Relax to this Mellow Synthwave Cover of “Riding-Day” from Breath of the Wild
Posted on January 06 2021 by Sean Gadus
Breath of the Wild has one of the most distinct soundtracks in the Zelda series, using more piano than every other modern Zelda soundtrack. Additionally, Breath of the Wild avoids many of the iconic musical themes from previous games. Instead, much of the open world is filled with ambient melodies that flutter in and out of empty fields and lonely mountaintops. Overall, the game is filled with surprising musical moments but the best musical surprise was the inclusion of “Zelda’s Lullaby” within the Riding-Day theme.
This synthwave arrangement of “Riding-Day” by SyllixMusic is a beautiful, soothing rendition of one of Breath of the Wild‘s best songs. The warm tones of the Moog Mother 32 synthesizer give this cover its distinct sound. When discussing the choice to cover “Riding-Day,” SyllixMusic asserted that they had never really given this song their full attention. After listening to the song and preparing for the arrangement, SyllixMusic also asserted that the song is less chaotic than they had initially thought and is actually quite calming and beautiful.
Beautiful is the perfect word to describe this synthwave arrangement. Much like the original version from the Breath of the Wild soundtrack, the song seems to meander along with a trickle of unfamiliar notes. The music seems to flow along without too much direction or focus. It is not until the 0:45 mark the listener can hear “Zelda’s Lullaby” pierce through the noise. Overall, I’ve always loved how this song is set up. The song tricks the listener into thinking they are hearing a brand new song and then surprises them with a new rendition of a classic tune that they know and love. “Riding-Day” was a great way to honor the series’ musical legacy in a way that fits the game.
What do you think of this synthwave arrangement of “Riding-Day” from Breath of the Wild? Let us know in the comments below!
Sean Gadus is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. His first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time, and he loves all of the 3D Zelda games from 1998-2011. The final battle of Tears of the Kingdom is one of his favorite final battles in the entire series. He wants to help build a kinder, more compassionate world. You can check out his other written work at The-Artifice.com.
