Music Breakdown: Ikoroshia (Danganronpa 2)

[@wesleybcrowen]

As someone who can't comprehend how composing music works, this was a wonderful peek at the process!

[@EverythingFantasy]

Glad you liked it! Hoping as much as possible that both musicians and non-musicians alike might find this interested.

[@DarkMagician-jn6qr]

I'm so happy to see you covering this. Personally, Masafumi Takada is my all time favorite music composer after this game. And Ikorshia will forever be one of, if not my all time, favorite pieces of video game music. Not only is it easily one of the coolest video game songs I have ever heard, but it fits the character that it is played for perfectly. Everything that that character was is pushed down into that one song, and makes that the best class trial of that entire game. Will NEVER forget when that song first started playing, it's like hearing one of the Pokemon Champion's themes (or Red's theme) for the first time, you just can't forget it.

[@bro748]

Ikoroshia's 'chromaticism' mostly comes from the Blues scale, and all other instances are from using different modes that still fit with the chords, which is a very common jazz improvisation technique.

[@EverythingFantasy]

I wouldn't describe the chromaticism as mostly coming from the Blues scale necessarily given how frequent we hear the F#, but completely agree that so much of the track revolves around G in various modes

[@julio10mc72]

Analysis are back yesss! :D Edit: Now that I'm done with the video I'd like to see an analysis on the "beautiful" songs, those are some of my favourites (beautiful dead, beautiful ruin, beautiful lie)

[@EverythingFantasy]

I can gladly say an analysis of the beautiful songs is already in the works!

[@julio10mc72]

@@EverythingFantasy Glad to hear that! Really looking forward to it

[@vitaliykormov1266]

As a music producer this is very useful! I absolutely love this song and I always wanted to make my own investigation theme, so this is very useful. Btw, love listening to your stuff as well!

[@EverythingFantasy]

Really glad you found it useful! That's what I'm hoping for more than anything. That other people might be able to use this info to make their own themes inspired by our favourite composers

[@LoreCatan]

What's also important to note when making videogame music specifically is that it is often made to loop, so it needs to be interesting enough to listen to again and again without grating your ears, which is a hard balance to find. Ikoroshia is a great example not just of a great loop-able song, but of a song that is intense yet not annoying. And that is achieved through the trumpet sections, which don't kill the tension, but are definitely less intense than the drums, as well as the "bridge" sections, where the drums are no longer present, where either the tension keeps building through the ascending notes of the synth or the tension subsides because of the flute. Really, just an important part of this song's structure is that the melody is mainly composed of ascending and descending notes, which makes it an enjoyable loop. The trumpet, the synths and the piano all go up and down the scale in their respective parts of the song, even the flute, and it's not super obvious unless you've been looping this for quite a while, which I have done 😅. I hope this helps! This is a trend I've noticed in most loop-able videogame songs, ascending and descending melodies are just the most enjoyable to listen to back to back.

[@Copyright_Infringement]

Everything fantasy has a face and voice????? I'm hyped

[@EverythingFantasy]

It's a paid actor

[@EverythingFantasy]

Kidding yes I do have a face and voice!

[@sir380]

I play the drums and like fast tempos combined with simple drum patterns used in punk rock and such but who also likes the feeling of some intricate jazz and funk rhythms and this song has both of these. When I heard it for the first time i went like holy crap. And evertytime after that I was like “awe yeah here we go again”

[@Mastermind6425]

Wow, what a cool video concept! And of course you would choose one of the best Danganronpa tracks in existence ;)

[@EverythingFantasy]

Glad you like the concept! Definitely have to agree with that haha

[@literallymalware]

This song is one of my favorites in the series, so glad you made another analysis video!

[@EverythingFantasy]

Thanks!! Definitely will be doing these more often

[@literallymalware]

@@EverythingFantasy yess!!

[@hekoh2248]

Great video! Didn't expected this quality from a channel with this ammount of subs. Keep up the good work!

[@EverythingFantasy]

Thanks!

[@murlusik907]

Would never believe someone will actually make an analysis of one of my favourite compositions ever! THANK YOU!!!

[@randomfanatic3178]

If you haven't already can you do a break down of the more sadder tracks in the series: All Apologies (THH and GD) Death Wish(THH and GD) Welcome to despair (THH and GD) Darkness Time (KH) Heaven of Almost Hell(KH) Clair de lune (KH) Moon on the Water(KH) Heartless Journey(KH)

[@EliasMorals]

As someone who plays the drums, i ADMIRE ikoroshia. the drums like you said are fast paced but they have syncopation once you get to the "chorus", as i like to call it. The first time the trumpet comes in, i mean. It starts off with a decently intermediate to hard beat. But once the trumpet starts to ascend, the syncopation comes in because they use a teeny bit of the toms to like break apart all the hihat. This can add to the jazzy vibe and also not bore the listener because this is where the electric piano and synth comes in for C1. This part, i feel is like giving the listener a rest from all the high intensity from the other parts, which the percussion achieves by having things that are more "together" and not fuzzy Also, the hi-hats are CRUCIAL in this because it also contributes to a somewhat fuzzy sound. For example, where it wants certain parts to be clear and sound smooth, the hihat is fully closed. It gives it the "t" that we all use for hihat while beatboxing. But as things get more hectic, Such as in D1, they lessen the pedal on the hi-hat, so it's mostly closed (like a good 85% where it doesn't give a "t" sound when you play hard enough), so when they want it to sound fuzzy and intense (Mixed with the snare being hit much harder), it works just through dynamics and technique that isn't hard to achieve. And when it gets to D1 and C2, which is where it REALLY picks up, the drums are already there. And it's even in B1, which again, contributes to the fuzzyness at the beginning Also not to mention in C2, every other beat (2 and 4), *something* happens in the percussion. Whether it be a hard hit on a hi-hat, cymbals in the distance, a snare hit, something happens that for something super syncopated might come off as even more "off", contributing to the vibe of the song even more Just thought i'd chime in on the drum part! I hope that makes sense!

[@archium595]

we don't deserve you. seriously, fantastic breakdown!

[@tisibiaedeakamatsu]

Just started watching these, and they're honestly so interesting! I'm not usually into what goes on behind music and the feelings it creates, but the way you explain things makes it sort of digestible (?). Either way, you explain things well and you present them nicely. Can't wait to see more of these!

[@ItsLordBaron]

Gotta love these deep dives! Keep up the great work!

[@EverythingFantasy]

Thanks a lot!

[@namonamc]

Wow, this is amazing. I've always been loving the music in SDR2 but you put all that into words that make so much sense to me -- thanks so very much!

[@literallymalware]

You really know a lot about music. Watching this is extremely insightful! I had no idea that chromatic/non chromatic styles really existed lol. You did an excellent job at explaining this song and hearing you talk about it's composition is rather inspiring. You should really consider making more original pieces! Your clever understanding of music theory and taking advantage of instruments really show your passion and competence towards composing. You could even rival that of Toby Fox or Masafumi Takada!

[@EverythingFantasy]

Honoured that you found it inspiring! I won't lie, your last sentence filled me with goosebumps when I read it haha. Your kind words have definitely inspired me to share more original content on the channel

[@literallymalware]

@@EverythingFantasy yay I'm glad

[@danielvaladez1286]

MY FAVORITE SONG LETS GO

[@jerg]

really love this! i cant believe you don't have more attention, especially when you obviously put a lot of time and effort into this

[@EverythingFantasy]

Huge thank you! A lot of time goes into the video so it's always great to see it appreciated. Hopefully more attention will come soon as I'm uploading way more often.

[@mads_in_zero]

One thing that's really amazing about Ikoroshia is that not only does the A1 section serve as a long moody introduction, where the song actually loops back to the start of B1, but they use this trick to make sure the song keeps its momentum during investigations. The problem with a long intro is that, since the game plays multiple songs during investigations (a dramatic new clue, a mysterious observation, Gundam doing something silly again) if it just cut back to the A1 opening of Ikoroshia every time it went back to the main song, that moody intro would get _really boring._ So, on the game's OST, there's a song called SUGUIKOROSHIA (Called _Kill Now!_ in the localized titles) where "sugu" means "sudden". With the sound effect of getting a new Truth Bullet, the game cues up _this_ song instead and we get: [swoosh-click] Dododo~ [dun dun] Delelele, delelelelele~ It launches right into the opening hook of the song, to keep the pace of investigations moving really quickly. (And as such the B1 section would be properly defined as starting on that little percussion hit before the three descending notes, which you've included as the end of the A1 and A2 sections? Given how it all loops).

[@Joanneehlers]

Yoooo my man uploads once again

[@EverythingFantasy]

Every Sunday and Wednesday from now on!

[@trustt6265]

Amazing video

[@EverythingFantasy]

Thank you!

[@kinzokumusic6250]

yo I gotta ask, what's the soundsorce for the trumpet you used at 8:00? that thing sounds majestic

[@hhellinn]

*Omg It's here!!*

[@MegaStrike]

Nicely done, Really helpful for us VGM composers or just musicians in general. Maybe you can make one about the class trial music or Toby fox's Undertale/Deltarune music. I'd like to watch them both.

[@EverythingFantasy]

Glad this was helpful! That's a great shout! There's a lot that can be said about the class trial music and of course the music in Undertale/ Deltarune

[@diarmuidburke]

Great video and great analysis!

[@nagi9990]

I love your Danganronpa music analyses

[@Leahranonino]

phew. it's been a while since last i've checked your channel. glad you're back. i absolutely loved your deconstruction! this is definitively one of my favorite songs in all of danganronpa, along with DRV3's opening theme, and beautiful Lie

[@NahNope776]

I'd love to see you do the Discussion songs.

[@ItsLordBaron]

When will you do a music breakdown of the song titled tequila by the champs?

[@EverythingFantasy]

I don't think I'm cultured enough yet haha

[@Swampy0525]

Late to this but I wonder what your opinion on “A Dead End To The Ocean’s Aroma” or more colloquially know as the “God, what the fuck did Komaeda do now?!” theme is

[@rumicha5114]

Watching this for the third time and thinking... is it just me or is the Everything Fantasy guy kind of hot in an intelligent British musician kind of way? ❤️ Is there a Mrs Fantasy? If not, where can I apply?

[@EverythingFantasy]

This has to be one of the most memorable comments I've ever received hahaha. Thank you for the compliments 😊 The phrase Mrs Fantasy probably won't leave leave my mind anytime soon 😂

[@AKMotions]

you probably get this question a lot but, is there any free starter program I can use to practice compositing?

[@EverythingFantasy]

It's a great question. Anything that gets you into the habit of creating music would work. FL Studio has a good demo to get you started. So does Reaper, although Reaper's a lot little less beginner friendly. If you're using Mac, Garageband is free and a decent starter too. Also wouldn't discount any mobile apps you can find too as any start is a good start