Soundtrack Reaction: WAVE 3!!!! (MARIO KART 8 DELUXE DLC)

Sammy D is back with his popular series of soundtrack reaction videos for the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC! WAVE 3 featuring Merry Mountain, Berlin Byways, and 3DS Rainbow Road!
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Neo Rainbow Road piece by Julian Baker
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[@MannyGM]

Fun Fact about the Rock Rock Mountain music. Some part of the song is an arrangement of the title theme from the NES Game, Mach Rider

[@pvzmariosonica8fan]

Another fun fact: In Mario Kart 7, the final lap music had a different start point than it does in MK8DX

[@T_Bagz193]

You can hear mariokart 7 selection screen music in one point of the song.

[@SheriffJake_]

Berlin Byways is a very interesting song because it's basically a celebration of Germany's music. The techno being a reference to Germany's giant techno scene (f.e. love parade), and the orchestral part being a rendition of the german national anthem. The new remix for the track has even become quite popular on certain german social media site's simply because everyone can immedietaly recognize the inspiration.

[@KartLife]

For sure! Germany has a great tradition of electronic music.

[@Gamesmarts194]

Wait do you know what site that is? Not sure if I can access it but that sounds awesome that a Mario Kart song of all things became memetic.

[@SheriffJake_]

@@Gamesmarts194 I've mostly seen it on the german side of reddit, r/de and such. Most folks are commenting in german there, so you might not understand some of the in-jokes

[@Gamesmarts194]

@@SheriffJake_ Dang lol Still that's super cool.

[@elizabethk.3546]

I can't hear the german national anthem part, I feel like I need a side by side comparison

[@Lucca_Time]

For my personal opinion I have to say: I really REALLY love the "over the top" Big Band approach. I understand why some people might think that it just is too much bit for me it's just perfect. But since everything about this is just perfectly subjective, I have to say that I REALLY enjoy watching these videos every time a new wave is being released.

[@OanSMM]

I feel like the one track that benefits the most from this over the top approach is Sky-high Sundae, with its amazing drum line

[@Roxleton]

I remember you from the sky harder discussion a year ago! Good times

[@LastManYea]

i think it fits mk8's gameplay

[@SuperEgoNaut]

I’ve been checking this channel literally every day since the DLC came out waiting for this specific video to drop. Kart Life’s music theory and technical breakdowns never disappoint, and I always find his perspectives to be interesting and insightful, regardless of whether or not I personally agree with his final verdicts. Excellent video.

[@KartLife]

Thank you for the kind comment!

[@danastarks1299]

Same🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😎👌

[@tzgaming_music]

Once again, what a great video and series in general. You are one of the only people out there who make a video about their reaction, which I really like. See you when wave 4 drops!

[@bumblebee8903]

It’s still crazy how they have 2 rock themes in the same wave.

[@TempoKong]

It is the rock cup after all!

[@pit_solitayrh3718]

It's called the Rock cup, right ? Makes sense

[@YesAmFrienD]

in the same cup

[@user-Zmh]

I always thought both (london loop and rock rock mountain) are quite similar and now they are included in same cup!!! 🎸🎸🎸 Freaking banger, bruh⚡️⚡️

[@enderallygolem]

If only there was a road where part of it was on the moon, and there's specific music for it...

[@Jordan64Games]

0:00 - Intro 0:50 - Tour London Loop 4:14 - GBA Boo Lake 7:58 - 3DS Rock Rock Mountain 10:34 - Wii Maple Treeway 15:05 - Tour Berlin Byways 19:02 - DS Peach Gardens 21:49 - Merry Mountain 25:55 - 3DS Rainbow Road 33:37 - Frontrunning Versions 35:13 - Outro

[@dr.l.bandicoot4289]

It's good to keep in mind what this music is for. This is a high energy, chaotic, arcade kart racer, so the more energetic music fits here. I love the work that goes into these arrangements. It just really breathes life into the tracks themselves. Great channel that I've stumbled across btw, you're very relaxed and easy to follow. Subbed

[@eukarya_]

Actually the original MK8 tracks do have tailor-made frontrunning versions One of my favourite examples is Donnut Plains, the frontrunning version doesn't add a beat, but adds the whistles from the original SNES song, which are absent in the regular version of the song, is so cool. And Dry Dry Dessert actually has an starting line of extremely fast beats for the frontrunning which I'm not even sure if you can hear in game because I don't know if frontrunning music can kick literally at the beginning of the race.

[@Gennings]

I love getting from second to first and hearing the extra bits added in.

[@ballisticboo7808]

Dry Dry Desert frontrunning has no reason to go as hard as it does

[@badcatalex]

It can kick in at the start of the race if you are skilled enough to get far ahead quickly.

[@shrapt3528]

Nah they fucked up the whistles tho they out of beat

[@diegovvdp8143]

Also the frontrunning version of Mute City has a custom intro which goes so hard

[@D0ngaz_arts]

I love this series so much, I'm almost as keen for these reactions as the tracks themselves

[@Stratilex]

Same with the actual remixes!

[@williord3050]

Same, I really love music reactions

[@acinggames8422]

Words cannot describe how much I love this series

[@Adam.L02]

I don’t know what it is but it’s just entertaining

[@funminer8453]

OG 3DS Rainbow Road feels like starting a jog late at night with beautiful stars above 3DS Rainbow Road in 8DX feels like you've been jogging for hours and it's become night, but are still full of motivation to keep going

[@Glasshouse828]

While London never really had a hard rock SCENE per se, they ARE the origin of several hard rock bands especially in the 70’s & 80’s: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Whitesnake, UFO, Uriah Heap, & Atomic Rooster just to name a few

[@karlispovisils5297]

I personally like the rock-ification of more recent Mario titles

[@antborb7215]

As much as I love Maple Treeway and 3DS Rainbow Road, Peach Gardens has my favorite music from this wave. It’s so majestic

[@sparsmo]

I love just geeking out about video game soundtracks, I find it really cool. Been loving this series especially from a different perspective with your musical knowledge and history, so thanks!

[@VincentWeir]

for me the final lap of 3ds rainbow road with that beat drop in the beginning is amazing and adds on to the effect the music has

[@Nintendo_Wolf]

So glad you went back to using this room for the background. Looks so vibrant and colorful! I've already watched this just like watching these about 3 times xD

[@KartLife]

Thanks so much for the feedback, the kind words, and the views

[@Nintendo_Wolf]

@@KartLife No worries!

[@Swiftjar]

Amazing analysis bro! Seriously how good does Merry Mountains soundtrack sound! 😍🎶

[@cubah1]

I’m subscribing because I love music and listen to music the way you do with hearing all the instruments. A lot of people just hear music on the background but very few people actually listen to it

[@TJ-Henry-Yoshi]

great video! Incredible analysis. I was especially surprised by how quickly and definitively you could pick a favorite version of Berlin Byways, cuz I've been enamored with both of them for a while and quite frankly love them both. After hearing your analysis, I can't help but agree. I love how the mk8dx version leans more into the classical vibe, but the the way that the original distorts and breaks down is so much cooler and unique in nature. Still I think can cite either version as my favorite song in mario kart 8

[@YoshWilbur]

The City Tracks are always a Highlight for me in each wave and the music for these tracks always delivers. Berlin is Fire and sounds so good (my mew favouriteCity Track music), can't wait to hear Singapore and Amsterdam eventually!

[@jagerzaku9160]

London Loop sounds like an Fzero track now

[@badcatalex]

All Tour 3DS track music is just a higher quality version of their original 3DS versions.

[@Cyberbrickmaster1986]

Seeing you jamming out to the Rainbow Road remix was a true sight to behold!

[@N8Harris99]

I literally had goosebumps the first time I played and heard 3DS Rainbow Road in wave 3.

[@JibbityJenkins]

I have never seen anyone comment so passionately to video game music. Props, my dude. Love this ✌🏻 you should honestly breakdown the music of all the retro tracks. I know it wouldnt be the same without your firsthand reactions, but I could listen to you break down these songs all day lol.

[@dorothycho2467]

I absolutely love the way you describe Berlin Byways' music. As an EDM listener, I think that Berlin Byways sounds like electro house and Mario Kart Tour... I'm not sure, I am not sure if it goes in the bass house category. Also, glad I'm not the only one who thinks 3DS Rainbow Road sounds like trance music. I was so happy when I heard that remix and heard the trance elements.

[@imaginationsquare]

I prefer the 8 Deluxe Berlin Byways but the Tour synth has something the 8DX versin doesn't have, I think it is how sawtooth-ish the tour version is edit: my opinion has totally shifted (2 months later) and I am really curious if you feel the same way

[@alexandertimothy9245]

I have loved listening to your reactions to each wave’s soundtrack. I would also definitely enjoy hearing your reaction to the base soundtrack of mk8 too

[@crystalizedstar9381]

I love the flute that comes in on maple treeway it's so good

[@crystalizedstar9381]

It saved maple treeway for me

[@christopherborroughs8526]

When Wave 3 came out, I could not wait for your video reacting to these songs! Thanks for holding off on playing the DLC so that you could react to these in real time, and thanks as always for sharing your great insights from being a musician. Totally agree on Peach Gardens and Maple Treeway -- they're terrific!

[@GresSimJa]

London Loop is one of the more fitting city soundtracks in my opinion. Punk rock started in the UK. I think all city tracks have very fitting music, except (kind of?) Vancouver and Bangkok. Tokyo too, but that's simply as "Mario Kart" as it gets with Nintendo being from Japan and all that.

[@Stratilex]

I think Tokyo works, it reminds me of 80's Japanese City Pop

[@matthewjones6786]

Just found your channel, love it. Nintendo music is one of my favorite things in life, so I’ll eat up any reaction/analysis video! I adore what they did with Peach Gardens and Maple Treeway.

[@ZenigameDirect]

Happy to see you're doing another music reaction! I love what you're bringing to these. Already looking forward to the next wave to watch your reaction again!

[@PianistTanooki]

I'm someone who is far more partial to the live instruments. I'm always going to love the originals, but they were only super synthy because… the composers had no choice. They didn't "choose" to make their music 8-bit or 16-bit sounding… they just worked with what they had. That doesn't mean I don't like the electronic stuff like Toad's Turnpike, Electrodrome, and Rainbow Road, but anything that's trying to evoke a "real" instrument… should just be recorded with an actual person playing said instrument. And I'm sure the old 8-bit veterans would be the first to tell you that if given the choice to redo all the music they composed at the time… they'd take advantage of the opportunity and use an actual band. I know this, because Koji Kondo, for example, still composes a bit of music to this day… and just about everything he composes in games such as Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario 3D World, and Super Mario Odyssey features almost exclusively a live band/orchestra. Much of what he wrote in the past clearly had a live band in mind… it just wasn't possible on the hardware at the time. Now that he's given the choice, he almost always composes for live musicians. Like I said, I don't mind when they go for the electronic/programmed style, nor do I mind when they do a bit of both, like with DS Shroom Ridge or 3DS Toad Circuit.

[@gowildler]

One weird exception, however, is the Nintendo GameCube with the games Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! I think they made MIDI arrangements first (sequenced music like on the GBA and DS), but then they converted them into a streaming audio format (similar to BRSTM on the Wii) which would support live performance recordings.

[@pixelpunchyt]

Every time I hear Merry Mountain's theme I can't help but think about a theoretical Super Mario Galaxy 3 that has obvious Christmas influence in its narrative and environments, similar to Iron Man 3 But I'll still never forgive them for not making an orchestral 3DS Rainbow Road and changing the track layouts for both 3DS Rainbow Road and GBA Sky Garden

[@MayroSMM]

Gonna have to agree with you on Berlin. I think they tried to make it go too hard and it doesn't really work. Also those horns just... do not sound good lol. Maple Treeway is probably my favourite one though. I absolutely love the direction they went with it.

[@cubah1]

Punk makes more sense London rather than heavy metal

[@CntrlVee]

your comment about the frontrunning beat for the dlc is so accurate tbh. while i do like the added beats on a lot of the tracks (tracks that feel like theyre missing a programmed drumbeat or tracks that just go well with the vibe), its a shame they use the same one for pretty much all of them. for the original 48 tracks, they actually didnt do this, and every frontrunning beat is custom to go well with the track which makes nearly all of them sound great (except wild woods). idk if its laziness or something to not do it for the dlc as well, and im not a music producer or anything but i assume that if they can compose new remasters for every single track coming out that they can personalise a 4 beat loop for each of them too. bit unfortunate, but at least the songs slap

[@CinnamonOwO]

Paris Promenade is custom, it's 3/4th

[@Gamesmarts194]

Personal opinions: London Loop: I think the problem with the original is that the guitar sounds both kinda muffled and VERY flat in tone. This song got such an improvement with a more natural-sounding guitar. Boo Lake: The original sounded a bit spooky, but for this version all the added string makes this sound WAY more eerie and I absolutely love it. Less of a "Watch your step" feel and more of a "There's something in the water..." I feel like it gets a bit too loud which takes me out of it, but dang if that percussion doesn't make up for it. Rock Rock Mountain: Maybe it's because I've listened to LuckyRick's version so much, but something about this version feels a bit empty and hollow. It's definitely an upgrade and I'm definitely going to rock out, I just feel it's not... Complete, if I have to put it one way. Maple Treeway: I think I have the same sentiment here as with Rock Rock Mountain. Difference being that while Rock Rock Mountain feels like it's "objectively" (in the loosest meaning of that word) missing something, Maple Treeway feels more like a personal preference. The transition from section A to section B is a bit empty, and the bass from the original is pretty noticeably lacking here (that or it's "hidden" by the bongos). Again, not sure if I'd say it's "objectively" missing something or if I just don't personally like the sound. Leaning more towards the second. Berlin Byways: I absolutely love what they did with this song. Tour's version almost sounds like a techno-march of sorts, but here is definitely a rave party. I'd definitely agree a bit that the instrumentation during the section B is a bit too loud, but to me it almost sounds less of the "polite gentleman" and almost like a national anthem of sorts, which I guess makes sense since Berlin Byways feels the most "regal" out of the 6 Tour tracks so far (and arguably out of every track period). Those "honks" halfway through the song though... REALLY stand out, and not in a good way. Definitely needed less horn. Someone in the comments already said this, but I do think the mashup of both Tour and 8's versions actually sounds better than they do individually. Peach Gardens: Firstly can I just say how funny it is that this is the second time that the first track in the wave has a song that gets your body moving and the track after is one that's very low-key? (Wave 2 was Sydney Sprint and then Snow Land, wave 3 had Berli Byways then Peach Gardens lol) I feel like section B could've been a slight bit louder since that was how it was in DS, and it does feel like it's the "climax" of the song (to put it in one way). Aside from that it sounds almost exactly how I thought a remastered version of this song would sound. Merry Mountain: I like it, but I get the feeling that it's a bit... Rigid? The beginning to me almost sounds like they're somewhere between a normal rhythm and swing rhythm and it's throwing me off a ton. Aside from that, this song being done with not-fake instrumentals sounds nothing short of phenomenal and it matches the Christmas vibe very well. 3DS Rainbow Road: Yes I am a youngster and yes I do like that dance party energy. :) Jokes aside though I do like this version a lot and it fits the kind of pseudo-neon look of the track. It doesn't quite have the same feel as the original, but I don't think it needs to. The original version has a "don't be sad because it's over, be happy that it happened" sort of vibe. One last drive before you close out the Nitro courses. This one doesn't really have the same vibe, but that's also because it's not over yet; we're only halfway there! They're keeping as pumped up for what tracks we might be getting in the future! (Hopefully some Double Dash tracks for a change lol) The version that plays on the moon... Kinda not a fan. It doesn't feel mellow enough, and almost sounds like it's still trying to keep that rave energy going, which almost kinda clashes with how it's trying to sound more empty like the original version did.

[@SevoraLF]

Amazing breakdowns also love the Morton plush

[@infyte_official]

Very surprised you like the tour version of Berlin more! I instantly thought of how much you would like it when I first heard it! Regardless, great video!😊

[@guffingtonreal]

Metal began in the UK which is why I think they chose that sound.

[@cosmicdib4823]

Just watching Kart Life jam to Rainbow Road... Lol

[@OanSMM]

Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed in Rainbow Road. I wouldn't mind if it was just the main song that was really over the top (even though I'm not a fan of the main instrument used here) but the moon version was so good in the 3ds game, and now it just feels too funky, also like if they just simply took the normal version and removed the drum beat... Berlin Byways sounds cool, and you really should listen to a mash-up of both renditions, as they seem to complete each other. London Loop was a great surprise, I liked the melody of the OG but here I also like the instruments used. Sure it's not the best soundtrack of the mk franchise, but it's still great. Not much to say about RR Mountain, it's your average rock track and I like the melody less than LL. Mapple Treeway, is amazing and I LOVE the piano in the B section, but I still wish we would have gotten an electronic rendition like the OG wii one. Merry mountain is great, that piano is amazing (I really like piano in band music usually) Boo lake is great, but my favorite part in the gba version was the bass line, and I feel like it is too silent in mk8 Peach gardens sounds amazing, it needed that breath of fresh air just like other ds songs like Sky Garden and Shroom ridge, and just like these two it is a success!

[@BrickShorts8118]

I was smiling so hard at your rainbow road reaction

[@rain4est133]

8DX's Maple Treeway Arrangement amplified a chilling, laid-back vibe with more emphasis on accoustics here. Also, one thing I wanna' say for Berlin Byways and 3DS Rainbow Road on 8DX's joint, both normal pace and final pace, "PARTY HARDER!".

[@envy-g2570]

I like the combination of accoustic instruments with synth drums in the original maple treeway

[@MagicBapples]

I always look forward to these videos by you! I loved every track this wave

[@Cochu]

My main problem with Berlin Byways is that the mix sounds really lazy. I'm an EDM producer so the lack of sidechain is very annoying lol it sounds like just dropping a random matching BPM House drum loop on an orchestral song and exporting it

[@KartLife]

Bingo!

[@Adam.L02]

Yoo I’ve been waiting for this

[@WiltarrowMain]

I do wish the courses had unique frontrunning themes. I like to imagine Twisted Mansion unique frontrunning theme would have haunted chanting added to the melody

[@cryptorborgjulien902]

Donut Plains does.

[@samuelorelowitz6816]

Hi Kart Life! 8-bit Music Theory has a video titled "The Musical Evolution of Rainbow Road", I think you should check it out. Seems like something that would be right up your alley plus they talk quite a bit about 3DS Rainbow Road in it

[@FrenzyFans]

Loving the video! And yes, that bass rif in Boo Lake, very "sober-esque". I absolutely hear it .... The drum beat in Boo Lake actually reminds me of tool again, Lateralus -4:56 into the song, it breaks down into a steady 4 ⅛ bass note sequence in 4/4 time signature, then Danny Carry (the drummer) goes into this high hat sequence in a different time signature (I wanna say 5/8 time signature) until about 5:40 where the two sequences (bass guitar and drums) merge together and the drums then follow the time signature of the rest of the song. I feel like the part where you say "it's a very very odd drum beat, if I had to learn and practice this drum beat, (which could be a whole other f_ing video 😂) I don't know how I would do it" might have a different time signature drum sequence then the rest of the Boo Lake song. Or maybe it's just so many off beat hits that it makes the brain go crazy 🤯. Makes me want to get Boo Lake back into MKT and turn on music and play since I never play with in game music on.

[@Renegade101_]

you got to remember how popular heavy metal is in the UK tho

[@guillotine1930]

I am kinda torn on the Berlin Byways one. I really like the orchestral part of the MK8D version, but now that you showed me the Tour version, I can’t help but feel the lack of the electro-synth feel that the first half of both tries to establish. That part of the song feels way more powerful in the Tour version.

[@tigaliyt]

I know I'm incredibly late to the party, but as a layperson, I gotta posit the fact that Rainbow Road 3DS became more dance-y kind of as a necessity to set it apart from what they did with N64 Rainbow road in 8. A more "faithful" recreation of 3DS 3DS Rainbow Road (god this gets confusing to talk about) wouldn't have been different enough imo, they had to take it up to eleven

[@jevonross456ameby9]

3 DS rainbow road soundtrack slaps But Mario Kart 7 was my childhood It was my 2nd favorite Mario kart when Mario carts wii was my 1st video game

[@TheMarionick]

I gotta disagree with your Berlin Byways take. I think it’s one of the best, if not the best song in the entire DLC so far. Its only competitors (off the top of my head) are 3DS Rainbow Road and Peach Gardens.

[@jevonross456ameby9]

Facts It's better than tour # tour is not better than mk8

[@money05mayhem]

I feel that they chose a heavy metal rock theme for London Loop is because a lot of the most popular rock and metal bands come from England, such as Pink Floyd, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. Otherwise I feel the music would be too much “stereotypical British Music”

[@rovian-kr1dd]

29:57 I FELT THAT🤯🤯

[@SuperSavajin]

28:33 He went full Daft Punk there for a sec

[@alvernsee]

If shy guys from shy guy falls sang to the mk8 merry mountian soundtrack I would be SO happy

[@tctt185_dg]

The music for DS Peach Gardens is in 3/4 time. Guess what other track is in 3/4 time and is also in the Booster Course Pass - Tour Paris Promenade. Ironic because both of them have a different layout on the final lap that forces the players to race the reverse version of the course they've just raced on. DS Peach Gardens' alternate route has always been marked on the map since the original but that path was inaccessible until it got added in MK8. With that, DS Peach Gardens 2 is pretty much going to be a thing in Tour at a later date. I don't know why, but what is it with Peach wanting us to play these two courses in reverse. Well, at least we can give Topiary Luigi a High Five by driving right through him and the other topiaries. There's no collision, go through it whilst gliding.

[@robwarriors62]

Great analysis as always. Although I disagree with you on Berlin, I can definitely see what you mean in some respects like the break - Tour’s distorted, rattling saws are so much filthier. Personally, I love the the strings screaming on the E string with the brass countermelody. Simulates a very convincing chorale style of writing that you just would not expect to see in Mario Kart. I just don’t feel that Tour’s MIDI can do something like that justice. So on the whole, Tour has the better A section and 8 has the better B section methinks. (Mayro was right however in saying the first horn hit we heard in the trailers sounds grim) Also, the way they achieve that sound in Boo Lake is through doubling clarinet and oboe with organ pads. If you hear later in the track the same winds are doing rising/falling staccato arpeggios.

[@HGWeegee]

Tour London Loop: I'm a rock head, it went (for me) from MIDI Rock that I didn't like to what it needed to be with the lower end and I like the over the top percussion in it GBA Boo Lake: I like the percussion going harder, otherwise it felt more atmospheric to me 3DS Rock Rock Mountain: The track is what it always wanted to be from the get go, and became one of my favorite music tracks in all of Mario Kart Wii Maple Treeway: The original used what I interpreted as a straight neck soprano sax and this version sounds like it uses a curved soprano sax. straight has a warmer, more oboe like timbre while curved soprano sax basically sounds like a higher alto sax Tour Berlin Byways I quite enjoy it, I like the electronic meets orchestra feel, both MIDI version and 8 Version are really good, but I prefer the live instruments DS Peach Gardens: Original sounds so much like the Overthere from Super Paper Mario, the 8 Version is one of my favorites in the game, but I also love Waltz Tour Merry Mountains: Loved it in Tour, live instruments make it better 3DS Rainbow Road: My favorite track in Mario Kart, original makes me emotional, 8's version is a bit more electronic, way more upbeat, I prefer the original's more softer tone

[@flyingdragon1973]

I just stumbled upon this video today, I really appreciate your well thought out opinions on these tracks. Based off this reaction, I can tell you are fine tuned musician, not sure if you compose or play music or not, you do seem critical of the over the top renditions of these tracks, but they are constructive takes and I enjoy hearing it. I personally love how over the top this soundtrack is both base game and Booster Course tracks, to me it gives this game it's unique identity. I personally feel a lot of modern game soundtracks are afraid to sound like a video game and morph more into a film score. Nothing wrong with sounding like a film score, I just prefer a soundtrack to sound more like a video game if that makes sense. I recently just got a MIDI USB Keyboard for Christmas, and I plan to start diving into the world of game music production.

[@scamuel1896]

I'm no musician, but I really appreciate good music, and this Wave has no shortage of it. I think all of them are absolutely improvements over the originals. Here's my personal ranking (I really like them all!): 8. London Loop - I'm not super huge on hard rock/metal stuff but this song does it really well. Kinda wish they'd kept the ridiculous extra background guitar that almost serves as a kind of percussion in the original, but the extra countermelody and crazy drums more than make up for it. 7. Rock Rock Mountain - Bit of a retread of my opinion of London Loop, but the organ and extra awesome riffs push it over for me. The intro actually gives me chills. 6. Peach Gardens - Simple but lovely piece. I love accordions and violins and this song uses them very well. Very peaceful and fun for what it is, even if I usually personally prefer something a little more upbeat... 5. Maple Treeway - ...And here's the little more upbeat I was looking for. Positively beautiful country folk composition; the live instruments did a lot for this one, with exceptional harmonica, sax, piano, flute, and percussion work. 3 AND 4. Boo Lake AND Berlin Byways - I hate to call it a tie, but I'm having a very hard time deciding which type of song I like more. Both are positively phenomenal, for what they are and for how they were glowed up; overall, my preference just depends on what kind of mood I'm in. Regarding Boo Lake, I'm a sucker for "spooky" tunes with lots of ominous organs, theremins, woodwind, and violins, and not only is Boo Lake positively horrifying in that respect, but its percussion goes RIDICULOUSLY hard. Went crazy in Tour and goes even crazier here. (Unnecessarily over-the-top drums never bothered me; quite the opposite. Suppose that might just be a thing that comes from being a drummer.) As for Berlin, if Tour's rendition is an absolute banger (and it absolutely is), this remake is a super-duper triple deluxe extra banger with the sauce. The synths are insane; the beats gained a lot of depth that I love; real instruments did WONDERS for the orchestral segment, and I for one absolutely can't get enough of the brass in the background. Insane. 1 AND 2. Merry Mountain AND Rainbow Road - Another tie. I'm usually partial to beautiful orchestral compositions (probably my favourite genre), but Rainbow Road is absolutely exceptional in its fields and manages to strike a great balance of everything I like in a video-game song. I have nothing to add for Merry Mountain. It's simply beautiful. I love Christmas-y music ever so much. Actually comes very close to bringing tears to my eyes; the original was the same way, but now thanks to the live instruments I can never go back. And 3DS Rainbow Road is just an experience all its own. You said that young people are partial to harder, more upbeat stuff, but as a teen I can't say that's always the case for me. I absolutely love the grand yet chill, slightly somber feel of the original, and I would like to point out that that's still here in the remake. I think the remake does an outstanding job of getting the best of both worlds, with a heavy emphasis on dance but more than enough beautiful space exploration feel to go around.

[@frog9248]

i know the big band feel can be a bit obnoxious just listening but while you’re playing the tracks sit just fits perfectly with mk8s art style and general over the topness. As cool as the older tracks sound, they would seem a little lame compared to the newer,bigger more complex tracks

[@KartLife]

Good point!

[@panosmosproductions3230]

I feel like hard metal is what the Mario Kart band were going for in the MK8 Bowser’s Castle music. And it fits. There’s also all these other Bowser themes that the band known as The OneUps made metal remakes for, and this sound really good, almost like they were originally meant to sound like that if it weren’t for hardware limitations.

[@Starscooterkart]

Merry mountain is just so great. My favorite I think

[@NMUltra]

29:56 I'm so glad I'm not the only one who got excited for that

[@Rvchnoob51]

Me too my friend, me too

[@AriAri-dt8dp]

Thank you, I was waiting for this

[@maffickmusic]

these are always inspiring to watch :)

[@trains575]

Hello Kart life Huge fan of yours love the video it be cool if after all the waves come out and you listen to all of the soundtracks you do like a top 10 favorite soundtrack in the waves continue doing what you do you’re a really nice person

[@obscure_thoughts2786]

Once he hears the new LA Laps music from the leak hes not going to like it

[@KartLife]

There’s no way it will top the original!

[@JonathonV]

It’s gotta be better than the original. I’ve become friends with my mute button the last 3 LA tours. 😂 But Sammy and I have disagreed on this point for a while, and that’s okay!

[@PianistTanooki]

I actually don't think the "live" instruments in Berlin Byways are actually live. Something sounds off with the horns. They sound clearly synthesized… which is fine. But I think the reason why it sounds off, at least to me, is because the "live instruments" they chose here sound cheap.

[@PianistTanooki]

@Jonah Laining I wouldn't be too sure of that. It's not hard to find some pretty convincing string sounds nowadays. Same thing with brass, actually… which is why I'm very confused by the ones they chose here.

[@PianistTanooki]

@Jonah Laining Right, but I could also say the same for Berlin Byways. Why would they have synthesized “real-sounding-but-clearly-fake” brass with a live string section?

[@DaNintendude]

Berlin Byways was a bit disappointing, but it's been growing on me A LOT. I don't think it will ever surpass the feeling of the original, but I definitely love it a lot as its own thing.

[@theguitarassassin6639]

even if i’m a sucker for the rock stuff i look forward to ur reaction so much

[@jagerzaku9160]

I’d love a whole city soundtrack video

[@Jeremy-ld9wt]

Personally, the drum fills are my favorite parts of the new versions!

[@victoriabell9546]

I agree with you with what you said about Berlin Byways but was kind of afraid to say it. I think the driving MIDI fits the course in and of itself more. The thing that bothers me about the 8 Deluxe version is that it uses the same beat from Electrodrome. I thought Berlin Byways would have been one of those songs they wouldn't touch because it's already great.

[@vgbcp3rs0na41]

London Loop sounds like Asteroid Coaster

[@austinwilliams87]

3DS Rainbow Road samples N64 Rainbow Road.

[@KartLife]

That’s it!

[@PeachToadstool]

Awesome! I agree with some of your assessments here, although I'm honestly not turned off by any of the remixes so far. In fact, I personally love Boo Lake with the organ accompaniment and the like. What inspired you to assess the music for Wave 3? I looked for a similar assessment for Wave 2 and didn't find it. By the way, I've been analysing the music differences since Wave 2 as part of much larger comparisons per course.

[@KartLife]

Thanks! I have videos out for all 3 waves

[@ieuanedmunds7950]

Rainbow Road music be like: 7 & Tour: I have great hope in you, faithful one. 8 Deluxe: YOOOOO, PAARTYYYYY!!!!!

[@coconut_tv0564]

Honestly, 3ds rainbow road should have been orchestral

[@blakemk]

Berlin Byways is imo one of the best mk8 ost ever

[@MyurrDurr]

They need to make these available to stream or buy ;-; cause you can barely hear it ingame due to all the other sounds

[@Stratilex]

They're on KZbin

[@MyurrDurr]

@@Stratilex But Nintendo take down the videos ;_;

[@Stratilex]

@@MyurrDurr no there's plenty of mario kart 8 soundtrack videos out there. For the base game i recommend david bosch's channel and for the booster course pass you can look at TZ gaming, that's what Sammy is reacting to

[@Roxleton]

27:54 “how cool is that” a wise man once said…

[@davidnavarro3226]

I would love to see a video of you drumming!

[@spacedjace57]

london loop reminds me of splatoon, wish the composers of that game would do a non battle track one day. also think you should react to splatoon 3 music, might be something you enjoy

[@nindieboy4194]

Why...why can't we set the Sounds manually in MK8? The music is way to quiet and the Sound effects too loud. I would Love to adjust this. MK8 has such a great Soundtrack but you can't really appreciate it during the race because all the other stuff is 2-3 Times louder than the music

[@KartLife]

I wish you could toggle them as well.

[@riahlexington]

I love Berlin byways in 8

[@theguitarassassin6639]

i like the original mk7 rainbow road better but im a sucker for dance remixes and it fits the redone version of the track more than the original song would

[@crazydaffy67]

We can all agree that rainbow road is the BEST music out there

[@greenisgood23]

16:52 THANK YOU!!!! I FINALLY FIND SOMEONE WHO AGREES WITH ME!!!

[@ImaGreenBoi]

I'm just gonna say The Mashups Between Tour Berlin Byways and 8DX complement Each other.

[@Tjalfe_Sax]

I think Boo Lake might be my favorite from this wave. Such a groove!

[@dv1860]

Probably my favorite track from any Mario game. Would love to have an extended version of this.

[@ShyGuyKart]

Fantastic video Sammy. This series is so charming and there’s a reason why it does so well. ✊🏽 Surprisingly I have always loved the London Loop soundtrack. It’s my favorite beside Vancouver Velocity but in the DLC they really ruined it. Not a fan of these remakes tbh haha…they sound so chaotic sometimes. Can’t even forget about that new highly saturated bright sky in maple treeway, it hurts my eyes 🤣

[@CinnamonOwO]

Maple Treeway MKT is just the MK7 version but higher quality and very minor edits

[@dibby4316]

That’s how it is for all non GBA. I don’t think listening to the tour versions is warranted