Game Composer Hears SONG OF THE ANCIENTS from NIER for the First Time

I've been so intrigued by Nier music! Today I'll listen to Song of the Ancients Atonement from Nier Automata. There are clearly some very complex and deep emotions in this one. It seems like this is kinda the norm for the Nier soundtrack huh...
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Game footage credit to Axis Koi • NieR: Automata Devola ...
spiker3000 • NieR: Automata - Marx ...

[@DaviVasc]

Hey, I've made a video on Nier's Amusement Park too! It's over here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXjLlaSMpa-Aoqc

[@Mephilles13]

"This song gives you a sense of fate"...yes it does

[@chomperboy4566]

You should listen to more Nier music, the ost is magnificent and majestic

[@goldenmellow623]

I completely agree it’s a masterpiece

[@Weijud]

Agree

[@eldrazidragon5347]

Just saying copied city is probably one of the best songs from this ost

[@PinkMooseTree]

Agree, especially from the first game

[@derfyfenhu4056]

It's a version of a boss theme from the first Nier. There's quite a few variants of the song. In Nier fashion It's tragic

[@derfyfenhu4056]

Commenting while watching so. The reason it's a duet is because it's the theme of a pair of Twins. They each have their own version of the song in the first Nier

[@Toaster154_]

13:47 Funnily enough there’s a version of Song of the Ancients called Fate from the original Nier

[@Meuhldor]

And in the Fate version, there is sheep bell in the soundrack because Popola and Devola are dress in sheep keeper (because their mission is to look after the human).

[@daveywavey8143]

I hope you analyze more Nier music like “Grandma” and “Kaine’s Salvation.” Nier music deserves to be listened to on its own.

[@littlekitsune1]

"Emil - Karma" puts me in a trance every time.

[@FranzKarma]

There's another youtube channel named Jonathan Barouch that made a very cool analysis on Grandma, Shadowlord, Song of Ancients and Fleeting Worlds! I big recommend him!

[@BeDone01]

You might like "A Beautiful Song" from nier automata. Anyway great video as always

[@kg_nyc]

I saw this live in concert in LA in January. Holy s*** was that magical to experience Emi and J'nique sing this live.

[@user-dc7ry3ww4r]

agree, and hopr is the version with yelling

[@alexandercintron7772]

So glad you reacted to this track. This is one of the best tracks in my eyes and you practicaly hit the nail like always. Fun fact, the context for this track is based on the two charcaters devola and popola. To avoid spoilers the best i can, there original version comited a "sin" that "humans" couldn't forgive them (even though they were just doing their job). So when "humanity" went and made androids, they made devola and popola models with a deep feeling of regret and self hate over a "sin" they never commited just out of spite. When this version appears in the game, is them fighting for redemption from a mistake they never even made.

[@Meuhldor]

That's why this version is called Atonements, it's the expiation/retribution of the twins, their last battle.

[@ElivTheMightyena]

Only a small correction, after those two particular Devola and Popola models committed the sin all Devola and Popola models then had their memories of the sin deleted by other androids. They were also made to feel guilt and regret for the rest of their lives. Hence the song name "Atonement" - they are atoning for a sin those two particular individual models have committed

[@miguelrosario722]

Devola and Popola are my favorite characters, they have been some of the ones who have suffered the most through the two games, there are several versions of this song but in all of them you can feel that essence of sadness in the lyrics. I hope you can react to more songs from the OST

[@shino4517]

I'd love for you to hear the different versions of Song of the Ancients, specifically Song of the Ancients Devola and Song of the Ancients Popola. They're all wildly different from each other but still fairly similar. Great reaction and analysis! Hope you react to more songs from Nier, it has an incredible soundtrack.

[@Erm4nya]

Honestly it's pretty impressive how accurate you are with your interpretation of those songs. One of my favorite from the serie gotta be "Fleeting words" from Nier Replicant

[@Fanatator]

Fleeting world was such a gift from the new content we got in remaster/remake, i wish more people would appreciate it

[@8-bitromance43]

Fleeting Words sounded so incredible at the recent concerts. One of the several that brought me to tears!

[@XxguaxinimxX.]

Also, Song of the Ancients was featured at Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020! Not exactly this version, but it was Song of the Ancients, indeed!

[@sonofhades57]

Nier music is invariably utterly gorgeous. The hub area music from Automata is among my favorite video game music tracks EVER.

[@sonofhades57]

Oh, and a fun fact! Most of the music's vocal components are in a fictional language made expressly for the Nier games, known as Chaotic. It is a mishmash of various real-world languages.

[@Advokaiser]

Which is the name of the song you're mentioning? I'm really curious (I haven't had the privilege of trying NieR: Automata yet)...

[@sonofhades57]

@@Advokaiser City Ruins!

[@Advokaiser]

@@sonofhades57 Thanks! I'll listen to it. It always deeply intrigues me whenever people regard a particular game or game song as being one of the best ever. I know it's serious business, so my mind automatically gives them top priority.

[@jacc4928]

this was played at the 2020(2021) olympics during the opening ceremony!

[@austinwilson7373]

7:37 “Yeah it’s a bad guy, let’s beat the bad guy and the world is saved” …”it doesn’t really sound like that”. You’ve captured the entirety of Nier in one sentence. It’s never so simple.

[@epigeios]

Correct. The music changes dynamically based on what you're doing in the area. There's not a lot of variations, but there's a few, and that's enough to make it feel extra dynamic. There's a mechanic in the game where the music changes in a big way for that mechanic. You haven't heard any of that yet. But they re-wrote some of the music for that mechanic, and created a "digitization" filter for it. Makes a really cool dynamic transition between what is effectively entirely different instruments for the same song.

[@takonaegi2967]

"Weak happy cord that convey complex emotions" Dang, I love how Davi explains music, that even I can properly understand. I always was in awe with Nier music, but I would never be able to put in words how good it is.

[@hago66]

Usually I don't like watching reaction videos that pause the song from time to time but these videos are an exception. I love your analysis and it feels easily understandable. Keep up the good work!

[@jaron95]

The way you're able to infer so much, so accurately, from just the music makes it hard to believe you haven't played the game, or at least heard the song before! Love the video, can't wait for more NieR music analysis!

[@Nagirdnal]

You said it sounds like a story lol It does. It's sung by twins, Devola and Popola. Each having their respective songs, and this one with them both. You definitely need to play the games, but you can also find the translation of the lyrics to save a bit of time lol

[@igordasunddas3377]

There are translations from a made-up fantasy language? :O

[@LikwidKat]

More NieR PLEASE!

[@brickhead6879]

NieR music is a gift that keeps giving, the atonement version for Song of the Ancients is so powerful. Your analysis of it is amazing and if you took some time to understand some lore about the twins (Popola and Devola) and listen to the other variations of the song from NieR Replicant you would see how everything ties together in both the story and the tone of each song.

[@JS-zr9qs]

Seeing all the love for Nier coming out makes me very hopeful that a side-by-side comparison of the two Vague Hopes is coming.

[@vitor_sans]

Great video, Davi. Fun fact! It actually tells a story! It's a song in a long-forgotten language, telling the story of "something creating" chaos" and "something" restoring peace. I think you probably noticed but both voices are coming from the same person: Emi Evans. AND YUP IT'S MUCH MORE DEEP THAN "THE BAD GUY". YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT! Also, this is the version from NieR: Automata. You might want to check some of the other 28 versions of the song. You should definitely check out "Growing Wings", from Drakengard- game that NieR comes from.

[@JonnZth]

"it feels like a story" my man, you have no idea how close you were with this statement

[@mamalinhager]

Absolutely love how well you can figure out the game by listening to the music...😁 ❤

[@elpnt415]

7:07 absolutely nailed it. Every time this song played, it was a key point in Nier lore. From happiness and calm, despair and sorrow, to urgency and purpose, this song was used to enhance the scene's intent. As a huge fan of the Nier series, I almost have to brace myself from the wave of emotions once I hear this song play. Awesome analysis! Keep up the good work!

[@Aya_Albion]

Great video as always! I love the unique and melancholic atmosphere of NIer’s OST.

[@Mecha_Neko]

"Did we... manage to help?" "...you did."

[@Blazh5864]

There are many versions of this song, including SONG OF THE ANCIENTS/Devola, SONG OF THE ANCIENTS/Popola, SONG OF THE ANCIENTS/Weight of the World, and SONG OF THE ANCIENTS/Atonement. There are actually many more versions, appearing in different scenes and different parts of the plot.

[@mahiru7323]

0:03 この人歌も上手いのか、えぐ

[@Gr13fM4ch1n3]

Absolutely continue with this soundtrack! Loving your perspective and fresh ears on these.

[@stacyowl1658]

yayyy you finally did a video on this, this is my favourite track from the series

[@ShudoShrimp135]

THIS WAS SUCH A FUN BREAKDOWN THANK YOU!! Atonement is one of my favorites out of Nier and I highly recommend doing the breakdown of the other versions of Song of the Ancients as many others have suggested! Outside of Nier, however, I was recently pulled into the soundtrack of a game called "The Multi-Medium" that might also be interesting for future videos! It's a simple game with a simple story, but I love the ambient music and I'd love to see your take on it (particularly "A Lovely Bike Ride" and the different versions of "March of the Insects")

[@elissahunt]

This music is amazing. Thank you so much for analyzing and sharing it with us. 😀

[@jeroenvanos9653]

The beauty of the chaos language is that it's not telling a story, but in combination with the melodies tell an emotion and a situation. That means that it is very open for intrpretation, work very well in the games, works very well outside of the games, and makes you understand what is happening even if you're not familiar with the story and the lore

[@chargoal_games]

I'm trying to learn musical composition and your videos were such a blessing. They tackle complex musical theories with such a casual language. Where can I dive deeper into what chords are what? I did not really see the emotional language of chords anywhere else and I can't seem to find a common thing in what chords are what

[@nTuta]

This version of Song of Ancients is a remix from the original one. The Original one is from Nier Replicant, and this one you listened in the video is from Nier Automata.

[@chemlamanuel1497]

You'll love "A beautiful song" from the same game. Conveys a lot of story too.

[@Advokaiser]

The very first iteration I heard from this song was 14 years ago (dang... that's a lot of time), in the first NIER OST (Song of the Ancients / Fate). Given that I also don't know the story of the franchise (yet), the Fate version sounds much more story-driven (like the song is telling you something that happened a long time ago but is somehow linked to the present), while the Atonement version here sounds much more in the context of an important battle (that is obviously linked to that particular story or even sub-story or side-story). Also, Fate sounds more tribal, and therefore "primitive", technologically speaking; Atonement doesn't sound tribal, though also not modern (in a futuristic kind of way), but rather in a contemporary sense according to the present events. I don't know how accurate all of this is, but that is what I get of this song.

[@acidiclouds]

you don't even know how accurate that is

[@VTWS]

There is a reason for the dichotomy of epic vs intimate in the songs but if I explain it it will affect your reactions lol. Would recommend Nier Replicant songs too, particularly Snow in Summer (the ver1.22 update) or Shadowlord (any version).

[@hydration4333]

Love that you're covering Nier it has some of my favorite gaming music ever!!

[@brawlman644]

If you ever do a video on "Birth of a Wish" (which I highly recommend you check out at some point), I recommend using the mix version rather than the ost one if you want all the different versions of it.

[@AqualiusTheOverLord]

The sense of fate line is especially fitting considering the original nier song of the ancients was called song of the ancients fate

[@Takumi-0529]

A Beautiful Song next plz ! It is the boss of Amusement Park area and also an amazing soundtrack

[@andys9029]

What are the chances that I checked your channel this morning in the hopes I’d see this! Anyway, this is an absolute banger!

[@paramedic2172]

There are several versions of this track (and others) not only within the same game, but also between them. This theme comes from the original Nier, in which also has various versions depending on the situation and the point of the story you are in. There are even two diegetic versions, which sound within the world of the game. One at the very beginning and the other as a reward for a secondary quest. I would say SotA Devola and SotA Fate (og and 1.22) are both worth checking ;)

[@zbigniew2628]

You should definitely experience nier series yourself. The Song of the Ancients has many versions, coz it is in many games from this universe + other situations, but it is mostly connected to some "twins". Its ubtitle "atonement" has its place here and it not boss battle, but a trying to get in somewhere and then twins shows up to help. Version with subtitle Fate may be what you are looking for. Anyway, if you are going to start digging, then you are going to get massive spoiler to Nier.

[@zbigniew2628]

Oh nvm Fate version, probably it is best to go for version from 1.22 remaster. And you rly should experience at least Nier Automata. Probably there is no other game with bigger emotional and memorable hit of a moment with last version of weight of the world and it does not make much sense to analyze it without playing.

[@terribasile4284]

Love listening to you guess about this. Wow!

[@hotamadeus2726]

I love your energy man its really contagious also if youd like to listen to a really epic nier song I recommend Bipolar Nightmare :) Its my favorite

[@rizelder7848]

Song of The Ancients have another version too of using Mandolin or something like that.., and it's so peacefull

[@derechtewolfi]

When they played Song of the Ancients at the NieR concert a few weeks ago it was one of the best experiences ever. Song of the Ancients holds a special place in my heart, especially after experiencing NieR Replicant! (which btw has some more ambient/overworld track versions of Song of the Ancients 👀)

[@joseluisloeraastorga1681]

Ah, Nier, my favourite OST ever... Im waiting patiently for more... Especially "beautiful song" and "Vague Hope" the 2 arrangements... ❤ 🎶 Keep doing your stuff Davi ! ✌🏻🔥

[@williamdowsett3350]

there's so many versions of this song and they all sound so different! Emil's theme is also amazing too!

[@gustavoyuri6999]

You could also try listening to "Birth of A Wish", it's also from Nier

[@Oisin80]

Hi Davi! Suggestions: Clavada (Blasphemous 2) and Maxims and Misfits (Penny's Big Breakaway; I haven't played this game, but I have seen a playthrough and I really like some tracks). Video: I think the vocals make more sense in this track, but I still don't get used to it. Very good track, I really like the instrumental version. It's so cool to see you enjoy so much the track jajaja. If I remember correctly there is at least a third Nier track left, and I think I remember which one it is; I guess there will be more vocals jajaja. That's it. ¡Adiós!

[@ArttuT9]

I'd love to see you react to undertale yellow music. You probably know about this already but in case, undertale yellow is a fan made prequel to undertale that has some pretty good music. I would recommend Remedy or Mother's love, but i would probably be better to ask in a poll or smt.

[@euphonyfff2316]

THANK YOU DAVI. THANK YOU😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED🎉🙏

[@igordasunddas3377]

I bought the NieR Automata soundtrack as well as a couple of the others (Piano reimaginations, NieR Replica) as CDs. Love them.

[@terribasile4284]

You are so right on

[@jeremyjmusic]

Dude you should do “Kaine Salvation” from Nier Gestalt/Replicant next

[@Nagirdnal]

Oh God, this whole soundtrack slaps! So does Replicant/Gestalt (though I prefer the original to the remake) and most of Drakengard 3. Some of my favorite video game music, from some of my favorite video games.

[@shadesmcf]

So much emotion, in this track. It is melancholic and heroic for the characters this track surrounds.

[@user-gt1qo3qp4z]

Always a pleasure to watch, thanks. I'm an amateur musician, but I enjoy listening to your clear explanations. thanks for listening to the music of the NieR series! If you don't mind, but you should listen to "shadowlord" by NieR replicant! You will be amazed!😊 (Sorry for the imperfect language as I am using a translation)

[@reaperleviathan1125]

Song from the nier series id recommend: Nier: Automata - beautiful song -copied city -dark colossus (kaiju) -grandma (destruction) -dependent weakling -weight of the world (japanese ver) Nier: Replicant -song of the ancients (fate) -shadowlord -the dark colossus destroys all -emil (karma) and (sacrifice)

[@user-uc6wo1lc7t]

Btw, check out BEAUTIFUL OST of Violet Evergarden anime. (Music only) "Theme of Violet Evergarden", "Ink to paper", "Across the Violet Sky", "Violet Snow for Orchestra", "A Doll's begging", "What it means to love", "The Voice in My Heart" (Songs) "Irma's song/Love letter" (opera song so f****ing beautiful...), "Belive in...", "Violet snow" (there's several language versions, I preffer french version, Michelle Michina singer, literally fall in love to her vioce combined with such gorgeous music...) Please, check it out, I'm pretty sure it's good for your channel.

[@djdaniel4205]

13:50 He's.... 100% right. Wow!

[@XxSakFexX]

I just love how love and appreciation for Nier music brought us here ❤

[@AprilZN-DokutahSuzuki]

Hey i wonder if you can listen to armored core 6 music? There are some tracks like Contact With You or Steel Haze (Rusted Pride) that are very good.

[@knightofblackfyre7950]

Theres a few different versions of this song, the one you reacted to is from NieR Automata, but the first time you'd hear the original version of this song is in a plaza in the Original NieR/NieR Replicant if i remember right. That version has only one character singing it calmly in a plaza where children are playing, Then there is a calm Duet Verison thats sung in a bar as a reward for getting both of the singers there to sing and drink, then a battle Version like this one. And your right that it sounds like a story as it is a Story sung in Chaos Language that only the two people who sing it in game know how to translate/speak.

[@miyouko7241]

I just realize (still need to check this) that the version of the Song of the Ancients with vocals only play when Devola and Popola are here, otherwise we have the version of the song without the vocals. And it's because Devola and Popola are supposed to be the ones singing it after all... Damn, even after 7 years, this game and it's music amaze me. This is such a masterpiece.

[@ClarkCox]

This is indeed boss music, but it’s base on versions that are woven though out Nier (ie the one *before* Automata) I hope you listen to the earlier versions of this song. By the time this version comes up inte game, it’s heartbreaking, and I still get goosebumps hearing it. (And, at one point, it stops being a duet)

[@abyssalvoice_vt2951]

Nier Replicant does something with the song near the end of the game that just punches a hole through my heart. I won't spoil what it is, but it's a simple change to the song that just makes me so sad.

[@captaincatten7547]

Nier and their music reflect the game emotion extremely well. It is a tragic world, yet every one is doing their best to exists in it.

[@jinbloodedge]

I'm surprised, you basically guessed everything about this song, this song has a very extensive story in the game, basically it is a main song of the saga, in nier replicant it is explained that this song talks about a story, which is related to our characters, It is sung by 2 girls who are twins, who are friends of the protagonist, who have an older sister relationship with him, the song in nier automata (atonement) is played at a moment where other versions of these twins sacrifice themselves, which is curious because in the previous game, the same song is used but more aggressive, since the protagonist must eliminate them, which is a moral battle for him.

[@blusteryVagabond]

Almost all of Nier is Tragic. It's a Long Story™.

[@jurtheorc8117]

There's a fairly recent game out there that has a soundtrack in part inspired by NieR that one really, *really* would not expect, while still having a musical identity of its own. Or at least, i have seen people compare it to NieR. Nevertheless, it is a tale very much worth seeking out and goes by the name of Clash: Artifacts of Chaos. For such emotional tracks, i would recommend - The Boy Calls - The Amokuali - Titans - Parting - Unstoppable - The Duels - Hope Hope is mixed the game's more prehistoric and tribal element of the musical identity, though there are tracks with other emotional elements, i'd recommend: - Pseudo's Theme - Pseudo's Return - Pseudo's Wrath (Pseudo's tracks form a trilogy, in that order. Though i would recommend playing Pseudo's Wrath only after listening to To The End and then Battle of the Fates). And some others - Lonely Coast - Word - The Town - Traveling Players - (jokey one) Traders and many more. It's a beautiful game full of freaks, chimeras and monsters, and good gameplay too.

[@terribasile4284]

Sad but beautiful

[@user-wn9sq1ur2l]

This song was played at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. I remember being very happy as a fan of the NieR series.😊

[@mmaaoorr]

You should listen to Emil sacrifice. Its one of the best ones from nier and it would be really fun to see what you can discover from it about the game

[@A123ftw]

I recommend Grandma and Shadowlord from Nier Replicant, they're amazing

[@robertdavidblakely]

NieR music manages to claw up complex emotions no matter how many times I listen to each track

[@swiftninja91]

There are several versions of this song, all of them excellent. And I won't go into spoilers, but you got the melancholy and conflicting tones of this song spot on. NieR is a very bittersweet series of games.

[@finleymorris04]

LETS GOO

[@corentin_Z]

Dude, the whole album is fiiiire. I went to see the symphonic concert twice already. Keiichi Okabe is juste on an another level.

[@DannyGallowsTunes]

You should check out the Drakengard ost as well! That will take you for a ride.

[@j.p2717]

Hey man, I've loved your channel for a while now, love learning new things about the best music is my favorite games. I wanted to ask if you could react to fossil falls from Mario Odyssey. It's an unexpectedly beautiful and exciting song that you wouldn't expect from a game like Mario, would love to know your thoughts.

[@novustalks7525]

This is basically the theme of the franchise. It's in all 3 games

[@bagasraga7765]

"Theres 2 voices this time, the duet. What is that mean?" That means a lot man.... Means a lot

[@dreevehere]

I’m so excited that you’re listening to NieR Automata OST!! It’s definitely in my top 5 favourite soundtracks. I hope you also listen to some of the NieR Gestalt/Replicant OST!

[@johnmoore-fm9db]

I REALLY want to see your reaction to "Emil shop " song from Neir Automata!

[@saifis]

in game this is sung by twins and has a few versions of it, would like to see what you think of the different versions.

[@Iejir_Isk]

Yea, this being the conclusion piece to the song(s) of the ancients... is not my favorite, but do love it. Always up for more Nier music. Trying to sing with it, and don't know this version of it well enough XD

[@BoodyCheek]

You should listen to some of the Drakengard OST as well. Drakengard 1 has some of the weirdest but unique ost i think I've heard

[@VTWS]

Oh yeah it sounds horrible first time you hear it but give it a few listens and afterwards everything else sounds boring

[@DWFTW]

After seeing this video title I was really hoping it'd be one from the original Nier, but the Automata version is great too. It certainly makes me very emotional, but Song of the Ancients: Fate in the original destroyed me. The chords are probably the same to the ones you're analysing which might give me an idea as to why, but maybe not because the backing is quite different, and I have trouble really following those sorts of specifics. That said the significance in the story and the fact you'll have heard the Song of the Ancients: Devola and Popola versions (part of why this is a Duet) definitely played a big part, but the song always felt very emotional regardless and still drags up those emotions whenever I listen to it to some degree or another. It is a lot less "epic" probably contributes, but between them all Song of the Ancients are easily the game songs, maybe songs period, that have made me feel the most emotional by far. From sitting in town listening to Devola's version to the Fate version towards the end of the game. Anyway great video, may not be my preferred version of the song, the title not saying Automata really threw me there, but definitely really interesting to hear and to see what you actually managed to pick up on as narrative goes as well.

[@Proxenos_zh]

"There's a ... a /touch/ of sadness in this ... ?" Oh! OH! a TOUCH!? A TOUCH?!?!? Yes, that must be what's ALL OVER MY FLOOR, it's not me WEEPING ALL MY FEELS, it's just "a TOUCH!" Of! Sadness!! A touch!

[@Proxenos_zh]

God in heaven but your analysis is AMAZING as you dig into the chords at the 8:00 min mark, where have you BEEN all my life!? *subscribed* and notification bell *dinged*

[@terribasile4284]

It was a combat going on

[@AugustoXRock]

Wow, NIER!!!!!

[@faelord5112]

I would love a reaction for Possessed by Disease, all vocals by NAMI NAKAGAWA

[@nathanieljohnson5430]

The Final Song from Drakengard 3 would blow your mind probably