Song of the Week - WEEK 280 Voting/WEEK 281 Nominating
 

Song of the Week. 250 Weeks and counting.
Week 280 Voting was 1992.
Week 281 Nominating is open.

THEME WEEK: 1992 Week
This week was originally planned to feature any music written before 1995, but due to coincidences and widespread embracement of silliness, it is now devoted to music from games and albums released in 1992.

Results:
1). [22] Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
2-t). [11/7] Devilish: The Next Possession (Game Rip) - Stage 2 - Clock Tower
2-t). [11/7] Pu.Li.Ru.La - BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused)
4). [10] Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Game Rip) - Space Walk - Stage 2-A
5). [9] Wolfchild (Amiga Game Rip) - Title
6). [5] G.I. Joe (Arcade Game Rip) - In The Jungle (Stage 4)
7). [4] The Island of Dr. Brain (Game Rip) - Map

Tracks:
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Devilish: The Next Possession (Game Rip) - Stage 2 - Clock Tower
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: G.I. Joe (Arcade Game Rip) - In The Jungle (Stage 4)
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Game Rip) - Space Walk - Stage 2-A
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Pu.Li.Ru.La - BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused)
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: The Island of Dr. Brain (Game Rip) - Map
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Wolfchild (Amiga Game Rip) - Title

Track Notes:
The Island of Dr. Brain (Game Rip) - Map was originally encoded in Ogg Vorbis and has been transcoded to MP3 for compatibility with the Flash player. If this makes you scream in agony, the original file has been uploaded to the extras directory.


Voting Rules:
Voters must distribute 6 points among the 7 nominees, giving points to at least 3 songs, giving no song more than 3 points, and giving no more than one of their choices 3 points. Possible ways of voting include:

Notes:
Please remember to upload your nominations to the SotW server! Uploaded noms mean a faster, smoother SotW experience for everyone. Server information:

Nominating:
The Nominations Queue can be found here.
The rules for nominating can be found here.

Nomination #98

Composer: Yuzo Koshiro
Arranger: Noriyuki Kamikura
Album: Sekaiju no MeiQ? *denshou no kyoshin* Super Arrange Version
Track Title: Labyrinth III - Grotto of the Adamantine Beast
Track Number: 7
Year: 2012
Catalog Number: FVCG-1209
Additional Information: Random Basiscape mission status: complete

FTP III: Grotto of the Lonely Beast

3 points: Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
2 points: Wolfchild (Amiga Game Rip) - Title
1 point: The Island of Dr. Brain (Game Rip) - Map

Pretty nice week overall, there wasn't a single track I disliked. I'm also pretty impressed with the overall production quality, considering it's 1992.

Things were easier in 1992.

(3 points) Wolfchild (Amiga Game Rip) - Title: Amiga by way of David Wise. Like a long-lost Donkey Kong Country track. I dig it.

(2 points) Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast: Don't know what to call this style, but I've been a fan of tracks like this before, this holds up just as well.

(1 point) Pu.Li.Ru.La - BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused) - A little fleeting, and it feels like every RPG airship track that came before and after it, but that doesn't mean it's not good. Cause it is.

Quite a nice week actually.
3 Points - Chromatic Beast: yer, that be very chromatic track
2 Points - Wolfchild: quit' absorbin' parts
1 Point - Stage 2 (Clock Tower): dunno, that be like earlier smarties get' stomached

3 points - Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
2 points - Pu.Li.Ru.La - BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused)
1 point - The Island of Dr. Brain (Game Rip) - Map

Personally, I don't think BGM 7 shoulda been unused. And The Island of Dr. Brain got better after a second listen.

The quality on some of these tracks is amazing. Makes me want to return to 1992, even if it's for a bit.

(2 points) Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
Why is this so good?! The beat plays a huge part in the tune's appeal, as with its spacey, Phantasy Star Online vibes.

(2 points) Pu.Li.Ru.La - BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused)
It doesn't exactly tread new ground here but it has lots of traditional aerial theme goodness.

(2 points) Devilish - The Next Possession (Game Rip) - Stage 2 - Clock Tower
Pretty traditional as well, as far as dungeon-like tracks go. But it's oh so good.

I feel terrible for not giving Lightning Force and Wolfchild points.

2 points: In The Jungle (Stage 4)
2 points: BGM 7, On sky and Cloud
1 point: Chromatic Beast
1 point: Space Walk - Stage 2-A
Just Missed: Stage 2 - Clock Tower, Title, Map

1992 was a good year :). Clear point spread for me, though I enjoyed every track. This unused Pu.Li.Ru.La track in particular is pretty amazing.

Whoa I thought my nomination would get a placing for sure this week, but I don't think it will. The competition is just too good. I wish I had been exposed to these tunes as a 1 year old; it would have made me grow up to become the coolest kid ever with the best taste in music.

2 points: Devilish: The Next Possession (Game Rip) - Stage 2 - Clock Tower
2 points: Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Game Rip) - Space Walk - Stage 2-A
1 point: Pu.Li.Ru.La - BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused)
1 point: The Island of Dr. Brain (Game Rip) - Map

Still unhappy with the point spread. Apologies to the four tracks I couldn't give points to.

2 points: Devilish: The Next Possession (Game Rip) - Stage 2 - Clock Tower
2 points: Wolfchild (Amiga Game Rip) - Title
1 point: G.I. Joe (Arcade Game Rip) - In The Jungle (Stage 4)
1 point: Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Game Rip) - Space Walk - Stage 2-A
Just missed: Map


Nomination:

• Album: Blaster Master Boy (Game Rip)
• Artist: Shinichi Seya
• Track #: 2
• Track Title: Stage Theme
• Year: 1991
• Source: Blaster Master Boy (1991) Game Boy credits - MobyGames

2 Points - Devilish: The Next Possession (Game Rip) - Stage 2 - Clock Tower
1 Point - Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
1 Point - G.I. Joe (Arcade Game Rip) - In The Jungle (Stage 4)
1 Point - Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Game Rip) - Space Walk - Stage 2-A
1 Point - The Island of Dr. Brain (Game Rip) - Map

This was rather difficult to decide upon

Okay this week is ridiculously good like most people have said. I thought I'd be giving Map and Wolfchild Title points (I was incorrect)! Also I think oddly this is the week where I know the most tracks from it beforehand that I can think of. Unused BGM7 and In the Jungle are the only ones I didn't know of from before.

3 Points: Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Game Rip) - Space Walk - Stage 2-A
2 Points: Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
1 Point: Devilish: The Next Possession (Game Rip) - Stage 2 - Clock Tower
Just Missed: Map, On Sky and Cloud (Unused)

Space Walk - - - - To quote myself responding to someone who was asking for "what time signature is Space Walk in?" . . . . "1 bar of 2/4, 3 bars of 7/8, 1 bar of 3/4, 3 bars of 7/8, 1 bar of 6/8, 3 bars of 7/8, 1 bar of 3/4, 3 bars of 7/8, 4 bars of 2/4, 3 bars of 7/8, 1 bar of 3/4, 3 bars of 7/8, 1 bar of 6/8, 3 bars of 7/8, 1 bar of 3/4, 3 bars of 7/8, 4 bars of 2/4, 10 bars of 4/4 (loop) you could probably interpret some of the bars differently, but yeah! Amazing chiptune." - Jolteon, 2011. Of course as with almost any odd time track you could interpret it many different ways but that's how I usually think of it. I differentiated between 3/4 and 6/8 based on whether it was grouped 3+3 or 2+2+2. ANYWAYS this whole soundtrack is one of the most impressive Sega Genesis soundtracks in so many different ways in my opinion in terms of how the chips are used, I just like this track in particular the most in terms of the composition!!!! Those chords don't take up 4 FM channels because they have 4 notes in them, they take up 4 channels because the two channels being used to voice the 4 voice chord are duplicated in two other channels being used to at a very slight stereo delay effect to make it all sound way fuller and more spatial. Also the PSG channels are just going crazy with that constant 16th note arp thing to solidify the chords and a nice echo to make it sound pretty~ except for when it has the melody and it also sounds pretty then too!!!! ALSO FM SYNTH SLAP BASS YAY. Oh and all of the percussion here is FM instead of PCM, which is kind of worth noting I GUESS. . . Uh also it's worth noting that this song is one of 5 or so songs that I think of as being definitive of my musical preferences, it has SO MUCH in it that defines what I like in music overall all at the same time (Being an FM Synth chiptune, Odd Time Signatures, Fusion chords transposed everywhere, Delay echo/spatial/panning focus, etc).

Chromatic Beast is I love Hayato Matsuo!! Yay!!!! It's not his proggiest thing but it's probably his most pretty sounding thing melodically to be as weird tonalitiy-wise as it is if that makes any sense. I LOVE Delay Echo Trumpets in minor, they remind me of "Elevator Action Returns - Blow Up" by Yasuhisa Watanabe! So early this summer while on vacation one day, I had Chromatic Beast in my head, but I didn't know what it was. I checked frantically to see what track it was and after 2 hours of listening to random music from my collection of music that I had on my portable music playing device I FINALLY FOUND "Chromatic Beast" that I was surprised to see was by Hayato Matsuo (since I basically just had that trumpet melody stuck in my head), but it made so much sense once I heard it, since it is just yeah an awesome example of Hayato Matsuo. "Hayato Matsuo being prog/fusion/funk" is probably my favorite video game music composer besides Motoaki Takenouchi (unless you count Shnabubula but he's not really a commercial one (yet (not that that makes him any less((())))) and the stuff I like the most by him so far isn't actually for games anyways), too bad Matsuo doesn't do this kind of stuff much anymore.

Clock Tower has such an awesome melody. I love at :45 when this gets filled with melodic lines going down the circle of fourths and working around a weird tense changing tonal center in an awesomely beautiful sounding way, it feels very significant when it finally releases that tension at :57. Also um yeah this is like an extremely beautiful use of the soundchips of the Genesis, clever use of delay echoes, panning and detuning, thoroughly working to make the most use of all of the channels so that it sounds super NICE. The work pays so much attention to detail here that at times it manages to sound like it's not even a chiptune! It spatially sounds so smooth even though the panning values are hard L/R, and stuff. The PSG stuff is even used very smoothly and adds so much effect. It's just WOW. WOW. (I like it a lot)

BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused) is one of the few here that I'm new to. I quite like it! That FM harmonica sound is so EIGHTIES and everything about the chords/arps here just make this sound like you're on the Sky and Cloud (Unused). Really UPLIFTING melodically and stuff.

Map is very shiny (no, I don't know what that means). I like the syncopation and very basic "old DOS game" FM synths used here. It's also pretty ominous and pirate-y a bit at the same time without feeling cheesy like a lot of pirate-y stuff winds up being in my opinion (though I like cheese too), which is kind of neat I think!

Title has significance to me since I used to be a huge fan of the Genesis version of this soundtrack (which is quite different, and I more liked it because of the stuff done by Matt Furniss, but WHAT ever) and I kinda got a bit into Martin Iveson's other similar older stuff because of it. So much Amiga music trope fun here! I really like the tropes that come along with Amiga tracker music for some reason, they tend to make me like even the most mundane stuff, though I wouldn't consider this mundane at all, just stereotypically "epic 80s GYM TRAINING MONTAGE music" which I almost always love a lot!

In The Jungle (Stage 4) is one that I find hard to talk about for some reason...but I do like it! The other two of the new ones to me here. It's super 80s sounding and I love those synth stabs, as well as all the hard stereo panning. It's so ENERGETIC and cool and stuff yeah.

It's funny how much I mention things sounding "80s" here even though this is 1992 week, but that's obviously because all this stuff is influenced by 80s stuff given the PROXIMITY, decade trends blur together no matter how much people like to separate what they're associated with into evenly split categories.!!!! ! ! 1

If it wasn't obvious I love everything today. The stuff that I gave points, I gave points on account of literally being some of my favorite music that exists, not because I didn't like the stuff I didn't give points to. I feel kind of bad that I didn't wind up giving points to the ones I was newly introduced to (I almost did but it would be kinda imperfect honesty to myself in how much I actually like the music), because I feel bad for voting for stuff I already have as quite high favorites in an activity that's supposed to be ABOUT finding new music. Seriously amazing selection this week!!!!




NOMINATION:

Composer: Vince DiCola Jake Kaufman
Album: n/a (though appeared on "Choice Nuggets")
Track Title: GYM TRAINING MONTAGE
Track Number: 10
Year: 2008
Source: Gym Training Montage ‹ Big Lion Music and GYM TRAINING MONTAGE | Jake Kaufman

2 points: Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
2 points: Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Game Rip) - Space Walk - Stage 2-A
1 point: G.I. Joe (Arcade Game Rip) - In The Jungle (Stage 4)
1 point: Pu.Li.Ru.La - BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused)
closest: Stage 2 - Clock Tower

SPACE WALK IS THE BEST THUNDER FORCE actually I was saying this three and a half years ago so thanks for being awesome Jolteon keep being awesome

I hadn't heard the arcade G.I. Joe soundtrack before this week, but this tune made me look up the rest and man, sure is Konami arcade music up in here. Darkcomet72 can you just keep nominating Konami arcade music for a while, I need more FM orchestra hits in my life.

<3333 karu.

I'm not giving the Dr. Brain tune any points, but I almost did solely on the basis of how I never knew it went on for more than 15 seconds until now. Wow this melody is still going.

I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of Amiga songs waiting a minute or two and then busting out the BIG TIME AMIGA MELODY like happens at 1:28 in the Wolfchild tune.

We've got five noms in the queue, so anyone who isn't absolutely dying to hear more Manikyua-Dan may want to nominate something that isn't a comedy song with atrocious singing.

I think the next song is going to be Nobuyoshi Sano bragging about the totally decked out computer he put together while Hiroto Sasaki yells out some stuff in falsetto in the background.

Time for some last minute nomination here ------

Game: Spelunky (HD remake)
Artist: Eirik Suhrke
Track: Jungle B
Track Number: 4 of 62
Year: 2012
Notes: I looped the song for longer listening purposes
Source: +14 | Spelunky - VGMdb

NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE:

Album: inFAMOUS: Official Soundtrack
Composers: Jim Dooley, Amon Tobin
Track: Genesis
Track #: 18
Catalog #: SE-2069-2
Year: 2009
Source: SE-2069-2 | inFAMOUS: Official Soundtrack - VGMdb
Additional Info: Recommended volume - as loud as possible

Uploading to the FTP.

Oh whoops, it turns out that 280 is evenly divisible by 8, so it's a battle next time anyway. But thanks!

1). [22] Be filled with feeling - Chromatic Beast
2-t). [11/7] Devilish: The Next Possession (Game Rip) - Stage 2 - Clock Tower
2-t). [11/7] Pu.Li.Ru.La - BGM 7, On Sky and Cloud (Unused)
4). [10] Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Game Rip) - Space Walk - Stage 2-A
5). [9] Wolfchild (Amiga Game Rip) - Title
6). [5] G.I. Joe (Arcade Game Rip) - In The Jungle (Stage 4)
7). [4] The Island of Dr. Brain (Game Rip) - Map

Second and third place tied, but since the site needs to be told which one of them to display first, I've let our completely neutral arbiter ChocoDecide pick which gets "second place":