My list of favourite KH Music. Part 2.

I have long been a fan of the Kingdom Hearts series, (since 2003 I think,) and I have always enjoyed Yoko Shimomura San's music in the games.

I have finaly decided to figure out which themes are y favourites, so here is a list.
But first, the rules;

1. Only 1 song from each game. Final Mix and Re: counts as its own game, so we get a list of 11 songs.
2. If a song is from a previous game, then it can't get on the spot for a newer game. (Eg, "Welcome to Wonderland" is from KHI so it can't take the spot from CoM/Days.)
3. The exeption to the above rule is if the newer versions bring something new to the original. (Eg, "Reviving Hollow Bastion" From KHII compared to "Hollow Bastion" from KHI.)

Anyway:

From Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days: "Crossing to Neverland."

1 of the things I like about Neverland in KH, is that in each game, (CoM excluded since it was memory based,) You have visited different areas/regions of Neverland, and therefore different music themes play in each.

Many people don’t like that, but I find it gives Neverland its own charm, and keeps it relatively fresh, compared to other worlds in the series.

And "Crossing to Neverland" is my number 1 Neverland theme, closely followed by "Neverland Scherzo" but that is from BBS.

If you’re wondering why I didn’t choose "Musique pour la Tristesse de Xion," "At Dusk I will think of you…" or "Vector to the Heavens" for favourite Days theme, it’s because I wasn’t a big fan of 2 of them, and the last one is played too much throughout the game for my taste, but if Neverland hadn’t been in the game, "At Dusk I will think of You…" Would have gotten the first place.

From Kingdom Hearts Coded: "On the Debug!"

It plays between 01:35-01:50 but being recorded from a phone, there's no higher quality other than from the remake.

(NDS)

Well there really isn’t much choice here.

Where in Re:CoM, You had ‘Lord of the Castle,’ ‘March-a-Long’ and its sped up version ‘Dash-a-Long’

Coded only had 1 new theme introduced. ‘On the Debug!’ Played whenever someone uses a Debug Ability.

So yeah, easy choice here.

From Kingdom Heart Birth by Sleep: "Enter the Void."

Where I won’t argue that Vanitas’ boss themes, all 3 of them, are great. Only Vanitas Remnants theme really had a chance of taking this position. It gives me the feel that something is starting up, and it will explode in front of your face if you are not careful, like I wasn't the 2 times I tried to go against him for fun.

Ouch!

Like with Lord of the Castle, I tend to get dramatic when I close my eyes while listening to this. And it is the only theme in BBS’ Soundtrack, that really does that to me, there are a few themes, that gives of a little vibe here and there, but ‘Enter the Void’ is the only choice for me on this spot.

From Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded: "No more Bugs!"

When I found out that Re:Coded would have computer worlds in the matrix and what not, I immediately said to myself, "I bet the battle theme from that will be my favourite."

And I was Right. ‘Wonder of Electron’ sounds a little too much monotome, and ‘Pretty, Pretty Abilities’ gets played at the wrong times for me sometimes.

So for me the choice is "No more Bugs!" the original, not the Bug –ver, not that it's bad, it's the same theme just with some obscurred sounds. It's fine.

From Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix: "Night of Tragedy."

This theme gives off the vibe that something is dangerous, it is hidden, it is mysterious and yet, you have to figure out what it is, even if it means facing it head on! I love it.

It fits so well with the Pureblood Heartless, since this is a prequel and no'one knows what the Heartless are. The mood of "Night of Tragedy" is like "Deep Anxiety!" a nice contrast to it's counterpart "Night of the Dark Dream." wich is sad, silent, slow paced, and scary to reflect Aqua's lonesome in the 'Realm of Darkness.'

Quick Runners up list:

KH: Scherzo di Notte.

KHFM: Disappeared.

KHCoM: XIII Struggle.

KHII: Battleship Bravery.

KHRe;CoM: Dash-Along.

KHIIFM: Fate of the Unkown.

KHDays: At Dusk I Will Think of You...

KHBBS: Fresh Fruit Balls.

KHRe;Coded: Wonder of Electron.

KHBBSFM: Master tell me the Truth.



Edit 03/11/14:

So after more than two years since Dream Drop Distance's release, I have yet to place my favourite track from that game on this list.
The reason is because my top three, maybe even top five, songs from DDD are all remixes of previous songs. "L'Eminenza Oscura I" as well as part II are just remixes of "Guardando Nel Buio" and "Dismiss". "Dismiss" is itself a remix of "Fragments of Sorrow" and "Terra's Theme". "Fragments of Sorrow", though from the first game is an arrangement of "Destati", as can clearly be heard from the lyrics, and "Terra's Theme", along with "Aqua's Theme" are arrangements of "Fate of the Unknown".
That's not to say that DDD does not have any good original songs, "Storm Diver" is a great example of an original tune, and it is the first song on the soundtrack, bar the obligatory "Dearly Beloved" arrangement, but unfortunately the remixes all trump the original songs. Even one like "Xigbar", which is honestly just a sped up version of "Organization XIII", is higher on my list than the original compositions.

However, I cannot keep postponing the, to me, best song in the game from being added to the list, so without further ado, my absolute favourite song from DDD, without questions is:




Dream Drop Distance: "L'Impeto Oscuro"

Whilst this song is clearly just a remix of "Dark Impetus", it features immense orchestration compared to the original, and the main tune of the song is played in a different key, so that for some people, the first time they heard this song and compared it to its original they believed it to be a remix of "Dark Impetus" but were quite unsure, that is until the viola solo halfway through the tune, which became the most recognizing part of "Dark Impetus" back in Birth by Sleep.

As it is a remix, I have been very hesitant to add it to the list, but I do believe it is distinct enough to be its own song. I definately believe it to be better than the original.

(Link to a forum thread about speculations and theories about who this Mysterious Figure could possibly be, from before DDD, including a list of songs which "Dark Impetus" were inspired, or otherwise arranged of.)

As for a runner up;
Remixed Composition: "L'Oscurita dell Ignoto" Remixed from "Darkness of the Unknown" (KHII)
Original compostion: "Majestic Wings".

My list of favourite KH Music. Part 1.

I have long been a fan of the Kingdom Hearts series, (since 2003 I think,) and I have allways enjoyed Yoko Shimomura San's music in the games.

I have finaly decided to figure out wich themes are my favourites, so here is a list.
But first, the rules;

1. Only 1 song from each game. Final Mix and Re: counts as its own game, so we get a list of 11 songs.
2. If a song is from a previous game, then it cant get on the spot for a newer game. (Eg, "Welcome to Wonderland" is from KHI so it can't take the spot from CoM/Days.)
3. The exception to the above rule is if the newer versions bring something new to the original. (Eg, "Reviving Hollow Bastion" From KHII compared to "Hollow Bastion" from KHI.)

Anyway:

From Kingdom Hearts: "Hand in Hand."

 (PS3)

One of the things I love about ‘Hand in Hand’ is its name.

The name implies that you (Sora) is with your friends, (Donald, Goofy.)

It also gives the Vibe that you are never in danger.

As Sora, and later Ventus, says “My Friends Are MY Power!”

And despite Traverse Town, not having a true appearance since the very first game in the series, ‘Hand in Hand’ has been a recurring theme, mainly in the ending scenes, like Riku’s original Chain of Memories ending, KHII ending, and in Codeds ending.

From Kingdom Hearts Final Mix: "Another Side."

As a Final Mix, I really didn't have that many to choose from, if you count the CD "Final Mix additional tracks" I would have 4 to choose from, otherwise the only other choice would be "Disappeared."

Starts out slow, then some 50 seconds in, it goes kabloowie!

And several of the later themes of the series, is inspired/includes points from this next passage, including but not limited to 13th Struggle, 13th Dilemma and Graceful Assassin.

In the end, it all ends abruptly, then an outro based on the opening.

Perfect theme, for a perfect teaser.

If I had to choose an overall favourite from the entire series, hands down this would win in a second.

So you cannot possibly imagine my joy when I found out it was to be used as boss themes in both BBS & Days.

From Chain of Memories: "Forgotten Challenge."

(PS2)

This is one where I have some trouble describing what it is about it that I like.

I love how you, can clearly hear how the theme evolves from merely being an organ tune, to include kick drums, and then go all out, only to calm down over some more Organ, and finally loop.

Masterpiece, that is all there is to say.

My favourite Youtube comment is definitely “This doesn’t sound like a Forgotten Challenge, It just doesn’t”

From Kingdom Hearts II: "The Afternoon Streets."

(PS3)

It’s a nice piece of change, from all the other fast and excessively dramatic themes, the series easily gets.

Not that I don’t like those, several of those are in my Runners up.

But sometimes you just got to calm down, and "Afternoon Streets" is a master of that.

Sure "Lazy Afternoon" does that too, but I always felt it was a little of in KHII, and even if I didn't, well "Lazy Afternoon" still originated in CoM so it wouldn't make this place anyway.

From Re: Chain of Memories: "Lord of The Castle."

                                          

(PS3)

Not much choice here, only other candidate would be ‘March-a-Long’ from 100 acre wood.

And that is also funny.

But I have to choose Lord of the Castle, since that is what I remember the most, from when finally facing Marluxia, how suddenly he scattered all my cards. Cheater.

Also I have been known to get overly dramatic, when listening to this with earphones, and closed eyes…

From Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix: "Deep Anxiety."

(PS3)

It's a nice contrast to its counterpart "Cavern of Rememrance", wich is quiet and a little mysterious, this on the other hand gives you energy and... Yeah I don't know what else to say. 

I love running through the Cavern of Remembrance, whenever I feel like fighting some Organization Data battles.

And I especially love to pause the game when enemies appear, so that I can listen to the entirety of this theme. If I don’t, well, all the enemies will just die in 1-3 hits depending on type.

So, the theme is too long, but at the same time, it is also the shortest Final Mix theme released, until BBSFM.

Okay those were the first 3 games and their rereleases.

Part 2  will come soon.

The Princess & the Frog

Back when I saw this movie for the first time, the film had been on for about a half hour, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Then at the end when Charlotte kisses prince Naveen just after midnight, I noticed that nothing happened.
Nothing.
Well of course Naveen and Tiana would not turn back into humans, since Charlotte was not a princess anymore, but why did she not turn into a frog? Was that not the reason why Tiana turned into a frog? She wasn't a princess?

Anyway, I considered the possiblity that something had been mentioned about it in the 30 minutes I had missed in the beginning.
So I plugged in my DVD earlier today and watched the movie all the way through, but there was no mention of it.
No excuse that the frog kiss can only turn one person into a frog, or something.

Oh Consistency, where art thou?

Anyway this is just nitpicking.
The rest of the film is one of the best Disney films in the first decade of 2000.

Please keep the movies of this caliber, (or better) comming Disney.

Daniel.

PS: I guess it could be argued that when DR. Facilliers talisman got destroyed, the magic concerning the spell would be broken. But that would still have been easier to get with a little explanation.