Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 21! Jrny4OnlyYou/ZeroLab, DuelMist/Celestial, Waltz/DADADADADADADAD

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 17, 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=477304
Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SAJKYJmYhccLvbf_H-5uSA7-eMwXfW8k1q74Qho1bLU
Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80433657
Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0wlcxj-kHQRU1yHo-kpMxGe
Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_IU5iCFTM_4WEx8ZWKwznMz5v2tarCKh1Ag0mxIgAes
VGMC total stats sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K1XdLWiUKB2kX99qYBgnRbLU_sCz4dvZSByKKJHCT6o
Discord: https://discord.gg/WDvMS4a

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 10pm 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

Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen (PS4) - A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Composer: Michio

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)
dad?

Pokmon Scarlet/Violet - Battle! Zero Lab
Ex-Zodiac - Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
REFLEC BEAT groovin'!! - DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Battle! Zero Lab >= A Journey Only for You Re:Boot > DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version) > Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3) > Waltz >> Duel in the Mist

The Utawarerumono song was really cool, but Zero Lab is one of the few Pokmon songs I actually like (thanks Toby) and I'm already biased towards it so... lol. Duel in the Mist had promise but never did anything with the core idea. Already knew Remnants of Celestial from a Supra server thing, liked it there and I still like it here. Waltz sure as hell is a classical piece (I think it's classical at least? idk I blend classical/baroque/romantic/etc. into one thing) all right. It's nice. To quote my DADADADADA review in another server, "Wait this is actually really cool what? I wish the instrumental was fuller, but I really like this actually. Also the album art girl is cute as hell. DADADADADADADADADADA"

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Duel in the Mist
Waltz

ohhh! hit it oomfie!

Battle! Zero Lab
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADADA

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remains of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen (PS4) - A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Ex-Zodiac - Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
REFLEC BEAT groovin'!! - DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Duel in the Mist
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

< P0's Top 16 >
9.3 (1 left):
9.1 (0 left): Apex of the World (Rain)
8.9 (0 left): Crocus
8.8 (1 left):
8.7 (0 left): Purna
8.4 (1 left): Journey To Candle Hill
8.3 (3 left): Duel in the Mist
8.2 (1 left): Nilah, the Joy Unbound / SHAKE YA BODY / Shutoko - Spiral Maze
8.1 (0 left): Waltz of Meditation Part2

Fell in love with this one from the first listen, and it's still blowing my mind! So much interplay between the different rhythms, it's truly mesmerizing (I think of it as the Japanese counterpart to SHAKE YA BODY). 2:26 could totally be the drop to a trap or K-pop song lol

(accidentally left Apex off the last few updates, it has been restored)

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Duel in the Mist
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

A Journey for You Alony
Remmy of Cesty
Dadady

Zero Lab is cool, sorry.
I fundamentally do not understand Duel in the Mist's popularity.
I understand dadadada's popularity but emphatically disagree. i would like it if not for the dadadadas. THough in the end I think I like it more than Waltz.

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Duel in the Mist
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

good day for the "if i can't decide between two songs after listening to them a couple times, leave for a bit and then pick the one i remember better" strategy

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Zero Lab
Remnants of Celestial
DADADADADADADADADADA

Da

1. ???
2. Xenogears - One Who Bares Fangs at God
3. ???
4. Control - My Dark Disquiet
5. League of Legends - Nilah, The Joy Unbound
6. ???
7. Magical Chase - Waltz of Meditation Part2
8. Mortal Kombat (Sega CD) - Techno Syndrome
9. Alto's Odyssey - A Moment of Tranquility
10. Spark the Electric Jester 3 - Utopia Shelter ~ In the Depths
11. ???
12. REFLEC BEAT groovin'!! - DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)
13. Deus Ex - The Synapse - Ambient
14. ???
15. ???
16. ???
17. Legaia 2: Duel Saga - Lost Forest
18. 7th Dragon 2020-II - Shutoko - Spiral Maze
19. Chrono Trigger - Yearnings of the Wind
20. ???
21. Dragon Poker - Kanashimi no Mephisto feat.Mahoushoujo Ran & Mahoushoujo Akane
22. ???
23. ???
24. Cladun: This is an RPG - Knight of a Foreign Country
25. Pokemon Scarlet/Violet - Battle! (Zero Lab)
26. ???
27. Fire Emblem: Three Houses - The Apex of the World (Rain)
28. osu! - escape (through the looking - glass, and what alice found there)
29. Galactic Pinball - MOONMAN'S Fandango
30. ???

skipping match 1 for now. If I have time and make a decision, I'll vote later.

wow really? Match 2 is surprisingly hard. Also skipping (for now)

Waltz

The Genshin song is more unique but the other song has more interesting elements to it. Honestly, I don't know which one I like better. Looks like I can only vote on match 3 at least for now. Hopefully I can return to vote on 1 and maybe 2 if I have time.

I'm probably going to get some backlash for saying this but honestly DADADADA feels like another Bi. Most of this song is decent, but then the "DADADADADA!" part comes in, and my sensitive ears just can't take it. I literally had to listen to this song on somewhat low volume because that part was actually hurting my ears. Voting Waltz in this match has been the easiest match for me in this entire contest so far because of that.

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Duel in the Mist
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Good day, especially match 1. I liked Zero Lab quite a bit when I heard it a while ago, and still do. But Utawarerumono has some really nice vocals and I'm more in for that at the moment.

Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen (PS4) - A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Genshin Impact - Duel in the Mist
Hoa - Waltz

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Duel in the Mist
Waltz

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot: Very nice song. Suara is a very good vocalist, and the instrumental is very pleasant, especially the acoustic guitar elements. Melody is pretty good as well.

Battle! (Zero Lab): Yeah, this one's not good. Like at all. The mix is one of the worst in the contest. The whole mix is just overwhelmed by the background rhythm synths, and they keep going ad nauseam with very little variation. The only redeeming element is the bells and chimes used throughout sound nice. I'm mostly neutral to most Pokmon music, but this is one of those that's in my actively dislike list.

Duel in the Mist: Very nice song. Cool rhythms and the koto performance is pretty stellar. Not a lot else to say on this one other than it's a good song.

Remnants of Celestial: This one's pretty fun too. Love the bassline and the synths are very 90's, which isn't my favorite style, but it works here. Very interesting chord progressions as well. Another good song.

Waltz: I think this was my favorite discovery during nominations. There's so much color and personality in the piano and the orchestra when that comes in. The playful melody, the dynamics, the way the instruments play off each other, it's all so wonderfully constructed. Thanks for nomming this, Xarnax, even if you aren't participating in the voting phase.

DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version): This is a fun song with neat rhythms. The vocals are pretty good too. Definitely a massive step up from Bi. The Japanese elements sprinkled throughout are a nice touch as well. Good song, but it's unfortunately against one of my favorite songs in the bracket.

I liked all but one song today.

Votes:
A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Duel in the Mist
Waltz

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Duel in the Mist
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Gacha bad, but song good. Da.(repeat.)

Battle! (Zero Lab)
abstain
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Duel in the Mist
Waltz

unaware music is always stupidly good i swear. it consistently manages to tug on my heartstrings. a journey for you is no exception. i love the vocalist, but that instrumental part that starts around the 2:30 mark or so is so delicious. it places me in a zen state of being, that's for sure.

a streamer i follow would play this song before stream starts and id always join in at the 1:36 mark and go "what the fuck undertale remix is this" and it would consistently happen even after i listened to this song in my own time. i like undertale music so i am not complaining, i think the arrangement is good! im still disappointed that game freak is too cheap to make the quality of their music consistently good (or that they just refuse to release soundtracks suddenly?), but whatever, more toby is good.

japanese instruments are so cool. i really like how this arrangement doesn't come across as too "busy" or "epic", but still is thrilling fighting music! definitely not my favourite genshin track (that would be no turning back) but still a decent one to nominate.

maybe this will be the last time in my life that remnants of celestial will jumpscare me.

waltz is very enchanting. it reminds me of something that would play in an important moment in a studio ghibli film, even though i am sure hisaishi's music sounds nothing like this. it just has this blend of simplicity and emotion i like.

dadada im not typing all that - avoids being annoying and repetitive to my ears. if the das were too frequent, this would be another story, and the vocalist is decent too. i think that also helps. but wow waltz is just way too good i can't vote against it.

decent day, nothing id place below a 7.

Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen (PS4) - A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Ex-Zodiac - Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
REFLEC BEAT groovin'!! - DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

another totally stacked day, wow

Pokmon Scarlet/Violet - Battle! (Zero Lab)
Genshin Impact - Duel in the Mist
Hoa - Waltz

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

Waltz was one of my fav discoveries in noms. Match 2 is p tough!

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
Waltz

abstain
Duel in the Mist
Waltz

Battle
Celestial
Waltz

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Utawarerumono music rarely excites me. This has a bit more energy to it than usual at least. Zero Lab rocks. Always nice to run into a Pokemon song I can appreciate when most of them really don't do it for me.

All the fun Genshin nominations and this lameness is what we get? Bad nominators, bad. Celestial is alright. Feels like it's missing an instrument that could take it over the top.

Waltz doesn't do it for me. I don't like the part when they say DADADADADADADADADADA, but otherwise I'm a fan of the song.

Battle! (Zero Lab) > DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version) > Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3) > A Journey for You Alone Re:boot > Duel in the Mist > Waltz

Battle!
Duel
Waltz

Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen (PS4) - A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Ex-Zodiac - Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
REFLEC BEAT groovin'!! - DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Duel in the Mist
Waltz

First match was hard. I'd take either over the other songs today.

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
(Long Version)

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Tsugaru-shamisen performances are always really cool to me but I really wish Duel in the Mist did more. I love the instrumentation but it does feel like the song just never really goes anywhere. I do also feel like Remnants of Celestial is far too short for its own good despite still being quite enjoyable.

Battle! (Zero Lab)
Duel in the Mist
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

Good first match. I'd probably vote Celestial if I didn't have strong attachment to Genshin in general. Yes, I'm voting on the music.

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3)
DADADADADADADADADADA (Long Version)

The first minute and a half of Zero Lab had me interested with the contrast between the ethereal melody and the grindy synths. From 1:36 on it moves away from that and the sounds it goes through are unappealing and uninteresting.

Close match 2, Duel in the Mist is so dense and lively. I love the elegant pacing of the strings driven on by the drumbeat, and then the wind rises above it all.

Best parts of Waltz are when the instruments layer together, especially 0:49-1:00.

Voted Into the Storm. A good pun is a hard fing to fink of. Dont be confined by standard pronunciations, instead B3.

A Journey for You Alone Re:boot
Duel in the Mist
Waltz

A Journey for You Alone is a pretty good Suara song. Battle (Zero Lab) has some neat things going but it's definitely hurt by the balancing being a mess. The melody just needs to be louder.

Duel in the Mist is great. Very cool instrumentals and I like how the drums are used to increase the energy of the song. Remnants of Celestial is a solid song. Reminds me a lot of Yasui, although this does feel a bit more weighed down than the good Yasui songs.

I like Waltz a lot. Simple but effective piano part, and the parts where the strings come in feel very emotional. DADAetc... is a bit better than I remembered, maybe this is my first time hearing the long version? The parts where she's not singing DA are not only tolerable but actually reasonably good.

Duel in the Mist > Waltz > Journey for You Alone > Remnants of Celestial > Battle (Zero Lab) > DADADA