Child of Light - Aurora's Theme
Arknights - Speed of Light
Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed - Redeem the Future
MATCH 1
Aurora's Theme is decent. It's a nice, emotional song, but I don't feel very strongly about it.
Aurora is a little too ambient for my tastes.
MATCH 2
Speed of Light has this very cool pop feel to it with just a hint of funkiness in the guitar and drum rhythm. The vocals are very nice too. I especially like the chorus the most (see, told you this wouldn't be the last time!). There's some good call and response with the "why do you keep waiting" part. I like that melody a lot too. Same goes for the part at 2:00. The song picks up even more after 2:17 too when the electric guitar becomes more prominent and the extra instruments and melodies get mixed into the chorus the next time through. I didn't pay it much mind during nominations, but it's really good listening to it here in the bracket!
Zero Gravity Area is pretty cool melodically! The arpeggios in the background during some parts of the song are neat too. Unfortunately, Speed of Light's more my style of song.
MATCH 3
Redeem the Future was among my favorite discoveries this year while listening through nominations! It's also my pick for the A3 retiree slot in my favorites bracket. So, I really really like Godsibb from Xenosaga 3, and it's very cool to hear the similarities between that song and Redeem the Future (and also Zanza the Divine from the first Xenoblade Chronicles, though while I like it a lot too, I'd put it at the bottom if I were to rank the three). I think the biggest draw for me is the harmonizing of the vocals. I really love that choir-like feel, but also the fact that it isn't really a choir but just rich harmonies. I don't really know how to put it into words. I, of course, like choirs, but it's really cool to hear one singer with basically multiple vocal tracks harmonizing with each other. Take, for example, Akiko Shikata songs. But on top of that, you have this gradual increase of intensity with each moment being better than the last! The first big moment of me going "oh I really like this addition" is at 1:39 with the piano part in the background. And then 2:11 when the electric guitar kicks in. Very cool transition into the second half of the song! Also nice is how some of the stuff I liked from the first half like the piano gets worked into this more intense second half too. The relatively less intense parts at 4:02 and 4:11 are also very cool though. Probably my favorite part comes towards the end after 4:46 when everything hits peak intensity and comes together. That plus the rapidly intensifying drumming. Such a great climax to the song!
[Will finish shortly]
Redeem the Future > Speed of Light > Voile, the Magic Library > Zero Gravity Area > Aurora's Theme > Aurora