• Home
  • Behind the Crate
  • Exclusives
  • Features
  • Lists & Things
  • Looter Love
The Daily Crate
  • <<< BACK TO LOOTCRATE.COM
The Daily Crate
  • Home
  • Behind the Crate
  • Exclusives
  • Features
  • Lists & Things
  • Looter Love
GAMING: The Legend of Zelda Music That Should Be On Your Playlist!
(Nintendo)
Home
Features

GAMING: The Legend of Zelda Music That Should Be On Your Playlist!

July 25th, 2019 Tyler Sanchez Features

The Legend of Zelda series takes us on a wild ride no matter what game we’re playing. Personally, the music is what holds up the personality of each game, really driving home the emotions I feel while watching a cutscene or battling a boss. This is all thanks to one man, who happens to be my favorite composer of all time: Koji Kondo.

Kondo-san has been composing music for Nintendo for over 30 years. In fact, this man is the genius behind that catchy tune from Super Mario Bros. You know the one! Of course, he also composed the main theme for The Legend of Zelda, which happens to be one of my favorite songs in video games. Koji Kondo has had his hands in the music for every single Legend of Zelda game, whether it be straight up composing, supervising, or advising. Maybe that’s why all of the Zelda music is so flippin’ good! Here are some of my absolute favorites that you should, at the very least, give a listen to. Be warned, I’m gonna be using a lot of musical terms in here because I’m a nerd.

Gerudo Valley – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Koji Kondo)

I feel weird starting with my favorite Zelda tune of all time, but I can’t help but be excited about it! Gerudo Valley uses a lot of Latin instruments giving it that desert-y feel, which is appropriate for the location this song plays in. I think the most genius thing that Koji Kondo does in his music is that every musical phrase leads into another. It never really gets a “finale,” per se, meaning you could listen to the song over and over and never get that gratuitous ending… which, in the end, makes your brain want to keep listening. It’ll be a trend in most of these songs.

The Dark World – The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – (Koji Kondo)

The Dark World is meant to play in, well, the Dark World, which is an exact parallel to the main overworld (Hyrule) in A Link to the Past. It still has that triumphant-sounding march as the main overworld theme, using the trumpet and snare drum to lead the way for the movement, but Kondo made sure to keep the dark undertone in the melody. The muted brass in this song are really soothing when I’m trying to focus on a task, and the up beat keeps me chuggin’ along, which is why I included it on this list.

Dragon Roost Island – The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker – (Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi, Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai)

Oops, more Latin instruments! I think what draws me to this song over all of the other songs in Wind Waker is the fact that it’s a 3/4 time signature, but the song sounds like a really fast 6/8 time signature, and if you know my musical tastes, I’m a sucker for triple beats.  Plus, the pan flute sounds amazing. In fact, most of the Zelda songs with pan flutes are amazing. But I digress, Dragon Roost Island in particular gets my toe tapping, so you should listen to it. Also, castanets are the best percussion instrument (along side the claves).

Midna’s Lament – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – (Toru Minegishi, Asuka Ota, Koji Kondo)

Okay, so Twilight Princess is my favorite Zelda game of all time. Midna is my favorite Zelda character of all time. Piano is my favorite instrument of all time. Of course I’m going to include Midna’s Lament on this list. What I think makes this song so genius is that the three main notes of Midna’s theme are the exact same three notes of Zelda’s Lullaby, but played backwards in a minor key. Spoiler alert: Midna is the Twilight Princess, so the fact that that her theme mirrors the Princess of Hyrule’s theme is iconic. Kondo and friends, you’ve done it again! If you’re super into classical piano music, this song should be right up your alley.

Ballad of the Goddess – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword – (Hajime Wakai, Takeshi Hama)

And finally, while this song isn’t TECHNICALLY composed by Koji Kondo (but it actually kind of is?) Ballad of the Goddess from Skyward Sword always struck me as one of the most powerful-sounding orchestrations in Nintendo’s discography. This song gave me the chills– especially when the first Skyward Sword trailer dropped. But you wanna know why it’s so good? You thought Midna’s Lament was crazy? Well this song is literally the entirety of Zelda’s Lullaby played backwards and re-orchestrated. Take a listen! That’s what I meant by saying this song was kind of composed by Koji Kondo! Who knew that Zelda’s Lullaby was so good that it sounds amazing played in both directions?



And there you have it! These are obviously my favorites, but I want to know some of your favorites (so I can add them to my playlist)! Hit us up on Twitter and sound off your personal favorite Zelda songs!

  • Tags
  • a link to the past
  • Legend of Zelda
  • link
  • music
  • ocarina of time
  • skyward sword
  • twilight princess
  • tyler sanchez
  • Video Game Music
  • wind waker
  • zelda

SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn
Next article Gaming: My Favorite World of Warcraft Raid Bosses!
Previous article Looter Love: NEMESIS Loot Crate

Tyler Sanchez

Hello it me-- Tyler the Loot Crate Community Manager. I'm really good at typos, finishing your fries, and not finishing video games. I love Nintendo a whole bunch, but I'm also a huge Overwatch fan. The other geeks in the office consider me the Disney guy! My other house is Disneyland, but Walt Disney World will always be my baby. <3

Related Posts

THEME REVEAL: Let Out A Howl For Loot Fright and Loot Sci-Fi's Newest Themes Features
January 21st, 2021

THEME REVEAL: Let Out A Howl For Loot Fright and Loot Sci-Fi's Newest Themes

GAMING: FlyLoFM & Chill - A GTA V Inspired Playlist Features
January 20th, 2021

GAMING: FlyLoFM & Chill - A GTA V Inspired Playlist

THEME REVEAL: Get LOVESICK With Loot Crate, Loot Crate DX, Loot Wear Features
January 20th, 2021

THEME REVEAL: Get LOVESICK With Loot Crate, Loot Crate DX, Loot Wear

Related Posts

Jan 21st, 2021

THEME REVEAL: Let Out A Howl For Loot Fright and Loot Sci-Fi’s Newest Themes

Jan 20th, 2021

GAMING: FlyLoFM & Chill – A GTA V Inspired Playlist

Jan 20th, 2021

THEME REVEAL: Get LOVESICK With Loot Crate, Loot Crate DX, Loot Wear

Jan 19th, 2021

Top 5 Greatest Spider-Man Movie Moments

Jan 18th, 2021

THEME REVEAL: New Themes for Rick and Morty and Marvel Gear & Goods

Recent Posts

CRUNCHYROLL CRATE: What's The Deal with "So I'm A Spider, So What?"

CRUNCHYROLL CRATE: What's The Deal with "So I'm A Spider, So What?"

Jan 21st, 2021
THEME REVEAL: Let Out A Howl For Loot Fright and Loot Sci-Fi's Newest Themes

THEME REVEAL: Let Out A Howl For Loot Fright and Loot Sci-Fi's Newest Themes

Jan 21st, 2021
GAMING: FlyLoFM & Chill - A GTA V Inspired Playlist

GAMING: FlyLoFM & Chill - A GTA V Inspired Playlist

Jan 20th, 2021
THEME REVEAL: Get LOVESICK With Loot Crate, Loot Crate DX, Loot Wear

THEME REVEAL: Get LOVESICK With Loot Crate, Loot Crate DX, Loot Wear

Jan 20th, 2021
Top 5 Greatest Spider-Man Movie Moments

Top 5 Greatest Spider-Man Movie Moments

Jan 19th, 2021
January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Dec    
  • Home
  • Behind the Crate
  • Exclusives
  • Features
  • Lists & Things
  • Looter Love
  • Back to top
© Loot Crate. All rights reserved.
Brought to you by the illustrious TDC staff with all the love they can muster.