Opera Singer Reacts to The Great Septimus from Honkai Star Rail (Sunday boss theme)

[@kyoken8691]

Robin literally hijacking someone else's boss theme song, and giving us the best theme to rail god on Sunday.

[@Kristofy1]

peakacony

[@idontspeakjapanese6289]

Someone pointed out that the electric guitar is supposed to represent us the Trailblaze while the loud choir represents the Order, they said that the choir is often overpowering the electric guitar, the Order was overpowering the Trailblaze at the first and second phase up until Harmony's arrival. Gotta love the philosphical battles using music.

[@AHylianWarrior]

It's a good theory but the choir is still overpowering the electric guitar in Robin's song (there's one absolutely SHREDDING it during the chorus lol)

[@Restryouis]

So, like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagan?

[@LorberryDux]

@@AHylianWarrior I don't believe that's a flaw in the theory. If anything, it's further confirmation. There are a number of parallels between The Order/The Harmony and the real world (history and evolution of) Christianity. Looking just at the musical aspect, Septimius's theme has roots and parallels to traditional hymns, making the very modern electric guitar a clash and obvious opposition. Whereas Feathers - electric guitar and all - could probably slip into a soundtrack of modern 'Praise' music without incident if the listener wasn't really paying attention to the lyrics. While the Trailblaze is the spearhead in the physical conflict, we're in the fight to support the Harmony. The guitar only being part of the composition isn't at all unusual from that perspective.

[@hyeongpinkz]

@@AHylianWarrior yes but the chorus in robin's song represents the harmony, not the order

[@redguard1607]

I personally think the electric guitar is there to add another layer to the level of danger and oppression of Sunday/Aeon of Order

[@NikoNC]

i love how the first two phases, marco was just going into detail about everything going on in the song and then when phase 3 kicked in, he just went into a full on jamming session

[@amplesstratleholm7609]

That's how it's meant to be. P3 might not be the most enduring song, but it gets amplified so much by the fact that the previous tracks (and everything else that happened before in the story) are really ominous, and thus made really memorable as a result.

[@Glittr_]

literally me

[@hayateayasaki753]

it's fitting. since the 3rd phase is the real power of friend and harmony that bring ppl together to fight Sunday

[@renshin4603]

Just like the rest of us

[@idontspeakjapanese6289]

Basically Marco was tuned by the Harmony's song, kinda poetic ain't it

[@catbellyrubber6075]

WE’RE RUNNING A TRAIN THROUGH SUNDAY WITH THIS ONE 🚂 🔥 🔥

[@Necro-xy5ej]

Ayo--

[@XCanG]

If you played HI3, in Cyberangel Bronya Zaychik (Herrscher of Reason) ride her bike through the boss, so it's not first time Hoyo did this.

[@idontspeakjapanese6289]

Pom pom: CHOo CHOoo MF

[@flyingorange2482]

I LOVE RAILING SUNDAY

[@dirichlettt]

ITS TIME TO STAR RAIL (him)

[@marsopa9580]

Every 4 seconds, I hear in my head, "DISORDELY NOISE," whenever I listen to this boss battle theme 😂

[@RomnilWater]

One thing Hoyo does really well with their end of arc Boss music is making the final phase music be Your boss music. You fight through the difficult boss with the music weighing you down then in the final moments you find your power and the music no longer belongs to the Boss but to you, the Nameless. I firmly believe it's the big reason why Wildfire, Phantylia's boss theme/Pedujara, and Sunday's boss theme/Hope is the Thing with Feathers are so powerful and remembered.

[@wrrrryyyyyyyy]

Ah, I can still remember I hooked up to this game because the fight against Cocolia. The scene, and especially the music really gave me goosebumps. Also don't forget the fight against Starcrusher Swarm King: Skaracabaz has amazing music.

[@flarpo11]

I always describe Wildfire as the song that Cocolia hears when she sees _your_ second healthbar appear on _her_ screen.

[@jpegwarrior5431]

This boss fight is probably the single best gaming experience I've had in the past few years, it's such an insane climax to the story arc. The lyrics of Hope Is The Thing With Feathers only come in during the final phase and its the most satisfying victory lap possible. Hearing a catchy upbeat pop song in an "RPG where you kill god"-type fight is such a fun way to mix things up when you normally come to expect dramatic orchestral music like the first phase theme.

[@matteogalbusera1149]

0:19 First Marco reacts professionally to Sunday's boss theme, but then, 10:00 Robin steals the show and he starts vibing like us while it happened in the boss fight, that's the true power of Hoyoverse's music😂🤍

[@kian-ganji]

Sunday: beating the sh*t out of everyone with the power of the ORDER Robin: enters battle and assimilates Sunday's song of ORDER into her HYMN OF HARMONY (It's just poetic that with that many different pathstriders of the different paths present on penacony and even a few emanators on the mix, no one could beat the ORDER until HARMONY showed up and ones again assimilated the ORDER into itself)

[@Daybit97]

Which pretty much shows how strong they were. Till Xipe 😊came and absorbed Ena.

[@user-dd7kl5cw1p]

that's actually so damn cool. Everyone's so strong. It's like how Childe, who's one of the 11 Fatui Harbingers and a battle maniac capable of wiping a group of ruin guards in seconds, is a disciple or Skirk, who uses the power outside of Teyvat, and who's then also a disciple of Surtologi. The power hierarchy? Idk the best word to describe it, makes u feel so small, not necessarily the protagonist itself, but rather from the perspective of us players who are just normal ppl irl. I love it

[@corvidaegudmund1186]

I also really like how the chorus of Robin’s song has a rhythm that sounds like the clinking of a train’s wheels as they run along tracks. Robin’s got our backs with Harmony now and we’re bringing out the Trailblaze as our answer to Sunday.

[@redreaper3065]

And a train to the face!

[@jaywiay]

It is astonishing how you can deduct information so close to what was actually happening in game from just the music despite not having played the game yourself. It really shows both how deep you understand music and how well the composers did their job.

[@BrandisShieldHim]

I love music in general it conveys emotions and when your good at deducting it like he is it feels like you understand the story by the music alone

[@MasterMarioMX]

the reason why I sub to this channel, in a nutshell

[@Seylast]

First half: Serious business, excellent musical breakdown. Second half: PARTY TIME!

[@vovafint6507]

Then just rail the Sunday)

[@westheimer1545]

This Robin song. Every time I hear it - tears come to my eyes. Every single time...

[@ShiroiYomu]

Had i not seen the sun is the song that makes me cry. Same for if i can stop one heart from breaking

[@phestojen7966]

The best way I've seen someone sescribe the dichotomy between Sunday's portion of the boss theme and Robin's portion is that Sunday's theme is the very austere and traditional choral hymnal sung at Sunday mass. It's a song of great reverence and respect that is sung by many voices at the same time in harmony to fill the church with its resonances after the song finishes. Meanwhile, Robin's is like the new kind of worship song that is loud and boisterous and joyful that is played by the next generations who still love and respect but are filled with the vibrance and joy that comes from worship. Both are valid forms of worship. Both have their time and place. But Sunday's wasn't what Penacony needed to fully flourish into the paradise that he and Robin always wanted for people. Penacony didn't need rigorous and perfect harmony. It needed loud and unifying resonance.

[@Naauhen]

People may or not like Penacony but this OST and boss fight was pure cinema. I remember when Robin appeared and then the song struk in... I was in awe, didn't even hit the boss and got instant chills. Then the voicelines of each astral express crew and Robin herself. Peak

[@idontspeakjapanese6289]

People was kind offed by the very long quest, I am too was kinda exhausted doing that, makes me wanna stop creating smurf accounts.

[@Naauhen]

@idontspeakjapanese6289 yeah, a skip button would be awesome ngl. Maybe in this 3.x versions comes

[@idontspeakjapanese6289]

@@Naauhen Pretty sure the devs are aware of our request of a skip button, it's just a matter of when will they implement it.

[@GearheadPrime]

The sheer brilliance of having the standin singer's song get blown completely out of the water by the REAL singer arriving and saying 'No.'

[@_Choco_]

Wow, I can't believe we are finally getting the Sunday boss theme reaction! This is probably my second favorite boss theme after Phantylia's boss theme! I'm also super excited to see your reaction for the new Genshin weekly boss theme! The full ost will probably be available within a week, and from what i've heard so far, the theme sounds very good!

[@MarcoMeatball]

Me too! I’m hoping to hear it soon! I always look forward to boss themes especially

[@ManonLcz]

I personally liked the tonal shift specifically because while Boss fights tend to have music that reflect how grand and badass the conflict is in this case it was also shown through the music (at least in my opinion) that Sunday is a villain, he isnt evil and basically the music gives that idea of he needs to see the brighter side to life that not everything has to be seen exclusively through a dark lens, Robin's singing and her part of the boss theme is just that, its light and bouncy and bright and colourful showing her never ending hope fulness in contrast to Sunday's view of the world and the earlier part of the theme that are cold, heavy and serious. At least that's my interpretation!

[@goddanbriggs]

As someone who has so much resistance to typical worship/praise music from being indoctrinated as a child, it's SO refreshing to find a song that touches that same emotional effect without the "PRAISE THE MASTER SKYDADDY!" vibe.

[@IlianaRose11]

Love that HSR answers the question of “what if Emily Dickinson was girlypop”

[@frostmourne1986]

This boss fight was amazing. It is honestly one of the very, very, very few times that the power of friendship actually works, because 1) this is in a dream where anything is possible, and 2) you work your ass off through the story to earn said friendship. The music doesn't just complement the scenes, it is an actual part of the story and having tangible effect on the fight. Wish I could do the story version of the fight again.

[@lilyhybrid]

YES I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!! Easily my favorite boss theme from star rail so far, but I'm such a massive fan of symphonic metal

[@coffeeshampoo87]

7:50 Sunday somewhat betrayed his sister but this context I feel its just a variation of the Penacony main theme, in a minor key since this is an evil evil boss :D

[@elroxx3537]

As someone who used to be religious, I think one of the reasons Hope is a Thing With Feathers resonates with me is because of how similar it sounds to modern worship music to me. The stuff more modern churches use around the youths.

[@Jackie_Tikki_Tavi]

Sunday's part feels oppressively sad. It's sad at the toils of life, so tries to lock away its uncertainty, ebb and flow, through even more vigorous toil. While Robin's is a liberating kind of sad. A sad that is an acceptance that life is toil, but damn if that toil doesn't produce on occasion some amazing melody.

[@GABiHatchiiwa]

Ah you listened to the compilation that had the first 2 tracks out of order. Track 2 (Infirma Nostri Corpus) is our first encounter with the Great Septimus in the story while Track 1 (Symphony no. 8) is the actual Phase 1 track as it is the one used for his Phase 1 in the Weekly boss domain Edit: lmao you pointed out how Infirma Nostri Corpus sounds like an "arrival" that checks out with the compilation

[@BetaManicCommand]

Both Robin songs always give me chills. The one in the fight feels like there is always someone is cheering you on.

[@Sandromatic]

There are 4 robin songs though.

[@tite93]

Choosing Chevy as Robin's singing voice was the single best decision HSR casting ever made

[@krungkronch1947]

I have observed before that Chevy's really been unrecognized and underappreciated as a singer. She's been uploading a lot of her composed songs. And by the time that I saw that one leak of Robin's ult and someone pointed out that her singing voice was Chevy, I was finally relieved that she's being recognized in the community.

[@idontspeakjapanese6289]

Petition to make Chevy the VA for Xipe the Harmony

[@DeNihility]

Running a flying space train over mecha God while Jojo posing with discount Mickey Mouse and using the power of friendship while jamming to the tune of gospel-pop Taylor Swift in the final do-or-die battle. Truly peak fiction.

[@AyatoSenpai22]

Finally Im so happy that you reacted to this😊 Thank you and I loved how you explained the song so well, specially because everything you mentioned about the entire piece relays on the values that are most important specifically in this time of the year (I love Christmas 🎄)

[@BlazIngFlar]

When the Astral Express came flying through the sky and the song broke into its lyrics I LOST MY SHIT. This boss fight was amazing

[@Jackie_Tikki_Tavi]

As a Metal and Rock fan, I was not expecting the guitars, but my pants were never more glad to be on fire

[@nikhilgirish7314]

i actually posted a screenshot in my hoyolab account where right before phase 2 ended, sunday destroyed my remaining canonical team except for the mc, barely any hp left. then out of nowhere robin's comes in with her most amazing concert ever. Ultra super motivation support ever. Won that story battle with ease from her help. Been a fan ever since.

[@spiderdude2099]

I like how throughout the entire piece, the choir gives off a sense of “order” but distinctly NOT a sense of “harmony”. The notes sung by the choir are precise and exact, but not calming. They are shrill, and aggressive, almost like the singers are in pain. It’s a great way to show that Sunday’s plan to dethrone the Harmony with the Order was never going to work, and would be to the detriment of everyone.

[@domeszxd]

I've been waiting for your reaction to this boss theme (it's my personal favorite so far)

[@Grafii2198]

I love the fact that these songs literally happened during the fight, it was not just something us the player heard, it was part of the story for the characters. Hearing the boss saying "...Music?" after Robin suddenly started singing was just something else

[@Sam_2148]

always love you almost portrayed the meaning of what actually happened just from the music, especially the 3rd phase music

[@Hauptymann]

YES! I wanted your reaction to this the moment i saw this in game because I knew you would love it.

[@valk5041]

Hope is the thing with feathers is one of the best songs hoyo has ever made imo

[@GTSE2005]

Ramming the train into Sunday while Hope is The Thing With Feathers played was honestly the most hyped I ever felt when playing a video game

[@duwan4241]

OH WOW, I was just searching for your reaction on this ost thinking that you've already reacted to this before...but here we are, just uploaded the vid 40 minutes ago 🤣 (Edit: I have read somewhere that Sunday's boss ost is like an old classical church song whilst Robin's ost is the modern hillsong...they said it symbolizes the two being opposite sides of faith and devotion to Order and Harmony. And I think they are not wrong, Robin's ost here really sounds a praise/hillsong 😁)

[@PadlockFGSM]

lmao same

[@amplesstratleholm7609]

At long last. Symphony No. 8 is still one of my favorite tracks in HSR.

[@Sarge23]

I prefer the full version with the instrumental of robins song coming in after, giving you this sense of relief and happiness with her full song coming in after giving you hope and motivation before ending with the piano again to give you that bittersweet ending

[@Hallowedkongyan]

The best boss soundtrack of HSR for the best yapper of all hoyoverse, Mr Monday(Sunday)

[@shadmorgenstern9917]

This is the best Christmas present ever, this song hit me directly into the face when I first heard it, it made me feel so many things in such a short time I loved it, and I was really curious to hear you talk about it

[@MarcoMeatball]

Merry Christmas!

[@Dory000p]

What a Christmas gift... The first thing i wanted to see wanted to see when this played in the final boss was Marco's reaction and analysis.

[@gibdos_rupees1374]

Hey Marco, last two weeks have been really tough for me. This video helped. I wasn't familiar with the poem, but I cried hearing you read it out loud. Thank you ❤

[@MarcoMeatball]

Aw man I’m sorry to hear that. 🙏

[@Antiv1rus165]

I knew marco is going to love this music, love when Hoyo represents the atmosphere with music

[@argynyergaliyev333]

The beginning with "ba-ba-ba-baaaaa" reminded me of the soundtrack in Loki series

[@fascinatedhomie]

Been waiting for this all year 🗣️ best Christmas present for sure

[@Zhulter_44kwosa]

I WAS LITERALLY COPUIM WAITING FOR MARCO TO REACTION❤

[@AklyonX]

Even in boss themes Robin steals the show from Sunday XD

[@higgitaj]

I love this boss music Phase 1&2 with the heavy organs (Catholic vibes) followed by a song that could be played in a non-denominational protestant Church without anyone batting an eye It really drives home to me how the end goal of the siblings is really the same, but how they go about it are majorly at odds with one another

[@silentspirit8923]

Ever since the boss fight, the song has been stuck in my head for a long time. Thanks Robin!

[@renshin4603]

This is why i hoped you'd go back and finish Penacony. The amount of hype moments in this boss fight is INSANE. As good as the music is, just listening to it on its own really doesn't do it justice.

[@yukari8768]

Pls look at Hoolay’s boss theme too, it’s really short but effective 💀

[@teddy_scott36]

Chevy, the singer for all of Robin’s songs started out making fan songs for Hoyo-Fair and they liked he work so much, they hired her to do official songs

[@AHylianWarrior]

You pointing out the poem, Robin has a lot of parallels with Emily Dickinson's works so I'm happy you managed to see that. Nobody really points that out other than to point out something irrelevant (Robin being a suspected lesbian like Dickinson was cause for some reason Robin has the flag colours on her cheek lol)

[@redreaper3065]

Yeah not realizing its also colors of Xipe

[@Charleton_Charles]

I love how this song represents Sunday's actions of betraying harmony for order, the difference between Robins cheerfully bouncy song and Sundays harmonic yet structured piece

[@yourarther5853]

Marco "hope is the thing with feathers" cover when?

[@thetalkingbear]

Chevy did such a great job with Robin's songs

[@Necr0e1]

hsr boss themes go so hard

[@kafelekpodogowy7185]

Been waiting for it for a while, better late than never. Now we wait for Genshins 5.3 new weekly boss - im feeling you gonna LOVE it.

[@pansarhund_5915]

meanwhile i cant get over what the absolute HELL is going on with that team comp

[@dailyicetea3829]

I should mention that the song isn't sung by Robin's VA, but by Chevy

[@burkhardt7694]

I loved this fight because we literally hit him with the astral express a few times. Sunday is definitely a boss that checks your damage output. If your team isn't very geared, it becomes a long battle

[@I_XuMuK_I]

I really like the theme with HSR when the bosses eventually start hearing the boss music themselves

[@karinabatumbakalnaevissmit7637]

the way the sound is actually different when its only Sunday and when Robin appears because Sunday is from order (intimidating), while Robin follows harmony (encouraging and emotional)

[@Necr0e1]

btw i recommend checking out the wuthering waves 2.0 trailer, the theme song goes really hard

[@MarcoMeatball]

Already have

[@Necr0e1]

@@MarcoMeatball i swore i checked the videos just to make sure

[@MarcoMeatball]

@@Necr0e1 Wuthering Waves 2.0 is Going to be INSANE [2.0 livestream reaction] kzbin.infoieXY2IW-OoE?feature=share

[@ckoejake9966]

I have been waiting for this one. This boss is by far my favorite boss as the music is soooo good. Like in comparison Genshin music while it is good, it blends into the background to much for me so I don't really have any opinions on the music. Meanwhile Star Rail has had music that makes me want to fight the bosses just for the music 🎶 Also man you got to play the Penacony story you will appreciate the music even more

[@finleymorris04]

Crazy how a single piece of music can carry a story so hard.

[@sombraxyz]

Treadmill walking while watching the video. Robin's song starts. Me: I guess this became a run now.

[@azrael7582]

Robins song actually starts in Phase 2 as an instrumental and only gets the lyrics in Phase 3, but yeah you cant just have the instrumental here.

[@unknownorganism69]

opera singing transitioning to robin singing sheesh both of them were amazing

[@marcusbullock2753]

Been waiting for this been curious what the theme is and what they get out of it from a professional

[@redguard1607]

10:00 You know it's good when Marco doesn't pause for analysis!

[@Granhier]

From Robin's song I was getting more of a gospel vibe than a kitchsy pop song. Or at least something inbetween.

[@DG_Toti]

They’re both gospel music-inspired to a degree. I’ve attended churches with both forms of music, and I like both. Sunday’s is gospel music in the traditional RCC hymnal manner, next to no instruments aside from the voices of the choir/church members and an organ. Robin’s is more modern praise music, using conventions of modern pop music to express religious devotion and joy.

[@Granhier]

@DG_Toti Well, yeah, that's kinda the idea I was going for, but anyone can recognize the religious undertones of Sunday's portion. It looks like it's less apparent for Robin's.

[@eclipsor7080]

4:48 I always thought it's someone going crazy on bagpipes but electric guitar makes sense here.

[@APR1Lmusic]

I think the most interesting part of this whole boss's soundtrack is how it develops the idea of Christian music over the years. In the early years of Christianity's popularity, the church owned and used a lot of very orchestral, classical sounding pieces, much like Sunday's first 2 phases. It then evolves into Robin theme, which is very much inspired by more modern, contemporary Christian music like what you'd hear in a modern day baptist/non-denominational church worship music. Sunday's whole presence is littered with Christian themes, so I find his boss OST to be so perfect.

[@ChrisMorray]

Sunday is trying to make a new divine order to resurrect his Aeon and become the new lynchpin of this world, and his sister is like "Nah, move aside for the real boss in this fight".

[@DreamyGalina]

The final song has such a wonderful rhythm.

[@HanKnu]

Honestly the boss music in Hoyo games reminds me of final bosses in Monster Hunter, you have the somber 'Boss Music' playing until near the end when Proof of a Hero kicks in. Just really invigorates you to beat that boss!

[@AgsNfz]

The whimsical theme of penacony is distorted under that boss theme.

[@Nexsusthepro]

"This is the first, and last dishar- BUHHH BUHHHH *TRAAAAAIN*"

[@royjonzejr]

All 4 of Robin's songs are sooooo good bruh. "Had I Not Seen the Sun" is another Emily Dickinson reference. I'm not a guy who normally pays much attention to song lyrics but those ones are exceptional.

[@Tanktaco]

Merry Christmas Marco.

[@MarcoMeatball]

Merry Christmas to you too!

[@cmajalis]

Honestly I haven't been that impressed by HSR music until Penacony. As a lover of jazz and weird unsettling songs, this OST is perfect for me so I was so happy to see you cover this one. I was wondering if you would like Robin's song in the end. The way the difference between Robin and Sunday played out in their music in a way that aids the narrative is really wonderful. One of my favourite parts was when Sunday was telling us the history of Penacony in three parts, each in this classic style but you can tell how different each piece feels based on the period he's talking about.

[@krazyman159]

obligatory WITNESS THE WILL OF THE WEAK, edit: this just show much care is put into this piece and im always surprised that your able to pick up details that is correct in some regards to the context of this song is used. im under the assumption you don't play star rail

[@MarcoMeatball]

I played up to 2.0

[@twentyDucks]

i've been waiting for this

[@renzodeastora3171]

FINALLY!!! I shared this ost months ago. Im happy now 🤣

[@crowolf3862]

Speaking of Emily Dickinson, pretty near all her poems are in common meter - it’s also called hymn meter because a lot of american hymns were built for it - so you can sing hope is the thing to “amazing grace” “battle hymn” and a lot of others.

[@AgsNfz]

Active listening is really awesome, Instrumental music can really take you on a journey if you let it.

[@MarcoMeatball]

It can for sure!

[@mioqoi]

I WAITED FOR THIS

[@carriesimkus3168]

A little bit of a spoiler, but an interesting fact! Whats interesting is the part where the vocals are louder and the electric guitar is in the background, is the fake final boss fight. While when the electric guitar is louder and the vocals are in the background, is the true boss fight.

[@Talon1124]

"There seems to be another kind of sound coming into the Order's symphony... Penacony's first, and last, Disharmony." "Those imprisoned in their dreams are awakening for Freedom!" "You have a noble soul... don't be shackled by the past!" "Even if the future is full of pain... we won't escape from it!" "Brother... The weakness of humanity cannot be redeemed by others." "WITNESS! THE WILL OF THE WEAK!" "Trailblazing, is taking the paths your predecessors foresaw, and going even further. The Penacony in Mikhail's dreams, does NOT belong to Order!" Why does life slumber? "Because... one day, we will wake up from our dreams."

[@namieblinker5922]

Superbreak dotcheron, now that's a new one.

[@Sussy01]

lets gooo finally 🤩

[@alemmejia786]

Merry Xmas Marcooooooooooooooooooo!!!

[@sanguinetales]

The entire concept is that Sunday who is part of a Family that Worships the Harmony, betrays the Family to revive Ena, The Order, who was previously defeated generations ago by the Harmony so the Arival you mention is heralding hers. Later in the fight Robin joins to aid you the player with her own song. It's awesome. Quite literally it's Robin's music vs Sunday's Music. Robin being a girly girl with her pop song and Sunday with his angelic choir. One could go further with that as an political argument of Autority/Order vs Harmony/Democracy but Penacony under Harmony does have its own problems Sunday just wanted to solve them in the most direct way possible.

[@Crims0nS4int]

HEADS UP! THE WHEELS ARE SPINNING! 💥💥💥🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🗣🗣💯💯