Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 17! LifeReturns/LittleWar, FishMaze/DanceBoys, FeelSunshine/Misogi

(+) Yeah! (+)

Me and My Little War
Let's Dance, Boys!
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Me and My Little War
Let's Dance, Boys!
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Me and My Little War
Lets Dance, Boys!
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Life Returns
Let's Dance, Boys!
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Life Returns is a nice mellow vocal song. It really leans into what I think are minor scale harmonies which is definitely a pyresword thing to do. Reminds me of some of the Nier vocal songs although I don't think this is quite as good as Nier songs (which could be said of most songs). Me and my Little War is a fun song that probably doesn't quite mix things up as much as the structure of the song asks for.

Mazes 31-35 is a bit like elevator music...which probably means the song isn't going to be a 10/10 but otherwise isn't really a bad thing. This one is definitely calming. Let's Dance is a mostly solid jazz track. I tend to like the melody parts more than some of the parts that are blaring out held notes. Think this is a song that I would have a lot more fun playing than I would listening to it.

This isn't my favorite Sonic R song, but basically every song on the soundtrack is fantastic. Really love the high energy vocals and it's just hard not to smile when listening to these songs. Misogi has some pieces of a song I like. Very good use of dynamics and some of the background chanting is good. Some of the rhythm game stuff I actually like also but it's still not especially consistent.

Can You Feel the Sunshine > Life Returns > Let's Dance Boys > Mazes 31-35 > Me and My Little War > Misogi

Life Returns
Mazes 31-35
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Life Returns
Let's Dance, Boys!
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Finally caught up, curse double wrestling shows. Anyways, Match 1 is very good, would be happy with any of the songs winning. Rest is cool.

Life Returns
Let's Dance, Boys!
Misogi (Extended Mix)

not really feeling it today! it happens

its catchup day amirite

life returns
lets dance
can you feel the sunshine

Elebits - Me and My Little War
Bayonetta - Let's Dance, Boys!
Sonic R - Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Me and My Little War
Mazes 31-35 /
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

I don't think I've ever heard the second half of Let's Dance, Boys before. I liked it better than the part that I was familiar with. Won't be terribly upset when it inevitably wins and then loses to Sunshine in round 2.

Me and My Little War
Mazes 31-35
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

its pretty crazy how close match one is for me

Life Returns: The dissonant chords with this one are so unique and cool. I can see the NieR comparisons that some people mentioned. Vocalist is great too. Very cool song.

Me and My Little War: I like some of the piano in this. And that's about it tbh. Idk, it doesn't interest me very much. Weak melody, and the instrumentation feels pretty standard. Maybe the drum fill at the end of the loop is kinda interesting? Regardless, it's not really a song for me.

Mazes 31-35: Nice piano. Definitely feels dated, but it's a pretty nice track. Not much else to say on this one.

Let's Dance, Boys!: Nice sax. Fun song with a lot of personality. The piano complements the sax pretty well as well. Good song.

Can You Feel the Sunshine?: Pretty easily the best song of the day. Super catchy melody, great vocalist, and very good production. The addition of the hand percussion after the 3 minute mark is very welcome as well. Great song.

Misogi (Extended Mix): Nhato is a very good EDM producer, and I like a lot of his stuff (check out the song Gekka by him), and this one's no exception. Very fun beat with solid production. My only issue is the mix emphasizes the high end frequencies a bit much. The drop at 3:36 is awesome. Unfortunate that this is the matchup, because I would've voted Misogi against any of the other four songs today.

Solid day.

Votes:
Life Returns
Let's Dance, Boys!
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Me and My Little War
Mazes 31-35
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

There's something about Life Returns that seems disjointed from the franchise it apparently comes from, this sounds straight out of Nier/Drakengard instead. This does go in an interesting direction with the strings and vocals, I might like this more in the future but as is it's a decent somber-toned song.

I like how bouncy the synths and piano in Me and My Little War sound, they give off that innocent, playful feel that I really enjoy hearing. I kinda wish the melody went in a crazier direction, but on the other hand I sort of respect the "restraint" it has on its instruments, it keeps things simple and enjoyable enough for me.

I wish the volume for Freddi Fish was better, but from what I can hear this is a good upbeat lounge song with a piano taking the lead for it; it's surprisingly good and it makes me want more from it!

I've always appreciated how confident and stylish Bayonetta battle themes had made themselves out to be. Let's Dance is no different, but it certainly doesn't hit as hard as the other well-known themes in the series for me. That sax is certainly carrying the song, I wish the other instruments were just as confident and loud-sounding like it.

Can You Feel the Sunshine is not my top favorite from Sonic R, but it's certainly my first time learning about the magnificent TJ Davis and the work she helped make. A song this happy and catchy gets a LOT of points in my book, everything here just works really good. And what is up with that crazy section around 3:15? Like, damn Richard Jacques!

When it comes to rhythm songs, I've noticed that it can be easy to fall into the trap of overusing the drums or adding some cool synth that ends up working against the flow of the song. Thankfully for Misogi, it only teeters the line for the drums but doesn't go past it; you're left with a song that's exciting and always moves forward with the melody, sounding intense enough to get you hooked in.

Me and My Little War
Let's Dance, Boys!
Can You Feel the Sunshine?

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance - Life Returns -5-
Sweet but unmemorable vocals

Elebits - Me and My Little War -6.5 -
A shiny sparkling magnificence that is hampered in the latter half.

Freddi Fish and Luther's Maze Madness - Mazes 31-35 - 4 -
Solid but very meh. Theres not much here that grabs my interest.

Bayonetta - Let's Dance, Boys! - 6.5 -
Some parts of this worked superbly and some kinda muddied through. It had electric energy though. Reminded me of Mad rat Dead too.

Sonic R - Can You Feel the Sunshine? - 8.5 -
The vocals never fail to cheer me up. I dont understand how this song is so happy and carefree.The ostinato vibrating music of 90s blasting in the background also contributes to a nostalgic rush. I do think it could be a lot shorter, it started to drag in the second half.

beatmania IIDX 29 CastHour - Misogi (Extended Mix) -8.3-
A reverberating soundscape that grabs ahold of you and refuses to let go. The tunes that blast out go so hard, a bit too hard. I really love the drums of beatmania songs but sometimes they can just be a bit overboard for my senses haha.