The INSANE Harmony in Pokémon Diamond

[@CharlesCornellStudios]

What other Pokemon game soundtracks do you think are as good or better than Diamond/Pearl?? There's SO much more in this soundtrack alone, it's just so hard to not geek out over the entire thing and make a 2 hour long video 😂 ALSO, if you want to grab a free sneak peek at the courses that will be in the MASSIVE Black Friday bundle, check it out here: cornellmusicacademy.com/blackfriday

[@bagelman2634]

Pokemon Black and White have some incredible music. A personal favorite is Route 10. Edit: Also, you have to listen to the Driftveil City theme.

[@xshme]

I love wigglytuffs guild theme from mystery dungeon explorers of sky

[@masoncave3899]

Check out the Pokémon xd soundtrack. It has some incredible music.

[@hwasnesky9611]

Absolutely the generation 5 games, Black/White and Black 2/White 2!

[@anthonypadura1737]

Cover legends arceus, that soundtrack is so unique!! Also I’d pay such good money to see you make an album playing through video game music! Such incredible music out there that would sound amazing in your style! Would love to see you collab with 8 Bit Big Band in the future!

[@AprilZN-DokutahSuzuki]

"The whole point of it is to loop smoothly and not sound boring even after hours of listening to it" That's what I love about video game music. It is this requirement that sparks amazing music like this

[@BlueRice]

It seems like game music creator don't know they have hidden talents for musicians. They make these music that supposed to match the game environment which is passion when you put emotions to it. The jail metaphor, people become very creative when they put a lot of thoughts to it get their way out. People unleashed their best ever to something they didn't intended it to be

[@glenndiddy]

In that way it's kind of like the forest theme from chrono trigger. It never really resolves and gives you the feeling of just wandering through the forest endlessly. The best part of video game composing has to be when they get the atmosphere just right with the feeling the player has when playing the game.

[@dhanyl2725]

The fact video game musics are made to be listened in an extended period of time also works when you just want to listen to one. Most of musics I listen to are video game musics, a lot of them I haven't played lol

[@daniel6678]

This is also why it makes such amazing studying/working background music!!

[@snicklesnockle7263]

Easy listening, except for battles scenes. Which can't be too energetic themselves either. But also have to be hype enough.

[@Mienshaos]

the lake theme captures that sense of melancholic mystery perfectly. it actually fits the lake trio so much more than what people give them credit for

[@Pokedoughman]

I could live in this conversation. I love the lake theme and your description soothed my mind lol.

[@electricearth1101]

its not a melancholic mystery. the sound of the music is meant to make the listener feel naive and bewildered while simultaneously having the sound of yearning to solve the mystery.

[@thankyouverymochi]

it makes me feel the lake is magical and there’s a hidden pokemon in that area

[@jake9854]

but girls dont play pokemon tho

[@andrewandrew3713]

I interpreted it more like aetherial and misterious, like you're in a bubble where time stops

[@camc9093]

Cynthia’s music is insane and sets the mood for one of the best battles in the franchise

[@lilpetz500]

The fact too that she has an equally tense intro and main song is amazing. I love how it sums up motifs of the entire soundtrack in the piece from the jazz, pounding battle music, even the more hallowed and distorted sounds we hear during some lore heavy moments. And considering Cynthia's occupation as both one of the most powerful champions, local spiritual lore expert, and even showing up in the Platinum villa behind the piano, I like to think she'd compose some incredible songs inspired by all her Sinnoh knowledge in her spare time, and probably in-universe, wrote her own theme song (she plays the piano intro for you in the villa)

[@camc9093]

@@lilpetz500 the music with the constant low hp beeping goes crazy

[@katalina256]

​@@camc9093off topic (100% agree with you though), I love the profile pic

[@dothangbui4918]

omg i actually kinda remember her in the villa hahaha@@lilpetz500

[@burakyesiloglu5218]

Its actually also the hardest champion battle

[@anna_banana7019]

As someone who played these games religiously as an 8 year old and not knowing why they resonated so much, it does my inner child so much good seeing someone really put a finger on it. The music is absolutely sensational and so timeless and full of nostalgia too. I was the nerd who carried headphones on my DS so I could listen to it because it was so pretty

[@currieleah744]

I too carried headphones lol

[@JoiskiMe]

Me too 😂😂😂😊🎧

[@Nanitamochi]

Same, these melodies just stuck with me till this day I can compare it to a few new ones

[@adonisdudley7210]

The nostalgia was what I needed

[@SC_Silver_99]

I listened to all the pokemon games when I played them and still do, the mystery dungeon series was another one with great music.

[@spiv]

"Prelude to the Champion," the song that plays just before the battle with champion Cynthia, is one of the best pieces of music put into the whole pokemon franchise.

[@insertname956]

Wasn't it inspired by Rachmaninoff as well? No wonder 😆

[@georgiosvavliaras1066]

Fantastic comment, I wish he would break that down as well, simply such a fantastic piece

[@IronWolf123]

Yes! It is a prelude that does well. Pianos are used for peacefulness but in the champion pre battle is something that feels ominous, intimidating or reconnecting with a friend. But it feels strong, powerful, testing. That is what the PttC is the best because it gets your heart thumping with fear, excitement and the knowledge that your final battle to be the champion is six strong pokemon away

[@aabrightlove]

So much this

[@mizorenight3851]

I know everyone always talks about this piece, but I still think it is criminal of Charles to not talk about it in this video.

[@Keychamp33]

Nobody ever regards Pokémon music as good unless they’re in the fandom. I did clinical work a while back and would put the OSTs on for our ICU unit at night in my little office cubical, and a nurse asked if it was a jazz/lofi/atmospheric station and was absolutely bewildered it was Pokemon music.

[@zayy2240]

OH MY LORD YESSS Diamond Pearl and Platinum have some of THE BEST soundtracks in Nintendo HISTORY. Thanks so much for checking it out!!

[@Ncogni]

Wrong. They have some of THE BEST soundtracks in GAMING HISTORY.

[@hcbgw]

@@Ncogni facts and the amount of childhood i associate with those tunes on top of the sheer brilliance make it so much more than simply the best

[@richardkirkland6805]

The town themes could do with some improvements, but other than that absolutely yes

[@a.s.l711]

Pokemon fashion design is also way ahead of its time in the early 2000s.

[@grapeboi4939]

@@Ncognithe mario galaxy games have better osts imo

[@robertopalermo6424]

The fact that this OST is heard within minutes of beginning your save file is just incredible. For many like myself whom this was their first introduction to Pokémon games, it will forever take me back to the first day I flipped my DS open. Gen 4’s music was really a work of art

[@BlainesMagmar]

The pokemon mystery dungeon games probably have some of the greatest soundtracks in the franchise. The main theme, Amp Plains, Through the Sea of Time, and Don't Ever Forget are all breathtakingly Beautiful

[@thespianuzumaki5452]

Don't forget Hidden Land! That was a great piece too!

[@burakyesiloglu5218]

​@@thespianuzumaki5452dude hidden land gives me always goosebumps

[@fl0w1009]

yall know wtf is up, PMD series timeless

[@supremeseregios6810]

Craggy Coast is extremely underrated.

[@Goooogle]

It's incredible. Every single dungeon theme is a banger

[@Rosalina102798]

Jun'ichi Masuda, Gō Ichinose and Hitomi Satō are the golden triangle of Game Freak's sound team, all talented in their own regards.

[@lazasun]

facts

[@chaosi17]

Gods among men! 😊

[@saricubra2867]

It explains why i like Legends Arceus's soundtrack so much, basically made by the same guys.

[@Anti-FreedomD.P.R.ofSouthKorea]

@@saricubra2867 were the other games done by other guys?

[@Njolbisn]

​@@Anti-FreedomD.P.R.ofSouthKorea since pokemon Emerald, with Satō being the last one who joined the team, they pretty much carried the sound team until today. I would also like to mention another great composer, Shota Kageyama where he was the lead composer for Pokemon Black and White

[@darknid158]

Somebody show Charles insaneintherainmusic! My god did he make this Pokémon soundtrack even more godly with his jazz arrangements. This video warmed my heart so much. Love this game, love this soundtrack.

[@cooldebt]

Also the J-Music Ensemble cover of Eterna Forest and generally the 13 (and counting) Pokemon tune jazz covers by The Consouls - Lake of Rage with string quartet is a standout as is National Park.

[@H0n35t]

Yeah I agree!!

[@monty6491]

The whole Sinnohvation album is a masterpiece

[@jfitzgerald4887]

shamlesss plug. Don't take away from his channel plz

[@darknid158]

@@jfitzgerald4887 I’m not the only one talking about insaneintherainmusic my guy. It’s not a shameless plug at all considering the fact that no other person has done a professional jazz arrangement of an entire Pokémon album like him. With that being said, Charles is dissecting the jazz aspects of Pokémon Gen 4, which is exactly on par with insaneintherainmusic’s JAZZ arrangements of the same music.

[@shirewraith]

ROUTE 216 from diamond and pearl is so incredible, i think you could make an entire similar video just on that song as well! amazing!!

[@jextra1313]

I'm so glad other people think this as well, it is the one piece of music I remember fully after all these years. It's such a cool moment in the game too, finally making it out of a cave and realizing your journey isn't over; you've been transported to a winter wonderland.

[@Ravi_Oliva]

YES!!! Have it in a bunch of playlists!

[@nelly_lu]

I recall this route being an exhausting adventure! Loved it a lot, but it was nice to finally arrive in Snowpoint City and know that from now on you can just fly up there haha

[@begformiuiruma257]

i have a childhood memory of first entering route 216 late at night on a flight to bulgaria, and the music still gives me goosebumps to this day

[@Mewmore]

both lake and jubilife city are some of the best pokémon songs ever made so glad to see someone with a lot of theory knowledge breaking them down. thank you! besides diamond & pearl, pokémon black and white's soundtrack is heat (like many has said) but my personal favorite pokémon ost ruby & sapphire got some interesting pieces in them too and worth to check out :)

[@Lugiaskr]

MEWMORE SIGHTING HI KING ❤

[@enerok5008]

MEWMOREEEEE :D love your music

[@spinceiling7442]

Mewmore my goat

[@thestooltoad]

Hey Charles. Check out insaneintherain’s ensemble arrangement of the ENTIRE soundtrack - “Sinnohvation”. He does three different arrangements of the “Lake theme”, each with a very different mood. He pulled together such a tight group of musicians to make it work.

[@Sigurdur5]

I'm so happy he's back to making covers, he and the 8Bit Big Band are by far my favourite VGM cover artists

[@collinpetry1161]

I thought it would get mentioned in the video for some reason lol. The world is sometimes bigger than I expect

[@darknid158]

@@collinpetry1161I made a comment about him as well. Carlos and Charles should have a Q&A video about VGM jazz arrangements

[@jja2000]

I was desperately hoping for it to get mentioned too, oh well

[@charleslavoie7622]

@@darknid158 That would be awesome !

[@Mystixor]

I have no idea what you are talking about but this being in my top 3 favorite soundtracks of all time I truly appreciate listening to you being amazed on a professional level. It really warms my heart and I enjoy listening to you repeating the elements of the track in this manner

[@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435]

Charles, you need to start digging classic prog rock/fusion records of the 70s if you're into the jazzy harmony of Japanese video game soundtrack. Records such as Genesis's "Selling England by the Pounds", Return To Forever's "Romantic Warriors", Gentle Giant's "In a Glass House", NAtional Health's self-titled, ELP's "Tarkus", Camel's "Mirage" and Yes's "Close to the Edge" among others are a major influence to popular Japanese composers such as Uematsu, Kondo and the likes.

[@Sigurdur5]

All incredible records 🔥

[@casowling]

Koji Kondo definitely did audibly quote a lot of ELP and 70's Genesis.

[@nolaffinmatter]

I expect he already knows much of that stuff, and is intentionally choosing to hype newer music

[@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435]

@@nolaffinmatter Assuming this is true, I still think he need to introduce old school prog/fusion to a wider audience reach considering how underappreciated these music are at large. Even among the general Japanese video game music aficionados, I think not all of them seem to be aware of or relate to the music for the connection while the discussion re:70s prog/fusion connection seems to be limited among the smaller circles of overlapping fans alone🤔😕

[@Ted_Swayinghill]

Gentle Giant doesn’t get enough credit!

[@Nessmess001]

UGH YES!! One of the reasons why Sinnoh felt so special and is so nostalgic to so many people is the STELLAR, atmospheric music

[@saricubra2867]

Legends Arceus is full of Sinnoh's Jazz.

[@pastaboinch]

So glad you covered this. I remember playing Pokemon Diamond religiously as a little kid and also taking piano lessons around that time. I really liked learning video game OST's on the piano but when I tried learning this and the other songs from Diamond I realized how complex these pieces really are. I remember giving up because my little untrained ears didn't understand what I was hearing.

[@gagec4685]

I would check out Insane in the Rains Jazz Album "Sinnohvation". He spent years covering almost every song in Diamond and Pearl. It is basically all I listen to. It is so well done.

[@joshuaduran6993]

It. Is. So. Good. Some of my favorite music of all time. Sure it's nostalgic, but the sinnoh vibes work so well with jazz instrumentation 😍

[@alexandremallebay-vacqueur3681]

the eterna forest cover is one of my favorite covers for video game OSTs

[@f-typetypebeat9530]

Thank you so much for that recommendation!!!!! Just listened to it because of your comment and it’s absolutely wonderful😍

[@f1pokefan]

Listen to it almost daily!

[@jadz684z]

Thanks for introducing me to a new artist

[@nathanbegel4505]

The lake theme is also incredible because it uses rhythmic modulation! Notice how the second section feels much faster but still connected to the first calmer section, just incredible writing

[@AlmightyArceus]

Thank you for the recognition of Gen 4 music, especially the Lake Theme. It’s why I have the Arceus namesake. Whole KZbin and online communities have been devoted to remixing Pokemon OST tracks, including myself, because of how much magic is hidden in there. Thanks for showing the world why we love it so much.

[@Weavileiscool]

I didn’t expect to see you here but hi!!

[@harrylane4]

Pokemon Gen 4 has maybe my favorite game OST in history. It was the game that got me interestedin jazz, and it's stellar the whole way through.

[@ChaoticMeatballTV]

As someone who did video game covers before doing Pokemon challenges, it is so cool hearing someone pull apart songs I took for granted for YEARS and show some of the crazy intricacies in it. Would've NEVER guessed there was a tri-tone in the Verity/Valor/Acuity Lakefront theme if you hadn't pointed it out. Would love to hear more analysis and deconstruction of this and other OSTs from this series (especially Eterna Forest, that track is one of the most beautiful pieces in the series)

[@schoofwasthere]

I love this breakdown! I know next to nothing about music theory, but seeing someone who DOES absolutely blown away by one of my favourite video game soundtracks ever just put a huge smile on my face. I would love if you looked at some of the other tracks from this game, because there are many more amazing ones! :3

[@SUPER_ZOMBIE]

This brings back so many memories of playing Pokemon Pearl for hours and hours on end as a kid!

[@chatfulness03]

I just love his reactions to how beautiful the music is, and how the composition is so much more complex than expected. I would watch a whole series of videos just breaking down and unwrapping all of the hidden joys in the pokemon library. It warms my heart 🥺

[@huegofarley4684]

Same! Loved every bit of this video

[@Mary-om9ol]

The soundtracks of several dungeons in Pokemon Red/Blue Rescue Team and Pokemon Explorers of Sky will forever be some of my top favorite Pokemon game soundtracks. They really went the extra ten miles in those games!

[@osal31991]

“Lake” is the one of the best scores among all Pokémon series. I wanna give applause to Go Ichinose for composing “Lake”, and Hitomi Sato for “Jubilife town”. They are wonderful composers from GAMEFREAK Inc.. It is no exaggeration to say they created one of the masterpieces in game history and evolved its history just like Pokémon.

[@johnnyblunders]

The harmony in lake discussed in the video is used in part for the Eterna forest theme. There's some thematic reasons for it I believe but I haven't played these in so long. Definitely one of the most elevated scores in Nintendo

[@maxofb7745]

Gen 4 went SO hard with its music. Still the best in any Pokémon Game. Route 216 is my personal favourite.

[@yerthebestaround9654]

Big fan of 228 (Daytime)

[@dcomic1504]

Kinda basic but mine is forever Hearthome City Theme. I was 6 years old when this game came out and it brings me back to that time anytime I hear it.

[@dcomic1504]

@@yerthebestaround9654 Great pick

[@travisdurrans8866]

@@dcomic1504 I absolutely love the Hearthome City theme, especially when the string part subtly enhances with its quiet harmony. It's just so hard to pick a favorite track in such a full and luscious soundtrack. The one I personally find most nostalgic has to be route 201, though.

[@G8tr1522]

i agree, but i did listen to Galar Mines (from SwSh) for like an hour straight once.

[@Priestitude]

I am the creator of this OST! Glad you like it! My name is Hongayu Dailo! Love your channel!! ❤

[@theboxiestcat6910]

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum were (and still are) my absolute favorite Pokémon games, and a huge part of that is the soundtrack. It ranges from some pumped up battle themes like the lake trio battle music, to some very relaxing music that puts you to sleep like the Eterna Forest theme (my personal favorite). An absolute classic game. If you haven't played it yet, please do.

[@vivecald-vehk6978]

I'm glad to know that I wasn't the only one falling asleep to Eterna Forest!! And you are so very right, D/P/Plt are a must-play for pokemon fans who haven't played them yet!

[@garfmeleon]

I like route 209 more imo but eterna is goated

[@tannerashcraft9746]

@@vivecald-vehk6978that’s so cool!! i’ve never thought about that, i would fall asleep to jublife city or floroma town !

[@willmoyer8882]

Honestly, the gen 4 and 5 games have pretty memorable music. My favorite ost music from Gen 4 has to be Eterna Forest. The mood of it is like a fond memory that you're sad you can't re-experince.

[@thekrampusclaus4148]

Hearing that motif for the first time in legends Arceus almost made me cry

[@DakotaofRaptors]

So does Gen 6, actually

[@jayjones4175]

The dream yard from gen 5 is fav forest theme.

[@olivia7782]

@@thekrampusclaus4148 that and the cave theme before the temple of sinnoh made me actually gasp out loud

[@wolfstar124]

One of the great things about D+P's soundtrack is just how many of the songs are effectively telling a story without saying anything, the lake theme including the dissonant chords and notes but hiding inside of a relatively whimsical and overall upbeat harmony evokes discovery and the start of a journey, and the context of that section of the game is going off on one of the few times you've ever left home for any real amount of time, even later when you revisit the lakes as part of the main story it's the discovery of the legendary pokemon that you had originally only heard myths about and includes that off-putting but still relatively exciting sense of the unknown. Super neat, a lot of pokemon games do stuff like this.

[@THEPurpleEgg]

A lot of people (me included) think gen 4 to have the best overall soundtrack in the pokemon franchise. Like Mario Galaxy, SO MANY of the tracks are all extremely iconic. It still blows my mind that Carlos Eiene took an entire year to exclusively make covers of the gen 4 soundtrack

[@croatiancowboy]

Gen 5 OST is superior in my opinion, but that's not to say gen 4 isn't still an absolute beast of a soundtrack with some of the most iconic songs in all of pokemon. The DS era in general appears to be the peak of pokemon. 4 & 5 blew the games before it out of the water, and future games afterward continue to never match their excellence. What a time to be a kid growing up on pokemon, huh? (Pokemon Colosseum for the gamecube was actually my first pokemon game ever, while we're on the topic of growing up with AMAZING OSTs!)

[@markrounseville6998]

​@@croatiancowboyPokémon Diamond was my first Pokémon game, so I feel like I was spoiled by quality. Except for the surfing speed.

[@reliczurge]

bw is good @@croatiancowboy

[@stormr7159]

Sinnohvation was crazy

[@ScarredWill]

@@croatiancowboy I definitely think Gen IV is the superior OST, but damn if the Team Plasma Battle theme isn't literal perfection.

[@Some__Guy]

Man, I'm jealous of people who can just hear a song or a melody, and just instantly figure out how to play it. I played various instruments for about 10 years growing up, but playing something by ear always just ended with me trying every note, step-by-step, one by one until I figured out what the right sequence was.

[@8BitsOfFun1323]

He's had years of practice and great teachers

[@Intrasport]

That's how you develop the skill though man. Of course some people do have a natural talent sometimes but that part of things can definitely be improved on!

[@wheresmymuffins]

look up "aural training"-you go through it in music school, where you literally just do drills where you listen to an interval, early on with the notes played sequentially, slowly building to chords. it legitimately helps to learn to sing scales too, because that sort of "muscle memory" can be used to decode the intervals you're hearing. it's still hard, but honestly a lot easier than I expected, when given the right means of learning

[@nnyom7363]

@@wheresmymuffinsSo basically, is it like studying and repeatedly listening until you acquire the ability to recognize and call up what each chord sounds like?

[@stryker7302]

No that's not it, you have to master your scales when you do that you'll automatically know what notes should come next

[@cygnusx-1942]

I always love watching your videos; not only because you cover a lot of stuff I really enjoy, but because the way you feel the music as you go through it is so infectious. Seeing someone else get so excited over music I remember and love from my childhood is awesome, and getting to learn something about the way it was written brings a smile to my face.

[@eggsistential6779]

If you haven’t given it a listen, Champion Cynthia (the piano song before the battle with the champion) is INSANELY good and I’d love to hear your take on it!

[@dumsparce]

this NEEDS TO HAPPEN

[@typhooni8]

Although it won't have the full effect if we don't have the low life tone droning through the whole thing. That little seasoning of trauma *chef's kiss*

[@migjordanpayawal7856]

It'll be like he entered the wrong house and was challenged to a Pokemon battle #ptsd

[@Theoneandonlyenelie]

YES YES YES

[@Samu.i]

YES I AGREE

[@LuckyBones77]

Ichinose’s contributions to the soundtracks go SO hard. Everything he did in Sun and Moon absolutely SLAPS. For gen 4, his synergy with Sato is insane. It’s one of the most cohesive soundtracks.

[@thepulseman7154]

Possibly my favourite composer on the franchise, ever since his first contribution to it, the Pokémon Pimball soundtrack. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4Szg4aEp96Go7s

[@Wurmze]

Yeah the music and Pokédex’s are mostly why sinnoh and alola are my favourite pokemon games

[@ChocoGummies]

god the moment it started playing I felt the tears spring up behind my eyes??? THE NOSTALGIA 😭 THE PEACE

[@Idealist_Metaphor]

I consider music like Pokémon’s to be modern day classical, no words, no bass boost, just pure mechanical mastery.

[@benjaminj883]

Listen to polyphia lol. I dont know if it will have that same effect for you but i hope it will

[@Idealist_Metaphor]

@@benjaminj883 oh it does and they are one of my favorites

[@benbowland]

@@benjaminj883polyphia is fun but you cannot seriously call them modern day classical lmao

[@benjaminj883]

@@benbowland i dont think it "sounds" like classical but i thought they were fitting for OP’s view of pokemon music being modern day classical. Their songs are like if they made a pop song themselves, then arranged it to electric guitar like a fingerstyle player would. And as someone who started playing guitar with classical music, i’ve always wondered why it seemed like no one cared to apply the same mastery required to write classical music into electric guitar, and in my perspective, Polyphia are doing that while also making the most out of modern tools. I’m not trying to argue about it, its not an opinion that i care to fight for its just based on how i understood OP’s comment

[@benbowland]

@@benjaminj883 yeah they are very technically skilled but the whole thing is essentially pop structure with virtuosic technique which is a fun listen but not rly classical. Pokémon soundtracks are some of my favorite music ever but i wouldn’t call them modern classical either

[@jackrork2760]

Thank god you did this. This music is my childhood, but has been following my whole life as I got into music in middle school, and getting more online to find insaneintherainmusic who did an entire cover album of the Sinnoh soundtrack and its BRILLIANT. I then played one of those tunes in my college jazz band in my first year. So cool to see that you love it so much.

[@ちゃんたー-w4z]

ポケモンがこれだけ人気になったのは音楽のおかげでもある。 記憶に強く残る曲が多いから、曲を聴くだけですぐにあの頃へ戻れる。

[@Hawtep]

That's true. Pokemon's music is just magical

[@Manueltion15]

The Japanese can make very good piano music

[@SMCwasTaken]

Verdad

[@nickg5341]

Pokémon D/P/Pt are the soundtracks that got me into music. I’m a composer now, but it was those songs I first wanted to learn on the piano. Everything I love about music comes from those games. I would be so excited to have you dig more into it - there are so many great tracks.

[@noahpauley]

I think the Black and White soundtrack is one of the all time best game soundtracks

[@alsn_]

I second this, Charles please dive into the BW/B2W2 OST please!!!!

[@xXPastelCatsXx]

ISTG NEO TEAM PLASMAS THEME also N's theme but i just really just obsessed with N (and Emmet and Ingo.)

[@serrisdaylor1015]

100%

[@n8w00d8]

Black and white is by far my favorite ost from the pokemon games!

[@cj-cv7zv]

I havent been in the community in a while but I see the gen 5 fanboys are still just as annoying

[@Sweeps]

The compositions themselves are great, but the “instruments” or sounds themselves are so vital to the og pokemon-esque vibes

[@bariumselenided5152]

There's a video of Cascaraffa City Theme put into the DPPt soundfont, and bro, it's so good

[@adderallsenpai]

It immediately takes me back to being a kid. Playing Pokemon on my DS made for some of the best memories I had in my fucked up childhood. The sense of nostalgia I got after hearing the lake theme after so long was overwhelming enough to make me cry.

[@benjaminfigueroa1833]

During the pandemic I took piano lessons. When asked what I wanted to learn, I showed my teacher these two songs, plus Eterna forest. I knew it had something interesting haha

[@aakamikun]

This song feels like an integral part of my life - hearing you break it down like this and so passionately was genuinely a delight

[@arcanelizard4646]

I’m shocked you didn’t talk about Veilstone Galactic HQ, because I would say that is THE jazziest track of the OST. I would love to see you cover both versions of it, from the DS and the Switch. The Switch version is INSANE and I love every second of it. I would also recommend Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald (as well as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the 3DS remakes), along with Black and White, which haven’t had remakes yet (though if the trend holds, we should be getting those in the next main series generation) Other tracks from this soundtrack I would love to see you cover: Team Galactic Hideout Battle the Boss of Team Galactic (there’s a very obvious reference that I think you’ll appreciate) Route 209 Route 210 Canalave City (Mio City on the JP soundtrack) Mt. Coronet (Mt. Tenga in JP) Sunnyshore City (Nagisa City in JP) The Piano That Strikes Fear Into Any Mortal (“Champion-Cynthia/Champion-Shirona”) Battle Champion Battle VS Giratina (only in Platinum) Bonuses from Legends Arceus: “Battle! (Pokemon Wielder Volo)” “Battle! (Volo & Giratina)” Those two are essentially remixes of “Champion-Cynthia” and “Battle VS Giratina” respectively, but it would be hard to cover those without having the context surrounding those songs and their importance to Diamond/Pearl/Platinum Anything from gen 4, I would recommend also listening to the Switch version (Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl) Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald tracks I recommend (as well as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire counterparts): Littleroot Town Route 110 Verdanturf Town (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE THIS ONE) Route 113 Meteor Falls Surfing ^ Lilycove City, being seaside, carries a lot of similar ideas Rival Battle Team Leader Battle (PLEASE cover both versions if you do this one, the 3DS version is a MASSIVE upgrade to an already amazing track. Plus, you can use this in conjunction with Battle the Boss of Team Galactic to show how a simple modulation of a whole step up turns the tension up to 11) Route 119 (holy key change) ^ and its transition to Route 120, being on opposite sides of Fortree City Sootopolis City Legendary Battle (again, PLEASE cover both versions if you do this one. The 3DS version fades between the new version and the GBA version to musically translate the idea of the legendary Pokemon reverting to their primal forms, and it’s SO SICK) Elite 4 Battle Champion Battle (uses tempo and instrumentation to instantly bump up tension from last 4 fights) Bonuses from ORAS that aren’t in original Gen 3: The Lament Of Falling Stars Battle! (Lorekeeper Zinnia) ^ those two are linked to each other and it would be criminal to not talk about the part of Lament’s melody that is prominent in the battle theme Battle! (Deoxys), simply because it does the same key change trick to drive the tension Finally, recommendations from Black and White: Nuvema Town Dreamyard Skyarrow Bridge Route 4 (any season is fine) Nimbasa City Unwavering Emotions Gear Station Driftveil City Mistralton City Opelucid City (both versions, and how they capture the feeling of a futuristic city in one, and a historic city in the other) Route 10 (idk why the 10th route of every game is an absolute jam, but I mean cmon, just listen to it) N’s Castle Ghetsis Battle (really fits one of the very few characters in the entire series that tries to ACTUALLY KILL YOU) Farewell Now, if I had to pick two songs for you specifically to cover in a video from each list: Team Galactic Hideout Canalave City Team Leader Battle The Lament of Falling Stars + Battle! (Lorekeeper Zinnia) (maybe cheating, but you kinda need both) Nimbasa City Route 10 Sorry this is so ridiculously long. I didn’t realize how much of a project this would be until I was done. I just… feel really strongly about the music in this series, especially DS/GBA era. I hope you’ll do another couple videos on this series, and especially this era of the series, because it honestly deserves it. I know you probably don’t want to do too many videos on a single media franchise when there is so much incredible music out there, but I mean the sheer size of this list should tell you Pokemon warrants a re-visit. If you actually read all of this, thank you, because I know I wouldn’t have read all of this if I was you lol. Keep up the good work!

[@Intrasport]

The Jubilife City theme is just so fun. The way it bounces between everything like it does really helps present a full picture of the setting its trying to convey. Generation 5 also has some great gems like Driftveil City, and the Emotion theme.

[@fuhq6731]

I’ve been obsessed with the music from these games since I was a kid. Thank you for showing this music the respect it deserves and actually taking it seriously!

[@SullySaltlicker]

If you're doing more pokemon music in the future, you should check out the Route 216 theme. An utterly nostalgic track framed around a trek through a snowy mountain pass, and there's already some amazing jazz covers of it on youtube!

[@seronimo__7735]

That and Mt Coronet

[@MsVilecat]

I was looking for that exact comment. I fell in love with that song the moment I heard it. Sucks you rarely need to travel through there.

[@Gnurklesquimp2]

After a super long time of no Pokemon, I just started up Pokemon Diamond and JUST arrived on this route, definitely agree. Aroma Lady, Beauty, Parasol Lady & Swimmer♀is INSANE for a theme most people don't hear past the first 3 seconds btw.

[@vincentbroeckx5872]

I would love to see a part 2. Gen IV were my first Pokémon games so there’s a lot of nostalgia for me in this. Seeing you unpack this for the first time is really exciting to me.

[@lea2g7]

8:47 is basically my favorite Pokémon tune. That jazzy night version is amazing.

[@tridentstar4520]

Pokemon Diamond music was so good! When I first played it I was blown away at how good the soundtrack was.

[@gabrieleboh6858]

Pokemon diamond (and also platinum) are my childhood games. When I hear their OST my mind takes me back to those time, making me somwhat emotional. Thanks Gamefreak for those songs and thank you Charles for this video ♥

[@accountnamewithheld]

The Lake theme is absolutely cracked. One of the best themes in the entirety of Pokemon. As a music rube you explained it so well. Thanks.

[@FaraFellow]

The gen 4 soundtrack is what got me into music theory as a child! Now I'm a music major and have gotten to perform several arrangements of pieces from the pokemon games with other talented music nerds like myself. Exposing kids to complex music is SO beneficial for their development. I used to just sit in the different areas and listen to pokemon diamond's music through my headphones on the bus to school every single day

[@gmanbro]

You don't know how happy I got when i saw that you made a video on my favorite video game soundtrack :)

[@mirovdhk6806]

I have zero knowledge and feeling for making music and I don’t understand a thing this guy is saying, but I’m hooked because of how well you can see this guy loves it and the energy he brings into it. Amazing

[@supersonic4863]

you saying "where next?" at 9:30 is amazing, because thats literally what the song is trying to accomplish. in the sinnoh pokemon games, you're a kid from a very small town in a remote section of the region, who hasnt gone basically anywhere, and jubilife is the first city you get to, as well as a 4-directional hub for the eastern part of the region. you get there, and all you can really think about is where your adventure may lead you.

[@bait1s]

this is cringe but i love gen 4 so i agree

[@asterius4271]

There are so many incredible tracks in the Diamond/Pearl/Platinum soundtrack I am so lucky to have grown up listening to those years ago. Phenomenal games with phenomenal music!

[@manki_d_oumar6668]

Need more of this gen 4 breakdown👀🔥 its too beautiful

[@jonathanfarley1660]

PLEEAAASE do an in depth dive on the entire soundtrack! This stuff is great!!!

[@HeroineOfTwilight]

Everyone has been sleeping on this soundtrack, thank you so much for sharing some of the best sounds of my childhood

[@sorchatheraven]

Great vid, I love how you're able to separate all chords and explain how and why they work, I can understand it even if I'm not great at music theory. If you enjoyed Gen 4, and if I may recommend something, you should definitely check Gen 5. It's got some very, veeery jazzy and fresh tunes and chords, like the one from Nimbasa City. It's one of the most loved OSTs in a Pokémon game. Cheers, Charles!

[@gendarmyy7586]

I honestly think Pokemon music are one of the most well written songs

[@sorenzzz]

Gen 4's clarinet tracks are purely top tier, and this intro track when i look back on it was a huge factor reeling me into the game. As a musician one of the biggest reasons i even play pokemon is for the music. There's something for everybody in these games no matter who you are.

[@spacemutt5585]

I would go to the lake in the game just to sit and listen to this song. I now know why I did that. The music is so beautiful in how it sounds but also how it is arranged and it did something for me as a child

[@TheSirjull891]

This is the first time I’m coming across your channel, but I would just like to say thank you for providing context from a musician regarding Pokémon themes. The Pokémon community knows how special these soundtracks are, but I feel they are underrepresented outside the community. I hope that you’ll revisit many of the other soundtracks. Cynthia’s themes are sooooo good. Goosebumps.

[@anthonymitchem664]

My favorite song in this whole game is when you encounter a fisherman. This swanky jazz tune with a beautiful sax part just rips in as soon as you talk

[@420_Logan]

Man I love gen 4. Not only is it the first gen of Pokémon I ever played, but the music is just absolutely amazing. Perfectly captures the Sinnoh region imo.

[@seanweatherson534]

I cannot express the emotions I felt the moment I first heard the lake theme from Pokémon Pearl. Hearing it again immediately as this video began hit me right in the feels, thank you for that and for your analysis!

[@Cinder36]

Awesome stuff as always Charlie! Definitely one of my favorites from Pokémon. I'd also like to point out that the breakdown in the song Lake goes between 3/4 and 5/4 back and forth each measure which is really cool and rhythmic! 4:53

[@jblen]

I don't think that's true, it's just 4/4, the chord placement is just a little funky

[@Cinder36]

​@@jblenThat could be true! I just know the song is known for having a time signature change earlier in the song, so I wouldn't put it past the song. Both works.

[@jblen]

@@Cinder36 yeah I guess ultimately time sig is just guidance from the composers to the players so as long as it all adds up it doesn't really matter how you feel it

[@aretailcashier450]

diamond was my first pokemon game. My original save had over 500 hours and the contacts on the cartridge wore out before i lost interest in playing. diamond was a core memory in my childhood and you taking a deep dive into this particular piece honestly made my day. Thank you

[@TheDriver458]

I still remember getting Diamond, my first Pokemon game, back in 2007. My 8-yr-old self was so freaking hyped. Then 300 hours later, I realized there was accompaniment to the OST that I was missing out on when I just plugged in a pair of cheap earbuds! Gen 4 is still my favorite gen to this day. I sincerely would watch Charles' reaction to each and every track this amazing game, regardless of video length.

[@hex__x]

This game was the responsable of me looking deeper into music composition back in the day. Definitely one of my favorite OST's of all time. I would recommend you to listen to Route 228 theme, both day and night versions because there are very interesting chord progressions in those tracks. Glad to see you liked!

[@proxgs7703]

Gen 4 is where Pokémon peaked

[@Dxminicy0]

5

[@shashmalash]

Soul silver and heart gold are gen 4 too so I gotta agree with you

[@PokeRSD433]

Gen 5 imo

[@BROCK_WARHAMMER]

Gen 4, where the physical special split happened and opened the eyes of trainers to the possibilities they were wanting in prior gens, where boys became men, and where I spent so much time thinking there was never a better experience I could have as a kid. Gen 4 truly is when Pokémon peaked

[@yovanni.1913]

2, 3, 4 & 5

[@RobinBaggett]

It warms my heart to see Charles shine a spotlight on some of the amazing composition hidden away in these games. It's such a testament to the love put I to these games by the composers and audio engineers that these beautiful songs exist on a handheld device from the 2000s. "Canalave City" remains one of my favorite video game pieces to this day.

[@briansherrod1916]

Charles breakdown of the Pokémon music on the piano is making me fall in love with the music all over again! It’s brilliant!

[@MetallicaToMozart]

It's almost like the lake theme just omits the the standard Dominant by morphing the Predom of F by simply adding the leading tone instead of a straight V(7)/vii°(7) like you said. Absolutely beautiful.

[@uKoalele]

I still listen to the Pokemon DPP Soundtrack regularly to this day. I highly recommend the Covers of Insane in the Rain, they really elevate the Sound from the Ds to another Level

[@efoxkitsune9493]

I need this video to have 2 hours and cover the entire soundtrack lol Nothing more amazing than seeing you absolutely geeking out over a Pokemon soundtrack. Those gen 4 games (particularly Pearl) are what I grew up on, I can't describe the nostalgia. Thank you for the video! I really hope you make more like it ❤ Edit: LMAO I only just read your pinned comment and saw that you said some of the exact same things I said here

[@abstergo06]

gen 4 is so underrated, and i must say as someone who's classicaly trained (8 years of double-bass and 2 years of saxophone), the whole jazz theme that is going on in gen 4 was such a pleasure to hear while playing and fit perfectly with sinnoh as a whole

[@fikradas]

**Sees video title** My guy, InsaneInTheRain made a career out of Gen IV's music being jazz lmao.

[@ScottE-2]

You haven't heard the rest of this OST, there are day and night versions for a lot of them and has no business going as HARD as it does. Personally, my favorite is to this day, the Night version of the Pokémon League. It's so soothing and it pains me there's nothing else like it since.

[@palibakufun]

I loooooove the night version of the Pokemon Center theme. It's so comforting to me

[@ScottE-2]

@@palibakufunJust about every night version of a song in this game feels so cozy... it is wild that they never really brought it back.

[@cXspXr]

Gō Ichinose (composer of lake theme) is someone that lives rent free in everyone's mind and very few people even know of his existence. he's a composing genius. also Junichi Masuda (composer of many popular songs, notably cynthia's theme) is unbelievably talented. he composed things like cynthia's theme, but he also does supervision, direction, advertisement & marketing, game & world design, planning, production, programming, and pretty much everything else, AND not only just for pokemon. he's also done work on smash and a ton of other, albeit, less known games that stll have crazy good OSTs.

[@kluaoha]

The Eterna Forest theme is also built off a Gmaj7, and it is one of the most simple yet enchanting pieces I've ever heard.

[@BigBrotherMateyka]

I'm not the one to fall into any kind of subjective nostalgia trap, as I never played D/P/Pt as a youngster, and only picked up the game for a blind Nuzlocke run a couple of years ago. However, one of the things I was absolutely blown away by having picked up the game for the first time was the music: bar none the greatest collection of themes, melodies, and variations in the Pokémon franchise. I envy those who grew up with being introduced to and being immersed in such beauty at a young age.

[@Pastelcado]

The Snowpoint City night theme was the first time I really focused on music in a game. As a kid, that theme was so magical to me and I listened to it for hours.

[@kirkrotger9208]

Something he didn't mention about that tritone in Lake, but I think is pertinent is that it does add a little bit of uneasiness, which given what goes down at those locations where it's played really makes a lot of sense and adds a lot to the atmosphere there.

[@davis2110]

You're editor has an incredible amount of polish through out this video. Well done!

[@pentagonialdime5862]

ngl. clicked on this video cause I love seeing people hear this OST for the first time and having their minds blown by how awesome it is. Was not prepared to see the like, 5th track you hear in the game dissected to such a level. Awesome video!

[@Chellybeannnn]

I love how passionate and excited you were discussing this 🥰 love gen 4 music appreciation!

[@MrAppleSalad]

You should REALLY look into the "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky" soundtrack, I'd put it up with Undertale in terms of best video game soundtracks ever. Arata Iiyoshi is such an incredible composer just in general, you could also check out Ethnoplex which is his independent album for more of his original work. I'd love to see this game's soundtrack get the love it deserves.

[@sierranicholes6712]

mystery dungeon music was excellent. just like with undertale i feel like the soundtrack is a huge reason the story is able to hit so hard, there is this music just coating every part of the game with deeper emotion and vibes.

[@Codeninja676]

Primal Dialga's theme lives rent free in my head

[@LeakyOrifices]

God I would love a technical breakdown of the soundtrack to the game that made me cry multiple times, it’s just so incredibly put together

[@rowclaw2734]

PLEASE do this

[@roumdboi]

THANK YOU, that music means so much to me, it is SO good. PMD music has gotten me through so many hard times by just bringing me comfort and instantly transporting me to a moment in my childhood when a story impacted me hard for the first time ever. ❤️

[@screamflight1044]

That transition from that crazy BbM7b5 to FM7 always gives me goosebumps. It just resolves so beautifully and it gets me every time

[@OHana-mo5xw]

At some point you need to take a look at the incredible compositions that Kevin Penkin has done for anime music. No matter what you pick, all of it has so much to offer not only in terms of harmonic complexity, they're just straight up bangers.

[@dbsmgmt5354]

Thank you for the tip. That’s pretty amazing.

[@Chrisboy265]

I’ve always loved the music from the Gen 4 Pokémon games, but this deep dive made me appreciate the music even more.

[@till1122]

7:50 and thats why its so delicate. the tracks before already were astonishing and they accomplished that with the limits of the game boy advanced. with the 16 channels they could express their expectations freely and make happen what wasnt possible before. And thats what comes out when you put love and dedication into the things you do. Purely gorgeous!