Why The Balatro Main Theme Is SO Insanely Catchy

[@louisf8846]

Thanks so much, I'm honored to have my music featured here, glad that you liked it!! 😍😍😍

[@MarcoMeatball]

Yo Louis!!!! Hell yes dude

[@SonicMasterEX]

Can't believe a Fiverr commission gets played on the game awards 🤯

[@HippieHobboMusic]

My dude you have cooked with one, I love the changes when you open a card pack.

[@sebastianzarek7056]

I have completionist++ in this game, and I still haven't turned off the music to put my own playlist on. Absolute bop

[@drewdadew]

Dang, 100+ hours for sure

[@ds2enjoyer]

Any tips for getting all gold stickers bro?

[@sebastianzarek7056]

@ds2enjoyer Anaglyph deck + negative skip tag

[@whimsydimsy8774]

I LOVE that the general process of people going to Balatro is just "What the hell is Balatro and why is it so highly praised" to "This is AMAZING and it deserves more praise" Also, fun fact, the creator of Balatro prohibited casinos from using Balatro's mechanics/likeness to avoid creating *actual* gambling problems!

[@arkhaic1792]

oh that second paragraph is so interesting, how does that work??

[@BingoBlitz55]

@arkhaic1792 as far as I know he’s stated it publicly and gone so far to write it in his will that even after his death no themes from Balatro can be used in slot games or traditional casino card games

[@darkerrex1442]

​@arkhaic1792Probably preventing Casino to implement Joker,Tarot, Planet and Spectral to "Spice up the poker game" Also the idea of negative "Blind" Definitely can cause an instant lose since the poker casino table have a Dealers so they could just pick a blind that essentially brick the patron

[@crushingvictory]

@arkhaic1792 Legal firm at the ready to prevent it, and in case if he dies, it's in his will too.

[@LC_Daed]

Yeah, at first I was like "A poker roguelike deckbuilder... not really my type" to "FUCK YOU MEAN ONE IN FOUR CHANCES????"

[@roccosmos1913]

Imagine working on fiber and some dumbass come to you and asks "can you make me a song for my card game?" Fast forward a year later Its played on game awards orchestra and old opera singer makes a video about how addicting it is

[@musicaccount3340]

why are you calling this guy old?

[@kimikaami8498]

@@musicaccount3340he means he no longer sings opera professionally, not that he’s of an old age

[@musicaccount3340]

@@kimikaami8498 I've never seen "old" used in such case, usually people say "former"

[@cry1pticzer773]

The music is so simplistic and addictive that you CANT get tired of it that it complements the gameplay. They should play this at casinos, that would be so good and scary.

[@livingreverie5951]

Funnily enough the Dev wrote in his will that no Casinos can touch the IP even after he dies

[@cry1pticzer773]

@ he was prepared. Good, because it’s a really good tune that can keep people invested.

[@De_an]

@@livingreverie5951 Monumentally based.

[@_elynas]

@@livingreverie5951What a chad

[@thegamersician]

Did NOT expect you to talk about Balatro but mannnn am I happy you are. 😭😭 My addiction

[@TheViralInfekT]

Just fell for the game a few days ago when I reallized that it is not gambling. It really is addictinly good, though.

[@enutrofdude]

Congratulations for having more wits about you than the entire Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), who slapped an "18+" rating on the game.

[@Winky813]

​@@enutrofdudeYou're thinking of PEGI not ESRB. ESRB rated it E10+

[@Fuzunga]

@@enutrofdude Actually that was PEGI, the European ratings board. ESRB has rated Balatro E10+ in North America.

[@VinnyF3]

The best part of the theme is all it's small variants that play throughout that transition so seamlessly you think it's all the same track

[@OcarinaT1]

I love that it's phrased in 7/4. Asymmetric time signatures are great!

[@cksupreme]

Same time signature as the Risk of Rain games- another synthy masterpiece.

[@Orionis_Delta]

Goddamnit now I want to play Balatro. Great. It's going to be as addicting for me as TETRIS at this point.

[@QDRG64]

Dew it, I think it still might be on discount on the play store rn.

[@Orionis_Delta]

@@QDRG64 I have App Store xD Hopefully it isn't too expensive.

[@xxephon]

if you dont already have it, buy it. i bought it two days ago after the game awards, never played poker before, and now i have 17 hours after owning it for 48 hours. the game is just so satisfying and addictive, even without poker knowledge

[@Orionis_Delta]

Thanks guys I have indeed gotten addicted to the game AND found my personal favorite Joker card (Supernova)

[@denizberkinmis]

Balatro ost gives the vibes of me sitting in a hotel reception on a soft couch just passing time while transitioning me thinking about stuff bigger than life. I'm not sure how to exactly define this feeling but its both so casual and so melodramatic... Then I just play and dive into the thoughts

[@theguy3406]

the synths are incredibly well designed

[@creamedgravy]

the progression and the movement of a playful attitude of 'we're not going to stay in this place for long' but there's still a root home that we keep coming back to on our musical journey reminds me of some of the less intense works of chris christodoulou

[@cksupreme]

I am so glad you released this video. This song has been playing in my head non-stop ever since i first heard it, despite the fact I've never even touched the game. Love connecting with you and fellow viewers on awesome pieces like this!

[@shinigamimiroku3723]

Multiple members of Hololive are addicted to this game as well, and I couldn't understand why until I watched one of them play it. I could hear much of what you described and immediately realized why it ended up becoming such a big name. Hat's off to the developers and composer.

[@useraccount333]

I know Reine and Kaela are addicted, who else?

[@shinigamimiroku3723]

@useraccount333 Polka and Fauna come to mind, although I think Fauna has more important matters to attend to now... 😭

[@HydroniteTB]

What’s more impressive is just one guy made it, LocalThunk

[@shinigamimiroku3723]

@HydroniteTB I find it fascinating that games being made by 1 person or a really small team are not only more fun to play but end up being more popular than your typical legacy AAA dev companies.

[@useraccount333]

@@shinigamimiroku3723 Because one-person or small-team games are made with love and passion for the craft. Triple-A games can have love and passion, of course (Baldur's Gate 3, for example), but they're often the exception rather than the rule.

[@Karton206]

This is masterpiece. How even less than 20 minute lopped material cannot bore after hours of listening? I have absolutely opposite timeline with this music than with anything else: after tens of hours of playing Balatro, this melody soothes me like nothing else, kind of amazing liquid treatment for stress and anxiety. It annoyed me a bit at the start of journey, but look where we are. Love it.

[@boat378]

I love the trill on the long notes, makes it stressful much like the game itself 😂

[@DJ-Rose]

I was not expecting you to make a video about this ost, I even said so in the discord. But damn it does work so incredibly well

[@supremesonicbrazil]

9:45 I pictured myself (more like got yeeted full force) at the depths of outer space full of exploding nebulas floating all around me. This is what I certify as a real "massive choons" moment

[@Kinkajou1015]

You want a vibe, listen to all 5 tracks of the game layered over each other. Main theme, shop theme, planet pack theme, spectral pack theme, boss theme. There's a good mix of it on Maxim Tsai's channel. You thought you were vibing before, you'll melt at how good it is.

[@nickfunkero8856]

Was singing the main theme out loud when I clicked on this video

[@MatthewRennickMusic]

I want to play this now! It gives a new spin on music for video games.

[@DomPalombiMusic]

Seeing more people talk about the music from Balatro just warms my heart. This is a perfect piece of music imo, and serves the game in the best of ways. Great stuff Marco!!!

[@JawadBhuiyan]

The most impressive thing about it is that it doesn't get repetitive or annoying.

[@Grindee392Gaming]

Awesome breakdown of the music. Shoutout to The Bronze Beard for introducing me to this addicting game

[@IvoryMadness.]

I can see you were pretty hyped for this video! Well, this music is such a vibe, indeed!

[@meisterl0]

It's hypnotizing, put you in a dead eyes mouth open kind of daze along with the pleasing sound effects that hits that dopamine spot of mine

[@quirkyqwerssie]

unironically one of my favorite Marco videos

[@bananacat5327]

Gonna get Balatrillion with this one

[@sagusvalivian]

Would love to hear a smooth jazz ensemble version. I think it would work great with just like drums, bass, sax, and maybe piano.

[@kaofee]

Not me watching a video on Balatro while playing Balatro

[@stefanostsougkranis5851]

Balatro has to be one of the most devilishly clever games in recent memory. Surprisingly deep, intuitive to learn and with all it's aspects - music, art, gameplay mechanics - working in complete unison.

[@enutrofdude]

Like the game's poker-based mechanics and its graphics, the music has a deceptively simple appeal. Pleasant to play, pleasant to look at, pleasant to listen to; a terrific overall package. It's just as you say: "...The music and the gameplay are essentially synonymous." It was about eight months ago that I first played Balatro. I played for about 3-1/2 hours, then hurried over to my friend's house and gave him $15 to buy the game.

[@Calibre_369]

I'm not a big rougelite person so I got over Balatro pretty quickly, but I will never ever forget this song and will come back to listen to it regularly. Masterpiece

[@death0910]

7/4, thats why

[@friendofyours7]

For anyone wondering: Balatro's music is "Adaptive music" a type often used in videogames to change and adapt to what happens in the game. If you listen while playing, Balatro's main theme seamlessly switches into a theme for the shop or for arcana/cosmic packs. This is what's known as "Vertical" mixing: the music changes the SAME idea INTO a different context, which is the opposite of "Horizontal" mixing which instead goes from one idea to another.

[@DragonSlayer3050]

Balatro is INSANELY addicting, i woke up really early yesterday with nothing to do until family dinner at 5, started playing at like 8am, i look at the time an hour later, its actually 1:30pm, then i look down for 20 mins, its 4:40pm and my grandmother is texting me making sure im ready

[@alien5589]

Check out the video of all the different versions mixed together. The different themes take turns being the main focus and it’s wonderful!

[@joshjo9405]

And then there's the game awards orchestra version with the flute guy

[@azk3skin]

​@@joshjo9405game awards version is unbelievable

[@gamersupreme7980]

Hearing this played by he vga orchestra was so sick

[@Larathen]

What I feel why it never gets old that it's very "think" music like that can just vibe in the background subliminaly while we try to play around will silly poker cards.

[@calix2807]

This video is perfect timing considering that I literally played Balatro for the first time yesterday.

[@munico6055]

This music reminds me a lot of bedroom pop I hear a lot, honestly that's why I love it so much. Reminds me a lot of Inner Wave a great band I listen to

[@moshtradamus3344]

It reminds me of really obscure mini game themes from old gameboy games. Those random mini games you played for hours with some crazy vibe.

[@rpglover101]

Wait we didn’t even go over how it changes in different scenes, I need that analysis

[@iKaGe01]

Without this music, I don't think the game would have been as popular. I got interested in the game even before I'd even watched it due to the main theme

[@theKonfusion]

the live version at the TGA was peak.

[@ZiinUkiyo]

Idk why, but I really want him to go through the journey that is Epic the Musical now

[@SpeakMouthWords]

and it's in 7/4!

[@emilymitchell6823]

"Wherever I am, I'm there playing Balatro" - my family, to me

[@johnwostenberg840]

You forgot to mention the 7/8 time signature! It’s probably the biggest reason the music feels so unique

[@MarcoMeatball]

How do people feel meter like this? It’s not in my skill set

[@Gruncival]

@@MarcoMeatball If you're the opera singer guy I've seen in thumbnails past, it might make sense that you don't since most pre-1900s music has no rhythm section. I'm not a music guy at all, but my musician friends tell me that they're the cheatcode to it (and why jazz concerts don't need the conductor); listen to the drums and vocalize the pulse along with it, even if there isn't a hit on some of the parts of the pulse. Then when it feels like the vocal line resets/advances, start counting again. I don't know if you are literally asking how to feel the meter, or if you are just expressing that while you can measure it you don't realize it until it's pointed out. In case it's the former: right after the part in your video when you cut in for the When Something Is Italian meme, the first main section starts and there's a shaker. In this case, the shaker goes up and down on every pulse--7 of them occur on each measure. There is a "cut off" quality to each phrase because of it--like a vocal line would reach the last word, but suddenly, they have to take a short breath and start the next line instead. Hope you don't feel talked-down to, my bad if so.

[@johnwostenberg840]

@@MarcoMeatball In this theme's case I physically snapped along to the beat and counted how many of those snaps fit into what felt like a measure. If you happened to be snapping in eighth notes, you'll find that you can fit 7 snaps into a measure (was easier for me to subdivide into 4 beats followed by 3 beats). So 7 beats made out of eighth notes which means a time signature of 7/8. Alternatively if you snap in quarter notes you instead first notice that you end up completely offbeat when the beat resets (i.e. you start snapping on the downbeat and on the next measure you find yourself snapping on the upbeat instead - the "and" in 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and). You can't fit 4 snaps into the measure; you fall just short. If you realllly count it out carefully using "ands" you notice you fall exactly one "and" short of 4. So that means there's 3 and a half quarter notes per measure. In other words, 3 quarter notes plus one eighth note, which is just 7 eighth notes. I have no idea your music theory experience so I hope I didn't lose you and/or make you feel like I'm talking down to you! One last note: I'm not the greatest at this kind of stuff either -- to be honest I didn't actually realize myself that the time signature is 7/8, I only knew that it was off somehow (in that trying to count it like 4/4 would fee right at first and then quickly fail me). I ended up reading someone else mentioning that it's in 7/8, and then was like, "ohhhh that's what it is," after counting it out myself, knowing now what to look for.

[@johnwostenberg840]

As @Gruncival said it can totally make sense depending on your background. I'd call myself a good musician, but much more of a "feels" guy than a theory guy. I took music theory classes, and man those were a struggle for me, while some of my friends just blew right through them (even some with no natural talent lol) - I think it just takes a different kind of brain. So for anyone reading this, if this is you, that's totally fine! Music theory skill is good but so is natural music sense!

[@xylvnking]

The time signature being 7/8 makes it feel unexpected, and the audio itself is pitched down to .777 of the original speed :) working on my own video about audio in balatro

[@MarcoMeatball]

Nice

[@ProfessorH.JFarnsworth]

this is the type of music that plays in a cozy playing card store in the mall that also sells tarot cards and liquor

[@unknownbowser1439]

Balatro Sweep! Love the game, I am only missing the last 3 challenges

[@J-Unit90]

2:10 I didn't really think about it until this video, but the vibe of the intro you kinda feels like Bossa Nova to me now!

[@paramedic2172]

There's a funk cover of this theme that is 🔥

[@Kainzvt]

Soemwhere in my mind's eye i could see myself as an 8 bit version of myself walk into an 8 bit poker bar that's playing this song in the background.

[@Bumbleorc]

Putting this in you should totally go check out a song called ozar Midrashim its by information society but! Its featured in the best game I've played recently called legacy of kain soul reaver i highly recommend this song and watch the intro cinematic! Its a beautiful piece of work from 1999 and it got remastered recently!

[@Clockwonk]

I love that music professionals use "bom bom bom" to describe music.

[@SimplyRzy]

Hyped for this reaction cause i literally watched a short about why this ost doesnt get boring Btw any genshin reactions planned next?

[@MarcoMeatball]

Just battle theme next week

[@LtSprinkulz]

Would you check out some of the songs from Madness Combat and Madness: Project Nexus?

[@Ejodai]

We've lost him.

[@Kimtroverted]

The game is all about making the score go higher and higher! Of course the Score will try to go higher and higher too! :3

[@theshadynorwegian6036]

Definitely hits some similar vibes as risk of rain 2. more casual.

[@DolRebus]

Okay but can i ask why you haven't said anything about bass ? xD. Like its so slick, the way it shows up for those little runs and then hides back, no ?

[@foomzoomproom6408]

yay he made a vid bout it!

[@PhantomOfTheKnight]

The funny thing is that ever since it came out on mobile I actually just mute the music and have podcasts/KZbin/whatever playing on in the background instead.

[@rawrbutnoxd9500]

You monster...

[@joshjo9405]

Noooooooooo

[@kreskinkun]

While I really like the kind of music it is, and the song itself is good, I wound up muting it eventually because I wasn't hearing enough variety to let it play for all eternity.

[@Tzelemel]

You do eventually escape from Balatro's grip.

[@boboboz2246]

I don't know how to suggest topics for videos, but could you please react to Isonzo ost ? (its a game about italian front in ww1)

[@smarty265]

im addicted

[@paxiros4428]

Marco you need to check out the "Christmas Carol" Never A Silent Night just put out for Warhammer today!

[@hanasununhamunagoyum]

Might want to check out the theme for the original Plants vs Zombies, that was a real simple earworm, too.

[@prashanthswaminathan6008]

Hey marco this is a sincere request but please hear the jump king ost For a rage game its got by far the best music ive heard

[@bootay2835]

its prog in the form of muzak

[@depressedonion9080]

Goated game

[@Danemadsen-y9s]

You should listen to some of the slime rancher 1 and 2 soundtrack.

[@Owlcelyn]

You should react to the crysis 3 main theme "new york memories"

[@e-x-t-e-r-m-i-n-a-t-e5818]

Hey Marco, I hope I don't have to pay for it, but could you listen to the Bloodborne end credits song? It's a short one, but it slaps

[@MarcoMeatball]

sure!

[@Cnith]

I must admit that I felt that this game could use some more tracks, even if the track it has is pretty good. This opinion may have been coloured by me swearing at the crappy hands I was dealt or good hands I was dealt that fit extremely poorly with boss blinds (it's been a while since I played it, so the terminology may be off). This is probably the game that I enjoy the most while not being particularly good at it! I find it hard to juggle the modifiers correctly, to be most efficient at it. To be fair I've also seen good speedrunners just getting trounced by the circumstances the game throws at them, so sometimes you just lose.

[@Vanimoz]

It's physically impossible to be playing Balatro and not going "bararara barara 🎵🎵🎵" while malding cause you went to 0 discards and no full house in sight

[@Magnolia-SpiderLily]

Pov: when you play with the checkered deck and you used up all the discard only to somehow still don't have a flush

[@vadimpavliuc3608]

Are we getting any more Library of Ruina?

[@Cleverconveyence]

I play Balatro for the plot The plot:

[@NikLoveGaming]

It has good quality to it , but I still don't understand why it win. Anyway, I'm glad you like it.

[@Cleverconveyence]

Win what

[@anthonyglenn5629]

Next make a reaction video on “the promised land” from Final Fantasy VII Advent Children!

[@Paranoia267]

Day 1 of asking MarcoMeatball to listen to the Far Cry 5 soundtrack.

[@raycigar6356]

They just PEGi18 balatro!?! Wth...

[@FabioGrenkh]

Wait, why did you delete the „We won“ video?

[@MarcoMeatball]

I made an error that felt better to unlist in the video

[@FabioGrenkh]

@ Hm, I see. I hope it comes back in some capacity though. Your passion for VGM really came through and I felt it was a perfect video to share on the topic!

[@Kain2452]

title change?

[@MarcoMeatball]

Yes

[@ShmuPixel]

Hmm nope, Balatro is addictive even without the soundtrack. I got bored of the main theme eventually (because I played that game for way too long) and it didn't fix my addiction! 😂

[@WastedTalent83]

quanto t'hanno pagato ?XD

[@MarcoMeatball]

Niente? E la prima Volta sul canale? Mi piacciono video giochi e mi piace molto la musica. Sono qui per divertirmi.

[@momox22917]

promoting gambling game poker is insane , i hope no kids will be addicted to card games.

[@MarcoMeatball]

There is not an ounce of gambling in this game it’s literally cards