The music of the Persona games varies in genre from game to game but always sets the right tone. Some music is even danceable. Series Composer Shoji Meguro, who recently left Atlus, has been a driving force behind the series. Equal praise goes to the vocalists and lyricists who bring the theme songs and other tracks from the games to life.
Read More: Persona: 25 Years of Stealing Our Hearts—Part One
“Satomi Tadashi Drugstore Song” is always catchy, no matter what version it is.
Burn My Dread
Persona 3 uses a mix of hip-hop, rap, J-pop, and rock in its soundtrack. The opening theme is “Burn My Dread,” sung by Yumi Kawamura. I first heard this song’s remix in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax and set it as the main menu theme. Yumi Kawamura has also sung “Dream Butterfly”, the opening theme for the original Persona’s PSP remake. She also did an insert song for the anime Flip Flappers. The song “Burn My Dread”, despite its catchy J-pop beat, has somber yet hopeful lyrics that touch upon the themes of the game like overcoming fear.
Read More: Persona: 25 Years of Stealing Our Hearts—Part Two
“The Last Battle” version of “Mass Destruction” features vocals by rapper Lotus Juice, who does vocals and lyrics for many songs in the Persona series. He also frequently references this song in his other works, such as “No More What Ifs” (Persona 5 Royal), “Break Out Of” (Persona 4 Arena Ultimax), and “Titles” from his album Like a Fine Flower. Lotus Juice is also the vocalist for the main battle theme “Mass Destruction”. The iconic chorus: Baby, baby, baby that begins the song builds the right momentum to hype up the player while Lotus Juice’s rap keeps them engaged even when they’re focused on a battle.
Backside of the TV
In contrast, Persona 4 has a more upbeat J-pop feel to its soundtrack overall. Shihoko Hirata is the main vocalist for this game. The opening “Pursuing My True Self” embodies the hope and lessons that the game seeks to convey. It is literally in the title. This song’s message can resonate with people of any age.
Depending on the in-game weather, two songs will play. “Your Affection” plays on sunny days while “Heartbeat, Heartbreak” plays on cloudy or rainy ones. These songs mirror each other like an arcana reversal in tarot cards. “Your Affection” is a song all about positivity. It conveys that even when you’re down, you can still get back up and make a difference. Since this song plays on sunny days, it conveys hope because there is no fear that someone will be murdered, which only happens after rainy days.
“Heartbeat, Heartbreak” is a breakup song. This song is about longing for someone who has left, but your feelings remain. The sadness and uncertainty in the lyrics remind the player that time is not on their side because someone is in trouble. My favorite song “Backside of the TV” plays when you’re in the TV World hub.
Rivers in the Desert
Persona 5 uses acid jazz to steal our hearts. This is my favorite soundtrack because of the vocals of Lyn Inaizumi. Lyn Inaizumi has sung themes for the Lupin the Third series and Megalobox 2 as well as background vocals for artists such as Hyde and Miyavi. The opening theme “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There” is an anthem about freeing yourself from the hypocrisy that surrounds you and making a difference. The song reinforces the picaresque theme of the power struggle between those who have and those who don’t.
“Last Surprise”, the battle theme, references the phantom thief mechanics of the game where you hide and ambush enemy shadows. Also, a good phantom thief should strategize and plan like in the Ocean movies. In the game, you hit an enemy’s weakness and work with your teammates to keep the pressure on.
Picking a favorite song for me is difficult because every vocal track is amazing. I love the intimacy of “Hoshi To Bokura To” (“The Stars and Us”) because it feels like you’re in a jazz club.
Persona games have spent 25 years leading gamers on a journey of self-discovery, both for themselves and for the characters. Each Persona game is balanced to create a wonderful, engaging experience that you come back to again, like your favorite anime. The themes either touch you deeply or make you think about who you are. Its characters are lovable, fun, and relatable. Every track of Persona music ties together, layering in more depth. The Persona games have lasted because we want to know how we fit into this world. It gives us something to think about, whether we’re high school students or adults.
What’s your favorite Persona song, game, or waifu? Tell us in the comments below.
