ZD Top 5 – Soundtrack Songs

It’s no accident that there is now a symphony dedicated to playing Legend of Zelda music: the series has musical scores that, beyond enhancing the experience of the game, hold their own as masterfully crafted works of symphonic art.  This week, we gave Zelda Dungeon staffers the daunting task of ranking their Top 5 songs on the many soundtracks of the Zelda series.

Which songs do you play on repeat? Which songs do you think define the series? We welcome your own lists in the comments.

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Jon Lett – https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/User:Colonel-Majora

5. “Hyrule Castle Theme” (A Link to the Past)
4. “Demo Video” (The Wind Waker)
3. “Staff Roll” (The Wind Waker)
2. “The Original Legend of Zelda Theme” (Various)
1. “Staff Roll” (A Link to the Past)

It’s hard – REALLY hard – to top the classic main theme of the Zelda series, but I have always had a place in my heart for the final music piece, the staff roll theme, for A Link to the Past. As you go through the scenes of all the people of Hyrule returning to peace after beating Ganon, you are treated to a cheery, triumphant theme that leaves you satisfied with your success; but then the staff roll starts, and you get to here a beautiful, emotional tune, fitting for the end of the series’ biggest adventure yet (or at least, it was at the time of A Link to the Past’s younger days). It even incorporates a somber version of the series’ main theme at the very end. I have said it before: before my introduction to the internet, I would beat Ganon over and over just to hear this gorgeous music again and again, and the day I finally got to hear it played live at The Symphony of the Goddess, I felt probably more nostalgia than I ever have before.

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Alexis Anderson – www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/User:Triforce3

5. “Ballad of the Windfish” (Link’s Awakening)
4. “Stone Tower Temple” (Majora’s Mask)
3. “Midna’s Theme” (Twilight Princess)
2. “Song of Healing” (Majora’s Mask)
1. “Church” (A Link to the Past)

This was more difficult than I thought it would be. My heart pumped out its five favorites in no time, but I felt like I was forgetting certain songs that really deserved a mention. I went into my Radio Hyrule favorites list and had my soul ripped in several different directions– how do you pick just five!? But here you have it, the product of my internal conflict. The majesty of the Sanctuary (called “Church” on the A Link to the Past soundtrack) never fails to engross a listener; I honestly have to stop everything and close my eyes to listen. And Midna’s theme oozes with twilit atmosphere and personality, not to mention it’s simply a beautiful musical composition.

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Brandon Schmitz – https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/User:Brandon_Schmitz

5. “Song of Healing” (Majora’s Mask)
4. “Staff Roll” (Ocarina of Time)
3. “Midna’s Theme” (Twilight Princess)
2. “Lon Lon Ranch” (Ocarina of Time)
1. “Staff Roll” (Twilight Princess)

The Zelda team’s composers sure do know how to bookend a game. The end-credits tunes for Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time, especially, encapsulate the feelings of their respective games. The first half of the former captures the grandeur of the overall journey, while the second half feels like a reflection on Midna’s departure. Speaking of which, her theme music falls perfectly in line with her mischievous personality. “The Song of Healing” sums up the melancholy of Majora’s Mask; and though I didn’t grow up on a ranch, listening to Lon Lon’s theme evokes a childhood-home sense of nostalgia.

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Alasyn Eletha – https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/User:Alasyn_Eletha

5. “Dark World Theme” (A Link to the Past)
4. “Wind Waker Opening Theme” (The Wind Waker)
3. “Clock Town, Third Day” (Majora’s Mask)
2. “Deku Palace” (Majora’s Mask)
1. “Makar’s Prayer” (The Wind Waker)

This isn’t fair. We should have been able to choose at least ten; then maybe it wouldn’t have been so difficult. But I have to say that some of the Zelda games just had better and catchier tunes than the others. The majority of Majora’s Mask and The Wind Waker songs are among my most favorite to listen to over and over again, and tend to perk me up whenever I hear them. Anything from A Link to the Past, though, is simply nostalgic, as it was my first Zelda game and introduced me to a world of beautiful music.