LogFAQs > #941791366

17. Ar Tonelico: Melody of Elemia - EXEC_PAJA/.#Orica extracting.
vs.
8. Aurora Memoria - Classroom

What I had:
Chant This Charm > B.T. Dutch

Now that we're out of Bracket B, we can get back to matches I really like! The EXA PICO song is super rad. As opposed to Rustling Throb, which I always think I'll like more than I do, EXEC_PAJA is a song I always expect to like less than I do. Hymnos in general are very take-or-leave for me, but this is very much a take. Not too overwhelming with different sounds at once (a problem other hymnos have for me), the song is concentrated around a few core ideas: the lead vocals, the backing chanting, and the drumbeat. I honestly don't pay attention to the backing instruments, which I assume is by design. The whole experience is very unique. I always get sucked in when I listen to this.

I keep forgetting Classroom is still in. I don't know why but I always assume it got eliminated in round 1 or something. At any rate, I love the synths here. It feels like I'm in this whole other world when I listen to this, very immersive and otherworldly. There's the breakdown when it's all "nature sounds," going on a hike inside a computer, etc. I don't have a lot else to say except I consistently love listening to this and I'm always pleasantly surprised whenever I see it's still in the bracket!

Going against my rankings here.

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54. Trails in the Sky SC - The Merciless Savior
vs.
2. G-Darius - B.T. Dutch

What I had:
Isoleucine (wildcard) > Megalovania

The Merciless Savior has parts I like but it also has parts I really don't like. It's hard to judge the whole song because it's pretty long. Overall though, I come away feeling more unfulfilled than fulfilled. I probably like the beginning more than the rest, which means I inflate how much I like it. Like I really don't care about the ominous singing around 2:30, but the strings throughout are nice. Even though I probably voted for Merciless Savior against Megalovania (my opinion on the Smash version of Megalovania dropped dramatically over the course of two rounds), I'll still be sad if it wins here.

...especially since its opponent is one of my favorites! B.T. Dutch, man. Probably the weirdest song on the G-Darius soundtrack, with mechanical factory noises and a voice repeating "YOU" over and over again (someone on Youtube hypothesized the game is saying "screw you" because the factory noises are meant to simulate whirring) and then the song stops and reforms into this intense march-like rhythm that only lets up right before the loop, which then swirls around like some type of vortex before reforming calmly at the start of the loop. It's a trip! B.T. Dutch is one of my two remaining original noms and I've been so elated that got in first of all, then won a match, then won the whole wildcard. I didn't expect it to be more than a niche thing. I almost didn't even nominate it upon seeing how poorly it did in BOST. But I'm glad I did. And here we are. :)

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Votes:
EXEC_PAJA/.#Orica extracting.
B.T. Dutch