Fun facts: 1. Steve Vai played the guitar in this, and all the OST that includes electric guitar 2. This voice 2:11 is not a woman, it's actually Martin O'Donnell, who made all the music for Halo, that recorded himself.
@@SilverViper1000I feel that Salvatori just isn't as much of a public figure either. I do agree with what you say but a lot of the core melodies where written by O'Donnell and he puts himself out there.
wasn't one take. you don't need to lie to try to make it seem more awesome. Steve Vai is one of the most technically proficient guitar players to ever walk the face of the earth.
Not only did Marty and Mike hire Steve Vai to play guitar on Mjolnir mix, they hired Nile MF Rogers to produce the guitar part alongside Vai. Nile is a guitarist who co-founded Chiq and Sister Sledge, and also played with Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, and Duran Duran. He's also a composer, songwriter, and producer. That's the guy on the left in the cool hat gesturing very passionately. So much talent in that room! It rules, Halo rules.
Marty O'Donnell, the composer for all of the Halo soundtracks (when Bungie produced the games) was the original 'female' vocalist on the soundtrack. He just edited it to sound higher pitched and more feminine.
Not for Halo CE he didn't at the very least, that's just him raw. Last I heard this he said it while watching a CE speedrun on IGN's YT channel, but he probably said this elsewhere I imagine.
I love how while Steve Vai is playing you can see in the room the expression of all the staff that knew they where doing something nobody will ever forget.
That's not Marty/Michael directing him. That's Nile Rogers from the legendary 70s funk outfit Chic who was invited along with Steve Vai to curate the halo soundtrack for the 2nd game. Literally the best of the best working with impeccable source material. True geniuses at work!!
One of my favorite little tidbits is that when the guitarist Steve Vai was given the theme, he asked the producer what kind of theme he wanted, and the producer said 'Just vibe, lets just groove it out'. And well, this legend was created.
In my opinion a lot of people think that halo 2 is the best just because it expanded the lore to unimaginable heights. But to be honest, the level design and gameplay is not that fun in the long term. Halo 2 introduced a ton of fun weapons and mechanics but Halo 3 improved on all of them. The only thing Halo 3 didn't do as much as Halo 2 is world building, but it's the grand and epic finale we all deserved. Both games are top tier games, but I personally rate Halo 3 a little bit higher than 2 in all the aspects but world building. But also, halo 3 wouldn't be that awesome without the prework of halo ce and halo 2.
Personally I absolutely adored both CE and Halo 2, with 2 being my favorite, and I didn't play Halo 3 until very recently. I feel like Halo 2 is still my nostalgic favorite, but if I had the opportunity to play Halo 3 on launch that would be my favorite. Its a tough choice tho, they're all absolutely fantastic
It makes me sad that halo never has and never will hit this level again. Halo 2 was so special, one of the greatest games ever. Not perfect, no, but what is perfect
@@jimmygee3219 when Reach came out, I remember being a bit disappointed by many aspects of the game. In hindsight it is pretty great but halo 2 at the time of release never disappointed me. You could argue Reach aged better than 2 but I don’t think that speaks to when they each came out
@@jacobwhelan45 Halo 2 was far from a perfect game, even at the time. I always felt that despite what it brought to the table and the advancements it made in the video game world (particularly multiplayer) and even as it greatly expanded its own “world” it was a significant step backwards from CE. I think Halo 3 fixed a lot of concepts that were… rough in Halo 2. I just think if I were to recommend a Halo game to someone that had never played it I wouldn’t pick Halo 2. That would probably be my last of the original 4. I would recommend Reach or CE as the comprehensive Halo experience.
I remember being 12 years old in my room playing this game with a friend on legendary co op campaign, finally finishing it watching the credits and this BEAST assailed us haha
Fun fact about Steve Vai's guitar work on this track. He got about 60%-70% of the guitar work done improv on the spot, in one take Edit: I hadn't seen the rest of the video yet, you watched the old clip in the studio where you saw that haha
Yeah it’s improv where you would expect it and I’m pretty sure the unison parts were the only bits where they wanted him to follow along with the main theme
The guy doing air guitar next to Steve Vai is Nile Rodgers, He's the guy who got ahold of Steve Vai for the recording session. Marty is the guy in the back leaning on the table with the short hair
Since you liked this track so much you should definitely check out "Genesong" from the Halo 2 Anniversary soundtrack. It's got Steve Vai going absolutely ham on the guitar again, even more than in this one lol.
Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai are the Greatest Guitarists Of all Time. Like if they had gotten Eddie and Steve Vai together for this it would be even better. Like Eddie played Eruption for 10 minutes at a live concert event without Breaking a sweat.
Tell me why I got chills listening to these Halo songs as if I have just heard them for the first time! I listen to them all the time, but it still hits so hard as it did the first time, and it will NEVER get old imo
the guy leaning in and air-guitaring with him is Nile Rodgers! hes the guitarist in chic, and daft punks get lucky. both of those guys are the two of the best guitarists in history
Tis a good day when I see Meg tearing up because and Awesome guitar solo. And to add, the next song that you were going to play is good, the instrumental is what plays in the original game (and personally I prefer it based on the level it plays on). I also recommend Unyielding, it's also an epic track.
The two awestruck guys in the back are Marty O'Donnell and possibly Michael Salvatore (i cant really tell its too blurry) The guy sat next to Steve Vai is non other then Nile Rodgers. Also I'd like to add that Steve Vai improvised this after listening to the Halo 1 theme for the first time what is just before when that recording was made
I also suggest you listen to Halo 2's Movements of the Odyssey by Incubus. I believe there's four of them but only one plays in the game (it doesn't play in the anniversary edition unless you have classic graphics turned on). There's a lot of amazing unused music in Halo 2 which makes it my all time favorite ost
I remember this being the coolest bit of free dlc ever when they put this track on guitar hero lol (doesn’t that paint a picture of an era, rocking out to halo music on a plastic guitar)
This makes me very excited for a particular part of Halo 3.. Also, if you want to see it in concert, you *technically can*. They have videos on RUclips for Video Games Live; It's basically an orchestra with a bunch of video game music accompanied with gameplay, and it's so cool. I've never seen them in particular, but in October I saw a local orchestra group sponsored by them with the same idea, just not as fancy. But seeing games I grew up with accompanied by the music I know is just something to experience to truly understand how you feel about it.
I will never forget hearing this kick in the first time. Immediately grabbed a rocket launcher and a shotgun, then jumped off the very first bridge to board the scarab lol
What's really neat about the Steve Vai video later on is that if you're really familiar with Halo 2's sound track, that video actually gives you a taste of what would eventually become Reclaimer and a few other track. I maintain that whatever didn't make it into the Mjolnir mix made it into Reclaimer. Which is itself, a remix of Unyielding Hierophant
I've always listened to this before I go to the gym as a part of my prep routine. When I'm struggling on that one rep, I think to myself "John could punch through 3 more reps, as well as a covenant tank... Get it done!" o7
Halo Combat Evolved OST is legendary, The OG is almost untouchable. The Halo 2 OST is literally the transcended form. Unmatched and Unmistakable, No other Halo OST comes close.
Ok, so turns out I had it wrong, that guy air guitaring alongside Steve Vai is actually Nile Rodgers, the producer. At least I'm pretty sure it's him. I still can barely tell because of how bad the video quality is
“In Amber Clad” next please for the love of god! Then when you get to Halo 3, there’s “Never forget” but of course, the whole Halo 3 soundtrack needs to be listened to ideally.
This is so fun watching you.
I’m your girl.
You are a legend! THANK YOU!!!!
The king🥰
The Legend has commented
😮❤❤
Shout out to Michael Salvatori... also.
Fun facts:
1. Steve Vai played the guitar in this, and all the OST that includes electric guitar
2. This voice 2:11 is not a woman, it's actually Martin O'Donnell, who made all the music for Halo, that recorded himself.
I think he said it was unedited during the dev com@@phurion.
@@phurion. Nope. That was his voice.
@@novarunner34 the man can hit some high notes
I just want to correct that martin odonnel and Michael Salvatore did the soundtracks together. Michael gets way too few credits.
@@SilverViper1000I feel that Salvatori just isn't as much of a public figure either. I do agree with what you say but a lot of the core melodies where written by O'Donnell and he puts himself out there.
Marty O'Donnell took the Halo community by surprise by admitting that it was he who did the vocal bits that everyone thought was done by a lady xD
O'Donnell is always full of surprises.
That's why he's so fun.@@tmi1234567
And hes the one who decided its a good idea to let johnson die ☠️
@@dominikschachner7208What a monster he is!
@@dominikschachner7208 It was a good idea story wise. It's a sad moment done right.
Fun fact. Steve Vai was told to just improv the guitar and did this all in one take
The video of him doing it is insane
lol, it wasn't just one take. He did come up with it in one session, but that's after a few hours of improv. He is the best tho
wasn't one take. you don't need to lie to try to make it seem more awesome. Steve Vai is one of the most technically proficient guitar players to ever walk the face of the earth.
@@ryuk5673 I didn’t lie. I simply misremembered. Calm down bro I’m sorry 😭😭😭
@@cherrycherry6048you were right about the first part that ends in a a dive bomb. First take he came up with that. Fing legend
Fun fact! The voice of the "girl" is actually Marty O'Donnell, the composer of the music.
Man
Nearly 19 years later and Vai/O'Donnel are still popping minds for the first time
Not only did Marty and Mike hire Steve Vai to play guitar on Mjolnir mix, they hired Nile MF Rogers to produce the guitar part alongside Vai. Nile is a guitarist who co-founded Chiq and Sister Sledge, and also played with Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, and Duran Duran. He's also a composer, songwriter, and producer. That's the guy on the left in the cool hat gesturing very passionately.
So much talent in that room! It rules, Halo rules.
People don't care about things the way these guys cared about Halo.
Absolutely legendary!
Mjolnir mix is one of my favorite halo soundtracks. Halo 3, and ODST have the best soundtracks
For me Halo 2 and Reach
@@Foxtrox7616 Same for me with Halo 2. Peril, In Amber Clad, the High Charity Suite, etc. So many good songs in that one.
Mjolnir mix and Cloaked in Blackness are beyond legendary songs in the series.
I actually really didn't like it when i played Halo as a kid, but now that i'm an adult it's my favourite
that opening guitar riff will be one that stays with me till i die
The world isn't ready for a halo concert, it would tear a city apart.
If you haven't seen it check out Halo // The Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Eimear Noone, full on orchestra cover of multiple Halo classics!!!
And there was one decades back...had goosebumps and sense of nostalgia..
It would rock the world harder than the glassing of new Mombasa
No my spartan brother. It would tear the very world to it's core.
Marty O'Donnell, the composer for all of the Halo soundtracks (when Bungie produced the games) was the original 'female' vocalist on the soundtrack. He just edited it to sound higher pitched and more feminine.
Not for Halo CE he didn't at the very least, that's just him raw. Last I heard this he said it while watching a CE speedrun on IGN's YT channel, but he probably said this elsewhere I imagine.
@@alexisborden3191does he have a RUclips or twitch channel? I follow him on twitter/X
@@alexisborden3191 yeah for instance Under Cover of Night was 100% just Marty lol
Just reverb
I love how while Steve Vai is playing you can see in the room the expression of all the staff that knew they where doing something nobody will ever forget.
7:38 fun fact they used this part for a soundtrack called « Reclaimer » (genesong in the Anniversary version) it’s in the game
That's not Marty/Michael directing him. That's Nile Rogers from the legendary 70s funk outfit Chic who was invited along with Steve Vai to curate the halo soundtrack for the 2nd game. Literally the best of the best working with impeccable source material. True geniuses at work!!
Marty and Michael are literal legends. Them and Larian's composer, Borislav, are all occupying my top 1.
The guitar riff intro... your reaction is what 11 year old me did when i first heard this song 😂
Can't believe this song and this game will be 20 years old. 20 years of Halo 2 and it's still one of the greatest games of all time.
She's reacting the same way 10 year old me did playing halo 2 for the first time lol
One of my favorite little tidbits is that when the guitarist Steve Vai was given the theme, he asked the producer what kind of theme he wanted, and the producer said 'Just vibe, lets just groove it out'.
And well, this legend was created.
Man you dont understand how hyped I am to see you play Halo 3, its really the best game of all time. Anyone who was there for the launch knows💯
I preferred Halo 2, but it'll definitely be fun to watch.
@@user-fn6bm4yf7v Halo 3's level design is truly up there
In my opinion a lot of people think that halo 2 is the best just because it expanded the lore to unimaginable heights. But to be honest, the level design and gameplay is not that fun in the long term.
Halo 2 introduced a ton of fun weapons and mechanics but Halo 3 improved on all of them. The only thing Halo 3 didn't do as much as Halo 2 is world building, but it's the grand and epic finale we all deserved.
Both games are top tier games, but I personally rate Halo 3 a little bit higher than 2 in all the aspects but world building.
But also, halo 3 wouldn't be that awesome without the prework of halo ce and halo 2.
perfectly said@@SilverViper1000
Personally I absolutely adored both CE and Halo 2, with 2 being my favorite, and I didn't play Halo 3 until very recently. I feel like Halo 2 is still my nostalgic favorite, but if I had the opportunity to play Halo 3 on launch that would be my favorite. Its a tough choice tho, they're all absolutely fantastic
It makes me sad that halo never has and never will hit this level again. Halo 2 was so special, one of the greatest games ever. Not perfect, no, but what is perfect
Halo 3 was literally the peak of FPS games when it comes to campaign and multiplayer
Reach was realistically better in every way.
I do have a lot of nostalgia for Halo 2 and the impact it had at the time
@@jimmygee3219 when Reach came out, I remember being a bit disappointed by many aspects of the game. In hindsight it is pretty great but halo 2 at the time of release never disappointed me. You could argue Reach aged better than 2 but I don’t think that speaks to when they each came out
@@jacobwhelan45 Halo 2 was far from a perfect game, even at the time. I always felt that despite what it brought to the table and the advancements it made in the video game world (particularly multiplayer) and even as it greatly expanded its own “world” it was a significant step backwards from CE.
I think Halo 3 fixed a lot of concepts that were… rough in Halo 2.
I just think if I were to recommend a Halo game to someone that had never played it I wouldn’t pick Halo 2. That would probably be my last of the original 4. I would recommend Reach or CE as the comprehensive Halo experience.
@jimmygee3219 in what ways? The multiplayer was one of the worst in Halo history. Weapon bloom and armor lock were criminal.
I remember being 12 years old in my room playing this game with a friend on legendary co op campaign, finally finishing it watching the credits and this BEAST assailed us haha
2:16 She’s Martin O’Donnell with a pitch shifter lol
wasn't pitched higher. He can hit those notes lol
Fun fact about Steve Vai's guitar work on this track. He got about 60%-70% of the guitar work done improv on the spot, in one take
Edit: I hadn't seen the rest of the video yet, you watched the old clip in the studio where you saw that haha
Yeah it’s improv where you would expect it and I’m pretty sure the unison parts were the only bits where they wanted him to follow along with the main theme
The guy doing air guitar next to Steve Vai is Nile Rodgers, He's the guy who got ahold of Steve Vai for the recording session. Marty is the guy in the back leaning on the table with the short hair
Since you liked this track so much you should definitely check out "Genesong" from the Halo 2 Anniversary soundtrack. It's got Steve Vai going absolutely ham on the guitar again, even more than in this one lol.
Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai are the Greatest Guitarists Of all Time. Like if they had gotten Eddie and Steve Vai together for this it would be even better. Like Eddie played Eruption for 10 minutes at a live concert event without Breaking a sweat.
The early 2000s vibe of this soundtrack is undefeated...
The fella with the flat cap is Nile Rodgers (from the band Chic) and wrote songs for half the pop industry, get lucky by daft punk being one of them
Tell me why I got chills listening to these Halo songs as if I have just heard them for the first time! I listen to them all the time, but it still hits so hard as it did the first time, and it will NEVER get old imo
I saw this performed at the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando for the Video Games LIVE tour back in 2008-ish. It was amazing
Hey, isn't that steve vai on the guitar?
thats right!
Here’s a fun fact about this song
You can play this song on Guitar Hero 3: Legend of Rock on the Xbox 360.. it’s a DLC song for it
the guy leaning in and air-guitaring with him is Nile Rodgers! hes the guitarist in chic, and daft punks get lucky. both of those guys are the two of the best guitarists in history
Tis a good day when I see Meg tearing up because and Awesome guitar solo.
And to add, the next song that you were going to play is good, the instrumental is what plays in the original game (and personally I prefer it based on the level it plays on).
I also recommend Unyielding, it's also an epic track.
The two awestruck guys in the back are Marty O'Donnell and possibly Michael Salvatore (i cant really tell its too blurry)
The guy sat next to Steve Vai is non other then Nile Rodgers.
Also I'd like to add that Steve Vai improvised this after listening to the Halo 1 theme for the first time what is just before when that recording was made
Steve Vai is an absolute beast
I also suggest you listen to Halo 2's Movements of the Odyssey by Incubus. I believe there's four of them but only one plays in the game (it doesn't play in the anniversary edition unless you have classic graphics turned on). There's a lot of amazing unused music in Halo 2 which makes it my all time favorite ost
Yes! I was enthusiastically surprised when I found out they did that suite!
I remember this being the coolest bit of free dlc ever when they put this track on guitar hero lol (doesn’t that paint a picture of an era, rocking out to halo music on a plastic guitar)
This makes me very excited for a particular part of Halo 3..
Also, if you want to see it in concert, you *technically can*. They have videos on RUclips for Video Games Live; It's basically an orchestra with a bunch of video game music accompanied with gameplay, and it's so cool. I've never seen them in particular, but in October I saw a local orchestra group sponsored by them with the same idea, just not as fancy. But seeing games I grew up with accompanied by the music I know is just something to experience to truly understand how you feel about it.
I will never forget hearing this kick in the first time. Immediately grabbed a rocket launcher and a shotgun, then jumped off the very first bridge to board the scarab lol
I love the video where the one dude tells Steve Vai they're just vibing and he just hits it right away and it sounds almost the same lol.
You should check out John Mayers’ Halo 2 epilogue song. He did it just to show off to his friends and didn’t tell his agent. Such a smooth track.
What's really neat about the Steve Vai video later on is that if you're really familiar with Halo 2's sound track, that video actually gives you a taste of what would eventually become Reclaimer and a few other track. I maintain that whatever didn't make it into the Mjolnir mix made it into Reclaimer. Which is itself, a remix of Unyielding Hierophant
i play this in my truck full volume all windows up while driving with my friends. and that is the best type of day
I've always listened to this before I go to the gym as a part of my prep routine.
When I'm struggling on that one rep, I think to myself "John could punch through 3 more reps, as well as a covenant tank... Get it done!" o7
Steve Vai absolutely slayed his bit on the theme, such a silly good player/composer
Meg: "This is where we part ways"
Halo 2 OST: "That's when it became personal with me"
You are the ONLY person I have seen react in the most perfect way to this mix. Thanks for reacting to a super kickass song :)
in the guitar world steve vai is one of the greatest to ever touch a guitar. he is and has always been the ultimate virtuouso
“Your girl” is actually the composer Marty lol
theres a reason this song was in Guitar Hero 3 Legends of Rock
SHE is actually Martin o Donell, on a voice changer. Dude is a musical genius.
I'm pretty sure Steve Vai was one of the main producers of the Halo 2 Anniversary soundtrack.
Follow in flight is probably one of the best sound track in the whole halo series id give it a try
This was back when playing halo made you feel great.
Love seeing the appreciation for halo
I like the bass that kicks in with the guitar solo it feels like funky military
I swear to god Halo 2 was like "how can we make them experience drugs without giving them any?"
The person doing the chanting in the music is Marty O’Donnell. Alot of people thought it was a woman but Marty confessed it was him in a interview 😂
I would ABSOLUTELY spend money to see this on concert. Take all my money!
The female chant half way in the track is actually Joe Staten with his voice edited
Halo has some of the soundtrack’s in video game history imo
The first song always gives me strong Swat Kat vibes.
That chant is actually Marty O'Donnell
If metal could kill Steve Vai would've toppled entire Covenant fleets with his shreddin'
Halo Combat Evolved OST is legendary, The OG is almost untouchable. The Halo 2 OST is literally the transcended form. Unmatched and Unmistakable, No other Halo OST comes close.
The BEST work out music hands down.
0:58 every guys reaction to this music
When you have to fight the scarab:
You gotta love the classics
BTW You should totally start up a server!
Why we listening to this old stuff Sarge?
@@Connor8609 Watch your mouth, son. This "stuff" is your history. It should remind you grunts what we're fightin' to protect
@@freezusvikin6778Hey if the Covenant want to wipe out this particular part of my history that's fine by me
@@Cavic005You ask them real nice next time, Cavic....I'm sure they'll be happy to oblige 😊❤
We need this in concert
Humanity better be still listening to this in the year 2500 ❤
Frank Zappa allowed Steve to play with him. All that needs to be said.
Mjolnir mix always giving those intro goosebumps with those refs❤
I absolutely loved your review.
My reaction way back in the 2000s exactly when I heard it too, haha I got the physical CD when it came out :)
Y’all remember when they put this song in guitar hero?
This is really awesome Meg the music sounds really great I wish you a very Happy Merry Christmas and Thanks.
🎵🎶🎼🎸🎸🎹🥁🎼🎶🎵
Greatest Guitar solo of all time in my opinion 😤.
I got chills
Not heard of Steve vai? Well he was the dude playing thr guitar on the halo 2 theme dudes a legend
The music made by Marty has helped me through so much. Pleaseeeeee don’t forget about Gungnir mix and Genesong!!!!!!!
Took me til i played halo 5 to realize the guitar here is Steve Vai lol
im pretty sure the person shredding on that guitar is freaking Steve Vai btw
Halo's music is so epic. I love Tip of the Spear from Reach
Ok, so turns out I had it wrong, that guy air guitaring alongside Steve Vai is actually Nile Rodgers, the producer. At least I'm pretty sure it's him. I still can barely tell because of how bad the video quality is
The Music of Champions, Heroes, and Chiefs.
“In Amber Clad” next please for the love of god! Then when you get to Halo 3, there’s “Never forget” but of course, the whole Halo 3 soundtrack needs to be listened to ideally.
Only goats remember playing this on guitar hero
they didn't just get a guitarist they got steve vai and he did such a good job
7:33 oh hey they used this in the track Reclaimer for the level Quarantine Zone
11:17 too!
You got to check out the remastered version it’s so good
Your enthusiasm is awesome.
Your comment was the 117th comment! Congrats🎉🎉
One of my favorites is Breaking the Covenant, that song is so good, going through the level with that song is so epic!
There is a reason Halo is sacred.
We need Video Games Live to make another tour and add more music from newer games!!
you should listen to halo 2's unyielding it also has an electric guitar
wait until you get to halo 3 ODST. theres 2 songs that are excellent. Deference for Darkness and Traffic Jam. you wont regret listening to either!
Just wait until you hear the Anniversary version of this song. You get even MORE electric guitar
Alright, time to do another Legendary playthrough of the Halo trilogy.