How to Use a Theme || Aryll's Theme from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

[@JasperRLZ]

Fun fact! After Aryll gets kidnapped, the game sets a special flag, and the Outset Island theme is then swapped to a shorter arrangement that doesn't have Aryll's theme in it. After Aryll gets rescued, it switches back to the first again. The first one is what was included on the CD soundtracks, so it's the one most people recognize, but you heard the Aryll-less version for a good chunk of the game :)

[@SteveJubs]

I know! That’s one of my favorite things about this game’s score and I was shocked it wasn’t mentioned in the video! It’s all so brilliant though

[@Koropokel]

wow!

[@marniegoeswest]

That’s so cool!!

[@KairuHakubi]

i could tell it changed, but it felt like something was added, not subtracted. interesting.

[@speedymemes8127]

I just learned this from someone's retrospective can't remember the channel...

[@AlexMoukalaMusic]

"It's catchier than Omicron" BRUH 😂

[@BluePandada]

me, up at 4am unable to sleep because Omicron: :|

[@AlexMoukalaMusic]

@@BluePandada hope you get better soon 🙏🏾

[@sbtbone]

It’s so cool to see you watching these videos! You’re a huge inspiration for my own music

[@BluePandada]

@@AlexMoukalaMusic already on the mend! thank you :)

[@famillesabot5719]

I never had COVID so to me it's not really true.

[@SimBen3]

When Aryll’s theme (well, a really triumphant orchestral arrangement of it) kicks in during the end credits and it turns out it perfectly harmonized with the main Wind Waker theme the whole time it always chokes me up something fierce.

[@felixmarques]

Oh, I immediately remembered what you're talking about. This game has such beautiful examples of themes melding together that sometimes I'll get one stuck in my mind and it'll slowly evolve into others.

[@samuzamu]

Yeah the music over the end credits is absolute perfection

[@joshuamckown3145]

Dude me too. You just can't help feeling proud of Link in that moment. He fights the king of evil, forces the gods to recognize him as a hero despite not being descended from the Hero of Time, dredges the Triforce up from the ocean floor, and winds up saving the world, and that moment during the end credits reminds you why he did it: It wasn't his destiny. He just wanted to save his little sister, and saw it through to the end.

[@lh9591]

This is the best soundtrack of all time.

[@joeyharrington1863]

Okay thanks for making me tear up realizing that Aryll's theme is so prominent in the theme for Link's home because she's what makes it home

[@Casual_PKBeats]

"This is the best video game soundtrack of all time" I can tell a man knows what he's talkin' about when based opinions like that arise. I was so excited to see this video, and look forward to more Wind Waker analyses! Such a legendary soundtrack, I hadn't even noticed the Kokiri Forest inspiration before but it makes so much sense. I love when a soundtrack can implement motif references without making the song sound like a remix. Outset Island is its own thing, so knowing they were able to sneak in a reference is so cool. The Zelda series stays having some of the best music ever lmao

[@SexyPants]

Based.

[@MasterHigure]

He also missed the Kokiri callback at 8:30. He typeset it in the top line. It's right there. How he didn't mention it I have no idea.

[@llamaking1071]

anyone who says they think one soundtrack is the "greatest" of all time (as if they're comparable), doesn't have a very based opinion imo

[@haunter27]

I've literally had the Outset Island theme stuck in my head every day since 2003.

[@BenRobsonMusic]

I love how Aryll's Theme is juxtaposed against other major themes from the game in the end credits music.

[@SoLinkSmash]

The Wind Waker credits music absolutely destroys me for this very reason - like ALL of these themes should not go as well together when mashed up as they do

[@GameMaestro14]

I also always thought of the Outset Island theme telling an emotional story. In the beginning, the music uses Aryll’s theme as the main melody, but as soon as she’s gone, it changes to the variant, Kokiri inspired melody and stays that way the rest of the game. I always took this as telling a story that this place is home, but changed. You still know it as your home, but something is missing. Something is off. It’s not the same without your sister there.

[@AlexanderHarris]

I would definitely like to see more Wind Waker content.

[@Ashi8No8Yubi]

The genius of the music design in this game is insane. Even me, who is nearly completely musicly illiterate can detect the feel of the similarity of Zelda's theme and Arylls even though I don't know that I am. Music is so weirdly tied to emotion..

[@CloneHat]

That’s who music is really written for! All this work goes on behind the curtain so the listener will feel what the composer is going for

[@Randomgen77]

9:20 I literally just exclaimed “OH MY GOD” - in all the hours of my childhood spent listening to these two songs, I never noticed that!

[@tweer64]

I didn't notice it until I saw a comment on PPF's cover of the song.

[@fletch-a-sketch9250]

Same. I knew the Forest Haven music was a slowed down version of Kokiri Forest, but I never realized the Kokiri motif also showed up in Outset

[@henrypowell3708]

there’s a similar thing with the windfall island/kakariko village theme too

[@anonymousfellow8879]

@@henrypowell3708 Now that I think about it… Dragon Roost’s Theme might possibly dance around Level 9’s/Death Mountain’s Theme from Zelda1. Obviously it’s more melodious and also takes inspiration from Peruvian Music…but if someone has transcriptions of both themes it’s probably doing a similar thing as Aryll’s Theme referencing Zelda’s Theme while also having its own identity (and the callback to Kokiri Forest in Outset’s Theme) Which makes sense: Windfall is the major settlement set near an active volcano, Dragonroost is heavily implied to be either Death Mountain itself or a new volcanic mountain that formed over the same Magma Zone (with Firemountain being another chimney but secondary/where most of the magma is active now, similarly to how Hawaii and other volcanic island chains formed along the Ring of Fire.)

[@lr1594]

It's worth noting that this theme is overlayed with the Earth sage's song (or the menu song or whatever it's called) in the end credits sort of contrapuntally. Always loved that.

[@IIITrunks]

I always noticed Outset Island had the same melodic structure as Zeldas Lullaby and I never really knew why, but turns out its a connection via Aryll.

[@odarter9800]

I loved this! Honestly, the kidnapping theme was always something I kinda looked forward too when starting up a new file. I love all the sudden shifts in the arrangement that happen. It conveys a complete story in such a short amount of time. And so emotional too! It really does a good job of accompanying such a pivotal moment in the story.

[@seronymus]

This was just uploaded a minute ago you liar

[@mysterybotts]

@@seronymus did you read the comment? Lol

[@FallenIcarus]

The line, "even after beating the game like ten times", made me appreciate this channel even more. He's not just a musician who reviews game soundtracks, he's also an avid game player.

[@crumpsyjay]

Wind waker has always been my favourite Zelda game. Great analysis! I love the ocean theme, it's just so catchy.

[@Sousabird]

The Sailing Theme is permanently seared into my brain. Probably my favorite Zelda game.

[@s.lajoie9961]

I love the quiet "fight me" in the background at 11:09 lol Great video as always!

[@deiruru]

It's clear how meticulous and thoughtful the composers are when making music for these games; helps me appreciate them in a totally new way!

[@anonymousfellow8879]

Link’s Awakening, Windwaker, and Link Between Worlds is Zelda Music at its best. It’s not about Big Bombastic Music or New Musical Technology -why BotW is appropriate, especially in its own context- it’s about taking simple motifs and molding them. (Why LttP’s 16bit music is a literal headache, and OoT’s Hyrule Field is by FAR the worst version in the entire franchise.)

[@samsonfgc3472]

Something else to note about outset islands theme is that you never hear the second part until after aryll has been kidnapped and is no longer in outset.

[@desertyoshi_plays]

I love her theme so much, it's been one of my favorites from the Wind Waker. It makes me cry everytime.

[@misdrievousdemise3815]

You had me at "Expect more Windwaker videos in the future". I've been watching your videos for a while now, and I've actually learnt a lot of stuff through your videos in my personal music journey. I was not expecting all this sudden love for Windwaker, my favourite Zelda game for the longest while hands-down (before Breath of the Wild dethroned it), but hearing that there may be more Windwaker related videos in the future made my day. You've earned yourself another subscriber my good man.

[@Ellary_Rosewood]

Omg yes! So excited to watch this. On a side note, I would also love to see an in depth video on the Dragon Roost theme from you one day! ❤️

[@cocogrimpret7599]

Comparing Dragon Roost theme ans its rearrangement for Rito Village in Breath of the Wild would be awesome ^^

[@Ellary_Rosewood]

@@cocogrimpret7599 Yes, I would love to see that! It honestly made me so emotional when I was plating BOTW and heard the Rito Village theme for the first time. It was a wonderful surprise to once again be welcomed with the same theme, but in a very different way.

[@anonymousfellow8879]

On that note… I literally just realized that Dragonroost does something similar with Level9/Death Mountain’s Theme as do Aryll/Zelda and Outset/Kokiri (and Windfall/Kakariko and Forest Haven/Kokiri, but those are far more known.) -also yes. yes I am absolutely Giddy to Finally have this video after perioducally commenting for 8bitmusictherory to cover it for Years-literally since he first dropped his first video covering zelda music…aND I WAS RIGHT!!!! If anyone’s curious, Ballad of the Windfish/Oracles!Zelda and Tetra&Sheik/Zelda also do the same thing with eachother as Aryll/Zelda. And ofc they all have similarities as being NotZelda/Zelda or HiddenZelda/Zelda as well narratively…which after I realized the similarities between the Aryll, Tetra, and Zelda themes, I started relistening to Ballad of the Windfish and Sheik’s Theme to see if something similar was happening/

[@Blurelia]

I always think of my younger sister when I think of Wind Waker. The goal of the game being rescuing your sister for quite some time is probably what makes this my favorite Zelda and one of my favorite games ever since the GameCube days. Even if we’re both adults now, I think I’ll always see her as a little girl, and myself as a daydreaming boy that wanted to go out on an adventure.

[@lh9591]

Ayrls theme always makes me nostalgic and sad and makes me cry

[@Crackazat]

Zelda music is so good with theme and variation. Thank you for all your content over the years 8-bit. I humbly request a comparison analogy of resident evil save room themes! All the best

[@linkiplinkipa5729]

I love the, "Fight me" near the end of the video. I can't believe that I didn't watch this video even sooner, Wind Wake has one of, if not my favorite, soundtracks ever.

[@sdw-hv5ko]

I could listen to 8-Bit talk Zelda music for hours

[@TruddStuddlerucker]

Few weeks ago it was Phoenix Wright, now it's Wind Waker; I'm very pleased that you've decided to start catering exclusively to me, 8-bit!

[@Starseed86]

Another game that uses music in the most spectacular way to tell the story must be Super Paper Mario. Castle Bleck is a corrupted Flipside theme, and Memories and Count Bleck's themes can just basically be fused together. It's complete genius and helps you connect all the dots of the story. By the way, Wind Waker is one of the greatest game I've ever played, and I remember that it was received skeptically at the beginnings because "Muh graphics". Oh how wrong they were.

[@annoschreier1860]

Looking forward to seeing more Wind Waker videos. The soundtrack is exceptional. Grandma's Theme has to be one of the most poignant pieces of music ever in a video game.

[@rj3thatsme]

I will watch every single Wind Waker video you make so please make as many as you want

[@rumhyy5334]

all you did was pick out parts in a song and I feel like I just watched a video essay on this tiny character that I took for granted. geez. got me crying. awesome video.

[@MisterM2402]

I still get chills listening to this soundtrack. I was 10 when Wind Waker came out so the nostalgia factor is off the charts, especially from the Outset theme.

[@Toopys]

I absolutely love Wind Waker, I absolutely can't wait to hear more of your analysis on it!

[@jules3770]

Yes! Looking forward to more Wind Waker videos. This game had such an amazing soundtrack.

[@archivedandgone]

I love this song so much, such a good twist on a classic sound

[@gold4963]

This was one of the first themes I've learned to play on piano as a beginner, so I have good memories with it. So cool to see an analysis of it!

[@bryanquick3349]

this game has really memorable music throughout, it's extremely pleasant

[@Gio21Sheehan]

"Inside Forest Haven" uses the Lost Woods theme. When I realized that I had the same reaction I had right now when hearing about kokiri forest in Outset Island (which is my favorite track of the OST). Man, I LOVE this game.

[@5-Volt]

Forest Haven's theme itself is just a really slow version of Kokiri Forest with little bits of lost woods.

[@satirical140]

Out of all these videos I've watched this is the one that made the most sense to me. I feel like I've ascended

[@creightonkellis4325]

Yes! I've been waiting for you to talk about this soundtrack for forever!

[@johnnyevans1116]

6:05 THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. I thought I was the only one who noticed how similar they were, so told my friends and they all thought/looked at me like I was crazy.

[@FarewellApollo]

That connection between Aryll & Zelda's theme is such a genius bit of foreshadowing! Excellent video as always my dude! Wind Waker was my childhood and will always be my favourite Zelda game, and the soundtrack is a big part of that. Excited to see more!

[@possible-realities]

Very nice analysis! I'd like to request more roman numerals (and possibly numbered scale degrees where it makes sense), it's really helpful when you want to understand the chord progression but you don't feel at home in so many keys, like I do.

[@redshiftthefox]

Wind Waker is my favorite Zelda game to this day. Nothing has topped it yet. Art style, music, theme, locations, it all has so much more personality than most games afterward, even if future games refined mechanics, putting agency to the player for Helm-Splitter's instead of a timed button press.

[@maximumleech7929]

YES YES YES!!! MORE WIND WAKER! I'm glad to see you being true to your desires and not just making videos about whatever might bring the most views. Great job on this one 8bit! I loved the structure of the video and the comedic moments. Excellent work!

[@froezone_]

So excited for the future Wind Waker videos!! This one was super fascinating, I thought I had figured out most of the hidden motifs in the game but never made made the connection between the trumpet figure in Aryll's kidnapping and Aryll's actual theme. There are likely so many more that have gone over my head while playing the game. This is one of my favourite games so I'm excited to hear people still talking about it and praising it's amazing soundtrack!

[@oisinholz]

Always pleased to see Wind Waker videos, and looking forward to the future videos!

[@lionsrage9]

As a long-time watcher of the channel, I think that this video's use of new, snappy transitions was a small (but impactful) change! In addition, having the 8-bit background when you're explaining the musical elements is a nice touch as well. Glad to see that you're still actively going above and beyond for us simple folk. Keep it up!

[@JoeSmith-db4rq]

Omg I’m so glad you’re covering this game 🙏 the way they manage to incorporate so many themes into literally everything constantly is so so impressive and blew my mind when I got more classical training and actually noticed it lolol. I will say (and hopefully one of the future videos will be about this) but there is NO better example than the credits music! Such a banger and you can literally get the entire story of the game from those 5-6 minutes alone!

[@Curtis.....]

I love how you can tie a very specific emotion the character is feeling to the type of chord being played like at 5:20

[@Kisarez]

Super happy about it! I absolutely loved the soundtrack of the game, it told the story itself, sometimes more than the dialogue. Absolutely fantastic

[@jiffy-jef]

Thank you 8bit! wind waker was the game of my childhood, and it's music holds a special place in my heart. I'm looking forward to more ww videos from you! This one is very good!

[@amnesiacapothecary]

Honey wake up new 8BMT video

[@Alexdragonfeather]

"the game incorporated classic Zelda themes into it's post-apocalyptic Hyrule better than Breath of the Wild (fight me)" 11:03

[@lamanodesaruman1759]

This is amazing. You have the best music content on youtube. Please keep it up.

[@MarauderTwilight]

I still can't believe I didn't notice the similiarities between Aryll's and Zelda's themes. Wow. I did catch the Kokiri Forest callbacks in Outset back in the day, but man...8-Bit, you are truly something else. Absolutely adore your videos.

[@isaacweber8289]

I always get grumpy when I realize I'm getting to the end of one of these videos. Absolutely loved this one and can't wait for the other wind waker videos!

[@MrRebelMan360]

My favorite soundtrack in my favorite video game of all time. Thank you for this video.

[@fiiiftyfour]

yup gonna cry i love this game and it’s music so much

[@Lhama666]

PLS WE NEED MORE WIND WAKER VIDEOS ABOUT ALL THOSE REFERENCES i know a lot of them already (some are too obvious) but it will be REALLY COOL to actually see it with your explanations!!!!!!!!

[@AltoPiano12]

this is honestly my #1 comfort game from both nostalgia and the brilliance of the sound design/composition, like its themes have stayed with me constantly all these years, never out of my mind. i want the HD version to come to switch SOOOOO BADDDDDD

[@adrianpinnock]

Thanks for making these videos mate! I have a whole new appreciation for video game music and music in general because of your content.

[@aaronbonneau9786]

This (Outset Island, and by extension, Aryll's theme) was my favorite piece as a very young kid, before I could comprehend explicitly what melody or even music was. It has been the very melody I can link the whole of my musical experience back to in its origin to the exclusion of all others. This was the first piece of music I ever enjoyed, thought about, and hummed about the house as a mere six year old. The synchronicity in that you, who has done hundreds if not thousands of video game soundtrack analyses, are able to call it "the best video game soundtrack of all-time, hands down" in good faith is just too satisfying.

[@nicolassagardia8191]

I am very excited and happy to see this video, as a music student I have had problems understanding some rhythmic ideas for a long time, without realizing that they are present in the soundtrack that I know by heart, in my favorite video game. Thank you for offering us fun, culture and knowledge

[@SorandaGuitar]

Nostalgia hits hard... So many great memories associated with Zelda Wind Waker. Definitely, the music had an immense impact on me when I was a child, and I am grateful for having grown up listening to such a masterpiece.

[@da4762]

This is the one video game music soundtrack I can put on in the background while working and never have to skip over a single song.

[@forresttoyne8559]

Im sad you didnt bring up the best version of aryll's theme in the entire game, the one that happens at the very end when its merged oh so seamlessly with the pirate's theme, its a beautiful bit of musical story telling because it shows us aryll's and link's journey finally coming full circle, and I'm a little bit disappointed you left it out.

[@philipwacker4629]

I can not be disappointed with great content like that. But good you brought it up, because I wasn't aware - of any of it. So I'm going to have a great time finally revisiting the game some time future :)

[@thebravegallade731]

I feel like the staff roll theme deserves a video on its own

[@zarles1]

Amazing!!! Love the soundtrack so much but never noticed these interrelations. Phenomenal!

[@sarsgarrs]

I am excited to hear more of your thoughts on windwaker's sound track, it is one of my favourite sound tracks but it sounds like you have thought about it more than I have!

[@TheViolaBuddy]

I think I realized the connections of Aryll-Outset Island, and also Kokiri Forest-Outset Island at some point, but it's been so long that I'd forgotten them until you brought it up now (I haven't played Wind Waker in literal decades at this point). Coming back to this now was a real nostalgia trip (musically and also just looking at the gameplay). I'm definitely looking forward to more WW content on this channel. I absolutely respect your opinion about WW's soundtrack - it's certainly one of the best. But my single absolute favorite would have to be Pokémon Colosseum and XD. But I'm realizing part of why I like them is actually quite similar to why I like WW's - strong, catchy tunes but with lots of cross-referenced motifs used throughout, arranged in various ways to match moods and thematic events, and making interesting connections between events/characters/places.

[@LunarSpoonHasFun]

Music theory is an art and science that totally goes over my head but man it's fascinating to hear people talk about it.

[@pluspiping]

If it makes you feel any better... I immediately clocked the similarity between Aryll and Zelda's themes BUT until this video I didn't know WHY they were similar beyond assuming a "lol lazy rehash". Now I appreciate it a lot more! Thank you for another cool video!

[@marniegoeswest]

Very excited for more wind waker content. The medley on the symphony recording is my favorite :)

[@brycedavenport4810]

I played this game so much as a child that its soundtrack is forever ingrained into my psyche. Best video game soundtrack ever.

[@KKrill]

I have always been in love with Zelda soundtracks but this one... oh boy... I could write a thesis on the WW soundtrack and I'm so happy you're talking about this masterpiece. Been stuck in my head since 2003 ALSO your point of how the theme is related to Zelda's made my brain connect and realize Epona's theme fits right into that formula too :')

[@Kiaulen]

Nice job on the editing here! I love the music and video game side by side/above and below.

[@remem95]

Zeldas lullaby and Aryls theme are so similar that I barely noticed how different the melody actually was until I saw it written out just now :D

[@anonymousfellow8879]

Zelda’s Theme is also hidden in Aryll’s Theme. It’s not just the similar intervals and motion, Zelda’s Theme is literally hidden in the offbeats that are more “ornamentational” in Aryll’s Theme! And something similar happens in Tetra’s Theme: only, take out the Piratey Ornamentations, and you’re now looking at Zelda’s Core Theme used since LttP -and is still danced around in Oracles Linked but Oracles Linked is by far the biggest separation from the Staple Theme. It’s further removed than Marin’s Ballad of the Windfish as another “Not Zelda”. Still beautiful, tho, and props to the capcom composer for playing with it musically- And the entire franchise is chock FULL of reuses and reimaginings and callbacks-made-their-own. Zelda Music at its best is NOT big bombastic fanfairs. It’s simple motifs like Aryll’s Theme used for So Many Layers of storytelling while still being malleable and distinctive in their own right-The Great Sea is a version of the Hero Theme, yet the REAL Hero Theme Motif is in ARYLL’S Theme (that ascending motif at the end), and THAT is what is used to represent Link in cutscenes and pivotal moments, not the Great Sea

[@remem95]

@@anonymousfellow8879 Ah ye, the hero motive in Aryls theme is a nice link (heh)

[@MusiKube_]

Yesssss more Wind Waker please! Favourite Zelda game, with BotW being a very close second. I loved figuring out all the little references between the games in it when I first played HD, and it's crazy that there's even more that I didn't notice!!!

[@shotguntornado]

YES more Wind Waker content pleeeeaaase! Didn't know you think it's the best soundtrack ever, but I think I agree!

[@khakiichunk]

so glad to have played this game when it came out. as a kid, the zelda games were definitely a huge influence for me musically, they just hit that spot. a little sad that this was 20 years ago though, nostalgia huh! but these themes will always be with me

[@tenkiforecast]

Personally, Twilight Princess's OST is a tiny bit higher than Wind Waker for me, but that's also because TP uses French Horn so much and *bias*. That said, Wind Waker's orchestrations and themes are...absolutely gorgeous. The end credits compilation is often able to bring this very emotionally-stunted man to tears.

[@Ben-ej1wl]

I had always thought that Zelda and Aryll had similar sounding themes, but never could articulate why. Thanks for making this one! Video editing on this one had me snorting with laughter. (I hate that kid's runny nose so much.)

[@myguyrdb]

Wind Waker is easily my favorite Zelda game and the music bops. I even have a friend that started playing the game exclusively because he wanted to hear molgera's theme. Goes to show how good the sound design is!

[@trademarkshelton]

Sterling analysis as always, but I hit "like" just because I could tell you really had fun with this one

[@CeilingPanda]

I dont know what this video will contain but you had me at Wind waker

[@pedro_a_martins]

Awesome! I loved this video, it was such a throw back at the time when I played this. Thank you so much! I'm looking forward to seeing your next Wind Waker videos :)

[@John-ko2lr]

your videos can always give me goosebumps, great realization about these themes!

[@nova338]

I absolutely love this game, and the soundtrack was a big reason why! As a super young kid I convinced my mom to import in the CD album of this soundtrack from Japan because I loved it so much. I still have it to this day!

[@andrew23456able]

A MAN OF CULTURE the way windwaker uses music throughout is just *mwah*

[@jacobtu8596]

Let's gooo! More wind waker content in the future!!!

[@grt002]

I have always loved the soundtrack to the Wind Waker. I get emotional when I hear Aryll’s Theme, especially in the ending credits.

[@CarlosRuiz20]

I will love to see more wind waker videos... Wind waker is my favorite Zelda game 'cause of the music, the visuals, the story and the characters...and wind waker link is my favorite Link, he isn't a chosen heroe, he's just trying to save his little sister and that make him the bravest of them all...

[@scottmclain]

Dude your editing is getting really solid - extremely impressive along with presenting an accessible and engaging video as always :)

[@Technodreamer]

This music just hits me way in the feels, dude.

[@dannykazari]

I don't know what it is about this theme and the beginning of Wind Waker in general but I get so emotional over every story beat. I get teary eyed every time Link waves goodbye to his grandma, or his defeated look when realizing his sister is gone. It gets me!!!!

[@JustaJet]

i realized how similar aryll theme and outset island theme are just before you brought it up lmao i guess i'm kinda learning how to use my ears thanks to you

[@blitzgirl6522]

Aryll's theme will forever have a special place in my heart. So much good music in Wind Waker, probably my 2nd favorite Zelda soundtrack after Ocarina of Time.

[@muraalia]

Wind Waker truly has the most amazing soundtrack, it never fails to cheer me up