The coolest part is the boss actually "dances" to the OST. He has a lightning, ice, and wind phase. And at the exact time (more or less) the in game OST starts playing that part, he changes to that element. It's such a cool gimmick!
I agree about the boss themes but I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the zone/dungeon themes. Compared to lovely ones like Altus Plateau, Leyndell and Raya Lucaria the themes in the DLC are pretty forgettable and uninteresting to me.
If i had to describe this boss and theme in a few words it would be "divinity untamed" or "divinity unshackled". To quote its remembrance "when the impalers army assailed the tower, the ritual of the lion dance was turned toward martial ends - its divinity, its fury, its light-footed beauty."
I'm watching a video on Divine Beast Dancing Lion and it floats in the air doing flips and rolls a lot more than you'd expect from this music, I was visualizing it bouncing and moving on it's feet in a fluid violent dance rather than almost a balloon floating and rotating in place. it feels like it's got less 'weight'/'impact' to it's movement than what I was expecting
@@MarcoMeatball ah yes, thanks for being present in the comment section, I can ask you directly now, *Please react to the "Shield of Helios" from gow3* also I know you'll do Messmer theme reaction but will ask you to do that as well, thanks 🙂
Dude in this fight the transitions and music fit so well i almost stoped playing while being awe and vibing with the boss. This fight is a pure spectacle. It's the Placi fight but turned up to eleven
There was one point for me when after an attack he twirled in the air to recover and the flute played perfectly in time and it is one of my all time best gaming moments
@@hitmanmastodon1580 Not for me, it always happened when it reached 3/5 of the healthbar. In any case, it wouldn't be the first time From has done this, Living Failures also start their cosmic attack according to the music.
This theme is easily one of the best I heard from this somptuous DLC, the way it pictures a beast-like/adrenaline fueled performance, yet being able to exhibit its divine status, and its elegance, furthermore in the fight, the soundtrack switches in synchronization with the change of element.
@@nezarecdiscipleofthewitnes3823 yup, I finished all the main bosses on day 3, I was able to retry and merge myself in the soundscapes of each of these bosses it was incredible ! I would say that my top 3 osts of SOTE are the following : 1 - Divine Beast ( contending with Midra) 2 - C-Radahn 3 - Bayle (yes it might be surprising) the OST alone may sound a bit underwhelming, but osts shines when paired with the fights, and to me Bayle was the most ominous fight of the DLC, I was actually terrified and mouth-gaping for minutes ! I like your top as well ^^
About the song (Don’t read if you haven’t done the fight yet): During specific music queues during the second phase, the Dancing Lion will shift into different elements in correlation with the music. It’s not random, the song’s programmed into the fight and the AI behavior of the boss. It really makes the fight like a dance. From the theatrical arena, to the move set the boss has, the music, down to the name of the boss, it’s one of From Soft’s best dance fights.
It's probably one of the coolest uses of music in FromSoft history. The way the music not only directly responds to the fight but also lets you anticipate phase changes if you pay attention to it is just awesome.
It’s really cool when it pulls it off, but the lion has to be doing pretty much absolutely nothing for it to sync perfectly which doesn’t happen too often unfortunately
@@TheDarkPeasant Or you program it so it can be seamless. It could be programmed in a way where when it gets to the music cue, the elemental change takes priority over everything else.
The heroic theme I believe is because of the fact that the Divine Dancing Lions were employed to defend Belurat (a city in the DLC) from Messmer's invaders. So in a way, you get to fight one of the "good guys".
The conflict between these peoples goes deeper than the Golden roots of the Erdtree, so it's hard to call anyone the "good guys" when both nations have committed some sickening atrocities. We can really only consider them "good" at this moment because the victors over them are currently running the world into the ground.
They weren't even a bit good. Its the equivalent of fighting a german tank in WW2. They're not the good guys, but you can bet they adored that refined weapon of destruction.
i particularly like the consistent "1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2" pattern to the strings in phase 2. it really does feel like a dance, with the percussion on the last part of the pattern feeling like its punctuating each movement with violence
The divine beast is literally two guys in a lion costume; it's a direct reference to the Chinese lion dance. No wonder it sounds a bit like a festival/ceremony/celebration. On top of that, the rhythm is 4 x 1,2,3 (if I'm not mistaken). The track sounds delightfully chaotic and matches the storm/lightning/blizzard theme of the boss. I hoped you would discuss this one; it's definitely going to be my favorite piece from the DLC.
And on top of the amazing ost, it's in my opinion one of the more fun fights in the dlc. It isn't overly difficult while also not being too easy, it's a nice balance inbetween.
This, Metyr's theme, and The Promised Consort are definitely my favorites from the DLC. Metyr felt special cause the soundscape really captures that cosmic tone
@@extremkaijuu9314bro what?all base games got is fortisaxx and radagons theme,for peak themes cause all of them are good,but the dlc is ascended tier,best osts in gaming by far.
This honestly reminds me a lot of Monster Hunter with that eastern meets western soundscape Take away to vocals and it really sounds like a Monster Hunter theme
The second phase theme reminds me of a fierce storm at sea. The constant up and down are the rolling waves, the strings are the wind, the flute is lightning, the chanting is thunder.
The reason I like this sountrack so much is the fact, that the music transitions so perfectly into the element transitions. First "lightning", then "frost" and last "storm". Such a beautiful track and fight.
this is one of those bosses where I am really sad, that there is no repeated boss fights in Elden Ring except NG+, because this fight was so cool and I would gladly fight it again.
I understand that too, but u can leave your summon sign and help others who are struggling at the boss and probably hear the boss theme again hope that helps
I have good news! There’s another one later on, but it’s a bit hidden- it also has some new elemental attacks. Although, the new element is deathblight…
Omg yes...fighting Midra feels like dancing a waltz with a mad psychopath who hates your very being, who has a nuclear detonator in his hand and is waiting for you to do one single misstep. The music also really translates this feeling of dread of being against something foreign, larger and otherworldy it gives me this vibe of fighting some kind of a horryfing hivemindish entity with those pulses used as a beat. And the little hints of the merchant's song just to laught in your face about the fact that it was your own people that brought this horrible monster into your world...
I feel like this track is the perfect blend of Sekiro music and Souls music. The violin in this track and really the whole expansion’s OST is on another plane of existence good. You’ll really like the Twin Moon Knight OST as well!
Yeah, I didnt quite expect SO MUCH violin and Cello in the DLCs soundtrack. Nearly EVERY major boss track is drenched in heartwrenching and powerful strings. Where the basegame OST was simply a more heroic take on the traditional cadence of Souls music, I love that the DLC really adds another layer by completely prioritising more strings than ever before. It’s something that we haven’t seen much emphasis on in the series, outside of Shadow of the Erdtree and Bloodborne
You were spot on with how I feel! It feels as though you're the victim in an exhibition gladiator match and you're fighting for your life, but you're losing
when the second phase kicks in, the boss becomes empowered with lightning and then proceeds to switch elements as time goes on (and music too), not like it's typically done when it's reliant on hp lvl, so the boss literally dances with the player and music really resembles his different styles during the fight
There is an NPC in the area near the boss that talks about singing for the Divine Beast("My song will I sing... in service to thee.") wishing for it to take revenge on the army that surpresses them.
This theme reminded me a lot of Ludwig from Bloodborne. Like Ludwig the Dancing Lion seems to be this once-proud divine beast who is now reduced to a rotten shadow of its former self. So all of this pomp in the music kind of contrasts the way the beast looks terribly weak and sad, and kind of tells you a story of its fall from grace.
Having fought this boss and knowing it’s lore (haven’t finished the whole dlc yet), I am amazed at how you managed to nail the boss on the head just by listening to its music. The sense of heroism, and the idea of an ‘audience’ celebrating the beast is spot-on, since the basic idea is that the dancing lion(s, I believe there used to be multiple) was the main defender of the city where you fight it, and it was the only thing that could stand up to the tyrannical forces that ultimately destroyed the city. The people of the city really do regard the beast as a saviour, so they absolutely celebrate it in that way.
Another really heroic detail is that the Dancers were never really war-ready. It’s stated that they were ONLY ever used for festivals and celebrations. But when Messmer began his crusade on Belurat, these cultural dancing practices - of which are NOT prepared for war by any means - then turned to war. They were never the “defenders” of the city. It was all an unfortunate cultural reset. It’s like a kid with a p-shooter being forced to use it on a home invader even though the weapon they’re using is not ready for home invasions nor are they practiced in weapon combat lol
For me Divine beast OST made me feel the same feeling I felt when I heard Ride of Valkyrie or Hall of the mountain king... It feels like a gush of wind mixing with heavy rainstorm... An unstoppable force of nature.
From the cutscene for this boss, the dialogue spoken really also adds to the feeling of wanting celebration, especially considering what happened before in the story that you learn as you continue on: "O Horn-deck'd beast, from higher sphere deliver'd. Take root inside the tower's sculpted keepers. And perch'd within, we beg of thee; rise. Dance and cavort, cleanse all that thou wilt. Cruelty, woe, and those who plague the tower. Cleanse away the strumpet's vile progeny." It was a fantastic battle for the start of the DLC and the music definitely adds to the welcoming of the DLC's story. What a powerful opening. Onwards to the Twin Moon Knight!
2° phase ALWAYS gives me chills man, is such a masterpiece, and I think the up beat comes everytime he goes into a element to fight you, It's magnificent
The fact that your analysis was so spot on despite knowing nothing about the Divine Beast Dancing Lion aside from what it looks like speaks volumes for Tsukasa Saito and Yuka Kitamura's abilities to convey the story of the character through the music that hints at what and who they are. Radahn's theme and Midra's theme are also perfect examples of this 🤌 God if only this music existed back in 2015 when i was in music theory class, i would have analysed it to the umpth degree
I just finished the boss, and I was already checking you to see if you have played/listened to this. The entire arena is literally a stage, and you’re both dancing with death.
2:28 you perfectly grasped it The remembrance reminds us this is a traditional dance of the Hornsent that was weaponized when Marika and her armies fought them It’s at its core a dance much like its real inspiration But they understood that they must weaponize its fury In game the Hornsent are very spiritually Attuned and this dance is only practiced by the Hornsent most ordained for the role They used the dance to connect with their gods as you go on to mention the actual singers on the Theme are essentially playing as the puppeteers of the Costume The Lower male singers being The Rear of the costume supporting and following while the higher voices are leading The attack and ritual dance with the instruments being the elemental Storm/wind Lighting and ice in the boss battle It’s also reminiscent of Colosseums the Hornsent having inspired Fighting Colosseums in the rest of the lands between Lots of Grand Celebrations within this theme and the culture of the Hornsent
I've watched so many MarcoBeatball reactions now I had to subscribe. This is another level of gaming where we have a professional actually breaking down the music. Can't wait for the rest of the bosses ! Especially the next one !
"O Horn-deck'd beast, from higher sphere deliver'd. Take root inside the tower's sculpted keepers. And perch'd within, we beg of thee; rise. Dance and cavort, cleanse all that thou wilt. Cruelty, woe, and those who plague the tower. Cleanse away the strumpet's vile progeny."
To me it sounded like you are facing the full force of a storm blowing you away while you hold on for dear life. But coming to your appreciation Marco, I also felt like yeah, you are facing a performance of some sort. It is a beast trying to kill you, embodying a powerful storm, but it sounds like a performance.
It would be incredible if at the end of each of these you watched a fight against the boss, or the BGMs being used in context and gave your opinion. This one fits so well
Yes! You nailed it in every song! Is the dance, the movement of the dancing lion. In Asia the dancing lions performs in festivals, celebrating and dancing on top of poles in different levels to the rhythm of the drums and bamboo flutes. They are magnificent, colorful and brutal at the same time. I recommend you watch a performance of them, especially the lions from Thailand, they are my favorites.
When you said it sounds like a celebration, you got it spot on. The Divine Beast dance was originally a celebratory ceremony. It was turned toward martial ends when Messmer invaded
When fighting it my jaw was literally on the floor not even joking. Literally the coolest and most epic boss fight in the history of games. im glazing fr fr ongod
I love all the fromsouls boss fights with flowing music that genuinely helps you dodge and anticipate the boss since they are dancing to it with the intent you join their dance.
I found the boss a bit janky with some parts of the moveset. But I couldn’t really be mad when I had this theme going the whole time. What a stunning bossfight. I also notice the music has some Eastern musical culture influences, which really fits the aesthetic of the bosses fight, which really gives off a Chinese dragon vibe with the swirling motions.
the trick with the boss is to rely more on movement and jumping over dodging, keeping some distance from him and letting him come to you helps out a lot with the camera
this boss is littearly just chinse dancing lion music but they made it so demented and horrifying that it sounds like the music of an actual monster, it has a real dance to it and it syncs with the boss fights phases and attacks, its done really well my favorite bit was 7:16 that whole bit just sounds so intense
This is my fav track in the DLC! I love how they give the impression of something whirling about with music, and the low grating sounds underneath the melody is reminiscent of a beast growling.
"O Horn-deck'd beast, from higher sphere deliver'd. Take root inside the tower's sculpted keepers. And perch'd within, we beg of thee; rise." "Dance and cavort, cleanse all that thou wilt. Cruelty, woe, and those who plague the tower. Cleanse away the strumpet's vile progeny."
excited to see you play the dlc and actually see how well your analysis lines up to what its like to fight this boss. if i am to tie the lore into it though without spoiling much, in classic fromsoft fashion, you're fighting something that isn't inherently evil per se but is definitely aligned with divinity or is in itself a divine creature and these frantic violins really give the vibe that you're fighting just a force of nature. you pointed out the frantic flutes as well which i think really alludes to its grounds in the real life asian culture the beast is based on and also when you fight the boss, you are so right that theres a lot of leaping and bounding happening. for a beast so huge, the music really sells how athletic and elegant and how fast it is too. also again not too spoil too much, i think its also fair to say that its not you or us the player thats celebrating in this music but there is definitely a celebration of this beast's awakening for sure
3:42 I laughed cause when I heard this part I imagined people dancing in a ballroom island with jaws swimming in circles around them or some messed up thing like that. He says it better though 😅
the way you spoke was really very complete, how I felt listening, I stood there for about 5 seconds completely frozen by his dance, how he is looked at
Wow, it is incredible how you haven't actually fought the boss and you seem to know little about the lore or context of the story yet just from the music alone you are able to extrapolate so much meaning that is incredibly accurate. It is mindblowing how you say "the music feels like it's trying to say this" and you almost exactly describe what the story is trying to make the player feel. "Optimistic vengeance" is so spot on it's almost spooky. Not only is that a testament to your musical knowledge, it also goes to show how expertly the FromSoftware composer(s) convey meaning and emotion without even a single lyric. This is by far my favourite piece of music from the DLC and your analysis of it only makes me like it more.
I really have to listen to it all on youtube now, it's hard to appreciate those tracks in full when you're fighting for your life 😅 I actually like that though, it lets me experience the soundtrack twice
Spoiler warning to the Boss fight: pre-fight dialog: "O Horn-deck'd beast, from higher sphere deliver'd. Take root inside the towers's sculpted keepers. And perch'd within, we beg of thee; rise. Dance and cavort, cleanse all that thou wilt. Cruelty, woe, and those who plague the tower. Cleanse away the strumpet's vile progeny." Remembrance of the Dancing Lion Item: " Remembrance of the Dancing Lion, hewn into the Scadutree. The power of its namesake can be unlocked by the finger reader. Alternatively it can be used to gain a great bounty of runes. When the Impaler's army assailed the tower, the ritual of the lion was turned towards martial ends - its divinity, its fury, its light-footed beauty" I've played through this part of the DLC and it is a BEAST of a boss. it commands the storms to produce wind, ice, and lighting. it jumps around and pounces on you at any moment. its body is similar to the Chinese dragon dancers with multiple people inside and a mechanical mouth that it uses with grate affect. it feels like i was fighting a savage beast that has inhabited the bodies of the dancers.... i hope to see you react to more music from the DLC!
I’m glad FromSoft added an allusion to lion dancing in one of their games. it’s a common form of celebration for my nationality, and as disconnected as I am from my culture, it’s a pretty fond childhood memory of mine to watch lion dancers perform I think they did great with the song too, it’s a wonderful FromSoft-ian spin on the usual lion dancing music!
The ost adds so much detail to the fight. The beginning sounds like the “beast” itself is truly just two actors putting on a performance. The arena is literally a giant theatre. It almost feels like this music is literally playing as it puts on a show for a crowd that’s long since disappeared. It’s just a dance to the beast, but in the second phase it seems like the chorus, which I imagine to be a kind of stand in for a crowd cheering, gets frantic and almost afraid. The dance you’re part of is rehearsed, and you’re meant to lose. When you start winning, however, it’s like the music portrays that the crowd didn’t expect their beloved beast to actually lose. It goes from optimistic cheering to screams of shock. It seems like the beast itself also gets desperate, and it stops being a matter of grandiose and spectacle to an actual fight. It’s not a performance anymore, it’s a battle. The orchestra playing the beasts theme song for the performance also gets more distressed, as if the players are also not expecting you to prevail, and they’re gripping their instruments too hard, kind of twisting the song due to their fear.
The eastern elements to me feel a lot like hearing a traditional reenactment of a battle for something like a folk theater. Which is incredibly fitting for a boss that is literally just 2 people ritually possessed by the spirit of a great mythical beast.
From what I understand, the Divine Beast Dancing Lions were first performers who were later used in the war against Messmer's forces. That's where I think both the celebratory and the angry tones come from. Also you literally fight them on a stage! I really enjoyed the music changing along with the boss changing elements. Dynamic doesn't even begin to describe this theme!
7:57 it almost feels like you're the animal in this gladiator arena and HE is the champion, beloved by all, and everyone is chanting for him to tame or kill you
Honestly listening to this music while in combat against the divine beast is truly mesmerizing and it's something I'll never forget. That's incredible to say about a video game.
As someone who had just beaten this boss after a few tries I can only say one thing about it. Overwhelming. It was my first time ever in a soulsborne game where I genuinely felt overstimulated but beautifully so. The way it phase changes and summons lightning everywhere, lunges at you with its mouth etc. And the music! Its so festive and energetic. I can already tell this DLC is going to he one of the most fun ones in a while.
I absolutely love the strings on this, they're just so fun to me. Excited to see your opinions on the other themes. There's so many pretty things in there.
I love the last bit of the music, the constant raising feeling relates to the lore of the Divine Beast, within Hornsent culture, there is a insatiable striving towards eternity, like a tower a babel reaching to the heavens. So close, yet so far away from godhood. The Divine Beast, in this context, is pushing himself further into the dance to achieve a heavenly status. As the Divine Beasts are the closest things to divinity in Hornsent Culture after all. So the second phase is like a 'LOCK IN' moment, which is why it cycles phases after the transition. Meanwhile, the first phase is like a raddling of bones, trying to get back into the groove of things like spitting dust and crap.
Dancing lion is my faiv boss in the dlc atm for the music alone! Also Dancing Lion used to be a celebration but after mesmer attacked the tower, The inhabitants turned the dancing lion into a Weapon. This wasent their wish but what other choice did they have? So the once divine beast of celebration now became the protector of the tower and overtime became a god to its people. Of course the lion itself isint alive its being controlled but it symbolises their great protector the divine beast. The song sounds like a festival due to this probably being what was played during celebrations as the inhabitants of the tower watched the Lion Dance. It gives off a sad feeling. This is a symbol once celebrated and marveled but due to mesmers purge its now a puppet refit for battle. Its dances modified to work in battle. Yet an elegance remains.
This is my new favorite soundrack, because they do this sountrack more eastern (because, this is chineese lion dance, and because I love Nioh and Nioh 2 soundtracks especially), and cause this is really looks like festival ritual dance, what this people start using to defend themselves, then war starts 10:55 and, yes, this is heroic, because two guardians, wearing this lion costume - heroes for their people, and for woman in this town, who introducing them in cutscene. They are the one, who defended their lands from Messmer's army
it needs to mentioned that at 7:15, the Dancing Lion will change always try to change elements when this section of music plays. it's some crazy cinematic stuff
You’re pretty much spot on with the analysis. The Divine Beast was a celebration of the three elements ice, storm and lighting, with storm being the pinnacle, all of it performed in an actual dedicated theater. However, when the Golden Order’s army came to attack the tower, this same “god” (as seen by the people now) became a war machine, its performance turned towards violence.
The coolest part is the boss actually "dances" to the OST. He has a lightning, ice, and wind phase. And at the exact time (more or less) the in game OST starts playing that part, he changes to that element. It's such a cool gimmick!
There's another element you find out that's used in the second variant of the Divine Beast.
@@ChaseMMDI fought that one yesterday, it was quite an unpleasant surprise when i saw that new element lol
@@ChaseMMD I mean, thanks for spoiling that there's another one :/
@@IngeniousNinjayeah, because they’ve NEVER done that in Elden Ring… lol
@@LeggoMyGekko you do see three of them impaled in the trailer
This whole DLC has mindblowing themes. I'm certain you'll like them all. The music team went all on it.
Midra's theme is amazing
Especially Midra's theme
The gank fight theme is incredible
Bayle's OST as he spews borderline laser beams at the ground while flying is amazing.
I agree about the boss themes but I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the zone/dungeon themes. Compared to lovely ones like Altus Plateau, Leyndell and Raya Lucaria the themes in the DLC are pretty forgettable and uninteresting to me.
If i had to describe this boss and theme in a few words it would be "divinity untamed" or "divinity unshackled". To quote its remembrance "when the impalers army assailed the tower, the ritual of the lion dance was turned toward martial ends - its divinity, its fury, its light-footed beauty."
If I had to describe this boss and theme in a few words it would be "big lion"
@@chickenjimmy6552 a lion that grabs lightning throws it like he's gywn
@@geraldthegoose1685bro thinks he's genichiro
I'm watching a video on Divine Beast Dancing Lion and it floats in the air doing flips and rolls a lot more than you'd expect from this music, I was visualizing it bouncing and moving on it's feet in a fluid violent dance rather than almost a balloon floating and rotating in place. it feels like it's got less 'weight'/'impact' to it's movement than what I was expecting
@@satanhoainterlocucaodoaman7412 the Lion is cooler.
One of my first toughts white fighting this Boss was: man i can’t wait to see Marcos reaction to this OST.
I’ve infected you
@@MarcoMeatball ah yes, thanks for being present in the comment section, I can ask you directly now, *Please react to the "Shield of Helios" from gow3* also I know you'll do Messmer theme reaction but will ask you to do that as well, thanks 🙂
And mine was, "man, i can't see"
10:58 there you go, that's exactly what it is! a beautiful celebratory dance that was turned into a weapon of war
Quite literally, i havent seen any one comment on the fact that this boss is based off the Annual dancing lion/dragon celebration in east Asia.
It's crazy when the music lines up with the phase transitions.
@@hitmanmastodon1580 placidusax also has themed attack with the storm plunging attack
Dude in this fight the transitions and music fit so well i almost stoped playing while being awe and vibing with the boss. This fight is a pure spectacle. It's the Placi fight but turned up to eleven
There was one point for me when after an attack he twirled in the air to recover and the flute played perfectly in time and it is one of my all time best gaming moments
@@hitmanmastodon1580 Not for me, it always happened when it reached 3/5 of the healthbar. In any case, it wouldn't be the first time From has done this, Living Failures also start their cosmic attack according to the music.
@@hitmanmastodon1580 he does !!!! when the song nears its end he goes rapid transitions and go all crazy
This theme is easily one of the best I heard from this somptuous DLC, the way it pictures a beast-like/adrenaline fueled performance, yet being able to exhibit its divine status, and its elegance, furthermore in the fight, the soundtrack switches in synchronization with the change of element.
Have you heard the final boss theme yet? It's so good. My ratings are 1. Midra's 2. Radahn consort 3. Divine Beast
@@nezarecdiscipleofthewitnes3823 yup, I finished all the main bosses on day 3, I was able to retry and merge myself in the soundscapes of each of these bosses it was incredible !
I would say that my top 3 osts of SOTE are the following :
1 - Divine Beast ( contending with Midra)
2 - C-Radahn
3 - Bayle (yes it might be surprising) the OST alone may sound a bit underwhelming, but osts shines when paired with the fights, and to me Bayle was the most ominous fight of the DLC, I was actually terrified and mouth-gaping for minutes !
I like your top as well ^^
About the song (Don’t read if you haven’t done the fight yet):
During specific music queues during the second phase, the Dancing Lion will shift into different elements in correlation with the music. It’s not random, the song’s programmed into the fight and the AI behavior of the boss. It really makes the fight like a dance. From the theatrical arena, to the move set the boss has, the music, down to the name of the boss, it’s one of From Soft’s best dance fights.
It's probably one of the coolest uses of music in FromSoft history. The way the music not only directly responds to the fight but also lets you anticipate phase changes if you pay attention to it is just awesome.
It’s really cool when it pulls it off, but the lion has to be doing pretty much absolutely nothing for it to sync perfectly which doesn’t happen too often unfortunately
@@TheDarkPeasant Or you program it so it can be seamless. It could be programmed in a way where when it gets to the music cue, the elemental change takes priority over everything else.
@@H-Himbo it does, but it can’t cancel out of animations that he’s already locked into
Its probably a internal timer rather than AI waiting for the music to change for it to do different moves.
The heroic theme I believe is because of the fact that the Divine Dancing Lions were employed to defend Belurat (a city in the DLC) from Messmer's invaders. So in a way, you get to fight one of the "good guys".
Yep, like, they weren't good guys but the divine beast is kind of a hero for them in the war
The conflict between these peoples goes deeper than the Golden roots of the Erdtree, so it's hard to call anyone the "good guys" when both nations have committed some sickening atrocities. We can really only consider them "good" at this moment because the victors over them are currently running the world into the ground.
except they're really not the good guys....
They did horrible things to marikas people, I’d say messmer and marikas retaliation were understandable
They weren't even a bit good.
Its the equivalent of fighting a german tank in WW2. They're not the good guys, but you can bet they adored that refined weapon of destruction.
Miyazawa has done some of the best damn tracks in the series
fr, my favorite composer on the soundtrack by far
Miyazawa showing again and again, what he/she doing soundtracks better, then Kitamura
Radahn 😍
@@Vasilar she* miyazawa is a girl, she has work on ds3 too
@@tixrobux2930 i know about DS3
they really took the ideas of "storm, dance, fight" and meshed them into one song
i particularly like the consistent "1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2" pattern to the strings in phase 2. it really does feel like a dance, with the percussion on the last part of the pattern feeling like its punctuating each movement with violence
The divine beast is literally two guys in a lion costume; it's a direct reference to the Chinese lion dance. No wonder it sounds a bit like a festival/ceremony/celebration. On top of that, the rhythm is 4 x 1,2,3 (if I'm not mistaken). The track sounds delightfully chaotic and matches the storm/lightning/blizzard theme of the boss.
I hoped you would discuss this one; it's definitely going to be my favorite piece from the DLC.
And on top of the amazing ost, it's in my opinion one of the more fun fights in the dlc. It isn't overly difficult while also not being too easy, it's a nice balance inbetween.
@@Igotbored1824unfortunately the camera really sucks in this fight
@@jant3566aren’t they all when we have to face something slightly more complex than a human-based enemy.😂
I believe the time signature is 6/8 (which is typically broken down into to sets of three)
This, Metyr's theme, and The Promised Consort are definitely my favorites from the DLC. Metyr felt special cause the soundscape really captures that cosmic tone
Promised consort is on my to do list
@@MarcoMeatballwhat about romina and messmer?
I definately agree. Promised Consort is just an amazing song and was the main reason I was able to tough it out through the fight.
@@MarcoMeatball You gotta do Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame too!
For me Metyr encounter felt like Ebrieta's in Bloodborne
i think you should do Midra next, personally my favorite ost in the dlc
Easily the best I heard
Yes took me by surprise
All tracks in dlc is another level
Not really
Some are really good but the base game slaps the rest of the dlc tracks
@@extremkaijuu9314bro what?all base games got is fortisaxx and radagons theme,for peak themes cause all of them are good,but the dlc is ascended tier,best osts in gaming by far.
This honestly reminds me a lot of Monster Hunter with that eastern meets western soundscape
Take away to vocals and it really sounds like a Monster Hunter theme
The second phase theme reminds me of a fierce storm at sea. The constant up and down are the rolling waves, the strings are the wind, the flute is lightning, the chanting is thunder.
It is incredible how you haven’t seen or played the dlc and you just described this boss fight perfectly. Always love the videos.
This is one of the only times I can remember where I had trouble focusing on the boss because of how good the music was
The reason I like this sountrack so much is the fact, that the music transitions so perfectly into the element transitions. First "lightning", then "frost" and last "storm". Such a beautiful track and fight.
Shadow of the Erdtree is full of amazing music! My favorite was Messmer's theme
Its hard to pick a favorite, loved the saint of the bud, the final boss too
Mine might be Rellana because of the first trailer music combined with the rennala letimoff
They are all really good themes. My personal favs are Putrescent Knight & Bayle the Dread
I may be the only few who says this, but personally I really love the Scadutree Avatar theme.
@@midir1326 thats a great one, they are all so good its hard to choose one.
this is one of those bosses where I am really sad, that there is no repeated boss fights in Elden Ring except NG+, because this fight was so cool and I would gladly fight it again.
I understand that too, but u can leave your summon sign and help others who are struggling at the boss and probably hear the boss theme again hope that helps
you can fight it again in the green are top left
I have good news! There’s another one later on, but it’s a bit hidden- it also has some new elemental attacks. Although, the new element is deathblight…
Use summon signs I’ve been doing that to replay bayle
There's one in the Rauh ruins that also has deathblight status
im gonna *NEED* one of these for Midra. That track is insane.
Omg yes...fighting Midra feels like dancing a waltz with a mad psychopath who hates your very being, who has a nuclear detonator in his hand and is waiting for you to do one single misstep. The music also really translates this feeling of dread of being against something foreign, larger and otherworldy it gives me this vibe of fighting some kind of a horryfing hivemindish entity with those pulses used as a beat. And the little hints of the merchant's song just to laught in your face about the fact that it was your own people that brought this horrible monster into your world...
@@cursedimageseveryday5559it’s very bloodborne esque in a way
I feel like this track is the perfect blend of Sekiro music and Souls music. The violin in this track and really the whole expansion’s OST is on another plane of existence good.
You’ll really like the Twin Moon Knight OST as well!
Yeah, I didnt quite expect SO MUCH violin and Cello in the DLCs soundtrack. Nearly EVERY major boss track is drenched in heartwrenching and powerful strings.
Where the basegame OST was simply a more heroic take on the traditional cadence of Souls music, I love that the DLC really adds another layer by completely prioritising more strings than ever before. It’s something that we haven’t seen much emphasis on in the series, outside of Shadow of the Erdtree and Bloodborne
You were spot on with how I feel! It feels as though you're the victim in an exhibition gladiator match and you're fighting for your life, but you're losing
when the second phase kicks in, the boss becomes empowered with lightning and then proceeds to switch elements as time goes on (and music too), not like it's typically done when it's reliant on hp lvl, so the boss literally dances with the player and music really resembles his different styles during the fight
There is an NPC in the area near the boss that talks about singing for the Divine Beast("My song will I sing... in service to thee.") wishing for it to take revenge on the army that surpresses them.
6:02 That's almost the Living Failures theme right there. That one moment where the choir hits that one note.
This theme reminded me a lot of Ludwig from Bloodborne. Like Ludwig the Dancing Lion seems to be this once-proud divine beast who is now reduced to a rotten shadow of its former self. So all of this pomp in the music kind of contrasts the way the beast looks terribly weak and sad, and kind of tells you a story of its fall from grace.
Having fought this boss and knowing it’s lore (haven’t finished the whole dlc yet), I am amazed at how you managed to nail the boss on the head just by listening to its music.
The sense of heroism, and the idea of an ‘audience’ celebrating the beast is spot-on, since the basic idea is that the dancing lion(s, I believe there used to be multiple) was the main defender of the city where you fight it, and it was the only thing that could stand up to the tyrannical forces that ultimately destroyed the city. The people of the city really do regard the beast as a saviour, so they absolutely celebrate it in that way.
Another really heroic detail is that the Dancers were never really war-ready. It’s stated that they were ONLY ever used for festivals and celebrations. But when Messmer began his crusade on Belurat, these cultural dancing practices - of which are NOT prepared for war by any means - then turned to war. They were never the “defenders” of the city. It was all an unfortunate cultural reset.
It’s like a kid with a p-shooter being forced to use it on a home invader even though the weapon they’re using is not ready for home invasions nor are they practiced in weapon combat lol
For me Divine beast OST made me feel the same feeling I felt when I heard Ride of Valkyrie or Hall of the mountain king... It feels like a gush of wind mixing with heavy rainstorm... An unstoppable force of nature.
This is my favorite piece so far, it's such a breath of fresh air and made the fight such as a spectacle
Genuinely one of the best themes i've ever heard in a video game, and it's the first fucking boss, so good!
1:22 thought bro was about to start milly rocking 😂
From the cutscene for this boss, the dialogue spoken really also adds to the feeling of wanting celebration, especially considering what happened before in the story that you learn as you continue on: "O Horn-deck'd beast, from higher sphere deliver'd. Take root inside the tower's sculpted keepers. And perch'd within, we beg of thee; rise.
Dance and cavort, cleanse all that thou wilt. Cruelty, woe, and those who plague the tower. Cleanse away the strumpet's vile progeny." It was a fantastic battle for the start of the DLC and the music definitely adds to the welcoming of the DLC's story. What a powerful opening. Onwards to the Twin Moon Knight!
This boss is incredible but honestly fighting him again and again was worth it cuz you could listen to this theme again and again too
i feel like the chior is a storm that the instruments are trying to push through.
It feels like some sort of carnival or festival, watching it twist through the air calling storms was truly breathtaking
2° phase ALWAYS gives me chills man, is such a masterpiece, and I think the up beat comes everytime he goes into a element to fight you, It's magnificent
Im just stunned how great is your descriptions of a boss just from listening. You nailed it!
Shoi Miyazawa is so fucking good composer
I love that the "Divine Beast" is actually just 2 guys doing an elaborate cosplay.
Its a reference to traditional Chinese lion dancing
The fact that your analysis was so spot on despite knowing nothing about the Divine Beast Dancing Lion aside from what it looks like speaks volumes for Tsukasa Saito and Yuka Kitamura's abilities to convey the story of the character through the music that hints at what and who they are. Radahn's theme and Midra's theme are also perfect examples of this 🤌 God if only this music existed back in 2015 when i was in music theory class, i would have analysed it to the umpth degree
Can't wait for you to listen to Messmer and Bayle's theme. Those two are probably my favourite for me now
I like how he gathered the feel of the arena and some lore just from the sound of the theme.
I just finished the boss, and I was already checking you to see if you have played/listened to this.
The entire arena is literally a stage, and you’re both dancing with death.
2:28 you perfectly grasped it
The remembrance reminds us this is a traditional dance of the Hornsent that was weaponized when Marika and her armies fought them
It’s at its core a dance much like its real inspiration But they understood that they must weaponize its fury
In game the Hornsent are very spiritually Attuned and this dance is only practiced by the Hornsent most ordained for the role
They used the dance to connect with their gods as you go on to mention the actual singers on the Theme are essentially playing as the puppeteers of the Costume The Lower male singers being The Rear of the costume supporting and following while the higher voices are leading The attack and ritual dance with the instruments being the elemental Storm/wind Lighting and ice in the boss battle
It’s also reminiscent of Colosseums the Hornsent having inspired Fighting Colosseums in the rest of the lands between
Lots of Grand Celebrations within this theme and the culture of the Hornsent
I've watched so many MarcoBeatball reactions now I had to subscribe. This is another level of gaming where we have a professional actually breaking down the music. Can't wait for the rest of the bosses ! Especially the next one !
"O Horn-deck'd beast, from higher sphere deliver'd. Take root inside the tower's sculpted keepers. And perch'd within, we beg of thee; rise. Dance and cavort, cleanse all that thou wilt. Cruelty, woe, and those who plague the tower. Cleanse away the strumpet's vile progeny."
To me it sounded like you are facing the full force of a storm blowing you away while you hold on for dear life. But coming to your appreciation Marco, I also felt like yeah, you are facing a performance of some sort. It is a beast trying to kill you, embodying a powerful storm, but it sounds like a performance.
I have not played the dlc yet and this music set something primal off in my brain with the single repeating thought of ROLL ROLL ROLL!!!!!!!!
It would be incredible if at the end of each of these you watched a fight against the boss, or the BGMs being used in context and gave your opinion. This one fits so well
i love how he litterally managed to guess what the fight is like at 7:57
9:32 Love that part especially!
I was going through the entire boss fight listening to this and just couldn't wait to hear your thoughts on it! I'm glad the video came out so soon!
Yes! You nailed it in every song! Is the dance, the movement of the dancing lion. In Asia the dancing lions performs in festivals, celebrating and dancing on top of poles in different levels to the rhythm of the drums and bamboo flutes. They are magnificent, colorful and brutal at the same time. I recommend you watch a performance of them, especially the lions from Thailand, they are my favorites.
When you said it sounds like a celebration, you got it spot on. The Divine Beast dance was originally a celebratory ceremony. It was turned toward martial ends when Messmer invaded
When fighting it my jaw was literally on the floor not even joking. Literally the coolest and most epic boss fight in the history of games. im glazing fr fr ongod
I love all the fromsouls boss fights with flowing music that genuinely helps you dodge and anticipate the boss since they are dancing to it with the intent you join their dance.
I found the boss a bit janky with some parts of the moveset. But I couldn’t really be mad when I had this theme going the whole time. What a stunning bossfight. I also notice the music has some Eastern musical culture influences, which really fits the aesthetic of the bosses fight, which really gives off a Chinese dragon vibe with the swirling motions.
the trick with the boss is to rely more on movement and jumping over dodging, keeping some distance from him and letting him come to you helps out a lot with the camera
@@Ghorda9 I beat him a good while ago I just think his lightning needs to get patched up.
Love this casual showing of your own octave range while singing the baritone part then the flute parts right after. Very impressive!
this boss is littearly just chinse dancing lion music but they made it so demented and horrifying that it sounds like the music of an actual monster, it has a real dance to it and it syncs with the boss fights phases and attacks, its done really well my favorite bit was 7:16 that whole bit just sounds so intense
This OST is literally Miyazaki telling us "Welcome to your first trial. Give it all, because only the best are allowed to pass..."
This is my fav track in the DLC! I love how they give the impression of something whirling about with music, and the low grating sounds underneath the melody is reminiscent of a beast growling.
"O Horn-deck'd beast, from higher sphere deliver'd. Take root inside the tower's sculpted keepers. And perch'd within, we beg of thee; rise."
"Dance and cavort, cleanse all that thou wilt. Cruelty, woe, and those who plague the tower. Cleanse away the strumpet's vile progeny."
My god I can't wait for your reaction to a certain Lord's theme in the DLC.. its so fucking good!
Great video as always though, Marco! Love your stuff!
I fell in love with this piece when that 2nd phase part kicked in. For me this is up there with the final fight theme from base ER
excited to see you play the dlc and actually see how well your analysis lines up to what its like to fight this boss. if i am to tie the lore into it though without spoiling much, in classic fromsoft fashion, you're fighting something that isn't inherently evil per se but is definitely aligned with divinity or is in itself a divine creature and these frantic violins really give the vibe that you're fighting just a force of nature. you pointed out the frantic flutes as well which i think really alludes to its grounds in the real life asian culture the beast is based on and also when you fight the boss, you are so right that theres a lot of leaping and bounding happening. for a beast so huge, the music really sells how athletic and elegant and how fast it is too. also again not too spoil too much, i think its also fair to say that its not you or us the player thats celebrating in this music but there is definitely a celebration of this beast's awakening for sure
yessss this was my favorite track from the DLC and i was hoping you'd listen to it. the melody is so wild and untamed.
the crazy part is that he describes the move set of the boss perfectly
Good video!
I also love the Belurat, Tower Settlement OST.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is a true masterpiece and the music is outstanding!
I was waiting for this breakdown of this incredible piece 🤩🤩
3:42 I laughed cause when I heard this part I imagined people dancing in a ballroom island with jaws swimming in circles around them or some messed up thing like that. He says it better though 😅
the way you spoke was really very complete, how I felt listening, I stood there for about 5 seconds completely frozen by his dance, how he is looked at
Wow, it is incredible how you haven't actually fought the boss and you seem to know little about the lore or context of the story yet just from the music alone you are able to extrapolate so much meaning that is incredibly accurate. It is mindblowing how you say "the music feels like it's trying to say this" and you almost exactly describe what the story is trying to make the player feel. "Optimistic vengeance" is so spot on it's almost spooky. Not only is that a testament to your musical knowledge, it also goes to show how expertly the FromSoftware composer(s) convey meaning and emotion without even a single lyric. This is by far my favourite piece of music from the DLC and your analysis of it only makes me like it more.
I really have to listen to it all on youtube now, it's hard to appreciate those tracks in full when you're fighting for your life 😅 I actually like that though, it lets me experience the soundtrack twice
you totally nail it ! I want to see you fight and react to that dancing lion .That fight ,midra and Romina are my favorite !
The fight was a real spectacle!
Spoiler warning to the Boss fight:
pre-fight dialog:
"O Horn-deck'd beast, from higher sphere deliver'd. Take root inside the towers's sculpted keepers. And perch'd within, we beg of thee; rise. Dance and cavort, cleanse all that thou wilt. Cruelty, woe, and those who plague the tower. Cleanse away the strumpet's vile progeny."
Remembrance of the Dancing Lion Item:
" Remembrance of the Dancing Lion, hewn into the Scadutree. The power of its namesake can be unlocked by the finger reader. Alternatively it can be used to gain a great bounty of runes. When the Impaler's army assailed the tower, the ritual of the lion was turned towards martial ends - its divinity, its fury, its light-footed beauty"
I've played through this part of the DLC and it is a BEAST of a boss. it commands the storms to produce wind, ice, and lighting. it jumps around and pounces on you at any moment. its body is similar to the Chinese dragon dancers with multiple people inside and a mechanical mouth that it uses with grate affect. it feels like i was fighting a savage beast that has inhabited the bodies of the dancers....
i hope to see you react to more music from the DLC!
Every single track in the dlc is amazing, you will love every single piece
So far Midra is my favorite
@@MarcoMeatballdid you heard bayle and mesmer are amazing too
@@MarcoMeatball totally agree with you ❤ the fight and music were insane. So disturbing!
I was hoping you’d do this one first and I’m glad to see it happen, this is one of my personal favorites in the dlc.
I’m glad FromSoft added an allusion to lion dancing in one of their games. it’s a common form of celebration for my nationality, and as disconnected as I am from my culture, it’s a pretty fond childhood memory of mine to watch lion dancers perform
I think they did great with the song too, it’s a wonderful FromSoft-ian spin on the usual lion dancing music!
I love how the music’s syncs up with the bosses changing elements in the actual fight
The ost adds so much detail to the fight. The beginning sounds like the “beast” itself is truly just two actors putting on a performance. The arena is literally a giant theatre. It almost feels like this music is literally playing as it puts on a show for a crowd that’s long since disappeared. It’s just a dance to the beast, but in the second phase it seems like the chorus, which I imagine to be a kind of stand in for a crowd cheering, gets frantic and almost afraid. The dance you’re part of is rehearsed, and you’re meant to lose. When you start winning, however, it’s like the music portrays that the crowd didn’t expect their beloved beast to actually lose. It goes from optimistic cheering to screams of shock. It seems like the beast itself also gets desperate, and it stops being a matter of grandiose and spectacle to an actual fight. It’s not a performance anymore, it’s a battle. The orchestra playing the beasts theme song for the performance also gets more distressed, as if the players are also not expecting you to prevail, and they’re gripping their instruments too hard, kind of twisting the song due to their fear.
7:20 makes me ascend
The eastern elements to me feel a lot like hearing a traditional reenactment of a battle for something like a folk theater. Which is incredibly fitting for a boss that is literally just 2 people ritually possessed by the spirit of a great mythical beast.
From what I understand, the Divine Beast Dancing Lions were first performers who were later used in the war against Messmer's forces. That's where I think both the celebratory and the angry tones come from. Also you literally fight them on a stage!
I really enjoyed the music changing along with the boss changing elements. Dynamic doesn't even begin to describe this theme!
7:57 it almost feels like you're the animal in this gladiator arena and HE is the champion, beloved by all, and everyone is chanting for him to tame or kill you
Honestly listening to this music while in combat against the divine beast is truly mesmerizing and it's something I'll never forget. That's incredible to say about a video game.
As someone who had just beaten this boss after a few tries I can only say one thing about it. Overwhelming. It was my first time ever in a soulsborne game where I genuinely felt overstimulated but beautifully so. The way it phase changes and summons lightning everywhere, lunges at you with its mouth etc. And the music! Its so festive and energetic. I can already tell this DLC is going to he one of the most fun ones in a while.
I absolutely love the strings on this, they're just so fun to me. Excited to see your opinions on the other themes. There's so many pretty things in there.
The vocal hits when the beast changes to lightning for the first time genuinely gave me goosebumps
I love the last bit of the music, the constant raising feeling relates to the lore of the Divine Beast, within Hornsent culture, there is a insatiable striving towards eternity, like a tower a babel reaching to the heavens. So close, yet so far away from godhood. The Divine Beast, in this context, is pushing himself further into the dance to achieve a heavenly status. As the Divine Beasts are the closest things to divinity in Hornsent Culture after all. So the second phase is like a 'LOCK IN' moment, which is why it cycles phases after the transition. Meanwhile, the first phase is like a raddling of bones, trying to get back into the groove of things like spitting dust and crap.
Dancing lion is my faiv boss in the dlc atm for the music alone!
Also Dancing Lion used to be a celebration but after mesmer attacked the tower, The inhabitants turned the dancing lion into a Weapon. This wasent their wish but what other choice did they have? So the once divine beast of celebration now became the protector of the tower and overtime became a god to its people.
Of course the lion itself isint alive its being controlled but it symbolises their great protector the divine beast.
The song sounds like a festival due to this probably being what was played during celebrations as the inhabitants of the tower watched the Lion Dance.
It gives off a sad feeling. This is a symbol once celebrated and marveled but due to mesmers purge its now a puppet refit for battle. Its dances modified to work in battle. Yet an elegance remains.
Nice and sad lore . If you will fight Bayle be shure to tell me what you think about him.
This is my new favorite soundrack, because they do this sountrack more eastern (because, this is chineese lion dance, and because I love Nioh and Nioh 2 soundtracks especially), and cause this is really looks like festival ritual dance, what this people start using to defend themselves, then war starts
10:55 and, yes, this is heroic, because two guardians, wearing this lion costume - heroes for their people, and for woman in this town, who introducing them in cutscene. They are the one, who defended their lands from Messmer's army
it needs to mentioned that at 7:15, the Dancing Lion will change always try to change elements when this section of music plays. it's some crazy cinematic stuff
"Optimistic vengeance" is a very interesting and insightful read once you delve in to what the Divine Beasts are and their animating purpose
You’re pretty much spot on with the analysis. The Divine Beast was a celebration of the three elements ice, storm and lighting, with storm being the pinnacle, all of it performed in an actual dedicated theater. However, when the Golden Order’s army came to attack the tower, this same “god” (as seen by the people now) became a war machine, its performance turned towards violence.
This was my favorite track out of the dlc. I got chills multiple times fighting the beast lion seeing him roaring in the air along the OST
I'd call it righteous vengeance, what a spectacular fight