After several long, dark and cold
months, Summer is finally here. The time of camping, hiking, boating
and late night campfires has final returned and I couldn't be
happier. One of my favourite memories when I was a child was going up
to the family cabin where my parents, brother and I would swim in the
lake, go fishing and sit by the fire and relax. To me that is what
summer is.
So today, I will be doing a top 10
songs for summer. This is music that has get ready for the season and
helps invokes those days of relaxing in the yard with a cold drink in
one hand, and a book in the other hand.
10: Yoshi Island: Title Screen ~ Koji
Kondo
Specifically for this list is the World
6 variant. The Title Theme to the original Yoshi''s Island. Whereas
the original version of song had only the sound of crashing waves,
this track has a more tropical island feel. The usage of woodwinds
and steel drums makes this song perfect for exploring a tropical
island.
How that makes this a summer song is
that it invokes the feeling of exploration. While songs like David
Wise's In A Snow-Bound Land is more suited for those cold winter
days, songs like this are for those days where you can imagine
yourself jetted away to a uninhabitable island in the tropics, and
explore the strange new land.
9: Legend of Zelda; A Link to the Past:
Kakariko Village ~ Koji Kondo
This track makes an appearance because
it is more like summer in a small town. The music makes one feel
relaxed refreshed and safe. You don't need to care what is going on
outside your town borders.
When I listen to this song, I think
back to my own childhood and reflect on how simple life was back
then. During the summer months, all I had to worry about was making
sure my brother and I had our chores done before we could play
Nintendo. A far more simpler time.
8: Chrono Trigger: Memories of Green ~
Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Matsuda
A common theme on this list is the
feeling of walking in a field on a warm day. Memories of Green evokes
those feelings as well as the feelings of loneliness. In a way that's
not entirely a bad thing. Being around friends is a wonderful thing,
but there are times where you simply wish to be alone to bask in the
glory of nature.
Memories of Green allows you to slip
into a near meditative state and simply relax. This is a great tune
for people to simply get lost in when they need time to be alone.
7: Ukelele de Chocobo ~ Nobuo Uematsu
Instant tropical paradise, just add a
Ukelele. This track, like many others on the list, evokes the feeling
of being at a tropical resort. I enjoy these songs because it has me
visualize standing on the beach of some resort overlooking the ocean.
Being from a landlocked province with my only access to water is the
local lake, I am envious to those who live on the coast and is able
visit the ocean anytime.
Like the other tropical songs on this
list, this track mentally sends me to some island paradise to embrace
the sun kissed water and beach. It's great to listen to when you are
relaxing by the pool while lying in the sun.
6: Xenoblade Chronicles: Guar Plains ~
ACE+
Guar Plains is the more dynamic cousin
to Chrono Trigger's Memories of Green. While the latter song is more
for getting lost in your thoughts while hiking, the latter is more
suited for going on adventure and turning your back yard into your
own world to explore.
When my brother and I were younger,
we'd have our own pretend adventures
5: Final Fantasy VII: Costa Del Sol ~
Nobuo Uematsu
When I first played Final Fantasy VII,
I was taken back by the gloomy graphics. The world was so drab and
lifeless. Some people had lost the will to live, only to eke out a
pitiful survival, while others became powerful ganglords who ruled
the slums.
But the entire world was not dirty.
Costa Del Sol was one such a place. A land of sun kissed beaches, eye
candy for both genders. A perfect place that even scientists who
commit atrocities can find comfort.
Costa Del Sol's track is one of those
of complete beach side relaxation.
4: Super Mario Kart: Koopa Troopa Beach
~ Soyo Oka and Taro Bando
Another track with a tropical feeling,
this one is more suited for walking along the streets of some small
town taking in the local colour and see how life differs from your
own. Unlike the other tropical themes on this list, this one is not
as relaxing as the others. This has more energy to the song, more
suited for exploring the small towns, surfing the waves or even
skateboarding through the crowds.
Koopa Troopa Beach is defiantly more
suited to those who are looking for more excitement on their holiday,
and not wanting to sit around at the beach.
3: Sonic the Hedgehog: Green Hill Zone
~ Masato Nakamura
Growing up I was in the Nintendo camp
during the original console wars. While I was crushing Bowser's foes
who stood in my way to save Princess Peach, my friends with the Sega
were busy ripping through the levels as a blue hedgehog.
Green Hill Zone is the track you listen
to when you want to sprint through the fields. This is the song for
kids to listen to once school is out for the summer. They are now
free from educational obligations
2: The Image of Cool: Crusin~
nickelPUNK feat. Ryn
I touched on Crusin last Friday so I
will keep it brief.
This song is the very essence of the
summer roadtrip. Be it a trip across the country, or heading to the
lake for the weekend, the roadtrip is a summer classic.
As cliche as it is, one thing I loved
about going to the family cabin was the trip itself. While the trip
itself was mostly uneventful, there was usually one or two events
that would be the highlight of the actual drive itself. It's those
memories that make me smile and reflect on the family vacations.
1: Super Mario Sunshine Track ~ Koji
Kondo
I am not a fan of Super Mario Sunshine.
While I enjoyed the new location, the cut-scenes and the gameplay
mechanics, there were somethings that irked me such as the level
design and the repetitive missions. I know that Super Mario 64 itself
had a fair share of repeat missions, but given that it was Nintendo's
first foray into 3D (Mario RPG doesn't count), I am willing to cut it
some slack. The same cannot be said about Super Mario Sunshine, but
that is for another day.
What I do appreciate about the game is
the soundtrack. Koji Kondo and his team did a fantastic job emulating
the sounds expected of a tropical paradise. The usage of Ukelele's as
well as Steel Drums truly add to the atmosphere of the game.
When I listen to the sound track, I
do feel I am walking along the beach of some tropical destination.
The soundtrack had me wish I was on Isle Delfino, sitting back on the
beach, soaking up the suns rays.
Summer is a season of outdoor fun, be it swimming, hiking, or camping, summer is the season of fun.
This is Daimo Mac and I am lost in the
music.
As a side note, I would like to apologize for being tardy on today's update.
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