The Man Behind DDR's Music

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SOURCES & MUSIC USED:
pastebin.com/HtVyXkjV
osu!, Muse Dash, Beat Saber, A Dance Of Fire And Ice, or Friday Night Funkin', whatever the rhythm game you play is, you may have wondered what the story of the rhythm game artists behind the music in-game are. This is a new series where I attempt to explore that, and today we'll be taking a step back to DanceDanceRevolution and looking at the legend behind many of the serie's songs, NAOKI / Naoki Maeda! Learn about what got NAOKI starting composing, the rise and fall of his idol group BeForU, TERRA, and the history of classics such as PARANOIA, MAX 300, Red Zone, and Healing Vision!
00:00 Intro
01:31 Early Years
08:42 On The Rise: The Story Of NAOKI's Forgotten Idol Group
22:08 A New Chapter...? Continuing His Career
29:08 Conclusion

[@filippoliao7252]

NAOKI and Tatsh recently released a new Red Zone sequel called Blue Zone for Chunithm, so despite the radio silence on social media, I guess he's somewhat active behind the scenes

[@rinnythe16th]

Damn thats pretty cool, also yeah he's definitely still active with something

[@diplogg6782]

Honestly I didn't know he made max 300. That's cool asf

[@rinnythe16th]

Neither did I, it was surprising to see how much he's responsible for!

[@Darknight0681]

He made the majority of the most known songs in the original set of DDR games.

[@LAZY-RUBY]

This man is my hero. His DDR tracks are some of the first music I actually liked as a kid. Wouldn't have started making music myself without him!

[@Tribow]

Didnt even know NAOKI was behind Seven's Code. That game is pretty sick

[@rinnythe16th]

Agreed

[@ShiroCh_ID]

same here now i wana know NAOKI's Recent song since his Early DDR songs feels so Crap and Trash Compared to Camellia and T+Pazolite(the whom i know) or even Cashew(The Indonesian Rythm Game Mucisian that was made debut in 2015 in Pump It Up Prime) earliest song,nowi want to know how he progress through that harsh Konami environment

[@NobleDemonTim]

@@ShiroCh_ID Konami is being harsh to DDR, solely for NOT being beatmania, and worse, Konami corporate is realizing too late pre-2012 EMI was their best business partner all along.

[@pentaxel3905]

Fun fact: He recently made a song for DDR's rival game, Pump It Up. Ironic lmfao

[@-Poka-]

if he ever decided to be a main composer for PIU, he will be also top of my favorite PIU composers such as BanYa and Doin

[@GabbiMochi]

Naoki! Maeda! Naoki! Maeda!

[@rinnythe16th]

Naoki! Maeda! Naoki! Maeda!

[@fascinationproductions5973]

He honestly deserves more exposure in the music and rhythm game community. He composed Most of the songs in DDR and other Rhythm games, and not many people knew that some of the meme or animes songs were composed from him.

[@Darknight0681]

Don’t even get me started on the amount of musical range he had. Konami had no business messing up the way they did by losing him.

[@rinnythe16th]

Some notes: -beatmania is actually BEMANI's first rhythm game, ignore the footnote. -If you want to learn more about CROSSxBEATS, Losermanwins made a great video covering it! Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKebq5eYo7uKh5Y -The 4 Key gameplay you occasionally see pop-up was me playing FlashFlashRevolution. Check it out, it's really cool: www.flashflashrevolution.com/ Thanks for watching!

[@meicleorysm1142]

I think also worth noting after his radio silence: Naoki provided a few originals, as well as a few of his previous works, onto a game called StepManiaX over the course of last year; at least, if I’m recalling correctly At least, I’m glad to hear he’s still doing stuff such as Artist Casting Management for Chrono Circle as you noted, and can only wish him well with the future; what he contributed to DDR is insane

[@ShiroCh_ID]

wait isnt Chrono Circle was Made by Korean Game Arcade Studios Andamiro who also made Pump it up?

[@meicleorysm1142]

@@ShiroCh_ID Yep

[@therandommemecat7738]

He changed the side lol, from DDR to Pump It Up

[@Telesmana]

I watch this Docu once in a time I miss you KING (1998-2013)

[@DiogenesTheCynic.]

He’s making tracks for StepmaniaX but I think he’s just a freelancer

[@inxphy]

nice video. it's honestly insane how much he contributed to the ddr scene. the most iconic of songs, such as paranoia, max 300, maxx unlimited, fascination maxx, pluto & pluto the first, dead end (and its groove radar counterpart), chaos, bag, etc. are all made by him. that's really crazy. kinda interesting baby's tears didn't get a mention though since riyu kosaka was the only one singing (again) and it had another version which was apparently used for some opening lol

[@rinnythe16th]

I HAD NO IDEA BABY'S TEARS WAS MADE BY RIYU WTF

[@ar_nim]

Naoki's early songs had references to the effects of recreational drugs lol Paranoia, Trip Machine (lol), Wild Rush, Ecstasy But yeah, Naoki was totally spearheading DDR in its heyday. All of his songs are still pretty fun to listen and play today. Dynamite Rave was probably his most well known song during those time. Recently, Naoki produced a sequel to MAX300 called MAX301, released in the Korean game EZ2ON.

[@4sety]

I'm not into 4key games and I'm still in the middle of catching up on your History of Rhythm Game Artists series(incl. this video) but this has to be some of the best rhythm game content I've ever seen man. Some of the info I've seen you manage to pull up is so obscure I never would've found it otherwise. Arcaea and Phigros are pretty much all I play, but never before this series have I been so interested in following ALL of the RGs and the big-name artists I knew nothing about beyond some oddly specific charts that inspire self-doubt. Also, I hope you have the likes of Feryquitous and Silentroom on your list of artists to cover at some point in the future, but otherwise, I'm excited to see who else you talk about that I've never heard of before.

[@rinnythe16th]

Such kind words man, I'm glad you're getting something out of it! Also absolutely plan on doing those two, Silentroom is one I hope to do ASAP actually :)

[@stagnantwater3775]

I blame you for making me constantly do research on the people who made songs i like and finding many intriguing things

[@rinnythe16th]

Haha we love to hear it :)

[@vincently1995]

Naoki "Dance Dance Revolution" Maeda

[@rfart419]

21:56 BeforU definitely gave me nostalgia. :)

[@hata1499]

RED ZONE GOOD

[@BP-gy7sx]

Yeah, I think NAOKI is now working for SEGA, On April fools, he had released a new song on maimai, and his songs for chunithm：ottori innovatived、Blue zone had been moved to maimai recently. So don't be worried about his audio slience, he must be fine

[@trashcatqueen]

Man spent almost 2 decades churning out straight up bangers. The talent 🤌✨

[@nightmare-nightmarenightma1147]

I've always wanted to know more about the artists behind DDR's music. I still listen to a lot of it even though I haven't played the game in a couple of years Thanks for the vid

[@outthefryinpan]

im a fairly new player and was familiar with a lot of the songs, great to know the context and history behind a lot of them!

[@Nazrininator]

That was a great video! As an intermediate player, I made it a goal to pass MAX 300 this year.

[@waaan_]

great video and research. Thank you

[@isemarcos4249]

What an awesome video, it solved me many doubts, hopefully this gets more recongnition :)

[@rinnythe16th]

Glad you enjoyed, appreciate it! :D

[@nbchowning]

Awesome video!

[@bigz3283]

What a great video. It's crazy how he was the composer for like 90% of my favorite songs

[@kao9955]

TERRA songs go pretty hard

[@rinnythe16th]

They slap, respectfully

[@ZenokweiAka]

Yeah. They sound like your favorite anime opening.

[@alibiisntreal]

glad i got to learn more abt this guy, good vid 👍

[@rinnythe16th]

Thanks for watching :)

[@jordonvazquez7620]

A dance party/concert celebrating dance dance revolutions mark in video gaming would be fun as hell.

[@MackenziiRivers]

a lot of my music tastes were formed around my times spent at arcades, especially playing Guitar hero and various DDR machines. i dint know he was behind almost all of my favourite ddr songs. thought BeForU was just a coincidence that it shared its name if a DDR track, but seems not. shame he's been radio silence for a while, but wether its because he's working on something new or retirement, wouldnt mind either way. Still love his music decade later.

[@zken8723]

ZERO is definitely one of my favourite song from the duo TERRA to a point that I always use this as my 1st stage song on IIDX when I wasn't 8th dan yet (I can't select level 10s on my first song), EDEN black another finally became an arena unlock 2 months ago and I really hope they add ZERO black another to AC soon

[@hateislove3880]

To me DDR died when naoki left konami the some of new DDR songs are okay, but they are not rememberable like DDR sn or x2 without jun or naoki DDR is no longer fun to play to.

[@outthefryinpan]

So coming back to this video a while later, I was wondering if you have found any footage of Naoki making music? I would love to see the magic behind the creation process.

[@ZenokweiAka]

6:18 saw that name onoken on the one P8107. I didn’t know he made that derivative Paranoia song. Kinda shocking I only knew him from his Cytus and Deemo songs.

[@e.c.b.]

Can you talk about the last OG of DDR, U1-ASAMi?

[@Miligram573]

Glad he returned to his roots with StepManiaX

[@bills-beard]

Re: Conclusion: Maeda-san is now contracted with StepRevolution to make music for StepManiaX

[@dashark14]

naokis been kinda active lately he actually just made some songs for andamiros new game chrono circle like 2 days ago

[@diaquallo]

Bemani is popular since I entered to the world of iidx.

[@obeeked1385]

"and unlike today where rhythm game songs would have a very clear structure" >literally any leaf/frums song

[@SeptaGon7]

good video

[@rinnythe16th]

Thanks a lot :)

[@thebibleisanalternativetot181]

Of all the long time current and former BST artists Naoki is probably my least favorite of the bunch. Towards the end of his tenure with Konami his music really went to the 🚽 when he succeeded in making songs that sound like generic Western pop music (a la Hottest Party era). He gets way too much credit than he deserves tbh when artists like wac, Mutsuhiko, Taka, LED, etc all are better. I did learn in this video that BeForU absolutely stunk as a stand alone group.

[@eugh73]

very good video :thumbsup:

[@rinnythe16th]

Appreciate it man!

[@ChistoPon]

Naoki hizo que mi amor por el Hpyer Eurodance floreciera ♥

[@g0rth0rTBL]

what bg music are you using at 1:27? I know I've heard this before but can't remember where... Bleach?

[@kasperroued521]

i think you should take a look at a_hisa and take a look at his music

[@jairoatanacio3315]

Mr. RinnyThe16th, can you do a vid about "BlackY"??? I would to see that.

[@rinnythe16th]

They are on my list so one day!

[@DMG3049]

Dive is one of my Favorite DDR songs it's unfortunate that it was deemed a Flop maybe it was too ahead of it's time for some people lol

[@katsudon2048]

No way, team fort 2

[@OniKidou]

Naoki released some songs onto StepManiaX (six AFAIK). And let me tell you... THEY ARE FIRE!!! I love BU-44, which definitely has that old school B4U vibe that made me fall in love with Naoki's music.