Tag: Music - Page 11
Video This Drake-Inspired Mario Kart Rap is For Champion Racers
"Got all these races looking like they're just time trials"
There are only a few Nintendo franchises that can bring on very real trash talk; no, that Nintendo E3 press conference attempt for Wii Sports Resort back in the day does not count. One of these franchises that'll have friends and family boasting red shell success is Mario Kart, to this day...
News A Whopping 5-Disc Bayonetta 2 Soundtrack Will be Released in Japan
Bewitching
Bayonetta 2 arrives in Western territories this October, and we think you should be excited about it. It's impressed us a great deal so far, with fast-paced action, gorgeous visuals and a soundtrack that pushes you onwards. It's great news — if you're in Japan — that the soundtrack is all set for a full release in the country...
News Goodbye Galaxy Games Reveals First Teaser Image of Wii U FPS
Tappingo soundtrack now available for free
Earlier this year we spoke to Hugo Smits, the man behind Goodbye Galaxy Games, to talk a little about the upcoming Tappingo 2. A surprising detail was that, when asked about other projects in the works, the answer was an "FPS with guns and blood" for the Wii U. The developer has now sent us a teaser image...
Review Frederic: Resurrection of Music (Wii U eShop)
A decomposing composer, recomposed
Public domain is often seen as the place cheap music games go to die, but it does not have to be this way. There is a lot of great music from the past that remains untapped; a multitude of virtuosos from previous centuries whose works can appeal within the context of a game. All that’s needed is the right...
Feature A Night At The Theatre With Symphonic Legends
A mixed adventure
On Sunday 13th July the Barbican in London hosted Symphonic Legends, a concert featuring music from The Legend of Zelda. It was performed by the world-class London Symphony Orchestra, with appearances by London Symphony Chorus and the energetic 'classical band', Spark; the arrangements were composed by Jonne Valtonen and Roger...
Video Hear The Link To The Past Dark World Theme In a Whole New Banjo Style
It’s dangerous to go alone. Take the mandolin, too
Time-travelling and dimension-hopping hero to video game characters, Ollie Longz, has apparently returned from his little jaunt to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past’s Dark World with a most interesting artifact. What was originally thought to be an innocuous piece of parchment stuck to the...
Video DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jeremy Ellis and The Roots Perform an Awesome Super Mario Bros. Remix
Which DJ wins?
With the recent Independence Day celebrations in the US, there were plenty of events and concerts taking place around the country. One of these was the 2014 Philly Jam, and for those watching there was a bit of a retro Mario treat to enjoy. In the clip below DJ Jazzy Jeff — who most may know as Will Smith's buddy and musical...
News Pokémon Orchestral Tour Premiering in August
Super effective on the ears
Following in the steps of The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, another Nintendo franchise's musical score will soon say goodbye to its mom and embark on a journey to prove itself the champion of concert halls the land over. The Pokémon Company International has announced Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions, a new...
News Shovel Knight Soundtracks Released on Bandcamp
Name your price for some metal-slammin' tracks
In our recent post on the Shovel Knight release trailer, you may recall one of our questions in our state of frenzied yammering was "Where do we get this song?!" Delightfully, we have an answer: it's Track 17 on Strike the Earth! Shovel Knight Arranged, newly released alongside the
News An Iconic Super Mario Bros. 3 Overworld Theme Gets the Smooth McGroove Treatment
Who can resist that?
We imagine many of you are already familiar with Smooth McGroove, a hugely popular presence on YouTube that's highly regarded for his weekly Acapella music videos. His rise to prominence has been particularly impressive, with his focus on retro titles also helping to establish a dedicated audience. While all of his videos are...
News New Super Mario 64 Remix Album is a Work of Musical Art
21 tracks expertly re-imagined
It’s been argued about and discussed for years that some of the best music of the modern era has come from video games. Whether it be a quirky little chip-tune jingle or a full blown symphony, video game music has delivered some of the best pieces to gamers everywhere. But despite its varied range and outstanding...
Ninterview Taylor Davis Shares Her Musical Journey and Love for Gaming
"Just focus on what you love about yourself and what makes you happy"
Videogame music is, as we and many others have argued, absolutely vital to what makes particular experiences memorable and special. It's no surprise, either, that there are a lot of musicians in the world that readily cite gaming as a core passion in their lives — whether in the...
News If You Like Rainbow Road Music, This Album Is For You
Shiryu brings us Rainbow Road Adventures
As you may have guessed from all the Mario Kart 8 articles, today is the Wii U title's launch day. A happy occasion for many Wii U owners, certainly, and one being celebrated in various ways. One such celebration that we think you'll enjoy is this album, Rainbow Road Adventures from musician and Nintendo...
News Fresh Nintendo Wii U Patent Looks Like a Wii Music Game
At least a potential E3 reveal won't be a live demonstation
It seems that today is a day of potential E3 leaks, and this one will likely divide Nintendo gamers. We're aware that some of the Nintendo Life community enjoyed Wii Music, so this writer will restrict expressing his feelings of trepidation and fear at this possible reveal — the lead...
News Book Series Will Take In-Depth Look at Original Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack
By an author who knows the score
The 33 1/3 book series offers individual, journalistic studies of influential albums by performers ranging from James Brown to Radiohead. In a departure from their standard venues, an upcoming book is going to focus on a smaller but no less memorable collection of work. Super Mario Bros. - Koji Kondo has been...
Video Musician Lindsey Stirling Dresses Up As Aurora From Child Of Light, Because Why Not?
Popular artist channels Ubisoft's RPG hit for unique video performance
We love Lindsey Stirling here at Nintendo Life — not only does she play a mean fiddle (OK, violin), but she's absolutely potty about video games and never misses an opportunity to cover the soundtrack of a famous title or dress up as a popular character. Her latest video —...
News Pokémon Black and White 2 Soundtrack Album Completes Set on iTunes
The era of the Super Music Collection is over...
Over recent months Game Freak has released six substantial Pokémon albums, and has now confirmed the final entry — Pokémon Black 2 & Pokémon White 2: Super Music Collection. This is available on iTunes right now for $9.99 / £7.99 / €8.99. It features a whopping 172 tracks from Pokémon...
Video Temperatures Rise With This Heated Bolero of Fire Violin Cover
Triple time tablature
The last time we featured musical prodigy Taylor Davis she had recorded an assured violin cover of the Gerudo Valley song from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Davis is no stranger to performing covers of classic Zelda songs, having also released an impressive violin medley late last year, and now she’s back with
News Tengami Soundtrack by David Wise Hits iTunes and Bandcamp
Music by the famed Donkey Kong Country composer available now
Atmospheric adventure game Tengami has been making headlines for its pop-up book art style, traditional Japanese setting, and music composed by David Wise. A longtime Rare collaborator, Wise has written the acclaimed music for hits like Donkey Kong Country, Star Fox Adventures, Marble...
News DuckTales: Remastered Digital Soundtrack Coming to Amazon
47-track album to go on sale later this month
Capcom has announced that the official game soundtrack for DuckTales: Remastered will be available to download from Amazon's MP3 store from 29 April. With 47 tracks and clocking in at around the 90-minute mark, the album will include both Jake Kaufman's remixes for the recent re-release, as well as the...
News Super Mario 3D World Double Disc Soundtrack Arrives on Club Nintendo
Europe and Australia included for now
Last year we shared the news that Club Nintendo in Japan received an awesome Super Mario 3D World 2-CD soundtrack; we were envious as the Wii U title has a number of outstanding 'Big Band' tracks that still stick in the mind. The exciting news for gamers in Europe and Australia, who savoured the music while...
News Tinie Tempah Shows the Love for Mario and Highlights Retro Inspiration for His Music
"Those games are adventures of the highest order"
Mario's the man, right? We sure think so / hope so, and the mascot is still Nintendo's most famous and bankable character, with the brilliant Super Mario 3D World recently achieving strong attach-rate sales on the Wii U and Mario Kart 8 exciting fans and carrying the fight to increase the system's...
News Pokémon Black and White Soundtrack Now Available on iTunes
Remastered music collection joins iTunes' growing Pokémon library
A few short weeks after the release of the Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl: Super Music Collection on iTunes, today we get the Pokémon Black & Pokémon White: Super Music Collection, which you can preview and purchase here for $9.99 / £7.99 / €8.99. This digitally...
News Video Games Live Tour Confirms UK Gigs
World tour is underway and will also go to mainland Europe
Last year we told you about Kickstarter success for Video Games Live, securing the release of another album of live game music performances. Headed up by industry veteran Tommy Tallarico, the project remains hugely popular with gamers around the world and is currently embarking on a world...
News Nintendo Underdogs Reorchestrated Will Give Fan-Favourite "Hidden Gems" The Symphonic Treatment
Using high-quality MIDIs to imitate a live orchestra
Nintendo soundtracks include some of the most celebrated pieces of video game music in the long history of the industry. From the ubiquitous theme of the original Super Mario Bros. to the waterworks-inducing tones of Koji Kondo's wholly epic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time score, nostalgia...
Video Nintendo Approves of this Mario Kart Song
For the First Time in Forever, for you Frozen fans
It's a well-known fact that, aside from the occasional multi-platform game that many will happily ignore, Mario Kart 8's 30th May arrival is the closest major release for the Wii U. One consolation is that there is an enticing line-up of eShop games, but retail titles can still arguably get the...
News Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl: Super Music Collection Available Now on iTunes
Prince will not be happy
In recent weeks and months Game Freak has been releasing rather impressive soundtrack albums on iTunes for various titles in the Pokémon franchise. Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, the DS titles, have now been covered with the arrival of Pokémon Diamond & Pokémon Pearl: Super Music Collection on the download store. For...
Video Manami Matsumae Performs Her Awesome Mighty No. 9 Theme Song
Tune those retro ears
Update: Unfortunately the live performance video and the related source article have been taken down. Below is another version of the theme tune in the meantime... [ Original Article: The release of Mighty No. 9 may still be over a year away on multiple platforms — including the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores — but we can...
Ninterview Smooth McGroove On A Life In Game Music
"I'm used to people calling me Smooth McGroove when they meet me"
If we say we're interviewing Max Gleason from Oklahoma, you may wonder what exactly we're talking about. If we say we've posed some questions to Smooth McGroove, however, there's a good chance that you already subscribe to his YouTube Channel, or will be doing so shortly. Gleason,...
Month Of Kong Tropical Freeze Composer David Wise On Working With The Ape Again
A Rare breed of composer
As we all know, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze launched this month on the Wii U, and comes with a glorious soundtrack composed by former Rare staffer and original Donkey Kong Country music-maker David Wise. We got chance to sit down and chat with Wise recently, and he shared a few thoughts on what it was like working...
Soapbox Nintendo Soundtracks - Where Are They?
Kerry wonders why Nintendo's not wired for sound
I’ve recently (finally) got around to playing Fire Emblem: Awakening, and like all other beings with functioning ears after the first few battles I decided the soundtrack was incredible; so I took off into the wilds of the internet to try and buy a copy for myself. The joy of hearing such wonderful...
Weirdness Samus Aran's Metroid Backstory Re-imagined as a Love Song
Samus does Glee
It seems that a number of Metroid fans quite like Samus Aran to be a largely silent, steely-eyed killer. Or, at least, they don't want her to be an emotionally unstable — swerving from distant monotone narration to being frozen by childhood trauma — young bounty hunter daft enough to slowly burn to death until given permission to...
Weirdness Listen To The Super Mario Theme On A 3,000 Year Old Chinese Instrument
A bit trickier to play than a warp whistle, probably
Doodoo doo do dooo do, dah! - It's the Super Mario theme! Known across the globe and endlessly catchy, this tune has been played on every instrument under the sun, as well a few renditions that should barely count. Hearing a cover version is certainly nothing new, but allow us to present one just...
News Majora's Mask "Time's End" Music Beautifully Reimagined by Rozen
Epic
It's unsurprising that The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is treasured by many Nintendo gamers, with the calls for a remake persisting on a yearly basis. For those that do hope for that day, and that remastered visuals will also be accompanied by a sweeping orchestral soundtrack, this new EP from musician Rozen should capture the imagination...
News Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire Soundtrack Now Available On iTunes
HM-Surf rock Hoenn
The poké-occupation of iTunes continues this week as the digitally remastered soundtrack from GBA titles Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire hits Apple's music store. The album features 109 tracks from the games, composed by series icons Junichi Masuda, Gō Ichinose and Morikazu Aoki. Every single musical cue is included, so it makes...
News This Final Fantasy IV Medley Rocked A Whole Crowd Of Fans
Mega potions in the air like you just don't care
Final Fantasy IV is known as one of the most highly regarded RPGs of all time, and for good reason. Interesting characters, a classic battle system and an engaging plot all helped set it apart, but what stood out most for many players was its truly masterful soundtrack. Nobuo Uematsu's timeless score...
Weirdness An Album You Can Remix On Your Game Boy Advance
Making music with an old friend
The charming blips and scratching synth of chiptune soundtracks has never really lost its appeal among gamers and musicians alike, with many examples of retro sounds being used in new projects even today. From Anamanaguchi to I Fight Dragons, there's plenty out there to discover, and now electronic pop maestro Doctor...
Weirdness Famicom Cartridges Turned Into Chiptune Harmonicas
Because some of you will just never stop blowing into them
The idea has been sitting right under our noses (where our mouths are) the entire time: we blow into cartridges; we blow into harmonicas. Why not merge the two together? Finally, we have the technology — or at least someone creatively wily enough to use it. The gadgeteer(s) at Ugoita...
Video This Awesome Gerudo Valley Violin Cover Brings the Heat
Desert thieves, for strings
We last checked in on violin virtuoso Taylor Davis after she released an inspiring medley of songs from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Since then, Davis has traded her Sheik outfit for a Goron Tunic, bringing her talents to an arrangement of the famed Gerudo Valley theme. The video hits the trifecta: a stirring...
News Listen To This Awesome Street Fighter II Rock Opera
An epic six years in the making
What started as a throwaway joke between friends has now concluded as something much, much more; a fully-fledged rock opera extravaganza. In 2007, Texan indie group Man Factory got together and decided that there was enough referential material in the Street Fighter series to knock together a garage rock album telling...
News Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver Soundtrack Available For Download
Additional soundtracks coming later this year
Video game music is perhaps one of the most cherished and appreciated aspects of a game’s reputation. Titles in franchises such as The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario are loved not solely for their gameplay, but for their connection to the player through wit, charm, and music; some of the most beloved...
News Shin Megami Tensei IV Soundtrack Released Next Month
Four discs crammed full of incredible music
Atlus has just announced that Shin Megami Tensei IV, which scored a fantastic 9/10 in our review, will finally see its wonderful soundtrack released in Japan on 26th February. Even better is that this isn't some half-hearted "best of" or "selection" CD, but all 112 tracks spread across four CDs and...
News The Rockman X Sound Box Album Set Includes Four Tracks Cut From Mega Man X
And now you can listen to them for free
Years from now we may refer to "doing a Capcom Anniversary", with a knowing wink and nudge. For example, in a parallel universe Nintendo didn't celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Zelda franchise by releasing Skyward Sword with a special CD and a game plot right at the beginning of the timeline, but sold us...
News Pokémon Composer Leaves Game Freak for Independent Quest
Possibilities for the Poké-future still open
Shota Kageyama, a composer for recent Pokémon titles including X &Y and Black & White, has announced via Twitter that he has left developer Game Freak to pursue independent music. Kageyama's tweet has been translated and reported by
Video This New Harmony of Heroes Smash Bros. Album Trailer Sets the Scene
Let's play spot the franchise
Earlier this year we told you about Harmony of Heroes, a Smash Bros. fan album from the same group that led the Harmony of a Hunter Metroid music projects. Like those albums, when this offering arrives in 2014 it'll be a free download, with a dedicated website to be setup soon. As a number of months had passed since...
Competition Winners The Twelve Days of Animal Crossing Christmas
And now Christmas has started...
Not too long ago we launched our 12 Days of Christmas Animal Crossing competition in collaboration with Nintendo UK. The big N kindly provided the lyrics for a new version of the famous song and we asked you — our lovely readers — to sing your hearts out in front of a camera. And you know what? A surprising...
News Adventure Time Video Game Soundtrack Available Now
Available to stream on SoundCloud
Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! may flutter between a wonderful homage to the series and a slightly disappointing sequel, but one thing's for sure, the musical score is up to scratch and is no doubt something you'll want to listen to when the game comes to an end. So you'll be glad to hear...
News Nintendo Confirms a New Orchestral Zelda Concert That's Coming to London
Symphonic Legends tickets go on sale soon
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most revered franchises, and like any game series that's developed over many years it's established a range of iconic moments, characters and ideas. Music is a major part of the appeal, of course, with dedicated fans often eager to be swept away by their favourite...
News Soundtrack for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Released on iTunes
Kanto allegro
Looking for a soundtrack to emphasize a day spent roaming through tall grasses or being challenged to battle by everyone you make eye contact with? Game Freak has released a new option on iTunes for your listening pleasure. Pokémon FireRed & Pokémon LeafGreen: Super Music Collection hit the iTunes music store today, joining its...
News Check Out Another Legendary Zelda Violin Medley
From Taylor Davis, who's released a "Melodies of Hyrule" album
We do enjoy examples of Nintendo gaming culture in action here at Nintendo Life, and these often come in the form of musical arrangements and tributes. With The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds currently gracing stores around the world, popular YouTube musician Taylor Davis —...
