The Modest Majesty of Mondstadt's Music (Genshin Impact)

[@alanOHALAN]

It is a crime that the Game Award never even once nominated Genshin Music in its best music category in the past 3 years.

[@SemekiIzuio]

I hope they do that for Honkai SR or hell their newer game ZZZ , Hoyo music is just so good variety of everything highs and lows

[@tommyreiss5457]

I think I heard unfinished games can't be nominated for that category. Not sure tho

[@clintfoley]

The nighttime track was very poignant and heartfelt, and weirdly reminded me of Tifa's Theme. I wonder why that is. Rural windmill aesthetic? F major key? Anime girls? Who knows.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I hear the similarities for sure! Both so nostalgic and ALMOST sad.

[@roselover411]

Back when I played this game, months and months ago now, I remember thinking the music was pretty, but it did what background music is usually supposed to: play in the background to accompany your game without overwhelming it. Meant to let you focus rather than get distracted by it. But I really love the breakdown of the different keys and time sigs. I love that stuff a lot for someone who never got to learn an instrument growing up.

[@twooty2148]

I think it would be cool to dissect a track or two from each nation Great video!

[@JonathanBarouch]

I would love to do that! It's a distant goal for now though. I don't get many requests for Genshin videos unfortunately

[@ProdigyAngel33_Nagichan]

Second this. I would also love a deep dive into Dragon Spine music

[@entropyi]

I second this! Dragonspine is my favourite place in genshin. I'd often nap to the soundtrack, I especially love Unfinished Frescoes.

[@SemekiIzuio]

​@@JonathanBarouchIm a year late but you should definitely do more Genshin, its a popular game and regardless of its uh bad devs, the OST is so beautiful

[@lindentreee]

because youtube search is busted now I just had to scroll through my likes a bunch to find this again. Glad it's still here though, I was worried it vanished!

[@Troopertroll]

Monstadt music is a masterpiece and I couldn't stop...stopping to appreciate it. The City Favored By Wind reminds of The First Town in SAO: the anticipation of embarking on a lighthearted new adventure. Even the title theme gets to me. Dream Aria and Eternal Anamnesis always bring me to tears, and using them as the final songs in the wind lyre event couldn't have been more fitting.

[@simon_roy]

In the Genshin 2021 concert, there is a remix orchestral arrangement of Another Day in Mondstadt and The City Favored by Wind. This is my favorite version

[@H31141RE]

Watching Diluc kill himself while the script says "life is full of suffering" Turns out this video is full of little treasures to find as well

[@unsalty6696]

Interesting analysis, I feel like this form of video was ahead of its time (as Genshin unfortunately wasn't as popular back then). The hoyomix team is still going pretty strong these days - would you consider covering other tracks in the game? For instance, the new Fontaine region with the theme of "justice" offered an incredible archon quest finale, and made good use of a dramatic version of the regional track that have made many of us cry. Some people also wrote that the underwater tracks helped prevent their thalassophobia. I would love more quality content on Genshin!

[@JonathanBarouch]

Yes! I'll definitely be talking about Genshin again. Unfortunately I only played through Liyue and so I don't have personal connection or context for most of the game and soundtrack at this point. But I will return to Teyvat in some capacity.

[@dinnyskips]

nightime mondstadt theme makes me think of evening coffee

[@mariacargille1396]

Marvelous breakdown! The night track didn't bring tears for me, but it did make me feel that warm, heart-full, wide open sense of calm that I personally tend to associate more with great poetry than great music. Beautiful.

[@annalisehua]

I love Genshin music- so many of them bring tears to me eyes── for riddle for wonders being one of the most obvious ones for obvious reasons (if you played Sumeru, you will weep) or Hanachirusato, for Kazari in Inazuma. (YEP there's a theme song for Kazari, it plays in the wild at night, the name of that song shares the EXACT same Kanji in both Japanese and Chinese, and judging by the fact they changed Kazari's name to Hanachirusato like, a year ago I think? That proves it's her theme song(weeps Kazari... I used my mask...). As well as the latest, le souvenir avec le crepuscule, the Fontaine main theme (cried like a baby- still do sometimes, especially THAT PARTICULAR VERSION where at the end it turns into Neuvillette's main theme and I'll be right here, sobbing). For Mondstadt, my personal favourite would be A New Day of Hope, for some reason that just makes me wanna cry.

[@SemekiIzuio]

I love Mondstadt ❤ after Venti and Devlin story was over and we went to Liyue I would just go back to Mondstadt and chill on or outside Mondstadt because the ost is so relaxing, in fact I use it on Spotify while im driving to work ❤

[@leavemeheredreaming]

Well Another day in Mondstadt is actually my favourite melody in this region, it's good to get to know why ❤

[@bjbarouch]

Yes. misty-eyed on the last track!

[@davidkautz9822]

Me too! But I honestly get misty eyed in many genshin songs.

[@jakeblonstein5894]

I feel like background pieces in RPGs or Open World games can make or break enjoyment. Since typically these genres have more gameplay hours than the average game I find if I get annoyed of a central background song it will make me want to trigger an encounter or change in task as quickly as possible which isn’t always the best course of action. So while true banger level background music is great, I think subtle tracks that stay in their lane like this are looked over, but often a safer bet for a game with so much exploration. Keeps you more engaged with the act of exploring the world rather than seeking out the fastest route to the credits.

[@JonathanBarouch]

That's a good point! I'm imagining if like, the Hyrule market theme from OoT was an overworld theme. That would be... unbearable.

[@aquatazer]

How does this video have so few views so long after it’s uploaded? I’d listen to you talk about Hoyoverse music all day. There are so many different styles of music in this one, free to play, mobile game that it’s genuinely unbelievable.

[@JonathanBarouch]

Thank you! More to come in the future - I'm a little unclear on the time table though.

[@novaminerr66]

thank you for the greay video! once again, you went into detailand explained it smoothly and clearly, thank you!

[@salamanderzful]

Thanks a lot for this video! Genshin Impact and Nier Replicant are my two favorite games... because I love the music! You deserve more subscribers and more viewers ❤️ Yes, you should set foot in Sumeru, Yu Peng Chen made one battle theme with fibonacci sequence, and it's amazing!

[@JonathanBarouch]

I didn't know that! I'm waaaay behind on Genshin and clearly have to check that out. Thank you :)

[@salamanderzful]

@Jonathan Barouch yes you should catch on Sumeru. Or you can check this out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/enrGnYKjgZZ_fck (the piece with fibonacci sequence). Sumeru is a magical place, and I really love the music!

[@JonathanBarouch]

Nice, will definitely give that a listen and add it to my notes

[@elliotmurphy2135]

great analysis! I feel like in this game the music works hand in hand with the art to carry the atmosphere in a way the writing can't when it is hamstringed by having to be a gacha game. I haven't seen many people analyzing the soundtrack like this, which is unfortunate, but it may be because it is unassuming for the most part in supporting the experience rather than commanding your attention. But I definitely have stopped in my tracks on hearing a new song in a newly released area multiple times now. Every new release drives home the soundtrack's ability to embody the atmosphere of a location in the music. Mondstadt's music, as you note here, is adventurous and positive but with a sad or lonely undertone, fitting the start of a journey to find someone you lost while you nonetheless make friends along the way. Liyue's music is full of nostalgia and history, perfect for a country with the oldest archon of all. and Inazuma's dangerous natural beauty and austere, oppressed atmosphere is embodied perfectly in the music. even if the writing dropped the ball on it, I feel it perfectly when I listen to the soundtrack. I know even if I burn out on this game I'll always be able to put on the music and get choked up.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I think this is easily one of the best soundtracks of the last decade, and I really want to talk about it more! But while my channel is still small I have to stay conscious of where the views and requests are, and so far, they aren't in Genshin :( I'll keep trying!

[@davidkautz9822]

Awesome video! Also, I’m super excited about the new areas music coming out in 3.0. It launches in like a week! So, Sumeru video? 😏

[@JonathanBarouch]

To be honest I haven't even set foot in Inazuma yet! I've got a lot of explorin' to do

[@neros398]

@@JonathanBarouch if you liked this track wait untill you see a little silhouette of a man...

[@hundvd_7]

3:55 You're a NieR fan alright

[@JonathanBarouch]

>.> I don't know what you're talking about >.>

[@Xeroskia]

Genshin music, and especially the time-specific variants of each locale, are excellent musical video essay topics, so I'd definitely consider coming back to this game in the future. The composition is stellar, and the way they tie the lore, mood, and leitmotifs of the region in such an undisturbing manner that takes so little away from gameplay attention, in a way that only purely-designated background music can do, is actually incredible. Really enjoyed the vid.

[@stroblaizer]

Would you consider doing a series about how some of Genshins tracks feel slightly sampled like ode to joy at dawn winery and Vivaldi’s 4 seasons in Fontaine?

[@stroblaizer]

Maybe i mean paccabels canon at the winery?

[@JonathanBarouch]

Do you mean Greensleeves? That's what it always made me think of. I'm sorry to say I don't think it's a large enough topic. I don't know if the similarities are deliberate or not, or what they would mean if they are, so all I'd be able to do is point out that they are similar.

[@stroblaizer]

@@JonathanBarouch oh lol ok

[@elia0162]

Always beautiful videos. Did you listen elden ring background music?

[@JonathanBarouch]

Thank you! Yes, but I need to pay more attention to it. I was too focused on not dying.

[@sirlottawin]

"stormterror lair" is the best song in the ost imo

[@Herr_Marder]

Sorry for being 9months late, but I just wanted to let you know there is a spelling error in title and description so you have the chance to fix it. It is Mondstadt not Monstadt (Mond=Moon) :D

[@JonathanBarouch]

OOPS good catch, thank you!

[@Lucerious92]

Don’t have much interest in Genshin Impact honestly but some of the music is quite pleasant. Your analysis helps me appreciate it a little more though

[@JonathanBarouch]

I'll be real with you, I burned out HARD on Genshin because it takes so much time to keep up with events and dailies. But I'll always love the music.

[@tootletubs]

Love ur reviews! Could you do more gemshin and neir musics in the future?

[@JonathanBarouch]

Thank you! I'm working on more NieR right now, but I don't know when I'll be able to revisit Genshin. It's just not as much in demand (which blows my mind, it's so good) and while the channel is still small I need to chase views a bit. :(

[@tootletubs]

@@JonathanBarouch I understand 😢 life comes first. Maybe one day i can book a private lesson on genshin impact music haha! I have always liked the soundtrack from these two games, and would absolutely be thrilled to make some from scratch. Even though I don't understand much about the fundamentals(despite I have played violin for more than a decade..), it still has been a blast watching your explanations because I love these soundtracks so so much.

[@JonathanBarouch]

I will *definitely* do more Genshin videos! Just don't yet know when.

[@fwaschuschu1019]

Hello thank you for all the work you put into your videos, On a nother note what are some of your toughtss on the music of Xenoblade Chronicles.

[@JonathanBarouch]

You're so welcome! It's a labor of love. My favorite tracks in Xenoblade Chronicles are Colony 9 (Daytime) and of course, Gaur Plain. I haven't played the other games but I hear Xenoblade Chronicles X has a great soundtrack.

[@saaaaaaaaalt838]

I'm no music person but I liked this a lot. Ik you said you stopped playing but I wonder if you could go listen to some of the more dark and mysterious music in the later areas such as Enkanomia and the Underground Chasm. Some of the music there managed to make a tone deaf person like me stop and listen for a while.

[@JonathanBarouch]

Yes, there's no doubt in my mind that regardless of whether or not I play more of the game, I will listen to more of the music! And hopefully talk about it as well. Time will tell.

[@exploder717]

Ganyu in the party? Based

[@Coleblooded_ZX]

Your video made me appreciate the Genshin music more than I originally did, thank you. Makes me wonder and hope if you’ll do the newer nations

[@JonathanBarouch]

I'm happy to hear that! I'm not familiar with much past Liyue but I've made a note all the same :)

[@killalot91]

I'd say the steel drums in the beginning is there to invoke a fairy tale feeling before going into a more grounded story. Since it is the city of bards.

[@SorcerorNobody]

I can't say I've ever stopped and really listened to Another Day in Mondstadt before... played in isolation and really focusing on it, that melancholy shift hit me like an emotional truck.

[@howdomaddie]

The City Favored By Wind was one of the first tracks that I fell in love with on the Genshin OST, and this was a lovely video discussing it. Please keep up the excellent work

[@zomb_fan]

I didn't understand shit but I take every excuse to listen to hoyo-mix music

[@PaszerDye]

It's so strange hearing you talk about anything other than the minor key after keeping to mostly your NieR analyses for so long.

[@JonathanBarouch]

This is still the only non-Swim This Way track I've talked about that isn't mostly minor AND IT STILL HAS MINOR PARTS

[@K150arts]

one of the main reasons i enjoyed this game so much in the first place was yu peng chens amazing work on the soundtrack! I knew as soon as i heard the title and mondstadt ost that the game was more than what ive heard of it. Brilliant work on analyzing the music! We need more videos like this on Genshin Impact.

[@elena8953]

Yet another amazing analysis!! It was a beautiful and informative video, not to mention very well edited. Thank you for this!

[@JonathanBarouch]

Thank you for your continued support! I'm really enjoying making these.

[@YoungProfessorUtonium]

Wind-washed mountains morphed my perception of this game. A true work of art.

[@BlackSeeD.]

Again, you're doing really amazing videos

[@JonathanBarouch]

Thank you so much! They're an absolute joy to make.

[@bleeploughly6311]

The music in genshin is SO good. I played the game religiously for a while but now I just pick it up every few weeks. I still listen to the soundtrack often though. Really glad to see a video about genshin music.