Xbox Focus - Clarity Awaits You

YouTube's Best Video Game Music

by Steve Wysowski April 3rd 2008 8:58 PM EDT5 Comments

There are a lot of great videos one can find on YouTube, but video game music thrives there. I love listening to all kinds of video game music, and as I sat on my ass all of today, drinking beer and viewing numerous gaming clips, I decided to post up a top ten based around my favorite bits of video game music one can find on the internet. These vids can be anything as long as it blends music of some knd (whether original or not) with the wonderful world of video games. I mixed things up a bit, and while you may not agree with my order, I hope you enjoy the great selection of gaming music I have laid before you. Enjoy.

---

I couldn't resist. Even though this 1990s gaming ballad never released alongside a true Sonic title, Sonic Boom takes the cake when you compare the numerous Sonic jams. From the epic keyboards to the rockin' background singers, you'll be humming Boom's lyrics for days to come.

Great humor + a very catchy tunes = the best lyrical song to come out of music from a video game.
To this day, Gears of War is my favorite Xbox 360 game, and while the game's soundtrack was decent at best, Gears did have one hell of a trailer that accompanied its release. This video is an extended version of that clip, featuring the eerily depressing "Mad World" song that definitely will leave you feeling down for a few hours after viewing it.
After that last video you're probably feeling kind of depressed, and what a better way to cheer you up than Mario! The main Mario theme is the most well known piece of video game music in the world, and it has been remixed and fine-tuned numerous times. This, however, is my favorite rendition of that classic theme, featuring an odd (yet perfect) mix of beatboxing and flute playing. When you think Mario music, you think about great, yet quirky, little numbers like the last video. You don't think of mind-blowing string ensembles like this one. The Gusty Gardens track from Galaxy was a huge suprise to come out of the Mario franchise, and just makes you feel good to be alive in this wonderful, wonderful universe. There have been alot of great Zelda medleys to come from the internet. From string quartets to fully-blown orchestras, the limits are endless in the terms of what you can do with the seemingly infinite number of Zelda melodies. This medley is straight from Hawaii, and mixes nearly every Zelda song to be with some Polynesian flavor.
Many people are going to get mad at me for putting this video only at number four. Try to forget the fact that I have put three other videos above it, for this Medal Gear Solid ensemble is the best orchestrated piece of video game music on the internet.
They rocked E3 2007, and now their rocking YouTube. Corporeal's version of the Halo 3 theme is my favorite, and has the most kick-ass electric viloin of all-time.

There are very few ways to describe this incredible piece of piano artistry so I'm going to put it as simple as I can: if you love music, you have to watch this video. Not only is this the best piece of piano playing you'll see based on a video game, but I personally believe this may be some of the best piano on all of the internet. Absolutely wonderful. Zelda's Lullaby is the quintessential song in video gaming. No other song captured me as Zelda's Lullaby did when I first heard it, and the song has been taking me away to this day. Everytime I cross by the lullaby, it breaks me down with its beauty. This piano version is a simplified version of the melody, but it manipulates all of the song's harmonies, pauses, and breaks perfectly. While it may not be as technically perfected as the Kingdom Hearts medley from earlier, this is gaming's best song done impeccably. Beautiful.

• Send to Friend
• Digg
• Newsvine
• Del.icio.us
• Read Full Story