Well, if we're talking about less-well received soundtracks, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and Sonic Superstars come up a bit.
My musician pageThat's not a hard question at all.
But you can discount Sonic Chronicles if you wish.
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Sonic Forces has been blasted for its Classic Sonic music.
Sonic Superstars music also wasn't received very well.
Some people don't like the Cyberspace music of Frontiers either.
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A lot of Shadow the Hedgehog music is very same-y and repetitive to me.
Rules of the Internet 45. Rule 45 is a lie. Check out my art if you notice.To divert a little but on the same track of music discussion (Eh?), I recently discovered someone who does Japanese covers of Sonic songs, Miyukichi
, who has done covers from Frontiers, Heroes, and more.
some of my favorites:
Edited by taotruths on Aug 8th 2024 at 11:57:52 AM
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That's like the uncanny valley of Video Game music. It is so close to sounding like a pretty good, if somewhat generic, piece of Sonic music, but it's all just slightly off that makes the end result unpleasant. It's sort of like ''Everywhere at the end of time'', so close to being a pretty good song (Heartaches in the case of Everywhere at the end of time), but sounds so off that it's just strange to listen to (though it isn't intentional with the sonic example).
Edited by king15 on Aug 8th 2024 at 6:56:38 PM
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I always did find it interesting that the vast majority of vocal songs in the series are only English, despite being a Japanese series.
Edited by ShinyCottonCandy on Aug 8th 2024 at 2:57:01 PM
My musician pageActually, a lot of the worst Sonic songs aren't bad in terms of the composition, but suffer from some screw up in development that leads to them being played wrong. That applies to pretty much all the Sonic Chronicles music which are remixes of other Sonic songs being filtered through the wrong sound fonts on accident leading to them sounding like someone half-finished a song. Another good example is the Sonic Spinball options music.
It was probably meant to sound more like this
Alright I suppose a harder question would be are there any vocal/lyrical songs that you dislike?
Reach for the Stars almost... sounds too sugary. It fits how the game is Lighter and Softer compared to the edginess of the Adventure, Shadow, Advance, and 2006 titles, but it sounds all techno and happy in a way that that makes it hard to replay for me.
Edited by FOFD on Aug 8th 2024 at 3:23:04 PM
Nah, I get you. The vocalist in the SA 2 version is definitely less skilled, and the progressions are overly simplistic.
My musician page
agreed, zero gravity's version is just way better
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well if we're playing this game now, hot take: I don't particularly like the original version of Dreams of an Absolution. I don't really vibe with the techno. That said, it's not a bad song, just the instrumentation and vocals don't work for me. Same with the Starry Night Remix.
Bentley Jones' 2011 Remix is the best version for me
Another lukewarm(?) take is that the Crush 40 Massive Power Mix of With Me is a significant downgrade compared to the original, as the lower guitars and Johnny's vocals don't hit in the same way that the original does.
Edited by taotruths on Aug 8th 2024 at 12:26:47 PM
On the topic of Crush 40's remixes, their version of His World just doesn't hit as strong for me.
My musician pageI see that opinion on Catch Me If You Can a lot, but personally I like the original version
better than the Zero Gravity version
. The remix just rolls past me without feeling anything. I don't think I've ever even listened to it in full except when I let the game's end credits play out.
On His World, I think every version is good, but I think I'm most fond of the Zebrahead version
actually.
And while we're on the subject of alternate versions, the original All Hail Shadow
is better than the Crush 40 version
in 06. But I think the Crush 40 version of Seven Rings in Hand
is better than the original
, but that might be partially just because the original is so overplayed in its original game that I got a bit sick of it.
Edited by KuroBaraHime on Aug 8th 2024 at 3:40:08 PM
Overall, I think the only vocal song that's closest to me calling it bad is A New Venture
from Rush Adventure. It sounds good in the context you'd hear it in-game, which is the first 40 seconds or so at the title screen, but if you're just sitting there listening to the full song it's kind of annoying and repetitive.
Mostly I'd just say some songs are more forgettably "there" than others, like We Can
and Follow Me
from Sonic Heroes. Or I think I'm Here
doesn't stand out as much against the other Sonic Frontiers boss songs, at least if wasn't for kind of also being the main theme.
I think the most forgettable songs of all (to the point I have to look up the names) are the endings credits songs to Secret Rings (Worth a Chance)
and Forces (The Light of Hope)
.
Follow Me is interesting due to the lyrics being so untied to Sonic. There are thematic parallels, but absolutely nothing strong.
My musician pageCount me as someone who really likes the Crush 40 version of Seven Rings in Hand.
I also like their version of His World, but I think it's a song that would probably hit a little better if it was made a bit faster.
With Me though the original is the better one, yeah. But I do like the Crush 40 take.

You mean aside from the Sonic Chronicles soundtrack?
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