Collision Chaos Past's music has always oddly spoken to me, in a funky yet serious way. Always felt like it was telling me the story of what Collision Chaos once was and to know some cool extra things about it, as well as all other variants of the theme, is really amazing.
15:09 - Time to wheel out my favourite observation: the land at the top of the sky in Collision Chaos is actually Mobius, and you are upside down on Little Planet looking back down on it.
That's so cool. And palmtree panic has that too! So I interpret it as, little planet shares geographic DNA with mobius, it's not quite a clone but a sister-close-relative entity.
@Carlos HCR2! You could also make the claim Stardust Speedway was built to mirror Starlight on purpose, because some Little Planet people wanted to be there more than once a year.
I always wondered why that patch of land was there. I had interpreted it as the view of the background when going through the big loop in Palmtree Panic.
1:20 Fun Fact, this music genre was named after Michael Jackson. The guy who made it (Teddy Riley) still makes music today, mostly in the K-Pop sphere.
Man, I really do love Sonic CDs Soundtrack, I'd recommend doing this idea with more Sonic CD levels like Stardust Speedway or Metallic Madness. I loved it :)
The editing on this especially in the latter half was tight and like candy, funny gags too. Sonic CD is definitely one of the most fun soundtracks to review. As others have said of course we need Stardust Speedway. Awesome work and most importantly, inspiring. I had no idea of the influences even progrock here.
Was it a Cybershell callback though? That picture is just hidden art from Sonic CD, although if memory serves it wasn't intended to be creepy - it depends on which soundtrack you had as the US one played the creepy boss music but the Japanese song that played for it was upbeat.
@@darkowl9 it was. He once talked about how that song scared him, and he stashed his pee-pants under the bed, and then his dog found the pee-pants, and so on and so forth
I popped off when you transitioned over to the US ost, was honestly afraid it would get skipped over. So happy we're hearing some music theory analysis about the osts from both regions.
I cannot deny the OG soundtrack is great, but at least a few of the US soundtrack songs have their irreplaceable charm. The wailing guitar in CC for example really gets me, especially for the bad future.
I grew up with the US Soundtrack but I do find JPN Collision Chaos to be quite a bop and the Good Future is gives off a feeling of “everything is going to be alright” while taking your ears on a vacation😊
I know literally nothing about music theory but your explanations are always detailed enough without dragging on. Thank you for these videos. You should do more CD stages, definitely Metallic Madness.
Unbelievable. I just started another playthrough of Sonic CD and was thinking about how funky all times zones for Collision Chaos were. *perfect timing alex* :D
Oh my god! You transitioned between the time zones so darn well! It didn't feel sudden at all, it was the natural way for the video to continue! Very, very well done!
Huh.. didn't expect Collision Chaos but still a solid in depth explanation of the song. You give us a new perspective on the songs we love everytime so we can enjoy it even more. Now I have this information probably stuck forever in my head but I'll still probably watch this video multiple times.
I've been watching your Music Theory videos for a little bit now, but this was easily the most fun one to watch yet. The explanations are easily understandable to someone with no knowledge of actual music theory, and the transitions between each explanation are super funny! The editing all around is just great, as well. This is some of your best work yet! Good job, Alex!
This was glorious in every way-the visuals accompanying the explanations, the interesting points about how the rhythm and movements along the pentatonic scale varied with the time periods, and especially the phenomenal pacing. Thanks for doing justice to one of my favorite (collection of) tracks from the Genesis era!
Music syncing to actions; you didn't mention it, but even in this video, Metal Sonic flies in the instant after the lyrics say "kick it" and there's two notes that coincide with each half of that spike wall getting destroyed. So it's a way more epic symphonic combo than you initially let on! :D
You don’t know how long I waited for a Sonic the Hedgehog CD Music Theory Video. With how much Naoto Ohshima (Creator of Sonic & Eggman) micromanage every aspect of the game, even the music and it’s composers, Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata, I consider Sonic CD’s OST to be PEAK Sonic and the vision of the series. I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT if you turned this into a series of delving in CD’s OST and dissecting the musical similarities and differences between the Time Periods. Especially for fan favorites like Tidal Tempest, Quartz Quadrant, Stardust Speedway, and Metallic Madness!
Yeah, CD was Oshima’s baby and he was involved in basically every aspect. I love the story of Hataya and Ogata coming to him with demo songs for the soundtrack and Oshima rejecting all of it for being too conventional, forcing them to look towards house music and techno as inspiration. It really paid off and gave the composers the direction they needed to go to a creative place.
Knowing what New Jack Swing sounds like for years is what got me to recognize the opening theme from the movie Turning Red as such. It's such a great theme for a great movie and especially when the guitar kicks in, I almost always imagine Sonic running around in like Studiopolis Zone or something
It was so cool being a teenager who had played all the genesis games a bunch and getting introduced to Sonic CD until Sonic Gems Collection came out. I've been saying it's the best of the classic sonic games.
Really glad you covered the US tracks too, I feel like those tend to get left in the dust despite being great in their own right. Amazing video as usual, and hoping you get around to more CD tracks in the future :)
I'm so excited to see you cover some Sonic CD songs; I absolutely love both soundtracks for different reasons. Small Easter egg: The minor pentatonic climb in the JP good future song is reused in 8-bit Sonic 2's Gimmick Mountain Zone. Pretty sure the same team worked on both soundtracks.
I’ll say this a million times if I have to: The Sonic CD soundtrack-in both Japanese and USA varieties has a early-to-mid-90s flair that I believe the Genesis games just don’t have.
5:48 Alex, those analogies... So satisfying hearing you make the comparisons. It's a feast for my conceptual mind.😄 6:10 and that part too... So god damn spot on.
Ogata and Hataya did an amazing job on CD, it's incredible how good every song is; you could probably do a whole episode on each Era of zone. Not to mention the prototype music or the Sonic The Hedgehog Remix album they did in '94 which has some great arranges and motifs borrowed from the games.
This man's talking about how the bongo specialist in the background goes nuts during both Present US & Bad Future US meanwhile he forgets to mention that the drum specialist in both aformentioned songs goes extra nuts
it's always a nice day when alex yard uploads. i don't think i see many people talk about cd's soundtrack, despite how good and different it sounds from the classic genesis games. hope to see more music theory videos!
Your videos are amazing! I love the little things you do to make it feel like the gameplay is integral to the video, like at 8:54 where sonic looks up to scroll the screen up and make room for the sheet music! Absolutely lovely, incredible videos, nothing but praise.
I was listening to the Sonic CD soundtrack today, and something I think I only noticed because I'd watched this video is that the B section melody is a reference to the Spring Yard Zone theme! I'd somehow never made the connection between Collision Chaos and Spring Yard Zone before, so it was really cool to hear and compare the themes to confirm. I just had to come back and watch the whole video again while I was at it, the way you present these things is always so fun and satisfying. Really really love your work!!!
Both US themes of this zone in my opinion are hella underrated. The zone's description depict it as a jungle like environment, and you can hear the jungle esthetic in the present, gf, and bf. I believe both soundtracks tell what the zone represents: JP/EU represents the foreground, US represents the background. Edit: Love this part 14:29
Thank you so much for the SCD Music Theory! It's very interesting taking a deep dive into the composition behind two of my favourite soundtracks, and I'd love more! A story I heard once about a potential reason behind the music swap for the US version is that, because sampling laws are much more relaxed in Japan than the US, and with just how much sampling was done in the JP soundtrack, it's likely that a lawyer would have stepped in last-minute and required the change in order to prevent legal trouble with copyright law.
It may be unlikely due to how Sega of America would always try to do localizations on everything (and many times changing the lore of Sonic the Hedgehog), and a whole new soundtrack for a game (while weird) would be expected, this story you said sounds interesting.
I love the US soundtrack, something akin to a Metroidvania atmosphere. Alex, your videos have been very important to me, I cant thank you enough for offering this kind of education for FREE. I am trying to incorporate elements of Music Theory into my remake of 8 bit Sonic 2, your opening line made me feel a little smug, as several in game events have been tied to music :)
@@CarlosRuiz20 Man I love it when there's always one person who will say that! Sure it's not a biased opinion! Irony aside, the US soundtrack isn't too bad. Put the boss and game over themes aside and there are some great tracks. The best ones are the Tidal Tempest, Wacky Workbench and Stardust Speedway tracks. Stardust Speedway Bad Future is probably the best example. And then there's Sonic Boom, the Special Stage and Quartz Quadrant Futures. The thing about the US soundtrack is how the composers utilized the "CD quality" music they could make. Instead of the whole Pop style, they fully took advantage of their options and wanted to match the atmosphere and the cinematic feel of the game. They used many rock elements too. Considering the time they took to make that OST, it's more than impressive how they completed it (for the most part). What I don't understand is how many will say that the US OST is horrible. Has mistakes? Could have more polish? Has some weak tracks? Yeah. But horrible? No way. And because I cannot change your mind I suggest you search about the US OST yourself. Or do a Sonic CD playthrough with the US soundtrack, that'd be even better. But yeah who am I to suggest (since you know , "the JP OST is the perfect and infallible in every single aspect soundtrack")?
@@manuelmakesartz THIS. Thoughtlessly dismissing the whole US soundtrack because of its Boss and Game Over themes is about as fair as dismissing the JP soundtrack because its versions of Wacky Workbench Present and Special Stage are annoying compositions that were composed to make you go deaf. Even the JP soundtrack also has its fair share of horror music, such as the bad futures of Palmtree Panic, Tidal Tempest and I'd argue even Metallic Madness.
We are blessed to have the Sonic CD Japanese soundtrack on nearly all music platform. That's how I discovered it and it's a soundtrack that I will keep listening to, probably forever. The tracks are so rich and their interactions as past, present, bad, and good future, really add to it. I could honestly take an analysis of any other Sonic CD level if that's ever in the plans (in the near, or the distant future, be it good or bad).
I was so fascinated as a kid with Collision Chaos' Past song. All these strange sounds that made me "see sounds in my mind" for the first time. (that section C part where the music gets a bit chaotic). Up to this day I still have this slight form of synesthesia!
You're one of the few other's I've seen that have noted the New Jack Swing influence on early Sonic music. I love the genre and think it's cool how Sonic music incorporates it's style. I've said this before to other people and they have no idea what I'm talking about lol 😂
Your videos have literally helped me understand aspects of music theory better. Ive been trying to learn in my spare time for a few years and its always been pretty confusing. After watching these ive been making connections to other songs i listen too constantly. Good vids man.
Would absolutely love to see more from you regarding CD's soundtrack! Its the game that gave me a lifelong love for music as a child because of how great the soundtrack is, special mention goes to Stardust Speedway's past version. I really love in particular how you explain narrative interpretations via the music as well, it adds a whole new layer of depth to appreciating the tracks!
I already liked this guy's content, now he made a theory on my favorite Sonic game. I would love to see Wacky Workbench or Quartz Quadrant next. I'm so excited!
I appreciate that you didn't just dunk on the US soundtrack and gave it some props. I think it's got just as many bangers as the JP version but both soundtracks just excel in different areas.
Nice one Alex. Collision Chaos is one of my favorites in both soundtracks. I don't know how I never noticed the pentatonic in so many of the JP levels, that's cool.
I love your channel! Here's two songs that have been stuck in my head that I'd like to know more about the theory: Marble Zone from Sonic 1 (especially the "sweep picked" arpeggio part), and the Underground theme from Mario 1 (the middle part). Also, your illustrative graphics, and personal analysis of the emotional aspect of the music, kinda help me learn some stuff. Played guitar for 15 yrs (largely pentatonic), and just recently I realized theory can be fun, and all these old video game soundtracks I have bouncing around in my head are now helping me contextualize the theory I once found to be boring. Thanks dude
On the subject of the US soundtrack being made in sprint-time, it's interesting to note that the 1994 Sonic Boom album, which featured most of the Sonic CD US tracks, has album-exclusive mixes that combine some tracks together, while adding new flourishes to others. (One good example of the latter is Quartz Quadrant Present.) Some of these additions were incorporated into the mixes used in the 2011 version of Sonic CD, but unfortunately, it seems that Origins has reverted to the original release's mixes.
Fabulous video. I especially appreciate how you integrate the game's story into your explanation. You've obviously played the game as well as dissected the music.
man. i absolutely LOVE how you cut your videos. without those visuals you build in, i would definitely understand way less and it gives your videos a one of a kind feel
Collision chaos is personally my favorite zone from sonic CD in terms of its soundtrack, I'm thrilled you chose to cover it. Every little detail in its composition (when pointed out clearly) really make it stand out. I'm impressed with how much you can figure out from these songs! I'm taking notes :').
You see I'm one of those suckers who say the US Soundtrack is better subjectively. And seeing Sheet Music for these tracks make me happier, because of after 2 years of searching. I finnaly found it, or a taste of it.
This is an awesome video. I can't really put any more coherency into that thought. But I really, deeply appreciate the breakdown of everything, especially as someone who knows next to nothing about music notation and the like. The thematic talk of the music matching what's going on in the game is deeply appreciated and also wicked.
Yes "pentatonic blues" includes the tritone, with the important attribute being that the 2 and 6 (in minor) are omitted. That tritone is a passing-alley to get between 4 and 5, without laying down its own defining anchor as its own scale degree, thus preserving the Pent.
All of your videos are great, but this is truly excellent, I'm looking forward to you exploring other Sonic CD tracks with their changes through the different time zones
I really have a fondness for the US tracks of Collision Chaos. They have this lovely atmosphere that still perfectly captures the feel of the level, just with a different method compared to the Japanese OST. I think it really has this psychedelic feel where you're still going hectic with the bumpers and neon lights, but with the addition of bongos galore and occasional guitar riff glory, it's no wonder that they really capture the essence of what Americans want from a Sonic soundtrack. Still, massive props to the wonderful music team over in Japan.
This was a really good video and I'd love to see this done for Stardust Speedway, between the Japanese soundtrack, the American soundtrack, and the Sonic mania reworks, there would be a lot to cover. I feel like so much of Stardust Speedway gets overshadowed by the bad future version so I'd love to hear some about the other songs.
Unmentioned fun fact: The note outside of the pentatonic scale in Collision Chaos and Metallic Madness is actually the C-note, so they both use blues scales. Quartz Quadrant uses the traditional pentatonic scale without the C-note. Anyway, if the bongo banger is too tired in Collision Chaos (US), what would happen if he ended up in Metallic Madness Good Future?
4:10 When playing sonic cd and reaching quartz quadrant the past theme it sounds so strange it gives me a feeling I can’t explain but makes me start humming to its past theme I can’t imagine what eggman is doing when waiting for me in act 3.
I don't know why but I like the US compositions more, there are some tracks of the JP OST that I like but the US ones get me into a better mood after I listen them .
I prefer the Japanese especially as it's closer to the intended design rather than interpretation. But I alternate to US for this very reason of good vibe. I love the "ping" sounds the ladies sing in Tidal Tempest. I think the US tracks feel more organic.
12:32 "It's scary enough to make you smile your pants and stash them underneath your bed" is a reference to cybershell's Sonic CD Bonus Video (correct me if I'm wrong)
I love your music explanation videos! On first listen I didn't pickup any of the detail; I was just happy to listen to somebody bla bla bla passionately about a niche topic but on subsequent listens I'm actually learning musical theory concepts, which I didn't expect to at all. Your blend of analysis, explanation and plausible conjecture is really great.
I've felt that the US Soundtrack for Sonic CD is underrated. I have always been told "the US OST sucks, they didnt like techno, so they made something else, don't listen to it!" As a kid, I didn't really question this, so I never bothered paying much mind to the music. But one day, I decided to go through the OST and boy was I in for a surprise. Sure, it's different, but I'm so glad that businessman decided to make that dumb decision because it ended up with some great tunes. :D
You can say that again. I also thought the US OST sucked but then I did a playthrough with it. I really liked Tidal Tempest Present and the rest of the OST went uphill, including my view on it. Do you have any favorite tracks? Personally, I love Wacky Workbench Good Future.
honestly the music of the usa is too boring, apart from the melody that is sometimes sticky it doesn't have anything remarkable or that makes it stand out from what was popular at the time, the music of sonic cd is so experimental and that is why it is so remembered
Quartz Quadrant Bad Future is so hauntingly beautiful. Stardust Speedway is just spacy but fun, the boss music is frightening, and the Special Stage really feels out of this world.
Hi, just wanna say that you popped up on my yt recommend, I really enjoyed the video and was totally fascinated by this and the work done on the soundtracks and the one you done for making the video. Thanks for making it, you gained a sub mate
Loving these dissertations of Sonic music! I always liked the JPN soundtrack more than the US one, since I listen and produce electronic music. But getting older, I've learned to appreciate the US soundtrack as well.
i'm very happy that you're covering sonic cd music, it's good stuff, especially the us sountrack, wacky workbench present us might actually be my favourite song from both sountracks.
I always *thoroughly* enjoy your analysis of Sonic's canon! Good future was always my favourite one of these because of just how euphoric and peaceful it feels.
I don't care what anyone says, Sonic CD's Japanese soundtrack is a masterpiece, the video game equivalent of Michael Jackson's Thriller or Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. Like those works it deserves to be inducted into the library of Congress and studied in colleges by music majors. There needs to be a documentary made and the two composers Masafumi Ogata and Naofumi Hataya interviewed about their process and inspirations, why hasn't this happened yet?
"Swing is when you go 🟧⬛ it's moving"
1:25
LOL
Xd
Collision Chaos Past's music has always oddly spoken to me, in a funky yet serious way. Always felt like it was telling me the story of what Collision Chaos once was and to know some cool extra things about it, as well as all other variants of the theme, is really amazing.
hi chillius
I see what you mean. I really feel like you expressed that in the remix that you uploaded a while ago.
Edit: This comment is shameful.
True
Didn't expect seeing you here
Sounds like it would fit in a desert level to be honest
Collision chaos themes were always underated to me. Makes you feel like you saved paradise or failed to protect it
15:09 - Time to wheel out my favourite observation: the land at the top of the sky in Collision Chaos is actually Mobius, and you are upside down on Little Planet looking back down on it.
thats so freaking cool!
That's so cool. And palmtree panic has that too! So I interpret it as, little planet shares geographic DNA with mobius, it's not quite a clone but a sister-close-relative entity.
@@AlexYardZone Oh is there land at the top in Palmtree too? I don't think I've ever noticed that! I wonder if it's in any others?
@Carlos HCR2! You could also make the claim Stardust Speedway was built to mirror Starlight on purpose, because some Little Planet people wanted to be there more than once a year.
I always wondered why that patch of land was there. I had interpreted it as the view of the background when going through the big loop in Palmtree Panic.
There's something about Collision Chaos' music that really gets me, especially the past soundtrack
1:20 Fun Fact, this music genre was named after Michael Jackson. The guy who made it (Teddy Riley) still makes music today, mostly in the K-Pop sphere.
me who doesn't understand anything about music composition but still watches: I like your funny words music man
Man, I really do love Sonic CDs Soundtrack, I'd recommend doing this idea with more Sonic CD levels like Stardust Speedway or Metallic Madness. I loved it :)
Dude, I would LOVE a review on Metallic Madness, especially if he could also talk about the two versions from Sonic Mania!
But seriously, on US zones with good music (Wacky Workbench, and especially Stardust Speedway), he should contribute too.
The editing on this especially in the latter half was tight and like candy, funny gags too. Sonic CD is definitely one of the most fun soundtracks to review. As others have said of course we need Stardust Speedway. Awesome work and most importantly, inspiring. I had no idea of the influences even progrock here.
My favourite part of this song will always be how they incorporated printing samples
YES. Was waiting to see if he would mention that.
definitely the most memorable thing, imo
12:31 That Cybershell call-back was so subtle and smooth, respect
Pee pants reference
Was it a Cybershell callback though? That picture is just hidden art from Sonic CD, although if memory serves it wasn't intended to be creepy - it depends on which soundtrack you had as the US one played the creepy boss music but the Japanese song that played for it was upbeat.
@@darkowl9 it was. He once talked about how that song scared him, and he stashed his pee-pants under the bed, and then his dog found the pee-pants, and so on and so forth
I popped off when you transitioned over to the US ost, was honestly afraid it would get skipped over. So happy we're hearing some music theory analysis about the osts from both regions.
I think it is refreshing to see both ost's getting their proper credit.
I cannot deny the OG soundtrack is great, but at least a few of the US soundtrack songs have their irreplaceable charm. The wailing guitar in CC for example really gets me, especially for the bad future.
yeah, even though analysis would not be as deep as with Japan soundtrack (Wacky Workbench and Tidal Tempest as an example)
@@AlinaAniretake
The Wacky Workbench US analysis was pretty decent until he got to the future themes, though.
us osts disserve a proper credit of being rightfully discarded as the inferior ones
I grew up with the US Soundtrack but I do find JPN Collision Chaos to be quite a bop and the Good Future is gives off a feeling of “everything is going to be alright” while taking your ears on a vacation😊
One of the best tracks from this game and sonic overall. O always loved the floppy disk, printer-like sound used in the instrumentation
Sonic CD always has been (for me) the best one in terms of style and funkyness, is just too good. Please do more of Sonic CD, love your videos man
Seconded, I absolutely love this
I know literally nothing about music theory but your explanations are always detailed enough without dragging on. Thank you for these videos. You should do more CD stages, definitely Metallic Madness.
Unbelievable. I just started another playthrough of Sonic CD and was thinking about how funky all times zones for Collision Chaos were. *perfect timing alex* :D
Oh my god!
You transitioned between the time zones so darn well! It didn't feel sudden at all, it was the natural way for the video to continue! Very, very well done!
Huh.. didn't expect Collision Chaos but still a solid in depth explanation of the song.
You give us a new perspective on the songs we love everytime so we can enjoy it even more.
Now I have this information probably stuck forever in my head but I'll still probably watch this video multiple times.
2:08 soundtrack and gameplay got that sync 💀
I've been watching your Music Theory videos for a little bit now, but this was easily the most fun one to watch yet. The explanations are easily understandable to someone with no knowledge of actual music theory, and the transitions between each explanation are super funny! The editing all around is just great, as well. This is some of your best work yet! Good job, Alex!
Oh yeah. I've been waiting for you to cover Sonic CD. Whether it's the US or JP/EU version, the music is on a whole higher level.
This was glorious in every way-the visuals accompanying the explanations, the interesting points about how the rhythm and movements along the pentatonic scale varied with the time periods, and especially the phenomenal pacing. Thanks for doing justice to one of my favorite (collection of) tracks from the Genesis era!
Music syncing to actions; you didn't mention it, but even in this video, Metal Sonic flies in the instant after the lyrics say "kick it" and there's two notes that coincide with each half of that spike wall getting destroyed. So it's a way more epic symphonic combo than you initially let on! :D
You don’t know how long I waited for a Sonic the Hedgehog CD Music Theory Video. With how much Naoto Ohshima (Creator of Sonic & Eggman) micromanage every aspect of the game, even the music and it’s composers, Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata, I consider Sonic CD’s OST to be PEAK Sonic and the vision of the series.
I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT if you turned this into a series of delving in CD’s OST and dissecting the musical similarities and differences between the Time Periods. Especially for fan favorites like Tidal Tempest, Quartz Quadrant, Stardust Speedway, and Metallic Madness!
FACTS
Yeah, CD was Oshima’s baby and he was involved in basically every aspect. I love the story of Hataya and Ogata coming to him with demo songs for the soundtrack and Oshima rejecting all of it for being too conventional, forcing them to look towards house music and techno as inspiration. It really paid off and gave the composers the direction they needed to go to a creative place.
Knowing what New Jack Swing sounds like for years is what got me to recognize the opening theme from the movie Turning Red as such. It's such a great theme for a great movie and especially when the guitar kicks in, I almost always imagine Sonic running around in like Studiopolis Zone or something
Collision Chaos is one of my favourite songs in this game, and that's saying something for CD
It was so cool being a teenager who had played all the genesis games a bunch and getting introduced to Sonic CD until Sonic Gems Collection came out. I've been saying it's the best of the classic sonic games.
Really glad you covered the US tracks too, I feel like those tend to get left in the dust despite being great in their own right. Amazing video as usual, and hoping you get around to more CD tracks in the future :)
Only if you don't skip over that robot generator
@@rapidloaf Ayyyyy!
I'm so excited to see you cover some Sonic CD songs; I absolutely love both soundtracks for different reasons. Small Easter egg: The minor pentatonic climb in the JP good future song is reused in 8-bit Sonic 2's Gimmick Mountain Zone. Pretty sure the same team worked on both soundtracks.
I’ll say this a million times if I have to: The Sonic CD soundtrack-in both Japanese and USA varieties has a early-to-mid-90s flair that I believe the Genesis games just don’t have.
5:48 Alex, those analogies... So satisfying hearing you make the comparisons. It's a feast for my conceptual mind.😄
6:10 and that part too... So god damn spot on.
Ogata and Hataya did an amazing job on CD, it's incredible how good every song is; you could probably do a whole episode on each Era of zone. Not to mention the prototype music or the Sonic The Hedgehog Remix album they did in '94 which has some great arranges and motifs borrowed from the games.
This man's talking about how the bongo specialist in the background goes nuts during both Present US & Bad Future US meanwhile he forgets to mention that the drum specialist in both aformentioned songs goes extra nuts
it's always a nice day when alex yard uploads. i don't think i see many people talk about cd's soundtrack, despite how good and different it sounds from the classic genesis games. hope to see more music theory videos!
The connections to the music and how the level is played is just so entertaining
Your videos are amazing! I love the little things you do to make it feel like the gameplay is integral to the video, like at 8:54 where sonic looks up to scroll the screen up and make room for the sheet music!
Absolutely lovely, incredible videos, nothing but praise.
You're the best
Bro, I'd love to see more Sonic CD music theories, you spin an interesting philosophy with the timetravel concept and the music🎶
These videos make me appreciate music in video games SO MUCH MORE then I already did man.
I don't know no nothing about no music. But your videos are really good and engaging. Keep it up.
I was listening to the Sonic CD soundtrack today, and something I think I only noticed because I'd watched this video is that the B section melody is a reference to the Spring Yard Zone theme! I'd somehow never made the connection between Collision Chaos and Spring Yard Zone before, so it was really cool to hear and compare the themes to confirm.
I just had to come back and watch the whole video again while I was at it, the way you present these things is always so fun and satisfying. Really really love your work!!!
Both US themes of this zone in my opinion are hella underrated. The zone's description depict it as a jungle like environment, and you can hear the jungle esthetic in the present, gf, and bf. I believe both soundtracks tell what the zone represents:
JP/EU represents the foreground, US represents the background.
Edit: Love this part 14:29
Thank you so much for the SCD Music Theory! It's very interesting taking a deep dive into the composition behind two of my favourite soundtracks, and I'd love more!
A story I heard once about a potential reason behind the music swap for the US version is that, because sampling laws are much more relaxed in Japan than the US, and with just how much sampling was done in the JP soundtrack, it's likely that a lawyer would have stepped in last-minute and required the change in order to prevent legal trouble with copyright law.
It may be unlikely due to how Sega of America would always try to do localizations on everything (and many times changing the lore of Sonic the Hedgehog), and a whole new soundtrack for a game (while weird) would be expected, this story you said sounds interesting.
I love the US soundtrack, something akin to a Metroidvania atmosphere.
Alex, your videos have been very important to me, I cant thank you enough for offering this kind of education for FREE.
I am trying to incorporate elements of Music Theory into my remake of 8 bit Sonic 2, your opening line made me feel a little smug, as several in game events have been tied to music :)
US soundtrack sucks mate
@@CarlosRuiz20 This, literally.
Hey, now basically every 8bit title is getting a remake! Cool. I’ve been planning one for Sonic Blast
@@CarlosRuiz20 Man I love it when there's always one person who will say that! Sure it's not a biased opinion!
Irony aside, the US soundtrack isn't too bad.
Put the boss and game over themes aside and there are some great tracks. The best ones are the Tidal Tempest, Wacky Workbench and Stardust Speedway tracks. Stardust Speedway Bad Future is probably the best example. And then there's Sonic Boom, the Special Stage and Quartz Quadrant Futures.
The thing about the US soundtrack is how the composers utilized the "CD quality" music they could make. Instead of the whole Pop style, they fully took advantage of their options and wanted to match the atmosphere and the cinematic feel of the game. They used many rock elements too. Considering the time they took to make that OST, it's more than impressive how they completed it (for the most part).
What I don't understand is how many will say that the US OST is horrible. Has mistakes? Could have more polish? Has some weak tracks? Yeah. But horrible? No way.
And because I cannot change your mind I suggest you search about the US OST yourself. Or do a Sonic CD playthrough with the US soundtrack, that'd be even better. But yeah who am I to suggest (since you know , "the JP OST is the perfect and infallible in every single aspect soundtrack")?
@@manuelmakesartz
THIS. Thoughtlessly dismissing the whole US soundtrack because of its Boss and Game Over themes is about as fair as dismissing the JP soundtrack because its versions of Wacky Workbench Present and Special Stage are annoying compositions that were composed to make you go deaf.
Even the JP soundtrack also has its fair share of horror music, such as the bad futures of Palmtree Panic, Tidal Tempest and I'd argue even Metallic Madness.
We are blessed to have the Sonic CD Japanese soundtrack on nearly all music platform. That's how I discovered it and it's a soundtrack that I will keep listening to, probably forever. The tracks are so rich and their interactions as past, present, bad, and good future, really add to it.
I could honestly take an analysis of any other Sonic CD level if that's ever in the plans (in the near, or the distant future, be it good or bad).
I was so fascinated as a kid with Collision Chaos' Past song. All these strange sounds that made me "see sounds in my mind" for the first time. (that section C part where the music gets a bit chaotic).
Up to this day I still have this slight form of synesthesia!
You're one of the few other's I've seen that have noted the New Jack Swing influence on early Sonic music. I love the genre and think it's cool how Sonic music incorporates it's style. I've said this before to other people and they have no idea what I'm talking about lol 😂
Yeah, the genre is not super well known. It also has three words in it. One of them is "new"... which gets outdated like New Super Mario Bros lol.
Your videos have literally helped me understand aspects of music theory better. Ive been trying to learn in my spare time for a few years and its always been pretty confusing. After watching these ive been making connections to other songs i listen too constantly. Good vids man.
Would absolutely love to see more from you regarding CD's soundtrack! Its the game that gave me a lifelong love for music as a child because of how great the soundtrack is, special mention goes to Stardust Speedway's past version. I really love in particular how you explain narrative interpretations via the music as well, it adds a whole new layer of depth to appreciating the tracks!
I already liked this guy's content, now he made a theory on my favorite Sonic game. I would love to see Wacky Workbench or Quartz Quadrant next. I'm so excited!
I appreciate that you didn't just dunk on the US soundtrack and gave it some props. I think it's got just as many bangers as the JP version but both soundtracks just excel in different areas.
YES! please keep doing CD levels, this was amazing!
Nice one Alex. Collision Chaos is one of my favorites in both soundtracks. I don't know how I never noticed the pentatonic in so many of the JP levels, that's cool.
Its so good to hear your voice again :) Never realized how groovy this track is, and now its added to my favs collection!
I love your channel! Here's two songs that have been stuck in my head that I'd like to know more about the theory: Marble Zone from Sonic 1 (especially the "sweep picked" arpeggio part), and the Underground theme from Mario 1 (the middle part). Also, your illustrative graphics, and personal analysis of the emotional aspect of the music, kinda help me learn some stuff. Played guitar for 15 yrs (largely pentatonic), and just recently I realized theory can be fun, and all these old video game soundtracks I have bouncing around in my head are now helping me contextualize the theory I once found to be boring. Thanks dude
Knowing you, I thought it would be Tidal Tempest or Quartz Quadrant. But Collision Chaos is a pleasant surprise. Keep the Sonic CD videos coming!
On the subject of the US soundtrack being made in sprint-time, it's interesting to note that the 1994 Sonic Boom album, which featured most of the Sonic CD US tracks, has album-exclusive mixes that combine some tracks together, while adding new flourishes to others. (One good example of the latter is Quartz Quadrant Present.) Some of these additions were incorporated into the mixes used in the 2011 version of Sonic CD, but unfortunately, it seems that Origins has reverted to the original release's mixes.
Fabulous video. I especially appreciate how you integrate the game's story into your explanation. You've obviously played the game as well as dissected the music.
I totally love the USA soundtrack! Thanks for including it into the analysis!
man. i absolutely LOVE how you cut your videos. without those visuals you build in, i would definitely understand way less and it gives your videos a one of a kind feel
I'm more of a US OST fan for Sonic CD but it's still neat how unique the JP and US OST's are from each other.
Collision chaos is personally my favorite zone from sonic CD in terms of its soundtrack, I'm thrilled you chose to cover it. Every little detail in its composition (when pointed out clearly) really make it stand out. I'm impressed with how much you can figure out from these songs! I'm taking notes :').
You see I'm one of those suckers who say the US Soundtrack is better subjectively. And seeing Sheet Music for these tracks make me happier, because of after 2 years of searching. I finnaly found it, or a taste of it.
YEEEEEEEEEES LETS GOOOO, I'm so happy youre analysing my favorite Sonic soundtrack and one of my favorite soundtracks of all time
I never made the Collusion Chaos/Control connection, and I love me some Janet Jackson! Thank you for point that out!!
Seeing Sonic CD in a music theory video was a welcome surprise and the songs being Collision Chaos was even better, keep up the great work!
I love your videos, they give me so much to think about and add to my music. You make music theory easier to digest.
This is an awesome video. I can't really put any more coherency into that thought. But I really, deeply appreciate the breakdown of everything, especially as someone who knows next to nothing about music notation and the like. The thematic talk of the music matching what's going on in the game is deeply appreciated and also wicked.
10:08
EGGMAN PLAYGROUND
RULES!!!!!:
1: Don't act like youre in a playground
Some of these tracks aren't only using minor pentatonic scales, but blues scales with the addition of the ♯4/♭5.
Yes "pentatonic blues" includes the tritone, with the important attribute being that the 2 and 6 (in minor) are omitted. That tritone is a passing-alley to get between 4 and 5, without laying down its own defining anchor as its own scale degree, thus preserving the Pent.
This was a blast! Thanks, and hoping to see more SCD content in the future :D
All of your videos are great, but this is truly excellent, I'm looking forward to you exploring other Sonic CD tracks with their changes through the different time zones
I really have a fondness for the US tracks of Collision Chaos. They have this lovely atmosphere that still perfectly captures the feel of the level, just with a different method compared to the Japanese OST. I think it really has this psychedelic feel where you're still going hectic with the bumpers and neon lights, but with the addition of bongos galore and occasional guitar riff glory, it's no wonder that they really capture the essence of what Americans want from a Sonic soundtrack. Still, massive props to the wonderful music team over in Japan.
This was a really good video and I'd love to see this done for Stardust Speedway, between the Japanese soundtrack, the American soundtrack, and the Sonic mania reworks, there would be a lot to cover. I feel like so much of Stardust Speedway gets overshadowed by the bad future version so I'd love to hear some about the other songs.
7:23 Anyone else notice how similar this part is to Metallic Madness' melody? It's the same 5 note structure with an identical pattern
Collision Chaos goes: 1 - 2 - 3-4 51 - 2 - 3-4 5
Metallic Madness goes: 1 2 3 - 4-5 - 1 2 3 - 4-5
I’m glad you included the US soundtrack too!
Unmentioned fun fact: The note outside of the pentatonic scale in Collision Chaos and Metallic Madness is actually the C-note, so they both use blues scales. Quartz Quadrant uses the traditional pentatonic scale without the C-note.
Anyway, if the bongo banger is too tired in Collision Chaos (US), what would happen if he ended up in Metallic Madness Good Future?
4:10 When playing sonic cd and reaching quartz quadrant the past theme it sounds so strange it gives me a feeling I can’t explain but makes me start humming to its past theme I can’t imagine what eggman is doing when waiting for me in act 3.
Yes! I've been waiting so long for a sonic CD music theory video! Can't wait for more!
I don't know why but I like the US compositions more, there are some tracks of the JP OST that I like but the US ones get me into a better mood after I listen them .
I prefer the Japanese especially as it's closer to the intended design rather than interpretation. But I alternate to US for this very reason of good vibe. I love the "ping" sounds the ladies sing in Tidal Tempest. I think the US tracks feel more organic.
I freaking love this channel. Thanks once more for putting into words what I never was able to.
12:32 "It's scary enough to make you smile your pants and stash them underneath your bed" is a reference to cybershell's Sonic CD Bonus Video (correct me if I'm wrong)
i just love sonic music and i love these videos they are just so well done, keep up the great work Alex, cannot get enough of it. ❤
I love your music explanation videos!
On first listen I didn't pickup any of the detail; I was just happy to listen to somebody bla bla bla passionately about a niche topic
but on subsequent listens I'm actually learning musical theory concepts, which I didn't expect to at all.
Your blend of analysis, explanation and plausible conjecture is really great.
7:14 I noticed the transcription i'ts wrong at the 2 last notes, they are A and A-flat
First Sonic CD Video, I'm here for it, I'm apart of Alex yard history! (also first non sonic 3 video of the sonic franchise)
I've felt that the US Soundtrack for Sonic CD is underrated. I have always been told "the US OST sucks, they didnt like techno, so they made something else, don't listen to it!" As a kid, I didn't really question this, so I never bothered paying much mind to the music. But one day, I decided to go through the OST and boy was I in for a surprise. Sure, it's different, but I'm so glad that businessman decided to make that dumb decision because it ended up with some great tunes. :D
You can say that again. I also thought the US OST sucked but then I did a playthrough with it. I really liked Tidal Tempest Present and the rest of the OST went uphill, including my view on it. Do you have any favorite tracks? Personally, I love Wacky Workbench Good Future.
honestly the music of the usa is too boring, apart from the melody that is sometimes sticky it doesn't have anything remarkable or that makes it stand out from what was popular at the time, the music of sonic cd is so experimental and that is why it is so remembered
Quartz Quadrant Bad Future is so hauntingly beautiful. Stardust Speedway is just spacy but fun, the boss music is frightening, and the Special Stage really feels out of this world.
Wacky Workbench US Present is pure jam.
@@manuelmakesartz Metallic Madness Good Future :)
This is a new favorite video of yours. Loved seeing the comparison between past / present / futures.
Yes we know Jackson’s we’re biggest artists ever especially at the time so it made sense for the biggest video game character had to borrow
Hi, just wanna say that you popped up on my yt recommend, I really enjoyed the video and was totally fascinated by this and the work done on the soundtracks and the one you done for making the video. Thanks for making it, you gained a sub mate
So weird how everyone at school clowned me on listeningn to this, they are missing out. Also i used to play the Sonic CD emulator in school.😂
Always happy to see when you've uploaded a new video!
Loving these dissertations of Sonic music! I always liked the JPN soundtrack more than the US one, since I listen and produce electronic music. But getting older, I've learned to appreciate the US soundtrack as well.
Hell yeah, I love this analysis! One of my fave zones from Sonic CD
i'm very happy that you're covering sonic cd music, it's good stuff, especially the us sountrack, wacky workbench present us might actually be my favourite song from both sountracks.
Yet an other masterpiece !! Keep it up Alex
Sonic music just don't fuckin MISS!
I always *thoroughly* enjoy your analysis of Sonic's canon! Good future was always my favourite one of these because of just how euphoric and peaceful it feels.
I don't care what anyone says, Sonic CD's Japanese soundtrack is a masterpiece, the video game equivalent of Michael Jackson's Thriller or Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. Like those works it deserves to be inducted into the library of Congress and studied in colleges by music majors. There needs to be a documentary made and the two composers Masafumi Ogata and Naofumi Hataya interviewed about their process and inspirations, why hasn't this happened yet?