Yoko Shimomura Interview - Street Fighter II Soundtrack OST

[@EmceeLorder]

This woman is an absolute legend.

[@genoory5090]

No words can explain. She constructed my childhood memory for the love of these tracks and sounds that I still play today

[@SchizmKing]

I came here to say exactly this. Word for word 😆

[@karloaquinde3476]

Indeed, she created one of the most memorable and best soundtracks in all of gaming and some of my favorites that I can't get out of my head for the rest of my life. She's up there with Yuzo Koshiro and some others for best game composers. Ryu's theme is epic but the entire soundtrack is dope as a whole as well. Peace, fellow gamers.

[@Tko_Seven]

yes. I used to listen to this OST with cassette tape with imagination. and these melodies still lingers in my head after decades!

[@EMdemo]

100%

[@goncalomaia6987]

This woman singlehandedly changed the life of millions. SF2 has easily one of the best soundtracks in history. Instantly recognizable and an influence to sound designers everywhere.

[@finnmarr-heenan2397]

She wrote my childhood Sf2 had AMAZING sound design

[@JosephStash]

Most badass woman ever, composing one of the greatest video game soundtracks ever. Great vid - love the Diggin in the Carts documentary.

[@telemaster]

Yes, it is a great doco. Odd that they took episode 3 down.

[@bokocop5725]

*one*?

[@jiraiya0698]

Several of the greatest soundtracks in gammiing. easy.

[@kaos01]

Every song in this game is homerun. How can you be this good?

[@ENFDO]

Not the best, the best if VF1 (Sega Saturn edition), VF2 (arcade, not remix) and Vf3. Anyway SF2 got excellent music and inspired the whole videogame industry.

[@sdlock83]

What a shame that Capcom didn't appreciate any of her talents, prompting her to go to Square.

[@alexgeorge3068]

Don't complain too much. We have hours of glorious KH/FFXV music because of it!

[@nighthoodlupin3500]

Shame we got the Parasite Eve soundtrack out of it? No way... too bad for Capcom, yes.

[@jtehmain8261]

And boy did she get rewarded for said talents

[@eneadosti6366]

Roger bussiness ! Its all about bussiness.

[@ProyectXylem]

She always said that she wanted to work on RPG sountracks. That wasn't really Capcom's strongest genre, and it was for the best since Breath of Fire died at its 4th entry. Besides, she's a Freelancer since 2003, she didn't stay in Square that long.

[@nebularain3338]

She is my biggest influence as a musician, composer, and professional recording engineer. I'm deadly serious!

[@wildrose8053]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@kqno55]

Nebula, love is the KEY! Never forget that my friend! ♥

[@FinalManaTrigger]

I don't blame you, she's fantastic. I first discovered her in the early 2000's from her amazing work on Legend of Mana, and I didn't even know just how much stuff she had done before that, but when I find out I'm always saying "that makes sense!" Just as in the case of SFII here. I always loved this soundrtrack as a kid. Blanka's and Sagat's theme gives me chills to this day.

[@basonjourne6971]

Actually cried when I saw this... I knew Capcom and SFII as my childhood but never recognized this brilliant artistic woman to be the mastermind behind this incredible creation of music. Thank you Yoko, I have never appreciated and realized how lucky we all are to be a part of this history as kids.

[@telemaster]

Well said 👍🏼

[@MohamedAkhbar]

True. We are to be a part of this, man she is so awesome.

[@ToonyBe]

Same here. Phenomenal artist!

[@rafaellechugo]

same here ✋

[@awh4272]

I agree but what's with every person waking around today ready to burst into tears!? Something is awry!

[@jasong9502]

Yoko is the John Williams of video games

[@JohnnyOTGS]

You mean Alan Silvestri.

[@willyung5819]

Even now i dont think she quite comprehends just how much of an impact her music has made. Her themes are so synonymous, that they are more recognisable than the actual national anthems. Legend

[@TheTrooperMB]

I completely agree!

[@zacek19]

I cannot say it better.

[@messey12]

I entirely agree that "The Star Spangled Banner" needs replaced with Guile's Theme.

[@MrSnippety]

Wow. She is an amazing talent! The whole sound design of SFII. She basically changed video game history.

[@UrbanOutlawsSk8Co]

What she really made was the soundtracks to many kid's lives

[@degbry]

Literally millions. An entire generation

[@GokkunGuru]

She’s so humble. SF2 gave her confidence. SF2 gave many guys on this planet what is known as life.

[@dxcSOUL]

What is known as life? What?

[@naveenDEAS]

Just like the legends like Bruce Lee,Michael Jackson who comes once in million years, this great woman is a legend too which a unique identity. She is all over my childhood and still going on. Thanks a bunch!!!!

[@karllogan8809]

I spent hundreds of hours playing SF2 with friends! Thank you so much Yoko Shimomura!

[@ToonyBe]

I'm sure it's been thousands of hours!

[@alexisjordan3303]

Mrs Shimomura, you have no idea how many children, now grown adults like me, have been mesmerized by the beauty of your music, in the entire world. Your music partly shaped my young musical brain. Then, as a young amateur musician, I studied in depth several SF2 themes, most notably Blanka's and Ryu's, my favourites. Your pieces are candy to the ears as much as to the thinking musician's brain. Thank you for the music, your are love all over the world. ARIGATOU from France

[@consumeproduce]

when you listen back to the blanka theme now it totally makes sense that it came into existence on a train. the 5 note melody has the rhythm of the clack of train wheels on tracks.

[@Vice81]

This woman is responsible for my all time favorite video game soundtrack. All the best to you Yoko.

[@manchesterisblue1023]

100% the best videogame soundtrack of all time

[@SapphireCutTV]

Dunno mate. Streets of Rage 1+2 give it a run for it's money.

[@SapphireCutTV]

BTW Manchester might be blue but Europe is RED!

[@georgemichael3078]

Yeah, no other bit of music gives me as much youthful exuberance as the starting theme to Street Fighter 2. But if SF2 was the sun, Streets of Rage was the moon. That intro by Yuzo Koshiro is so moody and crisp. Both very awesome works. Honorable mentions: Sonic, Contra, Blaster Master, Castlevania, SMB.

[@k-baye6292]

She also did kingdom hearts soundtrack which Imo is better.

[@Drizzt_Do_Entreri]

Uematsu, Kondo, Mitsuda

[@luf4rall]

The Japanese video game industry owes her so much.

[@alfonsos.7425]

This woman is a genius. She wrote simple but perfect themes that sticks into your mind for YEARS!

[@Solambulist]

Thank you, GODDESS of Yoko! You have impacted the lives if so many kids back and in the 90’s more than you will ever know in an amazing way.

[@sarryuken8786]

Press like if you had goosebumps internally and externally throughout your whole body during this video.

[@鈴木ハスラー-g7e]

素晴らしい音楽を沢山ありがとうございます!　 何十年経っても、心に響いていつまでも残ってます。

[@KalvinEllis]

Thank you ma'am.

[@jurandirpinheiro854]

Algo que já percebi em algumas entrevistas da Yoko Shimomura é que ,pra ela, ter feito a trilha sonora de SF2 foi apenas um trabalho como qualquer outro, não teve nada de especial: A empresa, no caso a CAPCOM, solicitou o serviço, ela cumpriu o acordado, foi paga por isso, e pronto, assunto encerrado. Já pra nós, fãs, essas músicas tem um significado muito mais especial: São épicas, marcantes, recordações de uma época mágica, de momentos felizes, de disputas, amizades, brincadeiras. Algo que nos remete ao frescor de nossa infância e adolescência.

[@mactroz]

I already worshiped Yoko for her work with the Kingdom Hearts series, then I found that she made the SF2 soundtrack, I was shocked! Also the soundtrack of FFXV was amazing!

[@tangchiprathomo819]

She’s extremely modest for her caliber. No, it was not only you who thanked SFII, SFII also needed to thank you.

[@demonflanger]

Because of her and the sf2 stage/char themes she created, i can proudly say that have very fond and proud memories of my childhood that i shall cherish for the rest of my life:)

[@afropovic]

This woman is part of historical culture and defined music and sounds for generations.

[@zacek19]

I agree.

[@SmokingSpoon]

Street Fighter, Parasite Eve, Super Mario RPG, Legend of Mana.. She's an underappreciated genius.

[@nebularain3338]

Kingdom Hearts too.

[@jonpeley]

She really nailed it, all the tracks are great, but how she could capture that flamenco upbeat vibe for the Vega song being japanese amazes me. True legend.

[@evaunit2005]

Her music in Mario RPG is the reason why I'm the musician I am today. Mushroom Kingdom and Monstro Town were the first songs I learned without sheet music, just by listening. She truly is a masterful composer and just inches over Koji Kondo & Nobuo Uematsu. Whether it's Kingdom Hearts, FG XV, Mario RPG, Shiva's Theme from Streets of Rage 4, select songs from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Kass' Theme), or even Street Fighter 2, her melodies have always stuck out to me more as unique and special. Thank you Shimomura-San for your inspiration

[@joser9252]

Leyenda viviente. Gracias por componer muchas obras de arte y ser parte de uno de los juegos mas importantes de la historia

[@messey12]

The sound test for SFII was a blessing cause the music and sounds were THAT good that I could just play the music by itself and would be happy doing stuff around my room with said music as background.

[@davidfortuin4146]

Thank you Yoko Shimamura.

[@andydufresne299]

I've got to give a "Thank you" to Yoko Shimomura for making one of the most iconic video game soundtracks of all time. Thank you! Peace.

[@hikarunkun]

4:31 "I'm happy that so many kids overseas learnt that Japanese from the game" Me saying "Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku" back then: Ateck-teck-tuguem!

[@michaelngfinance]

Yoko Shimomura is a musical genius!

[@phil4863]

In order for her to produce this soundtrack she would have to listen and study other genres of music around the world and execute it through her own compositions! Shes a genius

[@jaredbond7908]

Not only this game.... she wrote the music for Super Mario RPG. Check out Valentina's Castle cover by Patti Rudasill for a full baroque style song. (Notes lifted exactly from her composition.)

[@jaredbond7908]

And this: (wish it repeated tho!) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmXLdmanpZmoY68

[@rubaiattalukdar7837]

Gratitude to the legend. My first Adrenalin rush in life was created by herself when i heard distinctly this sounds walking around game shops. And i literally heard this musics in dreams on that times. Hats off.

[@gi_nattak]

From Street Fighter II, to Legend of Mana, amazing all around.

[@erdebi]

Being a fighting videogame mostly targeted for men, the OST is so magnificient that still susprises me how Yoko (as a woman) perfectly understood the feeling that the music should express for SF2. Thanks for building the best memories of our childhoods ❤️🎮

[@caseyizawa9305]

Behold the queen

[@Not3xactly]

I wish this was an hour long

[@gabrielsyme4550]

What an amazing interview! Blanka's theme is goated

[@tae-yunlee7658]

Glad she gets even a bit of recognition here. Incredible iconic tracks. Ken's, blankas, Guiles, and Bisons are my favs

[@AndersonTenecela]

Everyone is wanting Street Fighter 6 to return to the jazz/rap style soundtrack of SF3 but for me I want Yoko Shimomura back. Her remix of Guile and Vega’s theme in Super Smash Bros Ultimate in a way felt like a tease as what a newer Street Fighter soundtrack would sound like if she were to come back and the fact the music in the Street Fighter 2 games are the most recognizable songs in the fighting game genre shows what a legend she is. What the story that is being tease for SF6 I could only imagine how godlike her orchestra style soundtrack would sound for Street Fighter 6 😍

[@ImWatchingYou69]

Disgustingly based take. Pretty sure she's a freelancer too so who knows...

[@rfmerrill]

Which remix do you mean? There are three versions of Guile's theme in Ultimate that I can find, with the main one being by Yuzo Koshiro

[@AlexRN]

This woman deserves so much more success and fame. I cannot praise her work enough. Coming from the Super Mario RPG remake, which she remixed and remastered all of her original soundtrack for the remake, left me absolutely floored. I also didnt expect that my favorite remade song would be "Slope" that plays when running up Booster Hill. In the OG it was a good song but this woman turned it from "good" to ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! Whatever she's been paid for her work cannot possibly be enough. She's a modern day Mozart and should be in the same conversations as John Williams is but because she mostly composes for Japanese videogames it'll never happen.

[@teavirus]

You are my hero. Thank you for making my childhood legendary…

[@IvoMaropo]

Words can't express how grateful I am for Street Fighter 2. This woman is a genius. SF II is a work of genius.

[@clikerzbot]

Aside from good design ang programming the sound of SF2 made it iconic..and i now knew this lady did it...amazing

[@FinalManaTrigger]

I didn't even know Yoko was behind SFII's soundtrack until today (shameful!), but it makes sense now that I always liked it so much! Favorite tracks: 1. Sagat 2. Blanka 3. Chun-Li (they're all great, but those are my top 3)

[@cetocoquinto4704]

That blanka theme was pure genius really. Imagine putting the riffs on that short span of time the emotions of that music.

[@k-baye6292]

She also did the soundtracks for live and live and kingdom hearts.

[@cross25011990]

the spain theme is an absolutly beethoven level composition.

[@Itsgeestatus]

🕺🏾Yoko Is A Muscial Goddess🎎 Who Came In Our Existence Of This Earth🌍Since Capcom Gave Birth 4 Standard Fighting Games 2 Create Their Own Lane (She's DEFINITELY A Livin Legend🏆 In My Eyes🙏🏾)

[@DrGreenThumbNZL]

SF2 ost is flawless , its just perfect, What a legendary game

[@lordiblees]

This made me tear up. SFII too was my whole childhood and the music was a huge part of what made the game so iconic. Thank you, Yoko! You've given so many kids (adults now) some of our fondest childhood memories.

[@Had0k3n2X]

Damn, no one talked about Balrog's theme :/

[@kiruoful]

🥊🥊🥊💃💃🥊🥊🥊

[@offended323]

The best theme of any game ever

[@yellowblanka6058]

That theme really fit the character like a glove, just like Guile's theme.

[@rjtkoh]

All her tracks are so memorable. Something that's really lacking from today's games is such memorable melodies. What a brilliant talent

[@chuquiii]

Thank you for everything Yoko! (eyes in tears)

[@aztecwhistle9122]

The character select music was one of my favorites, she's very talented

[@teukurajahitam8225]

My love and my salute to you Yoko san, from ex 90's child 🙏

[@SG-bz8kb]

Thank you so very much! Street fighter 2 music can’t be beaten

[@VideoGameMusicForAll]

There's not enough thanks in the world for her amazing compositions! 🙏

[@Oxazepam65]

Such a simple humble woman and yet she composed classic video games songs that could still be around 500 years from now.

[@Eyeyamgod]

Her music is forever engraved into my brain until the day I'm old.

[@karmad.twelve6613]

She is not only a legend herself, but she is so humble and chill! Wow, great video!

[@TrashBandicoot12]

Salute to Yoko, she was a huge part of our childhood as gamers! One of the GOATs 🫡🫡🫡

[@Bakayaroz]

I love the feeling of thinking about a problem on the train and rushing to my desk to write it down

[@LokoJoe6]

2:18 Taka tan tan and then the magic guys 3:58 Wait... The subtitle is accurate? She actually did all the voices from the game? 🤯 Yoko Shinomura, an absolute legend from videogames music ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@anthonygumbo2977]

You are a living god !! Ty sooo much for the fond memories , awesome music , may you live to be 💯

[@RealtusMaximus]

I've been following her masterpiece since SNES/SFC days. She's genuinely gifted, and talented.

[@libfit9068]

I LOVE her Final Fantasy XV work such as "OMNIS LACRIMA" and "SOMNUS"

[@meanwhileinjapan2265]

A music legend ありがとうございますYoko!

[@GattoriSancho]

To this day I listen to SF2 music in the Gym. Nice to see the face that made those songs.

[@Eggplant_Salad]

My first game growing up was Mario and Luigi super star saga. She wrote the music to my childhood. It's no wonder I love Claw's theme because it sounds so similar to a Mario and Luigi boss theme!

[@stealahb]

Dhalsim theme was my jam [was super skinny growing up and i just loved him]. forgot Blanka's; that one is wicked as well.

[@DenkyManner]

The SFII music has become so ingrained in culture that it's weird to think an actual person created it, it feels so iconic like it just exists as part of nature. No Street Fighter game has had music as good as II and it's 99% because of Yoko Shimomura's genius. And no remix of her original themes have the same impact as her's on CPS1 hardware. There's such power there which was always watered down afterwards for some reason.

[@telemaster]

Agree, the Super SFII SFX/music was a step backwards from Yoko’s powerful original vision

[@quakecon2009]

Amazing video and woman, street fighter 2 games were like a religion for me growing up, and still kinda are. Her music was a big part of that.

[@kcsnipes]

everyone taking a nap on Bisons theme ??? thank you Yoko

[@crazydog6093]

España agradece tu talento, Yoko. ¡Te queremos! Spain thanks your talent, Yoko. We love you!

[@alexandrealvesporfirioviei4722]

Essa mulher me fez muito feliz, não apenas eu como todos os fãs de SFII... Uma verdadeira artista, criadora de obras primas!

[@repeekyraidcero]

Yup. Inspiration. Strikes whenever it wants.

[@sendaljepitseribu108]

She became part of my childhood memories, my respect for you, and thank you for your great work

[@kqno55]

Yoko is LOVE!!! ♥♥♥

[@GokkunGuru]

The paper bag gave her inspiration. Fuck me. That must have been some paper bag.

[@VNSnake1999]

Ms. Shimomura also made the soundtrack for High Score Girl, an awesome anime about arcade games.

[@Yiko_py]

Le debo mis respetos a esta señora...

[@RetroRanter]

She's amazing, so many female artists made my absolute favourite game soundtracks growing up, gotta love it. 💜

[@LegionIvory]

This woman was destined for greatness.

[@k.c.r.5974]

So special 💜 I will cry 😭

[@FreeFlow__]

Her and Nobuo Uematsu are my Idols

[@princemallick3574]

Thank you so much for making my childhood awesome

[@Walid.Hammas]

Thank you Madam

[@FourthDerivative]

Shimomura-san is one of the all-time great video game composers. She deserves way more recognition

[@ricardomarte1902]

thank you for giving us memorable times

[@hoodclassicsofcalifornia]

0:34 And this is why Guile's theme sounds like how it is, perfect

[@DavidMzengi]

Kingdom Hearts is also part of her, too.

[@jso19801980]

I didn't realise at the time but I remember SF2 music more than the game