It's no secret. Compared to the Super Nintendo, the Genesis wasn't exactly a killer in the sound department. It was fueled in part by what soundtracks really caught your ear, but for a real classic, you didn't have to look any farther than the Sega mascot.
Everyone's favorite hedgehog speedster has had quite a number of notable themes over the years which cements that, although the ride has been rocky with plenty of ups and downs, there's one thing that everyone can agree on, the music is nearly always awesome.
And you can now get a lot of this music on iTunes!
There may be many themes people and fans associate with the Blue Blur, but the Green Hill Zone is the definitive Sonic tune. Like Mario and the very first beats of the Mushroom Kingdom, the melody of Green Hill would make sure Sonic's music stuck around just as long as his rival's.
The Scrap Brain Zone theme (especially the first part) is one of the best tracks ever written to give the impression of "prepare for insane difficulty". Notably it, along with Star Light Zone, was reused as the music on the optionscreens for Sonic Advance. Furthermore, Scrap Brain Zone's theme, along with Green Hill Zone's music, were both included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl's awesome soundtrack.
The Sonic 2 Final Boss Theme. Quite possibly the most epic final boss battle in the series. (Though Sonic & Knuckles' (see below) certainly gives it a run for its money.)
The Death Egg Zone Theme is, for a 16-bit era track, an eerie, haunting piece of genius, with an undercurrent of madness. You normally only hear a couple seconds of it as you run to the right and face Silver Sonic, but if you stand there and wait for a little while you'll start getting thoroughly creeped out. Bonus points for the top melody sounding like some sort of deranged lullaby.
No variant on the boss music is complete without a reference to the realboss theme. Where the original game had its own unique flavor and Sonic 3 would later aim for straight-up intensity, this is too iconic to go unmentioned.
The Super Sonic theme in itself is almost enough incentive to get all the Chaos Emeralds. It's similar to the invincibility theme (itself a feel-good sound) but rocked up and really gets the impression of "powering up". Also, unlike the Sonic 3 version, it's not just a loop of a few seconds.
More or less every stage music deserves mention here:
The Doomsday Zone. This one set the standard for all future Super Sonic battles.
The Final Boss Theme first shows up in Sonic 3, and it marks the first – and one of the only – times that Super Sonic is NOT invincible*
though it's apparently due to a programming oversight
. A grab attack from this boss will outright knock you clean out of your super form. This is the first time in this game that Robotnik's REALLY a true threat, and this music really knocks it home.
The Special Stage Theme. This is the version heard ingame, where it gets fast and unbelievably awesome. That surreal blend of chirpy and mysterious at high speed is glorious.
Michael Jackson was the influence for almost the entire soundtrack of Sonic 3 (but very little to none of S&K). Ice Cap was influenced by "Who is it?" (or "Smooth Criminal"), and Carnival Night has riffs from "Jam" in it. Perhaps the most noticeable, the beats of the BGM in in the Marble Garden zones (Act 1) were heavily influenced by "Remember the Time".
No Way! serenades you when you try to lock anything other than Sonic 2 or Sonic 3 onto Sonic & Knuckles. However, it sure doesn't sound like you actually made a mistake.
Where to begin? First, the music shared between both soundtracks: the 'Past' music.
The tropical sounding music for Palmtree Panic, which is more laid back than the present music
Collision Chaos, which has a more subdued version of the beat from the JP soundtrack's present track
Tidal Tempest, which is calm to go with the fact that there's still time to fix the future when you're there
Quartz Quadrant, which like Collision Chaos has a subdued version of the beat from the JP present music
Wacky Workbench, a Western-sounding track that goes with the wide open space around the area that can be seen in this time period's less developed version of the factory
Stardust Speedway, which takes the "Hey, hey, hey, hey!" lyrics from the JP version's tracks and makes them and the main track more quiet
Metallic Madness, which has the urgent beat of the Japanese present soundtrack and unlike that version is instrumental
The Boss theme, an upbeat theme that starts with a younger man and an older man laughing as if they're making fun of Robotnik for his continual defeats, getting your heart pumping as you "work that sucker to death!"
Palmtree Panic: the upbeat Present and Good Future. The former seems good for a day at the beach, while the latter is fitting for an outright beach party.
Wacky Workbench: the chaotic, fast-paced techno Present and the bright, mechanical Good Future.
Stardust Speedway: the funky Present, the darker Bad Future, and the much brighter, calmer, and peaceful-sounding Good Future. Note that the Bad Future music plays during the Metal Sonic race even in the Good Future.
Metallic Madness: The urgent Present, fitting for the final level, the you-screwed-up-big-time Bad Future complete with with sinister-sounding instead of jolly versions of the laughing men from the boss track and a robotic voice in the background saying stuff resembling anti-Sonic propaganda from Robitnik (e.g. "You can't do anything, so don't even try it," "Don't do what Sonic does," and finally, "Sonic, dead or alive, is mine"), and the a-winner-is-you Good Future that takes the instruments from the intro of the urgent present music and uses them for an upbeat background instrument.
Wacky Workbench: Starting of course at the awesomely funky Present music, you then have the Bad Future, and, as with the JP/EU version, the bright (yet still mechanical) Good Future.
Stardust Speedway. Stardust Speedway. Present, Bad Future, and especially the Good Future. Note that during the race with Metal Sonic, the Bad Future music plays even in the Good Future.
Metallic Madness: the suitably metallic-sounding Present, Bad Future, and the Good Future, which is upbeat yet still mechanical as with the Good Future music for Wacky Workbench in both soundtracks.
Also from Sonic Adventure comes the Casinopolis level. While it may not be anything special, the NiGHTS pinball area music is quite a joy to listen to.
"Calm After the Storm" , a relaxing, upbeat number that ostensibly serves as the music for the Egg Carrier after it crashes into the ocean, but for whatever reason, doesn't get used for this purpose. It's only used once in the game, during a cutscene of E-102 Gamma boarding the ditched carrier.
The epic and at times, depressingE-102's theme is beautiful. Combined with the fact that an equally as awesome remix plays during the death of E-102, realizing that he is the last of the series...
Widely considered one of the best boss themes in the series: "Militant Missionary", the theme for the Egg Viper and Egg Walker.
Fishing. Even if you hated Big's storymode, there's no denying how awesome this theme is.
While not being all powerful, manly or exciting like most music here in this page, Chao Garden on Sonic Adventure 2 is the most relaxing (and cutest) piece of music around. It's awesome in its own way.
Unstable World (Theme of Crazy Gadget). Incredibly metal, and part of the instrumentation invokes and calls back the Death Egg Zone's theme from Sonic 3 and Knuckles.
Mystic Mansion. Without it, this page would be a heaping pile of failure.
Hang Castle, or at least the default, non-inverted version of the theme.
Egg Fleet. And compared to most of the other tracks in the OST, which were happy and rocking, Final Fortress is no slouch either, with its definite intensity, cementing it as the final stage indeed.
Ocean Palace. sounds very energetic and cheerful while managing to sound very EPIC at the same time. It has one of the most well-composed, eargasmic climaxes ever composed with an electric guitar in any videogame.
Power Plant's theme is suitably epic for, well, a power plant.
Frog Forest has such a relaxing fast paced feel to it.
Somebody remixed several of the songs here for the DS version of Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. And boy is it 'AWESOME'. Exhibit A: Final Fortress and Seaside Hill.
Sonic's ending theme was originally the ending song for Sonicthe Hedgehog 2 for the Mega Drive; it was called "Sweet Sweet Sweet" and was performed by the Japanese band Dreams Come True. For Sonic06, they actually did a remix of this song for Sonic's ending, and they did it with Akon! The Japanese version is "SWEET SWEET SWEET -06 AKON MIX-" and the English version is "Sweet Dreams". Pretty smooth tune, even if the English lyrics can be disturbing when one thinks about Sonic's, uh, kiss.
Even more disturbing when you remember that this song originally appeared in Sonic 2, and was implied to refer to Sonic and Tails. (granted, Tails was originally intended to be a girl, so...)
Though it should be added that, while both versions can be listened to in-game (which one depends on your region; S'06 did not allow you to switch languages despite both being in the game), neither one was included on either the official soundtrack or the Vocal Traxx album, probably due to reasons.
How 'bout some event music? Mephiles' Whisper is supremely creepy, yet epic at the end as well. You Are My Companion (though not totally fitting for Silver's Ending) is a nice piece to set a tone of "I WILL get through the next character's story."
Crush 40's All Hail Shadow Remix from the game. It's one of their better covers of another band's song which actually manages to be better than even the original from Magna-fi. Just listen here which technically the Crush 40 remix first appeared in this game rather than Shadow the Hedgehog.
This song right here, which plays at the end of Shadow's story. It was actually part of the track "Showdown with Mephiles," for whatever reason.
We would say DAMN NEAR EVERYTHING, but that doesn't seem to do this soundtrack justice. Where to begin? How about with the orchestrated rendition of the main theme.
There are no words to adequately describe the final boss music. Justlisten. Also note that the first phase may very possibly be the only final boss music ever to feature taiko drumming.
Even the Result music is fantastic. Consider it an epic reward for making it through a stage.
And that was just a short rendition of the Title Screen music. That song gives you the thrill that you're about to embark on a grand adventure!
From the DS version's exclusive Super Sonic final boss there is the Nega Mother Wisp's music which is another instrumental version of "Reach for the stars" only this time it plays like old school style game music but that doesn't stop it from being awesome.
Game Land 3, a remix of Starlight Carnival Act 1's music using the Game Gear's chiptune sounds. It definitely sounds like something straight out of that era, and it's beautiful. Not that the other Game Land songs aren't great as well.
To start with, the Hub World Music. ALL of it, especially the way the music transitions based on what stage/rival/boss you're near. For best results, try spindashing or boosting back and forth through the hub world at least once. It'll blow your mind
Green Hill Zone was awesome when it was first composed, and it's Classic and Modern versions are just as awesome.
City Escape's remixes are 2 very different takes on the original track:
JP's Remix makes for a very funky party song, while US-version is more racing-induced and has very melancholy-sounding ambiance to it.
How about the DeathEggRobot boss fight, which has three stages of increasingly frantic awesomeness? First stage is all brass, the second phase adds more rock, and the final phase adds a psychotic drumbeat.
Shadow's Boss Fight Theme. Shadow's fight actually switches between multiple CMOA. If Sonic and Shadow are neutral in the boss fight, "For True Story" plays. If you're winning the boss fight, "Live and Learn" will play. If Shadow's winning, "All Hail Shadow" plays instead.
Silver's Boss Battle Theme, which is the theme used in Sonic '06 whenever you fight him, Shadow, or Sonic in the three storylines. Now it's given a darker, more badass, revamp to fit the stage.
The Classic Version also counts, making already very funky music *GASP* even catchier by adding much more drumming with nice electronic-sounding riffs and thumps. You can't go wrong with that.
Cash Cash's Classic Remix of "Run Through the Speed Highway" from Sonic Adventure turns a frenetic rock number into what can best be described as the most kickass techno song to grace the ears. It could be played at a club and nobody would probably question it. Warning: It will make you dance.
Classic Emerald Coast, now performed with actual guitars instead of electric sitars, and guaranteed to bring a nostalgic tear to your eye as the song brings back memories of 1999.
How about the Act 2 Sky Base? Sure it loops after only about 15 seconds, but so did quite a few tunes in the Mario Universe.
It also helps that the soundtrack was composed by none other than Yuzo Koshiro, who did the impossible with the Genesis sound card by crafting the most epic video game soundtracks, EVER!
Jungle Zone is a nice song. It has a real Disney vibe to it.
The ending theme is one the most upbeat and happy ending tracks in the series.
The Green Hills (yes, that's hills with an S) Zone tune from the Sega Master System version of Sonic 2. It's "Sonic ~ You Can Do Anything" from the Japan/Europe version of Sonic CD!!! Even better is that Sonic CD was made – or at least came out – way after the Master System version of Sonic 2, so for Sonic CD they took a tune from a (probably) lesser-known Sonic game and turned it into a song. THAT is awesome.
The outstanding Game Gear version of the Boss Theme became THIS.
Actually, Sonic CD and both versions of Sonic 2 were all in development at the same time (Sonic CD was originally meant to be the SEGA CD version of Sonic 2), so it's not surprising that there'd be some links like that.
Underground Zone from the Game Gear/Master System version (from the first stage of the game, at that) is a great track that really exemplifies the speed of the series.
Short, but oh so sweet, the Title Screen. If anything it sounds better than the same tune used in Sonic & Tails (a.k.a Sonic Chaos), which came out over a year later.
The Invincibility theme is one of the best in the series.
Sonic Chaos
The Sleeping Egg Zone music is just one of many catchy songs in this game.
The Boss and Final Boss themes are both amazing works of 8 bit glory.
Sonic Triple Trouble
The Sunset Park Act 3 music from Sonic Triple Trouble, on top of being awesome, caught off guard many players who completed Act 2 and didn't expect the game to immediately segue into Act 3, with no end-of-stage bonus screen or title card in between.
That has largely to do (nowadays at least) with emulator issues that cause some of the synths in that tune to sound screwy. It sounds much better in the original Genesis cart (if you like that kind of music).
The music in Knuckles' Chaotix makes the game worth playing, even if you're not a fan of the mechanics – case in point: the intro level theme, Door Into Summer.
This Horizon is a really great theme for the title screen.
The ominous Bad Ending theme, Destructive Power, perfectly nails how badly you messed up, while the Good Ending Theme Just Another Day revisits all the lovely music.
Red Volcano Zone has a catchy tune with a sweet hip-hop rhythm that was pulled off pretty nicely despite the limits of the Game Gear/Master System sound chip.
Sonic 3D Blast
Genesis/Mega Drive
The 16-bit version of Sonic Blast, soundtracked by Jun Senoue, had some tunes just as good as the technically superior Saturn version:
Rusty Ruins Zone Act 2. At least this game had some awesome music, even if it had some issues with the mechanics (Sonic and isometric projection don't mix well).
Volcano Valley Act 2 matches the atmosphere of the zone with a dark, foreboding memory and pulsating drums.
Wave Taste and Pig City. Fun Fun Sonic and Sonic DJ respectively, two of the small handful of unique minigames that even the Mario Party series can't compete with.
Despite being Dummied Out in the original game alongside its associated stage and character, the salsa-esque Sunset Town still makes appearances on the official soundtrack and with rereleases, and deservedly so.
The game's fast paced and energetic main theme gets you pumped up and ready to take on Robotnic as soon as you start playing! Also, the remix kicks ass.
Sonic Advance Invincibility. Sound familiar? Interestingly, they were going to use a different Invincible song, but they decided to go nostalgic, and instead it went to be used in Sonic Advance 2 and 3.
TechnoBase. It's an amazing song on its own, but it gets even more impressive when you realize that they made the GBA, a gaming system with a slightly more advanced soundchip than the SNES, produce full-on ACID TECHNO with a clear amen break sample in the second act! Truly an impressive feat.
Twinkle Snow Act 2 gives a beautiful song quite a catchy rendition which just makes you want to go run on the snowy roads.
Route 99 is all around bestway toset you for the game's awesomeness. Act 3 starts impressively with a synth made sound like a guitar-riff. Very cool, even for GBA's standards.
And it's good to hear Sonic Generations hasn't forgotten about it with remix on Act 1 at one of the missions in the game.
Chaos Angel (Acts "1", 2 and "3", and "the""final""bosses". Sheer awesome, and very good at conveying the sense that you are gonna die. Frequently. Imagine what they could have done with better sound quality...
Westopolis is the very first level, and it definitely gives the vibe of wanting to run away very quickly. Considering the surroundings it succeeds very well.
And Lethal Highway also wins in terms of wanting to make you do the opposite and chase something down.
Rounding out the list with Digital Circuit, Central City, GUN Fortress, Black Bull... in fact, just go look up all the stage themes or something. Chances are unimaginably slim that you'll find one that isn't awesome, let alone a bad one.
Also the lost tracks: Broken by Sins Of A Divine Mother was to be used, but since they couldn't find one of the members to get permission, two of the others formed A2 and did Chosen One. Magna-Fi also had another song Who I Am.
Not to mention m-flo's remix of Tripod Baby to promote the game.
Sonic and the Black Knight's soundtrack brought the return of Crush 40, who didn't fail to impress. Then again, Jun Senoue is the composer and part of the music department for Sega in general, so...
Then we have the insanely awesome Molten Mine music by Tommy Tallarico... which is itself a rearrangement of the "Action Theme" he composed for the completely-unrelated-to-Sonic game Black Dawn. Not that it's a bad thing.
"Malicious Fingers" predicts the Generations 3DS Big Arms theme a few years in advance, complete with nigh-prescient impact that matches the Modern Arrange by Cash Cash tone for tone.
This remix from Project Chaos takes the original Doomsday Zone theme and makes it even better.
As a bonus, the guitar riffs at the very end are lifted directly from Judas Priest's "Electric Eye."
On the subject of remixes and the Marble Zone, few things beat Marble Dash. This Power Metalcover is at least its equal, though.
The Sonic 2 Final Boss remix "Eggshell Bolero" by zykO (formerly available on VGMix.com, but now only available here) makes it even better by stretching it out to a hypnotic ten minutes.
Obligatory fan remixes of "How it Started": 8-bit, MIDI.
Someone decided it would be a fun idea to combine Black Knight's main theme, "Knight of the Wind", with the game's Faraway Avalon music. The ensuing mashup works on so many levels.
Here's a Super Nintendo soundfont remix of Splash Hill!
Not only did their hit song "Sweet, Sweet, Sweet" get turned into the ending for Sonic 2 for the Genesis, Dreams Come True later took songs that Nakamura composed for the first two games, and turned them into hit songs!
For those wondering how the original trilogy's music would have sounded like on the good old NES, Danooct1's 8-bit VRC 6 remixes of Sonic 1to3 & Knuckles's OSTs are about as accurate-sounding as they'll ever be.
What would happen if someone combined Act 1 of Planet Wisp from Colors, with its Sonic Simulator and Generations versions? Let's find out...
This is one of the best Planet Wisp mashups of all time.
Wizards of the Sonic by Westbam, a German techno DJ, samples the boss music from Sonic 2 (see above).
Masato Nakamura, the man who gave us the original Green Hill Zone and started a franchise trend for Music of Awesome. Sonic the Hedgehog would not be the same if it weren't for his original compositions for the start of this series.
Just how much of Michael Jackson's work on Sonic The Hedgehog 3 made it into the final product is debated, but his influence is all over the soundtrack for the game.
Cash Cash should at least be mentioned for their theme for Colors, as well as their work remixing stuff for Generations. Their auto-tuney power-pop sound fits in the series quite nicely.
Vernian Process has done orchestral covers of all the level tracks from the first three Sonic games as well as a handful from Sonic CD. It goes without saying they're Ear Worms.
The Dub's opening isn't half bad either; try Gotta Go Fast.
The Japanese ending is sad enough without lyrics or context. When you remember what events "Hikaru Michi" underscored, it becomes an automatic Tear Jerker.
The Italian opening: the lyrics are nothing special, but the dance-ish music is pretty catchy.
While admittedly goofy (they did "I'm Too Sexy," after all), the music video for the Right Said Fred song "Wonderman" contains various references to Sonic the Hedgehog. The song itself was used in advertisements for Sonic The Hedgehog 3.
Sonic Live In Sydney was a pretty corny show, but of all the songs in it, "Sonic, Thank You For Being You" probably stands out the most.
An honorary part of this page, Sonic Youth by Crush 40 sounds like it could have been the main theme of Generations. Its lyrics contain nods to much of the most famous Sonic songs, making it an awesome tribute to the soundtrack of the series. Some fans have even considered it an unofficial theme to Generations.
Misc
How awesome is Sonic music in general? Awesome enough to have one of the most popular internet radio stations on the entire web.
Before any piece of the Sonic Colors soundtrack was heard besides trailer music, props to whoever made this concept music which perfectly captures the tone of the game!
Not sure where else to put this but the Super Smash Bros. Brawl Remix of Sonic 3 & Knuckles' Angel Island Zone composed by Jun Senoue is pretty awesome.
Youtube remixer DJ MAX-E (aka MaxieDaMan) has been going around creating remixes of classic Sonic tunes, and they sound amazing. Behold, Combat Night Zone, Eggman Empire Zone, and finally, Atomic Waste Zone. You can find more in the related videos.
Although not much is released, from what has been shown, Sonic After The Sequel's soundtrack is sounding even better. Two tracks have been revealed by MaxieDaMan and four tracks (plus a work-in-progress version of a fifth) have been released by Mr Lange.
