Oh my god thank you for saying that just because YPC is gone, the quality didn’t go down. Dislike DOES NOT mean bad quality. The amount of people I’ve heard insulting the new composers saying that genshin is doomed cause they don’t like the newer tracks is so insulting because literally 4.2 they were sobbing their eyes out.
yeah, the music has not lost quality, there are simply different contexts, currently the story is delving into themes like Kaenriah and the abyss, so things like EDM will be more present, music always has a context, even more so in games like genshin, so if it has to sound "bad" to represent something it will do it and that makes it even better.
Also these people act like the newer composers weren't making tracks back in 2._ and 3._ Yu Peng Chen was not the only composer back in Inazuma and Sumeru, yet back then people had no complaints about the composers' work because they thought it was all YPC.
@@rebecca4680 yeah, the ambient music which is one of the most incredible aspects of the game has nothing to do with YPC and in fontaine the music has been even better than before and without his participation, of course he was one of the best when it came to the weekly boss themes but at the end of the day most of the music in the game, which is extremely incredible, was not made by him, that only indicates the level that the other composers have.
Fontaine's ost now with the Remuria one was so fitting and has become my favorite overall in terms of region. People just haven't put down their YPC glasses down. which people does because they hate it whey they see change something from the original.
Just for information, the pianist 's name is Yui Morishita, a famous japanese piano player for his interpretation of Alkan, one of the most virtuosic composers of piano, so it's absolutely correct that it would be imagined that the sheet music to be incredibly hard!
I totally get your point about having to consider it even outside the context of the game. For me however, it really blew me away when I first heard it because I have never heard a woman sing so low!
@@Zombina638OP probably means that they’ve never hear a female singer using such a deep (low) range of voice before. Tbh, I’m also surprised too. This is my first time hearing such a low range.
"It’s a good track and in context i understand why it is the way is is, but _personally_ i don’t enjoy it and i have my criticisms" Is basically what Marco said, it’s INSANE that people can’t understand that bruh, like Marco is allowed to give his professional critique and have his personal opinion about things, he said that’s it’s a solid track but he PERSONALLY doesn’t enjoy it and would have done some things differently and that’s totally fine, like i don’t understand the people hating on Marco, it’s not like he’s gonna come to your house and break your ankles if he doesn’t hold the same opinion as you about a song lmao Like me personally i absolutely love the track in and out of context, that doesn’t mean that i now have to unsubscribe and hate Marco just because he doesn’t personally enjoy it lol And AGAIN HE ISNT SAYING THAT ITS A BAD THEME, he just said that on a personal level he doesn't enjoy it, PERIOD. (I feel like i just said the same thing over and over again but some people really aren't getting it lol)
That day Yu Peng Chen left Hoyo, they went back to their EDM ways. From Childe, Signora and Scaramouche who emphasized on their classical takes. Truly a tragic loss.
I think it's very much intentional that the Arlecchino boss theme doesn't have a dramatic climax and it just suddenly ends. It ties in to the actual story moment.
Just because it have lore reasons, or logic, or anything Doesn't mean it is automatically appreciable to those who didn't liked the musical choice they did to her theme Her phase 1 with less edm sounds even better than phase 2 that sounds a heavily incomplete music, with cut of climax, without any peak, and with the edm being very noisy and without any melody
@@esper2464 The composer wants to convey an incomplete battle through a piece that doesn't conclude satisfyingly. You, the listener, interprets that it sounds incomplete. Seems like the composer succeeded. It's your choice whether you like the feeling it conveys, but it is conveyed successfully.
@esper2464 She doesn't show her true powers. That's most likely the reason. It doesn't cater to people who appreciate music but everything is tied to the game and lore. That's the reason why context is a must in this game because they want you to play their game not just listen to its music.
@@faeliyoure9105 but I'm already playing the game, i know everything And even so, the way they used the song to tell the stories and fit the narrative was always good But here it just sounds bad, only that It's so hard to accept that??? Jesus Christ 😮💨
4:00 In this part I believe that the composer's intention, with EDM, was to cause a feeling of discomfort, to the point that it transmits not only tension, which was built from the beginning of the piece, but also some horror, when facing what appears to be an unknown or "otherworldly" force, to work in the player's mind the moment they face the Boss. Or at least that's what I believe.
Genshin has also made a point of using EDM whenever there is something unnatural to the world. Her curse is clearly an aspect that is not natural/doesn't belong. So it's being highlighted there. They used it during the Aranara questline with the corruption and again with the Narwhal. You even hear hints of it in Childe's theme when he's using Foul Legacy.
@@Crystalhair2024they used it for other demos too tbh they're not talking abt demos those are for marketing the characters. Boss themes are what they're talking abt and they're correct EDM is always used for "alien" entities or outside of teyvat force/abyss
The ending not having a climax seems to make sense to me. Every other boss we fought so far had the intention to kill us(or at least close to death) but Arlecchino just wanted to know how strong we were by showing us her true form(the edm portion) she never had intention to kill us so it kinda ends in a cliff hanger
@@Charalyn0010 yeah, what's funny is every OST in game is somewhat related to lore and it used to sound good. No one even questioned. Now it sounds bad and people justifying this with lore as if YPC didn't incorporated his music with lore.
@@NazmulhossainTahsin are you implying that because Yu Peng Chen is gone the ost is bad? I Hope you know Yu Peng Chen didn’t compose all the ost on his own. For example, Ayaka’s theme was composed by Dimeng Yuan(only him). Raiden’s theme was done by Dimeng Yuan AND Yu Peng Chen. Also I love a lot of the Court of Fontaine tracks, but I dislike Arlecchino’s theme. It’s okay if you dislike the theme, but please do not hate on the music team.
@@lucituci97 Yes, i am aware YPC didn't compose every ost, in fact i love enkanomiya and last part of tge desert osts. Im not even saying rest of the team is bad im just implying that its the bad management. Assigning the wrong person to do a task that he is not particularly good at. YPC happens to be an all rounder in every aspect of music imo.
I honestly think that it's really great that they tried something new with Arlecchino's theme. Some people will like it, some won't, but I think that's the great thing about music - it can make us feel different emotions and that's wonderful. My sister definitely loves this piece, because she has been playing it on loop the last few days (I forced her to wear headphones!!! 😂). EDIT: spelling!
i absolutely loved this, so much so i was hearing with low quality when it leaked lol. the pieces where the organ just blasts in the background are too much to me 🥹 i hope the producers keep this style when making the tsaritsa's theme
The thing about this performance like Marco said is Arlecchino showing/giving us only a portion of her. Her snap is her taking over complete control of this situation. This whole performance is her only letting us the Guest get a small portion of her. Before in all the other battles we were going all out and fighting to the death, our enemies/foes had something to prove and were letting us see everything they had. THIS however we were just flies, Arlecchino had the entire thing in the palm of her hands. That’s rly my only rebuttal tbh.
The theme is kinda short and ends abruptly probably because of when fighting Arle, you get intimidated by her aura that you didn't notice that the fight has actually ended already. IMO.
I like how you explain that liking or not the EDM part is subjective and does not invalidate somebody's feelings, positive or negative, towards it. I personally do like it and I think i specifically understand why: There is a musical/rhythm game called Deemo (which I suggest you play in case you enjoy those, the story is beautiful), and the three main "story" songs (Magnolia, Myosotis and Marigold) have a similar approach in them. I think it emphasized the emotions of the song in general, and from my perspective I think it does here too. It's not the melody indeed, my ears actually go straight to focus in the organ, and I consider it adds weight to it when (from what i appreciate) the strings are not playing. It's just rhythm, a strong supportive, tense, and intimidating rhythm. That's my appreciation personally, and I respect your opinions and feedback, which I constantly learn from
I personally really like this theme, when I listen to music it is not just to hear some nice sounds, when I am listening to music it is like a canvas where I can pain using my creativity, it is not just about how it sounds, it is about a story that the music can tell by itself and what my mind can create to have an amazing experience that is my very own creation. And from that perspective I really like to listen to this theme. But I can see your own perspective and understand it. This is not limited to game soundtracks so that's probably why my playlist that has over 200 songs has such vast range of genres, types and everything, probably there is no one else that would like that playlist, but everyone would like a part of it. Also for the performance itself, I love the acting of Dr Huiling Zhu, she made the whole stage her stage, this is kind of connected with the main part of this comment, but she really went into the character and by being just a singer in the whole performance, she still acted with such grace and power that it was so amazing to look at and hear
I find this song personally gratifying for a similar reason. I'm not interested in Melody, so much as what the music can make you FEEL. Sure melody is great, but as a Violinist. Melody wasn't always reserved for us, and the best pieces I loved playing. Had to do with breaking convention, and making things feel different. For Arlechinno's theme. I took it as like an extension for the type of vibe they're going for, not just for the Abyss. But the meshing of Classical and EDM styles. Apashe being an artist that absolutely blew me away with how he's mixed classical music and his own dubstep/edm/trap takes. Arlechinno's theme then. Reminds me of those dynamic ranges, that also brings about the same sort of vibe as Sephiroth's theme. It's calm. Threatening. Predatory. You're not in anyway, meant to really win.
The sudden cut makes sense, in the game Arlecchino cuts the fight when she has 10 or 20% HP left. You don't defeat her but she still gives you the win. Of course once you come back and fight her again the bar does go all the way to the end but her ending animation is not one of defeat like previous harbingers have, it's her going back to her default outfit. My favourite fatui boss music is still Shoki no Kami, and my favourite boss overall is still Raiden puppet. Arlecchino's ending animation is really cool though.
I like when Marco talks about his own opinion even if someone would not like it. Completely understand and agree point about different preferences in music for different people. Comment for your support.
The information about Mezzo Soprano was amazing, thank you! I like parts of this song, but not all of it, and I very much understand your opinion on this song. Because of curiousity I translated the lyrics and will post them here for all of you, who are interested: Ultio irae Ratio tuae ecce luna rubra orta erat Noctem exsanguem rubefecit Nemo nisi innocentes dormire potest Sors mors est velata Ac sic somnia servabo liberorum (Num unam tantum benedictionem habes, pater nostri) (Benedicam benedic tibi etaim, pater, somnialiter) Sors mei finiet etiamsi (Sors immanis et inanis salubris vanitas) Haec sors est immanis imannis etiamsi (Semper volata dissolubilis) Inane rubeface a luna (Nemo nisi innocentes dormire potest) Eccce te nepos exoci sed non quasi argentum elegi te in patiente camino ut sis paterfamilia eum Camino spero vos videre lucem novam (Luce nova) revenge of anger your system (your reason) behold, the red moon had risen The bloodless night blushed None but the innocent can sleep The fate of death is veiled And so I will keep the dreams of the children (Do you have only one blessing, our father) (Bless you, father, dreamily) My fate will end though (The fate of the monstrous and empty healthy vanity) This is the fate of the giants, though (Always flying disintegrating) In vain blushing from the moon (None but the innocent can sleep) Behold, I cast you out, my nephew, but I did not choose as silver you in the patient hearth to be the father of the family I hope you see a new light on the way (new light)
I understand people being disappointed that you don't like what they like. They want validation from someone popular or someone they respect. That is a them problem though and they need to figure out why and how to handle that feeling. You have no need to explain yourself, Marco, but I appreciate that you were being considerate.
Me personally, I don't like the EDM from 8:23 to 8:29. The EDM after that is better because it picks up the melody and choir again. The ending is indeed a little abrupt to me as well. But overall that's like max 5-10 seconds in the entire piece that I don't like, so that can't ruin it for me at all 😅.
@@achmadputra2 I completely agree with you. The song ending really makes sense after I finished playing Arlecchino's story quest. Maybe there's a part 2 in it?
I fully agree with your take on the EDM part, and it's great that you're not afraid to say you don't like something. This is the exact same reason why I'm not a fan of the Narwhal 2nd phase, the lack of melody throws me off so much that it's not enjoyable to listen out of the game context. The same goes for Arlecchino's demo theme, the children's choir is nice but the rest is just a jarring noise for me.
I think some people maybe offended because you do have a professional background therefore tend to make people think any comment from you is a "authorized criticism" rather than "personal preference". This is not your fault and you have made your opinion clear enough in this video. Hope to see your reaction video to the new Remuria (a region resembles Rome) boss theme that is also newly released, really looking forward to see your explanations on the techniques they used (I enjoyed the string instruments in this ost).
I think the point for the EDM is (if you played the story quest *SPOILER ALERT*): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Is to show us tremendous power outwordly that the traveler gets too see to late, cause if you remember when the fight starts, the traveler feels like he can battle toe to toe with Peruere, actually the line i think is "i would like to see what the fourth of the harbinger can do for myself" or something like that, maybe i'm overthinking but after Furina Archon Quest, the Traveler also says "Fighting and archon, i got a resume", like your main character really thinks he can beat a godlike figure and from a sudden you have Peruere, which is an ex resident from the khaenriah orphanage, possesing a curse (i think) from both the blood moon dynasty (or maybe a blessing?) and the Eclipse Dynasty (the X in her hands, there is a new book in the story which is call Periheri, which character seems to be Peruere or a similar). My point is that, not beginning the second phase, but later in this phase, the Traveler learns that he is not strong enough to beat her, and she literally spare us in battle, not before making clear that we are not ready to fight godlike characters (the genjutsu moment), so i think i understand the EDM to be so abrupt and a little disconfort to demostrate that you have in front of you a power that is out of this world, you can't win against her, and she said in the beginning that if you don't fight with all your might you might die, so at that point you're just trying to acknowledge that fact that you can't do nothing and you have no control at all in the outcome, unlike what you could believe in past battles.
I do really feel that the Traveller has gotten a bit full of him/herself because everything has worked out in someway for them, but then when they cross swords with Arlecchino, they get a wake up call. You can even notice that the traveler is doubting of their own strength and seems to be like "what have i myself gotten into?" very briefly and they go from fighting to win to fighting to survive.
While I am not a fan of the electronic segment in this theme, I feel like that is the intention - to make the listener feel like "something isn't right here". At least for me this part symbolizes Arlecchino's curse.
Lo tecno tiene que ver con algo que no es de este mundo, de ahí que lo usen donde no "pega", lo usaron con el Narval devoraestrellas, y lo usan aquí cuando Arlecchino usa los poderes de la dinastía luna carmesí de Kaenriah, una dinastía más antigua y con una historia oscuro sobre un orfanato con niños "dioses" de otro mundo
or at least melded with the orchestra and not like an intermission/interruption in between orchestra... while I get the story reason, music writing-wise it's jarring
@@Calvin704704Fr, the execution was kinda flawed ngl, its not that bad but it could do some work. Take for example the beatdrop in scaramouche, it still connects with the track and it also has ypc singing full of emotions and you can truly bang your head while still feeling every little part of it. I really, REALLY like the main singers deep voice and performance here, its just a shame it isnt really expanded upon during the climax. I hope natlan's weekly make up for it because the choir or vocal part from genshin never miss.
@@Mas-Item exactly, while I would really like to hear this in-game (if she survived long enough for me to reach that point in the track), I would be more inclined to skip to the next track when I get to that part (whenever the album release)
I was with you on this one until I heard it in game. It fits, so well it's unbelievable. It is not a track to listen all the time or something you will enjoy out of context. Although, I very much do, the vocalist is amazing, it's such a pleasure to listen to her. Appreciate your opinion, of course. Let others like whatever they want to like.
Listening to music for music's sake is only more appreciated around those who were professionally trained or has a background in music, that is why in your assessment of this track you find it lacking in (for a lack of a better word in my head) "commitment". It is a testament to your knowledge as an opera singer. It's just that most people don't have that level of understanding, and are mostly guided by context as to why the music was presented in such a way. You can urge them however you want, but many of us are dependent on context because we never have that talent learned and that is just fact. We can try, no guarantees. I, for one, appreciate this song so completely purely in context of the story that is attached to it. The EDM isn't out of place, and we already have a precedent for this (i.e. the Phase 2 Narwhal boss). Seems like the EDM is used whenever something is otherworldly or isn't meant to be in Teyvat. Another precedent is Honkai Star Rail. That game is all about space, so everything there is out of the ordinary. Plenty of electronic music plays in a lot of places in that game. My opinion, ofc. Thanks.
To be honest it's first time a song from Genshin brought me to tears, when I saw the singer coming to stage and interpreting I was is awe. Beautiful voice! This, Sacaramouche and Signora themes are my favourites, they have so much emotion. But this one is the first time that I actually cried listening.
I commented on Samizards video the same thing about her vocal classification, she sounds like and has a vocal range of a contralto. From my own choir experience, mezzos tend to, even when reaching that lower register, have less presence and intensity in their voices. This woman reaches my mid and lower registers with the same punch that I have hahahah(I'm a baritone). We have some techniques to bypass some vocal natural limitations but still, she does seen to reach that lower region very naturaly, without much vocal mambo jambo hahahaahah. Here in Brazil we work a lot with mezzos because contralto is veeeery rare and, honestly, her voice does not sound like any mezzo that I worked with. Vocal classifications apart, I must say how I love the vocal choices on this choir. The kids in unison singing like "we're good kids behaving perfectly like the father wants", the voice that represents The Father singing in a vocal range that is commonly sang by male voices, the sopranos taking the lead in key moments like "we're older children that discovered the houses dark side"(those parts kinda reminds me of bloodborne music along with the boss fight itself, btw), Im even jealous because I would love to work on a choir that sings songs like these hahaha. In the end I would like to thank you Marco, you're an amazing singer, listener and musician in general, but what I really like is that you're one of the most didactic and reasonable music youtubers that I've ever seen. I think I've never saw anyone differentiate personal taste from a trull critical analysis so well! PS: Galina Baranova - Song of Desire, Lisa Gerrard - Sacrifice (Live in Sofia) and in a popular music spectrum, Ivete Sangalo - Fullgás. Some contralto examples that reminds me of Huiling Zhu(she's labeled as an Alto in the brazilian text hahah) Edit: I saw the official channels to double check and every single one is labeling her as an Alto now, except for China whos labeling her as a Dramatic Soprano??? what?? (I have a hot take about the musical perception in those places btw, cause I tried to enter in some events here singing chinese and korean songs but most of them are very out of my range because the pop music there value high notes so much to the point that their perception is very different from ours in that regard)
that's interesting. she's still listed as a mezzo everywhere else, except in the Genshin stuff. maybe it was confusing people too much? but dramatic soprano is truly an... interesting choice ^^ btw, have you seen her Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiss performance? it's beautiful. you obviously know significantly more about music than I do (I just like to listen to it and vibe a little bit ^^) but to me she sounded like a pretty normal, even though very talented mezzo-soprano in that performance. what is so unusual about it? I'm just genuinely curious :D
@@leni1029 well, if we keep using the same vocal classification system, there is a common characteristic in lower registers(contraltos, tenorines and bass), they usually have a very wide range of notes to sing. Most of the biggest vocal ranges that we know belongs to profund male voices that goes from a veeeery low note to notes that are the best region for baritones and even tenors(funfact, the biggest range documented is from the brazilian singer Georgia Brown, but she goes beyond sopranos in that case), but without the same quality and intensity of the lower ones and this happens because their vocal cords and muscles around it are stronger when te cords are less stretched and this topic can extend to how the resonance chamber inside your mouth, throat and etc(different head/face formats can contribute to particular frequencies). With all that said, maybe she is one of those aliens with a veeeery wide range and she uses her dramatic voice to sing as a mezzo with ease and there are a lot of vocal techniques to improve that as well(I can sing some bass lines in songs because I learned how to improve the sound with some muscles inside + finesse in vocal cord control + lots and lots of training). But here is the thing: No mezzo that I know can reach that lower register with such a potent and consistent voice, they tend to become thiner with less quality on them. Huiling Zhu reach the alto region like any alto would, I want to find her singing something higher like a dramatic soprano piece to see how the quality sounds in that region. Also: if she has indeed an uncommon physiology, those strict classifications matters way less than they do now. Countertenors for example, can surpass sopranos sometimes and sing tenor lines with the same shine and ease, so they fall of the limits here(I personally don't like to use these classifications on the choirs that I work on because we have an incredible variety of voices that fall out of the standarts, so I adapt a lot of things and simplify in a language that they can all understand).
@@leni1029 and I listened to her Meine Lippen perfomance now, truly an amazing singer(a lot of contralto pieces catches the range she sings in that music, btw).
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONEEEEE!!!! Huiling Zhu is such a master at her work, she captures the essence of Arlechinno so WELL its like Arle herself is the one on stage.
the problem is not EDM imo, raiden shogun's and scramouche's themes prove it, the problem is that in arlecchino's theme EDM is all over the place and theres no rythm, and i feel the same way about narwhals ost, i hope they'll take more time and have more inspiration for the next weekly boss
Fontaine's new area Remuria is so Music Themed or focused, there were about 3 cutscenes i absolutely fell inlove with because of the music, I cant wait to see a reaction to those from you!
first of all, I really appreciate your insights, opinions and views on music. It helps me see music from different angles and always adds something. Often because you highlight even more nuances and layers of tracks that I already absolutely adore. But ESPECIALLY when I love a music piece and you criticise it. It gives me a different perspective and it's just so interesting! How boring would my life be if everybody always agreed with me? Besides the apparently not obvious fact that, YES, you are fucking allowed to not like something, because everybody likes and prefers different stuff. I also appreciate your honesty and authenticity. It's sad that you had to explain and defend yourself but at the same time, you brought up some important points in a very eloquent way. You put some huge issues the internet has into words. The way communication and personal opinions and preferences are handled and almost policed is exhausting at best and harmful at worst. The inability to let different opinions and points of view exist next to each other seems to get worse and worse. it's either "with us or against us". Criticism, if done right, can actually be an expression of love. It's a sign that somebody cares and actually gives a shit. Somebody took their time and put their opinions into words instead of simply not sacrificing any time and energy. and let's face it: The twelve-tone technique exists. EVERYTHING in music is extremely subjective XD And one music piece that's maybe not the strongest doesn't diminish the beauty of the others. I mean, even Beethoven has Fidelio (sorry to everybody who loves that opera. it's just really not my favourite ^^) and nobody sat there and thought that suddenly the rest of his work sucks ^^
I love how you talk about melody, EDM and music climax! I also had a same feeling, for example the piece Fountain (the prelude piece), it doesn’t develop that much to really climax, always a 8-bar loop or sth, and I never get a satisfying resolution.
I love this composition and performance! I kinda see it in three movements, even though it's timed like an actual song. The first movement gives a harrowing vibe with the childrens's choir. The progression of the strings is beautiful and that climax of them is beautiful with the adddition of the wind! Then "Father" appears and if you translate the lyrics, it's like she is calling a biblical event...not exactly but as far as the scale of feeling and syntax. Then it's like she has a tender moment with thw childrens choir before the big moment. The third movement evoles the feeling of being in the presence of her and this moment. The organ brings a completely different vive than any previously, of the fervor, the intensity, and the impact of "Father", that she perhaps is a savior to these children, but she defends them with a wicked power. This crimson moon gift that the lyrics speak of is something truly incredible to witness and the children know this. This context is all given if you translate the lyrics, so even as a performance it offers context as to what the composer wants to evoke. A truly incredible production! Even if it's not up your alley, I find this conposition stunning and is a gem as far as music appreciation. The string progression in the second movement signaling Fathers arrival sounds so gallant, indicating that this father the children are calling on is a hero. Also, just because you see this as a "park 'n bark" performance is almost deragatory. Because its not your cup of tea, it's like the power of this performance is missed. Just vecause she's not moving around the stage with gusto is conpletely beside the point of this conposition. When the composition is that powerful, you dont need to look like your pleading to the audience to prove that it is.
I find the concept that Marco has to remain totally objective and not let his personal tastes flavor his opinion on a piece to be a bit of a baffling one. I think that his experience that lets him deconstruct music he doesn't like in an objective framework to be very impressive- and he clearly does understand the theory of why someone might like it- but he's a person with preferences just like the rest of us. That's fine. I like it, personally. Maybe it's not my favorite part of the piece, but I do also tend to lean a bit harder on context as a listener of things I'm a fan of.
Thank you so much for your breakdown! So happy there is a live version, your breakdown is such a delight ❤️. I show non-gamer friends music so it's important for me to understand what is impressive outside of my bias game setting. For me I felt the EDM didn't "build and drop" and I couldn't understand why. Like it's so loud but why doesn't it "hit"? Something was up but I was too distracted to really break it down. Thanks lots 😎. When I think of the intensity of piano I just think "this IS a hammer instrument isn't it?"
I can hear him discuss music all day. I miss it so much. My music teacher used to hammer these into me a lot. It makes you understand the deeper meaning.
There was a whole side quest ant this in Honkai star rail Penacony with this singer with her native song. To her it is true beauty of music, but to others it doesn’t. It will always depend not only on context but with someone’s background with music growing up. It is subjective and we shouldn’t hate people for having preferences. Contextually it’s beautiful but in the listener’s personal interest, it isnt something that catches them. That’s just my 2 cents
Personally I'm meh about the EDM but it makes sense in game context. She's an otherworldly being with strange and unknown powers in a death battle against us. The sudden change of music theme/genre makes sense. but I'm not really a fan of it, I would've liked a continuous theme too
Something I've noticed is that in the boss themes, electronic mostly shows up in the themes of opponents who are closest to godhood, and I'd argue the All-Devouring Narwhal does count in that, but in a more Eldritch sense, rather than the Divinity of the Magatsu Mitake Narukami no Mikoto and the Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom
hey Marco! great voicing on the new event in Genshin! wish to hear more of you in hoyo projects, and i am quietly rooting for you to be hired to sing in one of their operas
I also didn't really enjoy the edm part of this track. That's not to say edm doesn't belong in genshin or anything. My favorite track is Scaramouche's boss theme and that has a lot of edm. I just would've liked it to be more integrated with the rest of the piece (like using the fatui leitmotif, hoth leitmotif, add more of the choir, or include the orchestra). With that being said the rest of this track was really good especially the singing!
I agree that yu peng chen has a unique style and helped the game to shine. The other hoyo team is doing a great job do not get me wrong, but he surely had a vision and did bring something special to the table that no one else did. All I'm saying is that the game can live even without him, but they can never find someone to replace him. Honestly, I don't think he would've gotten this famous in the community for being a regular composer.
@@Tiyac3 yes i know. If you read what I wrote, you would understand that i was talking about him and his career overall. I even said that the game can survive without him, which they are doing right now. But if you want to talk about the game itself ok sure np. I think it has become stale and boring. Are you satisfied with genshin right now?
everyone is completely entitled to their own opinions on this theme BUT can we all at least agree that the main singer absolutely killed it?! she’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s so cool to see a female singer with this type of vocal range… i’m so grateful to genshin and the hoyo-mix team for introducing me to so many new types of music, singing, etc. that otherwise i wouldn’t be aware of! and i must also thank Marco for bringing his knowledge and expertise to this community 🫶
Thank you for clarifying your thoughts Marco and you really do make many solid points. When all's said and done it really is important to take music from many different perspectives. With the context I personally think this piece was amazing but there's certainly some parts that could have been different to further enhance the melodic sections, but it is what it is lol. I'm just happy we get to enjoy more classical Genshin music none the less and that's what we're all here for in the end. Looking forward to more of your music breakdowns :D
I understand very well where you're coming from and I do agree. You actually sound like someone concerned for the future of these pieces. After all, these tracks MUST be able to survive well into the future when the game is done and all who worked on them have passed on, just like the classical scores we have today that thrives without reliance on the original context. We don't listen to a piece dedicated to a deceased wife, for example, and revolve our thinking and use of it on just that and nothing else, so your point about Arlecchino's Boss theme needing to stand on its own without context is extremely valid. It should not be a piece that should be listened to ONLY after playing the game and doing all her quests. Why gate-keep music that way?
8:05 is awesome if you know how Arlecchino attacks. Red and black glass-like spikes stinging from the ground, and the sound makes you feel you are dueling with her. So intense and powerful.
I'm also a really big fan of melodies and appreciate it when you can love a song with no given context. Can show that a song is just that good and can stand on its own.
Really interesting critic! What I read in that theme is a lot of emotional turnoil held down by an iron-clad. Arlecchino is filled with so much emotions that all clash and contradict each other that we can fill in the music and the signer's voice is that control she exerts to keep that whirlwing of emotions under the surface - the voice is the surface. It also ends abruptly because her story isn't done; Alrcchino is a WIP, an unfinished symphony It doesn't carry the same sorrow and absolution that Raiden's themes do, nor the wild and bashfull turns of young and untamed Tartaglia; it tells the story of somehow how is casting away her emotions
I think its deliberate that the composer deviated from the tradition because it ties to Arlecchino's lore. I do have a meh approach on Arlecchinoi's theme, but I do appreciate some bits of the music. For me, the whole music let me know that the battle between us and Arlecchino is not over, thus having this some sort of abrupt, sudden ending to it.
Эта женщина поразила меня, не как образ арлекино, но как певица, поэтому я нашел её в интернете и с удовольствием наслаждаюсь её творчеством благодаря тебе Марко, большое спасибо.
I get your point, it's pretty valid because you're the expert. Personally I always loved EDM and I don't mind at all the use in this theme or in the Narwal's one, mostly because it's used to note "otherwordly" elements aliens to Teyvat ones. From a narrative point of view it works pretty good, but in a musical point of view it feels off because it cuts the melody, as you explain it very well. Makes sense if you think about it, so it's fair enough if you don't like it.
I am also not a big fan of the electronic parts but it makes sense given her background. That's part of why I did not like her demo too much. Just too messy. Now I am scared that all the pieces for Khaenriah are going to be like this. I prefer melody a little bit too. Though I really like the part with the mezzo soprano and the strings. Marco you would love so much the Remuria soundtracks I hope you play that world quest, I really think you would like it, talking about melody. Maybe it was because I was in my period but the music actually made me shed tears and feel absolute peace and happiness.
It depends on how they want to write the lore, if characters from Khaenriah used "power from beyond this world" like Dainsleif said... it'll be this genre But from what we know in places related to khaenriah always have tragic melody
I like that they're incorporating EDM as a genre, my only issue is that they're not doing it so well, especially in the transitional sections from classical to EDM, they feel like two separate pieces with no connecting quality
This theme being not as "amazing" as the previous ones does makes sense in context. SPOILERS to Arlecchino Story Quest ahead! Unlike the other bosses, the stakes are not nearly as high. The winner wouldn't matter (which even the Traveler realises). And most importantly, we lose. Arlecchino never actually takes us seriously. She doesn't go all out on us because she doesn't have to. We are not strong enough for her to fight us with all her ability and dedication, and it's reflected in the music being "weaker"
Ngl this sounds like copium. The answer is simpler probably - composers set a really high bar with themes like Raiden, Signora, Scaramouche and Azhdaha. Arlecchino's is just not that good, which doesn't make it bad, because the four I mentioned are insanely good, basically perfect for each character.
@@rayznshine OP obviously > This theme being not as "amazing" as the previous ones does makes sense in context. No, no it doesn't. Example - combat theme from Fischl summer castle. It was a theme made for a timed event, and it wasn't even emotionally connected to anything, you heard it every time you engaged enemies in the castle. And it was perfect. Arlecchino theme is ok and it's way more emotionally connected, it got a whole quest, long awaited character, multiple lore videos etc.
@@crossrhodes14 thematically, I think, Arlecchino isn't even that suited to be a Weekly boss. The fight with her is more along the line of the sparring with Andrius than the rest of the Bosses. It's similarly low stakes. I'm pretty sure the only reason these two even are Weekly bosses is for gameplay reasons: they needed one and had no better option. I do still think they should've made it better, as I'm sure Hoyomix is very much capable of that
I like the EDM part because this song is played in the second phase of the Arlecchino fight. In one part of the fight Arlecchino showed to the Traveler the Crimson Moon which is part of the lore of the fall of Khaenri'ah and maybe that's something from outside of the world and it has something to do with her curse. We don't know too much about her aside from her childhood and her orphanage. We don't know about how strong she is (only that's she is very powerful) or what stuff is she doing with the fatui. The EDM remember us that we are not having a good time, we are not just relating to Arlecchino, we are fightning her and we are losing.
Ahhhhh the neverending battle of the contraltos needing the proper recognition. My former teacher, Gwen Bean, got labeled as a mezzo at the Met but she's a contralto all day. :) Loved listening to your take on this! Have you ever done any breakdowns on different styles of singing in various countries? Japan vs American opera and theatre, especially, seem to have different colors and tones they train for. And with the focus on game music you do, it would definitely be something apropos! :)
Hay muchos que no entienden, pero ESTA BIEN que no te guste cosas. Lo que esta mal es obligarle a otros que le guste y endemonizar a quien no. Me gusta la critica de alguien metido en el tema de la musica, y es agradable escuchar la opinion del porque no le gusta. Por que al final de todo, no te puede gustar todos los temas. Una gran opinion de tu parte y trabajo
One thing that really resonates with me in this live performance is the children choir. I don’t know how common it is out of France, but I fondly remember it to be a part of my education as a kid. I would sing in a choir at school everyday, so seeing at Fontaine feels really appropriate ! On top of that, there is one song I can think of that is pretty culturaly relevant in France. « Vois sur ton chemin » is a song from the movie Les Choristes by Bruno Coulais.
Love it for how marco gave us explanation of why he like and dislike and his experience on the voice she done from his perspectif prove to his and his experince and explaination of the vision of the music presented to us
I love that the way you describe your opinion. I hope more people would be like you. Yes that’s right not everybody has to love same things. Important thing is to respect others preferences and not force them into your own 😊
Thanks for the video Marco, on the topic of the EDM thing I believe it's ok for some tracks to be more intrinsically tied to the context even at their own detriment, it is what it is. As a side note, I can't wait for you to enjoy the new battle theme that was introduced with 4.6
I personally loved the theme from the first time I heard it. My only gripe with it is that I wish I was longer, and that it didn't end so abruptly. Thanks for the break down Marco!
I'm always happy when I see you've uploaded a new reaction video and I absolutely love your explanations to what you hear in certain themes like the literal characteristics of a character. Always amazes me
I agree with Marco's take. I hum Scara's theme in the shower or randomly while driving but I can not really do it with this piece. Not that I think it is bad or anything - I like the production quality and value - but it does not leave an "impact" on me. I am a simple listener though 😅.
Maybe the reason is the composer for Tartaglia and etc. was one and for fontaine the main composer was changed, so the style and details will be other thing
I will say I'm a tad sad that Arle didn't have a full theme or motif associated with her that could be used all the time when she shows up. Like Furina, Nuevillete, Cyno, Wanderer, Faruzan all had such things and their motifs can show up in the music to represent them. Arle has a signature vibe but no specific theme. So I get what you were saying about the lack of melody as in specific notes and such. If the EDM section had its own actual melody, like the second beat drop in Scaramouche's theme, I think it would be more well received by some.
i might just be speaking outta my ass here but the abrupt ending to me feels like an unsettled debt, an unconquered goal, "we'll pick this back up later, maybe, who knows" type shit. ive always been suspicious of arlecchino as a character and i still feel like the relationship between her and the traveler is very tense to say the least. like they both want to avoid fighting each other if unnecessary but if one transgresses against the other, they wont hesitate (yes ive played the quest i purposefully avoid spoilers bc i know marco hasnt played it yet)
The snap and beat drop is my favorite part of the theme, and the way the singer did it is breathtaking. The idea itself is cool, I like edm as a genre, this one is just eh edm and it spoils the whole thing. Hopefully through those experiments we will someday have something as cool as rage beneath the mountains.
I guess it makes sense that The Knave's boss theme feels less emotionally-packed if you compared it to Signora or Scaramouche and thus being less favored by players compared to the latter two. While there's a context to why, I'm afraid it gonna spoil your experience 😅 Still... Why do I feel like we can get more of Signora's story out of her theme than the lore we get in-game? 👀 (thanks to you, Marco)
I liked the theme but I am also 100% fine with your opinions! For me, I think the reason this theme sounds more subtle than the other boss theme because we were the guests of House of the Hearth (things won't get out of hand), it was like, sending a message over fighting to death.
I like electronics part. That brings otherworldly quality to the piece. And Arlechino is of the other world. However, the hole piece feels kinda flat? Not boring mind you, I'm just comparing it to the La Signora for example. For me it sounds much more fun when I hear a lot of emotions released.
It's probably not that it feels flat, but that it's disjointed. La signora's theme felt like it had purpose and blended the different instruments into one unified section. This one feels like a sequential museum tour of "I'll have opera here. Then trap next. Then dubstep next. Then choir next."
Phase two sounds nice even without in game context it's just perspective of how you interpret and view a sound. When the EDM appeared it felt like at the snap of a finger you fell into a huge void the sound that followed gave a sensation of being trap. I don't really know what the lyrics mean but when the melody returns it sound comforting but melancholic. So I interpret it as inviting you somewhere I don't know where but it sounds more welcoming than the chaos. This is just my own opinion, I understand if it's not ones preference, I know if I showed this to someone I know they probably wouldn't like it being familiar with their prefered music, they wouldn't see things like I do and that's okay.
I totally get you when you say youre not a big fan of how EDM is used in this piece, I really like it because of how intense it feels and the knowing of why its there, its really fitting for the character and I love when songs do that when they represent the character even if it doesnt particularly fit melodically, but I get why someone wouldnt vibe with the EDM here. Dont let people discourage you from voicing your opinion!
I was struggling to explain myself why I couldn’t like this theme like I do all the other boss themes even though I love some EDM and trap beats, but you perfectly explained it in the way I was struggling to Marco. The melody being interrupted and not continuous, it’s the continuous melody that I was expecting and missing.
Yep is latin. I figured it out from the "Quo Vadis pater?". Reminded me of the book by Henryk Sienkiewicz. And yes, 100% some pre production work was done, but still, they've done an amazing job.
Hey Marco! When it comes to Genshin ambiance/gameplay music tho, I think this patch really crushed it with Remuria. It's straight up classical... If you do see this, I would love it if you consider reacting to the following tracks: 1. Faded Castle Track#4 2. Sea of Bygone Eras Track#14 3. Sea of Bygone Eras Track#15 4. Sea of Bygone Eras Track#18 5. Remuria Battle Theme (technically boss theme for Statue of Marble and Brass) There are OST compilations in youtube too for reference: - Faded Castle Area Compilation: th-cam.com/video/Kpu6WGiGQp4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=E9m3C9WS2ttVoeFx&t=1 - Sea of Bygone Eras Compilation: th-cam.com/video/y_tS2a5Bq-8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oERsCkxWUjdr1FWK&t=1 - Remuria Battle Theme: th-cam.com/video/Zr4HEOmOZgI/w-d-xo.html
To Marco, Context matters for video games music. I wonder if you can have your guest guess the context by the music alone. Or do the reverse by giving them context and have them pick a piece of music for that context.
![What a PERFORMANCE | Zepla watches Parting of Light and Shadow [Genshin Impact]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nm8puVp-4UM/mqdefault.jpg)
![ค้างคืนโรงเก็บกระสวยอวกาศร้างกลางทะเลทราย [Around The World Ep. 3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5bWZQhABJE/mqdefault.jpg)
I love the acting of the singer who perfectly embodies this father figure by surrounding her children with her arms. Beautifully shivering. ✨😮✨
She's like whispering to the children "you better sing it right or I'll give you a terrifying experience"
@@Isolet.Exactly 😂 but she actually also cares deeply about them too at that 😅
And i also love how the lights in the back looked like her eyes which could be saying that she always has an eye on her children which is true
the POWER and attitude in her performance was flawless
Her showmanship was amazing, you can tell she was really into it
Oh my god thank you for saying that just because YPC is gone, the quality didn’t go down. Dislike DOES NOT mean bad quality. The amount of people I’ve heard insulting the new composers saying that genshin is doomed cause they don’t like the newer tracks is so insulting because literally 4.2 they were sobbing their eyes out.
yeah, the music has not lost quality, there are simply different contexts, currently the story is delving into themes like Kaenriah and the abyss, so things like EDM will be more present, music always has a context, even more so in games like genshin, so if it has to sound "bad" to represent something it will do it and that makes it even better.
Also these people act like the newer composers weren't making tracks back in 2._ and 3._ Yu Peng Chen was not the only composer back in Inazuma and Sumeru, yet back then people had no complaints about the composers' work because they thought it was all YPC.
@@rebecca4680 yeah, the ambient music which is one of the most incredible aspects of the game has nothing to do with YPC and in fontaine the music has been even better than before and without his participation, of course he was one of the best when it came to the weekly boss themes but at the end of the day most of the music in the game, which is extremely incredible, was not made by him, that only indicates the level that the other composers have.
Fontaine's ost now with the Remuria one was so fitting and has become my favorite overall in terms of region.
People just haven't put down their YPC glasses down.
which people does because they hate it whey they see change something from the original.
Aye lmao, sucks to be them, im here vibing with old and new style composer
Just for information, the pianist 's name is Yui Morishita, a famous japanese piano player for his interpretation of Alkan, one of the most virtuosic composers of piano, so it's absolutely correct that it would be imagined that the sheet music to be incredibly hard!
Ohhh thank you 😩🙏❤
They are amazing
I totally get your point about having to consider it even outside the context of the game. For me however, it really blew me away when I first heard it because I have never heard a woman sing so low!
You'll love Diana Ankudinova as well, it was my first time listening to a female low voice range. th-cam.com/video/M-znD6QKbrg/w-d-xo.html
Pretty cool right?
Try Toni Braxton - Unbreak my heart. She’s one of world best contralto
Huh?😂
@@Zombina638OP probably means that they’ve never hear a female singer using such a deep (low) range of voice before. Tbh, I’m also surprised too. This is my first time hearing such a low range.
"It’s a good track and in context i understand why it is the way is is, but _personally_ i don’t enjoy it and i have my criticisms"
Is basically what Marco said, it’s INSANE that people can’t understand that bruh, like Marco is allowed to give his professional critique and have his personal opinion about things, he said that’s it’s a solid track but he PERSONALLY doesn’t enjoy it and would have done some things differently and that’s totally fine, like i don’t understand the people hating on Marco, it’s not like he’s gonna come to your house and break your ankles if he doesn’t hold the same opinion as you about a song lmao
Like me personally i absolutely love the track in and out of context, that doesn’t mean that i now have to unsubscribe and hate Marco just because he doesn’t personally enjoy it lol
And AGAIN HE ISNT SAYING THAT ITS A BAD THEME, he just said that on a personal level he doesn't enjoy it, PERIOD.
(I feel like i just said the same thing over and over again but some people really aren't getting it lol)
In this way, ppl just have their opinion that they don't like Marco's opinion lol
I don’t think the people hating will have the brain capacity to read your whole comment..
its genshit fanbase probably, the most toxic fanbase
Literally lol
That day Yu Peng Chen left Hoyo, they went back to their EDM ways. From Childe, Signora and Scaramouche who emphasized on their classical takes. Truly a tragic loss.
I think it's very much intentional that the Arlecchino boss theme doesn't have a dramatic climax and it just suddenly ends.
It ties in to the actual story moment.
Just because it have lore reasons, or logic, or anything
Doesn't mean it is automatically appreciable to those who didn't liked the musical choice they did to her theme
Her phase 1 with less edm sounds even better than phase 2 that sounds a heavily incomplete music, with cut of climax, without any peak, and with the edm being very noisy and without any melody
@@esper2464 The composer wants to convey an incomplete battle through a piece that doesn't conclude satisfyingly. You, the listener, interprets that it sounds incomplete. Seems like the composer succeeded. It's your choice whether you like the feeling it conveys, but it is conveyed successfully.
@esper2464 She doesn't show her true powers. That's most likely the reason. It doesn't cater to people who appreciate music but everything is tied to the game and lore. That's the reason why context is a must in this game because they want you to play their game not just listen to its music.
@@faeliyoure9105 but I'm already playing the game, i know everything
And even so, the way they used the song to tell the stories and fit the narrative was always good
But here it just sounds bad, only that
It's so hard to accept that??? Jesus Christ 😮💨
@@justinjamin if is that so, i hope we had another battle with her and then a more complete theme then👍
4:00 In this part I believe that the composer's intention, with EDM, was to cause a feeling of discomfort, to the point that it transmits not only tension, which was built from the beginning of the piece, but also some horror, when facing what appears to be an unknown or "otherworldly" force, to work in the player's mind the moment they face the Boss. Or at least that's what I believe.
Genshin has also made a point of using EDM whenever there is something unnatural to the world. Her curse is clearly an aspect that is not natural/doesn't belong. So it's being highlighted there. They used it during the Aranara questline with the corruption and again with the Narwhal. You even hear hints of it in Childe's theme when he's using Foul Legacy.
Yeah. The crimson moon that Arlecchino shows us is something that we don't understand yet, so I think the EDM part fits well
The idea to use edm is fine. The melody was fine. The edm execution was not.
@@alexhuettl1716 they used edm for characters like wrisothely too who have nothing to do with otherworldly stuff. So it's not consistent.
@@Crystalhair2024they used it for other demos too tbh they're not talking abt demos those are for marketing the characters. Boss themes are what they're talking abt and they're correct EDM is always used for "alien" entities or outside of teyvat force/abyss
The ending not having a climax seems to make sense to me. Every other boss we fought so far had the intention to kill us(or at least close to death) but Arlecchino just wanted to know how strong we were by showing us her true form(the edm portion) she never had intention to kill us so it kinda ends in a cliff hanger
bro trying do hard to defend this with lore bs😭
@@NazmulhossainTahsin bruh it's a game bgm, of course it's gonna be related to the lore...
@@Charalyn0010 yeah, what's funny is every OST in game is somewhat related to lore and it used to sound good. No one even questioned. Now it sounds bad and people justifying this with lore as if YPC didn't incorporated his music with lore.
@@NazmulhossainTahsin are you implying that because Yu Peng Chen is gone the ost is bad? I Hope you know Yu Peng Chen didn’t compose all the ost on his own. For example, Ayaka’s theme was composed by Dimeng Yuan(only him). Raiden’s theme was done by Dimeng Yuan AND Yu Peng Chen. Also I love a lot of the Court of Fontaine tracks, but I dislike Arlecchino’s theme. It’s okay if you dislike the theme, but please do not hate on the music team.
@@lucituci97 Yes, i am aware YPC didn't compose every ost, in fact i love enkanomiya and last part of tge desert osts. Im not even saying rest of the team is bad im just implying that its the bad management. Assigning the wrong person to do a task that he is not particularly good at. YPC happens to be an all rounder in every aspect of music imo.
You could tell the singer had so much fun with that performance and I love that about it so much.
I honestly think that it's really great that they tried something new with Arlecchino's theme. Some people will like it, some won't, but I think that's the great thing about music - it can make us feel different emotions and that's wonderful. My sister definitely loves this piece, because she has been playing it on loop the last few days (I forced her to wear headphones!!! 😂).
EDIT: spelling!
I mean, it’s not really super new. They did something very similar on the whale boss theme
Eh
For me, this is easily my 2nd favourite boss theme, second to Scaramouche’s team!
Omg same I've been blasting this ever since it released, so gooddd
i absolutely loved this, so much so i was hearing with low quality when it leaked lol. the pieces where the organ just blasts in the background are too much to me 🥹 i hope the producers keep this style when making the tsaritsa's theme
The thing about this performance like Marco said is Arlecchino showing/giving us only a portion of her. Her snap is her taking over complete control of this situation. This whole performance is her only letting us the Guest get a small portion of her. Before in all the other battles we were going all out and fighting to the death, our enemies/foes had something to prove and were letting us see everything they had. THIS however we were just flies, Arlecchino had the entire thing in the palm of her hands. That’s rly my only rebuttal tbh.
The theme is kinda short and ends abruptly probably because of when fighting Arle, you get intimidated by her aura that you didn't notice that the fight has actually ended already. IMO.
I like how you explain that liking or not the EDM part is subjective and does not invalidate somebody's feelings, positive or negative, towards it. I personally do like it and I think i specifically understand why: There is a musical/rhythm game called Deemo (which I suggest you play in case you enjoy those, the story is beautiful), and the three main "story" songs (Magnolia, Myosotis and Marigold) have a similar approach in them. I think it emphasized the emotions of the song in general, and from my perspective I think it does here too. It's not the melody indeed, my ears actually go straight to focus in the organ, and I consider it adds weight to it when (from what i appreciate) the strings are not playing. It's just rhythm, a strong supportive, tense, and intimidating rhythm. That's my appreciation personally, and I respect your opinions and feedback, which I constantly learn from
Omg Deemo Mentioned!
I personally really like this theme, when I listen to music it is not just to hear some nice sounds, when I am listening to music it is like a canvas where I can pain using my creativity, it is not just about how it sounds, it is about a story that the music can tell by itself and what my mind can create to have an amazing experience that is my very own creation. And from that perspective I really like to listen to this theme. But I can see your own perspective and understand it.
This is not limited to game soundtracks so that's probably why my playlist that has over 200 songs has such vast range of genres, types and everything, probably there is no one else that would like that playlist, but everyone would like a part of it.
Also for the performance itself, I love the acting of Dr Huiling Zhu, she made the whole stage her stage, this is kind of connected with the main part of this comment, but she really went into the character and by being just a singer in the whole performance, she still acted with such grace and power that it was so amazing to look at and hear
I find this song personally gratifying for a similar reason. I'm not interested in Melody, so much as what the music can make you FEEL. Sure melody is great, but as a Violinist. Melody wasn't always reserved for us, and the best pieces I loved playing. Had to do with breaking convention, and making things feel different.
For Arlechinno's theme. I took it as like an extension for the type of vibe they're going for, not just for the Abyss. But the meshing of Classical and EDM styles. Apashe being an artist that absolutely blew me away with how he's mixed classical music and his own dubstep/edm/trap takes.
Arlechinno's theme then. Reminds me of those dynamic ranges, that also brings about the same sort of vibe as Sephiroth's theme.
It's calm. Threatening. Predatory. You're not in anyway, meant to really win.
The sudden cut makes sense, in the game Arlecchino cuts the fight when she has 10 or 20% HP left. You don't defeat her but she still gives you the win. Of course once you come back and fight her again the bar does go all the way to the end but her ending animation is not one of defeat like previous harbingers have, it's her going back to her default outfit.
My favourite fatui boss music is still Shoki no Kami, and my favourite boss overall is still Raiden puppet. Arlecchino's ending animation is really cool though.
I like when Marco talks about his own opinion even if someone would not like it. Completely understand and agree point about different preferences in music for different people. Comment for your support.
The information about Mezzo Soprano was amazing, thank you! I like parts of this song, but not all of it, and I very much understand your opinion on this song. Because of curiousity I translated the lyrics and will post them here for all of you, who are interested:
Ultio irae
Ratio tuae
ecce luna rubra orta erat
Noctem exsanguem rubefecit
Nemo nisi innocentes dormire potest
Sors mors est velata
Ac sic somnia servabo liberorum
(Num unam tantum benedictionem habes, pater nostri)
(Benedicam benedic tibi etaim, pater, somnialiter)
Sors mei finiet etiamsi
(Sors immanis et inanis salubris vanitas)
Haec sors est immanis imannis etiamsi
(Semper volata dissolubilis)
Inane rubeface a luna
(Nemo nisi innocentes dormire potest)
Eccce te nepos exoci sed non quasi argentum elegi
te in patiente camino ut sis paterfamilia eum
Camino spero vos videre lucem novam
(Luce nova)
revenge of anger
your system (your reason)
behold, the red moon had risen
The bloodless night blushed
None but the innocent can sleep
The fate of death is veiled
And so I will keep the dreams of the children
(Do you have only one blessing, our father)
(Bless you, father, dreamily)
My fate will end though
(The fate of the monstrous and empty healthy vanity)
This is the fate of the giants, though
(Always flying disintegrating)
In vain blushing from the moon
(None but the innocent can sleep)
Behold, I cast you out, my nephew, but I did not choose as silver
you in the patient hearth to be the father of the family
I hope you see a new light on the way
(new light)
It's better to not always agree with what Hoyoverse pulls out. It helps build your cred and makes us trust you more!
@@annarangerustnope lmao he has liked other comments too on here
@@annarangerusthow is it any interesting
Also yes he liked way more than this one
I found a performance by this vocalist on their facebook where they sing using their upper range. It's a really beautiful performance too
I understand people being disappointed that you don't like what they like. They want validation from someone popular or someone they respect. That is a them problem though and they need to figure out why and how to handle that feeling. You have no need to explain yourself, Marco, but I appreciate that you were being considerate.
Me personally, I don't like the EDM from 8:23 to 8:29. The EDM after that is better because it picks up the melody and choir again. The ending is indeed a little abrupt to me as well.
But overall that's like max 5-10 seconds in the entire piece that I don't like, so that can't ruin it for me at all 😅.
i think they purposely ending the theme abruptly since in the story quest, we didn’t defeated the knave unlike with other harbingers.
@@achmadputra2 I completely agree with you. The song ending really makes sense after I finished playing Arlecchino's story quest.
Maybe there's a part 2 in it?
@@RhenItsuki definitely it will have act 2. I mean zhongli, yoimiya and cyno got an act 2 of their story quests.
@RhenItsuki I also think that because its the only weekly boss not to have 3 phases
@@criccode2993 what about scaramouche?
I love how the lights resemble her eyes AAAA
I fully agree with your take on the EDM part, and it's great that you're not afraid to say you don't like something. This is the exact same reason why I'm not a fan of the Narwhal 2nd phase, the lack of melody throws me off so much that it's not enjoyable to listen out of the game context. The same goes for Arlecchino's demo theme, the children's choir is nice but the rest is just a jarring noise for me.
I think the narwhal theme was pretty neat! But I’m certainly less likely to listen to it in the car 😂
fully agree, good take
I think some people maybe offended because you do have a professional background therefore tend to make people think any comment from you is a "authorized criticism" rather than "personal preference". This is not your fault and you have made your opinion clear enough in this video.
Hope to see your reaction video to the new Remuria (a region resembles Rome) boss theme that is also newly released, really looking forward to see your explanations on the techniques they used (I enjoyed the string instruments in this ost).
I think the point for the EDM is (if you played the story quest *SPOILER ALERT*):
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Is to show us tremendous power outwordly that the traveler gets too see to late, cause if you remember when the fight starts, the traveler feels like he can battle toe to toe with Peruere, actually the line i think is "i would like to see what the fourth of the harbinger can do for myself" or something like that, maybe i'm overthinking but after Furina Archon Quest, the Traveler also says "Fighting and archon, i got a resume", like your main character really thinks he can beat a godlike figure and from a sudden you have Peruere, which is an ex resident from the khaenriah orphanage, possesing a curse (i think) from both the blood moon dynasty (or maybe a blessing?) and the Eclipse Dynasty (the X in her hands, there is a new book in the story which is call Periheri, which character seems to be Peruere or a similar).
My point is that, not beginning the second phase, but later in this phase, the Traveler learns that he is not strong enough to beat her, and she literally spare us in battle, not before making clear that we are not ready to fight godlike characters (the genjutsu moment), so i think i understand the EDM to be so abrupt and a little disconfort to demostrate that you have in front of you a power that is out of this world, you can't win against her, and she said in the beginning that if you don't fight with all your might you might die, so at that point you're just trying to acknowledge that fact that you can't do nothing and you have no control at all in the outcome, unlike what you could believe in past battles.
Traveler is an outworld G.O.D. wonder how strong they'll be when they get their light back.
I do really feel that the Traveller has gotten a bit full of him/herself because everything has worked out in someway for them, but then when they cross swords with Arlecchino, they get a wake up call. You can even notice that the traveler is doubting of their own strength and seems to be like "what have i myself gotten into?" very briefly and they go from fighting to win to fighting to survive.
While I am not a fan of the electronic segment in this theme, I feel like that is the intention - to make the listener feel like "something isn't right here". At least for me this part symbolizes Arlecchino's curse.
Lo tecno tiene que ver con algo que no es de este mundo, de ahí que lo usen donde no "pega", lo usaron con el Narval devoraestrellas, y lo usan aquí cuando Arlecchino usa los poderes de la dinastía luna carmesí de Kaenriah, una dinastía más antigua y con una historia oscuro sobre un orfanato con niños "dioses" de otro mundo
In my opinion, I feel like phase 2 should have had the Fatui let motif during the dubstep part
or at least melded with the orchestra and not like an intermission/interruption in between orchestra... while I get the story reason, music writing-wise it's jarring
@@Calvin704704Fr, the execution was kinda flawed ngl, its not that bad but it could do some work. Take for example the beatdrop in scaramouche, it still connects with the track and it also has ypc singing full of emotions and you can truly bang your head while still feeling every little part of it.
I really, REALLY like the main singers deep voice and performance here, its just a shame it isnt really expanded upon during the climax. I hope natlan's weekly make up for it because the choir or vocal part from genshin never miss.
@@Mas-Item exactly, while I would really like to hear this in-game (if she survived long enough for me to reach that point in the track), I would be more inclined to skip to the next track when I get to that part (whenever the album release)
I was with you on this one until I heard it in game. It fits, so well it's unbelievable. It is not a track to listen all the time or something you will enjoy out of context. Although, I very much do, the vocalist is amazing, it's such a pleasure to listen to her. Appreciate your opinion, of course. Let others like whatever they want to like.
its actually rly nice to hear a different opinion on this
i'm still so impressed by the singer's voice
Listening to music for music's sake is only more appreciated around those who were professionally trained or has a background in music, that is why in your assessment of this track you find it lacking in (for a lack of a better word in my head) "commitment". It is a testament to your knowledge as an opera singer.
It's just that most people don't have that level of understanding, and are mostly guided by context as to why the music was presented in such a way. You can urge them however you want, but many of us are dependent on context because we never have that talent learned and that is just fact. We can try, no guarantees.
I, for one, appreciate this song so completely purely in context of the story that is attached to it. The EDM isn't out of place, and we already have a precedent for this (i.e. the Phase 2 Narwhal boss). Seems like the EDM is used whenever something is otherworldly or isn't meant to be in Teyvat.
Another precedent is Honkai Star Rail. That game is all about space, so everything there is out of the ordinary. Plenty of electronic music plays in a lot of places in that game.
My opinion, ofc. Thanks.
To be honest it's first time a song from Genshin brought me to tears, when I saw the singer coming to stage and interpreting I was is awe. Beautiful voice!
This, Sacaramouche and Signora themes are my favourites, they have so much emotion. But this one is the first time that I actually cried listening.
I commented on Samizards video the same thing about her vocal classification, she sounds like and has a vocal range of a contralto. From my own choir experience, mezzos tend to, even when reaching that lower register, have less presence and intensity in their voices. This woman reaches my mid and lower registers with the same punch that I have hahahah(I'm a baritone). We have some techniques to bypass some vocal natural limitations but still, she does seen to reach that lower region very naturaly, without much vocal mambo jambo hahahaahah. Here in Brazil we work a lot with mezzos because contralto is veeeery rare and, honestly, her voice does not sound like any mezzo that I worked with.
Vocal classifications apart, I must say how I love the vocal choices on this choir. The kids in unison singing like "we're good kids behaving perfectly like the father wants", the voice that represents The Father singing in a vocal range that is commonly sang by male voices, the sopranos taking the lead in key moments like "we're older children that discovered the houses dark side"(those parts kinda reminds me of bloodborne music along with the boss fight itself, btw), Im even jealous because I would love to work on a choir that sings songs like these hahaha.
In the end I would like to thank you Marco, you're an amazing singer, listener and musician in general, but what I really like is that you're one of the most didactic and reasonable music youtubers that I've ever seen. I think I've never saw anyone differentiate personal taste from a trull critical analysis so well!
PS: Galina Baranova - Song of Desire, Lisa Gerrard - Sacrifice (Live in Sofia) and in a popular music spectrum, Ivete Sangalo - Fullgás. Some contralto examples that reminds me of Huiling Zhu(she's labeled as an Alto in the brazilian text hahah)
Edit: I saw the official channels to double check and every single one is labeling her as an Alto now, except for China whos labeling her as a Dramatic Soprano??? what?? (I have a hot take about the musical perception in those places btw, cause I tried to enter in some events here singing chinese and korean songs but most of them are very out of my range because the pop music there value high notes so much to the point that their perception is very different from ours in that regard)
that's interesting. she's still listed as a mezzo everywhere else, except in the Genshin stuff. maybe it was confusing people too much? but dramatic soprano is truly an... interesting choice ^^
btw, have you seen her Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiss performance? it's beautiful.
you obviously know significantly more about music than I do (I just like to listen to it and vibe a little bit ^^) but to me she sounded like a pretty normal, even though very talented mezzo-soprano in that performance. what is so unusual about it? I'm just genuinely curious :D
@@leni1029 well, if we keep using the same vocal classification system, there is a common characteristic in lower registers(contraltos, tenorines and bass), they usually have a very wide range of notes to sing. Most of the biggest vocal ranges that we know belongs to profund male voices that goes from a veeeery low note to notes that are the best region for baritones and even tenors(funfact, the biggest range documented is from the brazilian singer Georgia Brown, but she goes beyond sopranos in that case), but without the same quality and intensity of the lower ones and this happens because their vocal cords and muscles around it are stronger when te cords are less stretched and this topic can extend to how the resonance chamber inside your mouth, throat and etc(different head/face formats can contribute to particular frequencies).
With all that said, maybe she is one of those aliens with a veeeery wide range and she uses her dramatic voice to sing as a mezzo with ease and there are a lot of vocal techniques to improve that as well(I can sing some bass lines in songs because I learned how to improve the sound with some muscles inside + finesse in vocal cord control + lots and lots of training). But here is the thing: No mezzo that I know can reach that lower register with such a potent and consistent voice, they tend to become thiner with less quality on them. Huiling Zhu reach the alto region like any alto would, I want to find her singing something higher like a dramatic soprano piece to see how the quality sounds in that region.
Also: if she has indeed an uncommon physiology, those strict classifications matters way less than they do now. Countertenors for example, can surpass sopranos sometimes and sing tenor lines with the same shine and ease, so they fall of the limits here(I personally don't like to use these classifications on the choirs that I work on because we have an incredible variety of voices that fall out of the standarts, so I adapt a lot of things and simplify in a language that they can all understand).
@@leni1029 and I listened to her Meine Lippen perfomance now, truly an amazing singer(a lot of contralto pieces catches the range she sings in that music, btw).
this made me appreciate you so much more in general keep up the good work
I have been on the edge of my seat WAITING for you to talk about this performance.
It's really sad when your opinion cause hate, because the people thinks is only one side is correct. Again, I agree with you.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONEEEEE!!!! Huiling Zhu is such a master at her work, she captures the essence of Arlechinno so WELL its like Arle herself is the one on stage.
the problem is not EDM imo, raiden shogun's and scramouche's themes prove it, the problem is that in arlecchino's theme EDM is all over the place and theres no rythm, and i feel the same way about narwhals ost, i hope they'll take more time and have more inspiration for the next weekly boss
Fontaine's new area Remuria is so Music Themed or focused, there were about 3 cutscenes i absolutely fell inlove with because of the music, I cant wait to see a reaction to those from you!
first of all, I really appreciate your insights, opinions and views on music. It helps me see music from different angles and always adds something. Often because you highlight even more nuances and layers of tracks that I already absolutely adore. But ESPECIALLY when I love a music piece and you criticise it. It gives me a different perspective and it's just so interesting! How boring would my life be if everybody always agreed with me? Besides the apparently not obvious fact that, YES, you are fucking allowed to not like something, because everybody likes and prefers different stuff.
I also appreciate your honesty and authenticity. It's sad that you had to explain and defend yourself but at the same time, you brought up some important points in a very eloquent way.
You put some huge issues the internet has into words. The way communication and personal opinions and preferences are handled and almost policed is exhausting at best and harmful at worst.
The inability to let different opinions and points of view exist next to each other seems to get worse and worse. it's either "with us or against us".
Criticism, if done right, can actually be an expression of love. It's a sign that somebody cares and actually gives a shit. Somebody took their time and put their opinions into words instead of simply not sacrificing any time and energy.
and let's face it: The twelve-tone technique exists. EVERYTHING in music is extremely subjective XD
And one music piece that's maybe not the strongest doesn't diminish the beauty of the others.
I mean, even Beethoven has Fidelio (sorry to everybody who loves that opera. it's just really not my favourite ^^) and nobody sat there and thought that suddenly the rest of his work sucks ^^
this type of analisys is always so good
Love the visual disatisfaction on his face 😆8:26 - 8:52
i agree with you marco on all points. keep going king.
You actually did it! Thanks, Marco 😊
Every time I hear that part after the snap it gives me goosebumps because it's unsettling
I love how you talk about melody, EDM and music climax! I also had a same feeling, for example the piece Fountain (the prelude piece), it doesn’t develop that much to really climax, always a 8-bar loop or sth, and I never get a satisfying resolution.
I love this composition and performance! I kinda see it in three movements, even though it's timed like an actual song.
The first movement gives a harrowing vibe with the childrens's choir. The progression of the strings is beautiful and that climax of them is beautiful with the adddition of the wind! Then "Father" appears and if you translate the lyrics, it's like she is calling a biblical event...not exactly but as far as the scale of feeling and syntax. Then it's like she has a tender moment with thw childrens choir before the big moment.
The third movement evoles the feeling of being in the presence of her and this moment. The organ brings a completely different vive than any previously, of the fervor, the intensity, and the impact of "Father", that she perhaps is a savior to these children, but she defends them with a wicked power. This crimson moon gift that the lyrics speak of is something truly incredible to witness and the children know this. This context is all given if you translate the lyrics, so even as a performance it offers context as to what the composer wants to evoke. A truly incredible production! Even if it's not up your alley, I find this conposition stunning and is a gem as far as music appreciation.
The string progression in the second movement signaling Fathers arrival sounds so gallant, indicating that this father the children are calling on is a hero.
Also, just because you see this as a "park 'n bark" performance is almost deragatory. Because its not your cup of tea, it's like the power of this performance is missed. Just vecause she's not moving around the stage with gusto is conpletely beside the point of this conposition. When the composition is that powerful, you dont need to look like your pleading to the audience to prove that it is.
I find the concept that Marco has to remain totally objective and not let his personal tastes flavor his opinion on a piece to be a bit of a baffling one. I think that his experience that lets him deconstruct music he doesn't like in an objective framework to be very impressive- and he clearly does understand the theory of why someone might like it- but he's a person with preferences just like the rest of us. That's fine. I like it, personally. Maybe it's not my favorite part of the piece, but I do also tend to lean a bit harder on context as a listener of things I'm a fan of.
Thank you so much for your breakdown! So happy there is a live version, your breakdown is such a delight ❤️. I show non-gamer friends music so it's important for me to understand what is impressive outside of my bias game setting. For me I felt the EDM didn't "build and drop" and I couldn't understand why. Like it's so loud but why doesn't it "hit"? Something was up but I was too distracted to really break it down. Thanks lots 😎.
When I think of the intensity of piano I just think "this IS a hammer instrument isn't it?"
I can hear him discuss music all day. I miss it so much. My music teacher used to hammer these into me a lot. It makes you understand the deeper meaning.
There was a whole side quest ant this in Honkai star rail Penacony with this singer with her native song. To her it is true beauty of music, but to others it doesn’t. It will always depend not only on context but with someone’s background with music growing up. It is subjective and we shouldn’t hate people for having preferences. Contextually it’s beautiful but in the listener’s personal interest, it isnt something that catches them. That’s just my 2 cents
Personally I'm meh about the EDM but it makes sense in game context. She's an otherworldly being with strange and unknown powers in a death battle against us. The sudden change of music theme/genre makes sense. but I'm not really a fan of it, I would've liked a continuous theme too
Something I've noticed is that in the boss themes, electronic mostly shows up in the themes of opponents who are closest to godhood, and I'd argue the All-Devouring Narwhal does count in that, but in a more Eldritch sense, rather than the Divinity of the Magatsu Mitake Narukami no Mikoto and the Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom
hey Marco! great voicing on the new event in Genshin! wish to hear more of you in hoyo projects, and i am quietly rooting for you to be hired to sing in one of their operas
Hey, thanks!
Thank you for your clarity on your taste towards the music! The amount of headshakes I make because of trivial arguments just for music taste.
I also didn't really enjoy the edm part of this track. That's not to say edm doesn't belong in genshin or anything. My favorite track is Scaramouche's boss theme and that has a lot of edm. I just would've liked it to be more integrated with the rest of the piece (like using the fatui leitmotif, hoth leitmotif, add more of the choir, or include the orchestra). With that being said the rest of this track was really good especially the singing!
I agree that yu peng chen has a unique style and helped the game to shine. The other hoyo team is doing a great job do not get me wrong, but he surely had a vision and did bring something special to the table that no one else did.
All I'm saying is that the game can live even without him, but they can never find someone to replace him.
Honestly, I don't think he would've gotten this famous in the community for being a regular composer.
Do you like sumeru osts?
@@Tiyac3 i do
@@Tiyac3 yes
@@wajih5068 and most of the sumeru osts he didn't composed
@@Tiyac3 yes i know.
If you read what I wrote, you would understand that i was talking about him and his career overall. I even said that the game can survive without him, which they are doing right now. But if you want to talk about the game itself ok sure np.
I think it has become stale and boring. Are you satisfied with genshin right now?
everyone is completely entitled to their own opinions on this theme BUT can we all at least agree that the main singer absolutely killed it?! she’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s so cool to see a female singer with this type of vocal range… i’m so grateful to genshin and the hoyo-mix team for introducing me to so many new types of music, singing, etc. that otherwise i wouldn’t be aware of! and i must also thank Marco for bringing his knowledge and expertise to this community 🫶
Oh shit yes, she carried this entire track in my book.
Thank you for clarifying your thoughts Marco and you really do make many solid points. When all's said and done it really is important to take music from many different perspectives. With the context I personally think this piece was amazing but there's certainly some parts that could have been different to further enhance the melodic sections, but it is what it is lol. I'm just happy we get to enjoy more classical Genshin music none the less and that's what we're all here for in the end. Looking forward to more of your music breakdowns :D
I understand very well where you're coming from and I do agree. You actually sound like someone concerned for the future of these pieces. After all, these tracks MUST be able to survive well into the future when the game is done and all who worked on them have passed on, just like the classical scores we have today that thrives without reliance on the original context. We don't listen to a piece dedicated to a deceased wife, for example, and revolve our thinking and use of it on just that and nothing else, so your point about Arlecchino's Boss theme needing to stand on its own without context is extremely valid. It should not be a piece that should be listened to ONLY after playing the game and doing all her quests. Why gate-keep music that way?
8:05 is awesome if you know how Arlecchino attacks. Red and black glass-like spikes stinging from the ground, and the sound makes you feel you are dueling with her. So intense and powerful.
I'm also a really big fan of melodies and appreciate it when you can love a song with no given context. Can show that a song is just that good and can stand on its own.
Masterfully said! Let this message resonate across the internet.
Really interesting critic!
What I read in that theme is a lot of emotional turnoil held down by an iron-clad. Arlecchino is filled with so much emotions that all clash and contradict each other that we can fill in the music and the signer's voice is that control she exerts to keep that whirlwing of emotions under the surface - the voice is the surface. It also ends abruptly because her story isn't done; Alrcchino is a WIP, an unfinished symphony
It doesn't carry the same sorrow and absolution that Raiden's themes do, nor the wild and bashfull turns of young and untamed Tartaglia; it tells the story of somehow how is casting away her emotions
I think its deliberate that the composer deviated from the tradition because it ties to Arlecchino's lore. I do have a meh approach on Arlecchinoi's theme, but I do appreciate some bits of the music.
For me, the whole music let me know that the battle between us and Arlecchino is not over, thus having this some sort of abrupt, sudden ending to it.
Эта женщина поразила меня, не как образ арлекино, но как певица, поэтому я нашел её в интернете и с удовольствием наслаждаюсь её творчеством благодаря тебе Марко, большое спасибо.
I don't know which Bilibili video author will translate and upload it first😂
I get your point, it's pretty valid because you're the expert. Personally I always loved EDM and I don't mind at all the use in this theme or in the Narwal's one, mostly because it's used to note "otherwordly" elements aliens to Teyvat ones. From a narrative point of view it works pretty good, but in a musical point of view it feels off because it cuts the melody, as you explain it very well. Makes sense if you think about it, so it's fair enough if you don't like it.
great analysis❤ i love this performance
I am also not a big fan of the electronic parts but it makes sense given her background. That's part of why I did not like her demo too much. Just too messy. Now I am scared that all the pieces for Khaenriah are going to be like this. I prefer melody a little bit too. Though I really like the part with the mezzo soprano and the strings.
Marco you would love so much the Remuria soundtracks I hope you play that world quest, I really think you would like it, talking about melody. Maybe it was because I was in my period but the music actually made me shed tears and feel absolute peace and happiness.
Agreed, Remuria's theme is so good. Would love to see him react to the final symphony.
yeah im glad Remuria gave us a lot of good piece for us classical music enjoyer
Yeah especially the golem boss theme, that's lit 🔥🔥🔥
It depends on how they want to write the lore, if characters from Khaenriah used "power from beyond this world" like Dainsleif said... it'll be this genre
But from what we know in places related to khaenriah always have tragic melody
I like that they're incorporating EDM as a genre, my only issue is that they're not doing it so well, especially in the transitional sections from classical to EDM, they feel like two separate pieces with no connecting quality
This theme being not as "amazing" as the previous ones does makes sense in context.
SPOILERS to Arlecchino Story Quest ahead!
Unlike the other bosses, the stakes are not nearly as high. The winner wouldn't matter (which even the Traveler realises).
And most importantly, we lose. Arlecchino never actually takes us seriously.
She doesn't go all out on us because she doesn't have to. We are not strong enough for her to fight us with all her ability and dedication, and it's reflected in the music being "weaker"
Ngl this sounds like copium. The answer is simpler probably - composers set a really high bar with themes like Raiden, Signora, Scaramouche and Azhdaha. Arlecchino's is just not that good, which doesn't make it bad, because the four I mentioned are insanely good, basically perfect for each character.
Im sure that’s true!
@@crossrhodes14 who is coping?
@@rayznshine OP obviously
> This theme being not as "amazing" as the previous ones does makes sense in context.
No, no it doesn't. Example - combat theme from Fischl summer castle. It was a theme made for a timed event, and it wasn't even emotionally connected to anything, you heard it every time you engaged enemies in the castle. And it was perfect. Arlecchino theme is ok and it's way more emotionally connected, it got a whole quest, long awaited character, multiple lore videos etc.
@@crossrhodes14 thematically, I think, Arlecchino isn't even that suited to be a Weekly boss. The fight with her is more along the line of the sparring with Andrius than the rest of the Bosses. It's similarly low stakes. I'm pretty sure the only reason these two even are Weekly bosses is for gameplay reasons: they needed one and had no better option.
I do still think they should've made it better, as I'm sure Hoyomix is very much capable of that
I like the EDM part because this song is played in the second phase of the Arlecchino fight. In one part of the fight Arlecchino showed to the Traveler the Crimson Moon which is part of the lore of the fall of Khaenri'ah and maybe that's something from outside of the world and it has something to do with her curse. We don't know too much about her aside from her childhood and her orphanage. We don't know about how strong she is (only that's she is very powerful) or what stuff is she doing with the fatui.
The EDM remember us that we are not having a good time, we are not just relating to Arlecchino, we are fightning her and we are losing.
Ahhhhh the neverending battle of the contraltos needing the proper recognition. My former teacher, Gwen Bean, got labeled as a mezzo at the Met but she's a contralto all day. :)
Loved listening to your take on this! Have you ever done any breakdowns on different styles of singing in various countries? Japan vs American opera and theatre, especially, seem to have different colors and tones they train for. And with the focus on game music you do, it would definitely be something apropos! :)
Hay muchos que no entienden, pero ESTA BIEN que no te guste cosas. Lo que esta mal es obligarle a otros que le guste y endemonizar a quien no.
Me gusta la critica de alguien metido en el tema de la musica, y es agradable escuchar la opinion del porque no le gusta. Por que al final de todo, no te puede gustar todos los temas.
Una gran opinion de tu parte y trabajo
One thing that really resonates with me in this live performance is the children choir.
I don’t know how common it is out of France, but I fondly remember it to be a part of my education as a kid. I would sing in a choir at school everyday, so seeing at Fontaine feels really appropriate !
On top of that, there is one song I can think of that is pretty culturaly relevant in France. « Vois sur ton chemin » is a song from the movie Les Choristes by Bruno Coulais.
I feel like we need to stop hating on people in the comments for not enjoying a song that others of us may enjoy pls
Love it for how marco gave us explanation of why he like and dislike and his experience on the voice she done from his perspectif prove to his and his experince and explaination of the vision of the music presented to us
I love that the way you describe your opinion. I hope more people would be like you. Yes that’s right not everybody has to love same things. Important thing is to respect others preferences and not force them into your own 😊
Thanks for the video Marco, on the topic of the EDM thing I believe it's ok for some tracks to be more intrinsically tied to the context even at their own detriment, it is what it is.
As a side note, I can't wait for you to enjoy the new battle theme that was introduced with 4.6
The Remurian track, absolutely the winner of this patch.
Such a good video, thanks
I personally loved the theme from the first time I heard it. My only gripe with it is that I wish I was longer, and that it didn't end so abruptly.
Thanks for the break down Marco!
I'm always happy when I see you've uploaded a new reaction video and I absolutely love your explanations to what you hear in certain themes like the literal characteristics of a character. Always amazes me
I agree with Marco's take. I hum Scara's theme in the shower or randomly while driving but I can not really do it with this piece. Not that I think it is bad or anything - I like the production quality and value - but it does not leave an "impact" on me.
I am a simple listener though 😅.
Maybe the reason is the composer for Tartaglia and etc. was one and for fontaine the main composer was changed, so the style and details will be other thing
I will say I'm a tad sad that Arle didn't have a full theme or motif associated with her that could be used all the time when she shows up. Like Furina, Nuevillete, Cyno, Wanderer, Faruzan all had such things and their motifs can show up in the music to represent them. Arle has a signature vibe but no specific theme. So I get what you were saying about the lack of melody as in specific notes and such. If the EDM section had its own actual melody, like the second beat drop in Scaramouche's theme, I think it would be more well received by some.
they have HoH theme tho ???????
i might just be speaking outta my ass here but the abrupt ending to me feels like an unsettled debt, an unconquered goal, "we'll pick this back up later, maybe, who knows" type shit. ive always been suspicious of arlecchino as a character and i still feel like the relationship between her and the traveler is very tense to say the least. like they both want to avoid fighting each other if unnecessary but if one transgresses against the other, they wont hesitate
(yes ive played the quest i purposefully avoid spoilers bc i know marco hasnt played it yet)
The snap and beat drop is my favorite part of the theme, and the way the singer did it is breathtaking. The idea itself is cool, I like edm as a genre, this one is just eh edm and it spoils the whole thing. Hopefully through those experiments we will someday have something as cool as rage beneath the mountains.
I guess it makes sense that The Knave's boss theme feels less emotionally-packed if you compared it to Signora or Scaramouche and thus being less favored by players compared to the latter two. While there's a context to why, I'm afraid it gonna spoil your experience 😅
Still... Why do I feel like we can get more of Signora's story out of her theme than the lore we get in-game? 👀 (thanks to you, Marco)
I love the EDM part, the melody is 🔥
This, for me, solidify that Polumnia Omnia is YPC and Hoyo-mix's magnum opus before his departure. It will be hard to beat the hype of that piece.
I liked the theme but I am also 100% fine with your opinions! For me, I think the reason this theme sounds more subtle than the other boss theme because we were the guests of House of the Hearth (things won't get out of hand), it was like, sending a message over fighting to death.
I like electronics part. That brings otherworldly quality to the piece. And Arlechino is of the other world.
However, the hole piece feels kinda flat? Not boring mind you, I'm just comparing it to the La Signora for example. For me it sounds much more fun when I hear a lot of emotions released.
It's probably not that it feels flat, but that it's disjointed. La signora's theme felt like it had purpose and blended the different instruments into one unified section. This one feels like a sequential museum tour of "I'll have opera here. Then trap next. Then dubstep next. Then choir next."
Phase two sounds nice even without in game context it's just perspective of how you interpret and view a sound. When the EDM appeared it felt like at the snap of a finger you fell into a huge void the sound that followed gave a sensation of being trap. I don't really know what the lyrics mean but when the melody returns it sound comforting but melancholic. So I interpret it as inviting you somewhere I don't know where but it sounds more welcoming than the chaos.
This is just my own opinion, I understand if it's not ones preference, I know if I showed this to someone I know they probably wouldn't like it being familiar with their prefered music, they wouldn't see things like I do and that's okay.
I totally get you when you say youre not a big fan of how EDM is used in this piece, I really like it because of how intense it feels and the knowing of why its there, its really fitting for the character and I love when songs do that when they represent the character even if it doesnt particularly fit melodically, but I get why someone wouldnt vibe with the EDM here. Dont let people discourage you from voicing your opinion!
I was struggling to explain myself why I couldn’t like this theme like I do all the other boss themes even though I love some EDM and trap beats, but you perfectly explained it in the way I was struggling to Marco. The melody being interrupted and not continuous, it’s the continuous melody that I was expecting and missing.
Yep is latin. I figured it out from the "Quo Vadis pater?". Reminded me of the book by Henryk Sienkiewicz. And yes, 100% some pre production work was done, but still, they've done an amazing job.
the character acting from the lead singer was amazing its almost as if arleccino herself is performing
Hey Marco!
When it comes to Genshin ambiance/gameplay music tho, I think this patch really crushed it with Remuria. It's straight up classical...
If you do see this, I would love it if you consider reacting to the following tracks:
1. Faded Castle Track#4
2. Sea of Bygone Eras Track#14
3. Sea of Bygone Eras Track#15
4. Sea of Bygone Eras Track#18
5. Remuria Battle Theme (technically boss theme for Statue of Marble and Brass)
There are OST compilations in youtube too for reference:
- Faded Castle Area Compilation: th-cam.com/video/Kpu6WGiGQp4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=E9m3C9WS2ttVoeFx&t=1
- Sea of Bygone Eras Compilation: th-cam.com/video/y_tS2a5Bq-8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=oERsCkxWUjdr1FWK&t=1
- Remuria Battle Theme: th-cam.com/video/Zr4HEOmOZgI/w-d-xo.html
YESSS PLEASE THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE TRACKS TOO!! very melodically beautiful!
Ah yes, the winner of this patch that is Remuria's themes.
The new music in the Collegium s…something area if the new released area has a really beautiful choral and harp combination
the new battle music of a boss（Statue of Marble and Brass）is classical.It's just like a concerto.I think you will like it.
To Marco,
Context matters for video games music. I wonder if you can have your guest guess the context by the music alone. Or do the reverse by giving them context and have them pick a piece of music for that context.