ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.พ. 2023
- A look inside the music theory of Sonic CD's Quartz Quadrant.
Viewer rewards include getting your name in the credits, sheet music library, and vgm soundtrack of the week: / alexyard
Special Thanks:
ChilliusVGM & Collision Chaos Radio
Andres Giraldo
Professor Trick Room 3777
Andrei Vazhnov
Clips
2:17
Piano
by Steinway & Sons
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
2:18
Trumpet
by Yamaha Corporation
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
3:40
Acoustic Guitar
By eurok
www.flickr.com/photos/2102585...
3:47
Classical Guitar
By Jonathan Richter
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic...
3:49
Nylon
By Claudia Zimmer
www.flickr.com/photos/poptopl...
4:34
Ice Skating Sonic
By TH-cam user PetaGaming
Mario & Sonic - Figure Skating Singles
• Mario & Sonic - Figure...
6:07
Tumbleweed
By Rob Lee
www.flickr.com/photos/roblee/...
10:42
Salsa Dancing
By Salsa Y Control Pro Team
Video by TH-cam user Doctor Dolittle
12:32
Rave Scene
from The Matrix Reloaded
By Village Roadshow / Warner Bros.
13:04
Naofumi Hataya
Photo by Podddo
sonic.fandom.com/wiki/Naofumi...
13:30
Tweet by ThatLilFox
/ 1541919841094868993
13:42
Zone Map by Sonic Zone 0
www.soniczone0.com/games/sonic...
18:22
Fracking Demonstration
By BBC Earth Lab
What Is Fracking? | Bang Goes The Theory
• What Is Fracking? | Ba...
Audio
0:01 & 4:29
Quartz Quadrant, Present
Composer: Naofumi Hataya
4:11
Zora’s Domain, Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Composer: Koji Kondo
5:46 & 6:54
Quartz Quadrant, Bad Future
Composer: Naofumi Hataya
6:31
“Adrenalin” by N-Joi
Deconstruction / RCA Records
6:43
“Hotter than Hell (Live)” by KISS
From “Alive!” (1975)
Casablanca Records
7:43
Quartz Quadrant, Good Future
Composer: Naofumi Hataya
9:24
Quartz Quadrant, Past
Composer: Naofumi Hataya
14:46
Quartz Quadrant, Present (USA OST)
Composer: Spencer Nilsen
17:01 & 17:38
Quartz Quadrant, Bad Future (USA OST)
Composer: Spencer Nilsen
17:14 & 17:58
Quartz Quadrant, Good Future (USA OST)
Composer: Spencer Nilsen - เกม
_"There's a call, but no response"_
That gave me chills.
For real
There are three signs that signal the approach of the Hash-Slinging Slasher. First, the lights will flicker on and off. Next-
Dudes, can I have some ketchup?
Oh yeah, of course. Next, the phone will ring, and there will be nobody there.
Call-and
"But nobody came."
(Didn't really mean it, but I guess also fitting for his coming Undertale video.)
Unfortunately, this makes it my least favorite Bad Future theme as a pure musical track. Of course, that's equivalent to saying Prophecy is my least favorite song from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Neither are remotely bad, they're just... less great.
Drums fanboy here to state that this is objectively the best song in Sonic CD.
No I have never touched a drumset in my life.
That's kind of sad I hope you get one soon as I'm sure mastering your favorite instrument would only further your love for it :p
I'd say this has one of the best Bad Future song in the entire game! i just love how "desperate" everything sounds in it
2:42 I remember in an interview with SEGAbits, Tee Lopes said that CD was a big inspiration for Mania. People call them Tee Lopes style trumpets but it was really Hatya's style all along. Amazing work, you've outdone yourself once again Alex!
I never really noticed that before, wow!
Cd was the most able for music because of the CD add on and the sonic team made music that wouldnt be matched for years shame the music was locked in an add on not many people bought
and its not even quite his. you can hear trumpet bits like this in songs like best of my love by the temptations which makes sense to me considering how american r&b comprises much of sonics influences
@Noodle Tribunal Great point! Masato Nakamura's Labyrinth Zone seems to be directly inspired by that specific song too which is fascinating.
@@BraviaGames oh wow, i can hear it! and theres that trumpet idea at the end of labrynth zone's "chorus" again, kinda. this one's much more similar to how september by earth wind fire ends its first chorus. i just love these little lines!
FINALLY QUARTZ QUADRANT!!!!! MAN I LOVE YOUR CONTENT!!!!!!
Would have liked to hear more of US Good Future though. Is there really so little to say about it? It's my favourite BGM of the whole game. Welp. Guess I'm basic.
I always thought this level was the most Sonic CD outta CD, it also has those pianos that were in the Bad Future of Palmtree Panic and other zones for hope and drive. Its the epitome of CD and ties it all together
Also that clave at 10:26 sounds like that one part of the VS Rewrite FNF mod where Rewrite comes toward you, I wonder if that was a semi reference to Quarts Quadrant with its music
Quartz Quadrant GF has to be my top track of any Sonic game. It’s happiness is borderline infectious with how it manages to put a smile on my face. Thank you for doing it justice.
When my girlfriend is a sonic cd
@@carlosemilio5180he is saying good future
Is your girlfriend Japanese or American tho
@@juliewinchester1488 Definitely Japanese lmao
Alternatively, I absolutely love Quartz Quadrant BF (US). Gives off the true destructive nature of Eggmans autonomy. A once beautiful cave system of crystals, now stripped in place of gold.
My favorite set of songs from the entire Sonic CD soundtrack. Once again, excellent analysis! Can't even imagine the planning, time, and execution required to make all these, but I love watching them all!
He's not done wacky workbench yet...
I dance several times here indoors to this song
I appreciate you giving the US soundtrack its time in the sun when you do Sonic CD music theory videos. The fact that the game got two different soundtracks and both of them still sound amazing today is nothing short of miraculous.
Wonder what the past music would sound like if they were given US versions?
@@TwilightLink77 King Meteor Studios made some amazing concepts. You might wanna check them out.
Okay both soundtracks are good but…
USA boss and game over gave me nightmares
@@randomanims Boss isn't that scary, Game Over on the other hand...
@@majorse203 well yeah i guess boss theme is mostly more atmospheric, but it kinda gives me the chills.
But yeah the game over theme is still terrifying.
Just getting home from another overnight shift, smoke a bowl, have two beers, respond to a few messages, take a shower, get comfy in bed, smoke another bowl, open TH-cam, see one one of my favorite tracks being dissected by one of my favorite TH-camrs, yeah, this is heaven ❤️ I hope you all enjoy your day; Alex, thank you for being awesome!
Bruh, stoner night crew solidarity 👊🏽
Man found the best way to watch Alex Yard music theory
Please stop using drugs
@@wellsshady mad cuz sober
@@wellsshady Please mind your own business
hey, just for future Sonic CD videos, Collision Chaos Radio has some videos with the raw instrument recreated for when you want 'deconstructed' cd music
It’s crazy how in touch the Japanese composer was with American music.
And yet Sega of america still had the need to change the music. Don’t get me wrong, the USA soundtrack is okay, but the JP/EU soundtrack hits different
@@randomanims I mean to be fair, if they didn't change the soundtrack for the US.
The artists of the original American tracks that Naofumi and Masafumi sampled from, likely would have hit Sega with massive lawsuits as you could get in big trouble for sampling other people's works back then, it was fine in Japan/Europe because of the regional and language barrier but anywhere else would have been a no go. So Sega had no choice but to replace it, and hope that the leftover past tracks wouldn't be noticeable enough, which thankfully they weren't.
And it took 20 years for the JP soundtrack to be released in the US commercially, since by that time, many people would have forgotten about the original American tracks that were sampled or the artists would have died by that point.
@@Turbulation1 good point
@@randomanimsus soundtrack is great imo
@@dachel683 it is i like both
I love the ways we can see your video editing evolve. Especially the seemingly handcrafted parallax replication you did for Sonic skating along the rails
Thanks! Yeah, that was really fun to put together, and I make it a point not to get too carried away with too many fancy details. I kind of think of it as like middle school students putting on a play on a stage.
6:52 I ALWAYS thought the sample was “look at this place!” Like, “look at how bad it’s gotten here!” And I never questioned it cause it seemed to fit with the theme of a Bad Future™️
I thought it was 'Woo! Forget this place!'
lol i thought it was "all in my effin' face!"
"Forget this train-- PWOAH!"
Actually its WOAH FORGET THIS PLACE
"Major scale behavior" is my new favorite phrase now
As a kid I only had contact with the US version of this soundtrack (that was the only sold in Brazil at the time).
Now I really want to replay this game with the Japanese/EU soundtrack!
In my opinion the original Japanese/EU soundtrack is so much better. There are a few gems in the US version, but the original soundtrack is leaps and bounds better than the US version.
@@gezeo750 to be honest, I don't know much of the JP soundtrack. But I love a few tracks from the US version... Specially the Special Stage one..
But I'll definitely give the Japanese a shot!
Victor, another fellow Brazilian here! I bought Sonic CD remastered for Steam (PC) in a promo a couple of years ago and it cost me like 2 BRL, I swear to you. Idk if it's still available (not sure, especially after they released Sonic Origins), but you can still find a free version - with ads - for Android, and you can switch between both US and JP soundtracks.
@@brunaxexe I already have it, thanks Bruna! I believe it was about that price when I bought it!
I even have it on my cell phone, but never bothered to experiment with the Japanese Soundrack! I was so used to the US version I didn't try it!
Nice to see a fellow Brazilian that also enjoys Alex Yard's work!! 😁
@@victorlgcarvalho this is the BEST YT channel ever hahahahahaha
Like someone once said before, "A rock is a hedgehog's best friend"
I've been waiting on this upload since Quartz Quadrant is the best Present and overall song in CD. You did not disappoint.
Discovered your channel 3 days ago. Absolutely astounded by the quality and devotion you give to these music theories.
Personally, sonic 2 ost would be something I'd love for you to cover at some point.
Thank you for doing these!
The solo bit in the Past theme is really fire and it would actually be sick if it got sampled or interpolated into a song with vocals
Working on it 🤞🏽
It actually reminds me a lot of the one from Cosmic Eternity ~ Believe In Yourself and Palmtree Panic Past. Naofumi Hataya's style really stands out.
It also reminds me of some of his melodies from NiGHTS. It really is iconic.
I was trying to sample tidal tempest but i might scrap that for a later day because quartz quadrant may be easier to morph into something nice.
I’m a bit new to this
This is the one track I would look at and say, this is what represents Sonic the Hedgehog. Genuinely beautiful in every variation of the song.
I barely have a grasp on music theory but these videos show sonic cd’s music never missed
Common Alex Yard & Knuckles W.
Can't wait for Metalic madness. Best tracks in the JP ost for sure.
It's nice to hear some recognition for CD's environmental storytelling. Too many people discount the game's art direction as just "random shapes and colors" when there's a much deeper sense of place that's being created than the game is given credit for. In addition to all sorts of background details, the music intertwines with the environments to breathe life into a relatively minimalist story. Just because the art direction is more abstract doesn't mean it's meaningless.
Im glad I'm not alone in feeling that way! I loathe when CD's art direction is dismissed by fans as "visual vomit".
Been waiting eagerly for quite some time to hear this, so I'm thankful that it turned out out good. Quartz Quadrant JP is honestly my pick for the best piece of Sonic music, considering its catchy beats, lovingly crafted high notes, and passionate call & response manner. It's been quite an inspiration as I started to try my hand at experimenting with VGM. Thanks so much, Alex!
Ill never unhear the salsa influence of the Past theme. Thank you for another analysis.
YOOOO I WAS JUST REWATCHNG YOUR SONIC CD MUSIC THEORY VIDEOS. THIS IS PERFECT
I don't know this soundtrack like I do the original 3 games but wow. Everything I have heard has been butter to the ears.
I just needed to take time out of the video to say thank you for correcting what the proper definition of a "rimshot" is. I've spent the past 20 years telling people that when they improperly comment on a drum sting.
I always thought a rimshot was this: th-cam.com/video/RgZZBwG7slY/w-d-xo.html
@@pvzmariosonica8fan That's the "drum sting" I mentioned in my comment.
Phenomenal! I love the way you bring out how different layers of the music support the zone’s narrative. I always find myself having a richer experience of the game and it’s aim at immersion after watching your excellent analyses! Thanks!
For me it's the enthusiastic brass section bursting out in Section B that makes this the best song in CD.
Quartz Quadrant is beautiful both in it's music and aesthetics. Thanks for your hard work making me appreciate these even more! 🦊💙
I never played CD and I love getting all this nuance from tracks I otherwise would have only listened to once or twice on a playlist. That chill, shimmery segment has circled back round to being fashionable again.
You can play it on your phone
I know you haven't done Hydrocity because you're scared you're gonna pronounce it wrong. Say it. I dare you.
As someone who is learning the basics of music (and doesn't have the best pitch), all of this music theory and creativity makes my head spin. But at the same time, I love these videos and appreciate that you take so much time analyzing what makes them tick! Have you ever thought of doing videos analyzing music from Sonic 3D Blast? (Both the Genesis and Saturn ones)
13:12 glad this was brought up, their styles compliment each other so unbelievably well, the Sonic CD soundtrack sounds as classic and iconic as it does exactly because of the mix of these two different styles, they both bring very interesting elements that blend seamlessly and fit for every moment in the game.
I really liked how the main track rips apart into bad and good. There are so many cool ideas going into these games that I would've never noticed without your sheet music.
I was recently revisiting the music from Wing Commander, a game I have on the SNES, and one short track that interested me, called Scramble, involves a shift in pitch to create narrative by giving voice to all of the different pilots and crewmen running to their fighter ships within the Tiger Claw carrier. Wing Commander's music overall is pretty intense, sci-fi suspense action.
that present music (edit: the USA version to specify) is the stuff, can't get enough of it.
13:58 This part fit perfectly, exquisite.
I really liked a lot this track, the JP Present version is my favorite theme of CD, and with all of this theory it made me see things of it that I didn't before.
I also know how to appreciate the other versions even more, good video.
This is the best music theory video yet! Meticulous, yet easy for anyone to understand. That JP/US combo blew me away and I want more!
Quartz Quadrant, the most underrated Sonic CD level
Quartz Quadrant is one of the more chilled soundtracks (jp future anyway). Can't wait to see you dissect the all night party track of Stardust Speedway!
your videos are so excellently made, i cant even express how impressive your work is
The JP version is one of my favorite Sonic songs for one of my favorite classic Sonic levels. I’m glad you finally covered it
No way. I legit discovered this gem of a song yesterday. The timing in the release is perfect.
QQP always had a very specific vibe to me that i coudln't describe, finally knowing it's all due to the salsa style beat solidifies the reason i love those videos so much.
"What do you watch on youtube?" "Sonic music theory"
This is one of my favorite ost’s, and how you compare and break down each of the time versions is excellent, Alex. I feel spoiled, thank you so much for these!
I appreciate how you cover the US soundtrack as well.
I personally love it.
I've always enjoyed this theme because how the present track gives off glimpses of both the bad and good future. It really shows you what's to come whether you succeed or screw up.
Thank you for this, Alex! I really changed my mind about QQz. While it's still not my favorite track, it's certainly very interestingly and intricately composed.
Are you referring to any specific one or just the entirety of it?
Quartz Quadrant is a very special song, an easy top video game composition for me and the one I associate with the blue hedgehog. You gave it the best analysis I could ask for, top quality content as always.
@Alex Yard & Knuckles Finally, a video explaining all versions of Quartz Quadrant! Honestly, the best of them all had always been the JP Present theme. The JP Bad Future theme is so edgy, aggressive and very hot, just like bubbling lava. And the JP Good Future theme is just like the Present theme, but this time playing only through section B and sounding much calmer, fresher and sparkly than its counterpart in the Present. Also, there's not too much response in both the Past and Good Future tracks of Quartz Quadrant in the JP OST.
And about the US versions, I can say that the Present track, while not being that optimistic, phenomenal and upbeat like the one in the JP soundtrack, it's still a very nice track with such an interesting 6/4 time signature and really cool rock n' roll riffs and the chords on the second section of it also reminds me of the Japanese Present theme. The Bad Future and Good Future themes both share the same intro, but the different chords and harmonies represents different time notations and delivers different atmospheres that best suits each future.
It could be either a story with bad ending or a story with a good ending. Both soundtracks tell the same reasons. Sadly there's no Past track from Quartz Quadrant in the US OST... 😢
These videos are such incredibly high quality. Of course the music theory is in-depth but it also goes into the meaning conveyed by certain musical techniques, and the symbolism in the game and how they connect, and the visuals are just top tier, like using game assets in the diagrams in such creative ways. It just adds so much depth to the experience. Far more than just music analysis
YESSS I love your music theory videos on Sonic CD! It really has such an looked over soundtrack so I really appreciate you giving it the appreciation it deserves!
Once again, an outstanding look into the tracks of one of my favorite zones in the game!
Quartz Quadrant is one of the many reasons I love Sonic cd so much
ive always liked that you can beatbox the drums in this song extremely accurately, if you roll your toung and put it on the roof of your mouth and blow out yet keep your toung at the top, it makes the drum rolling sound making it able to be beatboxed.
Quartz Quadrant is a wonderful zone. It has half robotized/nature feel
Makes sense that there is no response to a call in the bad future, as the place is broken, run down, and completely abandoned.
11:48 that was so sudden it caught me off guard
Okay non-funny talk here. This is great as always, I’ve been having a rough week, so it’s nice to decompress and listen to the tunes of my childhood, while also learning music theory, which I still barely understand. Keep up the good work, a lot of people value it.
I always thought the vocal sample for Quartz Quadrant Furute always said, "Now everything's gone." Pretty cool to know what the actual vocal is!
I love the word you describe the good future
"Devine"
6:52 I always thought it was "Forget this place", which made a lot of sense and matched other bad futures, like Metallic Madness "You can't do anything so don't even try"
That "we're gonna get this place" sample was also used in Ratchet and Clank (2002) on Planet Umbris
I understand absolutely nothing about music, and yet I am able to fully enjoy your content. Thanks!
Tee Lopes really heard the brass hits in the present track and made it his whole style
I love how it fits both sonic and tails playthroughs
Your videos are all so engaging and informative. I especially adore your 8-bit demakes of inspiration songs.
I'm surprised many people haven't discovered that the future themes for Quartz Quadrant in the American Soundtrack are clever remixes of the present theme.
All of the future versions in the us are remixes although alot of them are heavily remixed
I just love hearing my favorite tracks being explained, and you connecting the notes to what's happening in the level is sublime!
Possibly your best music breakdown vid to date!! Keep up the good work.
A top tier video for a top tier track, kept me intrigued and I learnt a lot whilst watching. Great video as usual!
You're giving me an appreciation for Sonic CD I didn't even know I had. It wasn't my favorite game but your analysis showing the massive amount of thought and care put into the design and sound blows my mind. It's truly impressive.
The video as a whole is phenomenal, but beyond that there are so many fascinating details that you've pointed out like the oil in this crystals cavern in 3:42 or the original sample and its relationship to the background 6:48 or 13:41 or 17:55 or the use of the beta loops... things that make your video flawless
Thanks again for another absolute banger of a video, Alex. Your content is always top notch, yet you keep raising the bar!
I love your music theory videos, and wait a long time for explanation of that level music. You gave me more motivation to make music!
I adore Sonic CD, it’s definitely my favourite classic sonic game, and the music is a large reason why, although I do love the gameplay and of course the super peel out is just an awesome move. Quartz Quadrant’s futures feel like a a difference as stark as a volcano and an ice capped mountain peak. For the bad future, not only is the environment hellish, but the music sounds quite fitting for a hellish environment, with the double time drums of ‘I have to get outta here, it’s too dangerous!’ While the good future almost feels like you’re being implored to stick around as it’s so… peaceful. Calm and melodic feelings overflow as you feel like you are in paradise.
These videos are very well made. Love the comparisons you make to other games and the great explanations and I know its a lot of work but it really sets you apart. I'm learning music production so your videos really help a lot and help me connect my love for videogames with production much more. Keep it going and thank you for your help.
dudeee... i just found your channel not too long ago... 10000000/10. one of the best youtubers ive seen in a long time. little late to the party but keep this up man!!! keeping sonic alive
Thanks so much, glad you found it!
Been waiting a long time for this! Also, congrats on reaching 30K!
Tysm for making this video!!! Quartz Quadrant is my favorite Sonic song ever and this video gives me new ways of looking at it
These are my favorite sonic CD themes thanks for covering them
All the more reasons why Quartz Quadrant has my number 1s in present and good future tracks!
Love the Tails cameo lol
i love your videos, and mostly the effort you put in them
i love these videos so much, i hope you're having lots of fun making them! i hope they keep on coming!
Indeed I still have a blast making these videos. They will keep coming on a monthly basis if enough support via patreon comes in - every cent counts!
I really liked the breakdown of the drum intro(s)!
This is great! I always thought that section B key changes to the relative major key, but I was wrong. I love these tracks (but not as much as Tidal Tempest).
Yes! The JP present theme is my favourite theme in the entire sonic series and I'm so glad we got a video on it!
Quartz Quadrant is among one of my favorite songs in Sonic CD next to Stardust Speedway and others. 🥰
Probably my favorite CD track. Good analysis as always.
This has always been my favorite track in the game! Thank you so much for making this!
I love Quartz Quadrant!! I've patiently waited like, 2 years for you to get to the music theory of this zone xdd
Awesome work c:
Another great video. I love your vids!!
Spectacular video as always, Alex!
this channel needs 1m subs i’m not even kidding. thanks for always putting out quality content Alex!
YEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!! I always love watching these! Good work as always, and see you in the Twitch Dimension!!!
Was waiting for this for a long time, quartz quadrant present jp is easily my favourite from the game and one of my favorites from all sonic series, it just sounds magical to me, and you pretty much explained why lol
Nice video, I'm already waiting for Stardust Speedway breakdown
This song is my definitive favourite of the hole series, and I can't put into words the happiness I felt when you started to explain the drum role on this masterpiece.
I had to go through a lot of listening and trying to understand what was happening to try and make the same sounds on my drum, thank you for this video, I really appreciate the work you do
This is your best video alex.
These videos are some of the most entertaining educational content I've seen.