[Music] Your top ten favourite pieces of soundtrack music

Marqo

Marqo

In Cryo Sleep
I was recently looking through my music collection and noticed I have quite a lot of music from games, tv programmes and movies. This made me think about which ones I like best, and got me wondering what others consider good soundtracks.

Therefore, I have started this thread: here, you can list your top 10 (or less if you want) favorite pieces of music from games/movies/tv shows/anime/radio plays/etc...

I'll start off with my own top 10, including YouTube links (In random order, as I couldn't come up with a ranking I was happy with):

- I am the Doctor (Doctor who, new series 5) This is basically the eleventh Doctor's theme, and it is awesome and varied. It has bombastic parts, tense ones and whimsical ones, capturing the spirit of Eleven very well.

- The Imperial March (Star Wars) This one should need little explanation. The ultimate theme for massive armies of baddies or their huge spaceships.

- Fairy Tail (Fairy Tail) The theme of the titular mage guild Fairy Tail. Awesome music, generally playing during awesome moments. Also quite different from most other main themes of anime series.

- Sally (Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack) Starts off downcast, then turns into a version of the equally awesome Nu Gundam's theme. Very fitting for the start of the movie's final offensive.

- Itsumo no fuukei (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) A relaxed and soothing theme for everyday life. A song that reminds you that normal does not have to mean bad.

- The Culling (World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King) Yes, the first WoW music on the list. Starts off nice and calm for the peaceful Lordaeron before going into a frantic pace which really gives a sense of urgency to stopping the waves of Scourge and getting to Varimathras as quickly as possible.

- Hyrule Field (The Legend of Zelds: Ocarina of Time) Yes, The link is to the Smash Brothers remix, which is even more awesome than the original. The perfect theme for riding across the fields atop you trusty steed, on your way to the next challenge. OoT is still one of my favorite games of all time, and this is in my opinion the best music in the game.

- Tallon Overworld (Metroid Prime) The first theme you hear as you land on Tallon IV after completing the Pirate Frigate "tutorial". It fits the lush beauty of the jungle zone perfectly.

- Gusty Garden Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy) Another beautiful theme for a great zone in a great game. Epic and upbeat, exactly what you want for a Mario platform game.

- Pray (Nanoha StrikerS) The only music with singing in my top 10. This theme plays near the end of the season, during some excellent and satisfying fighting scenes.

There's a few more themes I couldn't fit in there (like the Stargate theme, The Beast II from Evangelion and Together We Ride from Fire Emblem), and I limited myself to one theme per franchise. Pretty much all of these sources have quite a bite more awesome music, and I would encourage anyone to check them out.

And now for your choices. What do you consider great soundtracks, and why?
 
Tetsuo_Shima

Tetsuo_Shima

In Cryo Sleep
This is cool, I think music can add as much to the enjoyment of a game as gameplay or graphics (Donkey Kongs 2+3 and Final Fantasy games are huge examples of this), so it's only fair that we should big it up.

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Here's mine, in no particular order:

Opening Theme from Sharpe (Sharpe TV series) - Rousing orchestral music with a really nice guitar riff over the top, psyched me every time I watched an episode

You Are Not Alone! (Final Fantasy 9) - You know how much I love Final Fantasy 9, so there was always going to be a track in here. There are so many tunes that are absolutely jawdropping, but You Are Not Alone! comes at the emotional height of the game and it just send me over the edge every time I hear it. You have to listen to it all the way til the electric guitar kicks in, it's incredible.

Perfect Dark Credits (Perfect Dark) - More brilliant guitar riffs, and a really nice techno-industrial upbeat to back it up.

Dr. Wily's Stage (Mega Man 1) - It was either this or Ice Man's stage, but I really love the haunting melody of this one that gives it a kind of desperation and sense of foreboding at what lies ahead.

Moon Over the Castle (Gran Turismo 4) - The intro from the Japanese version of GT4, can't believe somebody was stupid enough to substitute it with a shitty Kasabian remix in the European release. Still, thanks to the advent of YouTube we can all enjoy one of the most amazing driving rock songs ever created. Indeed, you could easily envision this as the theme for TopGear if they ever got tired of the Alman Brothers. Skip to 1:19 for the hit of the whole fruit.

Stickerbrush Symphony + Kannon's Klaim (Donkey Kong 2) - David Wise, you are a true superstar. The DKC2 soundtrack is an absolute dream, so you'll forgive me for being forced into choosing two songs. Stickerbrush Symphony is so chilled and relaxing, I think i paused the game for about half an hour just to listen to it. Kannon's Klaim has some HUGE, rousing breakdowns, especially the one at 1:30. Magical is how I'd describe it.

Kingdom of Ixa'Taka (Skies of Arcadia) - A really lively and upbeat tune that comes just after a period of slightly saddening storyline revelations -and what a tonic to cheer you up. it kind of reminds me of the tune that the Ewoks play at the end of SW Episode 6.

Town of Wind and Ruins (Tales of Symphonia) - Another chilled, emotional track. Love the chord progression of this one, it just gets deep into my guts and shakes me up.

Aqua Marina (Stingray TV series) - One I've always loved since watching Stingray as a wee boy, the lyrics always threaten to burst my heart.

Reunion (Uncharted 2) - Finally, a tune from one of the best games (maybe THE BEST) of the decade. Loads of brilliant tunes in this game with an emotional or adventurous spirit, but this is the best of the best. Truly.

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I love this thread by the way, and I promise to listen to every tune that people post.

By the way, you'll have to forgive the huge emphasis on games that my list has. I don't watch all that many TV series, and whilst I have a decent movie collection I can't recall too many brilliant themes in my head. Or maybe I wasn't trying hard enough, because a few are popping in now, like the Lion King, Jurassic Park, Alien(s) ...
 
Tetsuo_Shima

Tetsuo_Shima

In Cryo Sleep
On Marqo's submissions:

I am the Doctor - I really like this song, but not on its own so much. I could imagine it being played during the last few minutes of an episode where the Doctor says something catchy and then strides off into a fast fading sunset (I don't watch Doctor Who, by the way) and that would be the emotional coatpeg the tune would hang off of, so to speak. As you say, the bombastic nature of it really pulls you in and fills you with energy.

The Imperial March - Well, what can you say. It's timeless, truly timeless. I like how the character of Vader (and, by extension, the empire itself) lends a lot to the feeling of the song, and at the same time the song lends a lot to the character of Vader.

Fairy Tail - I have to say, I loved this one a lot. I'm not a huge fan of the American-style power rockiness, but the strings and the slightly piratical nature of it gave it a kind of feel-good swaggering bravado. It makes me want to check out the anime, in fact *makes note on post it pad*

Sally - I feel bad admitting it, but this is less to my tastes. Brass instruments really don't do it for me, except under special circumstances (like a big epic chorus from Ben Hur, or something), so the trumpet ruined it a little for me. Without any relation to the characters or storyline of the series I don't really have any hook into the music.

Itsumo No Fuukei - Again, the jolly parumpety-tum of the trumpet threatens to ruin it for me, but good backing strings make it pretty catchy. Definitely not something I'd listen to of its own accord, but I can appreciate the down-to-earth joyfullness of it.

The Culling - Excuse me whilst I take off my WoW-hate headgear. The intro for this one is bang-on, it sort of treads a line between the archaic, edge-of-battle old-kingdom (read: LotR style) strings and those of the bright future, one-danger-passed-but-others-lurk-ahead feel(read: Batman Begins theme). Those are the two songs that popped into my mind anyway, and I really love it.

Hyrule Field - I never played OoT much myself, but I used to watch my brother playing it all the time, and it was absolutely fantastic when you leave the Kokiri Forest and make for Hyrule Castle with the wind tugging at your hair and this music tugging at your ears. Instils a great spirit of adventure, and it's got a lot of movements to it which keep it fresher for longer (Bold Ultra).

Tallon Overworld - Metroid Prime is one of those games I bought for the Gamecube that I haven't actually gotten around to play yet (one of many). This music is really making me want to get into it, though. Beautiful haunting piano and brilliant electronic samples, but there's enough of the old choral Metroid music in there to give you the 'here we go again, where the hell are those Space Pirates, lemme at em' feel that the games provide. You've actually reminded me of Super Metroid, another game with stellar (literally) music that I've not managed to include. There's more than a hint of Crateria in the Tallon Overworld.

Gusty Garden Galaxy - Mario 64 was actually the last true Mario game I've played properly, so I feel really out of touch listening to this track. Using Mario 64 as a reference point, I think that game really nailed it in terms of striking a balance between wide-scope orchestral and old-style melodic videogame tunes. This is just a little too wide open for me to be memorable or catchy. Sort of in the same way that Final Fantasy XII went for the huge orchestral score stuff, as opposed to the simple melodies you could easily pin down to one character or theme, and lost something because of it. Not that it's particularly bad, but I hearken for the days of old.

Pray - The instant I heard this it reminded me of a tune from an old PSOne game I used to play, Psychic Force. Although I'm not huge on vocal tracks (comes with being a fan of progressive electronica, I suppose), that nostalgic element really endears the vocals of this track to me. Cool piano riffs and breakbeats are always welcome, too. I'd find it strange that a song with such a saturated soundscape would find a place during the middle of a TV show, but hey.

Good submissions :) I had an enjoyable time listening to them.
 
G

Gombol

Guest
Honestly can't place each of these in order, but:

MGS2 Sons of Liberty intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aalAPyVwlcg

Yoda's Theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwZLaA5RoNA

Imperial March: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

Star Wars Intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXcoM_AHuk8

Baba Yetu (Civ 4 theme): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmut6FBx4xk

I melt with you (Was sung during Sky High): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDOPlf0uAmM

BioShock Soundtrack Main theme (The Ocean On His Shoulders): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziFdpLRwyps

Can't find the full song of it, but "Mickey Mouse Club" song, from Full Metal Jacket: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmILOL55xP0

Star Wars Duel of the Fates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt0UuNpUqK4

Monty Python: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNpkQhaXnC0

I'll honestly admit I prefer all the "Classical" type music over what's around these days, but going through town with Classical Music playing loudly would get me dodgy looks. :D
 
Ronin Storm

Ronin Storm

Administrator
Staff member
I don't think I'll claim these are my top 10, but they were the first 10 worthy tracks that came to mind/search.


Exactly like Marqo, I limited myself to one theme per composer or franchise otherwise a bit more Zimmer or Vangelis might have made it in there.

I'm just stunned this took me nearly two hours... :eek:
 
Zhar

Zhar

New Member
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