Music Monday – Video Game Tracks for Relaxation
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything
Plato
When you hear the theme to an iconic video game franchise (for example, The Legend of Zelda series), you’re instantly transported back to the time when you played through the story and its characters.
Music in video games (and films as well) help add color and depth to their stories. It’s especially important to have music if the characters can’t or don’t speak for much of the game, if at all. This helps the player or viewer empathize with what is happening on the screen, or help build suspense – there is more meaning involved between the player and the game being played.
When I was in college, one of the things that I enjoyed doing while studying in the library was to listen to music. I listened to all kinds, from classic rock, to orchestral, to film scores. I even listened to video game music – I found that listening to the music from the Animal Crossing series actually made my study time much more enjoyable than it might have been otherwise. Animal Crossing as a series is already meant to be laidback and relaxing; the music only helps to emphasize this.
Video game music, on the other hand, can help bring up other emotions as well: Sadness, joy, anger, excitement, a sense of adventure…
Whatever your thoughts on it in general, there is no doubt in my mind: Music is powerful.
God understands this fact more than anyone else; why else would the Bible encourage us to sing and praise in the name of the Lord?
Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:19
I adore music and love sharing my favorite songs and selections with others. I know others feel the same way; there are video game concerts that are being performed all over the world, and are only growing in popularity. Cover artists perform their own original takes on old favorites, and often add new twists to them.
What I want to do here, from time to time, is share a few selections that you find you may enjoy during times of relaxation, reflection, nostalgia, or even discovery. You may even find that you want to try the game that the music is from, because you’re curious to see more of it and try it for yourself.
For this post today, I have three tracks that have helped me relax and wind down for the day; I feel that they can do the same for you. I’ll explain below where the track is originally from, and why I chose it for this selection.
With that being said, here is pick number one:
1. Painting Flowers – Eastshade (2019)
I wrote an article offering my first impressions while playing Eastshade earlier this year, but one thing that I can’t emphasize enough is just how lovely the music is, which helps add another dimension to the colorful atmosphere that Eastshade already has to offer. Painting Flowers, in particular, left an impact on me; it relaxes me each time I hear it, warming my heart and fills my imagination with childlike wonder and tranquility.
This is an excellent track to listen to while walking out in nature, or even when reading a book.
2. Lazy Afternoons – Kingdom Hearts II (2005)
The above selection is the remix from the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 remix that came out a few years ago, but any version of Lazy Afternoons will have a special place in my heart. When I played Kingdom Hearts II for the first time, I fell in love with Twilight Town, and loved playing as Roxas, living out his days playing with his friends in the winding days of his summer vacation. Of course, so much more happens as you play Roxas’ story to completion, which leads into the main plot of the game, and Sora then takes the reins.
Unlike most other people, I adored Roxas’ tutorial and exploring Twilight Town, and a big reason of that was because of this gentle song playing in the background. As you see the bright golden hues that paint the town you explore, listening to this track can’t help but relax you, as if you yourself were on summer vacation.
It’s even more poignant now, with summer long gone and many of us now experiencing the beginnings of winter. This will be a song I’ll come back to now and then to help warm me up during this time.
3. Dire, Dire Docks – Super Mario 64 (1996)
There’s just something…special about Super Mario 64. It has a special place in my heart, I think, because it was one of the first console games I ever had the pleasure of getting my hands on. I loved playing as Mario, and exploring different areas and getting to do different things, such as swimming underwater and jumping over different platforms, all in order to get that next star.
Dire, Dire Docks is gentle in its tone, but also has this subtle sense of excitement, as if the music is running side by side with you on this journey. It captures the underwater aspect that the stage is set in, as well. Many people enjoy listening to the sounds of water drip naturally, such as from a waterfall or river; when an artist is able to replicate that in their music or art, they are also able to help bring soothing elements to the receiver.
This is just the first of what I hope will be many posts sharing some of my favorite video game music with you, and why you ought to give these pieces a try. These three tracks have especially been very helpful in letting me relaxing and unwind my mind.
What are some pieces of music (does not have to be video game related) that have helped you relax from a stressful time? Please share – I would love to know!
