Music Theory: Sonic CD's Metallic Madness

A look inside the music theory of Sonic CD's Metallic Madness.

[@Xachpro5475]

Sonic dead or alive is mine

[@Loafoftime]

(You can't do anything, so don't even try. Don't do what sonic does)

[@vaporcranberries]

@Loafoftime You forgot “get some help”

[@Loafoftime]

@@vaporcranberries Knew i was missing something

[@usuario15965]

That should have been a line of metal sonic

[@injecteddante09]

​@usuario15965 nah, cuz he thinks he's the real sonic

[@bakubread9308]

I don't usually comment on these because I've got little to no knowledge on the subject of music composition, but I gotta say the visuals you make have always helped keep my attention and make things more understandable to me, even if I don't *really* get what you're talking about on a more technical level. These videos are great because they're enjoyable despite my complete lack of knowledge.

[@crushash9322]

Metallic Madness is easily the most satisfying stage in Sonic CD to get a good future on. You have to fight your way through hell and back, but man being greated by those opening chords in the good future makes it all the worth.

[@bowserdude5998]

Something I noticed and liked is that in the Present mix, the piano rhythm at 0:03 after those opening orch hits is extremely similar to the opening of Palmtree Panic's Bad Future. In other words, it's like the potential bad future that we were given a glimpse of at the start of the game is now currently happening in full force, and it's our job to go undo it now.

[@Geebsa]

Having a new upload is essentially an early Christmas gift

[@CaptainMangles]

I won't be asking for a present next year thanks to this upload

[@Konic_and_Snuckles]

Great music theory video, as always. I'm excited because now we only have one zone to go before the Sonic CD set is complete: Palmtree Panic

[@johney-duh-one]

What about Dub- [Little Planet]?

[@Big0Woke]

I could never get tired of watching Sonic cd music theories no matter how many times I've watched them

[@LysiX]

A fun little thing I noticed about Mania's Metallic Madness act 2, it uses a synth found in CD's US soundtrack! During the funky saxophone solo and right after the eggman rap section, Mania uses the choppy/static-y synth that is used in the background of the US track for Metallic Madness Good Future. I think that is pretty neat.

[@Brady-d3f]

I'm pretty sure both soundtracks use the same basic synths because both our based entirely around samples loops live samples taking from synths and cds keyboards etc

[@LysiX]

@Brady-d3f While they might both use similar synths, they're definitely not exactly the same. The best example is the drums, which in the JP soundtrack is made by Roland drum machines, while in the US soundtrack its an Alesis (and some live recordings). Not to mention that the US soundtrack focuses more on live recorded instruments like the guitar, the bongos and some other percussion instruments, and the vocalists. The US soundtrack using synths is more special than the JP soundtrack because the US soundtrack uses synths much less than the JP soundtrack.

[@justsomelosercb]

I don't think it's the same; Metallic Madness US tracks are filled by the Korg Wavestation and 01/W sounds, while Tee Lopes uses the M1 and Monopoly He also doesn't sample songs directly often, so it could just be a similar patch

[@Brady-d3f]

@LysiX ok yeah I hear it now it's likely that they just sound similar also korg wavetable no wonder it sometimes sounds like warp records techno music

[@Nic_2751]

Metallic Madness music goes so hard and it’s why I’m glad of all the other levels to reincorporate in Mania, it was this one

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

Yeah for sure. I love how they even made titanic monarch apart of metallic madness. As it was supposed to be final fever. It gives a whole lot of world building and detail that people don’t often appreciate

[@WindowsGod2]

16:52 - Something I noticed that follows this idea is the intro for MM Present (US) uses power chords of the root and 5th the entire time, leaving out the 3rd to give it an ambiguous mood, setting up an uncertain future.

[@Ello-729]

WE’RE SO BACK

[@mrt1880]

but it is over 😔

[@DubiousDepthsRadio]

Still Palmtree Panic ​@@mrt1880

[@IkinBBfromAnthologyOfTheKiller]

Since last time i watched your channel, i learned music theory. I actually know what you're talking about now. Probably a good idea to rewatch the other ones too

[@AlexYardZone]

@IkinBBfromAnthologyOfTheKiller so glad to hear this! Yeah, my videos work great as an introduction to theory, and then once you return with an overall grasp of music thoery fundamentals from a course etc., you'll now be able to watch the videos and make new connections/observations, to take things to the next level!

[@IkinBBfromAnthologyOfTheKiller]

@AlexYardZone Gotta agree. They're good as introductions and also to analyze with the perspective of someone who's already in.

[@vaporcranberries]

Metallic Madness has some of my favorite songs in the JP OST, Glad to see you finally dissect these themes.

[@Accrovideogames]

The lack of the CD button in the elevator always annoyed me. Mania is the fifth game in that style, not the fourth. Not acknowledging CD in the marketing was an affront. If anything, the "K" was unnecessary since it represents the second half of the same game.

[@AlexYardZone]

@Accrovideogames lmao yeah, CD was omitted but Sonic 3's DLC got its own button haha

[@Astro_Crunch]

Especially so, since Sonic CD is kinda the reason Mania exists in the first place. If not for Christian Whitehead making a proof of concept for his Sonic CD remake and convincing Sega to publish it, we might've never seen him or his fellow developers work with Sega on future projects.

[@worlwr2]

I can only take solace in the fact that "Sonic 4" was omitted.

[@ReadyDude]

Always enjoy seeing you give some attention to the US soundtracks. The 3 US Metallic Madness songs are some of my favorite Sonic songs ever, funnily enough. Similarly to Stardust Speedway, it feels like each soundtrack for this level was based off one one word in the name Metallic Madness; The US soundtrack takes the word “metallic” and the Japanese soundtrack takes the word “madness.”

[@111riffi]

You definitely missed onto A LOT by omitting the other changes in the USA soundtrack, such as the intro, or how the good and bad future are mutually exclusive remixes of the present which mashes the two together into one

[@shadowopsairman1583]

He covers the us sound track in other videos

[@brandonbernard1570]

While I still prefer the JP originals, I think the Metallic Madness tracks are easily the most cohesive and deliberate sounding of the US soundtrack, all clearly setting the tone of their time periods and not just being 3 cool songs in a vacuum.

[@ZanyCat]

9:16 i can not even begin to describe just how cursed that "Present" sign post is.

[@CatacombSewersSewtube]

Yes. Cursed.

[@sincere3238]

what’s wrong with it?

[@CatacombSewersSewtube]

@@ZanyCat The text overextends the sign and isn’t formatted correctly since it’s a fan-made sign. If Sega made this, they would likely make the text smaller to fit the sign plate.

[@anwd8646]

Best Christmas Eve present EVER! Always interesting to see the different time periods of metallic madness, because it’s the only stage Robotnik owns since he *built* it. It’s HIS stage, HIS base. He owns it, it was always HIS, we can only take it away by getting a good future, with a bad future showing that even his own base, which he built and designed, is not safe from his wasteful and cruel actions, with it looking as if it will all fall apart with exposed wires, worn lighting, the background of the second act is almost entirely dark like the power is fluctuating or failing, and everything is coated with a layer of sickly, brown rust. (Plus, just how LARGE is metallic madness? That background looks like it may go on and on forever and forever, just like the metal shell which Eggman has trapped little planet beneath)

[@CatacombSewersSewtube]

The sign post: (PRESENT!)

[@CJCheese0]

I'm an evil doctor with a rad genius and bad minions To help me sink the planet into my dominion A baddie with an IQ like you've never seen I'm the meanest, vilest villain that's ever been on your screen I'm iconic with my bionic animatronics Got a chronic knack to catch the hedgehog they call Sonic My temper is atomic, my mustache is on fire Welcome to the new world, Eggman Empire I'm an evil doctor with a rad genius and bad minions To help me sink the planet into my dominion A baddie with an IQ like you've never seen I'm the meanest, vilest villain that's ever been on your screen I'm iconic with my bionic animatronics Got a chronic knack to catch the hedgehog they call Sonic My temper is atomic, my mustache is on fire Welcome to the new world, Eggman Empire I'm an evil doctor with a rad genius and bad minions To help me sink the planet into my dominion

[@deletedTestimony]

Why twice I usually parody the lyrics when I rap it. He's the greatest masturbator that's ever been on the screen

[@Carls493]

Thank you so much for this series. You really helped to bring out more of the “beauty” that was put into Sonic CD. Merry Christmas!

[@appleofdoom]

5:19 to add to the 90's-ness of those piano stabs, the sample played just before them seems to be sampled from a 90s sample cd Zero-G Datafile 2, in particular track 58

[@GarrettIngallJr]

Ive only now found ur channel so Im sure you have been doing this for a while and gotten a ton of praise for it but I love the way you use the beat and notes to tell the story in there. Its just so perfect

[@JovianCloudfarmer]

"don't get cut" tell that to Dubious Depths

[@Terionic]

this video is very welcome! Sonic CD is truly one of my favorite video game OSTs of all time. here's my own personal suggestions for future videos! *possibly a series on 3D Blast's OST. Jun Senoue's work on the Genesis OST carried over and influenced Sonic Adventure, while Richard Jacques' tracks for the Saturn OST feel like a nice middle point between CD and R. *maybe a video covering the recently released Antonblast. its soundtrack being composed by an one man band (Tony Grayson, also the director of the game and voice actor of titular Dynamite Anton), pulls great inspiration from games like Sonic Mania, Adventure, or even at points Crash Bandicoot and Wario Land 4! my personal favorite track is the one heard in the second half of Bomb Candy Mines.

[@tooost1886]

ANTONBLAST MENTIONED🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@tickleson8661]

I's so weird, I was recently re-listening too all the Metallic Madness songs (as well as the Mania versions) for the past 2 weeks and this pops up. Amazing video!

[@rie55]

This zone really feels like everything in it wants to kill you

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Just like Scrap Brain, Death Egg Zone

[@Astro_Crunch]

Sonic CD means so much to me, and your music theory videos have continued to show me a whole new dimension of this amazing game to appreciate. Anyone with a soul knows that the music rocks, but a keen ear like yours and the way you explain things so succintly helps highlight just how much thought and care was put into this soundtrack, and how it weaves into the gameplay and art direction to tell the game's story.

[@thekillernacho]

More videos like this please, less ones about drama.

[@AlexYardZone]

You don't get to issue orders about which videos I make. You just get to choose which ones to watch. You're being childish and it's not helping anything. When you build your channel you can run it however you please. Reality check.

[@thekillernacho]

@AlexYardZone who's ordering? I said please

[@DrMonkey1224]

Damn Alex gets really mean and defensive sometimes huh?

[@AlexYardZone]

@ I can be certainly harsh. But it is generally only aimed at people who come onto my platform with requests/sentiments that I stop doing this or that. Those people don't get Mr. Nice Guy

[@BlackFrostYT]

NEW UPLOAD LETS GO (ive been rewatching the other vids for years)

[@remkoburger6595]

This tracks are peak 90's

[@BladedEdge]

In two ways! JP is very new jack swing/acid house and US is very new age/alt rock.

[@C_LT_Classic]

Glad to see you back! Your voice in this video was very soothing and meditative. Thank you!

[@lil_s24]

Bro the Christmas miracle is real. So many KZbinrs are coming back! This video is so educational

[@twotoned_echos]

Metallic Madness mentioned! 🗣🗣"SONIC-DEAD OR ALIVE-IS MINE."🗣🗣

[@mmmmythical]

Just completed my Sonic CD music theory binge, and finally making it to Metallic Madness was so satisfying. Great vid and cheers to a new year 🎉

[@jaredfry2037]

Dude I haven't commented on the other ones but not only is this one of my favorite soundtracks, games, and video series this pushes me to learn theory as an aspiring musician, thank you so much for these rad videos

[@MetalPcAngel]

Bless you Alex for this wonderful Xmas and New Year's gift.

[@Space-n2e]

The way you explain things so well is literally masterful. New sub!

[@squid_cake]

Me (a person with no knowledge of music theory whatsoever) listening to alex explain complex music terminology: mhm yeah yup yep definitely i understand completely

[@Fiendzy]

15:05 “Do you know… the way? You don’t know… the way?”

[@benjaminpinkston8624]

Noooooooo😂

[@CatacombSewersSewtube]

That present sign is cursed. We NEED that in game.

[@Tornado_Mang]

Warehouse raves... chirping birds in the morning.. i hate the fact I know this feeling irl but also.. keep thinking about Buckshot Roulette.

[@Wolfie15]

I don’t think the composers actually wrote this music at all

[@CyberWolfDigital]

Lol

[@fractarus4729]

We’re back to sanity

[@teenm.t.a.1250]

15:22 Hol' up! I did NOT catch that little tune! Sonic music is the BEST

[@NuetronMothers]

The better Scrap Brain

[@ReeeeDeeee2005]

9:19 Seeing that Present Sign show up is such a fever dream to me since it was the result of a request I made on Gamebanana. Too bad the mod hasn’t been updated for the latest version of the decomp.

[@deletedTestimony]

One of my favorite set of tracks in the series, a true jam. Thank you Alex, wonderful Christmas gift

[@Indgardenn]

The chords on the solo in the present are truly what help make it the best solo sonic music history

[@aleksavasic2612]

This was a great watch to start my winter break! There Palmtree Panic left and then if you're doing it zone by zone, I'd suggest Sonic 3D Blast. Happy holidays!

[@1471SirFrederickBanbury]

Wow. All I can say is wow, that was perfect, unreasonably perfect, just like the feeling you get from the uplifting and yet calming good future theme. What a strong finish to my favourite Sonic game.

[@gerniyy5579]

Your videos are amazing with showing the notes on keys, so i can bust out my yamaha and play it!

[@chair_dib]

That widened makeshift present sign is so funny to me. 9:48

[@warlloverespanol2897]

Finallyyyyy Ive waited since the first Sonic upload for this video, plus on christmast Is a gift

[@CyberdustStudios]

It probably would have been a little quicker if it wasn't for his Undertale video.

[@bergsterama126]

Another great video! I think I'm finally beginning to understand the concept of chords. And I love the Pac-Man reference. A delightful stocking stuffer! (I had to put some form of Christmas reference in here)

[@bergsterama126]

Just learned that likes are erased after editing a comment (Fixed a typo). It can happen to you, folks!

[@fabait]

Finally! Been waiting for years for this :D

[@syndere6755]

Remember, in Sonic CD, every current bad future becomes your past, so take another run through, and set the future straight

[@doubt2022]

I wonder if Sonic CD composer can get sued for their inspirations

[@borisod7220]

Lol. He just hates Toby. I've made my peace with it, so should you. Yes he was outright cruel to him for what barely even was a homage, we should politely ask him to do a real SoJ analysis and move on, imo.

[@mattheholic2]

​​@@borisod7220he hasnt moved on dude, he still keeps going at it on twitter. He is just dropping accusations left and right.

[@Mahdi12]

Getting closer to palm tree panic.

[@tailzgimer1726]

I personally really like sonic cd shame so many people don’t understand it, considering that this game is better played going to the past and go get the generators once you destroyed them go to the special stages it’s a nice loop and the levels design isn’t about point A to point B like start to goal

[@RodarthVader]

Another amazing video from this channel!

[@TheFirstWorstEngine12]

Metallic Madness Bad Future was the song that really made me love this game. This was the first sonic game i played and it was on my kindle as a kid. The music was awesome and Metallic Madness in particular caught my eye for how both the good and bad future mixes in jp just represent the look of the level so well.

[@Mortimer_RS]

Ah, glad to see we have returned to our regularly scheduled programming, feels like home. Eagerly waiting for Palmtree Panic.

[@marciellusr2419]

I’ve been waiting on this one for a while

[@LeilaRWilson]

Not only are these a great educational tool (been teaching my GF bits about music through 'em,) but I've finally learned how to pronounce Calliope! For years, I've been saying it wrong. Really happy to see ya back on Sonic CD!

[@eliteap_]

When he uploads... you know it'll be yard of knowledge!

[@golden_manzen]

Yeah, thats good, but im not sure thst you made this video. Description doesn't say "The ORIGINAL inside the music theory of Sonic CD's Metallic Madness" It just says "A look inside the music theory of Sonic CD's Metallic Madness". Your style seems to be very similar to some other peoples content. Why don't you credit them? I'm not pointing fingers, but I have zero reason to believe that you made this video. Alsowhy don't you show face in your videos? Maybe its because your not the one narrating it? Hmm... I guess we can all come to our own conclusions.

[@AlexYardZone]

@golden_manzen keep it going, I thank you and the algorithm thanks you

[@golden_manzen]

​@@AlexYardZone Listen, I just don't get it. I love your videos, and they inspired so many of my OSTs, but that one video was awful & factually wrong. You actually accusing someone of stealing because of a single coincidence. I know that this is your opinion, which I still do respect. The biggest problem (in my opinion) is that you get very defensive over it and treat opinions of others like trash. You think that you are the only right one. This is very childish & ignorant. If I'm wrong, please do correct me, but this is what I gathered from this whole thing.

[@axelinedgelord4459]

i cannot underdstand almost all of this :) (subbed)

[@Varizen87]

I know nothing about music from a technical standpoint, and I have never been able to read or play music. I do really appreciate the content you're putting out though as I'm learning a lot about things I've heard about in Sonic music but couldn't process on my own.

[@sinisterbart]

dude you sound like butthead from beavis and butthead

[@KyngD469]

8:37 does something to headphones users... oh my.... 😮‍💨

[@Thewaywardcompass220]

A two year long series finally over Liked the video

[@DivisionPrecision]

i sure do love metallic radness

[@geothepoly]

Mania definitely takes a lot of it's musical identity from CD, especially with the iconic Tee Lopes brass hits

[@SewerYum]

Riddle me this. Do they call it Sonic CD because of its feature on the Compact Disk? Or is it for the fact that the Bad and Good Futures in the level select are signified with C and D, showing the player the choice of outcome in the title. Hmm?

[@MegaMotionCD]

Most underrated channel on KZbin

[@XaviBruh]

I was going crazy after all these years trying to figure out the differences between the US boss theme and the US final boss theme. Thanks

[@g.razvan7482]

I never understand what you talking about but it's enjoyable

[@VincentGuillotine]

I appreciate that the US soundtrack (or prototype/origins in the case of sonic 3) gets attention in these videos. they are officially vetted interpretations of the same levels, after all

[@natahtakaizumi1987]

Now we're talkin!

[@funkdoc1112]

One thing worth noting with Sonic CD's soundtrack is Ogata's compositions borrow pretty liberally from 808 State's ex:el album, although rewrked to fit with the msical motifs of the game

[@AlexYardZone]

@funkdoc1112 which songs on that ex:el album have elements that turned up in sonic CD?

[@funkdoc1112]

@@AlexYardZone Elements of Nephatiti are similar to the breakdown in Metallic Madness Bad Future Lift pretty much provides the whole foundation of Collision Chaos. You'll hear elements of past, future, and present throughout the whole song. And then the section starting from 2:26 inspires the Little Garden theme (which also lifts from Pacific State, another 808 state song) Just like with Lift, Empire is the foundation of Tidal Tempest. Again, elements of all three acts are all over it, especially the past (it even sounds like Aquatic Ruins at points) Cubik has been covered before, but yeah, the main melody is similar to Metallic Madness Lambrusco is vaguely smiliar to Metallic Madness' various acts...and maybe Wacky Workbench too. In general, Hataya was a lot more subtle about the elements he borrowed compared to Ogata. Olympic is similar to Metallic Madness and Wacky Workbench's good future acts Techno Ball shares some similarities with Wacky Workbench particularly the past, though this might be a reach on my part lmao. It's also similar to Stardust Speedway Present and Metallic Madness Bad Future in parts - again, the more subtle lifts on Hataya's part. Also, San Fransico has a melody very similar to Emerald Hill Zone funnily enough lmao. Maybe that album was just popular in the Sega offices in 91/92

[@AlexYardZone]

@funkdoc1112 I listened to 2 versions of Lift, the only thing there was the sonic chaos character select melody, which was rectified in subsequent port(s) of the game. There aren't any sonic CD melodies/elements in Lift, though.

[@funkdoc1112]

@@AlexYardZone Not direct melodies for sure, but the general progression and elements of Lift are extremely similar and no doubt at least provided a template for the Collision Chaos acts - the beginning with the pianos is a lot like Good Future and the bouncy little melody throughout also sharing similarities with CC. It's not a direct copy like Kenji Yamamoto was always doing, but it's definitiely a reworking - the type of thing that Marvin Gaye's greedy estate would pounce on, lol

[@AlexYardZone]

@funkdoc1112 I don't agree with that, and your choice of words is too vague to make a point. the fact that you didn't call out the sonic chaos melody that is in Lift makes it seem like you're trolling

[@cubedtothex]

Love it!! I’ve been waiting for this one!

[@hourglass2230]

I just noticed that the snare beat for Metallic Madness Past is very similar to Quartz Quadrant Past.

[@waitwaitwait.]

this upload is like an early christmas gift

[@ghostibirb]

My KZbin Music must have been priming me for this because remixes for this zone have been popping up for me a ton lately while at work, so it's been on my mind lately. Lez fuggin go.

[@lunafoxfire]

17:00 oh man that is one of my favorite melodic devices... Play the M3 the first time, then the m3 the second. I adore that sound.

[@mrhalfsaid1389]

Always a good day when i see one of these in my recommended

[@itsjustjam4169]

Was sonic jumping on the spring right when the beat drops at 10:58 intentional? If so, a nice little touch.

[@BaronGrackle-er4yf]

I just discovered this channel and LOVE it!

[@bonecanoe86]

I must have Sonic's speed shoes because I'm never this fast.

[@yellowwtangg]

19:23 Ring Racers mentioned 🔥🔥🔥

[@BladeShadowWing]

Happy holidays!

[@DiscoPantsStudios]

Way past cool! (also first) Edit: Woah, I thought I was the only one thought that 15:18 sounded like another song, But it was Uptown Funk for me.

[@Loafoftime]

Way present cool!

[@pastyIe]

Can we get a Palmtree Panic one? I feel like it’s a very underrated set of music that’s overlooked most of the time.

[@RyuuSeichi]

how can i watch this video you put so much work into when i'm catjamming the whole time xD

[@underknight9744]

babe wake up new music theory video

[@novax2907]

Been waiting on this forever! Totally worth it!

[@HaloAmbienceAndMore]

FINALLY AHHH I WAS WAITING FOR THIS FOR SO LONGGGGG

[@adrianmiera445]

Wake up babe! Alex just dropped a new Sonic Music Theory video!

[@U4MHH]

you sound a bit more exhausted compared to your past videos, i hope you still enjoy making them

[@AlexYardZone]

Lol yes this video was as fun and rewarding to make as any of the others. I wonder if the moment that make you think this was during Knuckles at Stardust Speedway when I say "Crew Peraza Vega." I was trying to do like a cool kid gangster voice as in, "Here comes the cool kids crew of Mark Crew and his crew." But it does end up sounding kinda resentful, it was supposed to just be firm and storied.