Hello everybody, Thunderbird here again for another installment of my Top 100 Video Game Songs! I've tried to write as much as I can about each game, but sometimes the music will speak for itself. If you missed entries 100-96, it's here: http://screwattack.com/node/27612 If you missed entries 95-91, it's here: http://screwattack.com/node/27851 If you missed entries 90-86, it's here: http://screwattack.com/node/28198 If you missed entries 86-81, it's here: http://screwattack.com/node/28450 So without any further rambling, let's get into it. 80). Rainbow Road – Mario Kart 64 The best Rainbow Road in existence, from the best Mario Kart game ever also has the best Rainbow Road music. This song is very unique, and it works very well and the product is a very good and memorable song. I still don’t really know what instrument makes the melody. Is it supposed to be a pan-flute? I’m not quite sure, but whatever it is, it works great. The soaring melody works great against the beat, which is reminiscent of the disco beats from the 70’s. Then a what sounds like some sort of saxophone comes in and plays the melody, which gives the song a whole new dimension. One thing that I love about this song is that it’s only in one place in the game. Amidst all the greatness of Mario Kart 64, there is one main problem, and that is the recycling of music for multiple tracks. However, the rainbow road theme is so unique that it only works on that course. This theme is so perfect for what it accomplishes that it had to find a way onto this list, just because of all the epic battles it’s served as a soundtrack for. 79). Himalayas Theme – Duck Tales What can I really say about this song? It seems to be a common theme around the music from Duck Tales on the NES on this list that I never have anything to say about it. Well that’s a combination of simple music and lack of game experience. Sorry, but all you readers will just have to live with it, I’m trying my best. Anyway, back to the Himalayas music, just like most of the Duck Tales music, it’s very 8-bit, very cheerful, and just way too catchy for its own good. After a quick intro, the song is into its main melody, and once you hear it, you’ll probably be whistling it at one point in the next few days. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else really to say about this song, although I wish for a level that takes place in the snowy mountains, I would have liked to hear music a little less cheery, maybe something that fit the mood a bit more. But this is still a really great theme. 7. Mario vs. The Smorgs – Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door Holy crap this song is strange! Quite possibly the most horrifying, frantic, and straight up confusing song at this point on the list, Mario vs. The Smorgs is a song with what I imagine would have a very mixed reception; either you love it, or you hate it. From the very second it starts, I was wondering what exactly was going on, and it feels like a rapid descent into insanity (somebody correct me if I’ve used that analogy before). After the crazy intro, the dark, ominous melody and beats come in, the tempo picks up and slows down at different parts, and the song becomes more of an experience than anything else. It’s strange, some people would probably have this in their top 10 video game songs ever, and some people wouldn’t classify this as music, it’s that strange. But there’s two kinds of strange, the kind one dreads, and the kind one enjoys and accepts, eventually descenting into the same mindset as the song. And with Mario vs. The Smorgs, it’s a descent worth taking. 77). Summer Theme – Harvest Moon 64 Yet another song from the game that defined my childhood, Harvest Moon 64, comes up on my list. I’ve talked before about how great the Harvest Moon songs are at immersing you into the surroundings, and that trend continues with the Summer Theme. I actually think it’s impossible for me to hear this song and not thing about the glorious summer, and everything I associate it with; travel, friends, stories, corn, swimming, summer parties, and everything else. This song, as does almost everything about Harvest Moon, brings back such good memories to me, and I love the song for that. But going into the technical stuff in the song, one thing I love is the beat. Listen to how the main snare sound is on beats 2 & 4 instead of 1 & 3? That makes the song more energetic and drives it along, and it works perfectly for this song. The use of what sounds like a harmonica is also a great choice for the melody, as it just increases that summer nostalgia feeling that I get when I hear this song. When you take the song, the summer, and the nostalgia and roll it up into one big package, you get the 77 spot on my list. 76). Yoshi Valley/Moo Moo Farm – Mario Kart 64 Ah yes, the upbeat, docile sounds of Yoshi Valley and Moo Moo Farm, which both use the same musical track, from Mario Kart 64. How could anyone even pick better instruments for this, I mean, both fiddle and banjo? How can you beat that? It’s a hard thing to do, and that’s why this song is on my list. Not only is it creative with its wacky instrument choice and melody, but it’s also energetic enough to provide as a great soundtrack to furious racing action. Can’t you just see it now while listening to this music? The powersliding, shells flying, banana peels, mushrooms, annoying catchphrases from people like Toad and Yoshi? I know I can! The frantic beat of this song is only matched by the frantic racing of Mario Kart 64, and when put together, it’s a great match. There isn’t a whole lot more to say, but I can’t imagine many more other songs I’d rather race to.