EPTA little background; I've played piano for over 13 years and have had a really well-trained ear since I was little. I used to (and still do every so often) sequence MIDI files of popular video game songs to upload to vgmusic.com and I check out OCRemix.org every so often as well. Would definitely recommend that site to anyone who truly appreciates video game music in all its forms.
Anyway, the reason for this thread is I was wondering if anyone else would hear a short section of song, video game or otherwise, and immediately relate it to another one in your mind? I can come up with a few examples here just in case you guys are having trouble with the concept. Feel free to also let me know your opinions on my examples, and by all means, post your own if you have (I hope you do!)
Example 1:
A few years back I heard this song at a Frosh Week (1st week of University in Canada) party, and immediately hated it. However I couldn't help but notice the beat's similarity to a very well known theme song. SO much so that I used to hum the theme alongside it whenever I heard it in a club or whatever.
Rihanna's 'Pon De Replay' SOUNDS LIKE 'Jungle Groove' From Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Come on, you guys can't deny that one. Hopefully you'll never hear either song the same way again. I know I don't.
Example 2:
Here's another one, though it's kind of obscure. When I was like 10, my Dad used to go to computer shows all the time for cheap parts/games whatever. One year he bought this random cd that has demos of 4 games on it, including Jazz Jackrabbit, One Must Fall 2097 (fantastic game), and a little game called Hocus Pocus.
For some reason I always thought the theme of the first few levels had a jarring similarity to Aerosmith's 'Janie's Got a Gun.' If you don't believe me, listen for yourself.
Aerosmith's 'Janie's Got a Gun.' SOUNDS LIKE 'Hocus Pocus' Level 1 music
(Starts about 0:25. The main theme/title screen music is pretty awesome too!)
Not only are those beginning riffs in the 1st level similar to the main verses in Aerosmith's song, but the part in the game song at 0:53 transitions similarly to the 'What did her Daddy do" section.
Example 3:
My final example is something slightly less obscure, and is really only a very short motif in both songs, but still prominent enough to pop up in my head every single time I hear either.
Pink Floyd's 'High Hopes' off of their 'Divison Bell' album is an amazing song showcasing their work without Roger Waters (still sound great without him, imo). There is a recurring little tune in the instrumental section at the end of the song. You can hear it in piano form at 5:33 or so, and in guitar at 5:57, popping up every so often until the end of the song.
Just those 4 notes; 2 intervals--- a 3rd and a 4th are enough to resonate in my brain. Why, you ask? A little Sega game called Vectorman.
Listen and you'll hear it almost immediately.
I always loved the dance music-like and techno-themed soundtrack of this game, here is just another reason.
Are all these examples purposefully done by the respective video game music composers (or by Rihanna, since her song came later?
). Who knows. All I know is little things like often bring music to life in new and different ways; finding news things about the music I listen to always interests me.I could probably go into a lot more musical detail here about similarities but mostly I'm too lazy. I'm sure there is some sort of heavy analysis that could be done. Anyway, hope you enjoyed these examples and can maybe relate to them/post your own/tell me why I'm an idiot.
Enjoy!
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