Fun fact: All the vocals you heard were sung in the games own fictional language, "Dovahzul", the language of the dragons. Complete with its own alphabet and even an online translator.
@@semmieb3e127 the bards in taverns sing that when you finish the main quest. They sing about your tales Though maybe k remember wrong and they just sing it but not the full version and different tone
It’s really funny they made up the language and asked their composer to use and make Skyrim’s theme using elder scrolls main theme. And he slammed it on their desk next day.
Secunda plays when youre wandering around the world at night with no enemies near. Just you, the borealis above, and the amazing handcrafted world all around you. Watch the Skies intensity isnt undeserved, given its one of the themes that kicks in when youre fighting a dragon.
Once, I played Secunda on a snowy morning. It was early, before first light, and fine snow blew gently with the wind, across the already-covered streets. No cars were driving. Nobody else could be seen. All lights in houses were dark, only the soft glow of the city light pollution to see by. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was one of the most magical moments in my life so far,
I can tell you exactly what "The streets of Whiterun" sound like. It sounds like home. Whiterun is the first major location most players will go to and it's where players will spend their first few hours in. It's also the place where most people will buy their first player home. You'll regularly come back to Whiterun to trade and rest at your home after a long day of adventuring. It really feels like coming home
I usually beelined straight to Solitude after the first playthrough (mainly for Sheogorath's Daedric quest, it being my favorite), and the homesteads tended to be my main player homes -- but Whiterun still remains the town I most frequently visit during organic play, especially on my 'No Fast-Travel' playthroughs when I keep passing through that open valley on my way elsewhere.
God I miss skyrim. Out of all games this is the one I wished I had never played so I could play it for the first time again. I keep trying to mod it and sure there is a ton of great new content but its just not the same.
15:37 It's not a war from the heavens or even Dragons, in all reality it's probably a mudcrab that saw you as you were walking by and now you can't fast travel until you kill it.
OOOOOOOHHHHH!! NOW YOU FUCKED UP!! NOW YOU FUCKED UP!!! OOOOOOOOHHHH NOW YOU-OOHHHHHH!! NOW YOU FUCKED UP!! If you haven’t seen that video of the modded crabs in Skyrim the previous sentence will make no sense.
A very interesting thing about the themes "Dragonborn" and "Sovngarde" is that it is actually the same song. In the lore of Elder Scrolls Skyrim, Sovngarde was the original song and the lyrics tell of the legend of the Dragonborn (the protagonist) and what he/she will accomplish, but the song got lost to time. Quite some time later, they found the lyrics to the song but didn't know how it was supposed to sound like, so they did the best they could and created the song "Dragonborn", that is why there is a big difference in orchestration. The original song was made a very long time ago, so they made it with drums and vocals. When they found the lyrics again thousands of years later, their society had developed and added a bunch of instruments to it. On another note, I find it interesting that you noticed the shouting in Sovngarde (and Dragonborn to some extent) because that is actually the power of the Dragonborn (the protagonist), they are a mortal with a dragon soul, which grants them the power of a dragon and the abillity to permanently kill dragons (dragons are immortal otherwise). The power of the dragons is their language, which holds words of power. If you shout these words of power they manifest in different ways, whether it being fire breath, changing the weather or stopping time. So shouting is a very core component of Skyrim! :D
I've always ADORED Sovngarde for its simplicity, but intensity. I always kind of took the whole piece as the distant songs of the warriors in the halls singing out from their feasts to call the honored dead home.
You really should do a part 2 of Skyrim's OST. There's just so many amazing tracks. In particular, you should listen to "From Past to Present", "Wind Guide You", and "Far Horizons".
"Far Horizons" is my all time favorite, I neve get tired of hearing it while travelling 🥺 It is simply beautiful and incredibly atmospheric. Fingers crossed for a part 2! 🍀
The “Sovngarde” track is an iteration of the first track you listened to, “Dragonborn”, with the same lyrics in the game’s dragon language, Dovahzuhl. The Song of the Dragonborn heralds the prophesied player character, and the “Sovngarde” variant is like the warriors of Valhalla recognizing this champion of legend.
All of the musics of Skyrim are GOATED You can easily do a Part 2 with Far Horizon, The City Gates, Kyne's Peace, From Past to Present and so much more !
Male choirs, brass leads, sweeping strings and gentle pianos -- it's as if Jeremy Soule composed this OST with you in mind, isn't it? It's been mentioned already, but the vocals of "Dragonborn" are lyrics sung in the game's fictional language of the dragons, and has a published translation. To use the first verse as an example: "Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin / Wahdein vokul mahfaeraak ast vaal! / Ahrk fin norok paal graan / Fodnust vok zin dro zaan! / Dovahkiin, fah hin kogaan mu draal!" "Dragonborn, Dragonborn, by his honour is sworn / To keep evil forever at bay! / And the fiercest foes rout / When they hear triumph's shout! / Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray!"
The full lyrics and translation: "Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin Wahdein vokul mahfaeraak ast vaal! Ahrk fin norok paal graan Fodnust vok zin dro zaan! Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal! "Huzrah nu kul do od wah aan bok Lingrah vod, ahrk fin tey boziik fun do fin gein Wo lost fron wah ney dov ahrk fin rey liik do jul, Voth aan su ley kwahro nit faal krein! "Ahrk fin Kel lost prodah do vedviing ko fin krah Tol fod zehmah win kein mez fun dein - Alduin, feyn do jun, kru ziik vokun staadnau, Voth aan baaalok wah diivon fin lein! "Nuz aansul, fent alok Fod fin vul dovah nok Fen kos nah lot, mahfae raak ahrk ruz Paaz Keizaal fen kos stin nol bein Alduin jot! "Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin Wahdein vokul mahfaeraak ast vaal! Ahrk fin norok paal graan Fodnust vok zin dro zaan! Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal!" // "Dragonborn, Dragonborn, by his honour is sworn To keep evil forever at bay! And the fiercest foes rout When they hear triumph's shout! Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray! "Hearken now, Sons of Snow, to an age long ago And the tale boldly told of the one Who was kin to both wyrm and the races of man, with a power to rival the sun! And the Scrolls have foretold of black wings in the cold That when brothers wage war come unfurled - Alduin, bane of kings, ancient shadow unbound, With a hunger to swallow the world! "But a day shall arise When the dark dragon's lies Will be silenced forever and then Fair Skyrim will be free from foul Alduins maw! "Dragonborn, Dragonborn, by his honour is sworn To keep evil forever at bay! And the fiercest foes rout When they hear triumph's shout! Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray!"
Secunda… still one of the most beautiful pieces in gaming music. I allways listen to this when I walk through the woods and over the snowy fields in the Winter here in Saxony (Germany). There is so much nostalgia and a warm fuzzy feeling i cant quite discribe when listening to it. Reminds me of cool, snowy and lonely winter nights, where I just sit on my open window, breath the cold air and smokin some „Old Tobi“. ❤
After years and many, many hours playing Skyrim, i still get chills and pure joy hearing the Skyrim soundtrack whether it's listening to it on it's own or while i'm playing Skyrim
Whiterun is a provincial capital in Skyrim, a city on a hill next to a river coming from the tallest mountain, overlooking a vast plain of yellow fields. In a land of ice and snow it is the picture of fertility, comfort, and warmth.
The Elder Scrolls and Halo will always be my favourite game franchise, The music alone from both always bring back so many amazing memories and chill without fail. I still play both to this day when i have a chance as i don't play games as a whole often anymore. Love them so much and glad you like them both as well!
@@HaloDude557 love the Witcher franchise my dudes, as good as it is Halo and ES are my preferred franchises. Looking forward to Witcher 4, ES6 and next halo title. Just hope they’ll all good!
Watch the Skies is one of the tracks that play when dragons appear. That whiplash you felt is pretty much intentional, especially since the percussions comes up exactly the same time the dragon pops up above you. Also, I love how you pointed ou the shouting in the music. Shouting is one of the magical powers the main character has, and is an important part of in-game Nord culture and the world's history.
I was gonna mention how the whiplash is exactly the effect you get while playing. Like just walking around a town peacefully with a calm soundtrack in the back and then suddenly that intense music starts playing and you immediately start scanning the skies like the title implies 😆
She said that Streets of Whiterun sounded like water. Jeremy Soule HAS TO BE one of, if not the greatest media music and soundtrack directors and composers of all time. Dude quite literally captured the vibe he was going for so well, that someone who has never touched the game accurately described the WHY for the music (The water that flows through the streets of whiterun)
@@xX_Gravity_Xx yeah someone accused him of some misconduct in 2019, and the company funding his symphony broke ties with him. he then deleted all his socials (even tho people were waiting for his symphony for years......) and nobody's heard from him since
Honestly one of the tracks that I think doesn't get enough attention is specifically "Unbroken Road" because it only plays once in the entire questline in a story significant part. I recommend giving it a listen
FOR REAL! I love Unbroken Road so much, and I love that parts of it sound like parts of Reign of the Septims, which of the three most popular games is the main theme that gets overlooked from what I've seen.
Secunda is still my favorite song on the soundtrack. It only ever plays at nighttime in the game, hence the calm and melancholy vibe. It fits the darkness very well. Watch the Skies is a dragon battle music. Comes on when a dragon shows up. Also, the entire soundtrack is amazing.
"I imagine it comes back a lot in the game" It's the opening title track before you go into the game, and the main time you hear it in the game is as boss music when a dragon shows up. "Watch the skys" is the other dragon boss music... if you step out of a city or house and that music suddenly cuts in, your head is on a swivel.
Dragonborn holds a special place in my heart and not just because it's a great game but for my senior year in high school i was in orchestra and the first concert we did that year was 3 video game songs with dragonborn being one of them and rest being a zelda and super mario galaxy ost
Funny to hear you talk about the “shouting” in Sovngarde. That’s what draconic magic is called in this game and it’s a part of Skyrim’s (the nation) culture.
The White River runs through Whiterun Hold. The music you thought was terrifying is one of the "combat music" types in the game. The first song, Song of the Dragonborn, is sometimes played during fights with dragons. Watch the Skies is also during combat with dragons. If the fight draws out long enough you might hear both songs during a fight with a dragon. You hear Sovngarde during a specific part of the main quest.
My most distinct memories of the more intense themes "watch the Skies" and "Death or Sovngarde" are in fact, not fighting fantastical creatures (though that did happen) no the most distinct memories are of me listening to these themes in 2011 while desperately searching for that one mudcrab that won't let me fast travel! >:(
It only dawned on me now. Sovngarde. With some lingual mixing, we can read it as "Sleep Guard", where the afterlife takes care of your soul as you rest forever. Of if we stay in Scandinavian languages, we get really close to "Sleep Garden".
Even after playing and replaying the game so many times that I now find it a bit bland, I won't lie: booting up the game and hearing that bombastic opening theme _always_ gets me hyped. I don't load up my save until the song's over.
Secunda (at least to me) is not melancholic at all. The game is vastly just exploration. So as youre taking in the beautiful scenery this song kind of fills you with wonder and serenity.
Some suggestions based on what you've loved so far: The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Baldur's Gate 3! These soundtracks are so good that I legit listen to them in place of actual music
The entire Skyrim soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece. A lot of those shorter songs will play on repeat in the background while you're playing. This is a soundtrack that you can put on, lay back, and just simply "be" while you lose yourself in it and let the world and its worries fade away.
I do kinda wanna see you react to Morrowind and Oblivion's sountracks too. Both are also by Jeremy Soule. (Also the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic soundtrack)
this sound track is complete nostalgia for me and many of us. any of these tracks just brings all of us back to sitting in our room on a cool night playing this game for hours.the beauty of the game and the amazing music made you just so immersed losing yourself in each moment. thank you for reacting to this it brings back very fond memories.
I owned an autographed copy of the soundtrack for a full 7 years before finally playing the game to any real degree - Soule’s command of such emotional orchestrations is top-tier. It’s also shocking when you realize that all of the music was done via orchestral samples, no actual orchestra used
Ive been playing skyrim recently and tbought to myself the other day "hmm i wonder if emily has reviewed these skyrim soundtracks" lol its great to see you have
The story of Skyrim Theme, Dovahkiin: the last Dragonborn comes to Skyrim appears (is created) when Alduin the World Eater appears right when Skyrim is at its lowest point. Then the singing starts to tell the story of the Last Dragonborn who starts leveling up, battling many dragons to the death and finds his way to Sovengarde (as a living person) to destroy Alduin the existential threat. Then peace returns to the land.
Other things you should know about Skyrim: dragons and shouting are core elements. And your mention of running water on Streets of Whiterun was apt, because the town has a natural spring that flows down through the streets of the town.
It's cool that you focus on the Feels, instead of just the theory. My family had a simple spinet piano with low strings that kind of raddled, and it always made me imagine an immense roar in the distance, something like that magnificent chord at the end of "Dragonborn" at 2:58 - Timpani Cymbals? Gong? Choir (should throw in some brass too.) I don't know if I could re-create the sound on a computer, but this piece gets it pretty good.
Brilliant soundtrack, brilliant composer. I love his work on the elder scrolls games as well as the first Guild Wars OST. He conveys emotion in memorable themes.
Secunda is able to bring me to tears from nostalgia, but for me the most beautiful track in all Skyrim is "From Past to Present". Every time I hear it, it heals my soul
As others have mentioned, 'Secunda' is the theme that plays when you are traveling under the stars at night, outside of combat. What I *haven't* seen anyone mention, is that "Secunda" is also the name of the smaller of Nirn's two moons, the larger one being "Masser."
Sovngarde's theme is basically a song to honor those who died valiantly in battle and shows respect to the noble warriors that celebrate in the afterlife.
I played this world for 3000 hours in my life, Tamriel is my home, thank you for this video, i had chills with your Bloodborne and Elden Ring videos, i feel the music just like you, its like watching me hearing them for the first time somehow and it gives asrm or something like that :D
If you want in your spare time to listen to the whole soundtrack, Jeremy Soule, the composer, has a playlist on his RUclips channel and I recommend it because these were all the choices new people to Skyrim hear and they are great, but there are some beautiful ones that are heard less by most. Great reaction!
The main theme does pop up throughout the game, yes, albeit in a somewhat... beefier form. Specifically when you're fighting dragons or story bosses. It's called One They Fear, and the best way to describe it is a theme music power up for the player. It's actually gotten players killed because they get so flippin' pumped up by it that they will drop whatever they're up to and try to whack the dragon. Very dangerous if it's one of the nastier ones, such as an Elder or Ancient.
One fun thing to note about the language of the dragons (what all of the songs are sang in) is that the translations into English can be sang in place of the original words and fit perfectly into the instruments
streets of whiterun will be forever close to my heart when it comes to video game music. my first true RPG was skyrim and first city was whiterun. the music is amazing and will forever love this track.
Feels like water... in the streets of Whiterun, you can always HEAR water. Steps of Dragonsreach, the streams outside... the well... water is everywhere.
Death or Sovngarde is a combat theme that sometimes plays when you run into random enemies on the map when you're exploring. Which I find interesting that sometimes it plays instead of the other one.
The main theme does come back fairly often in the game. There's a faster-paced version of it that plays when you're fighting a dragon. But the really awesome thing about it is that if you look at the translated lyrics, you realize: The song isn't the dragon's boss fight music. The song is YOUR boss fight music for the DRAGON, because the player character of Skyrim is a prophesied hero who is a mortal with the power of dragons, and the only being that can permanently kill them.
You should check out the rest of the Elder Scrolls franchise as well. Morrowind in particular has the same theme as Skyrim, only with instrumentals and a completely different tone and emotion. Also for a new franchise to listen to, I highly recommend Mass Effect. Some very meaningful OSTs in that series
If you like male choirs, I would highly suggest the track "Warlord" from the Killer Instinct OST. Similar concept, with a pretty different vibe. It also features a flute made from an actual human leg bone.
What song plays where and when? Dragonborn plays in the main menu Death or Sovngarde is regular combat music like for bandits, vampires and most importantly crabs. Veterans will understand. Secunda plays while you're out exploring and that's also where the music makes the game feel so much like home. Even if the game itself isn't a masterpiece. The Streets of Whiterun plays in Whiterun of course Watch the Skys plays when encountering a dragon in a fight Sovngarde i actually don't remember (only played the game once through) but it's somewhere at the end
You can watch the trailer for the game to which the opening music is set. It works perfectly in tandem. It is written for the trailer I think. Also the theme is the general elder scrolls theme since the first game (this is the 5th game) .. but with totally different instrumentation and tempo.
I highly recommend checking out Oblivion and Morrowind too. There's some pretty consistent motifs throughout all of them, but each carries a different vibe. Skyrim is harsh and loud, oblivion is whimsical and adventurous, and Morrowind is mysterious and reflective. Also, the song of sovengarde is my favorite. Only those who died as a true nord, that is with a warrior's death, can enter. The song is actually coming from the centuries of dead warriors within Shor's Hall singing a battle cry about the approaching Dovakhiin (the player character) as you arrive to put down the world eater, Alduin. The drums give the feeling of an army marching to war. They shout in the song to represent the voice of the dragonborn, because they're all fucking hyped to see the might of the legendary dragonborn tested against the demigod that will bring about the end of the world in the realm of dead warriors.
this was awesome, I'm glad the Skyrim out is getting the love it deserves. If you ever do a part 2, my recommendations are Tundra, Frostfall, and A Winters Tale.
Skyrim has one of the best OST and theme song around. Would love to see you reacting and listening to the opening theme of Shadows on the Vatican Act 1 Greed. and Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 20th OST, especially the theme and the Library soundtrack. I'm sure you'll enjoy them.
@IlexEmily: Here's some info for you on each of those tracks :) Dragonborn: The theme of Skyrim, sometimes also durign dragon fights Death or Sovngarde: Music that's playing whenever you're being spotted by regular enemies that are about to attack Secunda: Very beautiful one, is played while exploring the world (the sad or rather "lonely" aspect is bc Skyrim is a cold land, partly covered in snow) The streets of Whiterun: Plays while walking through a town/city, Whiterun is the first big one you come across Watch the skys: Epic music that plays whenever a dragon approaches and you're about to fight it Sovngarde: Late in the game (no spoilers ;) ) PS: You should definitely play Skyrim some day! 🙂 The exploration together with the music and all that - it's a unique experience. PPS: I wouldn't mind a second Skyrim Reaction, since it has many more amazing songs. For example my absolute favorite one is called "Dawn". ❤
I was going to make recommendations for this soundtrack but everyone had beat me to it. But skyrim is a must play for anyone. And the soundtrack is one of the best
17:55 you nailed the feeling perfectly. Its overwhelming, because youre literally walking into the drinking halls of the warrior gods. Where souls go to war outside just for the chance to enter, by fighting the champion of the gods to cross a bridge. Its all foggy, theres a giant dragon sweeping around overhead, souls running through the mist. Great stuff and a great song for it
The Morrowind theme is a good one to listen to to see the origins of the theme, they then modified it for Oblivion and then Skyrim. As someone who started with Morrowind seeing the first trailers for Skyrim was epic.
You absolutely have to revisit this OST. Every track is gorgeous. You didn't even listen to the best tracks IMO. Unbroken Road, Distant Horizons, Far Horizons, The White River, One They Fear, Tundra, The Gathering Storm, and Wind Guide You are all some of the best. I would also recommend Soule's Oblivion soundtrack which I believe is better than Skyrims. Through the Valleys, King and Country, Wings of Kynareth, Watchman's Ease, Glory of Cyrodiil, Minstrels Lament, Auriel's Ascension, and Sunrise of Flutes are all incredible works of art.
Thanks for your reactions! (Apart from more Skyrim...) Please feel free to try the OST of "Dear Esther", composed by an English lady who won a number of awards for it, even if the actual game (more of an interactive narrative) passed a bit under the radar.
The most memorable games always seem to have the best music. People often ignore the music in games, but it's there, and it makes a difference. The gameplay in Skyrim is just a slight improvement over Oblivion, and obviously the graphics are a step up, but the music is on another level. Halo, Baldur's Gate 3, Doom, even Grand Theft Auto with its carefully selected licensed music, all these games have music that actually makes you feel things relevant to the world you're in, and it creates a full experience that some good-but-nonspecific music simply can't.
You may like "Armed and Dangerous" video game soundtrack. In particular the Ambience tracks. The game takes place in Europe so the music has some Celtic Scottish themes.
Some cool Orchestra / Choir pieces that might be similar are "Harmonium" by John Adams, "Itaipu" by Philip Glass, and of course, "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff.
Jeremy Soule is really a great composer! You should definitely check out music from Morrowind and Oblivion as well, this is gorgeous! Notice how the theme from "Nerevar Rising" goes through all parts of Elder Scrolls, from Morrowind to Skyrim, even in TES Online there is a variation of it) A shame Jeremy has disappeared from radars and may not be a composer in TES6, but let us hope for the best...
Fun fact: All the vocals you heard were sung in the games own fictional language, "Dovahzul", the language of the dragons. Complete with its own alphabet and even an online translator.
I think the language is called "Dovahzuul"? I could be wrong, but I have a vague memory of it being called that. Dovah just means dragon. :D
@@魔王-c1e You're correct, the name of the language is Dovahzuul
It even translates into a version that you can sing in English, and if I remember right, it even properly rhymes.
@@semmieb3e127 the bards in taverns sing that when you finish the main quest. They sing about your tales
Though maybe k remember wrong and they just sing it but not the full version and different tone
It’s really funny they made up the language and asked their composer to use and make Skyrim’s theme using elder scrolls main theme. And he slammed it on their desk next day.
Secunda plays when youre wandering around the world at night with no enemies near. Just you, the borealis above, and the amazing handcrafted world all around you.
Watch the Skies intensity isnt undeserved, given its one of the themes that kicks in when youre fighting a dragon.
The night in snowy biomes music
Also worth mentioning Secunda is one of the two moons in the sky, hence the serenity.
or a pro wrestler.
Once, I played Secunda on a snowy morning.
It was early, before first light, and fine snow blew gently with the wind, across the already-covered streets.
No cars were driving. Nobody else could be seen. All lights in houses were dark, only the soft glow of the city light pollution to see by.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was one of the most magical moments in my life so far,
That sounds like a real world skyrim experience 😂
Real
"My cousin's out fighting dragons, and what do I get? Guard duty."
“I mostly deal with petty thievery and drunken brawls. Been too long since we’ve had a good bandit raid.”
“I used to be an adventurer like you till I took an arrow to the knee”
"Let me guess, someone stole your sweet roll"
"What is it? Dragons?"
"Heard they're reforming the Dawnguard. Vampire hunters or something, in the old fort near Riften. Might consider joining up myself."
I can tell you exactly what "The streets of Whiterun" sound like. It sounds like home. Whiterun is the first major location most players will go to and it's where players will spend their first few hours in. It's also the place where most people will buy their first player home. You'll regularly come back to Whiterun to trade and rest at your home after a long day of adventuring. It really feels like coming home
I usually beelined straight to Solitude after the first playthrough (mainly for Sheogorath's Daedric quest, it being my favorite), and the homesteads tended to be my main player homes -- but Whiterun still remains the town I most frequently visit during organic play, especially on my 'No Fast-Travel' playthroughs when I keep passing through that open valley on my way elsewhere.
"There's a nip in the air. Cold won't be good for my crops."
@dimentiox80sshenanigans50 "Is that... _fur?_ Coming out of your _ears?"_
My Khajiit werewolf main: *_"...Really?"_*
100%
God I miss skyrim. Out of all games this is the one I wished I had never played so I could play it for the first time again. I keep trying to mod it and sure there is a ton of great new content but its just not the same.
"thats not a flute thats a person!" i am dying
"That's not a horker that's my wife!"
15:37 It's not a war from the heavens or even Dragons, in all reality it's probably a mudcrab that saw you as you were walking by and now you can't fast travel until you kill it.
And the mudcrab is glitched into the ground so you can't attack it
And his effing buddy slaughterfish.
OOOOOOOHHHHH!! NOW YOU FUCKED UP!! NOW YOU FUCKED UP!!! OOOOOOOOHHHH NOW YOU-OOHHHHHH!! NOW YOU FUCKED UP!!
If you haven’t seen that video of the modded crabs in Skyrim the previous sentence will make no sense.
When you expect a normal dragon and you get randy savage “OOOHHH YEAH”
It's always a mud crab 😂 or a damn spitty spider hiding somewhere and you can't see it so the music confuses you 😂 been there
A very interesting thing about the themes "Dragonborn" and "Sovngarde" is that it is actually the same song. In the lore of Elder Scrolls Skyrim, Sovngarde was the original song and the lyrics tell of the legend of the Dragonborn (the protagonist) and what he/she will accomplish, but the song got lost to time. Quite some time later, they found the lyrics to the song but didn't know how it was supposed to sound like, so they did the best they could and created the song "Dragonborn", that is why there is a big difference in orchestration. The original song was made a very long time ago, so they made it with drums and vocals. When they found the lyrics again thousands of years later, their society had developed and added a bunch of instruments to it.
On another note, I find it interesting that you noticed the shouting in Sovngarde (and Dragonborn to some extent) because that is actually the power of the Dragonborn (the protagonist), they are a mortal with a dragon soul, which grants them the power of a dragon and the abillity to permanently kill dragons (dragons are immortal otherwise). The power of the dragons is their language, which holds words of power. If you shout these words of power they manifest in different ways, whether it being fire breath, changing the weather or stopping time. So shouting is a very core component of Skyrim! :D
Secunda for me is always the majesty of walking under the open stars, staring up into the night sky in an icy tundra.
maybe that's why they named it after the (second) moon
I've always ADORED Sovngarde for its simplicity, but intensity. I always kind of took the whole piece as the distant songs of the warriors in the halls singing out from their feasts to call the honored dead home.
You really should do a part 2 of Skyrim's OST. There's just so many amazing tracks. In particular, you should listen to "From Past to Present", "Wind Guide You", and "Far Horizons".
"Far Horizons" is my all time favorite, I neve get tired of hearing it while travelling 🥺
It is simply beautiful and incredibly atmospheric.
Fingers crossed for a part 2! 🍀
@@YayoiKuranTundra is probably my favorite track that plays, especially when exploring the frozen wastes west of Winterhold
Don’t forget “Ancient Stones!”
and Tundra and gathering storm.
Unbroken Road
The “Sovngarde” track is an iteration of the first track you listened to, “Dragonborn”, with the same lyrics in the game’s dragon language, Dovahzuhl. The Song of the Dragonborn heralds the prophesied player character, and the “Sovngarde” variant is like the warriors of Valhalla recognizing this champion of legend.
All of the musics of Skyrim are GOATED
You can easily do a Part 2 with Far Horizon, The City Gates, Kyne's Peace, From Past to Present and so much more !
I use it for almost every game 😬🤣
Male choirs, brass leads, sweeping strings and gentle pianos -- it's as if Jeremy Soule composed this OST with you in mind, isn't it?
It's been mentioned already, but the vocals of "Dragonborn" are lyrics sung in the game's fictional language of the dragons, and has a published translation. To use the first verse as an example:
"Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin /
Wahdein vokul mahfaeraak ast vaal! /
Ahrk fin norok paal graan /
Fodnust vok zin dro zaan! /
Dovahkiin, fah hin kogaan mu draal!"
"Dragonborn, Dragonborn, by his honour is sworn /
To keep evil forever at bay! /
And the fiercest foes rout /
When they hear triumph's shout! /
Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray!"
The full lyrics and translation:
"Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin
Wahdein vokul mahfaeraak ast vaal!
Ahrk fin norok paal graan
Fodnust vok zin dro zaan!
Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal!
"Huzrah nu kul do od wah aan bok
Lingrah vod, ahrk fin tey boziik fun do fin gein
Wo lost fron wah ney dov ahrk fin rey liik do jul,
Voth aan su ley kwahro nit faal krein!
"Ahrk fin Kel lost prodah do vedviing ko fin krah
Tol fod zehmah win kein mez fun dein -
Alduin, feyn do jun, kru ziik vokun staadnau,
Voth aan baaalok wah diivon fin lein!
"Nuz aansul, fent alok
Fod fin vul dovah nok
Fen kos nah lot, mahfae raak ahrk ruz
Paaz Keizaal fen kos stin nol bein Alduin jot!
"Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin, naal ok zin los vahriin
Wahdein vokul mahfaeraak ast vaal!
Ahrk fin norok paal graan
Fodnust vok zin dro zaan!
Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal!"
//
"Dragonborn, Dragonborn, by his honour is sworn
To keep evil forever at bay!
And the fiercest foes rout
When they hear triumph's shout!
Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray!
"Hearken now, Sons of Snow, to an age long ago
And the tale boldly told of the one
Who was kin to both wyrm and the races of man,
with a power to rival the sun!
And the Scrolls have foretold of black wings in the cold
That when brothers wage war come unfurled -
Alduin, bane of kings, ancient shadow unbound,
With a hunger to swallow the world!
"But a day shall arise
When the dark dragon's lies
Will be silenced forever and then
Fair Skyrim will be free from foul Alduins maw!
"Dragonborn, Dragonborn, by his honour is sworn
To keep evil forever at bay!
And the fiercest foes rout
When they hear triumph's shout!
Dragonborn, for your blessing we pray!"
Secunda… still one of the most beautiful pieces in gaming music. I allways listen to this when I walk through the woods and over the snowy fields in the Winter here in Saxony (Germany). There is so much nostalgia and a warm fuzzy feeling i cant quite discribe when listening to it. Reminds me of cool, snowy and lonely winter nights, where I just sit on my open window, breath the cold air and smokin some „Old Tobi“. ❤
After years and many, many hours playing Skyrim, i still get chills and pure joy hearing the Skyrim soundtrack whether it's listening to it on it's own or while i'm playing Skyrim
"Feels like water..." there is water running through channels throughout Whiterun. Well done.
Whiterun is a provincial capital in Skyrim, a city on a hill next to a river coming from the tallest mountain, overlooking a vast plain of yellow fields. In a land of ice and snow it is the picture of fertility, comfort, and warmth.
The Elder Scrolls and Halo will always be my favourite game franchise, The music alone from both always bring back so many amazing memories and chill without fail. I still play both to this day when i have a chance as i don't play games as a whole often anymore. Love them so much and glad you like them both as well!
Both have many similarities.
@@IwinMahWay they do indeed
You should try Witcher 3. It’s a rollercoaster
@@HaloDude557 love the Witcher franchise my dudes, as good as it is Halo and ES are my preferred franchises. Looking forward to Witcher 4, ES6 and next halo title. Just hope they’ll all good!
Secunda is the music that plays when you're exploring, in plains and stuff, Watch the sky is when you fight a dragon
Secunda is the name of the moon in Skyrim, it's play at night too
Watch the Skies is one of the tracks that play when dragons appear. That whiplash you felt is pretty much intentional, especially since the percussions comes up exactly the same time the dragon pops up above you.
Also, I love how you pointed ou the shouting in the music. Shouting is one of the magical powers the main character has, and is an important part of in-game Nord culture and the world's history.
I was gonna mention how the whiplash is exactly the effect you get while playing. Like just walking around a town peacefully with a calm soundtrack in the back and then suddenly that intense music starts playing and you immediately start scanning the skies like the title implies 😆
She said that Streets of Whiterun sounded like water. Jeremy Soule HAS TO BE one of, if not the greatest media music and soundtrack directors and composers of all time. Dude quite literally captured the vibe he was going for so well, that someone who has never touched the game accurately described the WHY for the music (The water that flows through the streets of whiterun)
Fantastic composer. Shame he's just like everyone else when it comes to taking people to his hotel room.
@@alexmartinelli6231 What? Really?
@@xX_Gravity_Xx yeah someone accused him of some misconduct in 2019, and the company funding his symphony broke ties with him. he then deleted all his socials (even tho people were waiting for his symphony for years......) and nobody's heard from him since
@@alexmartinelli6231 That sucks. I'll hold my judgement until I have more info, but honestly it doesn't seem too far fetched.
@@xX_Gravity_Xx Wait until you hear that he compared Piracy to the Holocaust. I'm not kidding.
Honestly one of the tracks that I think doesn't get enough attention is specifically "Unbroken Road" because it only plays once in the entire questline in a story significant part. I recommend giving it a listen
FOR REAL! I love Unbroken Road so much, and I love that parts of it sound like parts of Reign of the Septims, which of the three most popular games is the main theme that gets overlooked from what I've seen.
Need a part 2 for sure, so many amazing ones that are still left to be heard by your ears
Secunda is still my favorite song on the soundtrack. It only ever plays at nighttime in the game, hence the calm and melancholy vibe. It fits the darkness very well. Watch the Skies is a dragon battle music. Comes on when a dragon shows up.
Also, the entire soundtrack is amazing.
"I imagine it comes back a lot in the game"
It's the opening title track before you go into the game, and the main time you hear it in the game is as boss music when a dragon shows up.
"Watch the skys" is the other dragon boss music... if you step out of a city or house and that music suddenly cuts in, your head is on a swivel.
Dragonborn holds a special place in my heart and not just because it's a great game but for my senior year in high school i was in orchestra and the first concert we did that year was 3 video game songs with dragonborn being one of them and rest being a zelda and super mario galaxy ost
Funny to hear you talk about the “shouting” in Sovngarde. That’s what draconic magic is called in this game and it’s a part of Skyrim’s (the nation) culture.
The White River runs through Whiterun Hold. The music you thought was terrifying is one of the "combat music" types in the game. The first song, Song of the Dragonborn, is sometimes played during fights with dragons. Watch the Skies is also during combat with dragons. If the fight draws out long enough you might hear both songs during a fight with a dragon. You hear Sovngarde during a specific part of the main quest.
My most distinct memories of the more intense themes "watch the Skies" and "Death or Sovngarde" are in fact, not fighting fantastical creatures (though that did happen) no the most distinct memories are of me listening to these themes in 2011 while desperately searching for that one mudcrab that won't let me fast travel! >:(
The strings at 12:55 in Streets of Whiterun are everything, my favorite track in the game.
The strings come in; I'm home.
It only dawned on me now. Sovngarde. With some lingual mixing, we can read it as "Sleep Guard", where the afterlife takes care of your soul as you rest forever. Of if we stay in Scandinavian languages, we get really close to "Sleep Garden".
Guys, become a member. It's worth it 100%!
The vocals in Dragonborn always get me. It reminds me of when I first saw the reveal trailer.
Even after playing and replaying the game so many times that I now find it a bit bland, I won't lie: booting up the game and hearing that bombastic opening theme _always_ gets me hyped. I don't load up my save until the song's over.
Secunda (at least to me) is not melancholic at all. The game is vastly just exploration. So as youre taking in the beautiful scenery this song kind of fills you with wonder and serenity.
Some suggestions based on what you've loved so far: The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Baldur's Gate 3! These soundtracks are so good that I legit listen to them in place of actual music
The entire Skyrim soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece. A lot of those shorter songs will play on repeat in the background while you're playing. This is a soundtrack that you can put on, lay back, and just simply "be" while you lose yourself in it and let the world and its worries fade away.
It’s impressive that Watch the Skies with no context gave Emily the right context just by listening
Watch the skies traveler.
There was a huge mod called "Enderal". I highly recommend listening to that one too, especially since it was 100% community made and non-profit.
I do kinda wanna see you react to Morrowind and Oblivion's sountracks too. Both are also by Jeremy Soule.
(Also the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic soundtrack)
I don't know much about skyrims music.. but this is a VIBE
this sound track is complete nostalgia for me and many of us. any of these tracks just brings all of us back to sitting in our room on a cool night playing this game for hours.the beauty of the game and the amazing music made you just so immersed losing yourself in each moment. thank you for reacting to this it brings back very fond memories.
I owned an autographed copy of the soundtrack for a full 7 years before finally playing the game to any real degree - Soule’s command of such emotional orchestrations is top-tier. It’s also shocking when you realize that all of the music was done via orchestral samples, no actual orchestra used
So ready for you to listen to the other bethesda games, especially Oblivion. Might make me cry hearing you comment on that soundtrack haha
Jeremy soule is so good
Honestly, even the Skywind soundtrack.
Guard: hmm must have been the wind
Ive been playing skyrim recently and tbought to myself the other day "hmm i wonder if emily has reviewed these skyrim soundtracks" lol its great to see you have
The story of Skyrim Theme, Dovahkiin: the last Dragonborn comes to Skyrim appears (is created) when Alduin the World Eater appears right when Skyrim is at its lowest point. Then the singing starts to tell the story of the Last Dragonborn who starts leveling up, battling many dragons to the death and finds his way to Sovengarde (as a living person) to destroy Alduin the existential threat. Then peace returns to the land.
As a veteran Skyrim player I love your reaction to the scores
Other things you should know about Skyrim: dragons and shouting are core elements. And your mention of running water on Streets of Whiterun was apt, because the town has a natural spring that flows down through the streets of the town.
Loved this but we need a part 2! You’ve got to listen to “from past to present” and “ancient stones”!!🎉
It's cool that you focus on the Feels, instead of just the theory.
My family had a simple spinet piano with low strings that kind of raddled, and it always made me imagine an immense roar in the distance, something like that magnificent chord at the end of "Dragonborn" at 2:58 - Timpani Cymbals? Gong? Choir (should throw in some brass too.)
I don't know if I could re-create the sound on a computer, but this piece gets it pretty good.
Brilliant soundtrack, brilliant composer. I love his work on the elder scrolls games as well as the first Guild Wars OST. He conveys emotion in memorable themes.
Secunda is able to bring me to tears from nostalgia, but for me the most beautiful track in all Skyrim is "From Past to Present". Every time I hear it, it heals my soul
As others have mentioned, 'Secunda' is the theme that plays when you are traveling under the stars at night, outside of combat.
What I *haven't* seen anyone mention, is that "Secunda" is also the name of the smaller of Nirn's two moons, the larger one being "Masser."
Sovngarde's theme is basically a song to honor those who died valiantly in battle and shows respect to the noble warriors that celebrate in the afterlife.
You have already leave the best soundtrack of it, awake, past to present and other most beautiful soundtrack.
I played this world for 3000 hours in my life, Tamriel is my home, thank you for this video, i had chills with your Bloodborne and Elden Ring videos, i feel the music just like you, its like watching me hearing them for the first time somehow and it gives asrm or something like that :D
If you want in your spare time to listen to the whole soundtrack, Jeremy Soule, the composer, has a playlist on his RUclips channel and I recommend it because these were all the choices new people to Skyrim hear and they are great, but there are some beautiful ones that are heard less by most. Great reaction!
8:48 when I close my eyes and listen to Seccunda, I always picture being in a giant stone fantasy city in the snow on quiet night
Now you need to listen to the main themes from oblivion and morrowind.
The main theme does pop up throughout the game, yes, albeit in a somewhat... beefier form. Specifically when you're fighting dragons or story bosses. It's called One They Fear, and the best way to describe it is a theme music power up for the player. It's actually gotten players killed because they get so flippin' pumped up by it that they will drop whatever they're up to and try to whack the dragon. Very dangerous if it's one of the nastier ones, such as an Elder or Ancient.
One fun thing to note about the language of the dragons (what all of the songs are sang in) is that the translations into English can be sang in place of the original words and fit perfectly into the instruments
Ah, the streets of whiterun 😊❤
But why no Ancient Stones??? Or Kyne's Peace??
streets of whiterun will be forever close to my heart when it comes to video game music. my first true RPG was skyrim and first city was whiterun. the music is amazing and will forever love this track.
Feels like water... in the streets of Whiterun, you can always HEAR water. Steps of Dragonsreach, the streams outside... the well... water is everywhere.
Death or Sovngarde is a combat theme that sometimes plays when you run into random enemies on the map when you're exploring. Which I find interesting that sometimes it plays instead of the other one.
In Skyrim there are also several songs sung by bards in taverns, which are also great! Especially covered by Maluka, VoicePlay and many others)
The main theme does come back fairly often in the game. There's a faster-paced version of it that plays when you're fighting a dragon. But the really awesome thing about it is that if you look at the translated lyrics, you realize: The song isn't the dragon's boss fight music. The song is YOUR boss fight music for the DRAGON, because the player character of Skyrim is a prophesied hero who is a mortal with the power of dragons, and the only being that can permanently kill them.
You should check out the rest of the Elder Scrolls franchise as well. Morrowind in particular has the same theme as Skyrim, only with instrumentals and a completely different tone and emotion.
Also for a new franchise to listen to, I highly recommend Mass Effect. Some very meaningful OSTs in that series
This is absolutely my favorite game soundtrack of all time. I loved your reactions, and await a part 2!
If you like male choirs, I would highly suggest the track "Warlord" from the Killer Instinct OST. Similar concept, with a pretty different vibe. It also features a flute made from an actual human leg bone.
What song plays where and when?
Dragonborn plays in the main menu
Death or Sovngarde is regular combat music like for bandits, vampires and most importantly crabs. Veterans will understand.
Secunda plays while you're out exploring and that's also where the music makes the game feel so much like home. Even if the game itself isn't a masterpiece.
The Streets of Whiterun plays in Whiterun of course
Watch the Skys plays when encountering a dragon in a fight
Sovngarde i actually don't remember (only played the game once through) but it's somewhere at the end
Sovngarde plays in… well Sovngarde. Which is indeed the end of the story. So you got it.
I think the vibe for Secunda is "wonder".
You can watch the trailer for the game to which the opening music is set. It works perfectly in tandem. It is written for the trailer I think.
Also the theme is the general elder scrolls theme since the first game (this is the 5th game) .. but with totally different instrumentation and tempo.
I highly recommend checking out Oblivion and Morrowind too. There's some pretty consistent motifs throughout all of them, but each carries a different vibe. Skyrim is harsh and loud, oblivion is whimsical and adventurous, and Morrowind is mysterious and reflective.
Also, the song of sovengarde is my favorite. Only those who died as a true nord, that is with a warrior's death, can enter. The song is actually coming from the centuries of dead warriors within Shor's Hall singing a battle cry about the approaching Dovakhiin (the player character) as you arrive to put down the world eater, Alduin. The drums give the feeling of an army marching to war. They shout in the song to represent the voice of the dragonborn, because they're all fucking hyped to see the might of the legendary dragonborn tested against the demigod that will bring about the end of the world in the realm of dead warriors.
Must listen from this OST:
Far Horizons
Kyne’s Peace
Awake
One They Fear
this was awesome, I'm glad the Skyrim out is getting the love it deserves. If you ever do a part 2, my recommendations are Tundra, Frostfall, and A Winters Tale.
It would be logical, and more respectful, to mention the name of the composer of this masterpiece: Jeremy Soule.
8:50 yes and no. I feel a bit of sadness and loneliness, but it's also relaxing, euphoric, and dreamlike.
"In their tongue he is Dovahkiin; Dragonborn!"
"Fus! Ro! Dah!"
Skyrim has one of the best OST and theme song around. Would love to see you reacting and listening to the opening theme of Shadows on the Vatican Act 1 Greed. and Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 20th OST, especially the theme and the Library soundtrack. I'm sure you'll enjoy them.
@IlexEmily: Here's some info for you on each of those tracks :)
Dragonborn: The theme of Skyrim, sometimes also durign dragon fights
Death or Sovngarde: Music that's playing whenever you're being spotted by regular enemies that are about to attack
Secunda: Very beautiful one, is played while exploring the world (the sad or rather "lonely" aspect is bc Skyrim is a cold land, partly covered in snow)
The streets of Whiterun: Plays while walking through a town/city, Whiterun is the first big one you come across
Watch the skys: Epic music that plays whenever a dragon approaches and you're about to fight it
Sovngarde: Late in the game (no spoilers ;) )
PS: You should definitely play Skyrim some day! 🙂 The exploration together with the music and all that - it's a unique experience.
PPS: I wouldn't mind a second Skyrim Reaction, since it has many more amazing songs. For example my absolute favorite one is called "Dawn". ❤
When "Watch the Skies" started, my immediate thought was to look around to see where the dragon is!
Streets of Whiterun has some amazing AMAZING post-rock, shoegaze style covers
12:12 exactly, it feels like water because there is a river flowing from the castle through the town’s gate.
Secunda was an instant favorite upon first hear. Other favorites are Ancient Stones with its hammered dulcimer and Masser with its choir.
8:48 kinda hahaha, it's a night soundtrack, to me is a solitude vibe, being alone in the night wondering in a fantasy and pretty world
I was going to make recommendations for this soundtrack but everyone had beat me to it. But skyrim is a must play for anyone. And the soundtrack is one of the best
The version of the Elder Scrolls theme for Skyrim was amazing. Calling it Dragonborn is very fitting.
17:55 you nailed the feeling perfectly. Its overwhelming, because youre literally walking into the drinking halls of the warrior gods. Where souls go to war outside just for the chance to enter, by fighting the champion of the gods to cross a bridge.
Its all foggy, theres a giant dragon sweeping around overhead, souls running through the mist. Great stuff and a great song for it
The Morrowind theme is a good one to listen to to see the origins of the theme, they then modified it for Oblivion and then Skyrim.
As someone who started with Morrowind seeing the first trailers for Skyrim was epic.
Listening to these tracks on their own makes me appreciate them so much. Like, damn, I didn't realize how beautiful The Streets of Whiterun is.
You absolutely have to revisit this OST. Every track is gorgeous. You didn't even listen to the best tracks IMO. Unbroken Road, Distant Horizons, Far Horizons, The White River, One They Fear, Tundra, The Gathering Storm, and Wind Guide You are all some of the best. I would also recommend Soule's Oblivion soundtrack which I believe is better than Skyrims. Through the Valleys, King and Country, Wings of Kynareth, Watchman's Ease, Glory of Cyrodiil, Minstrels Lament, Auriel's Ascension, and Sunrise of Flutes are all incredible works of art.
I love the skyrim sound track i listen to this instead of game music when i play other games 😂, glad you enjoyed
I missed "From Past to Present" not being in the list, but overall good choices
The Skyrim main menu music is the absolute best in the entire Elder Scrolls series of games! Soo good!
Thanks for your reactions!
(Apart from more Skyrim...) Please feel free to try the OST of "Dear Esther", composed by an English lady who won a number of awards for it, even if the actual game (more of an interactive narrative) passed a bit under the radar.
The most memorable games always seem to have the best music. People often ignore the music in games, but it's there, and it makes a difference. The gameplay in Skyrim is just a slight improvement over Oblivion, and obviously the graphics are a step up, but the music is on another level. Halo, Baldur's Gate 3, Doom, even Grand Theft Auto with its carefully selected licensed music, all these games have music that actually makes you feel things relevant to the world you're in, and it creates a full experience that some good-but-nonspecific music simply can't.
You may like "Armed and Dangerous" video game soundtrack. In particular the Ambience tracks. The game takes place in Europe so the music has some Celtic Scottish themes.
Some cool Orchestra / Choir pieces that might be similar are "Harmonium" by John Adams, "Itaipu" by Philip Glass, and of course, "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff.
Jeremy Soule is really a great composer! You should definitely check out music from Morrowind and Oblivion as well, this is gorgeous! Notice how the theme from "Nerevar Rising" goes through all parts of Elder Scrolls, from Morrowind to Skyrim, even in TES Online there is a variation of it)
A shame Jeremy has disappeared from radars and may not be a composer in TES6, but let us hope for the best...