ARCANE | The Making of 'Goodbye' and 'Guns For Hire'

Okay a few years late w this 🤦‍♂️ but I hope you enjoy - Another musical breakdown, from Episode 3 + Episode 6 of Arcane Season 1
ALSO this didn't pop through in my video but I have to share a MASSIVE amount of gratitude and credit to Tanguy Destable…who is Woodkids phenomenal production partner that brought Guns For Hire to life with us. Id be ashamed if I didn’t shower him with just as much loving praise.
Some more shoutouts ~
'Goodbye' mixed by Adam Nolly Getgood
'Guns For Hire' mixed by Chris Tabron
Video Filmed and Edited by Jake Dahm
Thats it 🙂 See you again in Season 2
00:00 Intro
00:47 ‘Goodbye’
02:48 How ‘Goodbye’ Helped Inspire The Score
06:00 Working with Ramsey
07:29 Introducing the Song Over Credits + Song Arrangement
08:36 ‘Guns For Hire’
09:06 Dealing With Temp Music at First
10:03 Ideas We Trashed
11:21 Meaning/Inspiration of the song
12:15 The First Demo
14:43 At The Piano
15:56 Gushing abt Woodkid
17:39 Laying the Song Into the Scene

[@tobiramatime]

I hate when people pause the episode when "goodbye" is playing. When I first saw the show I was shocked and just stared at credits and listened to the song till the end. I love and admire everything you do so much...

[@MistbornTaylor]

As soon as I finished episode 3, I stopped watching the show and just listened to goodbye on repeat. It was such an experience

[@frank3manuel]

I hate that the subtitles on Netflix of the lyrics of Goodbye are STILL wrong to this day. It is one of my favorite songs.

[@shacuras8201]

Arcane is a masterpiece the whole way through, but at the end of EP3, with Goodbye playing, was when I first realized it would be great

[@LionHrodgari]

Or when netflix forces the next episode on you while you are still listening to the credit song...

[@user-ev9ht5oj5l]

I was listening to it and it automatically went to the next episode, I had to exit and go back in the episode to where the song started just to experience it in its entirety. I absolutely love arcane and it’s music, it has changed who I am as a whole and that is why it will forever be my favourite show.

[@quigsthevicious]

100% made sure episode 3 didn't skip credits so I could keep the feeling going. The opening synth run still puts a lump in my throat 2 years later. Amazing work.

[@sebastianjautschus]

Same here 🦦

[@vhardt840]

Same. I don't think I'll ever find something better than what they have done with arcane. I am literally so impressed even 2 years later, that I don't think anyone will ever do a series with the love and detail these guys did it. I am so happy I get to live to see arcane develop.

[@tylerdashart]

facts 😭💜

[@parrycarry]

3:35 I actually watched the third episode on release, so that the credits was all you could watch, no skipping. That experience was euphoric perfection. I feel bad for people who skip past Goodbye. Ramsey was such a strange pocket pick looking at her music, but it was an amazing choice.

[@yeahimasimp]

I was gonna comment something about this but I couldn't word it properly, I 100% agree. I mean I found out about Arcane through the Valorant event, I kept putting it off for some reason then one day I decided to watch it and omg. Best decision of my entire life, I instantly bought the sheriff bundle 😅

[@zrATT_]

​@yeahimasimp i remember riot spoiling us back then. Arcane, first valorant song, chamber..

[@XsynthZ]

That scrapped song at 10:50 is SOOOOO GOOOD. PLEASE make it into a full song at some point if you can, it's an absolute banger.

[@agssilv5919]

holly shit thats awesome

[@doineedtocomeupwithsomethi9529]

Holy shit, the lyrics make so much more sense when you know that Guns for Hire is from Silco's perspective! I always wondered what the line, "You sold your friends like guns for hire" had to do with Jinx. It seemed like it was just imagery for imagery's sake. But now I see that it was about how Silco has sacrificed and commodified every personal connection he ever had in pursuit of his dream, and now he's on the verge of loosing everything he gained from it!

[@silver9wolf6]

Right!? I love getting new perspective on it even now cause I freaking love this show!

[@nostalji75]

It makes a lot of sense, especially if you consider that in the climax Silco couldnt sell Jinx for his dreams. But also it doesn't make sense for me to put a theme song for Silco at this point in the story. Emotionally your fully invested in the reunion of the girls. Thats why I tried to relate the lyrics to Jinx/Vi too. I guess we should just accept that Silco was another protagonist all the way.^^ The music tried to tell us, but we were to focussed on Jinx and Vis storyline and to used to conventional storytelling.

[@Walthanar]

Silco is one of the best written characters in the history of screenplay. Basically like all other characters in this perfect series, but Silco is so amazing.

[@DLxxx]

​@@nostalji75 Exactly! Silco does have a strong presence in this sequence, but it’s so overshadowed by Vi and Jinx (and all the other added imagery) that you would never conclude the song playing was about him. He really wasn't ever framed like a protagonist, let alone one of the few to get a whole song dedicated to him. However, funnily enough, I was still able to figure out it was about Silco once I listened to the song in isolation and analyzed the lyrics. There really isn't another character you can say "sold their friends like guns for hire."

[@nostalji75]

@@DLxxx "sold their friends like guns for hire." Fits ironically maybe for Vander from Silcos POV.^^ Silco might have felt like that when Vander "gave up" on their cause. And maybe it fits for the enforcer who was willing to imprison Vander with whom she had at least a friendly relationship. But yeah it fits to noone as good as it does with Silco.

[@CViewer70]

Guns for Hire is ‘everything’…from Silco’s losing control of the situation, to the scene showing their fallen friends and Jinx’s emotional desperation to see her sister again…a haunting, emotional moment in tv show history I’ll never forget. It just broke me… Woodkid, wow. But all three of his songs completely embodied the scenes they represented. I used to say the Spiderverse movies were the best animations ever made…. until friends convinced me to check out Arcane.

[@Solarstormflare]

you've got some good friends there

[@Xerxsion]

I view Arcane and the Spiderverse films on equal footing in terms of peak animation. Personally I slightly lean towards Arcane but I would recommend both just the same. Both absolutely fantastic masterpieces in their own ways.

[@decentsingersclub]

same lmao i got told to watch arcane a few weeks ago and...

[@MidnightFox2189]

@@Xerxsionarcane is the pinnacle of animated ip television. Spiderverse is the pinnacle of animated ip films

[@karolinakuc4783]

It suites Caitlyn too

[@DAC_eq]

Daily reminder. Time to rewatch Arcane again

[@kezi7728]

It’s been at least 4 months so I guess it’s time to

[@cypressketch]

The fact that Woodkid, unprompted, created the soundblasts for when the water tower falls is just awesome. Love that he immediately recognized the vision you guys were creating and decided to add his own spin. So cool :)

[@shadxwslash44]

My favourite thing about this is my guy created a Bond theme without even trying. I'll never forget Guns For Hire. I finished my final exams in high school, came out of the room, still couldn't really comprehend that it's finally over, so I just put in my AirPods, listened to Guns For Hire on max volume, and got the biggest chills of my life. That's the "scenery" I'll always remember when this song plays, apart from the ARCANE scene of course...my last walk on the corridors of my high school.

[@tdaddy26]

It really is a Bond theme. Someone else superimposed it on the Skyfall opening credits and it works perfectly.

[@Zedem0n]

A lot of people are more closed off to art than they actually realize. It had never occured to me to cut that song short when this first played. I sat there and listened to the end of the credits as I was literally hypnotized by it, haunted by what I had just witnessed, but also willing to let those emotions keep flowing through me via this song. Sooo many people just cut it short because they see the credits. They don't actually realize that they're just ruining a moment for themselves. Crazy.

[@alejandroarias5947]

I love when he said: Welcome to the wild, no heroes or villains

[@zrATT_]

to the wiald* vilians*

[@martian_x]

Can we PLEASE get a full release of the alternative Guns For Hire time signature?? I need to play that on repeat

[@Olja.Sundqvist]

the same 🤤

[@zrATT_]

Same for alt What Could Have Been)

[@davedyt]

Come on Mako, we're still waiting for your version 😅

[@tobiramatime]

Vi slapping powder scene with that soundtrack gave me literal chills. I'm never going to forget that feeling ever.

[@midnightbard3935]

I never realised Guns for hire is Silco's song and it makes so much sense right now, I'm shocked

[@joachimlavandes5708]

You had to show the extract of épisode 3, do you? I was not yet ready. The PTSD. The children, the choppers.

[@AKJY]

"Goodbye" and "What Could Have Been" crushed me... like CRRRRUUUSHED my soul.... god are they beautiful....

[@DLxxx]

Please, PLEASE share the proto versions of these songs! I'd absolutely love to hear the music inspired by Nine Inch Nails at 10:25 😁

[@josefinanord3381]

Same! That would be amazing. For "Guns For Hire" I feel like it could be inspired by "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails, I believe that would fit the vibe of the scene, dunno if anyone else agrees though :P

[@greeleyjohnson4638]

CHILLS every time Goodbye starts

[@90DayBeyonce]

The end of episode 3 slowly spinning away into the void is so good, it fucks me up every time I see it.

[@Smeagol601]

Like really, who came up with that? Arcane is truly blessed.

[@KetNSound]

I remember being completely petrified at the end of episode 3, and I obviously didn't skip the credits because I wanted to stay with that emotion for a while - Goodbye is so perfectly suited to that emotional state, it was surreal . Your work on the entire series is masterful, no words to thank you.

[@emdeo]

"this scene was really upsetting" YOU DON'T SAY haha, all of you put together such a banger.

[@inavas101]

The power of Arcane is not only the animation, the light, the script, it is of course the fantastic and awesome soundtrack.

[@BusyCLMusic]

Guns For Hire is probably my favorite song in the series! Just such a beautiful and haunting moment that perfectly captures but Jinx's desperate attempt to reunite with Vi and Silco's desperate attempt to regain the power he is rapidly losing. Your blend of pop and orchestra is a huge inspiration for me. :D Everyone on this production just completely knocked it out of the park. Can't wait for season 2!

[@wolfystudios8983]

I would honestly love to hear all the scrapped songs specially the one at 10:25 just getting a glimpse of " what could have been" (pun intetended), if we had gotten this song instead of guns for hire during the scene.

[@nadeshani]

Definitely did not skip the credits because Goodbye was just so hypnotizing from the second it started. And then you absolutely took me out with Guns For Hire, especially since Woodkid is one of my favourite artists. You gushing about him is like looking in a mirror. 😂

[@PeterBarber]

My guy, so stoked for you to release this -- loved seeing the full breakdown for "What Could Have Been"

[@Lebpnguyen]

He did that making of “What could have been” video 2 years ago

[@quentinares7607]

Why I can't stop crying, it's just an artist explaining how he do his job

[@samumohacsi]

The Goodbye chord progression is so freakin GOOD, man! Also Guns For Hire is the best song in the show by far. I cannot WAIT to hear season two's soundtrack.

[@isaachagoel7344]

I actually really love Mako's vocals on these songs. There is something personal about his delivery that exceeds the final versions with the guest vocalists (including Sting)

[@thund3rbyrd87]

In December of 2021, I lost an uncle who was a big part of my life. I’ve been a big fan of League and Arcane for a long time and had just watched this season. After he died, I had Goodbye, Guns for Hire, and What Could Have Been on repeat for weeks as they portrayed my grief in a way I couldn’t explain. These three songs reached my soul on an ethereal level and they always will.

[@kmono5410]

Its been years and I'm still consuming Arcane content daily while I wait for season 2.

[@mishan3168]

Pretty hard to find something even close. To such a peak

[@MargaSofrona]

Im a fan of woodkid since 2011 when the trailer of AC Revelations came out his music is so unique with his dark like chocolate voice so when I saw his name in the tracklist of arcane I was so hyped for the song, thank you so much for showing us the bts of these masterpieces you guys made! cant wait for the new ones!

[@Walthanar]

Ok, so you people are the GODS who created the most emotional and perfect score in the history, past and future, of music for the most emotional and perfect series in the history, past and future, of cinematic art. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU ALL.

[@Tensooni]

When that song started, I didn't have the courage to go anywhere near my keyboard or mouse. You guys. Nailed it.

[@ryantheriault6579]

13:04 I would love to see this as an alternate version release! I thought it was pretty awesome lol, I’d definitely listen to it

[@addymac6145]

I constantly wish I could go back and relive what it was like to experience the end of episode three. I’ve still yet to ever have anything that has hit me as hard as “goodbye” and seeing the scene tilt into nothingness. Also, “what could have been” still has a choke hold on me.

[@jellyrolls2765]

Verbally squealed when I saw this posted on the Arcane subreddit. So excited for Arcane content. The end of episode 3 (explosion onwards) is my favorite scene ever, and it's really when Arcane went from great to generation defining. Goodbye layered over the credits is such a perfect way to end that sequence because it gives time to process those emotions while still experiencing them before moving on with your day/to episode 4.

[@lunazwolf]

I love mako's music, I loved that i could hear his musical fingerprints all over Arcane. But also, id do anything to get my hands on the demos with his voice over it 😭😭

[@devinosborne3396]

uhhh... brother. that first rendition that was a copy of 9 inch nails was INSANE. like.. INSANE

[@shallyz3623]

Goodbye and What Could've Been were my two favorites ❤️ absolutely breathtaking and beautiful, it was such a sweet surprise to know you were behind both of them!

[@Pingoping]

Guns for hire is such an awesome song, I was blown away by the chords and melody the first time I heard it. Love all the tritone movements. Awsome video, so cool being able to see behind the scenes of the music a little bit

[@CelShadedMusicTheory]

Dang hearing you talk through these other 2 moments is really validating! Love learning more about the process, even the scrapped temp for Guns for Hire. Glad you were able to do your own thing instead, the scene is much better for it 👌

[@alaia-awakened]

Holy crap that song at 10:50 is FANTASTIC!! Did you ever release this? Love the 'Orchestral Version' of Guns for Hire at 14:00 as well. Very inspiring video, would love to see more of these!

[@cvbattum]

I've always suspected that Woodkid had more personal creative input on his song compared to the other artists. It is a very Woodkid-sounding song so the fact that he did the entire production of it himself and with his producer makes a ton of sense. Even the soundblasts tie in so well with the soundscape of that scene, and lead up to the song perfectly so it made a lot of sense for him to include those. Amazing work!

[@sierra3830]

hearing guns for hire in arcane is what got me to actually start listening to Woodkid (though I first heard of him when run boy run was used in the umbrella academy) and he's by far one of my favorite musicians ever

[@TyZeHD]

Thank you so much for this! What you guys created for season 1 is incredible and I can‘t wait to see, what you cook up for season 2! Also, I love your songs „Breathe“ and „The Wagon“ ❤

[@real2late]

goodbye is probably my fav. song in arcane if not my fav. song ever

[@LydianMelody]

For those not familiar, the “N6” chord is indeed correct and it means a Neapolitan chord which is a major chord built on the note 1/2 step above the tonic (first note of the scale) played in 1st inversion. It’s a classical music concept we could also interpret as borrowing from the parallel phrygian mode or using modal interchange. Ngl I usually just think “OOH BATMAN CHORDS” PS: the “6” has to do with figured bass and idk anything about it.

[@LydianMelody]

While I’m at it: V/V means the “five of five” so like he’s playing in the key of c minor for the example, so the V chord is G, and the V of G is D. So the V/V for c minor is D. Usually you’ll hear that used to get to the dominant. So normally it might go D, G, c minor. In that use case would be called a secondary dominant but not here since it goes somewhere else more interesting.

[@Scatcycle01]

The 6 indicates a note a 6th above the bass. Figured bass gives you a single note and tells you the intervals over it, so 5/3 is a standard triad like C E G. 6/3 features a sixth above the note instead of a fifth, so it's C E A, a first inversion chord. We omit the 3 since it's implied. 6/4 is second inversion, which would be C F A, the A being a sixth above C and the F being a fourth above C.

[@LydianMelody]

@@Scatcycle01 Thanks friend, that makes sense.

[@andrewn7263]

These videos are incredible! I know it's been two years since you mentioned this, but I'd love to hear about the writing of Dynasties & Dystopias and Snakes. Your insights on writing to the scene are incredible and I would love to hear how you applied that to fight scenes.

[@sentro5382]

3:50 what an amazing choice. I made the distinct choice to stop autoplay and stick around just for the song. So many masterpieces in this series.

[@spasecofbojx]

When Goodbye started, I skipped the automatic next episode because the Song was just so emotional and is in my spotify playlist ever since. Also other Arcane-Songs but this one is the best for me.

[@joannelg06]

Thinking about the fact that new Arcane musics exist somewhere in the world 🤩

[@AVDRE]

Goodbye gives the chills every single time. Great work Mako!

[@dariowinter7243]

Uhm.. Can we pls have a full version of the song from 10:50 in the next album? Pretty please?

[@jbombaaa918]

Damn yes please

[@slick.v1be346]

PLEASE

[@DLxxx]

Seriously, PLEASE! I'm obsessed with the small clips of that song, and would love to add it my work playlist.

[@gameking0914]

I'd give my left arm to explore his computer beats.

[@daesharacor]

Thank you! The What Could Have Been video was so excellent, I have been hoping you'd put out more.

[@Sjulemand]

Woodkid is one of my absolute favourite artists of all time and when I saw he was featured in a song for Arcane I was so freaking hyped and yet the song not only met my expectations it exceeded them by a lot. So grateful for this collab.

[@MetroCubic]

Goodbye shook me to the core when I finished Act 1. I sat listening to the whole thing as the credits rolled.

[@tahunuva4254]

The ending scene was incredible, but when the camera pulls out, and the first lyrics drop, and you realise its _the end..._ Just, gut-droppingly good.

[@paulchoi8779]

Guns for hire drum beat sound awesome 13:52

[@tathabarcellos]

My favorite song of the series!!! Two years later and I still get emotional when I hear it. You are so talented thank you and keep making wonderful songs.

[@chloerimmingtonkane6285]

I HAVE NEVER CLICKED ON A VIDEO FASTER THAN THIS ONE. I love arcane and I'm so excited for season 2

[@basswachter]

It's always to great to see what goes into making a score/song, especially when the composer can speak freely and nerd out over motives and chord progressions. A joy to watch! Also, Riot's music team is crazy good. I haven't heard everything but they've released a lot of bangers. Also also, I watched "Arcane" in 2022 but these scenes still punch me in the gut. Not sure what to expect from season 2 but if it hits just as hard as the first, I'm going to need therapy.

[@nemecmusic]

Your song Legends Never Die inspired me to start making music at 14yo - now at 17yo Disney asked me to write music for Star Wars Trailer (and many more). All thanks to your music! Please never stop doing your magic♥ My fav artist EVER!

[@kmaguire7161]

I loved the whole soundtrack to Arcane so much but Guns for Hire in particular just got put on repeat for months after it was over. So cool to see someone so excited and passionate about his art. Can't wait for season 2.

[@adrianomel]

I will never forget the fist time I watched episode 3.. I had binged the first 3 episodes and I remember during the ending just staring at my screen mesmerized, just thinking: What the hell did I just watch? Is this even real? This is the best show I have ever seen etc.. And here we are, Season 2 coming out soon. Thanks Mako, the music is what makes Arcane great!

[@bernhardstil6128]

Can't wait to see your work in Season 2.

[@Introverted_goblin_]

This soundtrack hit soo hard. Arcane is on my top five anime of all time.

[@terrorpotato]

you can be damn sure I watched the credits every time.

[@DiogoSantosvfx]

That jynx scene with guns for hire still gives me chills to this day and I've watched it so many times... good damit love it!

[@Guutak]

To me Guns for Hire is truely a masterpiece, this song helped me with so much things I was dealing with, for that you have my eternal thanks

[@gaara_of_the_desert1118]

I didn't comment on the last video because when I found it, it was a year old, but thank you and everyone who worked on this masterpiece for creating something truly special.

[@RedNinja2811]

Omg I want the draft of guns for hire released 😍😍😍

[@Ayjayy66]

One of the best soundtracks Ever !!!!!

[@janimatics]

This is crazy bc this man was literally one of my favorite parts of the bridging the rift series 😆 he’s so talented and hilarious! So glad to see more of him 👏🏾

[@isohora]

Light spinning into darkness as "goodbye" is repeated with a shift from a single quiet one to multiple loud voices is just such a simple metaphor to grasp. I'm so grateful so many geniuses came together to bombard every sense i have with masterful craft

[@Foxinabowl]

I was listening to the arcane soundtrack whilst applying for legal name change and as I was about to tap send i remember Goodbye coming on and its a moment thats been stuck with me ever since. I love this son dearly, i instantly connected with it and it helped me say goodbye

[@ampguardian]

I’m 100% sure riot is just a music company at this point that just does games on the side.

[@moomine28]

I love your music so much, it has been one of the best discoveries I have made❤

[@MrMatsimanSsTako]

10:43 OMG! Please release the full version! This is great. It's a masterpiece!

[@preslim84]

I'm surprised that NIN was the inspiration for Guns for Hire since it sounds very much like a Bond opening theme. Woodkid crushed it too.

[@boxoffrogs-studio]

These and what could have been are the 3 songs still in my rotation. Such a great job on those songs.

[@TheBrokenEclipse]

1:12 I still get shivers from this scene

[@SageOfAtlas]

Bruh, when you're in the flow state (creating your art) you channel energy directly from the source, the quantum field, the fifth density aka the fifth dimension and higher. This energy exists outside of time so your past self clearly wrote this for this particular moment in your timeline. Fuckin' magick right there brother.

[@vibrantachromatic7195]

Dude i'd love to hear these songs with your voice on them, especially Goodbye.

[@oasis042]

Two of my favourite songs on the whole show. In fact of all time. Great songs mate

[@boomtube2195]

Fine, ill watch arcane again

[@tomburns7544]

Thank you for this look into how such powerful scenes were made. Such amazing music for such an amazing series. Chills up and down my spine while my heart was being torn in two. Thank you.

[@xXALEJANDROHRXx]

Man I love the fact that you let us see the whole process and learn from you

[@hiragasaitojh]

to be honest, Arcane is much more than a anime butt a fking master piece of art, you can watch it, hear it and even feel it.

[@bjoernpunkt]

The score is the best part mate, thanks for the inside. You are my hero and brought the last piece to the show who made this a masterpiece. IMHO. ;-)

[@ehabmaher4004]

Petition for Alex to release his Guns for hire demo

[@dzibanart8521]

I don't think anyone watched arcane and skipped the intro and or the credits, it's impossible.

[@Zyenthillias]

I loved Goodbye from the first time it popped up in my Discover Weekly on Spotify. I'd listen to it over and over and over. Just last week I finally got to checking out Arcane to see what all the fuss is about and when I heard the first notes at the end of episode 3 I just broke. Absolute. Tragic. Masterpiece. ❤❤❤

[@88Elguapo]

This is one of the videos on KZbin that I sincerely wish there was a super-giga-extra like button. Seriously, Mako, I just want to thank you for all you do, brother!

[@TheMwarrior50]

BRO THE TEARS GOODBYE AND THAT SCENE BRINGS FUCK

[@katiimelody]

You have come from so far. I knew you when you started on soundcloud, "Our Story" is my favorite song you produced. Mako thank you for being who you are and stay true to your creativity.

[@SLYKM]

I liked goodbye and guns for hire 100x more than what could have been. I liked hearing this analysis.

[@karolinakuc4783]

I like how in Goodbye at the moment in which Silco appears 6:05 there is that sound that reminds you of rattle snake sound coz he really is predatorous guy.

[@vision7208]

Arcane made me realize how a beautiful soundtrack changes everything about a show

[@Wingobear]

This video is a gem, thank you so much for sharing this ❤