Opera Singer reacts: Kainé Salvation (Nier Replicant)

[@seancass1084]

i like that they make a conscious choice to include her breaths instead of mixing them out. it really adds a human-ness and i feel like thats the point of this song. her salvation is the humanity she finds in herself and with her friends.

[@MarcoMeatball]

I absolutely agree. The raw parts of what make it so beautiful

[@saemitatsuya8419]

On a similar tangent, in the Japanese version of "Weight of the World", the singer has a genuine break down at the end, and they left it in. It definitely help drive home the emotions.

[@blaarfengaar]

@@saemitatsuya8419 it gets me every time

[@GregBackwards]

@@saemitatsuya8419 Was it really a genuine breakdown...? I'd like to know if there was some kind of interview or otherwise with Marina to back this up. I don't doubt it's a possibility because she definitely sounds affected by what she's singing. This kind of stuff adds so much human connection to the performance.

[@saemitatsuya8419]

@@GregBackwards Although I don’t have evidence, I’m sure convinced

[@654kyu]

"Can you make a song that tells a story of hardship, sorrow, sadness and tragedy mixed with faith, hope, the sheer willpower of overcoming unspeakable suffering and obstacles, underlined by the risky decision of sacrifiing everything you've got for the sake of love?" Keichi Okabe: "say no more fam."

[@Alkiryas]

Kenichi Okabe: I know a singer...

[@pedromarinsbede1584]

- Are you sure you wanna delete all of your save files to help a stranger? -Yes!!!

[@lucafernandes8043]

I first heard this piece from playing through Nier Automata years ago, and when I got to that area of the game where this piece can be heard I gotta say, tears were shed, not because I knew the story of Emil and Kainé or anything but because everything just ... hits you. The shack, the field full of flowers and this incredibly beautiful song really just smacked me in the face when I first heard it. God I love everything that has to do with the music of this series: the Chaos language, the melodies, the singers ... so much respect for Keiichi Okabe and the entire team behind it, they did an incredible job.

[@MarcoMeatball]

One million percent everything you said.

[@Dartokenove]

same, i entered that place without a single clue about the game before Automata, when i reached that place i cried, i felt a huge sense of... loss, nostalgia, a lot of positive and negative feelings, i didn't knew why but, it just hit me. Also the flowers and the shack made feel that too, i knew there was something behind that place but i didn´t knew what. After playing Replicant 1.22 i cameback to that place, knowing everything. I couldn't image that that was place carrying so many things, and i cried a lot more than the first time, and i went there with 2B wearing kaine's outfit, and 9S with Nier's, it made that place feel more... complete, more nostalgic. Yoko Taro, you heartbreaking lunatic

[@TyrannoFan]

Felt this exact way with Emil - Sacrifice playing when you reach his hidden little shop deep down in the cave. I didn't really know anything about Emil, but descending down the vast lonely caves only to be met with this tiny shop in a huge cavern, lit only by a small shaft of light, and the music... I got such a strong sense of his character and history just from that alone. I've never seen any game EVER do that. To inspire such strong backstory and emotion just from simple visual imagery, level design and music with no other context necessary.

[@MarcoMeatball]

@@TyrannoFan I just had a video I was making about that song you would have liked but my phone only recorded ten minutes of the 15 minutes. I was devastated so I have to regroup 🤣🤣🥰

[@arturoporraz6046]

Just imagine what would've you feel if you did play Nier before Automata, the feelings multiply by 4

[@JesusGarcia-yr9wg]

Man Keiichi Okabe is so talented, I cried when I heard this live during the Nier orchestra tour in Chicago. One of the best moments in my life.

[@OlderScrolls765]

I was in Chicago for this too. Absolutely amazing.

[@Nobody_Blank]

I was at the Nier orchestra concert in Berlin. It was tearjerkingly beautiful.

[@gabryoo3100]

I was in France Orchestra I teared up so much. The best experience in my life

[@FhtagnCthulhu]

Very late here, but I was there in Chicago too, it was a beautiful concert. (and very cold out!)

[@dfg3021]

I tend to be a very emotionally stoic person, but every time I hear so much as a strain of Kainé - Salvation I get instant chills and choke up. The emotional impact of the piece itself is astounding, but when combined with how they frame it in the setting itself, it becomes absolutely lethal. Great video, I would love to see your take on Song of the Ancients and how the different versions of the song convey wholly different emotions, especially given the overall bittersweet nostalgia it can take on.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Im thinking I need to do a nier series period at this point. I was just thinking this. Thank you for sharing this great take

[@dfg3021]

Love to hear it, I look forward to seeing your work in the future! Your videos are great for how little time has passed since you started the channel, keep up the good work

[@kimikonofujiwara9206]

@@MarcoMeatball Emil's theme and its variants beside the shop theme makes me break down to be honest. the nier soundtrack is a masterpiece

[@Yukari_Yakumo]

@@kimikonofujiwara9206the shop theme is good in its own way.

[@RAWowner333]

It's so.... immensely difficult to separate kaine from this song. All of her struggles and her story, her emotions, it all lies within this song. Yoko taro has weaponized this song for REALLY somber moments....like automata...

[@thekidwhodraws]

Lmao Weaponized is the correct word. Taro brandishes emotions

[@thelittleowl8399]

soon as that first note hits *sob*

[@swaggychino]

Have you played Replicant it’s story is way better than Automata imo

[@avocado1845]

@@swaggychino While I am a bigger fan of replicant personally I still think that both automata and replicant are really good games

[@swaggychino]

@@avocado1845 oh definitely the NieR series is amazing not throwing shade whatsoever on Automata. I feel like replicant sticks with me more since i used to play it with my uncle when I was younger

[@scoresbees3681]

I think Keiichi Okabe and Emi Evans together are one of my favorite duo's when it comes to music. All of their pieces, in particular this one, Nier: Automata's weight of the world, and rays of light instantly provoke such a strong emotional response from me nearly bringing me to tears each time I listen to them. They just feel so human and raw. The ability to attribute whatever meaning to the words letting the emotion in her voice and the composition carry the song.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Ya! 1,000%! I filmed a ray of light video btw! I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on that one too

[@Kazutano]

For me personally Kainé Salvation is the most emotional soundtrack in the entirety of the gaming landscape. It's just so beautiful from start to finish, it has this humane touch, this emotional touch, from the soundtrack alone you can tell that Nier games are gonna have a lot of emotional rollercoasters. It truly is unique in it's beauty, sound design and level of emotions, I honestly find it tough to describe it in words perfectly.

[@MarcoMeatball]

It really does just take you somewhere else huh

[@mst4001]

Yeah both in automata and replicant

[@jassielguillermohernandezr381]

Minecraft soundtrack

[@LittleSparklingStars]

Since I played automata first, for me it's weight of the world

[@eldiablosmurf]

kaine salvation, emils sacrifice, weight of the world and song of the ancients are in my opinion the defining peaks of music not just complimenting but utterly enhancing the storytelling experience

[@alderblanco2362]

Only took one video to convince me to subscribe. I love how gentle you are with the music. You aren't trying super hard to explain every little detail. You're just... enjoying the music with us. Like a lot of people, I played Automata first, and when Kaine Salvation played, I felt that hollow loss right along with Emil. The idea that someone very important was gone, but that the memories and the nostalgia were simply... not there. The mourning cannot be had. There is no catharsis, because you don't even know what's hurting. I played the Nier remake later, and seeing those lost memories from the inside is going to play my eventual next playthrough of Automata an entirely different beast.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank you for your kind words, first of all. Second of all, I need to replay these 😭😭

[@itsdokko2990]

i now fear playing again Automata, now that i've completed Replicant v1.22... The feels are awaiting for me

[@kayskreed]

After finishing Replicant 1.22 after having played Automata, if I were to play Automata again I'm sure it would hit like truck. This song was beautiful in Automata but I did not understand the context or history, much like the main characters and Emil. But now I do.

[@isaacgonzalez7304]

You really deserve more recognition bro, nice vid !!

[@MarcoMeatball]

That’s so nice of you! Thank you!

[@Til_What]

Such a legendary track. You just can't help closing your eyes and waiting for the chorus to lift you straight to heaven. Chaos Language really hammers home that the voice can convey strong emotions and tell stories even without understanding the words. In a sense it helps you appreciate the songs more objectively, purely focusing on the sound and not wasting attention on discerning lyrics. Very enjoyable video. I can always recommend Persona 5's soundtrack. Songs like Alleycat, Our Light, The days when my mother was there etc. (though you probably already know that if you're into videogame OSTs) I'm also curious about your takes on A Beautiful Song, Dependent Weakling, Song of the Ancients and Posessed by Disease from the NieR series. Keep doing what you do.

[@MarcoMeatball]

You’re so right about the chaos language . It’s funny I used to advocate for opera so much before I pivoted and people never understood that you don’t really REALLY have to understand the language in order to appreciate the music or just imagine different circumstances etc. Great reccs - glad you liked it.

[@Til_What]

@@MarcoMeatball Very true. I remember watching Don Giovanni with seats that were bad for reading the translation screens. I gave up when my neck started turning to stone halfway through, but not reading didn't really diminish the experience. Arguably even made it better by not splitting my focus.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Can’t believe it has been almost a year

[@BagEnd0]

A wonderful year for game music.

[@luc1ferous]

I've had the pleasure of seeing the FF Distant Worlds concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and the NieR Orchestral concert (it was the last major thing I did before the pandemic hit) and ooooooh boy, having an entire hall of fans break down over Emi doing her thing is beautiful. Having the music from these games fill you to the brim is one of my most treasured experiences.

[@MarcoMeatball]

SO JEALOUSSSSSSS

[@princeapoopoo5787]

I think it is important to view video game music through a serious lens. I feel like there's this ... stigma I guess that these musicians somehow understand less about music theory and composition or what have you than more mainstream artists. I'm glad this popped up in my feed! I'd love to see you give some of the music in the Drakengard trilogy a look! It'd be cool to see a professional's opinion on how Nier has evolved and changed from the music of it's precursor.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Oooo big task I’ll take a look. :) I’ve never heard any of it

[@moox001]

The only drakengard song i've heard is The Last Song from Drakengard 3 which is pretty good even without context

[@Turtleman9856]

It’s really amazing to me that a stigma like that exists, the music in video games is so incredibly important to the story being told. I would actually think the opposite, that writing music for a video game would require more of an understanding, not less.

[@garamoth97]

What I love about the NieR tracks using ‘chaos language’ is that despite not having literal meaning it does have emotional meaning that seeps throughout.

[@ScreechingTrashGoblin]

The chaos language speaks to your heart without relying on comprehending the spoken words. That might even give it more meaning, honestly.

[@moon_and_water]

"You may not go to the symphony hall to listen to it" I wish I could! The Nier soundtrack and especially Kaine (salvation) is something I truly appreciate

[@farmpunk_dan]

As a former orchestral musician, I agree. Symphony halls are full of almost exclusively white-haired people these days. Not to deny the elderly their favorites or to keep them from flexing their wealth through leisure activities, but bringing music like this into symphony hall programming on the regular might be the only thing to actually engage more people under the age of 50 into orchestral music. It’s a beautiful and rich tradition and musical world that has failed to adapt to the modern age.

[@Zack_Wester]

I was going to say if you pay attention then from time to time the symphony hall do play video game music. in fact I know some symphony hall said that they had more people come and listen even for classical music after they started to play video game music. some of it is because younger people never really gets exposed to classical music. some of it (for me) is becuase I sort of grown tired of listiening to the same tracks from Bach, Beethoven and so on.

[@Knockitoffalready]

I've only just found your channel; thank you for doing this. It's so refreshing to see someone in a respected, classical field acknowledge the power of music in other mediums. The only people who dismiss the value of works like this are those who are ignorant of them.

[@MarcoMeatball]

I just commented this somewhere else but I honestly prefer video game music hahaha though I think it's as relevant and important as classical music. I hated when I saw a concert in DC and they said Now that we've come to you you can come to us, implying that they did us a solid by playing videogame music now come to their orchestra concert. MEH. no, program this music. In non genre specific concerts. that's how you get people to fill your hall. :D

[@zoray5143]

It's always nice to watch this video again. Kaine Salvation is my favorite game ost and I loved listening to your break down of this wonderful song.

[@aaron4832]

Subscribed :D I have so much respect for Opera singers. I see it as kind of the "Apex" of vocal music.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thanks Aaron! Maybe I should include that little blurb in all my videos so people take me seriously 😳 I really appreciate it!

[@blubberfeet5430]

Love watching your love of music! Keep it up man! I'll be here watching and listening with you

[@gongarcia8814]

Goosebumps through the entire song, it's so emotional. It's been some months since I finished my playthrough and it still hits like a truck.

[@jeromecorsi2126]

I really love your approach help8ng us to better understand the structure of music and to better appreciate this great music, hope to see more videos from you!

[@_Tonchi]

What you mention about the chaos language really resonates for me. I have a hard time focusing on lyrics and it's even worse with many artists because I'm not a native English speaker. Sadly, I take the voice as the main instrument and for Nier (and specifically, with Emi) it takes me to a whole other level. Music is one of the few things that can make me explode with emotions, and this soundtrack it's more deeper. It's an implosion, that's the only thing I can say as an expression. Many times through gameplay I had to pause for a moment just to breathe, even clean my face. Yesterday I finished my second complete run for Automata and aimed to do all the achievements. Took me 15 minutes in the final section because I felt bombarded with sadness and happiness at the same time due to the constant changes and escalations in Weight of the World. As always Marco, thanks for this analysis. Keep up the great content.

[@SpiralFlip]

"Now you may not go to the symphony hall to listen to it" Try me

[@MarcoMeatball]

Hahahaha. I’m dying to go to nier live or distant worlds

[@theodorixjohnson4336]

I never get tired of seeing clips of you performing, such brilliance

[@geoffreyzimmerman2814]

Little bit of context. I think that Emi (the singer) was having a little hard time actually creating the lyrics to the songs she writes. When Keichi Okabe suggested that the song lyrics be modeled of a "random" language but envisioned as if they were 10,000 years in the future. Beautiful song is a great example as it is clearly biased of Italian, the sounds are similar, yet it retains all of its charm. I think Song Of The Ancients is the first one she wrote and also the only one that is "pure" chaos. (not that it adds or detracts from any of the other songs i love them all! I just love hearing bits of French and other languages in the song and find it really cool!)

[@gui_saba]

Just imported the CD for this from Japan (took 4 months to get to Brazil, but worth it). I’ve come to terms with the fact that I can’t listen to these songs without getting some MAD goosebumps. Truly amazing, inspirational stuff

[@adit7277]

The emotional damage is multiplied when you hear the song while playing the game...

[@ryanpercival9823]

It so good to hear you react to these because this soundtrack profoundly affects me to this day, especially this song and Grandma. The singer chose to be vulnerable in thins song.

[@crimsonritual]

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Emil’s sacrifice and honestly just all nier pieces even from automata. Instant sub the moment I heard you speak. I agree with you on everything and I don’t… even have the proper words to describe hearing you speak made me start to cry. Looking forward to more videos! Thank you for your hard work and dedication!

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank you Nate! I’m slowly working my way through everything 🥰😍 I appreciate the kind words. Will do my best to keep these short but also interesting and introspective!

[@crimsonritual]

@@MarcoMeatball I also watched your ffxiv reactions! Are you considering doing one for endwalker?

[@MarcoMeatball]

@@crimsonritual those videos were full of bot comments and people hitting on me so I stopped. I’d love to. So happy people are enjoying this content. I’ll do it Nate, it’s on the list. I think I’ll do a deep dive on some select Nier songs and then shift toward other stuff. That seems to be the consensus right now. Thank you for the suggestion

[@crimsonritual]

@@MarcoMeatball happy to see whatever you have in store for the future! I hope you’ve found more people to talk about ffxiv with, watching/listening to you talk about things youre passionate about makes me smile ear to ear. Keep it up, looking forward to the future videos! 💙

[@joaogabriels.f.5143]

this song and grandma just hits HARD on our emotions

[@feuryie]

I like the melancholy soft feeling about this song and when you know what the words mean it adds an extra feeling to it of someone searching for their place amongst others. it really is beautiful

[@MarcoMeatball]

truly though

[@feuryie]

@@MarcoMeatball yes. it's actually a song i like to listen to before going to bed as it helps relax and think more spiritually for me. it is quite beautiful and one of my favorite pieces of music all around.

[@jstymie]

For me, this song IS Kaine -- I can't hear this song without my heart breaking for her, and feeling that weight of everything she experienced. I think the best way to think of it, for me, is that I'm really glad that I played Automata before playing Replicant, because had I played Replicant first, that side quest in Automata where you find the flower bed would have absolutely broken me.

[@requiem8940]

Subscribed, finally someone who I can relate to in terms of how this music really moves us. I too think about life with this one ... a lot, so thank you! :)

[@CheddarGetter]

Kaine Salvation always makes me think of someone out of place and down but with hope. Then when the B section swell hits and it's like daring to act on that hope, and reaching out. But then the reality of being alone hits and the hopelessness comes back in. It's interesting.

[@dnbasstep1]

I find the word for me to describe this song as somber. Chasing hope cause it's always fleeting and you try to grasp it and hold on to it, until the moment you are freed. By either someone, yourself, or death.

[@Nautinthislifetime]

Everytime Kaine Salvation comes on in the game or when I hear it on my spotify, I well up. I have such massive emotions when I think about Kaine. She is one of the best game characters I have had the privilege of getting to know. I agree on your stance on how we view video game music. I have been a gamer for 30 years and even now, the original FFVII soundtrack gives me goosebumps. Video game music is art and should be seen as such

[@carloconsignado4065]

This song, despite me not knowing the meaning of the lyrics, brings so much emotional vibe and it really touches the heart. Very nice music! And very good analysis of the song!

[@lelouchlamperouge3077]

Never knew you react to this. And, I cried listening to it.

[@MarcoMeatball]

My first video on the channel!

[@grimulkin7111]

I was fortunate enough to see the live orchestral NieR show in London. I cant describe how beautifully overwhelming it was to listen to these pieces in person. I've always loved music but to be entirely honest I always thought it was a bit of an overreaction when people said music changed them but I get it now. I have no shame in saying listening to the music swelling and Emi's gorgeous voice brought me to tears. NieR will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@SOSclueless]

Another KZbinr (who is a music producer) analysed this song and said it sounded very sad. I was quite surprised, because to me it always sounded hopeful and, like you said, uplifting. The gentle voice and calmness of the song seems too content to be sad, as far as I can tell. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.

[@MarcoMeatball]

I love him btw. He was the one who gave me the push because I was scared of copyright issues. We have totally different styles and I’d trust him much more with musical analysis! Thank you for sharing this with me though that’s so interesting. I’m more of a let’s talk about how we feel commenter and some light analysis 🤣🤣

[@kayskreed]

I knew about Nier from the soundtrack alone nearly a decade before playing any Nier game. I was completely blown away, even devoid of story and context. It was the music that drew me in. Experiencing the story alongside the music made it all the greater.

[@AxelPRPxx]

All nier music is beautiful! Subscribed!

[@The_miIk]

My dad bought nier automata blinding. Like he pre-ordered it becuase he saw an ad for the opera boss. It has changed my life and my dad days it was the best game he has ever blindly bought. The music is just so beautiful and it just makes me want to play my violin even more.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Wowwwww that’s amazing thank you for sharing

[@psychiotic0319]

Nier soundtrack never fails to make me cry or at least teary eyed.

[@Artemisya04]

Thx to add subtitles. They help me a lot to understand !

[@MarcoMeatball]

I will add them from now on. Thank you for the comment on this. They’re on my new video as well.

[@SiegmundXD7]

the thing that makes this song impactful is that, how you described it, it’s full of contemplation and hope. it swells with emotion and longing in a soundtrack that is overall melancholy. when you’ve been slogging through a lost world and the suffering that comes with it, this song hits you like a 2x4 to the back of the head

[@blankblank7382]

I loved the video, really great to hear someone else's opinion on Video Game OST's being damn near Classical pieces.. I'd agree with your lest sentiment too I definitely feel contemplative while listening to this song & most of the tracklist

[@currentlybeingremade9706]

Not gonna lie the context of Kaine’s story is really what makes the music beautiful Nier and Emil are HER salvation. Its about those she cares about most

[@maciej1508]

this song, along emil sacrifice, always makes me emotional, especially 3:01, and i didnt even play replicant either new orolder ver, although i know the lore, listened to soundtracks, watched materials dedicated to Drakengard/NieR, played automata etc., i wonder how hard it would hit me in automata in certain moment if i played replicant, cuz it still hitted me kinda hard. For me its simply masterpiece

[@lumi5056]

To me this song sounds like a bittersweet song of a person remembering about their good memories and thinking time has passed and they are unable to go back in time to experience it once again. And at the end it feels like the person wants to move on and continue on with life

[@neryleal5265]

Fun fact I'm sure a lot of people know. Recording rhe Nier soundtrack Emi Evans, the lead female vocalist for the soundtrack, was actually given a version of the song, and what style language the words should be in. But then she would have to create brand-new words in order to form Chaos language, the language she winds up singing. She builds languages off of different, and even wrote Song of the Ancients entirely in a amseup language, no base language to go off of. This was huge because Keiichi Okabe, one of the lead composers, actually wanted the lyrics to sound to sound like how Emi would interpret them do to the affect they would have on the player. A made up, alien language paints the scene for a game that while small makes it otherworldly even tho it's technically "post apocalypse" Japan.

[@MarcoMeatball]

So cool! Thank you for sharing the finer details on this for me and everyone who reads this!

[@neryleal5265]

Side note because a versions of the this was playing during THAT aerie scene I get sad ass flashbacks

[@Daiyamaruu]

I finished the game again today and by God, no matter how many times i listen to this it always, ALWAYS breaks me. Knowing kainé's story, with all that she been through, this song almost feels like the only "calm and good" part she has left on herself. They way it's sung by emi, almost feels like a cry for help of that side. So beautiful... To me Nier is easily top 1 soundtracks ever

[@ScreechingTrashGoblin]

One of the few pieces to move me to tears by itself. It makes me think that I know this feeling, but it’s tied to an experience I’ve never known.

[@tristanbuckner1170]

That’s honestly an amazing analysis of the piece. Honestly, I like the fact that the “love song” feel manages to come through so strongly since I feel like it’s a part of her character that’s often glossed over. She’s a broken person slowly learning to love herself, as well as form loving familial bonds (through Emil) as well as learning to trust someone else in a loving and romantic way (Through Nier/the player character). To be fair though, I think the reason that part of her character is often forgotten is because the American release of Nier censored a lot of her character’s relationship with Nier/the player character because she is intersex.

[@JackofNothingess]

And here it all began! This song hits me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

[@iXSIKOBOIXi]

Absolutely love Nier Replicant soundtrack. Would love Song of the Ancients too!

[@Yilue]

Yes I'm a final fantasy noob and the only game I've played is 15 and a little bit of 14 but 15s music is something that will never leave me. A games music can make or break some games for me. I love 15s music so much that it might be one of my favourite games ever lmao. Oh the nier games also have this effect on me where the music boosts how much I like game but so much lol

[@MarcoMeatball]

Big time. I loved noctis’ theme 😍😍😍

[@AgentSapphire]

Character songs in Nier are hard to separate for the character. It's not just a nice tune that relates to the character. It digs deep and sinks down into the core of who they are. Their strength, their vulnerabilities, their struggles, and their hopes. There is a true brilliance in the music that cannot easily be described.

[@ashalwaysbehurtin]

This song just makes me tear up every time I listen to it

[@jackalx2154]

There's something so gentle and nuturing about this piece. Like it's the consolation after all the pain and suffering.

[@stephennegron7560]

I love people who can appreciate anything nier !❤️

[@hylianlovesu]

this vid is amazing, keep up the good work !!

[@mothmantra6289]

MAN it's been years since I first heard this song it STILL hits me so hard I start crying

[@Tirishhai]

Its actually incredible how you can see the mood of the song in your face, epic

[@Ugalong]

i didn't think id get to see someone react the exact same way when i first listened to this very beautiful piece. Nothing has hit quite like this song has for me since I first heard it years ago.

[@FallingGriffinFeathers]

I love that there is a ' Reacts' that not only knows about the video games the music is from- But also doesn't have a giant reverberate room with an overly compressed mic w/ way too much gain! It's so easy to listen to compared to many others!

[@MarcoMeatball]

lmfao, thank you Daniel. Perks of being a voice actor now with actually expensive gear :D

[@seonghoheo1542]

I love this music too. I’m looking forward next review.

[@MarcoMeatball]

What do you want to see next?

[@seonghoheo1542]

@@MarcoMeatball What about one of witcher3 ost?

[@MarcoMeatball]

@@seonghoheo1542 great idea ;) I love that soundtrack

[@MarcoMeatball]

@@seonghoheo1542 coming right up. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@Alysana2604]

the first 45 seconds already got you a like. Yes, videogame music should NOT be as underrated and undervalued as it is. there are true masterworks out there and if it's not "classical" or "symphonic" enough for someone point them at dragon quest and the final fantasy/kingdom hearts/nier soundtracks and orchestral versions in particular. I grew up in classical music, my parents are conductors, and I love it to bits. But I also adore the videogame music I grew up with and put it on pretty much the same pedestal. For me, videogames are like musicals nowadays. I keep replaying them to feel what I LOVED to feel by the music in its original medium and sing along to the pieces the more I progress through the game.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank you for sharing this! Absolutely. Too true. I feel the exact same way. Maybe I should make sure every video has that intro 🤣

[@Arexiys]

When i was young i used to listen to games music but never understood the songs, it had a this powerful mystical feeling's of wonder, mystery and excitement, it's hard to describe, chaos language brought back those feelings, which makes nier songs one of my all time favorite!

[@ShineOnDarkness]

It feels very melancholic to me, every time she sings "Yool" its deep and strong and after that sings higher and more calm, that makes me feel the song is about strugguling to get into happiness? I hope that makes sense to somebody.

[@MarcoMeatball]

It makes so much sense :) and also even if no one understand all that should matter is that it means something to you :)

[@anamggss]

If you haven't heard it yet, in the piano collections version of this song they add a new lyricless section right after the 1st chorus. It adds so much more emotion to this already beautiful piece, I highly suggest you give it a listen

[@RepTheoAndFriends]

I am also a huge fan of Nier. In this song I first feel nostalgia, then it drifts away to feel like something that you should understand, but don't, so like a parallel version of humanity. However there are many complicated emotions at once in the song, so allthough you don't understand the lyrics, you would think this song is telling a story

[@LordShrub]

This is the old version of the song. In Nier Replicant ver 1.22... there is a new re-recording of this song which IMHO is even better, the "words" flow more fluidly.

[@Speznas96]

Played Nier Automata years ago and finally got to play through Nier Replicant. The music is just astounding. I never had any talent for playing instruments but I always loved listening to music itself because it feels like there is so much deeper meaning through every piece created and the emotions it can create or deliver to the listener. It's like people who "just" listen to songs as a medium but they're missing so many layers of it, like the meaning of the song, what it portrays, how it feels when listening to it and what impact it can have on oneself. Recently I started to listen to gaming music more because there are so many tracks which will trigger your emotions while listening to them or just remembering the nostalgia of playing the games which had the soundtracks in it.

[@drewberry4534]

I cried the first time I heard this song. I heard it in Automata after completing Emils quest line. I didn't even know who Kaine was. I immediately bought the soundtrack and while I definitely don't regret it, I was very disappointed this track wasn't on it. It's so powerful

[@NewWave3313]

I’ve absolutely loved this song ever since I played the original NieR so many years ago. When this song played during the final boss in the 3rd NeiR raid in Final Fantasy XIV, a lot of people were taking too much damage because we were all tearing up during the fight. Such a powerful song.

[@seeker_rodan3113]

Automata gave me a newfound appreciatipn for video game music, and the thought process and how meticulously that soundtrack was knitted together, and I use that term to extrapolate how I feel it was put together, one thread at a time with care and precision. And even in the context of the moments of the game and how the music connects and changes, it truly, truly elevated all the experiences. The moments where each song took place are forever branded into my mind as a result. Bipolar Nightmare, A Dark Colossus, Wretched Weaponry, and finally Amusement park are what do this the best for me.

[@Densoro]

Emi Evans and Akino Arai have given me so many lullabies to sing to my partner, when they're having a hard night. I've always loved the _mental_ liminality that comes from encountering a language you don't understand, and instead having to _empathize_ where semantics fail you. Taylor Swift's Safe and Sound used to be important to both of us too, but over time, the lyrics became a little too on-the-nose, a little too close-to-home :' ) Spending years memorizing these songs, having to hear and twist my tongue into these noises that don't exist in my native language, added another layer of that. There's a level of _intention_ that appears when you speak a language as a guest, and have to reach for tools that you haven't learned to take for granted and gloss over.

[@martinishaq6879]

i always couldnt help but feel that the song had a strong sense of passion. kainé’s grandma never wanted kainé to give up on life, this song starts out somber, and as it progresses it transcends into an overflowing passionate emotion (maybe gratitude?)

[@gellarcon]

The version for the remake/remaster 1.22 elevates the entire piece too!

[@henryjones8636]

I first listened to Kaine Salvation playing Nier Automata with no knowledge of the games that came before. I happened across what I later came to know as Kaine's house, deep underground and surrounded by Lunar Tear flowers. The music instantly became my favorite in the game and I came to associate it with those flowers. Years later, playing Replicant and hearing it again was a powerful experience.

[@ikenaikiss]

I’m glad this was recommended to me, really enjoyed your video! Definitely checking out your other videos 💗

[@AKABoondock19]

best way to describe how this song (debate-ably my all time fav track) makes me feel is that it fills me with a deep feeling of loss. But the kind of loss you only experience from loving so much. cheesy but thats how it makes me feel.

[@MarcoMeatball]

NO thats exactly right.

[@Aisluin]

you seem to already be familiar with a lot of japanese vocal pieces, and this was a great choice to react to. I have a particularly close connection to Salvation.Also, as a classical pianist, it amused me when you mentioned Liszt and Rachmaninoff as some of the first composers you listened to. And then Holst's Planets, right after lol.Thanks for mentioning the Chaos Language; I think it's such an inspired choice that many people might not appreciate. Great reaction! Any chance you would react to pieces that don't have vocals? There's a few pieces from the fire emblem series that I adore for their resemblance to late-romantic era patterns that I think you would find delight in. Thanks,

[@XxguaxinimxX.]

It was really a surprise to find that the last comment was made just a week ago and still have a heart! What a Determination!

[@svenbtb]

This song never fails to make me cry

[@LordOuro]

I think that one thing that bothers me is when a remake becomes popular as it overshadows what made the original special, Nier Gestalt will forever remain as one of my favourite games

[@meeko429]

Something that got me into the nier series is the music I could talk about it for hours on how much it inspired me to make music, how it made me put over 100 hours of my life into the series, or the longer amounts of time I've felt extreme emotions becsuse of the series. Though that's not why I'm here, I wanted to talk about what the song means to me but I went off lmao The way that the sound starts, builds up, then finishes, it reminds me a lot of how much can change in a short time, and how little in a long time. Whenever I hear it, it reminds me of despairation, like someone is trying to reach out to you but can't for some reason, and the faster parts being the struggle to continue Idk that's just how I see it

[@Halsafar]

The opening alone is enough to elicit a response. Such a beautiful song.

[@Endlqss]

Every single song in both games give me goosebumps listening to them on their own

[@MarcoMeatball]

I know right? They all work and are fun to listen to without the game!

[@minyaw1234]

Having played the first Nier, than Nier Automata and than the Final Fantasy Raid - this piece just gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it. In the FF raid I was so excited by it I died constantly being totally blindsided by it getting plaid for the end boss.

[@haloPrestoGiant02]

By sheer chance, i came across this video and i absolutely love it. I had been watching a video about LOZ Majoras Mask and mid way through i ended up thinking of Nier because of how it's one of my favourite games, right there with Majora. Afterwards, this video was in my recommended and i swear it was a sign lmao. I think one of my favourite songs ever from a game would be "Snow in Summer" from Nier, or "Unforgotten" by Martin O'Donnell from the Halo 2 OST. Both for different reasons, but both are just absolutely masterful pieces of art.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Thank you for sharing all of this with me! I really appreciate it. Game music sure is the best.

[@S0oo]

Every Version of Kainé is beautiful. The classic Salvation relaxes me and releases my mind Escape is powerful and gives me energy The Final Fantasy 14 Version, well the Main Theme fits so perfect into it.

[@kevinmay9151]

"Now you might not go to the symphany hall to listen to it" Actually about that-

[@holy3051]

3:51 This is what I felt for all my life listening to english vocals music being spanish, hahaha.

[@InterstellarCloudd]

It feels like everything that's bad is happening all at once, yet I can still seem a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel.

[@uthersano]

Really one of the best musics on video games sound track ❤️

[@302956]

Nier's soundtrack is just incredible. Back when Gestalt first came out I never paid much attention to soundtracks, I'd occasionally notice a good song but I mostly tuned it out to focus on the gameplay (having two little brothers didn't help either). Then I played Nier. Song of the Ancients caught my attention but I went back to my usual style after a minute, but when I got out into the world, Hills of Radiant Winds stopped me dead in my tracks and totally changed how I was going to experience games from then on.