LogFAQs > #980650032

Arcaea - Lost in the Abyss
Arknights - Morning Dew
Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception - Nuedori

MATCH 1

Lost in the Abyss is super cool! I like all the interlaying of different instruments and sounds throughout the song. That plus the vocals make this a very engaging song.

Black tar is a really fun song to listen to as well. The electric guitar melody from the first half is really cool. The rapping parts aren't all that great though. I think the lyrics at 3:45 are pretty amusing and iconic though. And speaking of the second half, there's some cool synth stuff going on with the vocals, albeit with a few weaker parts here and there.

This is a clear Lost in the Abyss pick, but I really like both songs so it's unfortunate that they had to be matched up round 1.

MATCH 2

Morning Dew was among my favorite song discoveries this year! This quickly rose up in my mind from a song I felt like I enjoyed to something I really enjoyed and wanted to support if at all possible. And at the favorites bracket stage, it shot up to my finalist, losing only to my champion, Before I Rise (the round 2 match versus Nuedori in my favorites bracket was absolutely ridiculous though, it took me like an hour to decide that and I'd make either of them finalists in this bracket). This song's just really heartfelt in a way that hits me just right. I'm always a fan of emotional songs like this. Specifically, songs that make me feel a certain kind of emotion. And I definitely feel the emotion here! It's a bittersweet, longing one. Like trying to keep a brave face when deep inside, you're having a breakdown and struggling to keep it together. The vocals combined with the soft rock drums, acoustic guitar, and piano make for a great feel. And there's also the kind of vocal harmonizing that I really like! Particularly at 0:10 but especially at 0:25 when it goes up a third. It's less the interval though and more the contrast between the harmonizing and the melody, I think? If I had to explain it, the first bit of harmonizing has singing in the same sort of chord tones that the note implies, but the second one doesn't feel the same way. It's like they imply two different chords in the scale almost? Or just one big extended chord, which that's something I like, so maybe that makes sense. Honestly, I'm just kinda spitballing here because I don't know enough music theory to explain, or even identify sometimes, the things I feel in my head. The oh's at parts like 1:03 are also a notable highlight of the song.

Paratroopa1 posted...

I wanted to really like Morning Dew, but it's a little bit too early-Taylor Swift country rock for me.

This is funny because I actually love early Taylor Swift haha. Speak Now and Fearless have all of my favorite Taylor Swift songs, Mine being my favorite of them all, but also Back to December, Love Story, and You Belong With Me. So maybe this shines more of a light on why I love Morning Dew so much lol.

I've said before that I don't really care for operatic vocals very much, and that's no exception with Morning Light Hymnus, unfortunately. I like it a lot more when the vocals aren't present, for instance at the very beginning with the choir and orchestra. That's definitely more my thing. Kind of funny though that I love choirs but I'm averse to opera. The middle part's kind of meh too.

MATCH 3

Vector to the Heavens is nice with the piano and strings. I also like Dearly Beloved, so the motif there is certainly appreciated. This is a really strong day of songs though, and unfortunately, Vector to the Heavens, while I'd happily take it in other matches, doesn't really stand a chance against its opponent here.

Nuedori is still a great song! I think it was in the contest once before a couple years ago? So I probably don't have anything new to add compared to last time. Suara vocals are great and the arrangement is neat as well. Not my favorite Utawarerumono vocal song, but it's still easily one of the best songs in Bracket B.

Morning Dew > Nuedori > Lost in the Abyss > Black tar > Vector to the Heavens > Morning Light Hymnus