Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 39! feat. Aves, Hippopotamidae, and whatever the hell Yoda is

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 19, 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=479594
Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HqEzmlfEUsm6BWJbBxDm6ZUnQQ_2d1ezDlVBN2sYepY
Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80981071
Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0zm7Svx4DXDy1XjUejSBazd
Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HBxgL9woiCMFKNOPuN_qdxmzjStJXSpC3Ocalfsavdk
VGMC total stats sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K1XdLWiUKB2kX99qYBgnRbLU_sCz4dvZSByKKJHCT6o
VGMC info site (thank you p0!!): https://p0p0p0p.github.io/
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 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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Poisoned Well and You

As some of you may know, the song Poisoned Well that shows up late in Bracket D is a 21 minute 36 second song that does not loop. As is customary with longer songs in the VGMC nowadays (longer meaning "roughly more than a Dancing Mad") we thought to give a little heads up in advance so that if you would like to do your listening of the song at a time convenient to you, you may. Here's a link to the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe4GIkEulSM

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Match 1

Mega Man X: Corrupted - Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Composer: Dominic Ninmark (NitroFlasher)
Loop Point: 1:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdoRRKcDOj8

Honkai: Star Rail - Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Composer: Kexin Wang
Loop Point: 3:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyt41nnM0k

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Match 2

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Iclucian Dance
Composer: Mitsuo Singa
Loop Point: 3:03
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogTY-BvV6s

Capsule Silence XXIV - Yoda Goes For A Swim
Composer: Death by Wallace
Loop Point: 2:56
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_DKTaYzjpg

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Match 3

LittleBigPlanet - Tapha Niang
Composer: Traditional arr. Toumani Diabat
Loop Point: 6:53
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8oVHyfkYzc

Espgaluda - Fort City - Stage4
Composer: SOU1
Loop Point: 1:47
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X18ekDhdIcM

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Easy vote form:
Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage) / Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance / Yoda Goes For A Swim
Tapha Niang / Fort City - Stage4

Honkai: Star Rail - Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Iclucian Dance
LittleBigPlanet - Tapha Niang

skyway
iclucian dance
fort city

Skyway (Mega Man X: Corrupted)
Iclucian Dance (Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana)
Fort City - Stage4 (Espgaluda)

I keep thinking this is going to do the lick but then it does something else

Maria but as heard in Ecuador on March 13, 1923.

well maestro ; time to get your belief on violin Spain

I like how this one is more dissonant than any moment in iclucian dance for 1 chord. how fake the instruments are is often endearing

well we are certainly exploring all around the world.

there's this certain type of squishy rubbery analog-esque synth bass played really high up sound i like a lot whenever I hear it that I associate sjmups because of that one song from E.D.F by Tsukasa Tawada but also MIDI files I downloaded from technomidi.com in 2001

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

it hadn't crossed my mind but wait did we seriously get skyway in before getting a gravity circuit song in at all yet? have to admit i'm slightly surprised, not that i mind
another essentially free match (iclucian doesn't particularly excite me by falcom standards, but i mean...)
i wish one of these two had been given that yoda r1 match instead... (immensely sad i've had to turn on multiple shmup songs i would've liked to take at least a few rounds now... and to be honest it mightn't even be the last time this happens in r1)

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

Skyway is the sort of thing that someone might assume that I, a Mega Man fan would like, before learning that I really detest the sound of these SNES guitars and I strongly dislike peoples' insistence on using them poorly when trying to make "MMX-style" music, just kind of a mess imo 3/10

No Honkai: Star Rail, it's birds. You're thinking of birds 4/10

Iclucian Dance is good enough that I don't feel bad that it's getting a bye 7.5/10

Yoda is uh... look I'm sure it's probably funny in context in the game or whatever, but it just seems like a really low effort shitpost, the joke doesn't work, sorry 0.5/10

Tapha Niang is good 7/10

Fort City is kinda meh 5/10

TunnelScene posted...

Maria but as heard in Ecuador on March 13, 1923.

omfg

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Yoda Goes For A Swim
Fort City - Stage4

Really wish I didn't have to vote for Yoda, but somehow I like the piece it's up against even less \_()_/

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4 (Espgaluda)

someone should make yoda goes for a swim but with the smiser trumpet

hope
dance
tapha niangu

i have some words i want to say but i'll probably regret them when i am no longer angry/upset/exhausted at a coworker who does not seem to understand it is inappropriate to go on vacation during your oncall shift, and that i do not care that he would've woken his family if he hadn't silenced his phone.

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

More short write-ups because I continue to not have much time.

Mega Man X: Corrupted - Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage): Fun song. 7.4/10

Honkai: Star Rail - Hope is the Thing With Feathers: Ah yes, my first 5 star in HSR. I always wished Robin was an opera singer instead because she always gave off that vibe more, but shes still really cool regardless. Nice 2000s Disney Channel pop/rock-like song (no, I am not using that as an insult).
7.5/10

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Iclucian Dance: I almost thought this was Operation Sandras at first. Anyways, I really like the energetic violin and piano. All-around lively, enjoyable piece. 7.7/10

Capsule Silence XXIV - Yoda Goes For A Swim: Lmaooooooooo
I NEED to know the context of this omg this is so fucking hilarious
I dont think Ive ever laughed this hard since I first heard Doshin Stroll a couple years ago. I was having a bad day, but this makes me feel a little better.
Entry of the Gladiators (aka the clown song) playing in the background is the cherry on top.
This should probably be rated way lower, but its too funny for that. 6/10

LittleBigPlanet - Tapha Niang: I will say its quite the unique song. I dont come across these kinds of songs often. Definitely a neat find. 7.3/10

Espgaluda - Fort City - Stage4: It was catchy, but I think I wouldve liked it more with a distinguishable melody. 7/10

VOTES:
Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Yoda Goes For A Swim
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
?????
Tapha Niang

Tapha Niang >> Hope is the Thing With Feathers >> Fort City - Stage4 >> Iclucian Dance > Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)

Idk how to evaluate Yoda Goes for a Swim. And I don't particularly like Iclucian Dance either, so I might just abstain.

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
no thanks
Tapha Niang

Aww yeah Skyway. Every time I listen to Hope Is the Thing With Feathers I'm pleasantly surprised by how I don't despise it.

We were talking on the Supra server about songs that give us headaches, and Iclucian Dance is that for me. Everything is so tinny and shrill. I get like physically uncomfortable listening to it. When I clicked on the link for Yoda Goes for a Swim, my computer restarted, which means it's got my back. I can't vote for either of these in good conscience.

Love both Tapha Niang and Fort City. Tapha Niang is one of my cooler discoveries from the contest, and I've always enjoyed Fort City. Good match!

Skyway
-
Tapha Niang

Yoda gets bonus points for making me chuckle at a couple parts at the very least. So I guess mission accomplished if that was the song's intention?

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Iclucian Dance > Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage) >= Fort City - Stage4 > Tapha Niang > Hope Is the Thing With Feathers (god idk) Yoda Goes For A Swim

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage) - 8
pretty cool song, would be interested to hear a version with real instruments tho (the MMX soundfont isn't really smth I like listening to casually)

Hope Is the Thing With Feathers - 7
Disney Channel-ass song

Iclucian Dance - 8.5
banger

Yoda Goes For A Swim - 5
god I don't know, it was kinda funny at the beginning but it did not sustain its humor so fuck it sure 5 whatever

Tapha Niang - 7.5
I can respect it, but it's not my thing

Fort City - Stage4 - 8
cool song I like

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

I can't believe dowolf's coworker would stoop so low

Sky
Yoda
Tapha

God it's been years since I heard Yoda. This is such a trip it's like nostalgia combined with ancestral memories accessed in a fever dream. What are these emotions?

evil match 3

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway [S] > Fort City [B] > Iclucian Dance [B] > Tapha Niang [C] > Hope is the Thing With Feathers [D] > Yoda Goes For A Swim [F]

Skyway is my favorite song in the bracket. Been obsessed with it since the MM contest. It's a perfect encapsulation of why the franchise has such powerful music, and how those melodies have shaped my taste as a fan of video game music. It is equal parts nostalgic and refreshing. A perfect song in every facet. I don't like is opponent at all.

Iclucian Dance is pretty great! No real notes! Yoda is kind of like when you hang out with a friend and a bunch of their friends who you don't really know, and the friend just starts making a bunch of inside jokes that you don't understand, but also their other friends find the jokes uncomfortable and basically your friend is the only one not having a miserable time. I didn't have any noms on the bubble, but if I did, I'd be pretty annoyed.

Tapha Niang is solid. Too long for what it is. Fort City is super fun and catchy!

Honkai: Star Rail - Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Iclucian Dance

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

Hey, found a song that I'd vote for the Crazy Bus Title over.

The hell? I voted last night.

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

Today was a bad day to listen to these on my commute

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

I supported Hope is the Thing With Feathers. Continuing the theme of emotional extremes, this song literally has a cheering crowd in it. Thematically I think of it as the good counterpart to a villain song, as its a performance on a grandiose, larger-than-life scale, just as how youd establish the villains personality. Except unlike the villain, who selfishly hogs the spotlight all for themselves, this song is about everyone sharing the spotlight! Yeah I know its cheesy, but damn it, it works on me.

I like how slow-paced Skyway is. 0:34-0:58 draws the melodies out, letting you savor the punchiness of the first one and the airiness of the second.

Yoda Goes For A Swim is actually really close to being something I would like. The tone is right on: the music is ramshackle, half-hearted circus where nobody is having a good time and the slurred, rambling vocalist is well-suited to the role of unpleasant clown. He absolutely nails the what at 1:33. 2 major problems though: the lyrics are dumb incoherent random-for-randoms-sake, and the loud parts are annoying.

VGMC5 goes to The Extreme

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

I didn't know LBP's music was like this. Solid day!

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
???

Actually kind of stuck on match 3... Might come back to it later.

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Honkai: Star Rail - Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Iclucian Dance
LittleBigPlanet - Tapha Niang

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

you know the tuesday drill

From Haste_2:

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
*abstain*
Fort City - Stage4

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Yoda Goes For A Swim
Tapha Niang

I'm not sure if I can express what I like more about Yoda than Iclucian without sounding like a nutcase. It is a song I just enjoyed more in spite of their colossal quality difference. The funniest bit is that I still think it's close.

Besides that, oh my days, I loved both Hopes with Feathers and Tapha Niang, they're this type of music that will usually bring me a smile. Fort City is also a groovy rival, and while Skyway is probably not the best of Ninmark, it's still a good effort.

Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Iclucian Dance
Tapha Niang

Match 3:
Tapha Niang

I'm voting for either of these songs in round 2 no matter what. But I switched perspective and thought, which song would I be more sad about losing in round 1? That is Tapha Niang.

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4

Skyway (Hurricane Hoatzin Stage)
Iclucian Dance
Fort City - Stage4