Opera Singer Listens to The "Endless Suffering" Short || Genshin Impact
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- Xiao is such an fantastically complex character to me, one I really am enjoying getting to know better through my own playthrough and through short videos like this one. The music in this short was beautiful and i found it really elevated how I perceive the three dimensionality of Xiao even further.
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“He’s not an edgelord”
YES
It’s so nice to hear someone saying this. Not many people realize that unfortunately 😔
eng voice made him this way. he's not edgy lol and literally any other dub doesn't represent him this way. xiao's eng voice is maybe one of the first reasons i won't ever download english dub
@@mackerel5314 I’ve heard a lot people trying other dub after Eng then saying they prefer him to be edgy like nooo why 😭
@@mackerel5314 chinese voice over is my favourite for xiao, kinsen does an amazing job (I'm not a kinsen simp I swear)
@@Sayacrims it's awful really. he's not like this at all. he's gentler and he's just sad, not aggressive
@@mackerel5314 I assume they were going for strained/pained intonation or animalistic growl. Often sounds like he needs to take a dump though.
I always see Xiao as a representation of people fighting against depression or other mental illnesses. He's very relatable in that manner. I can't understand why people call him emo or edgelord as if he wants to be in this miserable state. He's in a lot of pain all of the time and he shoulders that constantly. I think they did a fantastic job with the music, as always, and as always you did an amazing job with helping us understand the language of music.
yeah it always annoys me when I see people call him that. He’s not even my favorite character but his story is so fascinating to learn about.
Its because EN voice direction for Xiao was OOC and went for edge lord. Try CN Xiao instead.
Maybe he's a representation of y'know, having trauma because of war like he literally does.
@@mindyxu9487 or maybe not every anime boy has to be silky smooth lol i like en because it sounds like an effect of karma
@@YeahItsJustZ "Or other mental illnesses." I literally started that. Besides, it doesn't hurt to see other representations
0:43 The instrument is "箫" xiao. Yes, it is pronounced the same as "魈xiao". The instrument is often considered lonely and sad.
Venti's music eases Xiao's karma, Xiao states himself in game and he enjoys his music.
I love the fact that its canonized that venti is the reason why xiao is still here and still helps him and traveler is someone who eases his karmic debt to the point to be willing to do things he is scared off just to spend time with them
After you've unlocked more of Xiao's story through "friendship" levels, you find out that his deepest wish is to dance to the sound of a flute without a care in the world. That's all this boy wants.
Speaking of Music in relation to Xiao, his Chinese VA is a *very* well known singer and is fluent in both Chinese and Japanese. He frequently sings in both languages.
His English voice actress (yep. Actress) also has a lovely singing voice but rarely uses it unless a role demands it. I've always found it interesting that Xiao's character arc is so deeply intertwined with music both in game and behind the scenes.
Oh voice his cn VA has really high up notes when singing i love him so much uwu
Wait, Ive read through all of his story (Friendship lvl 10) and I couldnt find that??
Xiao is a soldier who fights not only the demons around him, but also those within himself. Even after years, he still cannot put his weapon down and rest.
Honestly, his story is one of the saddest and darkest ones we have. There are characters who have dark past, but Xiao is one who is showed again and again being haunted by his past and pain of living.
His story is probably the biggest reason why I never regretted wishing for him in 1.3 and I always bring him to Lantern rite in my team.
6:57 Thank you for talking about this btw. People were using words like ''edge lord'' for Xiao for so long, it's almost annoying to me. The ''english'' part of Genshin started it because of his english voice, since he sounds different when compared to his voices in other languages, and while I get that it was ''for fun'' at first, Xiao isn't an edgy teen like some people actually started to believe. If there is a character who has the right to talk about painful life, it's definitely Xiao.
Simply speaking, his dark past is also his present, all of it, all the time, all at once.
Immense burden like that would drive anyone crazy. So it speaks to his sense of duty and sheer will that he's holding on despite it, balancing at the precipice of hell.
Honestly if anyone still genuinely believed him to be an "edgelord" even after we got a important part his backstory just told in our face during Chasm quest then I dunno what to think about them.
i feel like people do know that he's not an edgelord. It's just funny to make fun of him as that. Like some sort of small, angry kitten.
Honestly, I think the first time I fully realized that Xiao is so much more than the "mask" he puts on to distance himself from others was when his first ever birthday letter came in. He wrote that he didn't have anything to do that day, so he figured he'd catch a crystalfly because he thought the crystal would look nice in your hair, but then he caught more than he meant to and hopes you don't mind. I found it incredibly sweet and cute, like he has a soft side to him, and he's just a person who's suffering and whose presence can cause others to become sick. Anyone would act the way he does in that situation.
@@justacat5069 people often make jokes about characters that go from like headcanons to canon after some time in their heads.
Like about Xiao, or Childe, or someone like Kaeya - literally if you want to know if people pay attention to the story and characters themselves, ask them about one of those and you will have your answer.
I have nothing against jokes around the community, but after two years one would think people would move on from the same joke. It was funny before but a joke said too many times isn't funny anymore. Funny is subjective, but I cannot laugh on a joke I've been hearing everyday for the past two years
THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT YET AGAIN THAT HE'S NOT AN EDGELORD. Edgy people behave like that usually for the sake of appearances and the _aesthetic_ . He's not like that! He's genuinely *traumatized* , and depressed and everything a life-long soldier is bound to be. And yet for the sake of the memes, the fact that the Eng va makes his voice much harsher than it's supposed to be, and also because many are too bored to actually get into his lore, they mischaracterize him yet again. His self-sacrificing nature that bordelines on suicide, has a damn good reason to exist. I hate this childish mindset some people have.
Xiao is a very dear character to me, so to hear you say xiao isn’t an edgy character made me so happy. It frustrates me a bit how people just write him off as “edgy” when his entire character goes beyond that. He is gentle and soft spoken with centuries worth of loss and hurt once you see the bigger picture. I just wish people would take some time to read the character stories because it expands on them and their story so so much. Thank you for this and giving me a good cry over xiao again c:
EXACTLY 😭 He actually is so sweet and caring, but people never seem to see that
Xiao is a character who has experienced immense lost and suffering. He is the last of the Yaksha, and lost his siblings to that internal fight. So in no sense is he an 'edge lord' but a character exhausted from the years fulfilling his duty of keeping the people of Liyue safe. I'm glad Venti was there for him at the end and was the reason why Xiao was able to hold on this long.
The question I always had about this is how Zhongli feels regarding the fate of yakshas that he himself summoned and put into this position.
Considering he seems to have reached out to Barbatos to help soothe Xiao with his music, he at the very least empathises.
Would love to get more insight on that whole situation.
It was necessary, and thanks to their sacrifice a lot of people can enjoy peaceful existence. So I expect more solemn stoicism - there's nothing that can be done, the only way is through.
@@Psycorde I have been thinking the same thing. I love Zhongli's character, but I do wonder why he doesn't free Xiao from the contract. He gave up his Archon job due to erosion, why can't Xiao do the same before the karmic debt consumes him?
Unless Xiao wouldn't know what to do with himself at that point. If fighting evil has been his existence for hundreds of years would he be able to just stop and find something else?
@@babygeige Chasm event makes me think he *did* give Xiao the choice, but Xiao refused it. I don't think Xiao would even know how to live, plus, the karmic debt...
@@babygeige I think Zhongli just can’t by principle
Even if he says he’s no longer an archon, he’s still the god of geo and contracts. Just because he stepped down as Liyue’s archon doesn’t suddenly mean he’s no longer a god
And so if his contract with Xiao is “Protect Liyue till your last days” then he has to stick to it
But I do think Zhongli still tries to work around that as much as possible
After all, he sent Xiao to “guard” at an inn in the middle of nowhere constantly travelled by people
There’ll be no monsters there other than some basic hilichurls
Realistically if Xiao were still doing his duties Zhongli would have sent him to the Chasm where there’s way more danger
@@myriadofcolours9861 Yeah that makes a lot of sense. Like guarding a retirement home instead of a prison I guess. He tries to make it easy on him. I really hope they get to interact in the Lantern Rite event!
I at the beginning thought Xiao was a "edgy" character, but with time I notice how he doesn't think highly of himself, he is serious about what he does, and he has a difficult past. I kinda admire him now.
I like how Qiqi is depicted here. The way she moves in and out of the picture haha.
I think painful duty is probably the best description of Xiao‘s situation
Xiao is really one of Genshin's best-looking characters. His close ups on the video are just so good. He may not be that tall, but the dude is not lacking in the looks department. And yes, he is not an edgelord, he is suffering. I love my Pogo Man.
0:42 That's not a shakuhachi, that instrument is also called a Xiao 💦 But different Chinese character. The sound of the erhu is also prominent as Xiao was walking through Liyue Harbor. It's a two stringed fiddle (which I am learning at the moment, yay 🌻). It's got a distinct sing-song timbre, and it's prized for it's ability to characterise very internal and plaintive emotions, as well as mimicking horses neighing and galloping, and birdsong.
What's interesting to note, in many Chinese movies, drama and anime the erhu commonly comes in during melancholy and/or pensive scenes (such as the one scene when Master Oogway ascends in Kung Fu panda).
The one instance where I can think of where the erhu sounds spirited and happy in any Chinese medium is the Pigsty Alley in Kung Fu Hustle (probably because the track is a full blown Chinese orchestra). The track that plays is called Fisherman Song of the East China Sea, depicting fisherman toiling at sea. It sounds rather idyllic when put in the context of Pigsty Alley, complimenting the characters' somewhat mundane, hand to mouth daily lives and their struggle against the Axe Gang. Another good example where the erhu doesn't sound melancholy would be the Adeptus Solace, with a tone that seems to show the adepti reminiscing their long lives in a moment of quiet.
One instrument that can be heard when Venti comes in is the Guzheng. It's a zither with 21 strings. It really is gentle and tranquil, and perhaps the mostly widely learnt Chinese instrument.
I am also so glad to see you understand Xiao's solitude and loneliness. He's got so many layers to him and the moments where he shows his soft side is so much more impactful.
Anyways thanks for taking your time to read through this long explanation, hope it helped a bit 💚
Thank you for helping with that!
Genshin actually also uses the erhu in a happy medium ! the erhu is used in the bop that is the Tighnari demo. Erhu is also used in a number of modern Chinese jazz.
@@lightronger I am very sure it isn’t erhu in Tighnari’s demo, but who knows.
不负责任地说出尺八让我感到震惊，西方人不了解东方乐器是完全可以理解的，其实可以不去谈论东方乐器，而不是随便猜测然后说出一个乐器的名字，因为他已经不是第一次这样做了
@@wuchidebangzi 他应该是不知道是什么乐器吧。但你说的也没错，不知道的话还是别说什么.
The instrument is Xiao (yes, it’s called Xiao, but a different Chinese character from the adeptus Xiao’s name). Japanese shakuhachi (尺八) was also originated from a Chinese instrument named “Chi-Ba”, which was later replaced by Xiao domestically in China, but this instrument bloomed and went over some iterations in Japan and became known as Shakuhachi (literally the same characters as Chi-Ba if written in kanji). So both Xiao and Japanese Shaguhachi originated from the Chinese Chi-Ba and some Chinese musicians still play Chinese Chi-Ba, although it is way less popular compared to Xiao in modern Chinese music. It was kinda sad seeing people mistaken Xiao as Shakuhachi, but it wasn’t Marco’s fault, just like I don’t know all the Italian instruments and can mistaken some of then for French or British instruments.
I LOVE that Xiao isn't aggressive, or hateful/distant with Venti but instead actually apologies he can't hangout with someone (as old as himself? or maybe older even?). Venti who is cheerful with such a painful past, and Xiao who is internal from his continuous painful journey. The cheerful string notes that sound lighthearted carefree but the string themselves feel sad, or vulnerable.
I love the contrast between his painful and frankly tortured daily reality and how gentle and actually surprisingly delicate he’s described as being in his lore. His true form being a bird-an animal defined by its freedom, song and beauty-versus his role as General Alatus, the Conqueror of Demons and a Yaksha of Liyue is so good.
He’s also so loved and perhaps he knows it, but he can’t let himself embrace the full breadth of it as much as he might like to slump over into the arms of all the people who would do anything for him.
Such a wonderfully fleshed out character. I hope more people appreciate his nuanced existence more the way you have Marco, he’s definitely not an edgy emo. Never was. He’s just a person enduring chronic pain through his duty to his nation.
xiao's cn voice reflects his personality so much better than en in my opinion, he sounds gentle and caring rather than the rough voice he has in cn
Honestly it break my heart when I see Xiao in pain, fighting against himself,and when ever I go to see others reactions to the banners and that the four were confirmed to be released in 3.4 after watching the story peek in the livestream but came to a shock that nobody paid attention to Xiao in the video. Like it never occurred to them that Xiao being and part of the lantern rite festival and not only that but in the same room with Zhongli May be a character development for him. It saddened me the reason why ppl dismissed him bc this would be his third rerun. Hopefully this brings ppl attention to Xiao and give him a chance to develop further to hopefully take Ushi’s advice to life and be near (with visions) loved ones
YESSSS he's been getting closer to Liyue, bit by bit (even his in game dialogues suggest he's curious and trusts the Traveler to be his safety blanket), now it seems he's actually participating?
Yes! The number of people around him is growing every lantern rite. Seeing him sitting and eating with others is a big characer development.
I understand the story reason behind Xiao's appearance, but I just want a goddamn Shenhe man... I've been waiting for her for almost a year and this would've been the best time for her rerun, it's not the people's fault, but hoyo themselves for having a bad rerun schedule, some characters get so many reruns when they have a single minute of an appearance in an event completely unrelated to them and some characters have to wait a freakin year, imagine in the future well have to wait 2 year intervals, for your favorite character
@@dzintars8034 that I agree with, I'm mildly thankful she isn't coming together with Alhaitham because it would suck to have to choose between them (I want both), but she's coming on 3.5 I think so yay?
I guess that's why she didn't rerun just now, but then we have Yoimiya who always gets stuck before big version changes and with archons o.o
The erhu and flute that started playing after Xiao left Bubu pharmacy is incredible - every time I listen to it, I can feel as if the erhu is softly telling me that he is suffering and lonely, that he’s pushing forward with all he’s got, but doesn’t know how long he can do that for. It’s like the music is inviting me to stop, pause, and really look at xiao, how he lives with his despair and duty, and to treasure him - idk if treasure is the right word, I’m thinking of 憐惜, which in Chinese is a blend between feeling sympathy and wanting to protect someone.
The guzheng (could be pipa, not sure) at very end then adds a soft gentleness, ending the video with with a little bit of sweetness as xiao takes a rest for tonight .
This video dropped and I cried for the first time in a while at a Genshin video. Xiao is also one of my top favorite (male) characters and I'm really happy to get to see him in an event story again, hopefully this time, a gentler time, considering his last appearance was 2.7 and we all (maybe, I'm not 100% sure if you've done it yet!) know how that went. I've been waiting for a time for him to just be able to relax and not just me building relaxing teapot designs for him to relax in!
Yes that is the Erhu, it produces quite the beautiful sound! I feel it is one of the best, if not the best in sad/melancholic music pieces
6:57 this is why I love Marco
Interesting when you describe the music that comes in 6:10 as "agony, pain, sadness" because I really cried on that scene when the music came in. His agony, pain and sadness, I can feel it.
And yes he's not an edgelord, thank you very much. Dude literally has PTSD 😭
6:58 thank you for saying this. it really does feel kind of invalidating when some describe xiao as edgy.
It's characters like Xiao and Wanderer and the like that help me feel a little more understood. They even help me understand myself more and aid in my self-reflections sometimes. Many people don't understand how others could find comfort in such darkness and in such self-deprecating expression and that's fine. Sometimes some things were never meant to be understood by others.
The music really struck a chord with me. I couldn't help but feel despair for him as he left Baizhu and Qiqi to be by his lonesome. When the music swelled as he met that little girl, it really brought out those mixed feelings within me: Relief, dread, worry, and strangely enough hope. Despite all the flags i still hold onto the hope that Xiao will start his journey to conquering his innermost demons, so he too can indulge in the joys of mortal life like the rest of those who care deeply for him.
In the first Xiao cinematic (and later in story), we know that music of Venti is what saved Xiao from falling into madness centuries ago. So it is symbolic to see him here once again granting a hand during similar problems of Xiao.
Thank you for your video. I enjoy watching several people's reactions but yours is always so insightful. You are right, Xiao isn't an "edge lord". When I hear that term, I think there is a difference between being edgy and being worn down by a long painful set of emotions. To call him an edgelord is almost to demean the complexity of those emotions or to make them lesser, make him seeming this way for shallow reasons. Xiao is a very special character to me and to a lot of his fans because he is written SO WELL. We don't just see a person drowning in self-hatred and bitterness. We see a person who has a duty to uphold, a duty that is tied not just to his oaths but the memories of his closest friends.
Xiao's complexity will always remind me on why he's one of my top favorite characters. Xiao is the balance in the Yin-Yang, He is neither good nor bad, but due to the karmic debt building up from Decades, years,and Eons ago makes Xiao view himself as a monster he doesn't want to become. Xiao works to protect Liyue from danger, it's his duty to. but we'll wait for a day when Liyue isn't infested with monsters and he is relieved from duty. He'll finally be able to experience what it's like to feel happy, loved, and cared for.
*in the meantime I will continue to smother him with generous amounts of Almond Tofu* ;w;
Great analysis as always! Xiao is auch a well written, complex character and im happy we're getting to see more of him
This trailer was actually uploaded on my birthday and considering how unreasonably strong my emotional attachement to Xiao is, it almost felt like a personal birthday present for me X'D
I actually teared up while watching it due to how emotional it was, seeing how exhausted xiao is from constandly having to keep it together was heartbreaking
On the flip side, it was super heartwarming to see how so many people came to his aid when he needed it (i love that Qiqi carried him on her back all the way to Liyue Harbor!)
And on top of all of that that we got absolutely amazing music and animation!
Im so excited but also scared to see what will happen during lantern rite and how xiaos story will continue!
in the past when xiao almost lost his mind, he witness a flute sound. venti is the one who plays the flute and that moment xiao back his self so venti saves xiao from suffering...
Really loved the music in this one, this trailer was such a nice surprise. Thank you for the video, your analysis is very on point. It's always great to find people who understand him instead of making fun of his struggles.
And yes, something I love and admire about Xiao is just how despite hating the violence and pain that comes with his duty, he's so incredibly dedicated and proud of the arts he performs. He knows it's necessary, he also knows it's slowly destroying him and will eventually be his demise, but he's so stubborn he still manages to keep going after so long. It's one of the things I like the most about his character and that i think, is portrayed flawlessly in the Chinese dub. It's nice that he's taking some time to rest for once.
As a huge Xiao fan and main, I loved your analysis. People have already thanked you for the edgelord comment, and I want to also applaud you for pointing out Venti's gentleness and wisdom. Just like Xiao gets misinterpreted as an edgy emo, Venti is usually memed to hell as a deadbeat drunkard fool who doesn't care about his nation or friends. But in his archon quest and in Mondstadt events we see nothing but tenderness towards his people and the Traveler. I think, besides the usual misinterpretation that some players with no nuance do with all complex characters, they just fell for his vapid silly bard persona. But he even lampshades it here, he starts playful when addressing Xiao but changes the tone when he sees he's in bad shape and wants to rest, and he immediately talks about not wearing the mask once in a while. It's not just about Xiao, but about himself dropping the mask of Venti and being able to be Barbatos, wise and gentle and mysterious and suspicious, in that contemplative moment. He might not understand Xiao's pain or be able to heal him completely, but he can empathize and respect it and give him space.
Male anemo 5* characters are some of the most complex characters in the game, in lore and personality. The community jokes a lot about the dead friends and "an-emo" but there's a lot of depth in storytelling to them. Scaramouche and Kazuha's recent stories are beloved and fresh in our minds, so I appreciate we're coming back to a new chapter of Xiao's character development and perhaps more of Venti showing more of his true self in this upcoming lantern rite
You so often articulate musical points that composers emphasize in their work that may go over the heads of many listeners, where they feel it but don't have the words to describe the feeling. This is actually really helpful for me as I learn to score cinematics, so thank you Marco!
You’re wonderful
I agree with the people in the comment and reply.
There's also a significant symbolisms of Venti being there at the end concerning his connection to Xiao and his endless millenia pain. Probably why the tone at the end became more gentler.
Xiao is my favorite character. The reason why I decided to play Genshin. His character is so complex and you can't just call him emo or edgelord because he is more than that. He is like a war veteran for me that doesn't have a place to go to a more peaceful world since all his life, he was fighting. He can't also stop because he still have his duty to fulfill and he can't go mingle to others because he was afraid of himself hurting them and causing them pain. His endless suffering is the reason why others are having their peaceful time right now and can enjoy things.
Btw just to add that this is also important to remember that during lantern rite, the enemy that xiao fighting was more active and so he had to do a nuo dance to purify them thus this is the day where he is at his peak of pain from karma because he was fighting day and night to protect the people of Liyue and enjoy their festival.
Other people have already said it but it's so rare to hear someone call out the fact that no Xiao is not in fact a typical edgelord, he very much has very valid reasons for being so distant and abrasive. Ik it's just a meme at this point but he's such a well written deep character it's a shame to generalise him like that, I could go on but I'd probably just end up repeating what you already said in the video since you pretty much hit the nail on the head
Love the interpretations as always. Whenever genshin releases anything now I instinctively think of your analysis and try to see if I can pick up on everything too haha. I've always had a deep appreciation for music, but I have literally 0 education or experience with it so it's always cool to hear someone who actually knows what they're talking about break it down
Is it bad that Xiao is my comfort character? 😂
Same lol
When xiao is your comfort character but sometimes he brings more hurt than comfort-
Nope!
As the joke goes, a comfort character is oftentimes the character who haven't had a moment of comfort :D
So you can feel better about yourself?
@@tuongmac2263 I wouldn’t say _about myself,_ he just makes me feel better in general. Seeing art and reading fics of him makes me happy ^^
Thank you for interpreting the character representation of Xiao so beautifully and correctly. So many people just use nonsensical terms like "edgelord" or "emo" when it comes to Xiao's character and as a Xiao main that always rubs me the wrong way. He has so much more to him. Hoyo put a lot of love and effort behind Xiao's design and lore.
When you mentioned the brief sound of the wind during that break, it seems fit now that we see Venti's appearance and what that possibly means for Xiao's path going forward.
We need more people to stop calling Xiao "edgy/emo"!
I always appreciate people that truly take the time and understand the depth of a real person or a fictional character's story and not write it off as something it isn't 🤗
I love those "cold" characters with good reasons and the sense that they can't stop their mission. I'm not a Genshin fan but loved this video anyway, your content keeps getting better and better!
Man after a year, This trailer still makes me cry.
I'm happy you touched on the fact that the litle girl said "This mask is to scare away monsters" And that he himself believes he's a monster.
I'm so happy i pulled for him all those years ago
i love love love how the erhu changes to flute when venti appears, its a subtle change but so important!
I had a feeling you'd watch this, Always loved the fact you explained the meaning behind the music
Xiao feels like a good representation of chronic pain, and that just makes me wanna help him, and I can't because it's a video game, and it shows how well done Genshin's story is that fact makes me briefly upset
Knowing that Venti saved Xiao from karmic corruption with his music once before, when I see him appear I get the feeling that he's here for an old friend and to help him in a time of need. I love Venti so much because he loves and cares about his people and his friends so much, but since he's the god of Freedom, he cannot impose himself on either. Xiao isn't an edge lord, he never was. He lost so much and still battles with himself and the world to still find freedom for himself and others.
The lament and suffering in the song really was felt so strongly in the melody and combination of musical instruments. It's like saying "i just want a moment of rest, but if i rest, i might lose myself/i might break. But i really need rest. But it's a duty that had been written in stone", you know the rest is just pure contradictory argumentation inside his head. Those karmic debt really put a heavy toll on himself, his own self, and it wont just magically disappear, or dissipate as if no one hold a grudge against him. Even Xiao probably hold some sort of hatred towards himself, after batting so much things for all those times. It's very sad, yet the music also tells you to really take a moment of rest. It's because a moment of rest may just be what one actually needs in those trying and tiring times, so that one able to move and strive and thrive forward. Just like Xiao.
PTSD that is what happened on Xiao, commonly found in the retired soldiers
I love how Mihoyo puts so much care into the music! These short character trailers are just getting better and better😭 Especially the animation in this is just *chef's kiss*. I am so happy they give even more depth to Xiao's character, he really isn't just your typical edgelord! I know people mostly use it jokingly (me included sometimes smh), but often it feels like people really don't see past that point and can't appreciate this great character.
Also, I love the part from 3:07. I'm not a musician and don't know too much about it, so thanks for putting it into words, the two instruments really are clashing just like how Xiao is fighting his "inner demon". I also see in that part how Xiao is sort of losing himself bit by bit, as if he can't really tell anymore whether or not his "true self" is the demon he's fighting or not, hence his masked reflection appearing in the water and another him appearing maskless behind him. And the music tells all that too, or at least that's how I see (or hear lol) it. Love these musical interpretations, keep them coming Marco!😄
I really love that you were able to watch this first on your own and provide context afterwards!! Especially since there's a lot of dialogue in here, I think discussion of how the musical language affects the emotional quality of the dialogue and scene shifts really feels a whole lot more grounded and nuanced this way too. Xiao and Venti are easily one of my favorite characters in the game with how their interaction and personalities bring a wonderful parallel against each other: both having experienced loss, and grieving in their own ways and your analysis definitely brought that more into light.
I'm so glad you did this. I was hoping you would almost as soon as I finished watching the original video last night. :)
I'LL BE DAMNED AND CONGRATZ!! You are Dvorak!? I reccognized your voice nearly immedieately. :D CONGRATZ FOR THE GIG!
I love how your analysis videos are always so spot on. Xiao’s story is truly tragic, and I love your videos so much because they acknowledge the powerful music that goes into the storytelling.
"He's not an edge lord."
THANK YOU!
I hate when the Fandom reduces him down to an edgy emo stereotype, because it misses out on all the nuance that you pointed out in the music. This is a character in a lot of pain, bound to a duty that is destroying him with every evil he disperses. He's isolated, the last of his kind, and some of that of his own making. It's reflected in the difference between the piano of Baizhu's study vs when he's wandering the streets of Liyue harbor. Surrounded by people, but still so singularly alone in his pain.
But the element I haven't seen many people talk about here is the little threads of hope in this video. Baizhu and Qiqi, the little girl, Venti. All people who reach out to help him in the midst of his suffering. Baizhu and Qiqi take him in and do their best to heal him. He may see himself as the monsters that mask is meant to ward against, but the little girl see's someone who is hurt and tired and immediately tries to get him something to make him feel better. Venti, who we know has already saved Xiao from his karma before, offering him companionship. It drives home what he started learning from the traveler at the end of his last quest. That people care about him, that he's not as alone as he thinks.
thank u for what u do. I always got these sensations from the in game music but never knew how to explain it. You do an excellent job :)
My pleasure!
Your content is so awesome man. The way you spin basic reaction videos into informative musical content is so beautiful. Love it!
I want to note that venti's line about the mask could also have a dual meaning! As venti always puts on a "mask" and plays a different character in the story
:)
those string and piano melody shredding my heart TT_TT im crying
Xiao immediately became my main as soon as I was a able to get him (during the chasm update btw) he's just such a sad and dark character.
I've always disliked the edge lord term. I understand it is a joke and he's is, at the end of the day, a character. But I feel Xiao can resemble the very real problems like depression. This though does come down to how someone interprets him.
Him distancing himself from people and society, him constantly fighting his inner self, and of course karmic debt could always be a resemblance to depression itself. Especially with how he describes the burden of karmic debt.
I was happy to see this trailer, with the lovely music and amazing animations. But it's always bittersweet to see a character I like alot also suffer :(
However thank you for the video, I rlly enjoy seeing people break down and talk about music like this :D
The instrumentation of this video and everything about it flowed so well. I can't wait for the anime if this is how it'll look like.
By the way the instrument at the beginning was called Xiao, which was a kind of flute, but with a deeper tone, giving people a feeling of loneliness, desolation, and tranquility. This instrument is often used in Chinese Wuxia movies, because Wuxia needs this kind of lonely and quiet atmosphere. Also, your commentary is very good, I love it!
Yes, finally! someone who doesn't categorize Xiao as an "edgelord".
I never see him like that even with his English voice. Most don't like the EN but for me, EN captured his pain, how can someone who was in immense eternal pain be very calm? He is indeed gentle but he cannot be gentle cause he wants people to distance themselves from him cause he cares.
Totally love your analysis on this.
The original CN actor portrays Xiao as someone who is overly concerned with staying calm in an attempt to stay in control.
His EN voice actress portrays him more akin to a wounded animal, putting on a tough mask in order to prevent harm to himself or others.
It's a different take on the same character, but I don't really prefer one over the other.
“He believes that he himself is the monster”
YES this was the first thing I thought of after seeing and hearing that part thank you for pointing it out
The Erhu String when xiaos eye glow left traces a little before the white background fight was so good
I remember after watching this cinematic for the first time I was thinking "man, I'd like to hear Marco cook with some analysis on this" and even went as far as to mention you on a retweet of the cinematic. Glad to see this analysis man, I really like what they did to develop Xiao's character over the past couple years 😃
That was lovely. And I cannot wait for the new Lantern Rite and your reaction to it (and mine, but we will get both soon XD ).
OH Marc... I can't wait for you to react to "Story Teaser: Only Old Memories Remain"
Which is also related to Xiao.. Not sure if you have gotten to the Chasm yet... The Track on that Teaser is just
Xiao is one of the most misunderstood characters, great video
Goddamn man I just wanna give him a hug
"he's not an edgelord" THANK YOU MARCO
ahhhh i cannot wait for you to play the interlude mission of 2.7, the one in the chasm, that one is also xiao focused and it's just too awesome....
i always ask you to review the same song but if you ever listen to the music of the last two cinematics of that mission at the chasm i hope you review them because they are so amazing to tell us about xiao
like someone else said it is definitely not a shakuhachi, they use strictly chinese instruments as main instruments for the liyue contents
i think the melody when he meets the small girl in the street is the highlight of the video for me, it is just an extremely beautiful and sad melody, there is so much sadness inside, and then how it transitions from the ehru to the flute when venti appears, the melody instantly becomes lighter as you mentioned, that whole melody sold the entire video for me
and... ahh xiao..... I NEED ZHONGLI TO ASK HIM TO RETIRE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously what is zhongli doing....???
that's not a shakuhachi, hilariously that is a....... xiao xD shakuhachi is a jp instrument, hoyo is very good at keeping things mostly regional in the song department. xiao flutes sound deeper and smoother, dizi flutes have a little vibrato to them. xiao flutes are also very long, like the polearms of the woodwinds. (i definitely do not know this because of the untamed, i definitely picked this up from watching the genshin concerts and them alone akjskjskjfkdgj)
8:45 the melody changed complete to more of a relax tone, that’s beautiful. But at 9:00 I think their could be one more note left out, thats smart, because it means xiao is still aware of whatever he’s after
Ciao Marco! Just wanted to say I love your channel and I loved this video about Xiao trailer and I full agree with this analysis! Please keep up the good work :D See you at lantern rite lol
grazieeee:)
Qiqi carried Xiao on her back? Maybe I need to put her in my party...
Xiao do want a healer.
2:30 Very interesting to hear you refer to the instruments of the Erhu, Kokyu, and Niko. When I speak about the erhu to my mother in Japanese, we always referred to it as the Kokyu so I was curious and had to do a google search about it. Made me learn that even in this language I've been speaking since I was young, Kokyu wasn't the actual exact term used for the Erhu! Google says the Erhu's name in Japanese is the Niko but I'm not really knowledgeable on this stuff so I'd definitely have to do a deeper dive into the instrument names in order to properly verify that. Regardless, while this is a musical analyzation video, just thought it was interesting that I actually learned about Japanese as well XD So thank you for the teaching, Marco!!
Another really nice video, I haven't played genshin impact or know a lot about it but your analysis of the music is still so good. Would love to see you take a look at some of the other songs from metal gear rising like you did a while back, especially red sun or stains of time.
def my plan
Nice! Love your content man
To the scene were the young girl takes off the mask, this could be meaning that Xiao with his mask is like a Monster to himself, but without the mask he is just a kid that wants freedom from his pain and someone how takes care off him.
I watched it and cried. Rewatched it paying attention to everything, and that was the reason why I live Xiao
i think it would be AMAZING if you reacted to the Alien Stage songs/videos
they are so good and i have been obsessed
round 3 in particular gives me so many emotions that you can just feel through his voice
I love the ending with venti and what he says about taking of the mask.
your analysis on the music is very interesting.
Incredible, so that's why lantern rite always comes with xiao, he deserves that
Ok Marco is making me cry - I have a headache now
People saying Xiao is edgy are the same who say classical music is dead. Pay. Attention. People!
Awesome explanations. Can you do Alhaitham’s character teaser next? 😁
You should listen to some of the songs from Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.
In particular I recommend:
The Cosmic Balance (Aeon theme)
Searching for Answers
Our Lady in Shadows (The theme of the Nocticula, the queen of succubi)
Mythic Power (the general mythic theme)
Laughing til the End (Trickster theme)
The Hunger Eternal (Swarm that walks theme)
Man, Xiao's PTSD after the pandemic and the loss of his family is just..
on a demonic lvl .
Xiao is like Scaramouche. The black sheep of the group, the outcasted/lonely one, who battles every day with his empty inside but purging the world of enemies who drive him to his madness. Both either are or achieve demi-god like positions.
Xiao is basically a "Good" Scaramouche. Do you think so too?
I love hearing and seeing people agree that Xiao is not just an edgy boi as many ppl seem to think. As a Xiao lover it really makes me smile.
Truly ashame that Marco missed so many story time limted events. There was a Chasm quest dedicated to Xiao tag along with Yelan, Yang'fei, Itto, and Shinobu. It was an event of Xiao's development.
That quest is still in game, it was the event tied to it that was limited
The quest is still available, Marco just hasn't gotten to that part yet.
Definitely still in the game, I played through it quite recently 'cause I didn't realise it was important and just ignored it in the quest log for ages
@@HellBent_ good to know!
I see a lot of people are talking about the fact that Xiao is not and edge lord so calling him that feels kinda like you're not understanding who he is as a character and stuff.
You are absolutely right, if you're having a serious conversation about the characters and their stories you can't explain away his turmoil like that: his story is heartbreaking and I've always found discussions bout immortality and outliving all of the people you love extremely profound. Xiao is a warrior constantly on the edge of loosing himself to the debt he has with karma, after cutting so many lives short, yet he can't because it is his duty to keep fighting and he also is the last one keeping alive the memories of his fallen comrades. Duty is a word that describes Xiao and yet it is not enough to explain the lengths of his loyalty and determination.
That being said, humor is indeed my coping mechanism in life, so I will call the sad anime guy with the tragic backstory an Emo Edge-Lord, while silently crying everytime I watch the cutscenes he's in.
His character is so heartbreaking. I even saw some people comment saying they hate zhongli for working Xiao so hard after he had so much suffering already. Of course I understand why they feel this way, because it's so easy to point at another character and blame them for all the suffering, but Xiao's duty is very internal. I really don't think he became Morax's slave 😕 I don't think Xiao's retirement is gonna happen overnight, but I want to see it happen. It looks like he's starting to shed his burdens little by little every Lantern Rite and it makes me so happy. I missed the first Lantern Rite where they explained why people lite Xiao lanterns. I think I read a comment somewhere saying it was because he's out their fighting the demonic activity which is especially rampant during that time of the year so people light them to show their appreciation. It's so touching T_T
@@rainiplaysgames3545 Yeah, i totally agree. Morax definitely isn't forcing him to do anything: I get that the Yakshas all signed contracts with him to do the whole "order through slaughter, purge evil through battle" thing, but that was in a time where it was absolutely indispensable to do so, so if Xiao actually wanted to retire, well, Morax is literally the one that encourages finding loopholes in contracts, so they could figure something out. That brings me to why Xiao doesn't want to stop fighting, and well, isn't that a whole bag of trauma. Again, his sense of duty is incredibly strong, it's his purpose in life to fulfill his task. And man, isn't it incredibly symbolic that the guy who traps himself in a cage of his own making is an anemo user?
Anemo users are incredibly fascinating: you'd think that with air being te element of freedom they'd be the most free spirited ones, but they're actually the ones that usually struggle to understand what does freedom really mean. People like Jean and Xiao have a great sense of duty and they'll always push themselves to their limits, so maybe the anemo vision is there to remember that there is more to life than just the cage they made for themselves; people like Kazuha and Wanderer who have no ties to the world and no place to go back to, wandering the world in search a sense of belonging, and maybe the important part really is the journey and not the destination.
And yes, every Lanter Rite we get a little bit closer to showing Xiao that maybe he can get a better life-work schedule lmao. But seriously, it's kind of amazing the attention and care that is put behind the slowly growing bond between Xiao and the other characters, Hoyoverse is spoiling us with the good writing ngl
@@sock9399 Right??? Anemo characters are some of the most interesting in terms of backstory and man they been thru some stuff! I hope each of them find their true freedom!! I keep seeing people say Xiao have death flags all over him, but I feel the opposite, especially after 2.7. I think Xiao will get his retirement, not in the dark way.
@@rainiplaysgames3545 Yeah, no, I agree. Even just on a writing point of view, having a character who is sure of what their destiny is gonna be actually end up like that doesn't always work. In Xiao's case, every single quest with him is proving him wrong. Also, he is a character with a lot of unsolved turmoil, I can't see him dying, because we've barely seen his full potential in the plot.
I don't think Hoyoverse is planning to have playable characters die, that's not the vibe I'm getting, but if so, the characters that scare me most are those who have already found something steady about their life, who have found the answer to some of their most important questions and give off that vibe of "I'm finished, this is my purpose, now I will just follow my life wherever it takes me", so mainly Venti and Zhongli: mfs are old, very very old, they've went through change and finally found solace in taking themselves out of the picture. If they died, their people would go on nevertheless.
Pure speculation: characters from Khaenri'ha like Dain and Pierro could die at the end. If we find a way to eliminate the curse and all of that, they could actually find peace in reuniting with their loved ones.
I'm unsure about the Tsaritsa, but my theories come mainly from the description of the Shivada Jade Gemstone (because the description of the jems unsually involves the archons) which is this:
"Sorry... to also have you shoulder the grievances of the world.
"Since you could endure my bitter cold, you must have the desire to burn?
"Then, burn away the old world for me."
And it's either the Tsaritsa talking to the Traveller, maybe to the Fatui, or the previous Cryo Archon talking to the Tsaritsa (last one doesn't completely make sense tho, because they sound like they're talking about Kaenri'ha, and the Tsaritsa became the Cryo Archon before Kaenri'ha)
Anyway, they also sound like they could be dying, but maybe they're just giving us a task, whatever, i have lots of theories and nothing to back them up, sadge :')
Btw, thank you for listening to my rambling and answering too, this conversation is really cool :D
@@sock9399 they did in their other game
I’m gonna keep repeat this for the meme/for the actual really awesome music.
Highfleet OST, Tanc A Lelek, Dle Yaman and/or Enkan, and any of the combat soundtracks.
He's not an edgelord
Absolutely YES!
I'm glad you saying that.
He's fought againt with the monsters or even human for very long time and absorb any karmic vibe of them.
Also he even fights himself, that why he doesn't want to be near with the people. He scares. If he fight the illusion of himself he might kill the people he has to protect or break the contract with Zhongli. This is one of the most character that I want him to be happy.l 😭
10:04 At this point, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, relief that Xiao can rest, and on the other hand, disappointment and resentment that this is "only for one night." This is not enough! One night of rest after such a life (if it can be called life) is not enough. Xiao deserves rest no less than Morax :(
That mask is actually based on Xiaos mask, I think it is really cool that that culturally his mask has become this one to scare away the demons. It shows in the end he really is this person that has gone through well endless suffering as the title says to protect people.
6:10 this part just tears my heart apart and I start crying :c
Por quê está rasgando o meu coração?! Amo isso!
My favourite by far music in the game is nilous theme, idk why but its sort of melancholy yet mesmorising, i would check it out its great!
Every time HOYOMiX utilizes the Erhu it just evokes so many emotions within us, it is pretty much a storyteller as much as it is an instrument
There is this one Archon quest- only Chasm battle remix music called “Irresistible force” that added more instruments like the Erhu to the battle theme “Tremor of Menace” and the Erhu was absolutely powerful in that remix, it was definitely the voice of one of the characters that were in the Chasm archon quest
I would highly recommend giving “Irresistible Force” a listen if you haven’t
Xiao is one of the saddest characters in Genshin. This trailer made me tear up.
There’s definitely layers to Xiao- I do think of him as my anEmo boyfriend, but I’ve always seen his aloofness as a result of his past, that he views himself as a possible ticking time bomb, so distance is more to protect everyone else, not himself, and it’s because he *does* care about others. In fact, he equates his personal value on what he can provide as a Yaksha, but less toward his own personal well-being.
I also see a double-meaning to Venti’s last line, “It’s nice to be able to take the mask off once in a while, even if it’s just one night.” …Venti’s persona as a bard is a mask, too.
I think you might like the music in boneworks! It's a vr game with a lot of synthy sounds and like intense feeling in the music. Some songs that could be good to react to from it would be who am I, opera de ossium, and bone theme!