Why is Dragon Roost Island such a Bop?

Why, indeed?
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#Zelda #WindWaker #8bitMusicTheory

[@blackheart7921]

We're all familiar with the word "homesick". In German we have a word for the opposite sensation, "Fernweh", literally farawaysick, an aching longing and desire to travel and go other places. That's what I hear in Dragon Roost Island, and it's such a perfect fit for an action adventure series like Zelda - and with the song's lighter touch on that emotion for Windwaker in particular - that it's no wonder why it enjoys its popularity.

[@hobbified]

Whereas the closest word we have in English is, um... German. Wanderlust. But yeah, it lacks the punch of "weh".

[@TheEnigmaticKasai]

Yes! This exactly!

[@chrisbrannigan6210]

I love this. What a great idea

[@B1GL0NGJ0HN]

I love how it sounds like “far and away”

[@user-ze7sj4qy6q]

i love how german can build words like that. like its sort of just the same as english phrases (apfelliebhaber is just apple lover or apple love haver for example) but also the way u can use them as single nouns is nice, and some of them don't really translate, ofc theres a way to say it in english but u cant just morpheme for morpheme translate it (like that just means "far pain", but good luck being understood if u say that in english). also fun to coin them. only problem is the insurance companies and whatnot love to use them and it makes paperwork very hard to read as a nonnative speaker lmao

[@gonzosimaginaryfriend8013]

“No obvious hook” said at the same time as the grappling hook wraps around crossbar on screen. Well played 8-bit, well played.

[@Hypervalence]

He did it again with "...I think that's a little bit of a stretch." when pulling on Valoo's tail, stretching it.

[@joshuajones4895]

@@Hypervalence also "it goes deeper than that though" as link delves into a cave

[@bryandavies213]

the entire melody is the hook

[@greenberrygk]

“…but of balance.” Showing link balancing on a board

[@emmbeesea]

Using IV and bII in a minor key instantly makes me think Dragon Roost Island. There's no other reference for it, it's iconic while not being grandiose. I love this tune and Wind Waker as a whole. (:

[@bestberryj]

Yo I've seen you in so many completely different comment sections. Seems like you know where the good stuff is 👌

[@omegarupie5028]

Gm F Eb Is also the "lake of tears" progression (used in so fell autumn rain for example)

[@BlastKetchup]

@@bestberryj mostly seen them in silvagunners’ comment section, usually at the top aha.

[@eboone]

@@BlastKetchup I’ve seen them in Mumbo Jumbo and Zfg and Simpleflips

[@SheetMusicBoss]

The Wind Waker is a masterpiece in style and the emotions it made me feel gave it a place in my top games list forever.

[@vinny61389]

To think this game was discounted by many at the time of its release simply because of the art style.

[@goatbone]

@@vinny61389 I think the discounting occurred before it's release. Anybody that has played it knows it's a great game.

[@BrokenG-String]

Waving goodbye to grandma as you leave Outset Island always makes me tear up.

[@vinny61389]

@@goatbone Yeah, that's what I mean. The pre-release critics got drowned out once people actually played the game. We were all young and dumb though at some point.

[@SuperYtc1]

Indeed! I hope you keep making more sheet music for windwaker. :)

[@RikiazGaming]

Dragon Roost is a perfect example of "sometimes music just sounds good"

[@ProfesserLuigi]

It should be noted that this song seems be replicating the style of Andean folk music. Might be well known already, but I didn't know for a long time, so figured some folks might want to know.

[@jackcarter2767]

Thanks! I didn't know that, but I'm gonna read more about it.

[@sanfernvalley619]

Yes true

[@ElleRoni]

Yeah the flutes are a dead giveaway

[@Michaelw842]

Thank you for bringing this up I was gonna say that. Zelda music and art style takes influence from all over the world

[@180DarthVader]

Yes ! The melancholy melody the rhythm and the instruments come from Los Andes, it's sad how such beautiful culture gets no recognition around the globe.

[@YingwuUsagiri]

I've always felt like Dragon Roost and it's music acted like "it's too early to make a judgment or know for sure yet". You've just gone on an adventure, for a terrible reason, but it's also terribly exciting so I felt like Dragon Roost nailed that ambiguity home.

[@cptnoremac]

*its

[@BenjaminAnderson21]

@@cptnoremac "I wAs uSinG ThE _PoSsEsSiVe_ iT's!!11!"

[@SuperWordoftheDay]

ye

[@Alsetman]

Huh. That is exactly how I felt reaching Dragon Roost.

[@cupajoe99]

I think the main Zelda theme also captures that. As a whole, it features some of a major scale, but then also turns dark and chromatic before brightening up again at the end. There’s a beauty to adventure, but there’s also a tragedy in being caught in this long history of conflict that will never end in Hyrule

[@yajeel]

Had big time goosebumps when I first heard this theme remixed in BotW Rito village. Definitely wistful, like having a memory of a distant past that has faded into legend.

[@InvalidOS]

The way Tears of the Kingdom uses it for the version of Rito Village stuck in a blizzard and the Colgera fight are both amazing as well. They all have very different vibes but they're all amazing.

[@bryandavies213]

i had the reverse bc i played BOTW first. finding the original dragons roost made me fucking AMPED

[@lewatoaofair2522]

“Every giant handsome red dragon you see has an evil centipede pulling his tail” is a saying I want to use.

[@wojtektaracinski7977]

About the ending bit... am I the only one feeling like "energetic music with somber undertones" is kind of a genre of its own for adventure stories? Like I can't put my finger to it, but I swear I heard that kind of arrangement before I feel like it plays on the duality of the journey? On the one hand - adventure. Something everybody dreamed of, to see faraway lands, meet new people and see new places. On the other... you're leaving your home place for who knows how long, and even if you return - it won't be the same anymore, and you won't be the same person either

[@TedMackey]

The original Zelda Overworld theme fits this description - the theme is mostly in B flat major, but the harmony uses borrowed chords from B flat minor to give it a darker sound. I think 8 Bit Music Theory actually has a video about it!

[@j0hnthe5th]

Tunes like that - melancholy and reflective but still optimistic enough to drive you forward - are my favorite and stick with me for a long time. Chrono Trigger's Corridors of Time and Metroid Prime's Phendrana Drifts immediately come to mind.

[@brianazizi6375]

@@TedMackey Woah hey Ted, fancy bumping into you here, in this corner of the internet! Hope you're doing well :)

[@debleb166]

Crimson Glow Valstrax's theme song is a bit like that, although I think the sombre aspects are more so about the sadness and pity that comes with a creature overtaken and turned mad by its own greatest ability- they aren't anywhere near as present in the original Valstrax's theme.

[@wojtektaracinski7977]

@@debleb166 I love Crimson Glow Valstrax theme, but it's more of what you just described - the feel of epic battle underlined with sadness of seeing your foe's downfall. Dragon Roost Island is more like the feeling of adventure and homesickness mixed up together

[@levithewizard]

Dragon roost is a certified bop but I'm surprised 8bit left out the real world flamenco influences. Andalusian cadence, 12 compas rhythm matches, phyrgian mode leaning.

[@Elemy69]

It sounds a lot like Rio Ancho by Paco de Lucia, I wouldn't be surprised if they took inspiration from it

[@JPBrooksLive]

There's a tiny piece in the game that plays off of this song... It's right after Medli learns the song that awakens her as a sage- she is realizing that her late teacher knew her destiny all along, and lamenting having to leave Komali behind.. and that she wants him to remember her as a simple attendant... It's a very somber guitar piece and I always have a hard time finally pressing 'A' to go past the scene...

[@KennethSee]

I sat and listened to that for a while too!

[@Casual_PKBeats]

I couldn't keep myself from humming along the entire video, the song is so stellar in ways I couldn't describe before. Seeing some of the underlying theory was absolutely fascinating, I'd never even considered that the song was in a minor key for some reason, and the use of slight modal changes is so interesting. Loved the video, looking forward to more Wind Waker songs as usual!

[@DoMorrMusic]

Fitting how pkBEATS shows up in an 8bit music theory video comment section

[@AuraOfANobody]

Proof of Dragon Roost's melancholy nature, from the same game, no less: Medli's Awakening. Even with such a brief few bars, when the harps of the Earth God's Lyric fade out to the wind and waves, and then it hits you with that arrangement of Dragon Roost's theme, you FEEL the weight of the responsibility that's been placed on her shoulders.

[@macmo544]

Melancholic yet adventurous is probably the best way to describe Wind Waker.

[@Josh_Fredman]

For a game concerned with the theme of wind, this piece always seemed to me to be one of the "windiest" sounding themes of them all. With its panpipes and spicy rhythms I find it reminiscent of Andean folk music-one of the world's preeminent "windy mountain music" genres. (Here's an example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ham1nn2ko6-pmtk) I think you're right in perceiving "wistfulness" hiding in the music, sort of a "sighing beauty" kind of mood. And for my two cents, in a very rare instance of me disagreeing with you, I don't think the interchange with Phrygian here actually presents a "dark" sound but rather an "airy" one, almost like a suspended chord would. This, to me, underscores the limitations of the metaphor of "light vs. dark" when analyzing the modes of major. Anyhow!! We agree 100% that this piece hella bops!! =D

[@AnkhAnanku]

Thank you for including an example bop for anyone looking to further explore this vibe.

[@ph5.484]

I came down to the comments to ask if anyone knew about the cultural inspirations for this song! Thanks for getting there first

[@terdragontra8900]

the bII chord is itself a major chord, and the melody even flirts with the note D, the #4 of the chord, the fact its a "bright" chord from a "darker" scale is why the bII is so indescribably ambiguously good.

[@ricardozapata9142]

I get what you're saying but at the same time I've never felt that dark vs light it's the same as negative emotions vs positive ones. A dark sound can be very beautiful, suspenseful and joyful. I get the same feeling watching some car, candy, chips or anything that has matte color vs the usual bright colors.

[@Josh_Fredman]

@@AnkhAnanku I hope you enjoy it! I absolutely love that piece.

[@Wishuponapancake]

not even mentioning the absolute funkiness of the bass, specifically the fills during the end of the melody, honestly probably my favourite bassline tbh

[@HelpTheWretched]

It's the kind of bassline that makes one want to learn to play bass. I can already ~kind of~ play bass but I'll get better just for this tune!

[@akaDL]

@@HelpTheWretched I just started bass too, dragon roost is one of my objectives

[@LuisAbarcaCarvajal]

bro, that movement from minor 4th -> 2b major -> tonic minor, is used a lot in traditional peruvian waltz... and also, i was waiting for the mention of vertical and horizontal hemiola

[@Firespike33]

The IV chord is major, not minor

[@OliyTC]

2:20 The rendition of Revali's Theme from Age of Calamity really leans into that same rhythmic idea! Nice to see the some internal consistency and continuation

[@greenday61892]

Me throughout the intro: "It's the bassline. IT'S THE BASSLINE!"

[@crazykim]

I swear not even musicians recognize bass in music.

[@HelpTheWretched]

That bassline is not even in the original song! They added it for the soundtrack CD, then kept it in future versions (Wind Waker HD, Smash Bros, etc.)

[@SpaceChloe]

@@HelpTheWretched The bass is not in WWHD

[@KenDS1114]

I love that dragon roost island, that has the rito who can fly, has a soaring melody! Feels like you’re gliding above the island with the melody in a way!

[@TheSchaef47]

That Ab minor is actually the lynchpin for that whole song. With the number of times he borrows from both the natural major and the relative major keys, it's an extremely versatile chord. Some of the different functions it serves: - it's presented as a bVII to the Bb chord, so in following it, there is an echo - I-bVII in the relative major - of the i-bVII in the first part of the song. - it's presented as a bVI to the C major chord that we visit briefly, immediately after dropping a bVI of the original minor key. So that sequence goes i-bVII-bVI then IV-bVI/IV. - At the same time it's doing that, it's also part of a set of major chords moving down by minor thirds: Eb - C - Ab. If we looked at more voices, I suspect that we'd find an excuse to call that first chord an Eb9. If so, then we'd not only be holding on the G but also stepping down chromatically from F-E-Eb-D when it resolves to g minor. Even without the explicit F the other three steps are present. - I'm pretty sure every time it appears in the song is immediately before i, which says to me tritone substitution of the dominant. It's crazy when shown in that context; the Ab establishes it's relationship to keys that are being borrowed from, by appearing in roughly the same sequence as other progressions in the song, but it's also the lasso that ropes us back into g minor so that our brain never forgets the home key.

[@LlawlietWii]

I really like to see your analysis and as usual this one have a lot of research behind, but as a south american i can tell that there are some information that can be improved. This song is sound based in andean culture, that can be found in Chile, Perú, Argentina and Bolivia. As an example we can listen the zampoña or/and siku (both of them are pan flute), other thing that are correct is the melacholy that we can listen due the harmony ant the sounds, but i can repair in the idea of the mandolin, certainly sound like a mandolin but i can tell that the best option for that instrument is the Charango, an andean instrument that is a mandoline like instrument, born due the invasion from the spanish to these lands long time ago and with this invasion they brougth the mandolin, vihuela and the timple canario, so surely i can say that the best instrument for this case is the Charango. We can liste to the castanets also brought by the spanish but not commonly used in andean music. Other things that the spansih brought with themselves are the music from them, in south america are commonly used in the folk music the harmony from spain, so due the mixture of culture between precolombus american and spanish is born that melancholyc sound always related to andean music. Other musical thing that they brougth is the 6/8 time signature, and the latinamerican music really use this time singature, so i can tell that for this song the time signature of 6/8 fits perfect, not only cultural based, but in the way that we can sense the song, in latinamerican music we have Emiolas that are 3 groups of quarters in one compas of 6/8, that compas is unique beacuse every other compas we count it in eights but in an Emiola we count it like an 3/4. That are some notations that i can tell about dragon roost island and this video in a musical and history way.

[@TetrisMaster512]

Seems like whether it's interpreted in 3/4 or 6/8 or a mix of both really just depends on whether you're hearing the quarter note or dotted quarter as the underlying pulse, or neither. Wikipedia shows examples of horizontal hemiolas like this notated in both alternating 6/8 and 3/4 as well as one in 12/8. I kind of like the 12/8 approach because it treats the entire rhythm as a single unit which is in line with how we treat the 3+3+2+2 clave in 5/4 time, but ultimately it's just notation.

[@NikkiTheViolist]

if there's any artistic interpretation to this tune, I think it's supposed to be "Excited to be starting this journey" and "Oh wait the reason the journey started isn't a happy reason" and setting you up that that's how most of the game will be like. Exciting ocean sailing journey! against the backdrop of darkness.

[@RadicalKingJames]

It gave me chills when I got to the Rito Village in BOTW and heard the melody of this song playing softly in the town’s music. Such a great, memorable piece.

[@thomasrosebrough9062]

Not enough talk aboout how infectious the deceptively simple melody is! The way it emphasizes the rhythm as well as trading attention back and forth with the chords is just *chefs kiss

[@korohacker]

I always thought that this theme has a 'flamenco dancer dancing resolutely at the 11th hour of the world, continuing regardless of the impending end' feel to it, speaking as someone who still can't describe music using musical theory terms

[@syro33]

I mean... Thats an odd way of describing it, but... You're not wrong, I can see that. Huh.

[@dalluc]

You're not far off, flamenco definitely uses the phrygian mode so the song has that sort of vibe. Kinda bummed he didn't mention that in the video.

[@anonymousfellow8879]

Dragonroost sounds the closest to andean music, which is pretty fitting considering it’s inhabitants live in a mountain summit (and I think the Rito’s clothing are roughly taking inspiration from Inca as well?) Which, y’know, explains the instrumentation, particularly the panflutes with the castanets and mandolins as borrowed from -invading- spanish culture -in post-columbian latine cultures- Anyway. When I think of WW’s OST it’s honestly Dragonroost I end up humming or playing by ear. THIS is Zelda Music at its finest, and I just can’t really love the BotW arrangement. As gorgeous as its opening chord progression is…it’s just missing the simplicity that its predecessor had

[@Aurora-oe2qp]

Is it even a mandolin? I think a charango would make more sense and if it is a mandolin then it's surely there to replicate the sound of a charango.

[@anonymousfellow8879]

@@Aurora-oe2qp I’m not familiar with that one but I’m about to go search it! 🤩

[@anonymousfellow8879]

@@Aurora-oe2qp …okay I’m back and. You’re 100% correct!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bme7c6GhjdBmhtE

[@Aurora-oe2qp]

@@anonymousfellow8879 oh well it's a traditional andean string instrument. Based on the guitar brought over there by Spanish conquistadors. It has doubled strings, like the mandolin, but it has an extra set of strings compared to the mandolin: five courses of doubled strings. Pretty cool, and this sort of fast strumming seems fairly typical of this instrument.

[@crumpsyjay]

Such a fun tune. I've always loved the music in The Wind Waker.

[@fep1023]

The way you talked about seeing the music a bunch of different ways made me think of climbing the island’s mountain and seeing it from all different angles and slowly learning the cause of the dragon’s distress

[@CPMAHPFA]

Yes! Keep the wind waker ones coming!

[@cryhav0k2112]

A good tool in composing for games is to consider how long the average play time on one area of the map is, and make a piece that reflects that. A place like a shop has a very short musical loop. In Hyrule field, you have a 5:00 + piece of music. For example, Dragon Roost theme has a dark harmonic turn just about as often as you would meet some kind of obstacle on the map.

[@jdaywork2693]

Another great video man. I guess I'd go with heroism being a thing that can consist of bravery and heartbreak? The piece has both? Thanks again.

[@FarewellApollo]

This tune was the first time I was ever infatuated with a song from a video game, and what eventually led me to want to make my own. I owe this tune a lot, so that's a ton for covering it!

[@MurcuryEntertainment]

It's really another excellent addition to the repertoire of iconic music from the franchise, and it's really interesting to see how the melody has be re-used, modified and matured now over a few games.

[@Zvoosh25]

Can I just say here that although I wasn't old enough to fully experience it myself, I love knowing that this game was questioned by people, saying it was too childish and cartoony to be good, and here we are almost 20 years later (December of this year is WW's 20th) disecting every aspect of this game, the music, the story, the characters, the gameplay, the emotions, and everything about this game is a highlight of the series? Seriously, this was my first Zelda game, and it couldn't have been a better starting point. So much about this game adds up to one of the best Zelda experiences ever, and I can't imagine a world without this game.

[@MinorCirrus]

Awesome analysis, thank you for doing it. But you forgot to mention the drop of that thicc, thicc bass after the first loop of the theme. THAT's why this track is such a bop.

[@scrmblguy]

I always knew this was a bop but I have a new appreciation for the intricacies in it now thanks to you. That's why I love your videos because they technically and objectively affirm that the tunes I thought were bops were in fact bops. Great vid

[@TheTduabna]

Please do more of these! These are so fun to watch and listen along to!

[@GrahamLikeTheCrackers]

The melody is easy enough to whistle, and boppy and melancholy at the same time. That makes for a lot of spontaneous whistling! Speaking of music stuck in my head, here's one. How come Xenogears music hits so hard and buries itself in your mind? Seriously, I sing Small of Two Pieces to my kids at bedtime, and I got an Ocarina and learned The Sky The Clouds and You as fast as I could. Why, man?!

[@moresnqp]

IT FINALLY CLICKED WITH ME even as a kid i knew the zelda ost was different, these modal interchanges vs very consonant chords and resolutions

[@GlaserGabriel]

This is a wonderful video, I like it. I can especially relate to the part about not knowing where you are in the piece. That's exactly how I felt, when I heard it for the first time

[@eleanorcerar6273]

It was undoubtedly amazing to then see Tears reintroduce this theme in the beloved Colgera theme. I really like how it takes the melody of the theme's B section and recontextualizes it with the harmonies (like that big ol major fourth) from the A section of Dragon Roost

[@orifox1629]

This is probably nostalgia, but i think Wind Waker has the most solid sound track in the entire franchise.

[@crazykim]

​@@totallynotchar I disagree, I think Twilight Princess has one of the weaker soundtracks, that's part of the reason it's one of my least favorite Zelda games. (It's still pretty great tho)

[@user-bb3kw8gx1n]

I disagree oot

[@neoqwerty]

@@user-bb3kw8gx1n I'd place OOT at WW's level, and coincidentally both have extremely slappin' music with a sharp beat in the more unique-looking locale with your redheaded sage friend. (tell me you don't instantly remember Gerudo Valley the same way you remember Dragon Roost Island, I'd call you a liar)

[@Galaxia_EX]

@@crazykim Nah, TP’s soundtrack is by far the best imo. I’ve been listening to it again recently and I’d say the only issue is that the music you hear the most in that game isn’t it’s best.

[@crazykim]

@@Galaxia_EX "By far" invalidated your comment.

[@sabaca304]

I lack the musical foundation to properly understand and digest what you are talking about in your videos, but somehow I still love them. That you can keep viewers engaged that are totally out of their depth really shows how well made your videos are.

[@vedocorban]

I'm not at all versed in music theory, but I remember that mixed 3/4 tempo structure or whatever you'd call it really making an impression on me. Kinda reminded me of a sped up version of some of those complex alternating flamenco rhythms in both the way it speeds up and slows down as well as with how energetic it sounds. Also being able to understand at least a little bit of this video without music knowledge is an indication of the clarity of the presentation. Good stuff!

[@lh9591]

Why is this video such a bop? I watch it over and over

[@JimMorrisonsBathtub]

I'm gonna have to watch this again because I couldn't pay attention to what you were saying with the Dragon Roost Island music in the background

[@Platonic69]

Thank you so so much for doing this song. This has been one of my favorite tracks of all time since I first stepped on those shores almost 20 years ago. Loved this breakdown

[@shivlan]

I was hoping you would cover this song one day. I'm so happy!!

[@Tadeo_Rodrigo_Composer]

OMG this is totally like some types of latin american traditional music. I had only listened to this song in smash, and now hearing it in detail i can tell there is some obvius andean music influences, the harmony, the "mandolin" that sounds more like a charango, even the ornaments correspond to the style, and the "pan flutes" are almost the same instrument than zampoñas or sikus, i wonder if it is confirmed in some interview that this is true. As an example of the style, you can listen to "flor de un dia" by Savia Andina

[@Brassydoots]

Love the coverage of this tune. Such a simple but great theme with surprising depth to it. Great vid!

[@exyl_sounds]

undeniable boppery indeed! I thoroughly enjoyed this episode, never knew pan flutes could go this hard

[@booshfan24]

I found myself tearing up throughout much of this video, this was one of the first games I remember playing and the music was always one of the parts that stood out the most to me. This song reminds me of simpler times and reminds me of what inspired me about video games in the first place, thanks man keep up the great work

[@jazzpotatoes7900]

That bII Maj chord is something you see in minor-key Jazz every now and then (Example: The Way Up by Pat Metheny). When you're in the Aeolian mode, your regular II chord is a min7b5 chord, which is just nasty. A lot of composers will either raise the fifth on it to make it a more normal minor chord (which changes the overall tonality to Dorian) or substitute the chord for something else: in this case a bII Major chord (it can be a Maj7 chord if you want to extend it out). While you're technically now using Phrygian modality, it means you get to switch out that awkward Diminished or Half Diminished chord for a nice clean major chord or jazzy major seven, and it sounds nicer to the ear even though its technically more out of key than the min7b5 chord.

[@DaniloInderWildi]

Nice having it explained from a jazzer's perspective, thanks. Here my two cents to it from the perspective of a classically trained music theory nerd: During the Baroque period a "new" chord (that is, a basic triad in a new function) emerged which was later to be called the Neapolitan chord. Basically it's a Major bII chord in a minor key which acts as a subdominant chord, usually (if not to say almost unvariably) followed by the dominant V. Assume we're in A minor. It's interpreted as a regular IV subdominant with a lowered 6th instead of its 5th (therefore D, F, Bb instead of D, F, A, thus a Bb maj chord). The bass note is the 3rd of the chord, therefore the chord is built upon the fourth scale degree, reminescent of a regular IV. (We can render it as Bbmaj/D, then.) The bII in the Dragon Roost Island track to me has a distinct Neapolitan feeling, even though it's in root position and not followed by a V. As I see it, the dorian major IV (the C chord) becomes a Neapolitan chord by way of being altered via lowering of the 3rd and substitution of the 5th by the b6th, then resolves to the tonic omitting the dominant V. A bit of a stretch, maybe. :)

[@chillbill8596]

Thank you for this great video! I love Dragon Roost Island and couldn't put my finger on it why it immediately piqued my interest upon first listen. You explained it so well it cleared a lot of things for me, thanks a ton!

[@ZombieLeo94]

This music gives the feeling of exploring the beauty of nature/forest when listened to with the eyes closed. When I heard this for the first time it reminded me of my childhood, watching Disney movies and participating in school plays. So this holds an element of nostalgia for me.

[@KuroShiiiro]

thank you for this video 🙏🏽 in my own words.. its the panflute melody fitting the vibe of Windwaker perfectly, the percussion being catchy, & the bassline's intro

[@Ev3rlife613]

Great video! I know NOTHING of music theory but I was able to grasp a better understanding of this song with your explanation. Earned my sub

[@bimbom9712]

i love your videos man, i’m yet to find any other channels that break down harmony as in depth as this in such an easy to digest style (if anyone knows any similar channels please do let me know because i can’t get enough of this guy) i know your whole brand is built around video games music theory but have you ever considered breaking down some of your favourite non video game songs and what it is that makes them so fascinating, i feel it would really broaden your horizons being able to talk about the whole music pie rather than a very specific (albeit beautiful) slice of it. ofc i have no idea how to run a channel at this scale but i’m just offering ideas on what content i personally would kill to see you create

[@Miektastic]

while every term and a lot of the explanations go over my head, i am deeply moved by the in-depth and delicate dissection. i don't even know how to explain it, there's just something about having you go over each step of this tune and explain how all parts harmoniously weave together that is incredibly touching and emotional to me.

[@Cybrtronlazr]

I loved this song - its so nostalgic and thanks for making this video and for reminding me of it.

[@metashrew]

Hearing the bass when I listened to this track on good speakers for the first time was a revelation.

[@CeilingPanda]

Thanks for covering this, literally my most favorite theme of all games!

[@DouglasZwick]

8:18 - "I think that's a little bit of a stretch", he says, as Valoo's tail gets stretched

[@SomniRespiratoryFlux]

On the note of rearrangements of Dragon Roost Island's theme, can I just take a moment to mention the 25th Anniversary CD's Wind Waker Suite? There's a part where the Dragon Roost melody gets played as a French horn solo that just always gets me... Well, maybe that's just my bias as a horn player myself talking. Great video, great analysis, what more could I ask for?

[@brturner]

Oh that 2 bar rhythm pattern is also the pattern used for “America” in West Side Story!

[@TabythaK]

when the optimum point of the song ( *da ^duh de duh de da duh de* ) showed up as that breaking point in the colgera battle theme as a slower more sad version it was so sad, I started crying during that fight as it also brought back those core memories of me just running around on that island doing those little post office games and just staying there for that harmony. Also stepping into rito village and hearing it sound so dead without that remixed dragon roost in the village was all heartbreaking. One of my favourite villages which contained both my favourite dungeons/ bosses from each open world game.

[@adhoccerswings]

Awesome analysis of an awesome piece of music, and I love both c:

[@SeanRainey]

Excellent analysis man!! Both versions of this song are beautiful.

[@nathangabrielriegler5553]

I love your channel and we like all the same music 😂 so easy to learn from you! Thanks for what you do!

[@isaiahruland8096]

My favorite tune from my favorite franchise. It’s so cool to understand it this way. I never got the melancholy or dark and somber tone out of it but there’s something amazing about it that stands out from all other tunes

[@GoldenSunAlex]

I hope this channel does more of these types of videos, focusing on a specific song etc.

[@Nate_ROB_]

Great vid. I love that C, Aflat, Gmin progression

[@colinpaton3304]

What a magical articulation of this interesting and complex track -- thanks so much!

[@DauntlessBlade___]

I have no idea what you're saying half the time. But the more I *tune* in to your videos the more I feel like I'm learning from you each time! I love music, and one day I hope to make my own. Thank you for your videos! 🙂

[@singsongdan249]

I think the theme sets up Medli's story and for me by the time we return to her later in the game this theme reaches its emotional climax. She has this sense of melancholy and yearning for adventure but when she finds out she's a fated sage, she gains this grander purpose, but is also trapped by it. And that's what the Dragon Roost theme sounds like - a hope and adventurous feeling caged by a looping melancholy. It's so poignant and those later scenes in the game give me chills every time

[@Alphasoldier]

Really happy with this video. I have hours; if not days of playtime on this song, and it's an always welcome earworm.

[@johncargille7722]

Man, thank you for highlighting little success stories like this. Makes me want to try this in my own music!

[@mugflub]

As someone who has always loved video game music and has never understood music theory, I can't tell you how much I love that this channel exists. Thank you for your amazing content.

[@PeterNerlich]

I really like the new flair used occasionally when explaining musical ideas! Noticed it for the first time in this video at least. Having white notes over a slightly darkened but colorful video sequence feels very nice. But I think the contrast could be improved a bit. (3:45) The most effective change would probably be to have thicker hairlines. In black and certainly print these look really good and elegant, but when I occasionally invert some PDFs to read comfortably in the night, I notice that the readability goes way down with serif fonts. In the same way, the staff and stem lines should ideally be thicker. Sadly, depending how you make your videos, this might probably be difficult up to impossible to do, I guess. The next most effective tweak would be to increase the brightness contrast between the white lines and the background image. I quite like the vignette how it currently looks though, darkening it overall would take away from the color impression of the background. At 1080p I cannot really decide whether you already very subtly used this or not, but I would recommend adding a black "shadow" of whatever you put in front behind it and blur it or let it otherwise fall off outwards for at least a few pixels, then tweaking the opacity until it is subtle enough but strongly enhances readability. You probably already knew what I meant from the first word but well...

[@PotatopancakesOMG]

My mom had just gotten back from a trip to Peru when I was first playing through this part of the game as a kid and she said it sounded just like the pan flutes she’d hear in the streets

[@Donnerjkks]

I think you just helped me fall in love with music theory

[@lou_r_ana]

This video was recommended to me after I finished the Rito segment of Tears Of The Kingdom. Colgera's theme is a love letter to Dragon Roots Island and it gives me chills. A true masterpiece.

[@TresNoir]

@6:52 The harmonic progression here that you could not figure out is an implied Andalusian cadence (iv-III-bII-i). Here the piece goes iv-bII-i with the final note of the chord change from iv-bII a Bb (implying the III). This is a common cadence in Flamenco music. I studied this piece for a music commission :)

[@calmmusicforsleep]

Awesome review! Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful week my friend👍

[@FinetalPies]

It's funny that you described it as both upbeat and melancholy cause I simply thought of it as adventurous. The inherent excitement, anxiety and yearning of embarking on a journey.

[@FinetalPies]

Legend of Mana's "The Wind Sings of a Journey" comes to mind, not only because of the use of whistly flutes

[@KyleDavis328]

One thing I think is interesting, is that the bass guitar line (I always assume it's an acoustic bass guitar, but either way) that you can hear and that was transcribed **isn't actually in the game**. It is only on the soundtrack version of the original game, not even put back into the remake's OST release. Weird, huh? Great video, great song, great topic. Keep up the good work.

[@KairuHakubi]

that can't be right, it's so stuck in my head.. are you sure this isn't one of those situations like beginning island where the music changes as the game progresses?

[@meerjt11]

I feel I’ve heard that iconic 4-b2-1 chord progression somewhere in the Ico soundtrack too

[@royohz]

Yessss! I've been waiting for this one for years!

[@cfthompson]

I am beyond thrilled whenever I see you've uploaded a new video about Legend of Zelda! Don't stop until you've covered every track! More Pokemon music would be great too!

[@cosmos555]

Am I the only one hearing Take Five in my mind at 2:03? :) The organ sound also gives me a really The Doors-y vibe.

[@terdragontra8900]

It’s bVI IV bII i is just plain genius, two chromatic mediant moves in a row in a way that doesn’t sound jarring at all, chefs kiss

[@MY-hh5fj]

I'm obsessed with this channel now.

[@pookiewood]

I have this song at my morning alarm song. It's a great song that makes you think it's time to start the day on a good note which is usually off to workout first then to work.

[@monoverantus]

I haven't played the vast majority of the games you discuss, nor listened to their soundtracks, but that doesn't matter to me. Your videos are my most consistent source of enjoyment of all of music analysis KZbin. I'm in the process of making similarly educational videos, and your engaging structure, to-the-point explanations and smooth editing is the absolute peak I aspire to reach.

[@ZetaCarinae]

Really excellent video, thank you.

[@warwicklipbomb]

As a young kid, I would try to replicate this song on the piano by ear. I remember getting frustrated at the things you pointed out in this video. Amazing how theory can help put terminology to things you’ve been practicing, even if you don’t understand /why/ they are happening. Thank you for this. I think I might revisit this piece on the piano knowing what I learned from this video.

[@bardmanj]

Was just listening to this too man you are a god

[@colinstorzbach6105]

Can't wait for the part two to this video about Colgera's theme