Wind Waker's Boss Themes are the Best in the Series
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
- Fite me
0:00 - Intro
1:12 - Ocarina of Time Boss Theme
2:08 - Gohma's Theme
5:50 - aLttP Boss Theme
6:44 - Kalle Demos' Theme
9:38 - The Helmaroc King's Theme
13:09 - Jalhalla's Theme
17:16 - Molgera's Theme
21:43 - Outro
PATREON: / 8bitmusictheory
Check out my album: 8bitmt.bandcamp.com/album/let...
DISCORD: / discord
TWITTER: / 8bitmusictheory
#Zelda #windwaker #8bitMusicTheory - เกม
One thing that is noteworthy is that Wind Waker is the first game in the series that even gave each boss their own unique theme, something that has mostly continued throughout the series ever since.
In retrospect, it was a surprise that OOT didn't do it earlier, considering it gave Dodngo and Volvagia a unique theme. Also, call me crazy, but I think Ganondorf's music during his Gerudo phase would also worked well with Twinrova
One of the only games with unique boss themes along with totk. Both tp and ss also reuse some of the themes
Its speculated that they wanted to do this with Majora's Mask's four bosses, but couldn't pull it off due to the time constraint, and used the theme that was composed for Goht for the other three bosses. This idea of unique themes would then be realized in WW like you said.
@@clydesapere1977 That would make an awful lot of sense. After they've experimented with the idea with the fire bosses in OoT, and considering that MM only has four bosses which would make it relatively easy to do.
If it's true, I'm sad that they didn't. But it's amazing how awesome MM turned out with the little time they had for it either way, so I'm not complaining.
@@harshithlankalapalli8034 Personally I think the way TP reused certain boss themes was pretty interesting, in hindsight.
Diababa and Stallord share the same theme for their 1st phase... both guard the first piece of their respective plot-important item.
Morpheel and Argorok use the same music... they both hold the last piece of the plot-important items, their battles both need the Clawshot and Iron Boots, one is fought at the lowest point in the game world and the other the highest.
The rest of the recycled battle music is minibosses, who don't get held to the same standard. And even then there's multiple miniboss themes (with at least one getting a unique theme).
I remember as a kid when I realized that the Windwaker main theme was a variation of Makar and Medli’s sage songs mashed up together my mind was blown
One thing I love about Wind Wakers music is that the instrumentation choice is like. All the toy instruments youd buy for a little kid but it still sounds intimidating and scary despite it. Its so brilliant.
This is so true
@@carissad2696 right?? When you consider it came out on the same system that Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess came out on, it was absolutely a deliberate instrument choice. But it works so well!
Wind waker didn't, that was only on GameCube
@vitalost9935 youre totally right. I'm misrremembering that Skyward Sword came out on two systems. But Twilight Princess still stands.
@Okerokeka uh... Windwaker was only GameCube. Twilight princess was GameCube and Wii. Skyward sword was only on Wii. Skyward sword could not be played on GameCube due to the motion controls lol
The use of the phrases “the key is up in the air” and “most head-banging part of the theme” are fun nods to the fight itself (for helmaroc)
Oh that's subtle. He said those puns so straight I didn't even notice them.
Then at 21:20 he talks about "snatching that climax from us" right as Link snatches Molgera's tongue with the Hookshot, then talks about a "sinking chromatic part" as Molgera sinks beneath the sand.
“And repeating it as much as this melody does *hammers* it into your head”
You also get the "Sense of confusion as the different layers refuse to fit together quite nicely" when Jalhalla falls apart and comes back together at 15:48. Excellent wordplay all round
Knowing the fact that Molgera's theme has a 6-9 chord giving it a "sharper edge" just makes the song even better in my eyes, the joke writes itself.
18:20 - limerick structure, eh?
There once was a boss called Molgera,
Whose theme music caused fear and terror!
When hid underground,
It remained safe and sound;
Fighting Link was - in hindsight - an error.
Nicely done!
The best part is you can actually sort of sing this along to the melody! 😄
@@justinjyeung Especially that last line, it sounds really clean when I sing it out loud.
Exquisite
There was a boss called Molgera, Molgera
Whose theme music caused so much fear, and terror!
When it hid underground,
It remained safe and sound;
Fighting Link was - in hindsight - an error.
[tried reworking it a bit to fit as a patter song]
I love that the chord name for the section at 5:32 is just “lmao”
THat CANNOT be real XD
Something that gets a little overlooked with the boss themes in this game is that they have boss intros as well, and unsurprisingly my favorite one is Molgera's. It sets up the boss as a ferocious but also majestic monster, bringing a sort of Shadow of the Colossus vibe while still within the confines of the Wind Waker-esque instrumentation and atmosphere
I'm showing my girlfriend all the Zelda games in (mostly) release order and we're about to play Wind Waker. She, like most of us in 2003, says she's not a fan of what she's seen of the art style, but I really think she's going to fall in love with it almost immediately, just like we all did 20 years ago, and the music is going to have a big part in that.
This is so wholesome, I hope you two enjoy it together 😭😭
@@datnastysalad5616 thanks! She's already said "WAIT, Link has a SISTER!? Awwwww! And a GRANDMA!?! THAT'S SO CUTE!" I'm very excited.
@@JPBrooksLive- I’m doing the same with my girlfriend and Halo!! We’re on halo reach right now and she’s cried a couple times ;3;
Also taking her through Zelda. She liked breath of the wild, but never finished it as it felt overwhelming to her. I’m having her play Twilight princess now and she likes the linear style a lot more, helps her have a better sense of direction and focus
We NEED updates to this journey haha
That you made it past Zelda 2 is a testament to the strength of your relationship.
I've always thought the Helmaroc King's theme sounds like it begins in media res, like it's the continuation of something that began at some point prior. Which is exactly the case! The boss battle is Link's third encounter with the HK, when he finally gets to pay the bird back for a) kidnapping his sister and b) flinging him into the middle of the sea.
I always loved how in the game the short brass sounds that played when you struck the enemies felt so natural with the games overall musical tone. It felt as if the games combat music was more of a duet between the enemy and the hero.
Yesssss! I can't listen to the miniboss theme without those beautiful flourishes from the in-game striking sounds poking in at random
16:59
That's what I love about games with unique themes for each boss. It really does gives these giant beasts a bit of a personality and I think it's something you wouldn't get if they all shared a single theme. Mixed with the cel-shaded art style, it kind of makes the game feel like a kids anime- the ones with the big bad and his crew of henchmen. (And I mean that in a good way) These aren't just bosses now, they're henchmen to Ganondorf.
Also, I am SO HAPPY you're giving Gohdan his own video! Molgera's theme might get all the praise, but Gohdan's theme is my personal favorite. I can't wait!
It’s a huge part of why I love Thousand Year Door’s soundtrack as well. Having each chapter boss possess a theme specially crafted for each of them adds a lot of character to each fight.
Helmaroc's theme sounds like it could feel at home in a Star Fox or Pikmin game despite ALSO being perfect for Wind Waker. It's magical.
Hajime Wakai was also the music guy for Pikmin 1 and 2 :)
I legitimately worried Gohdan wouldn't be mentioned as it was so rich and hard for me to transcribe myself. I'm glad to hear it reportedly needed it's own video to go through it 😁
Honestly, at moments like 7:15, when you sort of "recompose" the songs into another style, and also give insight into how both styles were made; They're one of my favorite parts about some of these videos. I would also like to formally ask for an upload of a full snes style Kalle Demos theme.
YES! THAT WAS SO AMAZING
Some things I want to point out about these boss themes:
- Gohma's theme has a second half version. This version is not only faster, but it also just sounds more intense and hectic.
- Kalle Demos's theme has a cutsey-sounding variant when the boss is vulnerable. It's sort of similar to the goofy-sounding version of the Mucktorok theme in TotK.
- The Helmaroc King has another theme, "Tower of Forsaken Fortress," that plays during the ascent of the tower. Also, the "main" Helmaroc King theme changes when you break the mask.
- Jalhalla's theme has a variant that plays when he curses you (that's when you have inverted controls). This variant adds another instrument on top of the main theme.
- Molgera's theme on the soundtrack starts off with less instruments than the in-game version. The second loop adds these instruments.
-Gohma, Kalle Demos, Jalhalla, and Molgera's themes have alternate versions that play for their rematches in Ganon's Tower. These versions are distorted and sound creepier. The Gohma and Kalle Demos themes especially sound eerie. And the "cutesy" variant of the Kalle Demos theme simply removes the main melody instead of playing that melody with cuter sounding instruments.
did i just hear "butt-clenching" in an 8-bit music theory video?
Awesome. More boss music videos please! Selfishly, I wanna see Twilight princess and Majora's mask
Weirdly enough, I'd prefer an episode on why Skyward Sword failed on its boss themes, or an episode on the DS Zelda games
@@Anaklusmos42 I think saying Skyward Sword failed on its boss themes is a very precipitate and absurd thing to say. Could you at least elaborate?
@@yamequiteelmod3092 Aside from Ghirahim and Koloktos, I can't really remember the bosses themes, even after listening to them
Though in hindsight, it may be because I'm just not attached to them.
However, I really like osts from dungeons and overworlds, as well as most character themes
Finally, *someone* talks about Gohdan’s theme. Nobody does, everyone’s all about Molgera’s theme.
I get it, I love Molgera’s theme, too. When I was a kid I would deliberately re challenge the rematch over and over again so i could hear it (or a remixed version of it).
But Gohdan’s theme is amazing.
Looking forward to part 2.
i low-key prefer gohdan's haha
When I had a Midi keyboard as a kid it hit me how Midi wind waker's boss tracks were yet how they were so well composed it didn't matter. Like it was tricking my ears or something.
In fact, I would recommend to any composer that they try to compose using rather shitty soundfonts before they go for nice sample libraries. Make sure the *composition* itself is solid. This is something I've done for a long time, and part of it is loving SNES/GBA/N64 Zelda music despite its limited textures.
What's so bad about midi?
@@Ardorstormmidi if used incorrectly can sound cheap and tacky. It will never sound as natural as real instruments so composers must work around this but many don’t.
Personally I love the Phantom Ganon theme from WW. I know it's a remix but it's just so well done. Cracking video as always, looking forward to the next one!
Gohma's Theme was what got me into videogame music in the first place, so I agreed from the very start.
Yes! It was one of the first themes I listened to a lot as a kid.
Some of that sense of confusion comes from what I would call the frantic battle of our little link. These high little flourishes where notes fly around in little heroic phrases. All of the boss themes have it and it really embodies the scale of the adversity that you’re trying to overcome as our protagonist, while also instilling you with confidence that you can in fact succeed
Wind Waker was my first Zelda game, and has one of my favourite soundtracks in the entire franchise, so it makes me really happy to see that I’m not the only one who appreciates it this much. I’ve always loved the idea of reflecting each boss’s appearance and personality through the music, I’m glad they continued to do this in later games.
8-Bit: I'm not covering Gohdan's theme
Me: D:
8-Bit: Because I'm covering it in it's own video
Me: :D
I love Wind Waker and I love representation of it so much that I'm actually a little disappointed the video didn't cover changes in the bosses' themes at times, like Gohma's far faster second part, or the additional instruments in Helmaroc King's theme, what with dynamic instrumentation being one of Wind Waker's greatest highlights.
This game got me into playing music as a kid. After the Molgera song hyped me up, hearing the harmony between little Makar and ancient Fado on the Wind God's Aria made me beg my parents for a violin. I've moved to a different instrument since, but this game's amazing music still lives rent-free in my head.
I love how music theory almost does not apply to these pieces but nevertheless they completely achieve their goal: making the player feel something! Be it urgence, strangeness, epicness, etc
I love windwaker. I don’t know music theory, but I know that wind Waker has my favorite Zelda music.
Another Wind Waker APPRECIATION VIDEO!!
❤❤❤
A few years ago, I watched another one from this channel and I spent the following night, making a playlist of my favorite tracks from the game and then, within the weak (maybe even the next day), Nintendo removed all the videos! 😢
I would argue that there are boss themes from other Zelda games that are on the same level as the ones from Wind Waker. (Koloktos' _very_ Super Mario Galaxy-esque orchestral bombshell comes to mind.)
What makes Wind Waker stand out is that _all_ of its boss themes are on that level.
Well said, and agreed!
Wonderful video, thank you so much! But I miss the theme of Phantom Ganon here. That one is also standing out so much and gave me this WTF feeling you talked about. The entire soundtrack of this game is a masterpiece!
For the record though, the Imprisoned’s boss theme is fantastic. I feel like it’s a good example of that Ocarina-style dissonance you mentioned, and the way Groose’s theme overlays with it in the second and third fight show real skill on the part of the composers.
Most of the choices you describe as “baffling” seem very obvious to me, actually? I think you're analyzing from a very strict vision of functional harmony, but the reason the themes are so catchy and memorable and feel so natural is because the *movements* from chord to chord, rather than the chords themselves, make perfect sense. Those accordion bits in Jalhalla are simply going a step down, then up. It's perfect voice leading through and through, except where it's “leading” isn't as important as each decision itself having the immediacy of a pop hook.
I remember going to one of those Zelda orchestra concerts years ago, and the crowd went apeshit for that opening Molgera solo. Bulletproof indeed.
one of my fav channels covering one of my fav osts :) yay!! and we get another soon 🙏🏽
Zelda and 8-bit Music Theory, what a great combo! I love your channel.
So much love for Wind Waker ♡
I can't wait for the deep dive into Gohdan's theme!!! But I can't help but wonder if you'll cover the elephant in the room: the seventh and final boss!! Puppet Ganon and Ganondorf are so awesome, and I'd love to see how those pieces come together. The mini boss theme is another favorite of mine, but I can tell you're showing it plenty of love throughout this video ♡
In Jalhalla's theme, the instrumentation fits the weird clown ghost really well. I actually didn't remember the melody almost at all, but I did remember it had a clown-like or even children's music lesson-like instrumentation to it. Indeed, with the minor seconds in the accordion chords (there was an early 8BMT video about how this sort of chromaticism can sound childlike when it's presented in this way, I think in discussing Paper Mario TTYD battle themes?) and the incessant high xylophone (a typical children's toy instrument) that's what we get.
There's something strangely tragic when you remember that this is the creature that killed Laruto. That's a rather poor way to go, being killed by a childish clown creature.
I absolutely agree that Wind Waker has the best boss themes in the entire series. I really hope you do Ganondorf since he was originally my favorite final boss theme in the series before Tears Of The Kingdom.
I know you may not want to do another Zelda video for a while but I've always loved the dungeon themes from A Link Between Worlds. The way they reinvent the themes from A Link to the Past and also introduce new ones is wonderful. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
10:40 “hammers it in your head” - I see what you did there… great video as usual :)
I have not understood most of the words you have ever said, and I've nearly watched all of your videos (I'll get there at some point) but I absolutely love the enthusiasm with which you talk about music theory and I can't help but keep listening. Thank you for making me feel completely overwhelmed with information I'll never understand, I'll keep watching for as long as you make them.
What do you get when you tell the composer of Gohdan, Helmaroc and Molgera to put his spin on the music from Pokemon Gold and Silver? You get... the entire soundtrack of Pokemon Stadium 2.
I think OOT's boss theme is Like That because every fight in which it plays, besides Bongo Bongo, involves the boss moving and running around and climbing the walls and attacking while Link stands more or less still reacting to what the boss is doing. The music selks the bosses as powerful, chaotic and unpredictable to a player who's observing and getting the hang of the boss's abilities.
Ah, I'm happy we will have a episode on the tower of the sky boss, I really enjoyed it back then :)
I have been waiting for another Wind Waker episode for what feels like forever. Always bangers, both the actual tracks and the videos. Please do more Zelda like all the time.
SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT, HE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH AND HE HAD PROOF I CANT ARTICULATE
He actually spent a lot of time describing in detail how bad it sounds. I thought that was kinda funny given the grand episode title.
when you said "best in the series" I thought it was typical yt hyperbole, but man you compared ww to the most iconic tracks and proved your point! would love to see a similar video on town themes! the Oracle games town themes are my fav
Holy crap I appreciate these videos. I had to pause during the ghomas theme analysis to comment this
wow i feel like i caught this video so early!! i love seeing your analysis and just hearing how much you love the music and music theory in general, your channel is reigniting my love for theory when i was basically ready to quit music. after hearing you talk about molgera’s theme, i would LOVE to see your take on the totk wind temple and colgera’s theme since it blew my mind when i first heard it
What a wonderful analysis! I really loved this.
i am so glad ur doing a standalone video for gohdan. the main gimmick of that theme is so flawlessly executed i have no idea how they did it, or how they even planned for it. super excited to hear u talk about it.
The left-hand/right-hand in strict canon goes so hard!
I still wish someone would upload the FULL version of all three Gohdan themes. Not a single person bothered to do that (not even the defunct GilvaSunner)
@@skc4188I did a few months ago lol
@@whatsf2aaaaaand you have a new subscriber!
@@whatsf2 I'll check it out now. =)
I’m sure you’re hard at work on the Gohdan video and I just wanted to take a moment to say YOU CAN DO IT!!! Just keep going! You’re almost there. No matter how far or close the end may seem, so long as you keep going, you’ll be at the finish line in no time.
This video made me want to take another listen to the boss themes as Molgera was the only one I listened to outside of playing.
I only catch about 25-50% of what you say in these videos. But when I sat down at the piano, I played the melodies of Jalhalla and Molgera. And kr was so satisfying to see how the notes of one section would lead up to, and foreshadow the section that followed, just for everything to come back around.
I wouldn’t have taken the time to do that had I not seen this video. And although I know only very basic concepts of music theory, it inspired me to do my own examination of the pieces.
I always _appreciate_ a Wind Waker Appreciation video. And I and many others are all looking forward to the next one!
Dude I really like you Zelda videos, they’re awesome
Always love your videos, especially when they're about my favourite games 💚 Wind Waker has such amazing music ❤
So happy to see you continue this series on Wind Waker. Like so many, this game is very special to me and I adore seeing breakdowns of its music.
Another banger video as always🗣️🔥🔥
Personally, I would LOVE to see you cover something from the mother 3 ost, on top of having a lotta good tracks, it also has complicated tempo/time signature change shenanigans, and I feel analysing that is right up this channels alley!
Fantastic video, as always!
The theme of Ghoma from Wind waker is genius cause it include element of the gameplay too. The motif is doing something like a movement of swing from front and return like you're doing with grappling hook.
Great work as always! Would love to hear your thoughts on the main theme from Helldivers 2. I feel they absolutely nailed the epic feeling.
Molgera my beloved, I shall never forget the banger tune you embody so perfectly
Man, you really don't miss! More detailed comment later as I am on the train but this video has filled me with joy.
I would literally watch a 10-hour video about you analyzing WW's themes. MORE MORE MORE!
Whenever you do Zelda or final fantasy music I get so excited. These are the videos I come back to the most.
I've watched your channel for idk how many years now. How in all this time do u stay so grounded and consistent? Much love from Cajun country!
Great video! I think the mini boss theme deserves to be talked about at some point
Man Im so happy you love Wind Waker and the music because its actually so terriffic
10:12 reminds me so much of Pokémon Stadium music!
I’ve always thought that the beginning of Gohma’s theme quotes the beginning of Night on Bald Mountain
Fun fact: the Imprisoned's boss theme was also written by Hajime Wakai.
I was super happy with the final announcement as I love that theme. Super hyped!
"All six boss themes in Wind Waker are amazing!"
(Puppet) Ganon: Am I a joke to you?
i love that wind waker is such a musical game through and through. as a kid i genuinely looked up to link, not for the hero-ing, but because he conducted music 😅 now as an adult i look up to the actual composers in these games (but still very much want my own wind waker baton)
Puppet Ganon - Spider Form is my favorite Boss Theme from WW. It's a short but tense loop, and i always draw that fight out just to enjoy the tune a bit longer.
Oh man. I totally forgot about Godhan, and when you were teasing the next video I thought maybe you were gonna talk about Ganondorf's battle theme.
One of my favourite things to do while watching your videos is imagine a composer from 200 years ago looking at and listening to these pieces and their head exploding. This video is particularly well-suited for it. 😁
Hey 8-bit! I love your videos and wondered whether you’d consider examining the music from the Spyro series? I’ve always found them really interesting to listen to and given they’re composed by someone who was initially a drummer by trade I think it introduces something to the soundtrack that not many other composers do! Love to hear your thoughts and keep up the great work!!
Wasn't touched on in the video, but daily news anchor Helmaroc King is my favorite part of that song
First time I heard the WW mini boss theme I was like 'what is this? wild wild west?!'
The miniboss theme is a BANGER. And the Regular Enemy Theme set the tone for the rest of the series
I always felt like different parts of the music represented movement in the bosses. Like, in Molgera the consistant shaking sand beneath your feet, or in Jahalla the chaos of all the poes running in every direction as you try to get them all. A very basic take, but I remember realising it as a kid and being amazed.
I knew this soundtrack had a familiar feel. Starfox 64 was one of the games I played and replayed the most in my N64 as a kid, and the soundtrack was always a delight. You can hear the same style throughout most of the pieces you covered in this video. Will definitely watch the next one, and hope you do some Starfox 64 piece one day. :)
I've only read the thumbnail. I have to agree. I've never played WW (although it is on my bucket list), and yet it still contains my favourite boss music in the series, specifically Ghoma, Gohdan, Jalhalla and Molgera. Can't wait to see what you have to say on them!
YOOOOO! Ghodan get's his own video!!! That's the best one 🥳🥳🥳
I like how Molgera has a very structured theme, like it's the most Zelda-esque non-boss theme for a boss. But then, the chord appears
I think the Helmaroc King's theme section with the fast 16ths does make more harmonic sense than it seems like, it could be more like D7 on beat 1, bm9, am, Ab, bm, a6 over a D pedal. Then the descending chromatic line in the melody is more like suspensions that never quite keep up with the chords, the C# is leftover from the D chord (admittedly a bit of a stretch with the C natural in the chord voice), then the C natural on beats 3-4 is a clear suspension over the bm chord. That's how I hear it anyway :D It really neat, feels like you're constantly trying to catch up and failing.
I knew this video would be a banger from the minute I clicked on it. Can't wait for part 2!
That chunk at 10:18 sounds like Area 6 from Star Fox or at least something from the franchise. And it's the boss that looks like one of the characters. Nice
how long did it take you too transcribe all of this???? Absolutely insane
Another song that builds up to a climax and then immediately drops it is Under the Rotting Pizza from ff7! Also hyrule warriors' molgera arrangement is so good aah
Windwaker has the best Zelda ost in my opinion in general 💕
21:42 ngl you read my mind there, except I kinda forgot about Gohdan and thought you were going to mention Ganondorf's final battle theme instead
What a great channel bro ...
Really good video, but I wonder if using pitch class sets to analyze the music might have elucidated some things? Maybe I'll put out my own video
I honestly didn't remember any of WW'S boos music except for the whistling one because it's iconic.
Wind Waker is the best in the series, period.
THANK YOU for being the one to shine the long overdue spotlight on this game's F A N T A S T I C music.
I am very happy someone finally pointed it out.
This is fantastic just like all the rest of your videos. Now, when are you doing Tim Follin's insane silver surfer 😄
I've always thought that of the Wind Waker boss themes! :)
The eye hand boss theme is one of my favorites, it's so fitting and cool
Can't wait to the analysis of this wonderful gohdan theme, which certainly is for me the most underrated song in the whole series. This level of canon, counterpoint, tension building up with suspended chords...