Echoing UF8 that Gen 2 is better than Gen 1 for music. SEVERAL of these songs are 9.5 or 10/10 for me. It's crazy how amazing a bunch of these tracks are.
GSC - Rival - 0:12 - 0:23 is THE BEST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a1wD3ppJc0
GSC - New Bark Town
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq0I91Gnlr0
GSC - Violet City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-sOVqdnWJI
Honestly, Johto Gym Leader theme has grown a lot on me too. 0:22-0:35 is a standout of being super awesome, an underrated part of the theme.
GSC - Route 42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKJMm4iwUAs
This was my favorite Pokemon song ever as a kid. It just OOZES adventure and wonder. Short, but amazing.
Azalea town is fantastic as well.
GEN 3
Rival battle is fantastic. It ain't no Gen 2 rival, but this slaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6sSj1JlPnE
Similar to Route 42. Route 120 just OOZES adventure! Fantastic track!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzec20s-FlU
Shoutout to Meteor Falls. This might be the biggest example of how different (and better) pokemon music is today than it was in the earlier days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfUZZkAGsAw
Elite 4 battle. This has grown on me a TON. Probably my favorite Elite 4 battle theme now, though there's a close 2nd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h92NII_daio
0:26-0:43 is the standout for me. This part is subtle, but so so cool.
I'm gonna get carried away, there's a ton of other fantastic pokemon music. Probably gen 2 and 3 are my favs. Here's a couple other cool songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjwn6W5uDqc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e36tby9VGPE
0:52 - 1:19 is probably my favorite all time segment of any pokemon song. Just wow.
~Silver_Ermine~
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9r5hhXQbJ1rbct63o1_500.gif