Your initial hunch was correct about the erroneous midi data. In the VGM rip from the Nov 3. 1993 prototype you can actually hear the correct melody (but not in-game) This missing melody is also in the PC version. Sonic Retro user Valleybell included a note with the rips explaining why this error occurs: "Note: There is an additional instrument in the VGM (at 0: 53) that can't be heard in the actual game. The song loads an invalid FM instrument (ID $2D) and SMPSPlay just ignores that instead of loading garbage data, which is why the instrument is audible." This can only be heard from the prototype's VGM rip. The final song plays the error even in SMPSPlay.
or you can just listen to it here: ruclips.net/video/zH8rqoY8paw/видео.html (btw don't be fooled by this channel's "restorations". They take many liberties that don't reflect the actual prototype songs)
WOW i had never known and i've always wondered about that high pitched note too. it sounds more complete but i still prefer the game version, screeching and all.
@@mBluett There's nothing to be "fooled" by as these restorations are usually improvements upon the songs with the original 01/w percussion and better mixing/mastering. On the flipside though, wow, that melody is weird.
9:19 It’s funny that it sounds like two staccato notes using the same high-pitched instrument on channel 4, when in reality you’re hearing that organ-like instrument on channels 1 & 5(5 is acting as delay). The same note is slightly phasing itself between the two channels, and because of that, it sounds like it’s playing at a higher octave than what it’s actually doing. Channel 4, the original source of the high-pitched note, switches to playing a much lower G note. Frequencies crossing over each other can sometimes produce the illusion of different sounding notes. It’s a cool trick to use when composing. In fact, Sonic Chaos’s final boss theme does this in its intro, to the point where the lead not only sounds like it’s playing an octave lower, it also sounds a bit like the NES’ Square at a duty cycle of 25%.
This is a completely baseless, wild guess, but I'd say the repetitive bassline and lack of chord development helps get players accustomed to the looping nature of the 2 player levels- the only other 2 player Sonic experience at the time was in Sonic 2, where you just raced your opponent through one of the regular levels. Sonic 3 made the levels loop around on themselves, so even if it wasn't intentional on the part of the composers, the highly repetitive music reflects that idea of a quickly looping level.
I wonder if it's also because it was Black or White (MJ song) and it was a near last-minute decision to change it completely so the composer of Azure Lake basically changed it enough so it didn't sound like Black or White and bumrushed the composition. Might explain why the composition itself is rather simple.
Pretty much had the same thought. Just coming from a DJ approach, whenever I want to play a track that picks up the pace and energy I play a track with a "rolling" bassline. I always thought of this stage as speedy and energetic without many "twists and turns", I think the music reflects that well. Especially that short intro into the tune, it's giving "ready, set, GO!"
Sonic 3's competition zone music sure amazes me at times. We had a music theory class in highschool that the teacher shown us the sustained chords. The Csus2 chords were used in a couple of songs like Hungry Like The Wolf. I gotten that Michael Jackson song reference to it too.
Wow, there's a sus2 chord in Hungry Like the Wolf? That's a coincidence. Also, a correction to an error made in the video, is that 'sus' is short for 'suspended' rather than 'sustained.'
@@AlexYardZone Azure Lake Zone had a C sustained chord while Hungry Like The Wolf had an E Sustained 4th chord on it. Michael Jackson's Black Or White you mentioned had the Esus7 chord. That's how the progressive method was used in Azure Lake Zone. It repeats the same thing over and over.
for me, this is one of the most interesting zones out of all sonic 3 and knuckles, I love this zone so much, and I appreciate you talking about this zone, because barely anyone has ever talked about this zone to be honest. you'd gain a sub.
I watched a video about him, and was thinking about how this is Ulillillia’s favorite track this entire video, so it made me happy when you mentioned it at the end
3rd video in a row I watched from you. You just earned yourself a subscriber. I thought I scrounged through all I could about Sonic 3 music theory, and trivia, but you bring it to another level. Good job man!
I just discovered this channel and love these videos of the Sonic games I grew up on! One really pedantic point I have to make, the "sus" notation in a chord means "suspended", not "sustained"... Awesome video!
Ah yes, it would appear that's correct! A quick google search shows a couple of results saying "also known as a sustained chord" so I wonder if I've heard other folks say it in the past which is why it was in my head.
As soon as you demonstrated the OST for Sky Chase, I had this feeling it sounded really similar to something else, my first thought was immediately "Get Edgy" from Sonic Rush's Altitude Limit of all things. Maybe it's just the climb in pitch before coming down again and the slightly extended note before the crashes that lead to the vocal samples saying "move that beat". I might have no idea what I am talking about.
@@justinrush7463 It seems like most "professional" gaming sites are giving Ultimate positive reviews so I guess IGN is no different here despite their history with Sonic.
Isn't Azure Lake the same lake in the background of Launch Base Zone that the Death Egg was in? If so, it’s fitting that the music sounds similar to Death Egg Zone.
ok but that cute little fan-title makes me wanna write lyrics for this song. i cant write lyrics if i was held at gunpoint, but i still wanna see if i could do it. i cant help but imagine the title itself appearing at the end of each section
Sonic Pocket Adventure mentioned!! Also, I find that SPA seems to enjoy taking a more upbeat angle when tackling it's finales, since they also use Sky Sanctuary for the all emeralds boss, I think they wanted this to feel more as if Sonic has already won, and is chasing down Eggman to deal with him for good. "You've defeated his most powerful robot up in the aerobase, now time time finish the job!" Afterall, aerobase does use the Death Egg theme, and Silver Sonic was the second-to-last big roadblock in the game SPA retells, and with no Death Egg mech appearing in the game, the robot doppelganger is the strongest weapon that remains.
Really glad you mentioned Sonic Pocket Adventure, but after going through the trouble you didn't mention that it adds another movement, a very satisfying one. In general I think Pocket Adventure is super underrated, and I lvoe the music, as well as the physics and gameplay, everything about it. It was my first sonic game, I got a neo geo pocket color in order to play it, because I could only convince my parents to invest in portables while I was a kid. A lot of people use diminishing language referring to Pocket Adventure, calling is "recycled content" or "a worse version of sonic 2"... But that's such a double standard-- it is remixed music, 8-bit covers, and a DEMAKE, something which people go nuts for these days. Someone just Demade sonic adventure for Nintendo DS this week even!
I'd say it's arguable whether it stays on the same chord throughout. It stays on the same bass note, but you can have a drone behind a chord progression. I lean slightly more toward that interpretation, just from listening (either's valid, of course). I'd say the character at one point is more of a rising 1st/2nd/3rd/4th progression that's progressed fast and over fast.
This is the first video i watched from you, i can remember the day, i was going to get a blood sample with my mom and while we were waiting i saw this in my recommended and decided to watch it, i didn't know what music theory was at the time and i still don't lol
A friend of mine once put music theory like this - it’s all well and good to know if a piece of music sounds good, but music theory can often tell you WHY it sounds good; basically, there are trends and patterns in how different pieces of music can make you feel and music theory explores that.
@@sandudelcea6707 That’s fair, in the case of Sonic 3 that is indeed quite a rabbit hole as we’ve seen. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were other comparable behind-the-scenes stories about the soundtracks of all sorts of other things. But as to music theory itself, truth be told I myself didn’t start to understand or develop an interest in it until recently - it was really Alex’s videos that did it, talking about the theory of music I care about! I just found it interesting to dissect these things because it helped me to understand exactly what about these songs I found so gripping. If nothing else I thought it might give me a place to start in finding more music I would like!
@@LynceusGlaciermaw i was also interested in this channel becuz alex is my real name, and by the way, sonic 3 is not the only sonic game to have a confusing soundtrack history
these videos give me a newfound appreciation for these tracks, thank you EDIT: a video going over the composition of sonic songs reused in different games would be interesting!
Hmmmm...playing them back to back I think I know what happened to that subtle change in Sky Chase's melody compared to Azure Lake. Pretty much all of S3K's soundtrack has the melody echo in some way, which I think adds more depth to the overall piece. So the quartet of descending 8th notes basically has a copy playing one "8th" behind it. But in my listenings, there are some points where this quartet can sound like a _pair_ of 8th notes, followed by a dotted 8th and 16th, because the echo of the D note seems to blend in with the main D. I don't know why, but it's something I noticed. And since the Neo Geo's soundchip was 8-bit instead of 16-bit, I guess the change was made to make it sound closer to Azure Lake with the echo in place
An hour ago, I was doing nothing really, just showing my Grandma the similarities between Ice Cap and Hard Times. But after that, I was slightly curious. I wanted to hear the Proto Sonic 3 tracks. So, I listened to them... and... Now I understand every. Single. Word. You. Say.
my favorite song in all of the sonic games. i'd just do FAULTS just keep listening to it. this track also happens to have quite a few covers, my favorite being 'Sonik Azure' by analoq
Sonik Azure is great. The way the guitar does the main chords has an awesome Brimful of Asha / Three Marlenas feel to it that works really well and achieves a different effect than the original.
@@AlexYardZone wow, thanks so much! sorry im a bit late in response (work gets in the way, as it does) but feel free to ask for any feedback as this is a cool idea that could be fun!
I like to think that the 'feedback' beep, since it is at the very last moments of the song, is supposed to be the ", until" in that part of the heroes journey. An otherwise pleasant song turning sour- an inciting incident.
My theory: After they couldn't use Black or White in Sonic 3, one of the composers/arrangers redid the tune just enough so that while it sounded similar, but still different from Black or White. Mostly to avoid lawsuits.
how'd it take me so long to find this video, for ages i'd hoped someone would draw attention to azure lake's monotone bassline. finally i can know peace
There’s a thing about this song that I’m baffled about. I heard this from playing Sonic 3 in Sonic Mega Collection Plus on the original Xbox. The part that plays at 0:14 sounded significantly different. Not note-wise, but the…voice? of it sounded clearer. Maybe similar to what the part before it sounds like. Compared to the one I heard on the Xbox, this “version” sounds very compressed and…I don’t know, more robotic/computer-chip-like? And yet, it’s everywhere, in everything. I can’t find the sound that I heard on the Xbox at all, and I have no idea why they sound different.
I've no doubt you're right about everything, but to me this song sounds like "It's the beginning of the race!" like it's day 1 of the Daytona or something. It just sounds like "We're racing!" because that's what these VS levels are, races with your friends. It's got a very Speed Racer kinda vibe to me. Do other Racing type instrumentals in other games and tv shows/movies have any similarity, and the cause for my connotation?
On a completely different note (pun intended) would love a breakdown of Andy Gillion's medley of Sonic music, because even though it's the same and the feel is also same, there are additional things to think about!
The preview of the other stages appeared to have an incorrect progression of Balloon Park. I didn't see anyone glitching up into the ceiling using the second balloon.
I've heard the similarities for years: Azure Lake is not a carbon copy of Black or White but it's similar because of the simplicity of the chords and the tones they make. The melodies are not the same but if they were in the same key they'd work together just fine, maybe as rhythm and lead or melody/countermelody. Also, the simple bassline tells on it. Again, they're not copies but the style and aesthetic are there, the skeletons.
Honestly if I were to guess any intention of using Desert Palace for Gigantic Angel, it might be in reference to the downward chord progression common in Sonic 1 tracks that you noted previously? It's still jarring tonally though hahaha Edit: if I'm not mistaken, it seems the opening melody to Scrap Brain has a downward chord progression too. Though I'm mostly guessing from the music theory I've learned from your vids.
Sonic 3: the DaVinci code of the franchise Sonic & Knuckles: the most influential game for the plot structure of most games in the series (Knuckles gets tricked and fights Sonic, getting all the Emeralds unlocks the true final boss but only for Super Sonic)
Desert palace in Gigantic Angel? I sort of get it. It has a bittersweet quality like Scrap Brain, but it probably needed some pulsating military style bass
6:36 Ritmoooo. Ritmo de la Noche. No, really, that's liteally "Ritmo de la Noche". The original theme is by a group challed Chocolate but the version that got popularized was by Mystic, both in 1990.
Your initial hunch was correct about the erroneous midi data. In the VGM rip from the Nov 3. 1993 prototype you can actually hear the correct melody (but not in-game)
This missing melody is also in the PC version.
Sonic Retro user Valleybell included a note with the rips explaining why this error occurs:
"Note: There is an additional instrument in the VGM (at 0: 53) that can't be heard in the actual game.
The song loads an invalid FM instrument (ID $2D) and SMPSPlay just ignores that instead of loading garbage data, which is why the instrument is audible."
This can only be heard from the prototype's VGM rip. The final song plays the error even in SMPSPlay.
or you can just listen to it here: ruclips.net/video/zH8rqoY8paw/видео.html
(btw don't be fooled by this channel's "restorations". They take many liberties that don't reflect the actual prototype songs)
WOW i had never known and i've always wondered about that high pitched note too.
it sounds more complete but i still prefer the game version, screeching and all.
@@mBluett There's nothing to be "fooled" by as these restorations are usually improvements upon the songs with the original 01/w percussion and better mixing/mastering. On the flipside though, wow, that melody is weird.
it was missing from the PC version likely because it sounds a lot like Michael Jackson's Black or White.
9:19
It’s funny that it sounds like two staccato notes using the same high-pitched instrument on channel 4, when in reality you’re hearing that organ-like instrument on channels 1 & 5(5 is acting as delay). The same note is slightly phasing itself between the two channels, and because of that, it sounds like it’s playing at a higher octave than what it’s actually doing. Channel 4, the original source of the high-pitched note, switches to playing a much lower G note. Frequencies crossing over each other can sometimes produce the illusion of different sounding notes.
It’s a cool trick to use when composing. In fact, Sonic Chaos’s final boss theme does this in its intro, to the point where the lead not only sounds like it’s playing an octave lower, it also sounds a bit like the NES’ Square at a duty cycle of 25%.
Damn, I learned more about music theory here than with some private instructors.
[Laughs, then cries in art-school student debt]
@@DoubleADwarf oof
The Sonic 3 competition zone musics were waaaay too good for what they were used for.
Agreed
Welp, never thought I'd enjoy a video about Azure Lake's music. Good job!
Why wouldn't you enjoy a video about Azure Lake? This song is great.
It’s interesting
@@williamcollis455 exactly
This is a completely baseless, wild guess, but I'd say the repetitive bassline and lack of chord development helps get players accustomed to the looping nature of the 2 player levels- the only other 2 player Sonic experience at the time was in Sonic 2, where you just raced your opponent through one of the regular levels. Sonic 3 made the levels loop around on themselves, so even if it wasn't intentional on the part of the composers, the highly repetitive music reflects that idea of a quickly looping level.
Very, very interesting take. Subconsciously telling us the repetitive layout of the level with unchanging chords.
Exactly what I thought even back when playing these levels way back.
@@SuperFang1 haha! Nice. This didn't strike me like that as a kid, but it's impressive you had the thought.
I wonder if it's also because it was Black or White (MJ song) and it was a near last-minute decision to change it completely so the composer of Azure Lake basically changed it enough so it didn't sound like Black or White and bumrushed the composition. Might explain why the composition itself is rather simple.
Pretty much had the same thought. Just coming from a DJ approach, whenever I want to play a track that picks up the pace and energy I play a track with a "rolling" bassline. I always thought of this stage as speedy and energetic without many "twists and turns", I think the music reflects that well. Especially that short intro into the tune, it's giving "ready, set, GO!"
omg, i've never noticed that beep. My azure Lake playthroughs will never be the same D:
I always thought it was strange.
This song is a masterpiece to me because it goes so far with so little. It's always been a favorite.
I always expect a false start at the beginning of these multiplayer videos. My brothers and I would troll each other hard in these races
Sonic 3's competition zone music sure amazes me at times. We had a music theory class in highschool that the teacher shown us the sustained chords. The Csus2 chords were used in a couple of songs like Hungry Like The Wolf. I gotten that Michael Jackson song reference to it too.
Wow, there's a sus2 chord in Hungry Like the Wolf? That's a coincidence.
Also, a correction to an error made in the video, is that 'sus' is short for 'suspended' rather than 'sustained.'
@@AlexYardZone Azure Lake Zone had a C sustained chord while Hungry Like The Wolf had an E Sustained 4th chord on it. Michael Jackson's Black Or White you mentioned had the Esus7 chord. That's how the progressive method was used in Azure Lake Zone. It repeats the same thing over and over.
@@borinightmare He literally corrected you and himself that it's "suspended" and then you replied to him again using the incorrect "sustained".
This was always one of my favorite tunes in the game, and that's saying something! Thanks for the detailed video.
for me, this is one of the most interesting zones out of all sonic 3 and knuckles, I love this zone so much, and I appreciate you talking about this zone, because barely anyone has ever talked about this zone to be honest. you'd gain a sub.
I watched a video about him, and was thinking about how this is Ulillillia’s favorite track this entire video, so it made me happy when you mentioned it at the end
3rd video in a row I watched from you. You just earned yourself a subscriber. I thought I scrounged through all I could about Sonic 3 music theory, and trivia, but you bring it to another level. Good job man!
6:32 When the chords are sus
The sheer nostalgia from this channel is really cheering me up :)
I just discovered this channel and love these videos of the Sonic games I grew up on! One really pedantic point I have to make, the "sus" notation in a chord means "suspended", not "sustained"... Awesome video!
Ah yes, it would appear that's correct! A quick google search shows a couple of results saying "also known as a sustained chord" so I wonder if I've heard other folks say it in the past which is why it was in my head.
No, it means sussy
@@spacedanceretefira7237 no it means you're not funny so delete your comment and shut up
I wasn't expecting Duran Duran in my Sonic 3 Music Theory. I'm absolutely loving these videos without having much knowledge on music stuff in general.
dude i’m so glad you posted this. it was amazing, i wish you had more subs! ya got one from me 😁
1:48 This was a triumph. I'm making a note here: musical success.
As soon as you demonstrated the OST for Sky Chase, I had this feeling it sounded really similar to something else, my first thought was immediately "Get Edgy" from Sonic Rush's Altitude Limit of all things. Maybe it's just the climb in pitch before coming down again and the slightly extended note before the crashes that lead to the vocal samples saying "move that beat". I might have no idea what I am talking about.
Your informative and funny, keep doing you fam.
This man predicted the popularity of Among us (C"sus"4 or 2)
Remember, ign said pocket advanture was 10 out of 10
IGN also said that "Sonic was never good" and thought Green Hill Zone was from Sonic 2. At this point nobody should take them seriously.
@@inendlesspain4724 well they also gave sonic colors ultimate an 8/10 so...
@@justinrush7463 It seems like most "professional" gaming sites are giving Ultimate positive reviews so I guess IGN is no different here despite their history with Sonic.
Oh em gee! This was way more than what I expected
OMG! All these years playing Sonic 3, and I never knew Azure Lake was an actual place IN MY HOME PROVINCE!
9:10 Ah crap, once you hear it you can't unhear it.
6:11 That C is an impostor
Dang, these videos of yours might actually get me to play some sonic 3
It makes me really happy to see you referencing ulillillia. He seems like such a wholesome dude.
6:11 SUS IMPOSTER SUSSY BAKA WHEN THE IMPOSTER IS SUS
Sus
Isn't Azure Lake the same lake in the background of Launch Base Zone that the Death Egg was in? If so, it’s fitting that the music sounds similar to Death Egg Zone.
This is Ulillillia's favorite track? Ben Saint told me about him, his stuff is kind of neat!
woww keep these up! im trying to learn to transcribe songs.These really assists me big time! :D
ok but that cute little fan-title makes me wanna write lyrics for this song. i cant write lyrics if i was held at gunpoint, but i still wanna see if i could do it. i cant help but imagine the title itself appearing at the end of each section
Man, you do some deep cuts. I like that.
9:09 what that beep is my favorite part about the song! Gives the song that final high peak for me.
Sonic Pocket Adventure mentioned!!
Also, I find that SPA seems to enjoy taking a more upbeat angle when tackling it's finales, since they also use Sky Sanctuary for the all emeralds boss, I think they wanted this to feel more as if Sonic has already won, and is chasing down Eggman to deal with him for good. "You've defeated his most powerful robot up in the aerobase, now time time finish the job!" Afterall, aerobase does use the Death Egg theme, and Silver Sonic was the second-to-last big roadblock in the game SPA retells, and with no Death Egg mech appearing in the game, the robot doppelganger is the strongest weapon that remains.
Really glad you mentioned Sonic Pocket Adventure, but after going through the trouble you didn't mention that it adds another movement, a very satisfying one. In general I think Pocket Adventure is super underrated, and I lvoe the music, as well as the physics and gameplay, everything about it. It was my first sonic game, I got a neo geo pocket color in order to play it, because I could only convince my parents to invest in portables while I was a kid.
A lot of people use diminishing language referring to Pocket Adventure, calling is "recycled content" or "a worse version of sonic 2"... But that's such a double standard-- it is remixed music, 8-bit covers, and a DEMAKE, something which people go nuts for these days. Someone just Demade sonic adventure for Nintendo DS this week even!
I'd say it's arguable whether it stays on the same chord throughout. It stays on the same bass note, but you can have a drone behind a chord progression. I lean slightly more toward that interpretation, just from listening (either's valid, of course). I'd say the character at one point is more of a rising 1st/2nd/3rd/4th progression that's progressed fast and over fast.
This is the first video i watched from you, i can remember the day, i was going to get a blood sample with my mom and while we were waiting i saw this in my recommended and decided to watch it, i didn't know what music theory was at the time and i still don't lol
A friend of mine once put music theory like this - it’s all well and good to know if a piece of music sounds good, but music theory can often tell you WHY it sounds good; basically, there are trends and patterns in how different pieces of music can make you feel and music theory explores that.
@@LynceusGlaciermaw i though it was theories about music, like why sega replaced the prototype music in sonic 3, that kinda stuff
@@sandudelcea6707 That’s fair, in the case of Sonic 3 that is indeed quite a rabbit hole as we’ve seen. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were other comparable behind-the-scenes stories about the soundtracks of all sorts of other things. But as to music theory itself, truth be told I myself didn’t start to understand or develop an interest in it until recently - it was really Alex’s videos that did it, talking about the theory of music I care about! I just found it interesting to dissect these things because it helped me to understand exactly what about these songs I found so gripping. If nothing else I thought it might give me a place to start in finding more music I would like!
@@LynceusGlaciermaw i was also interested in this channel becuz alex is my real name, and by the way, sonic 3 is not the only sonic game to have a confusing soundtrack history
Bro lmao getting into the circle of life when talking about sonic 3's 2player levels wtf
Thank you for the call out. A gigantic reach
what a pleasant video- "the sus chord" AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
6:12 sus 😳
Damn… what a breakdown. This is gold.
2:56 i thought i was the only one who noticed it.
I really love the videos!
these videos give me a newfound appreciation for these tracks, thank you
EDIT: a video going over the composition of sonic songs reused in different games would be interesting!
I think this one was used in Crusader of Centy/Soleil.
Hmmmm...playing them back to back I think I know what happened to that subtle change in Sky Chase's melody compared to Azure Lake. Pretty much all of S3K's soundtrack has the melody echo in some way, which I think adds more depth to the overall piece. So the quartet of descending 8th notes basically has a copy playing one "8th" behind it. But in my listenings, there are some points where this quartet can sound like a _pair_ of 8th notes, followed by a dotted 8th and 16th, because the echo of the D note seems to blend in with the main D. I don't know why, but it's something I noticed. And since the Neo Geo's soundchip was 8-bit instead of 16-bit, I guess the change was made to make it sound closer to Azure Lake with the echo in place
6:10 When the chord is sus
An hour ago, I was doing nothing really, just showing my Grandma the similarities between Ice Cap and Hard Times. But after that, I was slightly curious. I wanted to hear the Proto Sonic 3 tracks.
So, I listened to them... and...
Now I understand every. Single. Word. You. Say.
idk why but this scenario remember something i remember to see. but idk if this thing was a video or was just my dream. but it was in ice cap zone.
6:10
SUS!!!!1!!!!
OHNO
underrated video
6:11 SUS
2:52 you just blew my mind.
my favorite song in all of the sonic games. i'd just do FAULTS just keep listening to it.
this track also happens to have quite a few covers, my favorite being 'Sonik Azure' by analoq
Sonik Azure is great. The way the guitar does the main chords has an awesome Brimful of Asha / Three Marlenas feel to it that works really well and achieves a different effect than the original.
@@AlexYardZone wow, thanks so much! sorry im a bit late in response (work gets in the way, as it does) but feel free to ask for any feedback as this is a cool idea that could be fun!
That beep has always bothered me, I feel so validated that I am not the only one who noticed it.
I like to think that the 'feedback' beep, since it is at the very last moments of the song, is supposed to be the ", until" in that part of the heroes journey. An otherwise pleasant song turning sour- an inciting incident.
Wow! I always pronounced it as-your lake
Great video and also reminds me of how annoyed I was playing these coming from the awesome Sonic 2 multi player.
My theory: After they couldn't use Black or White in Sonic 3, one of the composers/arrangers redid the tune just enough so that while it sounded similar, but still different from Black or White. Mostly to avoid lawsuits.
how'd it take me so long to find this video, for ages i'd hoped someone would draw attention to azure lake's monotone bassline. finally i can know peace
love that 8bit Black or White!
9:10 Oh man, I just thought that was my tinnitus! ahaha
Azure Lake also shares Sandopolis Act 2’s bassline instrument
6:12 WHAT
Here is one thing to explain the bass line... it's a race. This track oozes of competition. That also kind of explains the beeps at the end.
Csus!
That seems kinda sus…
I'd love to see your analysis on Chrome Gadget. I loved that stage so much as a kid.
This is a 8bit sped version of MJ's Black Or White
Didn't even hear the beep into you played it a second time. Huh. Would love to hear a discussion on Sonic Pocket Adventure's remixes, they're so odd
There’s a thing about this song that I’m baffled about. I heard this from playing Sonic 3 in Sonic Mega Collection Plus on the original Xbox. The part that plays at 0:14 sounded significantly different. Not note-wise, but the…voice? of it sounded clearer. Maybe similar to what the part before it sounds like. Compared to the one I heard on the Xbox, this “version” sounds very compressed and…I don’t know, more robotic/computer-chip-like? And yet, it’s everywhere, in everything. I can’t find the sound that I heard on the Xbox at all, and I have no idea why they sound different.
Never thought there'd be a analysis video on a 2 player track for a retro sonic game lol
Holy cow, I thought that beep was my ear piece's fault all this time...
I've no doubt you're right about everything, but to me this song sounds like "It's the beginning of the race!" like it's day 1 of the Daytona or something. It just sounds like "We're racing!" because that's what these VS levels are, races with your friends. It's got a very Speed Racer kinda vibe to me. Do other Racing type instrumentals in other games and tv shows/movies have any similarity, and the cause for my connotation?
2:56 ABCDE for 2 player mode levels
When the Csus is 3
8:21 Oh, and that pales in comparison to _Sky Sanctuary Zone's_ music for the extra boss. :)
On a completely different note (pun intended) would love a breakdown of Andy Gillion's medley of Sonic music, because even though it's the same and the feel is also same, there are additional things to think about!
The preview of the other stages appeared to have an incorrect progression of Balloon Park. I didn't see anyone glitching up into the ceiling using the second balloon.
Yup, it's obvious that Sega would make music with just a single cord yet make it so amazing.
I've heard the similarities for years: Azure Lake is not a carbon copy of Black or White but it's similar because of the simplicity of the chords and the tones they make.
The melodies are not the same but if they were in the same key they'd work together just fine, maybe as rhythm and lead or melody/countermelody.
Also, the simple bassline tells on it. Again, they're not copies but the style and aesthetic are there, the skeletons.
Will you be doing the Sonic 2 soundtrack as well?
This song always made me think of a superhero
6:12
🤨📸
Honestly if I were to guess any intention of using Desert Palace for Gigantic Angel, it might be in reference to the downward chord progression common in Sonic 1 tracks that you noted previously? It's still jarring tonally though hahaha
Edit: if I'm not mistaken, it seems the opening melody to Scrap Brain has a downward chord progression too. Though I'm mostly guessing from the music theory I've learned from your vids.
Those sus chords remind me of the beginning of free Fallin by Tom petty.
Yeah. It also has the elements to another song...A Little Respect by Erasure
Nice
The C sus 4 bit does bear a little bit of a resemblance to "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon
Yesssss Azure Lake!!!
While not exact, I just noticed the "reflection" of the first and last 7 notes in section A.
Please do Chrome Gadget analysis, it's my favorite track!
Sonic 3: the DaVinci code of the franchise
Sonic & Knuckles: the most influential game for the plot structure of most games in the series (Knuckles gets tricked and fights Sonic, getting all the Emeralds unlocks the true final boss but only for Super Sonic)
Desert palace in Gigantic Angel? I sort of get it. It has a bittersweet quality like Scrap Brain, but it probably needed some pulsating military style bass
6:36 Ritmoooo. Ritmo de la Noche.
No, really, that's liteally "Ritmo de la Noche". The original theme is by a group challed Chocolate but the version that got popularized was by Mystic, both in 1990.
ABCDE, never thought about this all those years
You should cover how Sonic 2 boss music has a same chord line from "here comes the hammer." MC Hammer.
I really like the gigantic angel act 1 song and I still have no clue why
2:55 i never realized that 😬
i love azure lake