KH games tend to use Dearly Beloved as the title screen music, and I can guarantee you that almost everyone has sat at the menu just to let the music play.
As a kid I used to turn on KH 1&2 on my PS2 and just let Dearly Beloved, Sanctuary, and Simple and Clean play. I’d just sit there and play Pokémon or something and vibe.
Imo one of the most iconic video game "main themes" of all times. Such a simple yet effective song, was done in multiple genres, like in a swing, and it never gets old. Not my fav version of Dearly Beloved, but there are no bad version of this song imo
Dearly Beloved is the main menu music for every KH game in the series. Each game has its own (very unique) version. This is probably the most popular version, but they're all incredible. The song is iconic, and is pretty much emblematic of Kingdom Hearts as a series... While a big ask, it would actually be interesting to do a mega video of all official Dearly Beloved versions... Or, well, not all, because there are a lot of them (from a quick count, there are currently 14 versions, not counting some remasters of previous versions), but a decent number of them. I do think that Dearly Beloved has been sampled more than once. Maybe you've heard something where it's been sampled
So fun fact. The original Dearly Beloved was just the loop of the main piano motif, but almost every iteration from Chain of Memories onward added the motif of the track "Always on my Mind" from KH1's ending.
One of those things about Dearly Beloved that I never knew growing up, but seems obvious in hindsight, is that Yoko Shinomura composed the piece to sound like a heartbeat. Even though each game has a unique composition of Dearly Beloved for their title screens, the heartbeat is still there in each of them. It's a really intimate piece of music that really captures the vibe of the series. Glad you enjoyed it!
It’s a lot more obvious in the first version where the melody is in sync with a heartbeat but KH2 onward the melody was made more simple and one note that made up the “heartbeat” was removed.
So yes, as you've gathered, Dearly Beloved is very..well, beloved. It became memorable and iconic pretty much off the bat. You load up KH1 every time you play it for the first time, and you hear Dearly Beloved. You will be at different stages of the game with different feelings each time you go back in and hear this, so it quickly becomes ingrained in your memory. I think the simplicity and gentle, sentimental beauty of the KH1 version is something that helps it stand out later when you hear it again. Aside from the actual piece "Dearly Beloved" in each game, there is often use of the melody in a couple of places, and yeah, that's like S tier association through music; with that melody ingrained in your memory and then you hear it during sentimental or emotional moments? Yeah, that's like the perfect recipe for making you cry. lol Upon getting a new KH game, literally one of the most exciting parts of it is loading it up and getting to listen to a new Dearly Beloved. Pretty much everyone I watched play KH3 for the first time just sat and listened on the title screen for a good five minutes, and most of them cried. For many of us at this point, we're talking 10, 15, or even 20 years of being invested in this series, so that's some pretty powerful stuff.
"Dearly Beloved" and Kingdom Hearts in general is a warm, comforting hug. At least it is for me. It's like coming home no matter how long you've been away
Kh2 was one of those games where I would just put on the game to hear the main menu theme. Something that's not included in the video is the ocean waves in the background that accompany the track when listening to it in the game. The added touch of the waves just made the track even more somber and relaxing than it already is.
I never actually did that, but I did get the Birth by Sleep Dearly Beloved ingrained into my brain listening to it on loop while installing the game data to my PSP
@Yaldabaoth Yeah it doesn't really make sense for KH2FM but I used to do that with the og kh2 on my ps2. For the new collections I would just keep it on the game selection screen bc I liked the piano rendition of Dearly Beloved.
Every time I hear this song I just smacked in the face with nostalgia. Not even in a bad way. It's like I'm a kid again and it just feels like a nice arm hug after a rough day. Instant relaxation.
the sounds of kh2, scrolling through the menu, the music, the combat sounds, soras grunts, donalds “SORRAA”, etc, they dont sound the same now as they did when i was a kid, it doesnt feel the same when i play the game now compared to when i was a kid, it literally felt like i was playing the embodiment of magic when i was a child, but i still get glimpses of that when i reminisce
Hit with immediate nostalgia the moment I heard it again. Insane how now matter how long I spend away from this track, I'm drawn back to a different time and place each and every time I hear it.
One interesting thing to note about the title is that, while the phrase "Dearly Beloved" is most associated with weddings, it's also used at funerals! And that really captures the song's ambiguity, which ultimately reflects the ambiguity of life. (Interestingly enough, Shimomura's version of the Final Fantasy Prologue theme from Final Fantasy XV does something similar with church bells, which are another wedding/funeral thing. And in that case, Prologue itself sort of feels like a graduation, which expands the "ambiguity of life" thing out even further.)
it's crazy that every time I hear the beginning my mind just immediately gets transported to childhood. Immediate goosebumps, it's so somber while just having just such warm sound.
I think it would be interesting for a Dearly Beloved version of those “long videos where all versions of one song are watched back to back”. Might get boring after a while, but would be a curious experience.
I feel like this version of Dearly Beloved was where the song started to indicate the overall tone of the game with more...accuracy? Because KH started getting notably sadder around this point, and it has even sadder games, but KH2 does technically revolve around the tragedy of a certain character, and I think this song kind of shows that. It's bittersweet.
I'm kinda shocked that Dearly Beloved had not been on this channel yet. It's certainly the instrumental theme of the series and one of the more iconic themes in video games. Variations of this theme shows up in some of the most emotional moments in the series. This version is the title menu theme. It really just grabs you in the heart whenever you hear it start playing.
Other comments have already mentioned how iconic this is, and I agree. I would like to add on that, as a menu theme specifically, it does a great job of really pulling you into that unique vibe and mind space for the game itself. Whatever you were doing before you started the game, once you heard this, you would be relaxed and in the right headspace to start playing this game with a smile.
I know that TV in my country tend to use sometime VG musics, and often being Final Fantasy and occasionaly KH. It may be the same for you. To answer your question, it's the theme of main title screen, litteraly the 1st song you hear if you skip the intro x) Each Kingom Hearts game has its own variation of this theme.
3:11 That it does, Apotheosis end segment specifically, yes? 3:21 Just like life... and our childhoods... 4:10 The fear of the unknown, like tackling growing up into adulthood, just as Nomura intended 6:30 Deja Vu effect, in a way? Listen to Project Destati Xion and compare it to Tears of Life (1st Pokemon Movie, Ralph Schuckett). Same string motifs, same character background. Is this what you had in mind, Jesse? KH example: Destati compared with Duel of the Fates 7:32 Shimomura's dream was always to make music for Square like Uematsu. Hence why Versus13/FFXV hits like a truck. It was her greatest dream becoming reality. * Imagine how the true Versus13 OST would sound like if it was released... 8:50 spoilers aside, the OST of KH has great meaning for many players. 10:28 Jesse, to answer your question: - Journey, Apotheosis - Matrix Revolutions, Spirit of the Universe (chorus vocals + young boy) - Lord of the Rings: RotK; the build-up to Aragorn's song, along with the opera piece that follows. - The 3 first Pokemon movies: Ralph Schuckett; Lugia's song, Entei (when he fights the Letter thingies) - Rime OST (spiritually inspired by Journey): Birth of an Island - The Fifth Element movie OST by Eric Serra
it's interesting you say this is a recipe for success. Did you know, that in the original KH game, they were only allow to use mickey in one scene, because the higher up were sure it would fail and they didn't want the image of mickey to be associated with a failed product?
I cannot recount how many hours and days I've spent listening to this version of Dearly Beloved. So many hours spent with the PS2 on and just having the KH2 main menu loop. Also, looking up versions that are multiple hours long. Just a beautiful track all around.
Aaahhh I got so excited seeing this, the amount of times in my life I've turned on KH2 and left it on the start up screen just to hear this. It just brings back such good memories and any time I hear it I can't help but smile.
You _have_ heard it before. Being the main theme of KH, you've heard it sparingly in other songs from the series, since of course they're big enough for people to recommend them to you. With the prevalence of leitmotifs in this series, this one is actually very very rarely used because it's the theme of the _game_ itself, instead of the multiple characters or places, so it's very big when it plays because it's a more meta-level leitmotif, saved for stuff like a "Book Ends" type scenario. Off the top of my head, you've heard it in a _version_ of Vector To The Heavens, because that one in particular played during a bonus boss. The original version didn't have it, but that one you heard did, as a melody played for the Players, rather than a thematic piece for the characters. As you can guess, Yoko feeds us fans pretty well, which is a good part of why the KH soundtrack is so dearly beloved.
Your comment about Yoko and something telling her to perhaps go all out for the music for the franchise, you can say that again. The non-battle theme for Scala Ad Calum (the last and final world you visit in KH 3) hits so hard but you quickly get launched into the start of the final boss fight. Unless you pause to listen to it, you get maybe 1 minute of the song. Luckily this was rectified in the DLC where you got to explore Scala Ad Calum.
There's been so many versions of this song at this point, I imagine it's not improbable at all that you've come across at least one of them somehow over the years. Couldn't tell you where though haha. A deep emotional response is exactly what this song triggers for me. I bring up feelings of nostalgia a lot when commenting on this channel, but this song really triggers it strongly for me. This one- the "II" version- definitely feels very somber, I really love it. I can't decide if I like the original version, with the sound of the ocean waves, or this one more. Both of them are easily among the best title screen themes of all time for me though.
Just so you know that each game in the KH series has Dearly Beloved as its Title Theme, and they all are unique to each-other. While still carrying the core medley, but it rearranged to invoke each entry’s feel. Even some exclusive concert or piano arrangements too. I highly suggest that one day you do a multi listen comparison like you did for certain songs, one day. Not now of course. Oh make sure it’s the full versions if you do. No cut offs.
this is one of if not the most iconic song in the entire series, each game has it's own variation of this song, and the one you heard was the KH2 version (my personal favorite)
You might be onto something about the marriage concept. Kingdom hearts is the marriage of final fantasy and disney, and thus this is the theme of the entire franchise
The emotional impact this song in particular has for me is... well, idk if words can really describe it lmao. Glad you're finally reacting to this one!
I had this exact same feeling of already having heard a piece for its iconicness when I first watched a Ghibli movie. But tbh it may have come from its influence in many jrpgs
If I had to compare this piece (and the different versions) to another, it would be Final Fantasy's "Prelude" song, which is present in one way or another in all of the FF mainline titles. This song is a major leitmotif and throughline for the series. One of Shimomura's best.
Oh, thank God!! You're listening to the original soundtrack version. ✊🏼👏🏼👏🏼 The remastered/orchestrated rendition, even knowing how wonderful it is, just doesn't have the same impact.
It's interesting that depending where on the timeline dearly beloved plays, it certainly has a bit more of a somber tone, or a more hopeful tone, and sometimes even a nostalgic tone. My favorite one by far, is ironically enough a very side one from the mobile game union cross, the video for it is named "Kingdom Hearts Union X [Cross] ► Opening Main Menu Title Screen VERSION 2.3.0 CONCEPT Dearly Beloved" due to it being introduced quite late even into the game, but it's a great rendition, and it has a very hopeful, start of an adventure tone that only that version has, in my opinion, which is fitting because the game chronologically is the earliest in the timeline. Also I think you've heard the kh1 version, maybe.
Reacting to Dearly Beloved one by one is like listening to each FF main menu theme. And with FF you can't do it since there's a bunch of them. But with Kingdom Hearts, there's only a few. Maybe you can do a combo and listen to them all together so you can get a good comparison between them.
What "Dearly Beloved" is to Kingdom Hearts is also what "Prelude" is to Final Fantasy. As a player of the series, it's almost mandatory to stay on the main menu / title screen just to listen to and to experience hearing Dearly Beloved. Add to that the mystery of "I wonder what Dearly Beloved in this game sounds like?" the first time you play a new KH game. I'm sure it's the same for everyone. Every version hits differently as it sets the mood immediately and tells you what kind of story is about to unfold. I remember just last year when I started with the series and wasn't sure yet if I'll dig it but the moment I heard the KH1 version of Dearly Beloved, I was hooked immediately and never looked back. It would be interesting if you listen to all versions of Dearly Beloved back-to-back and you'll notice how the piece evolved throughout the series as each iteration is a different experience of its own. My personal favorite versions are KH1, KH2, KH Birth by Sleep. Yoko is such a sly fox by sprinkling the motif of Dearly Beloved in several other tracks throughout the series, some are obvious while some aren't that much.
Kingdom Hearts is a weird multi-layered nostalgia for me lol. There’s the nostalgia of the games, but that includes nostalgia for both Final Fantasy and Disney as well as Kingdom Hearts… It’s like a weird nostalgia sandwich lol… Other than being the main menu theme, I do think the melody comes up in other Kingdom Hearts music sometimes, but I don’t think you’ve listened to those yet… There are probably many other simple, iconic piano melodies that are similar… For some reason I’m thinking of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, which I believe Utada Hikaru (who writes the main songs for KH, like Simple and Clean) used as a sample for on one of her other tracks… But I think I’m stretching a bit to link those… …It does have a bit of a Final Fantasy or Chrono Trigger vibe to it, maybe that’s what you’re thinking of?
There’s a song on the star bound ost that has a similar feel to what you described; that sort of familiar sense even though it doesn’t sound like anything you know. It’s called Night on the Beach and it sounds what is played at the end of a bittersweet 90s kids movie. My mind immediately jumps to Homeward Bound where Peter doesn’t think Shadow made it back.
My first KH game and my favorite, naturally, and this theme is one of few I can claim kept me sane and safe many time throughout my life. Truly a masterpiece in my opinion despite the simplicity.
Each game’s version has its own vibe. Dream drop is one of my faves for the “carousel” section, while chi (X) has this really great fast staccato feel. Melody of memory(?) is the newest game out, and it has this amazing swing version. I recommend all of them as the theme is a really good primer of how to make a song new with only differences in genre/interpretation.
The reason as to why it's recognizable to you is because "Vector to the Heavens" uses the Dearly Beloved motif at the end when it's about to loop and you have been listening to that song for a long time and you probably recognized it here
This is my favorite version, especially that intro. Super biased because it’s a little cello solo followed immediately by a response from the clarinet- the two classical instruments I play. Just makes me happy.
Dearly Beloved is THE theme for the Kingdom Hearts series. Even people who barely know about Kingdom Hearts know this theme, so it is pretty famous. It's the title screen theme of every single game in the series, and there's a different arrangement for each one. At one point, I was planning on making a request for a compilation of all the versions of Dearly Beloved so far, but I balked when seeing that the video was OVER AN HOUR LONG. Yeah... so much for that idea. But each and every time I listen to this theme, I feel this overwhelming sense of contentment, like I just stepped into a place of wonder, and I imagine most other people feel the same way. The other versions are very much worth listening to on your own time, and they all have their own unique flavor to them. 2's version here is somber, but there are versions that are even more somber, some that are upbeat, some that are whimsical, and even one that is jazzy. I personally can't decide if my favorite version is the first one's, χ's version, or the one in Melody of Memory. You can't go wrong with any of them, really. Funny you should mention how this could be played at a wedding. One of my friends got married to a Kingdom Hearts song, though it wasn't Dearly Beloved (though I did hear stories of people getting married to Dearly Beloved). It was the instrumental of a song from KH3, Don't Think Twice. It was a pleasant surprise when I heard the melody from the violins.
Fun fact, KH2 was the first numbered sequel she ever worked on, so she wanted this version of Dearly Beloved to be extra especial, so she arranged with the guys that were making the intro for the game, you know, the logos and stuff that comes before the main menu, and then adjusted the song so that the main melody would start at the exact moment the logo for the game appeared, and i think this also translates to the song itself, she must have been so excited and passioned that she made a really powerful version that many fans think it is the most beautiful version in the series
I believe Yoko Shimomura said something along the lines of this being her favourite piece that she's composed (maybe not KH2 specifically, but the theme in general)
In the secret ending of KH3 "Yozora" the so-called "Secrets of the Night" plays, which is a piece of music from the well-known songs of the KH series "Another Side" and "Dearly Beloved" and the main theme "somnus" from FFXV, formerly FF Versus XIII . In general, there are a lot of allusions to FF versus XIII on KH3, which Tetsuya Nomura developed but was never published, and later came out as FFXV with a completely different story without him. But Nomura probably never got over it, since KH3 was also developed by him at the same time as Versus, he simply included allusions, sometimes 1:1 scenes with the new character "Yozora", who looks very similar to "Noctis". There are also many comparison videos about it.
😂 Aaaaaaa, I actually did walk down the aisle to this ten years ago, and it still holds beautifully. Yoko Shimomura really knocked it out of the park when composing this music for the first game, and every rendition after has just been another equally gorgeous version to sink into. And you are right, I surprise older generations constantly when this pops up in my work playlist bc they're constantly under the impression that videogames still use beeps and boops of the og Mario bros days
@kevinnguyen4711 sshhhh don't call me out lmao But yes, this track in particular was perfect for giving the right tempo and solemnity needed for walking down the aisle. Since my husband and I walked ourselves with a picture of my grandparents who were unable to make it to the ceremony, it gave just enough time to pass off the photos and climb up the dais. The final notes finished just as my gown was spread out at the altar, so truly it was just as practical as it was beautiful 😂
I love these. Each version of Dearly Beloved reflects its game. KH2 is all about loss, emptiness, and a tad of depression and so Dearly Beloved's usually mysterious nature is replaced with this lofty, yet heavy interpretation. The original song is meant to invoke stars twinkling in the sky, according to sources. This one is 'missing' pieces, which lines up with Kh2's beginning extremely well. The 358/2 version doubles down on that too.
each installment of kingdom hearts has a version of this theme, this one holds a special place to most of us as it weighs heavier when you finish the game
The first kingdom hearts game i played was 2, so this song was my very first experience of the series. As soon as I saw you had listened to it I stopped everything I was doing to watch.
You've probably heard certain leitmotifs from this piece in other kh music you've listened to - besides hikari/simple and clean, this is The kh theme song. I personally think it kind of sounds like studio Ghibli music.
This notorious tune in kingdom hearts 2 is a true tear jerker, It sounds like the pianoist is playing this tune literally in his/her funeral, literally in the coffin! (That's a compliment btw)
I never really managed to get into KH, I played a few of the games, never finished one of the maintitles, only enjoyed the sidegames x,D But this song is idnk really emotional? It is just very pleasant. It is nothing I am connected with because of a story bit or something. It is just the music I kinda love? My favorite version of this song is btw from Chain of Memories, the GBA game. I remember just having it on the menu for a while to listen to this song.
This is one of my favorite versions of Dearly Beloved, though it may be due to nostalgia and loving melancholy songs. XD I know there is a more upbeat version that was made for a mobile game, which is a huge banger. I'd say they tie in my heart for favorite versions.
IK What ya mean by it FEELS like you've heard it before yet you never did. I felt that with Underneath The Rotting Pizza from FF7, like, it filled me with a sense of nostalgia, when in reality, i'm a '03 kid, I didn't PLAY FF7 OG growing up. In a way, it fills me with a sense of calm yet sadness, y'know?
I think you already reacted to KH1 Dearly Beloved. Every game has a different version for its title screen. My favorite version is the one from DDD. It has a bit of oompah that sneaks up on you.
This track appears for a few notes in some of the other tracks you've listened to like vector to the heavens I believe, every time it pops in it ruins me emotionally.
Bruh this is that piece from kh. This is the piece everyone knows and feels. The 2 version is just that built. Plus the backing has the similar instruments to Roxas theme and thats a heart clencher no matter who you are
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KH games tend to use Dearly Beloved as the title screen music, and I can guarantee you that almost everyone has sat at the menu just to let the music play.
As a kid I used to turn on KH 1&2 on my PS2 and just let Dearly Beloved, Sanctuary, and Simple and Clean play. I’d just sit there and play Pokémon or something and vibe.
When I got 3 I sat, listened and cried.
@@michaelmcmahon17me too. The entire game of KH3 was attempted homocide by dehydration, tho
I used to light the fireplace in traverse town and just fall asleep listening to the music lol yay times before youtube 😂
and get interrupted by the opening theme 😭😭
Imo one of the most iconic video game "main themes" of all times. Such a simple yet effective song, was done in multiple genres, like in a swing, and it never gets old. Not my fav version of Dearly Beloved, but there are no bad version of this song imo
Wait, what makes you think it's the most iconic?
@@Cassius-it7wf it's "one of the most" iconic. and yes i concur it is very iconic
@@AndrewHadi07 Yeah, but what makes you think that?
@@Cassius-it7wfbecause lots of people recognize it, really not that hard man
@@plutonash2545 Where did you meet these people?
Dearly Beloved is the main menu music for every KH game in the series. Each game has its own (very unique) version. This is probably the most popular version, but they're all incredible. The song is iconic, and is pretty much emblematic of Kingdom Hearts as a series... While a big ask, it would actually be interesting to do a mega video of all official Dearly Beloved versions... Or, well, not all, because there are a lot of them (from a quick count, there are currently 14 versions, not counting some remasters of previous versions), but a decent number of them.
I do think that Dearly Beloved has been sampled more than once. Maybe you've heard something where it's been sampled
I think my favorites gotta be melody of memory, 1 and missing link
Of the KH songs Jesse has done on the channel, Dearly Beloved only pops up in Musique Pour La Tristesse de Xion and Vector to the Heavens.
I agree on the "every version of Dearly Beloved" video. I will break down, but I feel it is needed.
@@BandedMetagrossMeteorMash
2 and CoM for me.
I'm not even a KH fan and this song just hits those feels. There are just pieces of music in this world that resonate with you, and this one is for me
the resonant frequency of the soul
So fun fact.
The original Dearly Beloved was just the loop of the main piano motif, but almost every iteration from Chain of Memories onward added the motif of the track "Always on my Mind" from KH1's ending.
Since i know Vector to the Heavens is your favorite KH song, this is the song were it gets it's piano motif from.
One of those things about Dearly Beloved that I never knew growing up, but seems obvious in hindsight, is that Yoko Shinomura composed the piece to sound like a heartbeat. Even though each game has a unique composition of Dearly Beloved for their title screens, the heartbeat is still there in each of them. It's a really intimate piece of music that really captures the vibe of the series. Glad you enjoyed it!
It’s a lot more obvious in the first version where the melody is in sync with a heartbeat but KH2 onward the melody was made more simple and one note that made up the “heartbeat” was removed.
So yes, as you've gathered, Dearly Beloved is very..well, beloved. It became memorable and iconic pretty much off the bat. You load up KH1 every time you play it for the first time, and you hear Dearly Beloved. You will be at different stages of the game with different feelings each time you go back in and hear this, so it quickly becomes ingrained in your memory. I think the simplicity and gentle, sentimental beauty of the KH1 version is something that helps it stand out later when you hear it again.
Aside from the actual piece "Dearly Beloved" in each game, there is often use of the melody in a couple of places, and yeah, that's like S tier association through music; with that melody ingrained in your memory and then you hear it during sentimental or emotional moments? Yeah, that's like the perfect recipe for making you cry. lol
Upon getting a new KH game, literally one of the most exciting parts of it is loading it up and getting to listen to a new Dearly Beloved. Pretty much everyone I watched play KH3 for the first time just sat and listened on the title screen for a good five minutes, and most of them cried. For many of us at this point, we're talking 10, 15, or even 20 years of being invested in this series, so that's some pretty powerful stuff.
"Dearly Beloved" and Kingdom Hearts in general is a warm, comforting hug. At least it is for me. It's like coming home no matter how long you've been away
Kh2 was one of those games where I would just put on the game to hear the main menu theme. Something that's not included in the video is the ocean waves in the background that accompany the track when listening to it in the game. The added touch of the waves just made the track even more somber and relaxing than it already is.
I never actually did that, but I did get the Birth by Sleep Dearly Beloved ingrained into my brain listening to it on loop while installing the game data to my PSP
Which makes less sense with the KH 2 Final Mix artwork compared to the original KH2 lol, but it still gives that song an extra something yeah
@Yaldabaoth Yeah it doesn't really make sense for KH2FM but I used to do that with the og kh2 on my ps2. For the new collections I would just keep it on the game selection screen bc I liked the piano rendition of Dearly Beloved.
Every time I hear this song I just smacked in the face with nostalgia. Not even in a bad way. It's like I'm a kid again and it just feels like a nice arm hug after a rough day. Instant relaxation.
the sounds of kh2, scrolling through the menu, the music, the combat sounds, soras grunts, donalds “SORRAA”, etc, they dont sound the same now as they did when i was a kid, it doesnt feel the same when i play the game now compared to when i was a kid, it literally felt like i was playing the embodiment of magic when i was a child, but i still get glimpses of that when i reminisce
I actually had this song play in the background during my wedding, as well as several others like Aerith’s Theme.
Hit with immediate nostalgia the moment I heard it again. Insane how now matter how long I spend away from this track, I'm drawn back to a different time and place each and every time I hear it.
One interesting thing to note about the title is that, while the phrase "Dearly Beloved" is most associated with weddings, it's also used at funerals! And that really captures the song's ambiguity, which ultimately reflects the ambiguity of life.
(Interestingly enough, Shimomura's version of the Final Fantasy Prologue theme from Final Fantasy XV does something similar with church bells, which are another wedding/funeral thing. And in that case, Prologue itself sort of feels like a graduation, which expands the "ambiguity of life" thing out even further.)
it's crazy that every time I hear the beginning my mind just immediately gets transported to childhood. Immediate goosebumps, it's so somber while just having just such warm sound.
I think it would be interesting for a Dearly Beloved version of those “long videos where all versions of one song are watched back to back”. Might get boring after a while, but would be a curious experience.
Thing is each version is different enough
Yeah it would be a great thing to go back to, ending with the explosion that is KH3's version
I feel like this version of Dearly Beloved was where the song started to indicate the overall tone of the game with more...accuracy? Because KH started getting notably sadder around this point, and it has even sadder games, but KH2 does technically revolve around the tragedy of a certain character, and I think this song kind of shows that. It's bittersweet.
I'm kinda shocked that Dearly Beloved had not been on this channel yet. It's certainly the instrumental theme of the series and one of the more iconic themes in video games.
Variations of this theme shows up in some of the most emotional moments in the series. This version is the title menu theme. It really just grabs you in the heart whenever you hear it start playing.
this song is so beautifully made with such an impact that i know a lot of married kingdom hearts fans have used this piece in their weddings haha
Say what you want anout this series (and believe me, I have, at length) these soundtracks are flawless. This song feels like my childhood.
Kind of overrated
@@elpisdynamis1617the song? Nah it's iconic
@@TimothyGod everything about kh is overrated including music
@@elpisdynamis1617 it's really not. It's underrated, cause it's mostly hate towards the series one way or another. It's just the fans are more vocal
@@elpisdynamis1617 uh huh
This theme song is Kh's main just like The Prelude for the Final Fantasy series. It evolves beautifully over time.
Absolutely a track that I will play at my funeral. It’s that important to me. This song shaped so many lives it’s astounding. Thanks for the reaction
Other comments have already mentioned how iconic this is, and I agree.
I would like to add on that, as a menu theme specifically, it does a great job of really pulling you into that unique vibe and mind space for the game itself. Whatever you were doing before you started the game, once you heard this, you would be relaxed and in the right headspace to start playing this game with a smile.
I know that TV in my country tend to use sometime VG musics, and often being Final Fantasy and occasionaly KH.
It may be the same for you.
To answer your question, it's the theme of main title screen, litteraly the 1st song you hear if you skip the intro x)
Each Kingom Hearts game has its own variation of this theme.
3:11 That it does, Apotheosis end segment specifically, yes?
3:21 Just like life... and our childhoods...
4:10 The fear of the unknown, like tackling growing up into adulthood, just as Nomura intended
6:30 Deja Vu effect, in a way? Listen to Project Destati Xion and compare it to Tears of Life (1st Pokemon Movie, Ralph Schuckett). Same string motifs, same character background. Is this what you had in mind, Jesse?
KH example: Destati compared with Duel of the Fates
7:32 Shimomura's dream was always to make music for Square like Uematsu. Hence why Versus13/FFXV hits like a truck. It was her greatest dream becoming reality.
* Imagine how the true Versus13 OST would sound like if it was released...
8:50 spoilers aside, the OST of KH has great meaning for many players.
10:28 Jesse, to answer your question:
- Journey, Apotheosis
- Matrix Revolutions, Spirit of the Universe (chorus vocals + young boy)
- Lord of the Rings: RotK; the build-up to Aragorn's song, along with the opera piece that follows.
- The 3 first Pokemon movies: Ralph Schuckett; Lugia's song, Entei (when he fights the Letter thingies)
- Rime OST (spiritually inspired by Journey): Birth of an Island
- The Fifth Element movie OST by Eric Serra
it's interesting you say this is a recipe for success. Did you know, that in the original KH game, they were only allow to use mickey in one scene, because the higher up were sure it would fail and they didn't want the image of mickey to be associated with a failed product?
Can confirm a friend did indeed use this on their wedding day and it was perfect as she walked down the aisle 😊
I cannot recount how many hours and days I've spent listening to this version of Dearly Beloved.
So many hours spent with the PS2 on and just having the KH2 main menu loop. Also, looking up versions that are multiple hours long.
Just a beautiful track all around.
This hit me right in the nostalgia. The games have always been somewhat messy but anyone who tells you the soundtracks aren't great is lying to you.
Aaahhh I got so excited seeing this, the amount of times in my life I've turned on KH2 and left it on the start up screen just to hear this. It just brings back such good memories and any time I hear it I can't help but smile.
Fuck. The melody started up and i instantly felt my face wnd eyes heat up... This series music does things to you, man.
You _have_ heard it before. Being the main theme of KH, you've heard it sparingly in other songs from the series, since of course they're big enough for people to recommend them to you. With the prevalence of leitmotifs in this series, this one is actually very very rarely used because it's the theme of the _game_ itself, instead of the multiple characters or places, so it's very big when it plays because it's a more meta-level leitmotif, saved for stuff like a "Book Ends" type scenario.
Off the top of my head, you've heard it in a _version_ of Vector To The Heavens, because that one in particular played during a bonus boss. The original version didn't have it, but that one you heard did, as a melody played for the Players, rather than a thematic piece for the characters.
As you can guess, Yoko feeds us fans pretty well, which is a good part of why the KH soundtrack is so dearly beloved.
Once that song starts it brings back a lot of nostalgic memories and I get a little teary eyed
Your comment about Yoko and something telling her to perhaps go all out for the music for the franchise, you can say that again. The non-battle theme for Scala Ad Calum (the last and final world you visit in KH 3) hits so hard but you quickly get launched into the start of the final boss fight. Unless you pause to listen to it, you get maybe 1 minute of the song. Luckily this was rectified in the DLC where you got to explore Scala Ad Calum.
There's been so many versions of this song at this point, I imagine it's not improbable at all that you've come across at least one of them somehow over the years. Couldn't tell you where though haha. A deep emotional response is exactly what this song triggers for me. I bring up feelings of nostalgia a lot when commenting on this channel, but this song really triggers it strongly for me. This one- the "II" version- definitely feels very somber, I really love it. I can't decide if I like the original version, with the sound of the ocean waves, or this one more. Both of them are easily among the best title screen themes of all time for me though.
Just so you know that each game in the KH series has Dearly Beloved as its Title Theme, and they all are unique to each-other. While still carrying the core medley, but it rearranged to invoke each entry’s feel. Even some exclusive concert or piano arrangements too. I highly suggest that one day you do a multi listen comparison like you did for certain songs, one day. Not now of course. Oh make sure it’s the full versions if you do. No cut offs.
Another game that has amazing music is a hidden gem called dark cloud 2, i wish someone would react to anything from that gam
I did one for the original game, some requests for 2 whenever that day comes.
Omg Kingdom Hearts…. My childhood… I’m in my feels.
this theme song have special place to my heart always, playing this game in early 2000 era is so much memory into it
If Ithere was one song I could weaponize to make someone uncontrollably cry, this would be it.
Dearly Beloved always felt like a farewell to childhood
I think it Vector to the Heavens that you recognise this from as it has a little bit of the DB motif at the end of the loop.
this is one of if not the most iconic song in the entire series, each game has it's own variation of this song, and the one you heard was the KH2 version (my personal favorite)
Dearly Beloved is such a beautiful menu song, always having the chills
I've been waiting for you to listen to this one for so long bro😭
You might be onto something about the marriage concept. Kingdom hearts is the marriage of final fantasy and disney, and thus this is the theme of the entire franchise
my favorite version of Dearly Beloved, timeless honestly
I know this guy!!
The emotional impact this song in particular has for me is... well, idk if words can really describe it lmao. Glad you're finally reacting to this one!
this theme really showcases both the happiness and the sadness you feel throughout this game
A section of kh3 vector to heavens has parts of this song on it, maybe you recognize it from there
Kingdom hearts is just great in general omg
I had this exact same feeling of already having heard a piece for its iconicness when I first watched a Ghibli movie. But tbh it may have come from its influence in many jrpgs
If I had to compare this piece (and the different versions) to another, it would be Final Fantasy's "Prelude" song, which is present in one way or another in all of the FF mainline titles. This song is a major leitmotif and throughline for the series. One of Shimomura's best.
Oh, thank God!!
You're listening to the original soundtrack version. ✊🏼👏🏼👏🏼
The remastered/orchestrated rendition, even knowing how wonderful it is, just doesn't have the same impact.
It's interesting that depending where on the timeline dearly beloved plays, it certainly has a bit more of a somber tone, or a more hopeful tone, and sometimes even a nostalgic tone. My favorite one by far, is ironically enough a very side one from the mobile game union cross, the video for it is named "Kingdom Hearts Union X [Cross] ► Opening Main Menu Title Screen VERSION 2.3.0 CONCEPT Dearly Beloved" due to it being introduced quite late even into the game, but it's a great rendition, and it has a very hopeful, start of an adventure tone that only that version has, in my opinion, which is fitting because the game chronologically is the earliest in the timeline. Also I think you've heard the kh1 version, maybe.
Damn now you have to do every Dearly Beloved. I loved the one from 3.
Reacting to Dearly Beloved one by one is like listening to each FF main menu theme. And with FF you can't do it since there's a bunch of them. But with Kingdom Hearts, there's only a few. Maybe you can do a combo and listen to them all together so you can get a good comparison between them.
What "Dearly Beloved" is to Kingdom Hearts is also what "Prelude" is to Final Fantasy. As a player of the series, it's almost mandatory to stay on the main menu / title screen just to listen to and to experience hearing Dearly Beloved. Add to that the mystery of "I wonder what Dearly Beloved in this game sounds like?" the first time you play a new KH game. I'm sure it's the same for everyone. Every version hits differently as it sets the mood immediately and tells you what kind of story is about to unfold. I remember just last year when I started with the series and wasn't sure yet if I'll dig it but the moment I heard the KH1 version of Dearly Beloved, I was hooked immediately and never looked back.
It would be interesting if you listen to all versions of Dearly Beloved back-to-back and you'll notice how the piece evolved throughout the series as each iteration is a different experience of its own. My personal favorite versions are KH1, KH2, KH Birth by Sleep. Yoko is such a sly fox by sprinkling the motif of Dearly Beloved in several other tracks throughout the series, some are obvious while some aren't that much.
Kingdom Hearts is a weird multi-layered nostalgia for me lol. There’s the nostalgia of the games, but that includes nostalgia for both Final Fantasy and Disney as well as Kingdom Hearts… It’s like a weird nostalgia sandwich lol…
Other than being the main menu theme, I do think the melody comes up in other Kingdom Hearts music sometimes, but I don’t think you’ve listened to those yet… There are probably many other simple, iconic piano melodies that are similar… For some reason I’m thinking of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, which I believe Utada Hikaru (who writes the main songs for KH, like Simple and Clean) used as a sample for on one of her other tracks… But I think I’m stretching a bit to link those…
…It does have a bit of a Final Fantasy or Chrono Trigger vibe to it, maybe that’s what you’re thinking of?
"It’s like each of you is holding on to a little part of the other. Your hearts are always in tune, so they’re free to sing!"
There’s a song on the star bound ost that has a similar feel to what you described; that sort of familiar sense even though it doesn’t sound like anything you know. It’s called Night on the Beach and it sounds what is played at the end of a bittersweet 90s kids movie. My mind immediately jumps to Homeward Bound where Peter doesn’t think Shadow made it back.
Man you HAVE to react FFXVI's songs heard in the demo, Soken just dabbed in everyone's face!
True statement
Jessi just needs to livestream the demo tbh
My first KH game and my favorite, naturally, and this theme is one of few I can claim kept me sane and safe many time throughout my life. Truly a masterpiece in my opinion despite the simplicity.
To me, still to this day, the quintessential main screen theme, with A place to Call Home from FF9
Each game’s version has its own vibe. Dream drop is one of my faves for the “carousel” section, while chi (X) has this really great fast staccato feel. Melody of memory(?) is the newest game out, and it has this amazing swing version. I recommend all of them as the theme is a really good primer of how to make a song new with only differences in genre/interpretation.
Rampant loud and passionate are very accurate descriptors for both the series and the fandom.
Such a wonderful song so many memories associated with this.
This probably my favorite version of this theme with 358/2's being my second
The reason as to why it's recognizable to you is because "Vector to the Heavens" uses the Dearly Beloved motif at the end when it's about to loop and you have been listening to that song for a long time and you probably recognized it here
I sometimes hear it in videos for content creators on here, so you might have heard it like that.
This is my favorite version, especially that intro. Super biased because it’s a little cello solo followed immediately by a response from the clarinet- the two classical instruments I play. Just makes me happy.
Title menu theme in KH2. it loops or just moves on to playing "sanctuary" by Utada Hikaru in the intro movie.
Dearly Beloved is THE theme for the Kingdom Hearts series. Even people who barely know about Kingdom Hearts know this theme, so it is pretty famous. It's the title screen theme of every single game in the series, and there's a different arrangement for each one. At one point, I was planning on making a request for a compilation of all the versions of Dearly Beloved so far, but I balked when seeing that the video was OVER AN HOUR LONG. Yeah... so much for that idea. But each and every time I listen to this theme, I feel this overwhelming sense of contentment, like I just stepped into a place of wonder, and I imagine most other people feel the same way. The other versions are very much worth listening to on your own time, and they all have their own unique flavor to them. 2's version here is somber, but there are versions that are even more somber, some that are upbeat, some that are whimsical, and even one that is jazzy. I personally can't decide if my favorite version is the first one's, χ's version, or the one in Melody of Memory. You can't go wrong with any of them, really.
Funny you should mention how this could be played at a wedding. One of my friends got married to a Kingdom Hearts song, though it wasn't Dearly Beloved (though I did hear stories of people getting married to Dearly Beloved). It was the instrumental of a song from KH3, Don't Think Twice. It was a pleasant surprise when I heard the melody from the violins.
Fun fact, KH2 was the first numbered sequel she ever worked on, so she wanted this version of Dearly Beloved to be extra especial, so she arranged with the guys that were making the intro for the game, you know, the logos and stuff that comes before the main menu, and then adjusted the song so that the main melody would start at the exact moment the logo for the game appeared, and i think this also translates to the song itself, she must have been so excited and passioned that she made a really powerful version that many fans think it is the most beautiful version in the series
Each game features a version of Dearly Beloved and also features another version at the end of each game for every game in the series
I believe Yoko Shimomura said something along the lines of this being her favourite piece that she's composed (maybe not KH2 specifically, but the theme in general)
In the secret ending of KH3 "Yozora" the so-called "Secrets of the Night" plays, which is a piece of music from the well-known songs of the KH series "Another Side" and "Dearly Beloved" and the main theme "somnus" from FFXV, formerly FF Versus XIII
.
In general, there are a lot of allusions to FF versus XIII on KH3, which Tetsuya Nomura developed but was never published, and later came out as FFXV with a completely different story without him.
But Nomura probably never got over it, since KH3 was also developed by him at the same time as Versus, he simply included allusions, sometimes 1:1 scenes with the new character "Yozora", who looks very similar to "Noctis".
There are also many comparison videos about it.
There's a part in Vector to the Heavens that has Dearly Beloved so you might've heard it first from there!
😂 Aaaaaaa, I actually did walk down the aisle to this ten years ago, and it still holds beautifully. Yoko Shimomura really knocked it out of the park when composing this music for the first game, and every rendition after has just been another equally gorgeous version to sink into.
And you are right, I surprise older generations constantly when this pops up in my work playlist bc they're constantly under the impression that videogames still use beeps and boops of the og Mario bros days
Aha, found another one. Kingdom Hearts music is surprisingly perfect wedding material, wouldn't you say?
@kevinnguyen4711 sshhhh don't call me out lmao
But yes, this track in particular was perfect for giving the right tempo and solemnity needed for walking down the aisle. Since my husband and I walked ourselves with a picture of my grandparents who were unable to make it to the ceremony, it gave just enough time to pass off the photos and climb up the dais. The final notes finished just as my gown was spread out at the altar, so truly it was just as practical as it was beautiful 😂
@@Witchtimez That must have been a magical experience. Kingdom Hearts music really does transcend boundaries.
I love these. Each version of Dearly Beloved reflects its game. KH2 is all about loss, emptiness, and a tad of depression and so Dearly Beloved's usually mysterious nature is replaced with this lofty, yet heavy interpretation. The original song is meant to invoke stars twinkling in the sky, according to sources. This one is 'missing' pieces, which lines up with Kh2's beginning extremely well. The 358/2 version doubles down on that too.
each installment of kingdom hearts has a version of this theme, this one holds a special place to most of us as it weighs heavier when you finish the game
Ngl I set this song as my morning alarm tone like 10 years ago and it's honestly the best decision I've ever made.
This song makes me feel ALL of the emotions
this song is the epitome of nostalgia for me
The first kingdom hearts game i played was 2, so this song was my very first experience of the series. As soon as I saw you had listened to it I stopped everything I was doing to watch.
You've probably heard certain leitmotifs from this piece in other kh music you've listened to - besides hikari/simple and clean, this is The kh theme song. I personally think it kind of sounds like studio Ghibli music.
This notorious tune in kingdom hearts 2 is a true tear jerker, It sounds like the pianoist is playing this tune literally in his/her funeral, literally in the coffin! (That's a compliment btw)
Just the first feel notes just hit me with such a powerful wave of emotions, man...
Dearly Beloved really is Yoko's Magnum Opus (imo)
This is a great song and all but damn that Genbu Temple in the intro got me dancin'
So this song is referenced in Vector to the Heavens, so thats probably what you're thinking about
I can faintly hear the SF6 training theme in the background lol.
Memories. One of the best of all time
I never really managed to get into KH, I played a few of the games, never finished one of the maintitles, only enjoyed the sidegames x,D
But this song is idnk really emotional? It is just very pleasant. It is nothing I am connected with because of a story bit or something. It is just the music I kinda love?
My favorite version of this song is btw from Chain of Memories, the GBA game. I remember just having it on the menu for a while to listen to this song.
This is one of my favorite versions of Dearly Beloved, though it may be due to nostalgia and loving melancholy songs. XD
I know there is a more upbeat version that was made for a mobile game, which is a huge banger. I'd say they tie in my heart for favorite versions.
Kingdom hearts music makes me cry everytime. You should react to Roxas' theme! It's another sad one, but it sounds beautiful
I love that you mention that it sounds like marriage! Soriku confirmed
IK What ya mean by it FEELS like you've heard it before yet you never did. I felt that with Underneath The Rotting Pizza from FF7, like, it filled me with a sense of nostalgia, when in reality, i'm a '03 kid, I didn't PLAY FF7 OG growing up. In a way, it fills me with a sense of calm yet sadness, y'know?
I think you already reacted to KH1 Dearly Beloved. Every game has a different version for its title screen. My favorite version is the one from DDD. It has a bit of oompah that sneaks up on you.
This track appears for a few notes in some of the other tracks you've listened to like vector to the heavens I believe, every time it pops in it ruins me emotionally.
Bruh this is that piece from kh. This is the piece everyone knows and feels. The 2 version is just that built. Plus the backing has the similar instruments to Roxas theme and thats a heart clencher no matter who you are