[VGMC] Day 12! feat. Good Weapons, Another Bridge, and Anything Kingdom

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Board 8 » [VGMC] Day 12! feat. Good Weapons, Another Bridge, and Anything Kingdom
Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 18, an annual celebration of the best of the best video game music according to the voters!

Important Links:
Bracket: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=478494
Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HBxgL9woiCMFKNOPuN_qdxmzjStJXSpC3Ocalfsavdk
Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80763291
Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0y-5OyCrkgprWtXARkEJzh_
Compatibility sheet: ?!?!?!
Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SAJKYJmYhccLvbf_H-5uSA7-eMwXfW8k1q74Qho1bLU
VGMC total stats sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K1XdLWiUKB2kX99qYBgnRbLU_sCz4dvZSByKKJHCT6o
Discord: https://discord.gg/7FVXqWj

Rules:
- Listen to both songs in a given match, at least through the loop time provided (to make sure you don't skip before you've heard the whole thing!)
- Please consider the loop point listed when judging the song; if a video loops one minute 5 times, don't treat it as if it's a repetitive 5 minute song
- If it's a match between your favorite song ever and a song you despise, still LISTEN TO BOTH! Votes can and will be disqualified if there is suspicion songs are not being listened to, and you may be discounted for the rest of the contest for repeat offenses.
- No alt accounts, no rallying or begging, etc., etc.... You only get one vote! Swapping votes is alright, just make clear that you've already made a vote and are swapping.
- Make clear what your voting options are! Please keep votes separate from any comments, and use the titles given in the topic post.
- Voting in all matches is not mandatory, feel free to skip matches you do not wish to vote in.
- Vote based on the links provided, and not other sources of audio. Links are specifically chosen for best quality and the like.
- Don't discuss vote tallies in this thread, or in other threads, as they may influence votes. Likewise, please refrain from looking at the running tally before voting.

Voting Period:
- Today's matches will last 24 hours from the time of posting, or 24 hours from 11pm Eastern, whichever is the later time.
- Please note this may mean that two topics will be active at the same time!
- If you anticipate being unable to vote in a given day, please send an absentee vote to @banshiryuu, or post your absentee vote in the discussion thread!

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Match 1

The Jackbox Party Pack 8: Weapons Drawn - Credits Song
Composer: Elise Wattman
Loop Point: 3:37
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-am-oMB654

Hades - Good Riddance
Composer: Darren Korb
Loop Point: 2:58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yco-B4BSaj4

.

Match 2

Cytus II - Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
Composer: Kat Penkin arr. Andy Tunstall
Loop Point: 2:40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyRSMCcz3W0

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard - Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Composer: Yuzo Koshiro
Loop Point: 2:36
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTwUbWqIh4I

.

Match 3

Sonic CD - Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything
Composer: Masafumi Ogata
Loop Point: 1:32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fzMxxyklTw

The Kingdom - The Kingdom
Composer: Tigran Hamasyan
Loop Point: 3:29
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PdGLljvyM0

.

Easy vote form:
Credits Song / Good Riddance
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix) / Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything / The Kingdom
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything
Credits
Petal
Kingdom
List the ominous stern whisper from the delphic cave within:
They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
abstain
(>'.')>
"The problem with the future is that it keeps turning into the present." -Hobbes
Good Riddance
-
-

Not really feeling this fourpack at all right now.
Good Riddance
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything

I have Weapons Drawn winning the division in my predictions bracket, but eh.
Only the exceptions can be exceptional.
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything

(the first thing it says is 10/10!!)
The Jackbox Party Pack 8: Weapons Drawn - Credits Song
Cytus II - Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom - The Kingdom
My bracket looked like random picks compared to his.
Congrats to azuarc for winning the GotD 2020 Guru Contest!
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
i dont like either of these at all but uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Sonic ig
:)
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything

Match 2 is rough... listened to them three times each and it's still a tough call.
Currently in the mood to have a signature, though unsure of what.
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge [Dungeon: 16F-20F]
Sonic - You Can Do Anything

Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge [Dungeon: 16F-20F] > Good Riddance > Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix) > Credits Song (From "Weapons Drawn") > Sonic - You Can Do Anything > The Kingdom

Credits Song (From "Weapons Drawn") - 7
eh it's fine I guess, just not really my thing

Good Riddance - 7.25
also not really my thing but I can hear the emotion in the vocals so it gets the vote

Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix) - 7
apparently this is the dude responsible for Spark Special Boss, a song I apparently loved (have not listened to it more than once), so I have high hopes. are those fucking Kahoot synths. I am thoroughly underwhelmed. it's fine? liked it more than Weapons Drawn I guess, but nothing stood out really. just a totally adequate song.

Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge [Dungeon: 16F-20F] - 7.5
I mean it's nice, guess it's my favorite so far by default, but man nothing's really doing much today

Sonic - You Can Do Anything - 6
rap vocals kinda suck, chorus and instrumental are decent, far too short to develop into anything noteworthy. Sonic Boom (the equivalent from the US version) clears exponentially.

The Kingdom - 5
today sucks
Erica, she/her. Subscribe to GaMetal.
The Jackbox Party Pack 8: Weapons Drawn - Credits Song
Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard - Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom - The Kingdom
thelefty for analysis crew 2008 imo -transience
I have a third degree burn in flame-o-nomics -Sir Chris
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything
Save in the name of true love
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom
Puff Stuff
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom

Credits Song (8.0) / Good Riddance (7.0)
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix) (8.0) / Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge (7.5)
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything (8.0) / The Kingdom (8.5)

Toda's music is better than I was expecting (thought it was going to be an awful day). Match two... What matters more to me, the sound production of the former, or the composition of the latter? Hard decision.
"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So... what is a party?"
"You drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

Tigran Hamasyan video game music real :-)
Omniscience lies beyond the void, beyond decay!
I am one with the Akashic Records!
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

I groaned so hard when I saw this match. Anyways, as an avid fan of Jackbox music, I'm so happy it gets to show up at VGMC and damn, what a song to represent it. Few composers has got to have a debut as strong as Wattman; Weapons Drawn is straight up the best game music out of any pack, contested with stuff like Trivia Murder Party 2 or Dodoremi. This credits theme doesn't stay behind, either... Elise's voice is so sweet (fun fact: she doesn't like singing). The instrumental is so mysterious and attractive at the same time. The bridge at 1:40 is awesome. The chorus is catchy too. And of course, let's not forget about the amazing guitar solo at the end. It's so pristine man. I feel when I first listened to this OST days before the pack released, I got sent to heaven (8 is still the best pack in soundtrack overal! Give it a check!). Oh boy, I sure ranted a lot about Jackbox! Let's address this other song... for as much as I don't care about Supergiant stuff, Hades vocal songs just get me going. This duet has a beautiful voice and everything is great to listen around. It's simple, but it's effective. Whatever version of Good Riddance it is, I like it. I would have easily voted for this, but it's against my top choice for A's right side. Such is fate, man... may the best song triumph.

Is this a King For Another Day reference.. well, I don't have much to say about the song itself, it's alright. The instrumental is cool and has some sparks onto it, probably a byproduct of Andy. The singer is nice. It's fine. Another EO song on top of the bracket... Oh hey, this sounds like weather channel music. Quite nice, it puts its DS instruments to good use. This build up is great. Yeah, this has a very cool cherry-blossom flavor. Koshiro does it again! Easy vote.

Choo choo California - choo choo California! The rap on this is funny and the singers have a good range. This song is very good, the problem is that it's very short and this could use a second loop to expand further beyond. It's probably too late to ask for a extended version, but again, what it has is very good and full of the Sonic CD swagger. Ahaha, I enjoy the unruly chaos in this song. Lots of variated instruments to enjoy... it has a mixture of epic and haunting. Yeah, I think it gets my vote. Fun and unique stuff at the Kingdom. Both songs are fun on its own right, thouigh.
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

Oh I have to say something about Cherry Tree Bridge...there really is nothing like it across the Etrian series, everything before 1:49 is about creating a virtual space with repetitive phrases and a lack of resolution. After the "drop" it becomes a more proper song with a melody that builds and releases, which is a great example of what my favourite "dungeon themes" are about - constructing a space that you hear more with your subconscious brain, then adding melodies that you listen to with the higher part of your brain, like you're now exploring that space.
-Abraham Lincoln
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/8947d64e.png

Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

the kingdom honestly gives me vibes that it should be the kind of song only really seen in a popular indie game from around the late '00s/early '10s, as like, climactic pre-credits bgm. an interesting fit for an album promo tie-in game that presumably only has it for bgm

also i like other eo2 dungeon themes more, but it probably is still my favourite today
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom

Hey look, it's one of my noms! The first match is a great matchup between two triple threats in Elise Wattman and Darren Korb - singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists (and also Korb voices Zagreus of course because he can do everything). I knew I wanted to get Weapons Drawn Credits in here for a while since I figured it'd have mass appeal. I'm kinda obsessed with this song - Jackbox has a lot of fun music but this one really goes far and above the assignment with a gorgeously haunting bridge and three different solo sections. I don't think I even knew the guitar solo at the end was there for a while because I never sat this long at the end of this game before. Elise Wattman was a hell of a hire for Jackbox and I hope they keep her around for a long time. 9/10

As for Good Riddance, it's good! Better in the context of the game, I think - hearing the two sides of the duet separately before finally hearing them reunited really adds to the effect. It's a beautiful tune that serves an excellent purpose in the narrative of the game and that's what I like to see. I don't want to eliminate either of these tracks r1. 8/10

Fight Another Day isn't all that dissimilar from Credits Song, haha. Maybe I'm just biased to Jackbox because I know what the game is and it's my nom, I don't know. This is solid though, good vocal performance, I don't think I'll find it as memorable. 7/10

Normally I'm a big fan of Yuzo Koshiro (foreshadowing for bracket B) but most Etrian Odyssey stuff fails to grab me for whatever reason and this does too. I dunno, it's not one of his best works. Just doesn't grab me, sorry. 5/10

You Can Do Anything is uh... haha, funny joke, guys. 3/10 because the chorus at the end is pretty fun and there's probably some irony points here.

The Kingdom is a song that I'm still pretty convinced isn't actually vgm, because I looked everywhere for the game that was supposed to be promotional material for this guy's new song and/or album and I never found anything, so I think this might just kind of be a piece of music. It is, uh, maximally prog. I find it sort of interesting despite its questionable taste but I do also suspect that I would get tired of it quickly. 6.5/10
Good Riddance
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom

Anyone else getting Billie Eilish vibes on match 2? It's the antithesis of Labyrinth 4, where Fight Another Day grew really cool about a minute in whereas Labyrinth 4 started strong and then just... petered out for me.

Both of match 1s are good but I can't get into Weapons Drawn that much. Jackbox music to me is almost always "oh geez Greg is on the floor drunk again someone get him some water" background music. Good effort from the vocalist but the instruments are reminiscent of a bad horror film. Meanwhile, I am apparently acoustic-guitarsexual with how much I love the duet literally celebrating the release of death.

Match 3 is certainly something, and, uh, I lived through the 90s once already. That CD song has always been a big ol' nope for me, and listening to it tonight didn't change my mind on that. The Kingdom sounds like... gah, idk what to describe it as, but whatever it is, it's better than You Can Do Anything (But Please Me Apparently)
[Rock and Stone] <o/
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom
Credits
Bridge
Anything
KCF can't actually be a real person but he is - greengravy
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything
Bridge
Kingdom
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom
Credits Song: Nice song, although I do think the vocals are a bit buried in the mix, and the guitar solo sounds a bit off. Nice drums and synths though.

Good Riddance: Korb's acoustic guitars are always nice to listen to. It is a pretty simplistic song, and definitely not amongst my favorites from Hades, but it's a good song nonetheless.

Fight Another Day: This is just really good and well-produced pop. Catchy melody, great synth production, the guitars are all fantastic, and the progression and variation is really solid. Kat Penkin (Kevin Penkin's sister) has a pretty nice voice too.

Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge: The acoustic guitar here is quite good, but it's definitely hindered by being on a DS. I think the melody could also be better and more memorable, but it's an all-around very pleasant song.

You Can Do Anything: I wouldn't call this bad, but it's not great either. The rap is a bit awkward, but the sung part towards the end is nice. It does feel like it ends to quickly too. Probably the weakest song of the day, but it's still decent.

The Kingdom: Tigran Hamasyan VGM is real. The synth and piano stacked on top of each other to create hypnotizing riffs is awesome. As per usual for Hamasyan's style of avant garde piano jazz fusion is top-notch both rhythmically and instrumentally. Really great song. Definitely check out more Hamasyan if you liked this song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m-KDx8Fnlc) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xlNF9-C6lQ).

Fight Another Day and The Kingdom hard-carried today, but there was nothing bad.

Votes:
Good Riddance
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom
Don't trust everything that you read on the Internet.
-Abraham Lincoln
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything
Sunshine. Lunchbox. Playground. Raincoat. Hot Dog. Oatmeal. Railroad. Ice Cream. Bathtub. Pancake. Eardrum.
Good Riddance
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom

This entire section clears
Good Riddance
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
You Can Do Anything
Optimism is the first step to disappointment.
xx521xx
Credit > Good
Cherry Tree > Tunstall
Monarchy > Omnipotence
azuarc is quite good at predicting GameFAQs bracket battles.
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything

toot toot
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom

Credits isn't usually the type of song that appeals to me in VGMC, but the singer is good and it has a cool hypnotic quality to it. The singing in Good Riddance is fucking terrible, unfortunately. I think every other Hades vocal song sounds better than this.

Fight Another Day is the what I imagine modern mainstream music sounds like when I want to be happy. Labyrinth 4 is chill and enjoyable the whole time. I like both of these ^_^

In Sonic, the rapping is laughable, but the rest of the song is pretty fun. Kingdom kinda reminds me of Terraria Calamity music, which is a good thing! Easy match.
All the stars in the sky are waiting for you.
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

Credits is another surprise favorite discovery this year. Good Riddance (heh) isn't really my thing

I cannot stand the vocals in Fight Another Day (sorry), Yuzo Koshiro goodness wins this by default even if it isn't the most exciting EO track

actually close match 3
https://i.imgur.com/TGkNCva.gif https://i.imgur.com/8mWCvA4.gif
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom
Congrats to azuarc who beat me by 1 point!
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

HidekuniHorita posted...
Tigran Hamasyan video game music real :-)

MaxGalactica posted...
Tigran Hamasyan VGM is real.

Paratroopa1 posted...
The Kingdom is a song that I'm still pretty convinced isn't actually vgm, because I looked everywhere for the game that was supposed to be promotional material for this guy's new song and/or album and I never found anything, so I think this might just kind of be a piece of music.

Tigran Hamasyan VGM real vs. Tigran Hamasyan VGM fake! This song debuted in a teaser video for a game that was supposed to release alongside the song on April 26th, but the game has yet to appear. Official comments on this include "soon" and "stay tuned". When it does come out, this song will transform from tenuous nomination to retroactively authentic VGM. I hope it happens during the contest, but immediately after would be pretty funny too.
[deleted]
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom
Our eyes were removed
For our own safety
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything

I love how slinky Weapons Drawn is. Good Riddance is pretty good, but I feel like I appreciate it more than like it? Its just a solid piece of storytelling.

That percussion <3 Labyrinth themes so good.

The Sonic CD song is so short but it makes good use of its length. All I want this year is cheese and ambience and I will not apologise for this. The Kingdom lost me in the middle (even if it won me back by the end)
sergiocornaga posted...
Good Riddance
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

Tigran Hamasyan VGM real vs. Tigran Hamasyan VGM fake! This song debuted in a teaser video for a game that was supposed to release alongside the song on April 26th, but the game has yet to appear. Official comments on this include "soon" and "stay tuned". When it does come out, this song will transform from tenuous nomination to retroactively authentic VGM. I hope it happens during the contest, but immediately after would be pretty funny too.
trailer songs are legal and canceled games are legal. even if the game doesn't release it's fine
List the ominous stern whisper from the delphic cave within:
They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything

Close match 2. Petal Bridge is very soothing. The beat at 1:03 is so DS.

This calls for the return of one of my favorite polls:
The Jackbox Party Pack 8 is the game name, Credits Song (From "Weapons Drawn") is the song name.
Hades - Good is the game name, Riddance is the song name.
Cytus II - Fight Another Day is the game name, (Andy Tunstall Remix) is the song name.
Etrian Odyssey II is the game name, Heroes of Lagaard - Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge is the song name.
Sonic is the game name, You Can Do Anything is the song name.
The Kingdom - The Kingdom is the kingdom.
Tune in to over a decade of VGM history with the VGMC playlists! (Work in progress, currently VGMC1-12)
https://pastebin.com/JUNkGWQ4
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
The Kingdom
"Foolishness, Dante. Foolishness... Might controls everything. And without strength, you cannot protect anything. Let alone yourself."
- Vergil, DMC3
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything

Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
The Pizza Formerly Known as CalzoneB
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

sonic cd jp is one of my fav soundtracks ever but honestly relistening to this its like. my least fav song from this game? lol. also WOW the kingdom is beautiful
Be formless, shapeless... like water.
Credits Song
Labyrinth IV - Petal Bridge
The Kingdom

why did I go against The Kingdom in my bracket LOL this kinda rips
A hero cannot be defeated simply by making him die.
Good riddance.
Fight Another Day
The Kingdom

I don't love Good Riddance -- I consider it a poor man's Bound Together -- but I just don't get Credits.

I know this is "rich" from me given how much I've pushed the envelope myself, but I'm still not sure how I feel about counting FAD as VGM. Though I am voting for it so yeah.

The Kingdom takes its sweet time but it gets super interesting, which is worth a lot more to me than the silliness of Anything Goes.
Nonsense. "Testing" is for when you're still guessing--and now, I have no need to guess. -- Agatha, Girl Genius
dowolf posted...
but I'm still not sure how I feel about counting FAD as VGM.
Cytus is another rhythm game right? Does the song originate outside the game?
Good Riddance
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything
https://i.imgur.com/c3jEuPS.jpg
Credits Song
Fight Another Day (Andy Tunstall Remix)
Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything
Board 8 » [VGMC] Day 12! feat. Good Weapons, Another Bridge, and Anything Kingdom
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