Game Composer Listens to RAPHAEL'S FINAL ACT for the First Time - BALDUR'S GATE 3

After listening to Raphael's Final Act I'm convinced that the Baldur's Gate 3 OST has some of the most unique game music I've ever heard. The creative use of vocals in this boss (?) theme leaves no question as to why this is the most popular track in all Baldur's Gate 3 music.
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[@DaviVasc]

Between this and Down by the River I'm convinced BG3 has some of the most unique game music I've heard. Speaking of BG3's Down by the River, make sure to check the video I did on that song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZLYkodmgb2cf5o

[@AugustoXRock]

Oh so you've indulged in this one? Nice! You just need to listen to Legacy of Bhaal and the Main Theme now, those are bangers! Also, keep in mind the Main Theme has two parts! Anyways, thanks a lot for this video Davi!

[@c.b.-]

I can't believe no one has suggested you listen to the "Harpy Song" song from the game yet. 😄 Also there's the song "The Weeping Dawn", which has very lovely lyrics. (And there is "I Want To Live" - which exists in game both with *and* without lyrics, the version with lyrics is only heard in game in a very specific spot. I missed it on my first 2 play-thru.)

[@marceloliom5969]

I've been obsessing with I Want to Live

[@TartyRolls]

Suggestion: spider dance from undertale. One of the best tracks

[@mr.e822]

I appreciate the musical analysis here! Something that I think you miss by not playing the game is the deliberate lyrics and tone of the song. Spoilers if you plan on playing - Raphael is a devil, and he spends most of the game trying to offer deals to the main characters. He also displays an appreciation for poetry, and regularly uses cat and mouse metaphors when comparing himself to the main characters. Finally, the location of the boss battle is the House of Hope, his home in the hells. The male voice is Raphael’s voice actor. Him singing about “no more deals, it’s over!” is because the group just went behind his back and stole an object he previously offered to sell to them. Additionally, “down come the claws” is obviously a continuation of his cat metaphor. Choosing to have him sing it works because it is in character - he has been taunting us with poetry the whole game, and now he is using it to actively threaten and remove hope as we fight him.

[@Haelstrom21]

Raphael is literally singing his own boss music! What a fiend

[@datrandom134]

Beat me to it.

[@gustavodarknest]

a devil of a singer you could say

[@salti1976]

If you read all the books and parchments you can loot in his House, you'll find one that implies he had commissioned someone to write the lyrics and they were terribly sick of his horrible rhymes and fixation on certain imagery like claws and mice. xD So clever, funny, beautiful... this game is everything. Perfection.

[@Vodan535]

​@@gustavodarknestOne hell of a voice, you might say.

[@simdoughnut659]

Most Villains do the typical Villain monologue, but Rapheal must have been a Theater Kid, so he's gonna sing it. :)

[@RedHorseArcher]

Raphael is more Disney villain, then actual modern Disney villains.

[@lordgrey5223]

Idk. Disney has had some great villians recently. Maybe not in thier productions anymore, but they have definately hired a lot of talented ones.

[@vldvvalentin]

@@lordgrey5223 great actor doesnt always make for a great character. In case of Disney, it hasnt been for years now.

[@mastergrillex]

​@@vldvvalentinthe joke went right over your head huh. The villains he's talking about are the actual Disney employees lol

[@vldvvalentin]

@@mastergrillex you're literally overthinking it. Zero connection to Disney employees

[@lordgrey5223]

@@vldvvalentin no he was right. The joke was disneys staff has some of the greatest villians now. Not thier movies/ shows.

[@ElCocomega]

I just want to add that Raphael VA (the male voice you can hear in the song) is not a professional singer. Larian were cooking up the song and ask him hey you wanna try sing this ? And how cool is that the boss sings his own boss theme ? This game is just GOTY

[@radeksilar543]

I think that it is actually perfect, that professional singer who is not voiceactor of Raphael would never fit to this so well. It is great because it isnt sign by profesional, but character.

[@grizzlyadamblack]

It's fun need to stop wanking

[@fylimar]

I would never thought, from listening to that song, that he isn't a professional singer. That last note is not easy. They really did a good job with all the voice actors in the game - and this is one of the few games, where the vas get so much attention.

[@carodar34]

if you play the game u see raphael even "practice" the song in game. and if you talk to him about that he literally says,: "i am practice it until it was perfect." what the VA really did if the rumors are true about him

[@fylimar]

@@carodar34 Really? When can you see him practising it? I saw, that he commissioned that song, but never saw him practising it - he and Auntie Ethel are by far my favourite villains in the game (Auntie would deserve her own themesong too)

[@joeljohnston3390]

Not only does this play while you fight Raphael. But if you have a way to silence him (a spell or an arrow or something like that) he stops singing. So not only is raph singing his own boss music. He’s doing it WHILE YOURE FIGHTING HIM

[@Romane1111]

Oh I didn’t even try to silence him ! This game is so cool, down to the details 😍

[@AegixDrakan]

Oh that's *funny!* XD He was still singing even when it was just him left and he was getting SHREDDED by Karlach and Lae'zel's 4 attacks per turn, that's COMMITTMENT to the bit!

[@arkarosh7043]

never knew that. need to try it next run

[@Spectral-Spiff]

I smacked him with the silencing greatsword and i went why he stop singing lol

[@nichotamer9418]

I trapped him in a corner with Yurgir and 3 Ghouls in a silence bubble and the ghouls couldn't move in because Yurgir was in the way but Yurgir couldn't move because the ghouls were in the way. And this was after I destroyed all the pillars (so he was in overload), and the other enemies so I jus wailed on him like that

[@nobuffer101]

Raphael: _*starts singing his boss theme_ That one guy busting out the 19 hits build: *"You're not even gonna finish the first verse, **_diaboli..."_*

[@Mannistheorion]

I let him finish his verses for a whole 20 minutes, coz I couldn't make 19 hits but I stunlocked him to eternity with my Open Hand Monk lmao.

[@rolebole6978]

And he has 666 Hitpoints 😎

[@kathrynck]

But you have to admit, even if well prepared, that when he catches you in his house, and the music kicks off, you're thinking "when was the last time I saved???"

[@Paerigos]

@@rolebole6978 on tactician almost 900...

[@thazlorpistache3259]

right after rolling a 20 and getting Yurgir on my side x)@@kathrynck

[@Anima19925]

I LOVE how without ever playing the game you picked up on the "disney moustache-y villain" because that is ABSOLUTELY what Raphael is like. Major props to Raphael's voice actor for playing the role ✨perfectly✨

[@jaybee4288]

He always predicts this right with every track he ever listens to, and it’s not something you can guess from music. Guy plays the games 😂

[@TheDiggus]

When I heard this during the Bossfight I couldn't stop staring in awe. You enter the fight through some dialogue and then you stand there. Looking at the enemies, looking at your own characters and it's just paused there, this track singing your doom. And of course Raphael would be singing is own theme song.

[@SightUnseen555]

There were two moments in the game that made me breathless and freeze. This was one of them. The other was when Raphael offered me the choice of what to do with the Crown of Karsus. I was stuck on that choice for literally two hours deciding if it was worth making a literal deal with the devil or not. Raphael was one of the best parts of this game, and he's not even really a major character.

[@Osmotic]

@@SightUnseen555 nailed it. Larian went all out for even brief, optional scenes. It's clear how much they care.

[@FrostyFyre]

Talking about breathtaking moments, freeing the Nightsong is definitely up there

[@desertrose0027]

@@SightUnseen555 Yeah Raphael just chews all the scenery in every scene he's in. He's so extra and I love it.

[@jefferyscholl]

@@FrostyFyre on my second time through I was still sweating in that scene as I was playing a good guy

[@alphastronghold715]

Just FYI: this is the music for Raphael’s last stand. You’re attacking him in his home. He has every possible advantage he could have, a lot of allies, and starts with you surrounded. He’s also more powerful than your entire party by himself, making this easily one of if not the most difficult boss in the game. However, while devils like Raph are normally unkillable, since you’re fighting him in his home, if he dies here his immortality ends and he dies permanently. It is you or him.

[@kikow3792]

Sure he dies forever? It wasn't mentioned anywhere. I assumed he reforms in a couple hundred years.

[@JayTheRamblinMan]

@@kikow3792 There is a crystal ball in the shop you travel to the House of Hope from, and if you interact with it after the fight the narrator says "Within the ball you see Raphael, broken and bloody, dangling above the maw of the archdevil Mephistopheles who is preparing to devour him." Raphael is toast, no reforming for him.

[@Miggy19779]

@@kikow3792 In the Forgotten Realms/D&D lore, if you kill a fiend inside their home plane, they are destroyed, dead dead. If you kill them outside their home plane, they reform but are typically banished from returning to the plane they were killed on for a varying period of time.

[@AegixDrakan]

It REALLY is the hardest fight. I had to spend TWO single-Use Divine Interventions just to survive it. XD

[@ceu160193]

@@AegixDrakan Someone clearly didn't master secret art of barrelmancy yet.

[@dr.calibrations7984]

I love this theme because of how much it DRIPS with character. Raphael, the male singer, is a devil. This isn't a spoiler because he literally tells you this the first time you meet him. "Down here come the claws" is just perfect as a line because The first time you meet him he tells a story about a mouse being chased by a cat, the mouse thinks it got away and starts to relax "but then down came the claws." So its a callback, but also its a double entendre. He literally has claws on his fingers, but being a devil means he deals with contracts, and typically in this devil contracts they hide their insidious traps in the "clauses" to screw over the mortal making the pact.

[@K40005]

He's also clearly a bard (everything to do with him is music based and he uses some 5e bard abilities)

[@koljaleffek7290]

🤯 OMG this comment is a true gem. claws/clause, the story about the cat. never liked text interpretation, but this is great

[@RedAlpha101]

You NEED to play this game. Goty 2023 easily imo.

[@abysswalker3891]

If Sony doesn't buy the event for sure ez GOTY 2023 💀

[@colemcegg3894]

​@@abysswalker3891I prefer bg3, and I genuinely think it should win but TOTK has a chance

[@galax12370]

@@colemcegg3894bg3 would need to break the ice for it to win against TOTK imo. If you look at every goty nomination/winner its really hard to find games that have subpar gameplay and focus on something else. Ofc bg3 gameplay could be considered fun its just not that generic action feel which is I think big problem.

[@galax12370]

@@colemcegg3894 just the fact its top down crpg already makes it a huge outlier and I think its just not gonna win because zelda is generic action game

[@davidhujik3422]

Bg3, spiderman 2 and zelda tears are all goty contenders. If bg3 Nintendo and xbox fans will hate it. So im hoping bg3

[@Haazheelt]

Raphaël is like Faust. He makes pacts with people. At the end, the signatory is doomed. Raphaël loves to play with words. His home is the house of hope, which is litteraly the opposite. People signs with Raphaël when they have no more hope. But Hope is a character, also a prisonner in his jails. The music is a duet between Hope and Raphaël.

[@viktorkudriavtsev830]

Except the demon from Faust was Mephistopheles, not the titular character of the play. Which is also funny, because Rahael is son of Mephistopheles, but from dnd lore

[@cobrachai]

Pretty sure it's korilla, because if you silence her, she also stops singing.

[@Chokoboh]

Just in case you don't know it yet: Yes, it does play during gameplay. 😊 The lyrics even make total sense if you know the context why it plays. Baldurs Gate 3 is a wonderful piece of art.

[@Drahnier123]

and just for the record, both of the singers are part of the battle. The female singer is called Hope, it's apt that he picked up on on the hope/heroism themes in her section.

[@michasokoowski6651]

It even goes further, you can explain why it took him [Raphael] so long to get to you by saying that he was writing/practicing the song XD

[@jayflach3408]

@@Drahnier123 While it may have represented hope, the vocalist was Mariya Anastasova, Hope was expertly portrayed by Aisling McKeown. Though serriously she was one of my favorite NPC's in the game. Anastasova was pretty much the main vocalist for the soundtrack can be heard on down by the river, siren song, ect.

[@DrSlackr]

And you can even silence the singers during the battle to affect the soundtrack. Such a masterpiece. 🤩 @@Drahnier123

[@chriskarpetas]

Raphael is indeed a very musical villain. When you meet him he keeps reciting poems and song lyrics, and even his binding contracts are made in the form of songs. Him singing his own boss theme as he is pummeling you is very 'on character' for him. ALSO: they had the Raphael's Voice Actor himself sing this, and he has had no real musical training, so being able to pull out such a performance is fantastic.

[@ViewtifulGene]

Raph singing his own boss theme is extra as hell, but it totally fits with how he has the House of Hope decked out. He has the place filled with murals of himself, his favorite concubine is a lookalike, there are bottles of tip-top-shelf liquor littered everywhere, and every room has several dressers full of tailored suits.

[@boredcheshirecat7962]

I love how Davi has to stop at first like. "What is this." It's so genuine... Because yeah, this song comes out of the left field for each and everyone of us. Even if you are playing and ready to take him on... You are not prepared for him to go full Phantom of the Opera on you. Also, listening to this in my first playthrough made me want to start a second one just to take his offer and ally myself with him. Just to see what he has in store.

[@jacobyrassilon]

My biggest regret is that I will never again hear this for the first time as it comes out of left field and I actually belly laugh when I hear it for the first time.

[@bungers_gaming8527]

I completely agree that this track has that "typical villain in a play" sound to it. It also makes sense that it would due to the fact that Raphael likes to allude to things in a play-like fashion, even warning you of an upcoming encounter through a vocal tale. It's very cool to think that the BG3 team understood that aspect and decided to make the song that plays when you fight him reinforce that.

[@danielvanpatten5815]

Bard Devil. :D

[@Loffter]

I feel like this song needs WAY more context to truely enjoy. It's not just a stand alone song, you have to know Raphael, his personality, and his voice. I like to think he's actually just singing during the fight. I do agree with you about how unique and weird it is though. It just sounds wrong, yet its amazing.

[@shaneoneil6088]

Nailed it. The context within the song encapsulates the whole story with Rafael you as the player have experienced. Its just a masterpiece. Larian is wild lol

[@X3n0nLP]

Unus Annus

[@OneEvanescent]

I think he is meant to be actually singing. Supposedly, if you Silence him during the fight, his lyrics cut out

[@green959]

Also if you zoom right into his character, you can see his lips moving during his lines.

[@Mr.President427]

It is him singing, Raphael’s VA(who is not a trained singer btw) got offered the chance to work on the song and nailed it, also if you silence him, his vocals cut out, this Disney villain looking mf is singing while he’s killing you

[@ThreadbareInc]

Yes. Raphael is a Disney villain.

[@GunsNRoses87AXL]

He even figured out the hope vs despair theme of the story/fight by the chords...impressive

[@AlekVen]

Raphael is the literal devil. Comes forward with a deal, which, of course, is stacked against you. He plots not necessarily against you, but he has his own agenda. That's why he's not really sinister - he doesn't have anythinf against you. He has his goal, and he's working towards it. Unfortunately for him, you can choose to ruin his plans and confront him at his home - and that's when this song plays. It's a boss fight, an OPTIONAL boss fight at that - I haven't even met Raphael within the appropriate in-game timeline to ever get to hear this. But from what I've seen, it's absolutely stellar, the boss fight and the wuest associated with it. It's Raphael himself singing - his voice actor - and you can hear the honey mixed with acid in his voice, as he - for the first time in the game - takes your transfression personally. No more deals, no more grace - you've gone too far. Being the devil, he of course tskes the stance of being evil, hence the chanting about mortal souls being damned. Yet it's still not actually sinister, and the "Disney villain" analogy really works here - he's evil, yes, but he's not this overwhelming malevolent being. At the end of the day, he's just a guy - a very powerful one, yes, but still just a guy. At this point in the story you will have slain an avatar of an actual god and have a much more grand battle approaching, and Raphael is merely a side job - an optional quest, not only skippable, but also easily missable.

[@darkguardian50]

its all very true to the mentality of a devil. Every time you meet Raphael he speaks about things like order, decorum, rules. Devils hate demons so much because they represent the literal opposite of the spectrum. Demons are all about chaos. Devils are evil but they play by the rules. Unfortunately they are very clever and lie by omission. When you enter Raphael's home and steal from him, its a personal affront and he is very upset that you brought the chaos of the mortal world into his orderly home. Even if you attempt to backtrack and cut a new deal he refuses. Which just shows how angry he is. For a devil to turn down an offer to make a deal is rare indeed.

[@TheBirdsDen]

cambien not a devil but he plays the role of 'devil you know'

[@JakeSPuwuowo69]

Worth noting, he's -a- devil. In D&D lore, he's really powerful compared to mortals (extremely so), but compared to immortals pretty far down the chain (weaker than Zariel who's the first layer of hell, Avernus. The last layer of hell would basically blink and instaKO him.) He's far, far, far stronger than you canonically (hence why you need Hope and 3 others), but immortals (that he's trying to overthrow btw) are way stronger. But he's not -the- devil. -The- devil, the supreme one, could be argued as Zariel for whom we deal with in the game (since the 1st layer of Hell, Avernus, tends to be the only one that even messes with mortal affairs), and the leader of all of the hells, the lowest layer, is wayyyyyyyy up there on the list. Also worth noting, in D&D lore, Hell and the Abyss, Devils and Demons, are different. They are not the same. Devils are lawful evil. They're evil, but they mostly work through shady deals, trickery, double meanings, buying souls and whatnot. They're less-so about outright murder. They're in Hell. Demons are chaotic evil. They're from the Abyss, and they're fine just murdering whatever. The two tend to not really get along.

[@Johnston212]

If I'm not mistaken, taking him out would have resulted in a huge demotion once he eventually recoporealized

[@alphastronghold715]

@@Johnston212Oh no, he wouldn’t recorporalize at all. If a devil is killed in virtually any plane, they instantly regenerate back in the hells. However, if one dies in the hells, they’re gone permanently. Since you kill him in his home, he’s just done.

[@StellaTZH]

This song fits Raphael perfectly! He really is an overly dramatic, moustache twirling, self-absorbed Disney villain. What a genius idea to give him his own boss battle song. It's just amazing, I was so blown away by this scene

[@paoladallachiesa]

Raphael’s v/a, mr Wincott, stated that "Raphael's final act" was all done in one take. Incredible. Even more so considering that he had never done a musical part before. Thanks for your analysis, so much insight into the music enriches it.

[@Mohumasta]

What I love about this song is it’s almost as if a female bard is singing a warning or maybe even a lamentation of what the player is experiencing. Along with the Raphael’s commentary feels like it’s invoking demoralizing emotions. The anguish and struggle of Hope being viciously suffocated as she fights to survive. Though what I love most about it, in classic Raphael fashion, he’s so full of himself that he’s singing as if you have already lost, when in fact his lyrics are a projection of his own demise. 😊

[@SerLoinSteak]

I only noticed this on my second playthrough, but the instrumental portion of the song plays when you first meet Raphael and he brings you to the House of Hope

[@SoccoRiffredi]

oh for real?i need to reemember to check it out when i inevitably begin another run

[@kathrynck]

oooooh, cool. I was putting off doing a second playthrough for a little while, to kinda cleanse the pallet so I could really savor it a second time :)

[@christerjakobsen8107]

Also that poem he recites to you is referenced in the lyrics "for now down here come the claws!"

[@kathrynck]

@@christerjakobsen8107 Ya, I noticed that tidbit :)

[@jazzaroobabu1101]

On my current play through when he appeared to me in the grove the music broke so his music just kept playing until i left the area

[@nesakysiu4748]

Raphael singin his own boss music is ultimate power move, he breaks the fourth wall and shows complete dominion of everything visible on the screen

[@AlexGrom]

The craziest thing is that instrumental version plays on background for a while before you get to this fight. And it starts with female voice, you think "that's cool, something new". Then Rafael starts singing, and after you realize it suddenly the lyrics, the music and everything clicks together perfectly

[@colemcegg3894]

This boss fight really blew me away. Its probably the harsest fight in the game as well. Also, one of the coolesr thing is the voice actor of Raphael also sings this and the voice actor of Hope, someone helping you fight him is voiced by the female voice singer. Its also really interesting you bring up hope and heroism. The location is called the House of Hope. It's very indicative of the games quality you can extract this much information from just hearing a track.

[@Bumbum_Inspector]

Raphael is a powerful devil from the nine hells in the game, but he operates a lot outside of hell. He "helps" the player and their team, but only if it's benefiting him in some way. He's my favourite character in the game and you get this fight against him if you betray him at a certain point and this song plays during his fight.

[@nathanfivecoate5848]

You don't get this for "betraying" him, you get it for breaking into his House of Hope and stealing from him

[@Bumbum_Inspector]

@@nathanfivecoate5848 Yes I was not trying to spoil it too much. I also consider doing this as going against what he desires and betraying him to some extent.

[@nathanfivecoate5848]

@@Bumbum_Inspector Counterpoint: I told him he was mad if he thought I'd strike up a deal with him in act 1, did my damndest to talk Mol out of making a deal with him in act 2 (as a Ranger I would add), and then told him no deal in act 3 before I broke into his house to rob it of all it's treasures, most notably the hammer. What? My first character was a Wood Elf Thief Rogue 4/Beast Master Ranger 8

[@jazzjazzington8244]

​@@nathanfivecoate5848oooh so you can still go to his house even without the deal... good to know. I was playing with some friends and we ended up doing the deal cause we thought that was the only way to get the hammer

[@masondeross]

@@nathanfivecoate5848 I was a paladin and I robbed him, virtuously I might add with the righteousness of my oath intact. I would have killed him first out of respect, if given the chance, but he wasn't home when I got there... Although, Archduchess Raphaela was a pleasant enough host, and she offered much more agreeable terms.

[@Gargorok.]

This is such an amazing song, since its a turn based game without a lot of dialogue during combat the vocals dont distract and the lyrics coming right when the combat start gives such an impact to the song, its played right after the dialogue so it fits very well

[@Asterionfu]

FINALLY, i've been waiting for Davi to listen to this also this part "Squirm, squirm, for now down here come the claws" at least to me is related to the first dialogue you have with him, he talks about a mouse outfoxing a cat

[@VikCachat]

Claws are a pun on "clause". Devils are all about laws, contracts and "clauses".

[@arizona_anime_fan]

Raphael is a side character/villian, and this fight is 100% optional. He's an over the top, theatrical devil from the 9hells, who admits at one point to practicing his theatrical delivery when he tries to vaguely or overtly threaten your character. it's very theater like in his behavior, he loves speaking in very unsubtle metaphors in a hammy theatrical way. you catch him in the middle of no where practicing his lines delivery to you... it's really hilarious stuff. the problem is he's a very evil dude, and while his personality is rather fun, the dude clearly is bad news for anyone who deals with him. this song plays during a boss fight against him, and it's so on the nose it's legit hilarious. he IS the type of sing his own boss song. so when this song starts playing it's just a mind blowing moment, because you just know, this is probably in game, not player experience but the characters probably are having a fight to the death in game while Raphael is singing his own boss music. just amazing moment.

[@TheCentralScrutinizerAgain]

one of my favourite gaming moments ever.

[@dark_ohantom8902]

I respect this song so much for 1 how good it is, 2 it just shows how much ego Raphael has, and 3 it’s just down right hilarious

[@vinceA3748]

Having Raphael sing his own boss fight, was freaking GENIUS. These guys at Larian are brilliant. The fact that they put so much effort into an optional boss fight, speaks volumes. You can beat the game without ever having to do this fight. You will be missing out though. I wish I could experience this for the first time again. I was so wowed.

[@0rteku]

Raphael is a devil who is trying to make a deal with you the entire game. He has an imposing aura, that kind iof villain who is elocuent and dangerous. Near the end of the game, if you didn't made a deal, you can infiltrate in his House of Hope in Hell. While you are there, you are afraid he will come and find you, so when that happens and start the fight (the hardest fight of the game) you start hearing him singing like a musical, telling you what happen if you break his rules, and that moment is absloutely awesome.

[@mara_jade021]

The fight is NOT complicated lol. Based on your class you can killed him in. 2 or 3 turns

[@faithcael5703]

The entire OST is rumoured to be nominated for a Grammy but dont come at me. I absolutely love Raphaels Final Act, I had goosebumps when I had it in game for the first time and it's in my casual spotify playlist because it's such a banger. Followed by Weeping Dawn and Nightsong

[@azurethegamerkobold5434]

He isn't an ally nor an enemy per say, but i would call him an Antagonist for sure. This song does play in game during the final confrontation with him BUT its a totally optional fight... which you could skip or even miss out on.

[@RE-jb2ke]

I really enjoyed watching your reaction to this song and so glad you introduced chord visuals to help explain what was going on. Would love to see more of it and even a deep dive into this particular song.

[@markduncan1144]

This moment was probably the most intense mix of genuine emotion I've ever experienced in decades of being a gamer. The way that is all played up, with your attempt to rescue "Hope" is just fantastic.

[@CosmicAlgae]

This was such a pleasant surprise when the Raphael fight began! Loved every second of it. Thanks for covering it Davi!

[@archeryguy1701]

I gotta say, I'm very impressed with how spot on a lot of your analysis/assessment of the song was without any other context to work with. This was such a wild thing to hear in game... it was the theme playing over a major boss fight. It went all the way through the whole song right away, then it started looping some of the instrumental parts while occasionally dropping in some some of the lyrical sections of the song. It might be interesting to look up the actual fight on KZbin to see how the song gets used.

[@Roger9C]

When Raphael starts singing his own boss theme IS one of the BEST moments in the game.

[@Aya_Albion]

Amazing analysis and a nice reaction! Wow, I’m completely blown away. I’m loving this unique and epic track. I was so taken aback and got goosebumps when the character vocals coming in. I will definitely start playing the game soon. Thanks for the video, Davi !

[@DaviVasc]

Thanks Aya!

[@DanielKondratiuk]

Just finished this quest yetsterday and was hoping you would make a video about the song! Thank you for your content!

[@greenhydra10]

I knew it was only a matter of time before you did this. I don't generally like music with lyrics, but this is definitely an exception.

[@Youbetternowatchthis]

I learned so much about how music works in so little time here. Very competently explained!

[@DaviVasc]

That makes me happy. Thanks man

[@CGAA07017]

When it plays in-game is epic. It's been a month and it still send shivers through my spine. Please do "The Power" next. I have no idea what the lyrics are really about, but the song is amazing 😂❤

[@user-iq4xz4pd2p]

The lyrics of this song represent the main plot that Raphael plays in this game. The music of Baldur’s Gate 3 is very good, I highly recommend Harpy song.

[@sunofsotep8265]

This really helped me appreciate this beautiful piece even more.

[@123Peter]

This fight was so epic, and the music was so great. I literally played the fight 3 times just to listen to the music. I've been playing videogames for almost 40 years, and this fight with this music really was the best gaming moment ever. And that in an optional side quest which I almost skipped entirely!!!

[@ChrisMorray]

He is one of the most fun villains, and one of the coolest boss fights just mechanically.

[@bradyhodges4784]

Rafael is literally the devil incarnate attempts to you throughout the entire 100+ hour game, and this is the climactic moment that you finally battle him. When he says true souls, that couldn’t be bought is literally referring to him tempting the player to take his contract, because the devils have contracts. He did an incredible job diagnosing exactly what this song was without knowing anything about it, well done.

[@finnji7328]

Well reddit moment here but in terms of devils raphael is actually hella weak... He's barely at the level of a pit fiend in power when there are literal lords of hell basically capable of killing raphael in the blink of an eye. Devils like Asmodeus, Zariel, Mephistopheles etc. I think the reason these devils are only mentioned is because in the level confines of bg3 facing ANY of these devils would mean certain death for all but the most optimized, min-maxed item exploitative builds.

[@levidotson6610]

It does play during the fight, and it’s the best moment in the game, especially when you realize it’s Raphael doing the vocals

[@user-ri9uc9qc4e]

I´ve been gaming for the past 35 years.....and NEVER witnessed this level of epicness like this game, and I´ve played chrono trigger at launch. This game sets a new high to storytelling, character lore, world construction and ambience.....geez this game is a masterpiece

[@TheophrastusofEresos]

Definitely earned a sub, beautiful analysis

[@Superdazzu2]

this, to me, was the highest moment of the entire game, not going to spoil but yeah, it's a boss theme.

[@jupiterzombies]

its so fun and a testament to how good the score is that you can tell everything about the character and setting just from the song

[@shaneoneil6088]

One of the best "boss fight" tracks I've ever heard. Its up there with One-winged Angel from FF7. Significant respect to Boris Slavov for this literal masterpiece.

[@N.A.M1977]

Beautiful music, i didn't mind losing and replaying the battle. :)

[@ridergilwin1494]

I’m so happy you’re listening to the BG3 soundtrack. I remember listening to you decode Undertale through its music and this game is I’d say on par with Undertale music wise. Probably even better if I’m honest.

[@natebardwell]

Raphael is, in fact, a cartoonishly evil Disney-esque villain.

[@sixtynine226]

Brilliant analysis, sir. You got it spot on with your feel

[@XxMissLadyBlissxX]

My bf and I were playing co op for our first play through and when this theme played during Raphael’s fight we both turned to look at each other when he started singing it’s so good

[@titanman9000]

New subscriber. I just found your Brother Dan. You guys are both cool dudes. I share a lot of passion for music and game stories etc. I will be watching your videos !

[@bryanbokelman7427]

I think that triumphant ending is the best. The organ and Raphael begin the phrase, then Hope and the triumphant horns swell and overpower him. Her voice outlasts his and the horns take it home.

[@chnadlergw2904]

An educated composer standpoint of this is great but to experience the story the builds up to this song playing is a huge part of feeling it on another level. In layman’s term…you’ve gotta play to REALLY get the full experience of this song

[@oszaszi]

Every time you are nearing an area which is related to Raphael, the instrumental version of this song plays. And yes this version starts to play when you finally confront him. He says "down comes the claws" and then the fight starts with the music :D its the best fight in the game honestly. Oh and yes, the singer is the boss, Raphael.

[@Alister222222]

This piece has to be one of the most powerful and creative ever made for a video game. In early access, I was not a great fan of the BG3 music. In the final release, I was blown away, and this song is one of the main reasons why. Raphael is an AMAZING character. So beautifully complex (or elegantly simple, depending on how you look at him) and sinister.

[@kathrynck]

Agreed. I'd gladly play a game with Raphael as the sole antagonist. In BG3, he's actually a side-plot. So much depth of content in bg3.

[@Sensenoi6]

Really good reaction video, you are awesome

[@yourweirdplant]

Baldur's Gate again, can't wait to see the game spread! Also, please please do Coalescence from Risk of Rain!

[@Clover_tongue]

I really wanna hear him talk about The Song of Balduran sometime. That one hit me like a truck when I first heard it

[@phreak811]

So this actually DOES play during Game Play as Raphaels Boss music. It's an optional fight depending on your choices and desires. Raphael is a Neutralish party. He doesn't join you but he can give you something you want in return for something HE wants.

[@stubbington08]

Whle game is amazing.. Go through tonnes of boss battles, fight armies, wars, and the music is phenominal... BUT THEN!!!! You reach this part... and all of the sudden... LYRICS! And not only that, The boss your facing is the one singing his OWN DAMN THEME SONG! That's why its so amazing.. As well, The whole feeling of Raphael is hes telling you rhymes and riddles throught the game. He is ABOSULTELY, ALL ABOUT THE PAGEANTRY! Disney Villian style is the most suiting and fitting style, cause it means not only is he so strong he thinks its a game, but hes smart enought to know that this was going to happen, so he took a moment to write a song just for you. ITs Diabolical and Majestic.

[@dianabialaskahansen2972]

This is so fitting for Raphael. He is very much very arrogant and expects to destroy the party easily. Very flamboyant and he has been rhyming and such before. In Gauntlet we meet another Devil he has tricked with a song text. Honestly one of the most interesting characters in the game.

[@timhaldane7588]

Agreed. He is so pompous and theatrical. Why wouldn't he sing his own boss music? This moment is at once both surprising and a natural fit, both delightfully fun and chillingly fatalistic. One of the best gaming moments in a generation.

[@dianabialaskahansen2972]

@@timhaldane7588 I love Raphael's song, though my favourite is Nightsong's theme. Every time I hear it, I get tears in my eyes, it is just so strong.

[@AegixDrakan]

Having this play over the hardest fight in the game (made only harder by the fact I was running a Fire Sorcerer) made it THE most epic battle in the entire game, in an act with a LOT of epic moments and battles. Game of the year, no possible competition.

[@alexmiesch4423]

I just loved the fact that this song was the one I heard the most as I tried to work out how to beat this sob haha, I kept getting so close and he would just 1shot a couple of members and have to start again. Wow awesome fight awesome song awesome game

[@1EyedRooster]

This boss fight is probably one of the most unforgetable moment in video games i will ever experience. when those organs hit and the goosebumps and the hair on my arms stood up i literally stood up from my computer and took a lap around the office. BG3 for the win!

[@jg62190]

Having a megalomaniac like Raphael sing his own boss music makes the boss fight music even better. To me its the best musical piece in the game. The way it builds tension, tells a story, and swtiches to like an epic, and all Raphaels lyrics are basically talking down to us for fighting him. Its great.

[@scottbyers9258]

That fight with that music has no business slapping as hard as it did.

[@BrianRobinsonBeyore]

Raphael is the star of BG3, with a close second going to Aunty Ethel.

[@brittany1049]

Man’s picking up on hopeful chords, and we’re all sitting here like “it’s the House of Hope!!!!”

[@pepergirl001]

Raphael sings his own song. Took me by surprise when it started during his fight. But it was so epic! Also from BG3 listen to The Power next if you can, I like all 3 versions though my favorite is the credits version of the song with its lyrics and all.

[@Dmitry-cx1bw]

12:43 your reaction is priceless ;)

[@chronicsock8960]

I got goosebumps to buddy.

[@mishiara5499]

I love the pacing of this. It start's with the lyrics, where most would have started with the choir and the music before the lyrics came in.

[@legoman7041]

It's my first time tuning into this guy but when he started matching the chorus in real time with the piano on his first listen? Damn near lost my mind. Some people have amazing ears.

[@Era_Of_Awakening]

Raphael is the Only villain singing in his boss fight xD

[@thegenxgamerguy6562]

It's during gameplay, when you fight Raphael (who is a real devil who wants to make 2 - if I remember correctly - deals with your party) in his home. Epic fight, lots of things going on - but, as usual for Larian Games, it's wonderfully cheesable. 🙂

[@dystopiancynic6587]

The lyrics are also explain the choicies that lead you to that fight, perhaps over the course of 10's of hours. Its amazing on so many levels.

[@dylanboyd2963]

With how many hours you put into the game to get to that point it just hits harder because you remember all the choices you’ve made and whether they were right.

[@deang8017]

if you truly did go into that blind with no foreknowledge then that was one of the most astute analysis I have yet seen

[@junkoe3808]

Dream song 2/ down by the river, raphael's final act, and old time battles 1& 2 are my favourite. Oh btw, Raphael is really the villain who sings this as you fight him.

[@chipsalom]

I've watched streamers who already completely have fallen in love with the game get completely floored all over again in the moment this song starts with what is going on in game. Raphael can be various things in game, he is to you what you allow him to be :).

[@crptpyr]

There are a lot of channels featuring musical professionals reacting to music, but not a lot of them give commentary that actually offers insight both to those who don't know anything about composition and to those who do (like you'll see a lot of channels that can point out 'oh they used this technique/this chord/this note' and never link it back to how or why certain elements are being used) so it's nice to find another channel where you do go beyond the 'what' and into the 'how/why' :) also the little emoticons to represent the general vibe of a chord made me laugh for a solid ten seconds

[@KikomochiMendoza]

When Raphael's theme played during the boss fight i basically stood there listening to the music until it loops again. Its that good that I had I didnt want to ruin it and drown it out with any in game sounds. Imagine what that must have been like for Raphael, the DND party just stood there listening to his boss music barely beginning turn 1. hahahaha

[@nicholashaywood7949]

I straight listened to this for a minute before even acting in combat.

[@matfly4832]

There are many songs in BG3, and we love it! Larian already started this in Divinity Original Sin 2, you could have a singer in your party and they wrote 2 or 3 songs for the game. This Hell theme is awesome! Cartoonishly Evil as it should be! Regarding the gameplay, it works because the battles in this game are “time stopped”, and nothing is scripted. And it was very appropriate to have it in the game, made the battle twice as fun, what a nice surprise!

[@ImJuDI]

This song is literally a musical version of Rafael's storyline during the game, where the second choir is our battle for Hope in all senses. That's why, I guess, Borislav used this heroic chord with the sad resolution. Adventurers are just toys from Rafael's POV, he gave the hope by himself, and then tried to crush it completely. And finally, when he started to be serious, horns are joining. Such a masterpiece.

[@asherborden]

Hey Davi, I have recently started watching your channel, and was wondering some things. I wanted to know what age and year you got into music and music composition? Also how to get into music composition, what software you use, and also how you studied theory? It would be amazing to get a response!