The Song She Couldn't Sing [Fleeting Words - NieR Replicant v1.22]

[@JonathanBarouch]

Grab Atlas VPN for just $1.83/mo + 3 months extra before the BIG DEAL deal expires: get.atlasvpn.com/Barouch 🌎

[@Slayyyaphine]

it immediately bills you for 70usd at once tho for the 3 years all at once, not monthly. if you wanted to pay it month to month you'd have to pay 11.70

[@WitheredFiend]

Is it possible for you to post the variation you made by mixing Shadowlord and Fleeting Words at some point?

[@JonathanBarouch]

@@Slayyyaphine I hope this edit helps. The last thing I want is to misinform!

[@JonathanBarouch]

​@@WitheredFiend I can give it a try! Shadowlord in particular tends to get copyright claims but so far so good on this video.

[@kono152]

the final words of louise are so effective. "how could I end up with such a hideous body? And yet, this world is so full of beauty"

[@JonathanBarouch]

This one was rough to make yeah

[@ujiltromm7358]

It immediately reminded me of A2's quote: "I never quite realized how beautiful this world is." One seeing it for the first time and not able to experience it, the other blind to it despite experiencing it.

[@TheALPHA1550]

@@ujiltromm7358 I absolutely love this parallel. I think about the two scenes and these quotes quite often.

[@Randono1919]

You want to know the tragic part? Louise was heartbroken because she wasn’t human, and that she’s a monster. But the truth is, she was the only human on that ship

[@JonathanBarouch]

Dang good point

[@randibillett472]

"Because SOMEONE had to draw the eye of Mr. Hate Crime over here and that doesn't gel well with the whole living thing she was doing." I absolutely adore the way that sentence was delivered. Shit cracked me up.

[@kagaminezera8320]

Seeing the Postman attack Louise never fails to make me cry. And I love that, at least in route A, Louise is so powerful that she cannot lose her fight with us, yet she also cannot win it since the moment she attacks us she outs herself as a monster and thus will never receive the postman's love, which is the only thing she cared about

[@MirageCross]

Wait Shadowlord and Fleeting Words working together actually makes sense when... MINOR SPOILERS FOR ROUTE C Devola and Popola mentioned that Louise was meant to be a backup plan in case the Shadowlord went against their plan since she would have been the only one powerful enough to defeat him. So I like to think that if the Shadowlord and Louise fought that would have been their battle theme and I'm all for it!

[@M0rshu1]

Holy shit

[@alexandercintron7772]

Damn, never thought about it until now

[@Ingisen]

Was going to write this, but you were first!

[@rosem363]

Babe wake up new Jonathan Barouch video

[@RowdyBoy82]

Thanks for waking me up.I love you. I'm sorry.It took a year to respond to your meme.

[@levelwhat]

I now need a mix of shadowlord's choir over fleeting word's orchestration, thank you for bringing this to my attention

[@KiwiTrek]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2TYZ2SoiLF3ha8 wish granted!

[@JonathanBarouch]

This seems to be a common enough sentiment that I have no choice but to make it

[@zyphar7323]

@@JonathanBarouch i can confirm id be happy to listen

[@chidoyo]

@@JonathanBarouch pretty please...!

[@leaflemon1765]

please make this i need this in my life

[@forestmanification]

It's a song a that centers around Louise but it was actually the song sang by Ursula, the lighthouse lady that Hans the postman was tricking by writing love letters pretending to be her dead lover as his father did before him to force her to continue to operate the lighthouse rather than look for him. Hans picked that song and then passed it to Louise who was tricking him by pretending to be human and could have continued if it wasn't for that meddling lad.

[@JonathanBarouch]

omg that's not a coincidence, is it?

[@admentlore]

@@JonathanBarouch Definitely not!

[@PixelHeroViish]

Crazy that I never made that connection before, I didn't even know Ursula was the Lighthouse Lady's name but OUCH that hurts to know. Poor Louise, she just wanted to live

[@nyosantemtant1684]

@@PixelHeroViish unfortunately because she killed that red bag guy, that she became target to kill

[@rurukitty405]

Ah, yes, that moment when Nier Replicant actually, utterly broke me. And it still does.

[@JonathanBarouch]

For REAL though

[@glasprinzessin]

your videos are what music lessons at school wanted to be but never managed to. At school i always felt like the analysing sucked the soul out of the music and continued to think so until i saw your videos. Its the complete opposite here. I appreciate the music way more now and always start to listen for the details you point out. Thank you!

[@JonathanBarouch]

That means the WORLD to me, thank you!! We're all here to love art more, not less

[@sTribak99]

@@JonathanBarouch And I must say, as someone who has had great interest in singing for the past few years but was too late to harass my music teachers constantly about it, this is something I've wanted for so long. Thoughtful deconstruction with examples, I definitely do not understand all of it, but it makes me want to go look for so much more. You've earned this subscription for sure.

[@Vassileve]

I cried over your Shadowlord music analysis, Fleeting Words is another one my absolute favorite from the Nier Replicant series with Song of the Ancients, I can’t even describe the emotionS that flow through me when I listen to it, it is pure delight and heaven to my ears on another level, I was OBSSESSED for months when it released, even asked a pianist friend to accompany me on the song just for the enjoyment, so Hyah here we go again

[@LadyLunanova]

the way you wrote the conclusion to this video and Louise's story put me to tears, excellent writing and great analysis. would love to hear your take on Emil's theme or, well, any other NieR music in general.

[@JonathanBarouch]

Emil's theme will prooooobably happen this fall? Based on how often it's requested!

[@DEDManGamingWins]

"Draw the eye of Mr. Hate Crime" made me laugh WAY harder than it should have! LOVE the videos dude, you're easily one of my favorite channels!

[@JonathanBarouch]

Thank you!!

[@elena8953]

What a depressing video! fleeting words family playing when the postman starts hitting her is the icing on the cake of that beautifully constructed scene. In my first playthrough I waited some good minutes before dealing the final blow, just to let the music flow in the air. Like, the fact that she slowly extends her hand towards him and the moment he starts hitting her she realizes that everything she's ever wanted has crumpled in front of her and is now forever gone. Her only wish gone, she can only let that sink in as she stands motionless. When you kill her she's just a husk, her reason to live has been destroyed. ...doesn't it sound an awful lot like the final shadowlord fight? I think it's an added parallel to the one you showed at 11:16, which btw gave me chills. The same emptiness, pointlessness of it all. Yoko Taro is doing his best to play with us all and remind us that, for some, life just sucks. It's so beautiful to have videogame "villains" be so human, ironically much more than the replicant we control who slays everything in his path. I AM A HUGE NIER FAN. Thank you for your upload as always, and congrats for the sponsorship!! I'll be happily waiting for the next video which surely will be about a happy upbeat cheerful song.... right??

[@JonathanBarouch]

Yeah no this whole arc is D E P R E S S I N G. At least with the Shadowlord you know that out of him and the player, only one could win. With Louise it's all just... pointless. Her death doesn't win anything at all.

[@Catdogomeow]

This video is a constant reminder on how sad and tragic nier replicant is . I am dead inside but this can tap into my emotions

[@JonathanBarouch]

Easily the biggest bummer in the whole series, imo

[@Lillymu961]

That segment where you did a mashup of Fleeting Words and The Shadowlord was so cool and totally unexpected. A full mashup of that would probably be some of the best battle music ever put together. :) I was so happy to see this upload today, and what's funny is that I actually saw the Little Mermaid remake last night with my family. XD Lol. I guess everyone is in Mermaid mode right now. Great video, Jonathan! I look forward to seeing the next one. Best wishes and God bless you! :) EDIT: I sent my best friend this video and (spoiler warning for those who haven't played this game) she said the following: "Cannibalism will surely make this poor unfortunate soul part of our world..." I'm crying from laughter over here. Poor Louise! 😂😂😂

[@KiwiTrek]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2TYZ2SoiLF3ha8 here you have it :P

[@JonathanBarouch]

Poor Louise indeed! Yeah ever since I posted that last video my life has been weirdly mermaidy

[@luthix_]

wake up babe, new jonathan barouch video on a side note, I love the small music-synching-thing-with-the-video details like how the fist slammed on synch with the music at 11:28, crispy sir, i like it

[@JonathanBarouch]

SOMEONE NOTIIIIIIIIICED!

[@davidfabella1]

I remember you replying to my comment that you're gonna make this video, thank you so much! Fleeting Words is so hauntingly beautiful!

[@SpectreMkTwo]

Ahhh, one of the tracks in Replicant. Not only is the song splendid but so are videos. Keep it up pal

[@Lucerious92]

When you thought you were in for some finny fun but instead ended up with some finny tears 😢 On a serious note Jonathan you really described that so beautifully. I love how much thought composers put into their work, right down to having symbolism in their chord choice. This track really gets me in the feels yet somehow also is rather soothing. A lullaby to say goodbye to the world, given from the old woman in the lighthouse. She wanted to be reunited with a lover who was never coming back, and Louise wanted to be human in a family. I even tried singing this myself just because and it's hard not getting caught up in the emotion

[@JonathanBarouch]

I think all three of this run of NieR tracks work as lullabies! The tenderness makes it even wistful

[@BetaVoltzDK]

I hadn't given this song a fair shot because I don't actually own the OST (waiting for my vinyl LP to arrive), but the climax into the Shadow Lord's theme was on the tip of my tongue the whole time. That progression and tension felt so similar, I kept hearing it in my head, AND THEN IT HAPPENED. Love the way you pointed it out and went over it

[@aneonfoxtribute]

Little Mermaid is my favorite of the middle arcs in Nier and its not even close. It's so fucking good.

[@kawong3975]

I like how this song went from unsettling to comforting because tragedy for us nier fans is our comfort zone. Thanks Yoko Taro

[@DarthCasus]

I'm so excited that you're doing all my favorite songs from Nier, I literally can't find anyone that does the same level of analysis you do. I would love so much, if you wanted to branch out, to do songs from the Final Fantasy 7 Remake soundtrack, or even Shadow of the Colossus. Keep up the great work man, you do fabulous stuff!

[@torumakalig5692]

I have been waiting on this song specifically ever since your first video on NieR

[@jebstuart3162]

So Fleeting Words is the second track that's canonical to the universe like Song of the Ancients. That's very cool

[@JonathanBarouch]

Yeah! I think they're the only 2.

[@DumbNumbThumb]

@@JonathanBarouch I think A Beatiful Song might be the third... Or was Simone actually singing it? I remember she screamed the first note, but is the entire composition diagetic - I cannot say.

[@cyanlotus5687]

​@@DumbNumbThumbyes, simóne is singing in the battle, the lyrics of the songs mean her tragedy with beauty

[@TheALPHA1550]

@@cyanlotus5687 Truly. "A Beautiful Song": The word "Beautiful" is *not* describing the song itself as beautiful, but that the song is *about* beauty. Very subtle difference, but a beautiful one when you learn about her story.

[@SilverHime]

This song has been in my head for a while. Thank you so much for making a video on it!!

[@cataclysmicacedia824]

Please post a mash up of the shadowlord vocals over the instrumental of fleeting words. My mouth is on the floor when you revealed the similarity between the two songs and now I yearn for something I never knew I wanted. Keep making these videos they are wonderful.

[@KiwiTrek]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2TYZ2SoiLF3ha8 i got you covered

[@JonathanBarouch]

I've gotten so many comments similar to this one that I have to! Gimme a few days

[@particalman1016]

This video makes this part of the game even more heart wrenching than it already was. I really need to replay these games again...

[@LootVT]

Not sure if you need to hear this but you are an extremely compelling and clever writer. You’re a big inspiration to me, and singlehandedly the reason why I’ve decided to officially take on music training on piano at 26. Keep up the good work! I look forward to your return!

[@IvoryMadness.]

That was amazing! fleeting words is one of my favorites from the OST!

[@chaoticspice3075]

It's been about a year since I finished Replicant, so I was out of my nier brainrot, but this video brought me back and reminded me of this masterclass of a story Taro and Okabe concocted.

[@KaiserinT]

The content that you have is brilliant - but the humor and edition just raise it to perfection. You always make me laugh so much with your comments, thank you!

[@PrincessRosca]

Literally checked your channel yesterday in hopes of a new video, but so psyched you released a video today!! Love what you do and love all the Nier music analysis!!

[@rachelc2136]

Beautifully done, fantastic insight into the characters and their motivations as ever which makes the music all the more powerful. Thank you

[@vincentevil]

This video really did her justice and it gave me shivers

[@gregorymanucharyan6283]

Yet again, another masterfully crafted video. Your analysis are very entertaining while also explaining and teaching very well. I don’t know how you improve the quality of every new analysis when the previous times they were already prefect. I loved this piece ever since I heard it but when I encountered the “Outsider” version I became obsessed with its unique chorus that isn’t in the “Family” version. I don’t know what it is but it is just satisfying and relaxing to hear. Love the content and I will be waiting for more. 👍 Note: The chorus I’m referring to comes in at the 2:10 mark of the piece yet there are some “Outsider” versions uploaded that don’t have it so I don’t know if it’s an extended version perhaps.

[@JonathanBarouch]

Thank you so much, this is so nice to hear! Yes, that part only plays once the fight transfers to the beach. When you're still on the ship deck that part is missing.

[@Myrdrrr]

Never heard of this game or anything that this video even talks about but wow, this is beautiful.

[@Nillson1991]

Was about to skip the VPN advert until I heard Emil's shop song and went "son of bitch now I gotta watch it and hope you say everyday's a sale, every sale's a win."

[@demonicoverlord6451]

Always love the NieR OST videos, man. This is some top tier content, and your comedy never gets dull. Good job.

[@SunsetChannel]

HOLY I completed the game yesterday and watched all of your videos but now there is one more. That's awesome man, thanks!

[@calzone7961]

Hey man, great video as always. That short little mashup of Shadowlord (Vocals) and Fleeting Words [Outsider] (Orchestra) was awesome and a really nice connection that nobody has probably picked up before.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I don't even think it was intended! Not to that degree anyway. I do think the phrase end with the leading tone might be a reference. But seriously, thank you again. I'll need those game rips to make a full arrangement!

[@calzone7961]

@@JonathanBarouch Yeah, I see a bunch of people asking for it, so good luck on that

[@SonorianBnS]

Your story summaries are incredible (alongside the rest of the video)

[@toshio1334]

I still can't believe the percussion is the same in the Fishing minigame and Shadowlord theme.

[@JonathanBarouch]

Stakes were high. Yonah really needed Nier to catch that Shaman Fish.

[@IllyasArt]

You know, I’ve never thought that much about this song. But now, I shall cry every time I hear it… Thanks!

[@elena8953]

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS OMG

[@WitheredFiend]

SAME HERE! *AHHHHH!*

[@_diebuster_]

I’ve hoped you would make this video and you delivered it. 👏🏻 Dare I say the Fleeting Words melody is second only to that of Grandma? The arrangement for “Family” is the quintessential timeless, lore-driven aesthetic we love so dearly from the MONACA crew. With the stripped backing arrangement, Emi Evans really turns it into something unbearably tragic in the first half of the Weiss Edition version. 

Despite its tragic context, “Outsider” almost feels distinctly heroic in its delivery. That’s a tone we get fleeting glimpses of throughout the NieR soundtracks and it seems to always come with a price. Keep smashing it, man. The passion and knowledge you bring to your analyses have expanded my musical understanding immeasurably, for which I am grateful. 🙏🏻

[@insertcoolname6128]

Contrary to many of the music analysis ive seen sucking the life out of music, yours seems to put more into the music and these videos make me love the music of Nier more than I already do keep making these vids !

[@admentlore]

SHADOWLORD AND LOUIS!!!! OMG, I never noticed but it makes total sense! They were similar, were to be pitted against the other, and both had the same tragedy. Thank you for bringing this to my attention!!! Now I need a mashup of this!

[@pandacapre9302]

Interestingly, that no comment seemed to have mention it yet. What i personally find beautiful is that Fleeting Words has the Leitmotif of FFXIV Heavensward / Ishgard Theme in it. I dont know if its a crossreference because in the same year FFXIV got the Nier Raids patched into the game and this way Nier got a bit of FF into it too. At leasts thats my headcanon. I dont think it was ever really questioned and answered by the devs. Of course the theme wasnt transcribed 1:1 but you can clearly hear it out. For example at 16:22 Ishgard Night Theme - Night at the Brumes (as an example) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmWygnesh6d-mac Maybe its my love for Sokens work in FF but tbf, its a dang good Leitmotif.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I *think* that's a coincidence due to the similar instrumentation, but that's just my gut reaction.

[@Vanity0666]

Louise is a grotesqerie much like the Abberant False Idol

[@SmokingBeard]

Stopped half way through the video. Played the entire f*ing song. Came back. Thanks for these videos man.

[@whispy4027]

Fleeting words hold sooo much emotion in its composition which is one of the reasons why I think music theory is so cool . And just the idea that the song is a direct reflection of her struggle with loneliness really makes me tear up. My interpretation of the “call and response” harmony signifies her conflicting feelings (almost like an internal turmoil) surrounding how she believes this world is unfair towards her, treating her as an “outsider,” and an unwillingness to acquiesce, hence her efforts to combat or “fix” this unfair treatment by befriending the postman, hiding, fighting Nier, and… well… eating people.

[@nicholasmiller9468]

I believe Louise's singing improves when she becomes a true shade, and she is the one singing during the fight. She is able to show her true colors, and her authentic voice comes out, becoming clear and unburdened by lies and deceit. Despite this the world still rejects her, and all she can do is sing her heart out as the only outlet to express her pain

[@hannahhorst4059]

I finally played that part of teh game and immeadiately came runnig! what a way to make me cry on this wonderful evening

[@alpha8here]

THANK YOU, JONATHAN!!! This made my night!

[@howlingarmadillo]

Huh... never seen one of your videos before. Instant subscribe. Your analysis is strong, your jokes are snappy, and the editing is top notch. Great video.

[@ecchiyaro]

the mix of shadowlord & fleeting words was CRAZY GOOD

[@scarrlett_ddrums]

9:25 this whole part right here about the major resolution. I've never felt so understood because when you played the original part I paused the video and said to myself basically what you said here lmao tldr THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYIIIIIN

[@teru_9921]

Finding your channel is like finding gold! I subscribed immediately right after I finish watching the video!! I'm not even a musician but this makes me appreciate music theory more! Good job! ❤

[@m.m.2341]

I was kind of hoping you'd do this one next. Love it!

[@johnnysrevenge]

Man this vídeos are amazing, i really love Nier music and with this content i can understand more about

[@808pitfallseed]

lets goooooo played a cover of this for my first piano recital recently lol, also if u ever make more nier videos i have the cd for the ost where its more clear than all the youtube uploads of these songs that I could provide rips from if itd help in the future to hear whats happening.

[@JonathanBarouch]

Thank you so much for your offer! I do have the game rips for NieR and Automata, but only because of a comment just like this one, so I really appreciate it!

[@Dr.Farewell]

I’m addicted to your Nier videos

[@vdinh143]

When the Shadowlord vocals came in my mind started frizzling because it didn't make sense how it was SO GODDAMN GOOD

[@1lina9]

i heard this preformed live and it was just so amazing like life changing like out of body experience

[@Envek1]

Such a great video, great work!

[@pokemaster374]

I'm going to need you to continue to explain why i love all of Nier's music. I never needed an in-depth look as to why but thank you anyways

[@gctypo2838]

Overlaying Fleeting Words and Shadowlord just blew my mind. No wonder whenever I had one in my head it would sometimes switch to the other.

[@yeqiqi]

absolutely loving these

[@xTheJoker]

Can you do a complete mixup of the pieces from 11:07 😅. This Sounds insane good

[@KiwiTrek]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2TYZ2SoiLF3ha8 here you have it :D

[@cruxxxmusic]

love the nier games and the music and also your videos, appreciate it

[@chidoyo]

Thanks for the tears... All the best for you and everyone here.

[@CurrentlyDyinq]

Banger, this song is soo beautiful!!!

[@strayontheshore]

That shadowlord mashup must totally become a thing for real

[@KiwiTrek]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2TYZ2SoiLF3ha8 here it is!

[@JonathanBarouch]

That's so sweet! I'm glad I could provide

[@caliath1804]

fun fact about the section of fleeting words that you interpreted as "louise and the postman's duet"! the company that made the nier series, square enix, is also responsible for the final fantasies, and the melody of that part in fleeting words is a note-for-note reference to one of the main motifs from final fantasy xiv (ishgard's theme, it shows up in a few tracks but i would recommend "night in the brume" if you want to compare) so basically like half of fleeting words is an ad for ffxiv and it's incredible

[@JonathanBarouch]

Someone else mentioned this, and I admit I don't hear it. The two organ bits in "Night in the Brume" and the sections before them sound kind of similar to NieR music, but as far as I can tell that's just because of the tonic -> leading tone -> tonic resolution pattern. I must be missing the part you're talking about.

[@Leeland554]

I love these songs so much, and I kinda slept on them when playing the game as it’s harder to notice everything when you’re trying to stay alive.

[@arcadia7341]

Thank you for your awesome videos!!

[@Heinrick192]

Loved the video! Fleeting Words is one of my favorites. On a lore note, you had mentioned that Louise may be an Original Gestalt. Shadowlord is THE only Original, who gives stability to the rest of the failed Gestalts. Louise was an attempt to stop the Nier Replicant by Devola, Popola, and ostensibly the Shadowlord himself, because he was becoming too powerful. They wanted to postpone the merging of the Shadowlord with his Replicant, and were betting on Louise to defeat Nier. The Postman foiled this plan by emotionally weakening her and giving the squad the tactical advantage to kill her.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I totally missed that in the lore. Thank you!

[@abyssalvoice_vt2951]

Seriously, I almost started crying over how sad I was that the giant tentacle monster couldn’t live in peace with her human dad.

[@Jazzatic2011]

9:53 i dont have much music theory but in humming that I actually want to take the last chord in a different direction but i dont know what.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I so often wish there was a thoughts-to-mp3 converter.

[@danielcaceres2676]

Nice video , you deserve more views , keep it up

[@alexandercintron7772]

I was waiting for this, thanku so much!!! 😍😍🥰

[@someonewithacat]

Thank you so much for this video

[@moonchirp]

Absolutely beautiful video like always ❤️

[@tiawelch6934]

I don't need sleep, I need video. I'm sure this will be a BANGER

[@Shandykey]

The girl who should have been who loved a song she couldn't sing. You deserve an award for that. It really hit me. I am so happy when I played the game this whole sequence caught me off guard. I didn't even know it was going to be there I thought I was starting a minor side quest. Also one thing to mention. THE DRUMS IN THE BATTLE VERSION ARE THE FUCKING FISHING THEME. I didn't even notice until someone in the comments of the ost's video pointed it out.

[@YoRHaTypeANo2]

Would love to see you do a song analysis of Shadowlord’s Castle (Memory and/or Roar), these videos are so great to watch for somebody with a musical ear like me. And I love the NieR games so much. Thank you for the great uploads.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I'd love to do those tracks! It'll likely be a while... long wait list and I'm just one dude for now. But noted!

[@YoRHaTypeANo2]

@@JonathanBarouch understood, man. Take your time!

[@xArnaix]

Oh hey it's my favourite track from the game. Thanks Jonathan for covering it, and all the patrons who voted for it. Now excuse me while I go to lay down and cry.

[@MethodePyro]

WHY ARE YOUR VIDEOS SO PERFECT?

[@TheFalseEpycFail]

I think your analysis is spot on ! One small detail though. At 12:00 when you discuss the specifics of both Louise and Shadowlord, there's a detail you're missing that's revealed by the sisters Devola and Popola, Louise cannot be a Gestalt as she's got no receptacle. She's a 100% shade with no human soul or remnant, and would never be able to become human anyways. That's the reason she's stable, Shadowlord being a specific exception.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I haven't read Grimoire Nier cover to cover, so my lore knowledge is incomplete, but I thought all shades were human souls, without exception? Yeah she doesn't have a replicant, but originals can be stable without one. I dunno... it's fuzzy to me. Very willing to be wrong about this though

[@TheFalseEpycFail]

@@JonathanBarouch There's an example during the playthrough of another shade not being human, the big wolf in the desert, Roc. During the C route, we finally learn that Roc was not human but a wolf turned to a shade. The lore of this universe seems very fuzzy and I think it's on purpose.

[@JonathanBarouch]

Oh I must have forgotten that part! I thought Roc and Goose were just corrupted or something.

[@TheFalseEpycFail]

@@JonathanBarouch For Goose, that's a bit different, initially it was a single entity, then when they fused they became "one" you could say. I don't exactly remember when in the story that's discussed, but when Shade merge together, their individuality disappears and they become something "bigger". That's also one of the hints that Louise has no humanity at all, she couldn't be this powerful by herself, unless she was the equal of Shadowlord. If she were a Gestalt, that means she originally was human, and we have Devola and Popola saying she isn't. It might be a case of "lying narrator", but I don't think that's the case here. If she was the result of a big merge, she would have become something very different, such as Goose or even Wendy (the large ball in the Aerie Village). This has the effect of amplifying a strong sentiment shared by all the shades and make it the defining trait, as can be seen in Goose (protect the children, it's also in the form, Goose became a boar, known for their relentless aggressivity to protect children), or Wendy (scared villagers, only wanting to protect themselves from unknown threats). Roc is really the oddball here, but considering that there are multiple villages, maybe we've just seen a small fraction of the universe, and "animal shade" is more present that we would know ?

[@JonathanBarouch]

@@TheFalseEpycFail Ah, I'd forgotten that about Goose! I know Fused Shadows are a thing, but in "The Little Mermaid" it actually states that Louise isn't a fused shade, and that yes, she IS unreasonably powerful for a single entity. Devola doesn't say Louise wasn't human, she just says she doesn't have a Replicant. And if she truly is as powerful as the Shadowlord (or moreso!) she wouldn't need one in order to remain stable.

[@thewaterclown]

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this yet, but Louise was created (a pure shade without corresponding replicant, therefore she can never be human) as a backup plan in case the shadow lord bailed on the gestalt plan. This was mentioned during a scene between Devola and Popola. Also she was so powerful and massive she can withstand sunlight with little damage.

[@happysmilesworldandgames8755]

11:27 foreshadowing the next video

[@JonathanBarouch]

I didn't even know it at the time

[@sdgkh09]

Louise being a proper Gestalt and being infinitely more powerful than both Shadowlord and Emil put together, since she could be in the sun without disintegrating, regenerate herself even after being sliced thoroughly and fatally, and Emil actually expressing fear of her, speaks volume of how every living thing desires family and love no matter the power level to the point that their sheer amount of power comes to a halt when confronted with someone whom is/was deeply loved. Personally, I see Louise as a variant for the possible representative of someone embodying Sophia told about in the Old Testament, a being that levels with the power and might of God Himself in feminine form, later written to be embodied in Lady Maria. Also, she is the physical embodiment of amoral chaos, not knowing what is right and wrong but willing to learn what is right and wrong. The huge stream of Word that comes from Louise's ultimate attack is a one hit knock-out no matter the level, which for me makes sense since the Word is so powerful anyone would be in knees for it. Another thought I had during this video is that whenever we hid a boss with the golden letter-written timer on them, it's comparable with attacking their vocabulary, making them considerably weaker/stupider if done enough - as it would be if an entire population becomes weaker in vocabulary and thus, easier to subdue, manipulate and eradicated. The bosses were always beaten with just utter, violent force as a brute would in beating someone with 'big words', as a brute would call them. Louise having Medusa-like appendages and hair, octopus-like tendrils with a monstrosity that levels to cosmic horror, just adds to the God-level of power she had. Anyone who could've known her tenderly and her true form, if she came so long, would treat her with deep awe, wherein she would assure them she won't do any harm and that they shouldn't be afraid - similarly when the godly beings and God Himself present themselves towards people in the Bible. Shadowlord only comes to fraction of her power, limited to being in the shadows and only able to go outside when it is cloudy (as he did during the abduction of Yonah), and yet his strength, perseverance and levels should not be meddled with, which Devola and Popola knew. They did their best to mitigate and re-evaluate whenever an issue came up with either NieR or his shadowy counterpart. The only reason that the twins wasn't so utterly fretted with Louise despite her immense Godly powers is that she is young in mind (we actually don't know how old she truly is), doesn't know so much, receptive and willing to learn about what is proper. They were already capable of pulling the strings enough with NieR and Shadowlord at the same time due to their understanding of how love and caring works, for they were seen as motherly figures by the entire village they lived in. Both Shadowlord and Louise were beings that could've bridged between the Shades and the replicants (failed gestalts), for they spoke both the chaos language and were learning quite quickly to speak the language we internally knew during the game. The Shades spoke a language close enough of human language from bygone era, for the robots, implanted with language models made by the extinct humans, were able to register their meanings and both Shades and robots were finely capable of communicating with each other, indicating that the Shades were closer to humane language than the replicants. The gestalts could've made it possible for Devola and Popola to achieve the goal of reviving humanity, or at least salvaging what was possibly left of it. It makes sense then that both are of chaotic matter and thus, are still volatile and amoral, not evil. Little last thing irrelevant to the subject of Louise and Shadowlord specifically; both entities have yellow colours during non-aggression and red colours during aggression, just like the robot in Automata.

[@Vanity0666]

The beast that screamed love at the heart of the world

[@rachelphoenix1984]

an analasis of the final song of drakengard 3 would be fire i have no idea what your saying half the time but i like it :D

[@sansidotti]

Dude the punchlines in this video are on point lmao good job

[@trentrogers9369]

I absolutely love these breakdowns, especially from someone who loves these games for their stories, themes, characters, etc. I know you've mentioned how you're going to be doing a few more Nier tracks but I'd be very curious to see how you would break down something from Drakengard. Especially if it's something like The Final Song from Drakengard 3 Yes, like everyone else, that song still provides some PTSD but it is so undeniably interesting, I'd just be curious to see what other things lie under the surface of that beast

[@JonathanBarouch]

I haven't gotten into Drakengard yet but I really want to! It feels like the logical next step after branching into Automata.

[@chrisart481]

Good video! Nier and drakenguard music is soo good

[@nite9560]

Haven't watched yet but very excited. fleeting words, shadowlord, and song of the ancients are my 3 favourite osts edit: well shit haven't finished all routes so this has to wait

[@raeoverhere923]

I knew I was hearing Shadowlord in there! Maybe I'm learning, lol. F#sus4 brings Song of the Ancients to mind, too, at least to my ear. Louise is eating people to become human in the same way Simone was eating machines to become more beautiful; I wonder if that was on purpose at all?

[@JonathanBarouch]

Hmm... I don't think there's a sus4 chord in Song of the Ancients but I could be forgetting one. It does have phrases that end in major chords though! I hadn't noticed that parallel, but it does seem quite strong, doesn't it?