If videogame music isn't 'music,' then what is it?
Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka said something that may not go over well with game music fans:
I don't consider video game music, including Silent Hill music, as 'music.' I consider it more as 'sound' that complements the images, game, and story to create an entertaining experience. So even if I thought I created cool music, if I don't get excited or enjoy playing the game with the music and images combined, then I can't say, 'I created good music.'
One of GoNintendo's readers suggested that something may have been lost in translation. Normally I'd agree, but when I interviewed Yamaoka last year, I overheard him telling another interviewer something very similar. It may have something to do with the composer originally coming from an art background instead of a musical one.
If anything, I'd guess that he's referring more to his works than anything else. The fully orchestrated scores coming out of games today are definitely music, and can stand alone as a separate experience.
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
12:00 PM on 10.30.2009
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I've thought that as the soundtrack releases include more and more pop songs and fewer gloomy piano drones over post-industrial clattering we've seen a shift in how Akira wants to present himself. More as a songwriter and less as an uncredited member of Einsturzende Neubaten.
See what I did there?
Also, SHINY PANTS.
(Still love a lot of my soundtrack music - even if some of it doesn't necessarily stand on its own.)
So yeah... I am thinking he should rephrase that to say he doesn't consider his game scores to be music. I can think of plenty of games off of the top of my head that prove game music is great music on its own.
Final Fantasy
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross
Secret of Mana
inFamous
Uncharted 2
Lost Odyssey
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
Metal Gear 3
Bionic Commando Rearmed (hell, even the original has great music)
Castle Crashers
Street Fighter (mainly from the older games... not "Indestructible"...)
Dragon Age
Mass Effect
Anyway... you get my point. Maybe something did get lost in the translation. If not, that's a pretty bold statement.
I mean, I even paid $10 for Varia Suite, which is all "game music" and better than so much commercial shit out there.
I don't even buy commercial music anymore, so... that says something. It says he's wrong!
And mostly generic, just like in movies. That being said, Akira Yamaoka is one of my favorite musicians and I enjoy SH's music fine on its own.
To be fair I get where he's going but to not call it music is taking it a bit too far.
That's stupid. This comment doesn't make any sense, which tells me something may have been misinterpreted or left out.
No composer would be dumb enough to say that video game music isn't music.
Maybe he was just referring to the more ambient tracks that are present throughout a lot of Silent Hill? No one could look at ANY of the SH theme songs and claim that they aren't music.
I mean, just listen to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKPOGJvhAII
Star Wars Original Trilogy Soundtracks.
But yeah, there are some beautiful game soundtracks out there that I can listen too on their own, the one that springs to mind is Lost Odyssey...The RPG, the Thousand Years of Dreams (w/accompanying music) and the OST can all be seen seperately as brilliant pieces. They combine to create one of the only games that has been an Emotional Experience for me, rather than just a game.
But the music in it is just that...Music.
A lot of people here who listen to game soundtracks are not getting this because when they listen to the music, they are imagining the game scenes and already know the feeling attached to the song. If you heard his sounds, with out ever playing the game, you may get a sense of dread, but not be able to visualize what is occurring as in depth as if you played the game, hence by itself its failing to convey the full message, which he would consider music.
Eh...But I think some impact is lost with the visuals.
The music in Star Wars, Final Fantasy, etc are great examples of something that can stand alone, but the original intent and impact of the themes are lost by not having visuals.
For example, I've never played FFVII to completion and I don't enjoy the soundtrack. I wonder if I *would* enjoy the soundtrack if I had an established connection to the visuals, story, and the game.
I definitely understand where he's coming from as I have had the displeasure of helping to score a movie.
Anyone saying that their music collection consists mostly of videogame music as justification should rather be questioning why they're not listening to real musicians. From the hundreds of genres and sub genres around I refuse to believe there isn't something for someone wouldn't prefer over videogame music.
Its this attitude that probably makes a lot of developers not take the music in a game as seriously, and that's bullshit.
But to say it's "not music" is just goofy and wrongheaded. Of COURSE it's music. But like a film score, or ambient music in chill-out room, it all demands context to be fully appreciated.
I can't take anyone who dresses like that seriously.
If Silent Hill is to be considered a piece of art on its own, then the music is simply one of the layers of "paint" on the artwork. same as a single art piece could be charcoals and pastels.
So I guess it isn't music unless that is the only thing stimulating your senses. Music videos? Not music. Movie soundtracks? Not music either.
The way I see it, if someone intended to have a beat to a sound, it's music.
Wrong. Music videos - the video is then secondary to the original piece of music that WAS designed as a stand-alone piece. Film soundtracks - inbetween. Any music that is written to accompany another medium as it's purpose will not work as well as a piece written as a sole music piece.
I do love some VG music and occasion listen to it in it's own right, but when I do I remember the context it was already in. For the Metal Gear Three main theme (youtube it) it evokes how badass it was when the Shagohad shot up from the destroyed bridge for a final showdown, when I listen to Fog (Persona 4) it reminds me of facing off against the one who caused all the shit that happens in said game.
Looking at what Yamoka said, it makes perfect sense: videogame music is made to complent the primary medium, and at it's best it can be fantastic, but as a stand-alone product it does just not sum up to a real piece of music written to work by itself.
Videogame Soundtrack "can" be music, but it's not automatically music.
Close Topic.
(inb4 trolling claims and "HURR DURR Touhou SUX AND I WATCH FOX NEWS AND GO TO WAL-MART")
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/touhou-project-%E6%9D%B1%E6%96%B9project
And just look up Touhou music on youtube.
Here, I'll do it for you:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=touhou+ost&search_type=&aq=f
"So even if I thought I created cool music, if I don't get excited or enjoy playing the game with the music and images combined, then I can't say, 'I created good music.'"
he is saying that video game scores are more than just making good music. it has to fit the scene of the game and the mood of the game. so he is not creating stand alone music, but instead an element of a greater work of art. i would think most of you would agree with that sentiment...