It’s been a tumultuous run-up to the Olympic Games. Covid delayed the whole shindig by a year, and even as vaccines got jabbed into people’s arms, there was an enduring will-they won’t-they sentiment going into the summer of 2021. Compounded with Covid were a series of resignations and firings of high-profile Olympic organizers, and questions arose if the Olympic games were actually cursed. In spite of all the dismay and lukewarm attitudes towards the games, the opening ceremony went off without a hitch, and for video game enthusiasts, there were some surprises in store during the Parade of Nations.
The moment that made nerds point to the TV with shock and excitement was the soundtrack that was played during the Parade of Nations march. Each country and delegation from around the world had their athletes walk across the stage while flying the colors of the nation that they represented, and in Tokyo 2020’s case, this was to videogame music. That’s right. We made it, boys. The biggest sporting event in the world, the one that seeks to unite all of humanity irrespective of race, color, or creed, every country from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe walked across that stage while Monster Hunter, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy music played.
The full tracklist is below:
- Dragon Quest – “Roto’s Theme”
- Final Fantasy – “Victory Fanfare”
- Tales of Zestiria – “Sorey’s Theme – The Shepherd”
- Monster Hunter – “Proof of a Hero”
- Kingdom Hearts – “Olympus Coliseum”
- Chrono Trigger – “Frog’s Theme”
- Ace Combat – “First Flight”
- Tales of Graces – “Royal Capital Majestic Grandeur”
- Monster Hunter – “Wind of Departure”
- Chrono Trigger – “Robo’s Theme”
- Sonic the Hedgehog – “Star Light Zone”
- Pro Evolution Soccer – “eFootball walk-on theme”
- Final Fantasy – “Main Theme”
- Phantasy Star Universe – “Guardians”
- Kingdom Hearts – “Hero’s Fanfare”
- Gradius – “01 Act I-1”
- Nier – “Song of the Ancients”
- SaGa series – “The Minstrel’s Refrain: SaGa Series Medley 2016”
- Soul Calibur – “The Brave New Stage of History”
It was an interesting choice to go with an orchestral arrangement of these songs, but it’s a choice that I wholeheartedly support. In a way, it feels like Japan’s way of embracing a part of its own culture and history. It’s as though their message is “We’ve written some incredible stories and composed some beautiful music over the years, all introduced through the media of videogames. We’d like to share these melodies with the world.”
Everything from the powerful percussion of “First Flight” to the booming brass of “Proof of a Hero” sounded tailored to an event worthy of the Olympics. Videogame music has come a long way since MIDI formatted tracks, and it shows. Pre-covid, composers would regularly tour from venue to venue with symphonic orchestras, the sounds of their melodies reverberating throughout music halls all over the world. For hobbyists, their music ties us to the stories, struggles, and skirmishes of the tales we once played through, and in doing so, we forged a deeper connection with those melodies. To have the participating athletes walk out onto the world stage while being greeted by those energetic orchestral pieces was nothing short of faultless; not because I recognized those tunes, but because for the athletes. They’re each the hero of their own stories. I hope that those harmonies resonated with them as they took the stage in what will likely be the defining moment of their lives. Here’s to a successful and healthy Olympics for everyone involved.
Source: Anime News Network
