off guard.

[@thespeedyyoshi]

Also, you didn't have to go so hard on that guitar solo in your sponsor segment dangggggg

[@just1randomguy658]

4:45, 8:27 14:48 I love hearing the sprinkles of joy in your voice. Hearing and seeing people even just tickled by something they like is such a heartwarming thing.

[@oinkitysploink2213]

Fun fact: Lorne Balfe also did the extremely underrated soundtracks for the Skylanders games, and Hans Zimmer composed the main theme of the first game, spyro's adventure. Theres even a lietmotif for each element, so I'd highly reccommend that you check it out!

[@TheRealNerdCJ]

I love lorne balfes work on the skylanders soundtrack so much

[@reducefeelings]

was that guzheng playing walking bass on giant steps

[@clownypants2718]

24:01 I SEE YOU, SANS

[@awesomesheep]

7:07 love the minor “3nd” : )

[@PrototypeGoose]

This was entertaining cuz yknow, kung fu panda and its music is really fun, but also, this basically taught me everything about pentatonic scales.... so uhh, thanks. 👍

[@Ruskah0307]

i just realised "the music sounds like giant steps" means "the music sounds like steps that are (from?) a giant"

[@barteomiejwojciak3106]

1:51 I got jumpscared by a modern buildings and a fiction character being on the screen at the same time

[@Moewenfels]

Oogways theme immediately brought tears to my eyes. Seems like i gotta rewatch it all again.

[@TachiTekmo]

I just was watching Heilung (proto-Germanic throat singing), and the algorithm dumped me here. And yet ... it all fits! 🤔

[@ChocoFeather]

a small request: I liked these parts of the videos: 10:58, 11:24, 17:59 the way the video is split into 2 halves, the top for the movie scene and the bottom for the music sheet, and the way you have highlighted which theme is playing at which step. it looks visually pleasing. could you do more of those for other scenes in the movie? maybe upload it as yt shorts?

[@liminish9019]

fire video made me realise why i love the soundtrack so dang much!

[@joesu4777]

Amazing video! Just wanted to point out that Shen's second theme is actually an augmentation of the second part of the first theme, so it's debatable whether Shen has 1 or 2 themes. But great job regardless!

[@gd_lover4143]

EVERYBODY WANTS KUNG-FU FIGHTING 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Beagle36]

I love this! great job! Every time i see a video of yours it makes me a little more confident in my abilities and makes me want to write some music!

[@muffinconsumer4431]

I just wanna say your editing is very natural and paced well

[@barteomiejwojciak3106]

MAN Your videos are so good. TOP quality content. Educational and entertaining. 👏

[@aj_pulliam]

such a good video!!

[@jenkinsfamily2229]

As if the excellently produced and researched video wasn’t enough, 19:45 earned you a new sub. Top tier shitpost.

[@jenkinsfamily2229]

Also noticed the Megalovania during the Crazy Train segment. Incredible.

[@uncroppedsoop]

​@@jenkinsfamily2229 I've been trying to find it for over 10 minutes now. where is it?

[@Amber610_]

AMAZING VIDEO!!! I absolutely ADORE the Kung Fu Panda scores, so its such a treat to find aomeone who feels the same way! Your analysis was awesome and you observed so mamy things i never noticed ❤

[@darklightmotion5534]

7:08 "minor 3nd" lol. I really like your vid btw

[@adreamworksemployee]

I don’t even know music Theory so well even though I have A- in Music

[@brisbrg5179]

I love the ost in from the original its so pretty

[@lilac_hem]

i love this so much ahhhh

[@JeremyCardinal-tf5mn]

My favorite song in the kung fu panda trilogy is the dragon warrior is among us, a song that represents po's imposter syndrome

[@CadenceHira]

hey wait a minute

[@JeremyCardinal-tf5mn]

Sounds a Little bit SUSSY

[@gawys28]

Such a good video omg

[@charlotteathena]

i liked the giant steps joke

[@produceglacierfeel7880]

the opening music for the first movie is so fireee🔥🔥🔥

[@barteomiejwojciak3106]

4:59 My god I shed a tear

[@troutyoin]

15:50 SO COOL!!! i never heard it before!!!!!!!!!!

[@smexymario3222]

Deeeam, I have to get that mod for Sifu!!!!

[@micahmondt4117]

Rip Wagner, you would have loved kung fu panda

[@sh_aspking]

musescore yay

[@Tainokreba]

Great video, not very often does one encounter abominations as terrifying as 19:48

[@cameton_youtube]

Really interesting!

[@goob8670]

I went to your letterboxd to see your taste and follow you but the only diary entry you have is Kung Fu Panda 2 :') (great videos btw)

[@CadenceHira]

i've rated a bunch of movies but the only one i bothered reviewing was kfp2 lol

[@tristanstryjnik8790]

yess hans zimmer is known for his music in boss baby. !!!!!!!

[@e0oh]

19:46 kai coltrane

[@jolliron]

man i miss the MMO :( *THAT* was my Club Penguin.

[@user-ut7yc1oz9b]

give us the full version of giant steps in the style of Kai's theme plzzzz

[@charlotteathena]

she's playing Shifu

[@jblangcua2726]

Babe wake up a new cadence hira video dropped

[@LOLpip19]

You should do a video about harmoknight on 3ds!

[@Cosmo-Young]

(I’m like 30 seconds in) HELLL YEAH KUNG FU PANDA 2 IS THE BEST FUCKIN ONNNEEE

[@Nekathe]

I love shen

[@tresjett5772]

thank you for making youtube videos

[@SPAMMER_G]

7:18 Now go play all the black keys on your piano like you're a master pianist. I said Keys! PIANO KEYS!

[@NickHoad]

WHERE did you get that isolated percussion at 15:17 I must know

[@christophervuong4622]

sponsored vid get that bag

[@Lodestone8]

Zhen's theme reminds me of Return of the Obra Dinn?

[@Morpline]

minor 3nd?

[@peliqueirolaza09]

New video this is pooog

[@DragonSlayerKillX]

i was really surprised at your pronunciation of the 5 tones in the pentatonic scale at 6:30! are you a native chinese speaker by chance?

[@CadenceHira]

Absolutely not lol, that part was channeling my 1 year of Chinese in high school

[@DragonSlayerKillX]

@@CadenceHira YOUR TONES WERE CRAZY GOOD FOR ONLY 1 YEAR O-O

[@robindreier9796]

Whats the name of the video game on screen?

[@CadenceHira]

Sifu (Kung Fu Panda mod)

[@barteomiejwojciak3106]

8:40 :D (Cant stop commenting)

[@thespeedyyoshi]

Love how Hira can flex her Piano skills somehow ^^

[@minion8109]

what is the game your playing, i really want to play it.

[@CadenceHira]

Sifu, but with a Kung Fu Panda mod. Fun game!

[@saniespinosa8323]

what game is that?

[@CadenceHira]

Sifu, but with a Kung Fu Panda mod

[@Lodestone8]

24:00 help I'm lost.

[@CadenceHira]

Kung Fu Fighting has the so-called "Oriental Riff" You can listen to an example of it somewhere I'm sure lol

[@Lodestone8]

@@CadenceHira Oh okay thank you both for a concise explanation and prompt response. I was aware of the general eek around Kung fu fighting but was unaware of the oriental riff. Thank you for explaining. Also a marvelous video as ever.

[@xalexletelechat6464]

i

[@BPDidntDoIt]

MF said minor 3nd

[@CadenceHira]

bit of an oopsie

[@xavierbromius]

i pirated 500$ worth of software

[@nebesnebes1433]

nuh uh!!! I pirated 500$ worth of software 🙄

[@awesomesheep]

7:07 love the minor “3nd” : )

[@CadenceHira]

GDI i missed that lol