VGMC11 day 55 - J-E-N-O-V-A vs Sunshine Coastline, Big Blue vs Blue Radiance

Welcome to today's topic for Video Game Music Contest 11, a tournament of the best tracks from games, as decided upon by you, the voters.


Links:
Bracket - http://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=466312
Contest info - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d-N92Sis_Ghh-QYE2cQqClPP5H3T-idwlk0CUHOv2ew
Discussion and results thread - https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/75317291
Main bracket playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW9O9mntH1RFteVUCpIsmLHRwqLStaQJD
Side bracket playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW9O9mntH1RE35F2S4u6Ie8w1o0jHPKXB

Rules:

- Listen to both of the songs. Links have conveniently been provided for both songs. Even if Song A is your favorite of all-time and Song B is from a series you hate... Listen. To. Both. (If I have suspicions you are not doing this, your vote may be disqualified.)
- Obvious contest rules apply (no alts, one vote per person, no rallying, etc.).
- Please make your voting options clear, rather than burying them in text.
- Each set of matches lasts 24 hours, even if the new one isn’t up by then.
- Always vote on the versions of the song provided, not versions from different sources.
- If you know ahead of time that you're not going to be around and you want to vote in advance, post your choices in the discussion/bracket topic.
- Please do NOT post tallies/score updates in the middle of the match, as this has a tendency to directly influence matches.
- You don't have to vote in all the matches, but it'd be cool if you did!

Match 1:

Final Fantasy VII - J-E-N-O-V-A


Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Sunshine Coastline



Match 2:

Mario Kart 8 - Big Blue


Radiant Historia - Blue Radiance



VGMC Masters side bracket:

Sleepwalker - Zoo


Baten Kaitos - The True Mirror (Guitar Version)



Easy vote form:
J-E-N-O-V-A / Sunshine Coastline
Big Blue / Blue Radiance
Zoo / The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

okay, I'll go first then.

Sunshine Coastline
Big Blue
The True Mirror

I was expecting to vote JENOVA, but that's why we listen~

J-E-N-O-V-A
Big Blue
Zoo

While it doesn't hit the highs of B2, this division is still really good.

Sunshine Coastline
Blue Radiance
The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Sunshine Coastline
Radiant Historia - Blue Radiance
Baten Kaitos - The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

er

change Blue Radiance to Big Blue

Sunshine Coastline
Big Blue
Zoo

J-E-N-O-V-A
Blue Radiance
Zoo

J-E-N-O-V-A
Blue Radiance
Zoooo

Sunshine
Radiance
Zoo

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Sunshine Coastline
Mario Kart 8 - Big Blue
Baten Kaitos - The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

...

...

save us falcom

Sunshine Coastline
Big Blue
The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

Sunshine Coastline
Blue Radiance
The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

J-E-N-O-V-A
Big Blue
The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

J-E-N-O-V-A

Will vote in the others if I have time

Sunshine Coastline
Big Blue
Zoo

Sunshine Coastline
Blue Radiance
The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

J-E-N-O-V-A
Big Blue
Zoo

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Sunshine Coastline
Radiant Historia - Blue Radiance

J-E-N-O-V-A
Big Blue
The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

Sunshine Coastline
Blue Radiance
Zoo

Based on series alone, I'd expect to vote for Sunshine Coastline, but it's actually pretty weak as far as Ys songs go whereas J-E-N-O-V-A is a top-tier Final Fantasy song--I suspect that it being from one of the older games (yes, 7 is "one of the older games" now) helps, because the more advanced that games get, the more their soundtracks become reliant on context. A moving, emotional song can really capture you if played at the right moment, but in a vacuum, it won't hold up. Of course, I tend to let songs run as I type, so I very nearly switched back since Sunshine Coastline is the longer one and that's what I was typing this up to! I would not be disappointed either way.

The second match is also one where I love both songs--in fact, I'd vote for either one over either song in the first match. I just instinctively typed in Big Blue when I got into the topic because I've loved that tune ever since I first heard it in Melee, but listening to Blue Radiance again gave me pause, because that is a seriously good song and it's a shame that one of these two will have to go home in Round 3 while either goldenslaughterer or Scrap I/O gets to retire (no, I will not stop harping on how badly the first quarter of Bracket A got messed up; there were so many good songs and this crap ended up getting through. I might have to invoke the "Seymour rule" and vote for the one I like less just to get it out of future contests). Knowing my weakness for brass/woodwinds, though, I figured that this particular version of Big Blue would get my vote anyway. But, nope, it just doesn't stand up to Blue Radiance. Is my gut instinct going to match my vote at all this topic?

...Yes, yes it is. I was going to ask if Zoo was a song that got a lucky draw in its only time in the contest and reached round 4, but then I remembered that The True Mirror was a one-time entrant...but then I remembered that it is Round 2, so it's possible that two such songs are already meeting up. But, nope, Zoo has actually been in the contest 4 times and made at least R2 every time with an average of 2 wins per appearance. And...okay, actually, it is pretty good. Just not as good as The True Mirror (Guitar Version). I think...

...nope. No it's not. My gut instinct was wrong all three times.

Blue Radiance > Big Blue > Sunshine Coastline > Zoo > The True Mirror (Guitar Version) > J-E-N-O-V-A

Yes, I ended up switching back again on the first match when I went to write this up, because upon listening again, J-E-N-O-V-A actually isn't very good at all.

Sunshine
Big Blue
Zoo

Final Fantasy VII - J-E-N-O-V-A
Radiant Historia - Blue Radiance
Baten Kaitos - The True Mirror (Guitar Version)

I almost can't be bothered to care myself, but have these votes for:
JENOVA
abstain
Zoo

this is one of the worst retirement fourpacks I have ever seen

yikes

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana - Sunshine Coastline
Radiant Historia - Blue Radiance

Sleepwalker - Zoo

J-E-N-O-V-A
Big Blue
Zoo

just got home, feel like crap, going to lay down. Surely I'll be awake again by 10 to post the next topic...surely...