It's always interesting to see the progression and evolution of music through history. Most genres start out small, but have far-reaching impact; with later entrants refining and perfecting the old sound until it is nearly flawless. As any musician could attest to, inspiration is a key factor to the formation of new music - it is through a fusion and reimagination of old concepts that new things are born. Though sometimes, inspiration can come from the places one would least expect it.
Koji Kondo, the composer for the Legend of Zelda and Super Mario series of games, revealed where he got his initial interest in music in an interview shortly after the E3 reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, online chatter and searches are ideal for old gems. Kondo-san said he got his start on the keyboard and that he played in a cover band that mostly played songs by Deep Purple, Emerson, and Lake & Palmer. Sadly, Kondo never grew out a luscious mane of hair to imitate the rockers of yore like the rest of his bandmates did, but he did say they're his favourite bands.
So there you have it, Deep Purple DNA found its way into the likes of some of your favourite video game soundtracks. What do you think of this odd revelation? Are you a fan of any of these bands? Rock out in the comments below.
[source zelda.com]
Comments 29
Been saying that for a long time, just listen to this track: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=toonXjN2wTM
Pretty sure that's the main inspiration for both the main theme and dungeon music from zelda 1!
"Emerson, and Lake & Palmer"
@87th LOL yeah I had to reread that line a few times...
also, this may have inspired the smb1 underground music
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TOFlsEBkPxs
@ollibald The resemblance is almost frightening.
Sticked as Weirdness? And you needed confirmation from the guy to figure that out?
If you would actually think about it, the big part of NES/SNES [or games from that era for that matter] library was based more or less on "real" music, like 60-70-80s rock, pop etc.
I was just looking at something similar yesterday. Can anyone confirm if Nobuo Uematsu found inspiration in progressive rock?
Ritchie Blackmore has had that exact same expression on his face for 45 years.
Emerson, lake and palmer elp for short*
@ollibald Woah, right at 2:00 the Deep Purple one "goes Zelda" or I should say it inspires Zelda. I'd say you are clearly right about this.
The Friendship one is more obvious with the bass line so very close to the melody.
Both of these got quite a turn for their games and the genius of Koji Kondo comes out in how he matched the mood and play rhythms with his own take on these inspirations. I especially like how Zelda turned boldly adventurous where that Deep Purple tune is anything but. EDIT: listening to more of it though it does turn almost medieval chamber music later.
Good taste for music, 70s and 80s rock!
@aaronsullivan To be fair, Ritchie Blackmore (guitarist) and Jon Lord (keyboardist) are both classically trained musicians and that reflects in the music they wrote for Deep Purple. Lord even wrote a concerto mixing rock and classical music, and parts of it sound like it could straight lifted from a Zelda score: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od95KRjPat0
@ollibald Wow, this IS news to me
Makes sense... people tend to soak up the music that is popular in their teens and twenties
@87th LOL I was thinking the same thing
@87th LOL I was thinking the same thing
@ollibald Y'know I get a lot of Castlevania vibes from that as well. Really cool how you can hear the similarities and how some of this made it into modern OSTs.
How about a new header called "Awesomeness" for news such as this instead? I've always been of the opinion that some music in Yoshi's Island has to have been inspired by '70s prog, i.e. Quatermass.
I'd like to know if any VG composers were influenced by the Grateful Dead. But then again, it would be hard to do video game music that never looped or played quite the same way every time.
There's this other funk track that predates the smb underground music with a very similar riff but i can't remember its name right now
@CaviarMeths yeah, cool link. There is still a unique and more adventurous spin in the Zelda music. Nothing against the range of those guys, I was just noting Koji Kondo's work in relation to his inspirations. A couple moments in those two pieces above feel one step away from a direct lift but I'm giving Koji Kondo credit where it's due as well
Uh...It's Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Brain Salad Surgery anyone?
Astral Observatory from Majora's Mask has always reminded me of 'In the Court of the Crimson King', so I can fully believe this.
I don't think its particularly weird for a guy of his age to have been into 70s rock. I think there's a definite inspiration in his music, the sort of classical/rock fusion. Thankfully no 10 minute drum solos
The thing is, at the time there was no internet. Using obscure foreign music as the inspiration for a game soundtrack must have seemed harmless. It's really interesting how obvious the ripping is after listening to these tracks. Still, I can't fault the guy too much. I doubt he expected the games to become so popular in the West and for the "secret" to get out. I'm actually more pleased to be introduced to Deep Purple as a result.
@ollibald and Hyrule Castle theme in ALttP
Edit: well the first link you sent that is
So, he was in a cover band so he was just 'riffing-off' (improvisation) what he was already playing; also, the links that have been shared are a nice addition to the article.
Honestly, while it's interesting to hear about Koji Kondo's musical development, I don't see the relevance for the Legend of Zelda?
The linked Deep Purple song (April) sound more like Ryu's Theme from Street Fighter than like the Score of Legend of Zelda.
The bassline from Friendship - Let's not talk about it on ther other hand indeed sounds like the beginning of the smb underground levels, but they added some elements to it in the game which aren't in the song. So yeah, it could be a direct inspiration (likely), but nothing more.
Everyone should be aware that there is so much music out there that it's highly probably for two (or more) songs/loops/jingles to sound alike.
Progressive Rock from the 70's inspirating Koji Kondo. So nice...
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