Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 44! feat. Icy, Tiny, Shiny, Sandy, and a Tiebreaker

(+) 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 w

Kobito
MNN+@0
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Maybe it is because I've just got it stuck in my head at the moment and that it is facing off against a kirby song, but Kobito's intro reminds me somewhat of Heart of Nova so that's neat.

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0 (Day)
Got more raves?

Needle
Sands
Key

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
Got more raves?

Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character - Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
NieR - Temple of Drifting Sands

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
Temple of Drifting Sands
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character - Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
NieR - Temple of Drifting Sands
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
Temple of Drifting Sands
Got more raves?

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0 (Day)
Got more raves?

Got more raves?

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?

Good, we're going straight in R2 without being OCD about the tiebreaker match done beforehand.

Did I rank music this year? Yes, I did! I will reveal the rankings (including those that lost R1) as we go through the second round. Oh, and I will only do the top 100. I just didn't have the patience to rank 256 songs...

3) Fire Emblem: Heroes - Vs. Gullveig (Book VII Boss)
9) Kaze no Notam - Menu
21) Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Northeast Frost Street
81) Xenoblade Chronicles X - MNN+@0(Day)

Hiroki Morishita is known for making some really unique, quirky stuff (for example, Lost in the Waves). But Vs. Gullveig is 100% the embodiment of Morishita quirkiness, the very definition of why I love Morishita so much. If you just take the vocals and look at that by itself, it might seem rather ordinary... but the "keyboard" stuff... what the heck is that? Cluster chords, and a synth that just runs wild, and that kind of electronic percussion... sheer madness that complements the more predictable vocals (not saying anything's wrong with the vocals - their sheer intensity adds a second layer of madness. And of course the 5/4 meter just makes it all the better. It comes off as super proggy, too, and i love proggy. I love the second half, too... not nearly as frantic, but those chord changes are powerful, man... they follow a simple adjust-by-1/2-step idea, but it works so dang well. And then when it plays again and higher sustained note gets added... this moment makes me want to EXPLODE. And then there are those "glitchy" moments like when the music stops for a split second to be filled with percussive hits.... I wish Toxtricity (TunnelScene) werehere to rank all the music in VGMC and see him gush on how great is (probably in his top 20?) a lot better than I ever could. I really do miss the days when he did that. Vs. Gullveig is probably the most underappreciated participant in this contest, and is more than likely my favorite Fire Emblem track ever.

As far as Menu... when I first heard it, I admit I didn't fully appreciate it. I liked it, but when I was going through BOST6 music this didn't even make it on the list of "BOST6 favorites"... I think the fact that most of my music listening (including music "exploration") is done at work. Since I'm multi-tasking (and plus I can't the play the music as loud as I'd like) sometimes I don't hear and "feel" the music as well as I'd like. Toxtricity helped me to pay closer attention to it during VGMC17 noms. Anyway, Menu is easily on par with music in my top 100 vgm! (that top 100 was compiled shortly before VGMC16). Kirby Triple Deluxe's menu music was my all-time favorite menu music (not formally ranked, but it will likely be officially "ranked" somewhere in my top 500 before long), but that of Kaze no Notam has certainly overtaken it! Anyway, it's easy to be focused on the main melody and stuff, but once you feel everything going on, it's super satisfying. The mix of ambience, industrial, and calmness is great. I just love the soft stacked-fifths chord near the start, and the little machine-like hairpins at e.g. 0:17. The piano countermelody is really nice, too, being in that low register.... And then there's the BIG MOMENT at 0:43... it gives me the chills everytime. That chord (especially the PIANO notes that were so unexpected creating those major 7th intervals)... those sounds..... just gorgeous. The high-frequency stuff is great, but I feel it's more the low frequency-stuff that make it so beautiful. I love Menu... I hear new stuff every time I hear it.

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

So now I listen again, Match 3 is pretty difficult, but Shikata is just such a strong influence.
Full on board with the other two though. The Inchling Revolution will rise above heavens!

Frost
Sands
Key

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Re: NieR
I'm going to talk like Kama even though he disagrees with this statement: I'd like to complain that the nier song isn't the remake version but it's still a super omega banger

EXEC is actually an Ar Tonelico song that I like, shocking.

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
Got more raves?

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

I am voting for punctuation today. Sands is very good but the competition is tough.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Northeast Frost Street
Xenoblade Chronicles X - MNN+@0(Day)

GROOVE COASTER - Got more raves?

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Frosty the NW Snowman
squints... Mintao?
Chronos

i wanted to vote kobito so bad. Literally just so I can say I voted koibito. You're welcome.

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
Got more raves?

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?

raves

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
Got more raves?

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0 (Day)
Got more raves?

Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character - Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
NieR - Temple of Drifting Sands
Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
Got more raves?

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
Temple of Drifting Sands
Got more raves?

made the mistake of playing gmr in jubeat yesterday and i think its swinging my vote fuck

From TunnelScene:

Northeast Frost Street (Kirby Forgotten Land)
MNN+@0 Day (Xenoblade X)
Got more raves? (GROOVE COASTER)

From junglegirl:

Northeast Frost Street, MNN+@0 Day

Frost
Day
Key

frost street is just as enchanting as it was in round one, and undeniable proof that you can craft an enchanting winter wonderland without over reliance on fucking sleigh bells. i almost forget that i am indifferent to christmas when i listen to this.

still not huge on this one. i like how heavy it feels before the zunpets kick in, and the main leitmotif is pretty alright, but i don't really have all too much to say with this one upon revisiting.

i swear mnn+@0 gets better with every listen. the change from indifference to genuinely looking forward to listening to this is definitely a big one.

the ambience to this is still a treat, but im not quite feeling the backing vocals today.

my opinion on the tiebreaker has not changed.

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?

Northeast Frost Street is probably my second favorite Forgotten Land song after Blizzard Bridge. Such a great melody and the instrumentation is so detailed and cool. Kobito is a song that has some nice piano runs but that's about it.

MNN+@0 (Day) is so quirky and I love it for it. And 2:03 is a massive ear candy moment for me, so it's hard to beat this one. Temple of Drifting Sands does come somewhat close though with that percussion and Emi Evans vocals. High quality match.

My opinion on the tiebreaker is the same as it was two days ago.

Good day.

Votes:
Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0 (Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

It was just yesterday that I was thinking yeah, I want Frost Street to retire. And its still a great song, with many variations on its melody that build from soothing to majestic, and the guitar being used for a soft sound at 0:58 and an intense sound at 2:01. This is a killer match and whatever wins better make a deep run.

CHRONICLE KEYs best aspect is of course the vocals, both the delicate main vocalist and the grand chorus. Not to be overlooked is the melody from 1:50 on that mixes with the vocals to captivating effect.

Had a heartbreak here and there, all part of the game. Round 2 starting strong!

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?

Northeast Frost Street
Temple of Drifting Sands
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess
MNN+@0(Day)
EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/.

Hmm i dont think i voted or commented very much in Round 2 last year. I'm not sure what my protocol should be. I guess i'll just put my ratings and comments from the first listen through, along with my updated comments and ratings for this current listen through.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Northeast Frost Street -
Old: 6- shining brilliance of splendor, hope and adventure abound, it's cool how this song picks up and evolves like a blossoming flower
New: 6.5 sweeping orchestra with dreamy wonder. Its so crazy how kirby has evolved from the cheerful gameboy beeps and boops

Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character - Kobito of the Shining Needle ~ Little Princess

Old 8.5 This song started off kinda slow but then really caught me by surprise in the second half. All the sounds and instruments came together in a perfect harmony with a really engaging beat. I don't love touhou songs that much but this one is epic
New 7 Those endless midis trumpet sounds that pierce through are still cool, but the rest of the song feels pretty overwhelming.

Xenoblade Chronicles X - MNN+@0(Day)

Old 6 The beats and flutes go off on this one. The main rhythm of the bass/drums just isn't really my taste. It feels like it has a lot of different, segmented parts that segue one after another, but don't transition well until like the last 30 seconds
New 7.5 The techno synth stuff is cool as well as the traditional sounding strings. But the hard rock guitar sounds are too overbearing and fake for me.

NieR - Temple of Drifting Sands

Old 5.5 Witches mutter magical incanations, trap me in a vortex of sadness and intrigue. The vibes of this song are mellow and kinda cool, but it is very flat.
New 6.5 The majestical dreamy floating feeling of the drums plus the background chanting is such a calming vibe. I would have wished it evolved more through the song.

Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY/. - 6.5- I like the balance of the soft prayer like vocals and the deeper orchestral backing vocals. The instrumentation, while sparse, adds a nice layer of complexity to the melody. I do wish there was more variation in the instruments though. Or there was a verse that sounded a bit more different, i started to drift out of it. Haha i cant count how many times ive had this song just playing in the background. Its not like I even like it too much. I am amazed by how much weight and satisfaction the vocals carry with the chords, especially in the second half.

GROOVE COASTER - Got more raves? -4.5 - The beat of this was really cool, but man the fact that the melodic progressions were bordering on dissonant insanity messes with me. I like the bolder synths and the organs. I just wish it would give itself more breathing room to develop. The interruptions of this one are pretty annoying now.

Northeast Frost Street
MNN+@0(Day)
Got more raves?