i think lurelin was the saddest. Their lives were so simple, in a unique way. The music and beaches were so calm. The people are so nice. Then the get invaded by monsters and they all leave and the village goes into ruins until link clears it out
And, the family at the tower. The mom, dad, and two Kids. They broke my heart🥺. I stoped everything and went straight to fight the Monsters. It took me forever to find the one Monster... you know which one (no spoilers) 😖😂
@@makitagut2472 yeah.. i never considered the fact that a monster would just be chilling in a random well there. took me too long to find that single enemy.
my wife is a music major and said that the theme when ascending to the temple references Debussy's "Snowflakes are Dancing" which i think is pretty neat
I beg for you to make a similar video covering Korok Forest. That place was SO HAUNTING stepping into it for the first time seeing all the poor little guys frozen in time, and the music screamed that to you just to drive it further home
As soon as I got to the sky view tower in typhoon ruins to glide to the forest I knew something was up. I was so scared when I got there and the music SHOOK me.
Spoiler warning just in case Dude yeah as soon as I went there and saw all the koroks going “…” I knew that i was in for some shit. And the first time I played I only went there after being told to speak with the deku tree to find the master sword so seeing the gloomy mist pour out of him I literally went “Ohhhh noooooooo….”
ESPECIALLY with how you have to get into using Ascend. There’s no warning, not visual from a distance. This is your FIRST look and you are thrown into the THICK of it. And just. The experience of then going into the Deku Tree’s navel and realizing it’s somehow ever WORSE than you thought, then the insanely difficult and terrifying boss fight, (personally my first time fighting Phantom Gannon), AUGHHHHHHHH
The second I stepped near enough to hear the Rito village theme song, I felt cold. As if someone was freezing me using sound. That place felt so distraught until I finished the wind temple after which the Rito village theme music we all love and adore came back. The break down that you did was just *chef's kiss*
I came here to write that same comment. I jumped on my seat when I recognized the theme, once I crossed the fallen bridge, and heard it had a similar treatment to the "cold area" theme, as in the frequencies and high pass filters were added, the instruments got colder... I felt instantly cold. Such genius musical treatment and how that adds to the experience and story. I did not notice the same effect in the other areas, maybe looking back, I can think maybe a little bit, with the Gerudo and Eldin regions, but because I started with the Rito, that was a stark contrast, so I went into the others already expecting something to the same effect, and that didn't get me as excited as the Rito theme, but it was a magical experience all the same. I remember that Scruffy (YT channel) has done some video essays in the sound design of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. I highly recommend! :). I just subscribed.
going into the game blind, when I finally did get to the rito village and also zora's domain, when I saw the state of them and heard the music it felt like a gut punch. I had no idea they were doing to do anything like they did. It really was heartbreaking.
Same for me! I went to Zora’s Domain first and I immediately texted my friend saying how heartbroken the music sounded, when I got to Rito Village second I just literally sat down listening
The rito story questline was cool because we got to explore and retake floating Sky battleship from the flying Frozen Titan and the music literally set the stage for the entire quest
Ok, glad it's not just me. Gerudo Shelter just sounded like Gerudo Town but without all the instruments, The Zora's Domain theme wasn't all that memorable in the first place, same with Goron City, but god DAMN the Rito Village theme just sounds so sad.
It 100% was the most obviously devastating of the four, I want to comb through the others because I'm certain there's stuff I missed. especially the entire gerudo area because i was CONSTANTLY on edge.
This is incredible! I want another one of these going into all the ways the game uses Zelda's Lullaby, since it accompanied a number of the game's most emotional story beats.
I was so sad to see the Zora domain covered in muck and not in its pristine clean and blue form. I immediately starting working on it like “I need to fix this now!” I was really happy to have the Rito village back to normal as well with all the baby birdies happy that the adults were back. ❤
Awesome video! I'm a music teacher and have a ton of students who are into music from games and shows and I'm definitely going to recommend this to them!
It's so awesome hearing someone who loves the Rito Village Theme as much as I do! I think it's very slept on for how beautiful it is! I made a bee-line for Rito Village when I first started TOTK, and hearing the "freezing" theme made my heart drop. This is a great explanation for why!
I somehow expected you to mention the moment in the fight against Colgera when at one point the theme appears in a triumphant way. It had this "Tulin and the Rito have got your back" feeling that gave me goose bumps 😉 I'm curious, are you aware that the Rito village theme is a rendition of the original "Dragon Roost Island" theme from Windwaker?
Omg, that fighting bossmusic was so epic! I was stunned, hyped and fighting with tears in my eyes since I adore the Wind Waker so much, it's very nostalgic to me. 😊
Ive always been interested in how music is made, but so many music channels aren't geared toward beginners and use tons of music jargon. So I really appreciate the way this is written, thanks so much for making it.
I hope to keep all future content accessible and entertaining! I think lowering the barrier to entry to appreciate music and design theory and all it can do is so important
I know next to nothing about music theory and composition but what you say makes so much sense and you explain it with such passion I totally get it!! Although I've always liked the music in these games I've never analyzed it like this and now I feel like a whole new world has opened, a way musicians transmit feelings and ideas! Please continue to do these videos I really enjoy them!
I will do my best to present these in accessible and fun ways!! There's so much appreciation to be had when you understand the reason behind specific decisions, away from all the jargon and theory
When I got TotK initially, I was most excited to return to Rito Village, as it had been my top favorite village to visit in BotW (for the music, the storyline, the characters and their designs, for the general area of Tabantha, the whole 9 yards I was there for it, it felt like home) and my heart was, indeed, completely shattered as soon as I heard the altered version of the music. I don’t know if I ever could have broken down the science of it like you did, but getting to hear and understand even more deeply why that moment had such a crushing impact on my emotions was definitely something I didn’t expect to get to do, so thank you!
Rito Village is my second home in botw (The first one is Hateno Village). The first thing that captivated me was their music, it feels majestic and lively. When I found out in totk that their village got frozen, I immediately went to their village to go and check on the ritos. The village feels so sad and incomplete especially when most of the adults are out to hunt for food. Feel happy how Kass' children and Teba's son are growing up and are being responsible of managing the businesses in the village.
Just got recommended this by Scruffy, and they were right, this is a great video. The part early on with the hard cut from BOTW to TOTK literally left me with my jaw dropped.
This was super interesting an in depth! In tears of the kingdom, the music in the deserted Gerudo Town freaked me out as much as the shock of the town itself being destroyed. And there are noticeable differences in the themes of Zoras Domain and Goron City. I’d be interested to see an analysis on the music of those as well, seeing as I am incompetent at identifying instruments or notes lol
Thank you very much! The intersection of storytelling, art and music are some of the coolest things ever to me, i hope i can continue to do the topic justice!
I was at school waiting for for an after school class and I was playing until I found rito village and I just sat there for a minute or to just blown away with how much emotion this track put it me despite not being attached to the rito
The main instrument in the new Rito village soundtrack reminds me of the Rito children’s singing voices. To me it symbolizes the children doing their best to hold out the melody (the safety and well being of the village) but on their own it sounds solemn and empty.
I love how the music in BotW/TotK is so evocative, and yet so... chameleon? Like I couldn't really tell you when or where each piece occurs, and I don't really listen FOR it while playing. Yet, the emotion it conveys in key moments is absolutely amazing, and truly I think this is the peak of environmental storytelling.
God, I remember finding the rito village. The music genuinely shook me to the core, it hurt me so much to see the characters I cared about there suffering like they were. Their struggle felt so real and urgent; not just because of the music, but because of the excellent character writing and atmosphere as well. Then of course you get to the boss battle- and u feel like a true hero fighting for the village. God, I wish I’d saved rito village for last, cause in my opinion it was the best sage quest of all.
This video reminds me how when you're in each temple, they change the tune every time you finish an objective. One of those tunes in particular had a call backs to the Champion themes from BOTW.
The whole melody skipped in 2:40 can also be interpreted as the Rito soaring into the sun and showing their passion for flying. Now that you mention it was skipped during the blizzard, it can be seen as the Rito not flying because they want to, but because they need to gather supplies and survive at this point. Great video!
The Dragon Roost theme has been my favorite song from my favorite game for so long, and hearing all the different renditions and remixes of it in BotW & TotK is just... words don't seem adequate. I honestly don't think I've ever felt music so deeply, so powerfully. Needless to say, I love hearing other people talk about these songs, especially as excitedly as you do here. Thanks for loving a thing I love.
this is such a great video, and your narration is so engaging!! i noticed this stuff too but I don't have all the musical knowledge to describe everything, it's been really cool to see exactly what went into crafting the feeling of the altered theme
No wonder the Colgera theme sounded so satisfying & fulfilling! Whenever bits of the theme pops up during the score, it felt like I was taking back the village together with all the Rito
For such a heartbreaking topic, this was a JOY to watch! Your passion and expertise shone through in equal measure and you managed to succinctly articulate everything I (and, doubtless, many others) experienced subconsciously as we revisited this treasured place. Thank you for such a beautiful exploration of this game's masterful sound design and I look forward to learning more from you in the future ❤
I like to see the original Rito Village theme, the Blizzard Rito Village theme and the Colgera theme as one big musical journey. The original theme introduces the motifs (setting aside the original Dragon Roost Island). The Blizzard theme strips it back to its bare bones, which makes the triumphant return of the fully instrumentalised refrain in the last section of the Colgera boss battle hit so much harder. One of the best moments in Zelda music.
When i saw Zora's domain for the first tome covered in sludge, and heard the music i cried This game was really heartbreaking when it comes to regional phenomena, and the grand plateau also made me feel so nostalgic
I don't think I noticed in botw but I absolutely love when you get rito village back to normal because you can hear its usual theme again and with dragon roost island music too (not sure if that was in Botw)
The thing that I just can't get over are how flawless the transitions are at 0:57 and at 6:10. The direct comparisons, right where the music picks up perfectly demonstrates how truly desperate things have become for the Rito. How the destitution has taken its toll and how gut-wrenching their circumstances are. that first transition made me do a double-take and gave me goosebumps. Brava. the passion you deliver this analysis with is heartening. I can tell you truly care and want to share your discoveries by diving into this. Thank you for sharing!
Lonely. That's the word I'd describe the Frozen Rito Village song. As the main melody kicks in, The lone slow piano feels like ice, and the flute helps portray the frigid winds. Only 2 (arguably 3) adults stay behind while the rest scavenge for supplies, but it's clear they can't keep up this way of life forever. Rito Village was always smaller in comparison to others, but having it empty makes it feel desolate, abandoned, and as cold as it looks. I don't hear hope in Frozen Rito. I hear desperation and sadness. They're holding on and getting help where they can, but without some form of a miracle, they face their end.
This was a great breakdown of how the music flows and gets more chaotic as you progress.. I really loved how the fire temple music played and built up.
I have pretty bad hearing and lack any real interest in music but hearing the way you talked about this track and the tone in your voice is making me emotional
The script and narration for this was so amazing! I could really hear the passion and thought you put into it, and the sense of flow and cohesiveness it creates with the vibe of the music. I LOVED IT keep going this video was amazing.
I got recommended this video by another TH-camr, Scruffy, and I gotta say that it's a pretty dang good recommendation! On the subject of the video, when I first entered Rito Village I was scared. I hadn't noticed much musical difference doing Zora's Domain, but hearing Rito Village's theme stripped down and frozen like that made me scared that I was already too late. That the Upheaval and the strange phenomenon surrounding it had already taken too steep a toll on the Rito. Fortunately it was reversible, as shouldn't be surprising of a story quest line, but it was still worrying to say the least
This had been one of my favourite selections from the soundtrack to listen to and I'm so glad to have seen someone talk about it. It builds the atmosphere _extremely_ well; in fact, I found myself acutely interested in the "unsolved" versions of the town themes. The way the familiar tunes are altered to reflect the towns' Upheaval-effected states is extremely interesting to study (there's one that caught me by surprise, in particular, that I liked but won't name it for spoilers' sake. If you've played through a bit, you likely can already guess which, though!) They do such a great job of maintaining the atmosphere of the respective areas in addition to whatever is currently going on. Goodness, the Gerudo Town music is _so_ cool in theory and implementation, though obviously very unsettling and scary in actual gameplay! The normally light, free-flowing music of rito village was essentially stripped bare and left to freeze in this music, with these chilling, glassy instruments only playing the village's melody, with none of the natural momentum in the original instrumentation and accompaniment. (And by the way, that sound you couldn't identify was a synth whistle! At least, that's the closest MIDI instrument I know that makes such a sound!) I hadn't even thought about the way the balance was structured in this arrangement before watching this video, but it puts so much into perspective, as I recall Kataoka used a similar technique for the general "cold" theme in Breath of the Wild. I'm currently analyzing the soundtracks of the Stormwind Ark and Colgera between work and other obligations (though transcribing the full orchestration takes _forever!!_). It's so nice to see someone doing some analysis of this AMAZING soundtrack, and of my favourite in-game locale, no less!
I love this so much. The ice version of this song was a tune I stopped to listen to for a loooong time when I first arrived. This breakdown makes me misty eyed.
The music in Totk is some of the most powerful aspects of Totk's experience. The story really sets the tone, especially that intro! The music perfectly accompanies the tone. And in many moments, is the sole reason the game feels the way it does. Not just in Rito Village but the entirety of the game. Such an exceptional analysis! Thanks for this.
Found your channel on a whim and have to say, not disappointed. I really appreciate the justice you gave to every intricate detail the Rito folk are facing as the eternal blizzard is upon them. Don't think anybody has had the pleasure of analyzing this track/motif like you have. Great work.
You have my follow. All i ask in exchange is that you keep doing these musical breakdowns on videogame music. Learning the why of these choices that influence the music that in turn influence how we percieve the larger themes of the narrative done in this understandable yet engaging format is amazing and its not something that a lot of channels do
I felt almost this same things with gerudo town (wich used to be my favorite to wander around). As I entered the town and the music started playing, it was like if everything that I loved was suddenly gone.
rito village was the best village for me this upsetting theme in the village and the continuously building tension while you're rising into the skies, completing the temple and fighting the boss... it was gorgeous and no other village was this powerfull imo
i LOVE analyses like these! i'm not done with the entire game yet, but analysing (overthinking) botw's music was such a big part of my playthrough and seeing people do the same for this game is so validating 😭💛 and the rito have always been my favourite musically! this is such a perfect video for me hehe
this video made me feel pure joy and i love the fact you really seem to enjoy the game, witch makes the video 10 times better. You made zelda even more fun for me and i thank you for that. keep up the great work
I'm no musician. I just live with one. So I've watched more than my fair share of TH-cam music channels. And I gotta say, the way you handled this deep dive into one song was so beautiful. Honestly your way with words and how you shine a light on each aspect of the song and how it moves us was just... moving. That was beautiful.
I'm so hyped I found this channel. As a passionate gamer, film maker and music nerd this is everything I've ever wanted. Good analysis of beautiful video game music, accompanied by solid narration and excellent editing. Super hyped to see what you do in the future!
Aaaaaaah YES YES YES!! Ever since I played the Rito quest line I had been hoping for someone to pick up the beauty of the frozen theme and how it gives you the perfect ambience for the current situation. And this....this vide is perfect! The transitions are awesome! The falling on the ice to transition from the normal to the frozen music was soooo good!! Gosh I loved your narration of the feelings and the symbolism too! I'm so glad youtube recommended this video, instant new subscription here!
The sountrack when you reach Ganon below the castle, waaay below the castle, in that final battle is so great, omnious, dark, ait sets the mood for that final chapter.
The Rito questline was my favourite part of TotK, and especially the use of music, (definitely in the Rising Island Chain too!) This is a great analysis, and I'm really excited for the next one :)
This video gives me a warm almost storybook quality! What a beautiful, thoughtful, and insightful breakdown of a heartbreaking but hopeful section of this wonderful game!
One thing I've noticed in multiple games is that when there is a sequence where you are in a snowy storm or mountain, violins usually play, example is the end of the game journey
I been loving the Rito for years, starting with the ones in Wind Waker, and the village pretty much became my “second home” due to cooking stuff all the time there, most of my Zelda OCs being Rito, the musical theme, and always feeling drawn to the Rito in general. I always feel at home there. So when I went to Rito Village in TotK, the situation hit me hard. I felt the need to help the Rito because they’re like my family. It wasn’t the home I came to know and love. It felt empty, desolate. I’m happy to see the Rito being able to live peacefully again when I saved them, but I do miss the snowy theme.
This was a great analysis video. Entering the Hebra region I didn’t realize at first how much had changed for the area. My gameplay strategy was to unlock the entire map before really exploring the story. I visited the Zora and the sludge was a sad environmental disaster, but it was easy enough for me to get distracted away from their story and continue my quest to open the map. When I neared Rito Village, finding that the stable had closed and been converted to the Gazette HQ was a surprise. Flying into Rito Village itself hit so much harder than when I went into the Zora Domain. The village was empty with only the children remaining. I wanted to speak to the the Elder owl only to find out that Teba was now the village elder. Gut punch. I followed the Rito story to clear the cold before I really realized I had done it. I don’t know how much of that was the story writing, the music, or the way the breadcrumbs were laid out so it was so easy to just follow the story; but, was so rewarding to see the village restored after completing the sky temple. One note about instruments: I don’t think that’s a guitar playing the tremolo in the BotW Rito theme. I think it’s either a mandolin or a hammer dulcimer. I can’t quite tell which it is, but I lean towards mandolin.
This video was so well made, the editing, the footage, the audio, the knowledge you have of music, the enthusiasm you have for music, and the easy to understand way you explained your thoughts about the Rito music. Instant sub, I hope one day you would do a series on Splatoon and Xenoblade music, both series have grown so much from their initial games to their latest games.
i think lurelin was the saddest. Their lives were so simple, in a unique way. The music and beaches were so calm. The people are so nice. Then the get invaded by monsters and they all leave and the village goes into ruins until link clears it out
But its worth it after helping them rebuild
And, the family at the tower. The mom, dad, and two Kids. They broke my heart🥺. I stoped everything and went straight to fight the Monsters. It took me forever to find the one Monster... you know which one (no spoilers) 😖😂
@@makitagut2472I thought I was the only one having trouble finding that monster
@@zakwanberlin lol i found it first by accident. i just jumped into a well, got jumpscared
@@makitagut2472 yeah.. i never considered the fact that a monster would just be chilling in a random well there. took me too long to find that single enemy.
my wife is a music major and said that the theme when ascending to the temple references Debussy's "Snowflakes are Dancing" which i think is pretty neat
I will definitely have to look into that!! the motifs sound decidedly similar
D E B U S S Y
really shows how genius Debussy is, to the point where game devs possibly reference him
I'm sorry but I'm gonna do the obligatory hehehe....Debussy..
@@Zark937it’s okay, anytime Debussy is mentioned we all have to get it out of our systems at least once 😂
I beg for you to make a similar video covering Korok Forest. That place was SO HAUNTING stepping into it for the first time seeing all the poor little guys frozen in time, and the music screamed that to you just to drive it further home
I'll add it to the list!
As soon as I got to the sky view tower in typhoon ruins to glide to the forest I knew something was up. I was so scared when I got there and the music SHOOK me.
Spoiler warning just in case
Dude yeah as soon as I went there and saw all the koroks going “…” I knew that i was in for some shit. And the first time I played I only went there after being told to speak with the deku tree to find the master sword so seeing the gloomy mist pour out of him I literally went “Ohhhh noooooooo….”
@@Fareeha Add in 'So devestating that it drives you to kill Gloom Hands'
ESPECIALLY with how you have to get into using Ascend. There’s no warning, not visual from a distance. This is your FIRST look and you are thrown into the THICK of it. And just. The experience of then going into the Deku Tree’s navel and realizing it’s somehow ever WORSE than you thought, then the insanely difficult and terrifying boss fight, (personally my first time fighting Phantom Gannon), AUGHHHHHHHH
The second I stepped near enough to hear the Rito village theme song, I felt cold. As if someone was freezing me using sound. That place felt so distraught until I finished the wind temple after which the Rito village theme music we all love and adore came back. The break down that you did was just *chef's kiss*
Wind temple boss music has some rito village theme in it its amazing
I came here to write that same comment. I jumped on my seat when I recognized the theme, once I crossed the fallen bridge, and heard it had a similar treatment to the "cold area" theme, as in the frequencies and high pass filters were added, the instruments got colder... I felt instantly cold. Such genius musical treatment and how that adds to the experience and story. I did not notice the same effect in the other areas, maybe looking back, I can think maybe a little bit, with the Gerudo and Eldin regions, but because I started with the Rito, that was a stark contrast, so I went into the others already expecting something to the same effect, and that didn't get me as excited as the Rito theme, but it was a magical experience all the same. I remember that Scruffy (YT channel) has done some video essays in the sound design of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. I highly recommend! :). I just subscribed.
@@DanSinclairOficial bro, Scruffy is just excellent. The latest one where he explains musical main characters is sooooooo good.
I remember thinking 'oh no...' when going to the zora's domain but going to rito village it was like oh GOD are they ok??
@@20PINKluvrand some wind waker molgera in it
going into the game blind, when I finally did get to the rito village and also zora's domain, when I saw the state of them and heard the music it felt like a gut punch. I had no idea they were doing to do anything like they did. It really was heartbreaking.
Same for me! I went to Zora’s Domain first and I immediately texted my friend saying how heartbroken the music sounded, when I got to Rito Village second I just literally sat down listening
the pre-established settings and sounds in the last game let them try so many twists and turns on what we once knew, it's all so wonderful
The rito story questline was cool because we got to explore and retake floating Sky battleship from the flying Frozen Titan and the music literally set the stage for the entire quest
And this is why I saved them both first
Ok, glad it's not just me. Gerudo Shelter just sounded like Gerudo Town but without all the instruments, The Zora's Domain theme wasn't all that memorable in the first place, same with Goron City, but god DAMN the Rito Village theme just sounds so sad.
It 100% was the most obviously devastating of the four, I want to comb through the others because I'm certain there's stuff I missed. especially the entire gerudo area because i was CONSTANTLY on edge.
Ok but…
.
.
.
.
.
The forest hits hard, that atmosphere and the off theme, it feels so wrong
@@V.U.4six when I got to korok forest it was very sad, the entire thing
Zora's Domain theme is my favorite, specially the ocarina of time version
Zora's Domain has been a staple musical motif since Ocarina of Time!
This is incredible! I want another one of these going into all the ways the game uses Zelda's Lullaby, since it accompanied a number of the game's most emotional story beats.
YES that's a fantastic idea
Those emotional story beats in cinematics are a goldmine of great music and design
I love how passionate your voice sounds like! You can really feel the love and care that was put into this video/ analysis
That means a lot, thank you
I was so sad to see the Zora domain covered in muck and not in its pristine clean and blue form. I immediately starting working on it like “I need to fix this now!” I was really happy to have the Rito village back to normal as well with all the baby birdies happy that the adults were back. ❤
00:58 gave me chills. I am so happy this showed up on my recommended page! What a delight :)
Thank you! it took lots of sneaky editing to line up right haha
Awesome video! I'm a music teacher and have a ton of students who are into music from games and shows and I'm definitely going to recommend this to them!
awwwww that's so cute, thank you!
(and also thank you for furthering the world of music education! its so important)
0:53 why was that such a good transition. Oh and the music links as well. I genuinely smiled when I saw it. Well done
It's so awesome hearing someone who loves the Rito Village Theme as much as I do! I think it's very slept on for how beautiful it is! I made a bee-line for Rito Village when I first started TOTK, and hearing the "freezing" theme made my heart drop. This is a great explanation for why!
Once the area was cleared, and the original theme came back, I cried like a baby.
I want more of this!!! 🤩
MORE IS BEING WRITTEN!!
I somehow expected you to mention the moment in the fight against Colgera when at one point the theme appears in a triumphant way. It had this "Tulin and the Rito have got your back" feeling that gave me goose bumps 😉 I'm curious, are you aware that the Rito village theme is a rendition of the original "Dragon Roost Island" theme from Windwaker?
They know about chord composition and ranges, I am pretty sure they recognize if the melody is exactly the same
@sabrinam.8006 they might not know about Wind Waker. They might only be comparing to the BotW rendition of the theme.
Omg, that fighting bossmusic was so epic! I was stunned, hyped and fighting with tears in my eyes since I adore the Wind Waker so much, it's very nostalgic to me. 😊
Did you know Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is the same melody as the alphabet song
I get teary eyed from that song it’s so powerful
Ive always been interested in how music is made, but so many music channels aren't geared toward beginners and use tons of music jargon. So I really appreciate the way this is written, thanks so much for making it.
I hope to keep all future content accessible and entertaining! I think lowering the barrier to entry to appreciate music and design theory and all it can do is so important
I know next to nothing about music theory and composition but what you say makes so much sense and you explain it with such passion I totally get it!! Although I've always liked the music in these games I've never analyzed it like this and now I feel like a whole new world has opened, a way musicians transmit feelings and ideas!
Please continue to do these videos I really enjoy them!
I will do my best to present these in accessible and fun ways!! There's so much appreciation to be had when you understand the reason behind specific decisions, away from all the jargon and theory
I’m not sure what is better. The quality of the Rito theme or the quality of the narration. Well done!
You honor me so!!
When I got TotK initially, I was most excited to return to Rito Village, as it had been my top favorite village to visit in BotW (for the music, the storyline, the characters and their designs, for the general area of Tabantha, the whole 9 yards I was there for it, it felt like home) and my heart was, indeed, completely shattered as soon as I heard the altered version of the music. I don’t know if I ever could have broken down the science of it like you did, but getting to hear and understand even more deeply why that moment had such a crushing impact on my emotions was definitely something I didn’t expect to get to do, so thank you!
awww, it's my pleasure!! I hope I can do the rest of the quest justice!
Rito Village is my second home in botw (The first one is Hateno Village). The first thing that captivated me was their music, it feels majestic and lively. When I found out in totk that their village got frozen, I immediately went to their village to go and check on the ritos. The village feels so sad and incomplete especially when most of the adults are out to hunt for food. Feel happy how Kass' children and Teba's son are growing up and are being responsible of managing the businesses in the village.
Just got recommended this by Scruffy, and they were right, this is a great video. The part early on with the hard cut from BOTW to TOTK literally left me with my jaw dropped.
totally love when you nerd out about music theory
awww i'm glad
This was super interesting an in depth! In tears of the kingdom, the music in the deserted Gerudo Town freaked me out as much as the shock of the town itself being destroyed. And there are noticeable differences in the themes of Zoras Domain and Goron City. I’d be interested to see an analysis on the music of those as well, seeing as I am incompetent at identifying instruments or notes lol
i will look over them!!
@@Fareeha Awesome! 😊
Very impressed with both your articulation of the emotional depth within story elements and the interconnectivity of musical themes. Good job.
Thank you very much! The intersection of storytelling, art and music are some of the coolest things ever to me, i hope i can continue to do the topic justice!
My music theory nerd heart is so so happy right now. Spectacular analysis!
THANK YOU KAYLA
I was at school waiting for for an after school class and I was playing until I found rito village and I just sat there for a minute or to just blown away with how much emotion this track put it me despite not being attached to the rito
The main instrument in the new Rito village soundtrack reminds me of the Rito children’s singing voices. To me it symbolizes the children doing their best to hold out the melody (the safety and well being of the village) but on their own it sounds solemn and empty.
I love how the music in BotW/TotK is so evocative, and yet so... chameleon? Like I couldn't really tell you when or where each piece occurs, and I don't really listen FOR it while playing. Yet, the emotion it conveys in key moments is absolutely amazing, and truly I think this is the peak of environmental storytelling.
God, I remember finding the rito village. The music genuinely shook me to the core, it hurt me so much to see the characters I cared about there suffering like they were. Their struggle felt so real and urgent; not just because of the music, but because of the excellent character writing and atmosphere as well. Then of course you get to the boss battle- and u feel like a true hero fighting for the village. God, I wish I’d saved rito village for last, cause in my opinion it was the best sage quest of all.
This video reminds me how when you're in each temple, they change the tune every time you finish an objective. One of those tunes in particular had a call backs to the Champion themes from BOTW.
The whole melody skipped in 2:40 can also be interpreted as the Rito soaring into the sun and showing their passion for flying. Now that you mention it was skipped during the blizzard, it can be seen as the Rito not flying because they want to, but because they need to gather supplies and survive at this point. Great video!
The Dragon Roost theme has been my favorite song from my favorite game for so long, and hearing all the different renditions and remixes of it in BotW & TotK is just... words don't seem adequate. I honestly don't think I've ever felt music so deeply, so powerfully.
Needless to say, I love hearing other people talk about these songs, especially as excitedly as you do here. Thanks for loving a thing I love.
this is such a great video, and your narration is so engaging!! i noticed this stuff too but I don't have all the musical knowledge to describe everything, it's been really cool to see exactly what went into crafting the feeling of the altered theme
Thank you so much!! I'm glad i could put theories to words!
From the word use to the impassioned voice, it perfectly accompanies the video. Once I started listening I couldn't stop.
No wonder the Colgera theme sounded so satisfying & fulfilling! Whenever bits of the theme pops up during the score, it felt like I was taking back the village together with all the Rito
For such a heartbreaking topic, this was a JOY to watch! Your passion and expertise shone through in equal measure and you managed to succinctly articulate everything I (and, doubtless, many others) experienced subconsciously as we revisited this treasured place. Thank you for such a beautiful exploration of this game's masterful sound design and I look forward to learning more from you in the future ❤
Dragonroost Island is such a perfect composition. It's one of my favorite songs, in general.
I like to see the original Rito Village theme, the Blizzard Rito Village theme and the Colgera theme as one big musical journey. The original theme introduces the motifs (setting aside the original Dragon Roost Island). The Blizzard theme strips it back to its bare bones, which makes the triumphant return of the fully instrumentalised refrain in the last section of the Colgera boss battle hit so much harder. One of the best moments in Zelda music.
When i saw Zora's domain for the first tome covered in sludge, and heard the music i cried
This game was really heartbreaking when it comes to regional phenomena, and the grand plateau also made me feel so nostalgic
Such an enthralling video
YAY I'm so glad! Thank you!
YES THE GERUDO LINE IS INCREDIBLE those gibdo, the atmosphere, it was all so scary
I don't understand a lot of the music jargon but your voice is so soothing that I just wanted to keep listening
This is an amazing essay! What a lot of work you put in!
Thank you!! It was all worth it to get to share it with more people
The frozen rito village to the boss battle of wind temple music is a whole movie 🔥🔥💯
this entire game is so so so cinematic in its set pieces and its big fights, big story points. We're so lucky
@@Fareeha yes💯
I don't think I noticed in botw but I absolutely love when you get rito village back to normal because you can hear its usual theme again and with dragon roost island music too (not sure if that was in Botw)
I have no idea about music but you made me care so much! There is so much love poured into the game and this video!!!
that makes me so happy to hear. I'm getting started with the next script right away
The thing that I just can't get over are how flawless the transitions are at 0:57 and at 6:10. The direct comparisons, right where the music picks up perfectly demonstrates how truly desperate things have become for the Rito. How the destitution has taken its toll and how gut-wrenching their circumstances are. that first transition made me do a double-take and gave me goosebumps.
Brava. the passion you deliver this analysis with is heartening. I can tell you truly care and want to share your discoveries by diving into this. Thank you for sharing!
Lonely.
That's the word I'd describe the Frozen Rito Village song. As the main melody kicks in, The lone slow piano feels like ice, and the flute helps portray the frigid winds. Only 2 (arguably 3) adults stay behind while the rest scavenge for supplies, but it's clear they can't keep up this way of life forever. Rito Village was always smaller in comparison to others, but having it empty makes it feel desolate, abandoned, and as cold as it looks.
I don't hear hope in Frozen Rito. I hear desperation and sadness. They're holding on and getting help where they can, but without some form of a miracle, they face their end.
It’s amazing knowing how much depth there was to this. I was like oh cool it’s covered in snow now.
I’m new to your analysis videos, and I’m now obsessed. The way you tell the narrative that you see the music telling is so magical
This was a great breakdown of how the music flows and gets more chaotic as you progress.. I really loved how the fire temple music played and built up.
I have pretty bad hearing and lack any real interest in music but hearing the way you talked about this track and the tone in your voice is making me emotional
the music is why i love playing with headphones. its all around me and i love it
I WISH THEY WOULD GIVE US A VOLUME SLIDER so we could listen to louder music without having our ears blown out with combat noises haha
The script and narration for this was so amazing! I could really hear the passion and thought you put into it, and the sense of flow and cohesiveness it creates with the vibe of the music. I LOVED IT keep going this video was amazing.
0:55 Damn, what a transition!
i was JUST thinking that!
You explained all of this information so well and so animatedly, I loved this video!
Dude. Fucking GREAT editing on this video. So goddamn good.
Thanks so much!! I needed so much iteration to get things to line up just how I wanted haha
I got recommended this video by another TH-camr, Scruffy, and I gotta say that it's a pretty dang good recommendation! On the subject of the video, when I first entered Rito Village I was scared. I hadn't noticed much musical difference doing Zora's Domain, but hearing Rito Village's theme stripped down and frozen like that made me scared that I was already too late. That the Upheaval and the strange phenomenon surrounding it had already taken too steep a toll on the Rito. Fortunately it was reversible, as shouldn't be surprising of a story quest line, but it was still worrying to say the least
This had been one of my favourite selections from the soundtrack to listen to and I'm so glad to have seen someone talk about it. It builds the atmosphere _extremely_ well; in fact, I found myself acutely interested in the "unsolved" versions of the town themes. The way the familiar tunes are altered to reflect the towns' Upheaval-effected states is extremely interesting to study (there's one that caught me by surprise, in particular, that I liked but won't name it for spoilers' sake. If you've played through a bit, you likely can already guess which, though!) They do such a great job of maintaining the atmosphere of the respective areas in addition to whatever is currently going on. Goodness, the Gerudo Town music is _so_ cool in theory and implementation, though obviously very unsettling and scary in actual gameplay! The normally light, free-flowing music of rito village was essentially stripped bare and left to freeze in this music, with these chilling, glassy instruments only playing the village's melody, with none of the natural momentum in the original instrumentation and accompaniment. (And by the way, that sound you couldn't identify was a synth whistle! At least, that's the closest MIDI instrument I know that makes such a sound!) I hadn't even thought about the way the balance was structured in this arrangement before watching this video, but it puts so much into perspective, as I recall Kataoka used a similar technique for the general "cold" theme in Breath of the Wild.
I'm currently analyzing the soundtracks of the Stormwind Ark and Colgera between work and other obligations (though transcribing the full orchestration takes _forever!!_). It's so nice to see someone doing some analysis of this AMAZING soundtrack, and of my favourite in-game locale, no less!
I love this so much. The ice version of this song was a tune I stopped to listen to for a loooong time when I first arrived. This breakdown makes me misty eyed.
Thank you very much
0:56
That transition is chilling!! Well done
:D thank you
Watching this video is like being back in a grade school music class with a really excited music teacher. Great breakdown!
The music in Totk is some of the most powerful aspects of Totk's experience. The story really sets the tone, especially that intro! The music perfectly accompanies the tone. And in many moments, is the sole reason the game feels the way it does. Not just in Rito Village but the entirety of the game. Such an exceptional analysis! Thanks for this.
at 11:40 - your divulgence into the midrange and the human voice earned a sub! that is genuinely SO AMAZING!!
Definitely would like more of these, well done.
more's on the way! thank you for your support!
the way you talk about music is just gorgeous, this video is captivating
Your enthusiasm in this video is absolutely infectious. I love it so much!!
Found your channel on a whim and have to say, not disappointed. I really appreciate the justice you gave to every intricate detail the Rito folk are facing as the eternal blizzard is upon them. Don't think anybody has had the pleasure of analyzing this track/motif like you have. Great work.
You have my follow. All i ask in exchange is that you keep doing these musical breakdowns on videogame music. Learning the why of these choices that influence the music that in turn influence how we percieve the larger themes of the narrative done in this understandable yet engaging format is amazing and its not something that a lot of channels do
And then it breaks even more hearts as the rito theme slowly comes in full force and in a triumphant manner when you fight Colgera
i literally had to pause the game and clutch at my heart when the Colgera theme came in full force
This is some of the most in depth, insightful, illuminating, and fascinating analysis of the beauty that is Zelda and its music.
The happy start of the frozen theme gives a “hiding behind a fake smile” sort of emotion to the theme.
I felt almost this same things with gerudo town (wich used to be my favorite to wander around). As I entered the town and the music started playing, it was like if everything that I loved was suddenly gone.
rito village was the best village for me
this upsetting theme in the village and the continuously building tension while you're rising into the skies, completing the temple and fighting the boss... it was gorgeous and no other village was this powerfull imo
I’m so mad I didn’t have headphones during this temple
i LOVE analyses like these! i'm not done with the entire game yet, but analysing (overthinking) botw's music was such a big part of my playthrough and seeing people do the same for this game is so validating 😭💛 and the rito have always been my favourite musically! this is such a perfect video for me hehe
this video made me feel pure joy and i love the fact you really seem to enjoy the game, witch makes the video 10 times better. You made zelda even more fun for me and i thank you for that. keep up the great work
I'm no musician. I just live with one. So I've watched more than my fair share of TH-cam music channels.
And I gotta say, the way you handled this deep dive into one song was so beautiful.
Honestly your way with words and how you shine a light on each aspect of the song and how it moves us was just... moving.
That was beautiful.
I'm so hyped I found this channel. As a passionate gamer, film maker and music nerd this is everything I've ever wanted. Good analysis of beautiful video game music, accompanied by solid narration and excellent editing. Super hyped to see what you do in the future!
1 minute and 15 seconds into the video and you already have me getting goosebumps.... you earned this sub!
0:57 THAT TRANSITION HURT ME SO MUCH
i didn't realize how different the music was-
I was crying watching how well you edited this video, PLEASE do the Colgera theme analysis!!!! I beg of you!
Aaaaaaah YES YES YES!!
Ever since I played the Rito quest line I had been hoping for someone to pick up the beauty of the frozen theme and how it gives you the perfect ambience for the current situation. And this....this vide is perfect! The transitions are awesome! The falling on the ice to transition from the normal to the frozen music was soooo good!!
Gosh I loved your narration of the feelings and the symbolism too!
I'm so glad youtube recommended this video, instant new subscription here!
I love when TH-cam recommends excellent videos, doesn't happen very often.
I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
I noticed immediately when the original music came back after I beat Colgera, and it was so gorgeous!
The sountrack when you reach Ganon below the castle, waaay below the castle, in that final battle is so great, omnious, dark, ait sets the mood for that final chapter.
Beautiful art award, for the sound design team and also for you, great video
Thank you kindly!
The Rito questline was my favourite part of TotK, and especially the use of music, (definitely in the Rising Island Chain too!) This is a great analysis, and I'm really excited for the next one :)
This video gives me a warm almost storybook quality! What a beautiful, thoughtful, and insightful breakdown of a heartbreaking but hopeful section of this wonderful game!
The WAY you narrate is absolutely fantabulous! Subscribed!
Wow, thank you!
These types of videos are what I have been excitedly waiting for ever since the game's release. Can't wait to see what more you have to say!
the fact that you reached out all the way just to listen and explain the deppressing music of Rito Village gives me the feeling that im understood
Amazing video, incredibly insightful and thoroughly explained. A deep dive into music theory from songs by an amazing composer is always enthralling!
One thing I've noticed in multiple games is that when there is a sequence where you are in a snowy storm or mountain, violins usually play, example is the end of the game journey
I been loving the Rito for years, starting with the ones in Wind Waker, and the village pretty much became my “second home” due to cooking stuff all the time there, most of my Zelda OCs being Rito, the musical theme, and always feeling drawn to the Rito in general. I always feel at home there.
So when I went to Rito Village in TotK, the situation hit me hard. I felt the need to help the Rito because they’re like my family. It wasn’t the home I came to know and love. It felt empty, desolate. I’m happy to see the Rito being able to live peacefully again when I saved them, but I do miss the snowy theme.
I was not expecting the music theory from this random algorithm suggestion but I am so here for it. Subscribed!
I love what you did at at 0:56. A perfect transition!
This was a great analysis video. Entering the Hebra region I didn’t realize at first how much had changed for the area. My gameplay strategy was to unlock the entire map before really exploring the story. I visited the Zora and the sludge was a sad environmental disaster, but it was easy enough for me to get distracted away from their story and continue my quest to open the map.
When I neared Rito Village, finding that the stable had closed and been converted to the Gazette HQ was a surprise. Flying into Rito Village itself hit so much harder than when I went into the Zora Domain. The village was empty with only the children remaining. I wanted to speak to the the Elder owl only to find out that Teba was now the village elder. Gut punch. I followed the Rito story to clear the cold before I really realized I had done it. I don’t know how much of that was the story writing, the music, or the way the breadcrumbs were laid out so it was so easy to just follow the story; but, was so rewarding to see the village restored after completing the sky temple.
One note about instruments: I don’t think that’s a guitar playing the tremolo in the BotW Rito theme. I think it’s either a mandolin or a hammer dulcimer. I can’t quite tell which it is, but I lean towards mandolin.
I was so surprised to see this was the first video posted to this channel. Amazing quality!!
I love this break down! As someone who is forever amazed by music knowledge but lack the foundation to know about it, I thank you!
This video was so well made, the editing, the footage, the audio, the knowledge you have of music, the enthusiasm you have for music, and the easy to understand way you explained your thoughts about the Rito music. Instant sub, I hope one day you would do a series on Splatoon and Xenoblade music, both series have grown so much from their initial games to their latest games.