Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the support on this one! Just wanted to mention - I wanted the video to focus on the three main eras of Sonic, as well as their major games. Sonic R, Sonic Rush, et cetera weren't discussed because this video would end up being three hours, and I'd like to talk about them in a separate video anyway. So that's why you didn't hear about them in the video. I've had a video planned for Sonic R since last year, if it's any consolation! Once again, thank you for watching and commenting, it's been really fun reading the feedback and hearing other people's stories :)

"which topic did you major?" "Hedgehog Music".

“Cringe is subjective folks, do what you love to do.” What a quote.

46:02 - Even after 20 years, Johnny still proves to hold those amazing vocals. That Sonic Symphony was the finest thing the franchise has delivered.

This video and the Animation of Sonic Games videos together are 2 and a half hours i will never regret, i love videos like this, and it just complete’s my fandom heart.

Why yes I’d love to watch a nearly 2 hour youtube video about sonic music

"its my sleepover and i get to pick the movie"

I support most the takes except “I am all of me” which is an all time favorite of mine. It sounds so unique and wish I could find more like it.

And now, there's a symphony dedicated to celebrating 30 years of this music. It encapsulates everything that made Sonic's tunes and themes great throughout the series's history. Shit, Dreams Come True even released a vocal version of "Green Hill Zone" as a single, and it's beautiful!

"Sonic was not a game, It was a movie" Well that explains everything

"remove every trace of Michael Jackson from Sonic 3" Mini Boss Theme: WOOOO! COME ON!

"Ice Cap is my favorite Track in the game" Ah yes. A man of culture.

Can we just appreciate that this guy put 0 ads on this nearly 2 hour long video?

Timestamp 5:37 Sonic 1 9:15 Sonic 2 13:17 Sonic 3 and Knuckles 23:40 Sonic CD End of Classic Sonic 37:09 Sonic Adventure 51:23 Sonic Adventure 2 57:35 Sonic Heroes 1:02:19 Shadow the hedgehog Modern Era 1:07:12 Sonic 2006 1:14:46 Sonic Unleashed 1:26:31 Sonic colors 1:29:08 Sonic Lost World 1:31:37 Sonic generations Liam Triforce thanks for the memories of talking about sonic music over the years

When you realize that this video is exactly long as the Sonic Movie:

I'm legit addicted to Sonic music, sometimes I fck around and binge the entire Shadow the Hedgehog ost

“Sonic Unleashed is my favorite Sonic Soundtrack” Me: *instantly subscribed* Glad to see you’re a man of extreme taste

Imagine having a voice actor for Sonic who sticks around for 20 years...

It’s absurd how on point Sonic’s music can be with almost every entry, even the bad ones

As someone who has listened to Sonic music for many years, I can say that Jun Sunoe doesn't just PLAY the guitar. He LIVES by the guitar.

Fun fact: Twinkle Park's main theme (y'know, after the go kart section) is actually also based on a piece composed for Sonic 3D Blast. It was originally gonna be the music for Knuckles's Special Stage.

"Ahhh, Green Eyes Era, that's something everyone can get down with." Clever.

The ones that’s are engraved in my mind are “Fist Bump” and “Live and Learn” those drums and the guitar segments were masterpieces

As someone who didn't play too much Sonic in the modern era, other than Sonic Adventures and Sonic Adventures 2, I was utterly shocked at how many songs I knew, recognized, and loved, despite not knowing that they were part of Sonic games. It's incredible how much Sonic music has persisted into the modern era, despite the shaky history of the game series.

honestly, when you let endless possibilities play, under the context you put it in, i almost got to cry, associating it to how i used to see the world, being sent back to such a mindset

Bonus note: the Modern arrangement for Seaside Hill in Generations also borrows melodies from Ocean Palace after its hook!

Imagine talking about sonic music and skipping rush's ost.

If I had a nickel for every feature length video I saw analyzing one aspect of every sonic game, I’d have two nickels. That’s not a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.

2:10 I always felt like Sonic 1’s music was always... different from other games. It had something that other games just didn’t have. That’s probably why. 50:05 I also wanted to point out that Slick Silver said the solo piano melody represents Gamma’s soul and humanity and that it shines through while the other instruments take a second role and fade out...

41:38 You've just gotta love how the music beat perfectly tunes with the homing attack hits

I think another reason why SA1's soundtrack is my favourite: the drums. They sound so unique and punchy, like you can feel the hits. They sound so unlike any other soundtracks with drums, and I would love someone to replicate that feeling again.

Shadow the Hedgehog’s entire soundtrack is one of the best in the Sonic franchise and you cannot change my mind.

This video taught me how Sonic's music is almost recursive- it was inspired by music, which its own songs inspire what I enjoy in music. Especially due to CD's rerelease and Classic Collection for the DS, but also Sonic Rush.

*Listens through first 10 minutes* "Yeah, I probably won't watch the full video" *Chemical Plant hits* "Yeah, I'm watching this whole damn thing"

"I find Big's theme annoying" Disliked, unsubscribed, flagged, and called the cops

Sky Sanctuary changed my life. The tone supported the emotional rollercoaster the characters were going through at the time. Not sure who to trust, but coming together to take down the real danger. For me, it is basically the theme of unexpected friendship, and clarity of thought, rising above illusion to become your best self. It has a heroic sound, yet a subtle sadness, perhaps regret, turning to a greater resolve... Both heroes being LITERALLY beamed into the clouds (rising above in a sudden jolt) also seemed to mimic the concept of rising to a higher understanding, as well as becoming more powerful together. It's pure GENIUS - and I never looked at video game music the same way again. A true moment of clarity in my young life.

Bro I'm literally crying at this 😭 I was a big Sonic fan when I was 12-14 but I moved on, mainly cuz of lack of new content at the time (couldn't play many old games for money reasons) but I recently got back into it cuz of my hype for the Sonic movie 2 and I was a bit embarrassed at first but I tried to ignore it cuz hey, shit's going AWFUL in the world right now and my mental health is quite shit so finding comfort in Sonic was awesome. I don't know how to express myself when it comes to how music makes me feel, I'm not in that field at all, but it always makes me insanely happy, motivated and hopeful for the future. I've been recently been playing CD and it gave me a rush of inspiration for drawings that I haven't felt on a while, honestly it's somewhat overwhelming but I'm happy that just the music from this game can make me 10 times more creative and inspired to draw!! The classic games have awesome soundtrack that make me feel a weird sense of nostalgia even tho I'm a 2006 kiddo lmao, I love it tho, 90's Sonic was awesome!! - I absolutely LOVE the cheesey songs from games like adventure 1&2, Heroes and more. Yes, they're not deep or anything like that but it's still so perfect! We all need to back off from serious stuff and just appreciate simple things in life, sometimes we need that happiness even if it's from dumb lyrics in a Sonic song. Whatever the case, I'm super thankful for the conclusion of this video, it made me cry because so many of us Sonic fans, old or new, find comfort in these songs and music, it helps us all, in different ways but it help us feel so many things, happiness, comfort, relaxation, nostalgia, motivation, inspiration, and all of that jazz. Thank you for this video, it truly means a lot to me 💙

I love how Throw It All Away's vocals sound extremely awkward on their own without any supporting chords or even a clear key, obscured by the weird minimal guitar and heavy loud percussion, but are extremely provoking when they come back with more of a focus on them over and over again.

1:12:20 Me: Oh, I forgot how great this soundtrack was... "WHAT IS THIS?!?" Me: *W H E E Z E*

As soon as you mentioned Palmtree Panic I remembered how good Sonic CD's soundtrack really is. Great video btw, it's a nice analysis of how the music genres associated to Sonic games changed over the years.

Thank you for loving so hard on Sonic 06's OST. That soundtrack is the stuff of dreams, and it absolutely deserves every ounce of appreciation it gets 👏 Made me feel really good, as I've loved it for years.

The composer of the music in Sonic the Hedgehog is a bass player. That makes TOTAL sense! I always thought whoever did the bass on those tunes was way too good at it! It's killer! For all the music nerds the Dr. Robotnik/Eggman boss battle music at the end of the levels (not final battle) in the first Sonic game is simulating a 5-string bass tuned to BEADG.

I feel like you’ve forgotten the biggest thing about the Sonic 3 MJ soundtrack - it was the REPLACEMENT soundtrack for the originals. The November 3rd prototype completely revolutionised our view of Sonic 3’s music history, and for good reason. The tracks from the Sonic & Knuckles collection - the ones used over the ones with the MJ written through them - were actually found to have been composed first.

57:21 Live And Learn’s intro syncs up perfectly with fast travelling in BOTW and has given me endless joy

48:53 After this small section talking about the lack of rhyme scheme, I'd like to mention something I heard a long time ago: Those songs were translated from Japanese, a language where by happenstance most common use phrases seem to rhyme in the usual patterns us English speakers are used to. So the concept of rhyme in poetry and music isn't as big a thing in Japanese, because it's their normal like our not rhyming is ours, or so what I was told went.

"It got me through some hard time" he says as footage of the ice level plays. I'm going to assume that was intentional, or just a happy accident.

Hot take here; I'm actually quite fond of "I Am (All Of Me)" as a Crush 40 song! I think it's the instruments of the song itself that got me hooked, especially that extended intro version. It's not their greatest work, but it shouldn't be grouped with something like 7 rings. At least "I Am" is listenable

This is probably in my top 10 favorite videos on KZfaq. It's passionate, well put together, fun to listen to, and just puts a big smile ony face the whole way through. Thank you for this!

At 1:37:53 to 1:38:02 I can totally relate to that line. I grew up loving Sonic so damn much growing up but during middle school I was given crap for it constantly and felt embarrassed about liking it, but these past few years I've been able to really enjoy how much this video game franchise did for me and it makes me so happy that I'm not alone with that experience. I am proud to be a Sonic fan today and fully embrace it! :) P.S. Thank you so damn much for showing, highlighting, and appreciating how good Sonic's music has been all these years!

HOW DARE YOU DISS “BIG FISHING IN EMERALD COAST” THAT SONG IS A MASTERPIECE

It's a shame that you did not say a single word about the... "unreleased?" tracks for Shadow the Hedgehog, like *Broken* and *Who I Am* , but nevertheless the rest of the video was really entertaining and informative! Thanks for clarifying the whole history of Sonic songs in just one video 👍

Me: "What about Rise of Lyric?" Liam: "What ABOUT Rise of Lyric?"

I'm taking myself and my 70yo mother to Sonic Symphony in San Francisco tomorrow. She was the one who introduced me to Sonic on the genesis when I was super little. So here I am, nearly 30 years later, taking her to a Sonic concert. I sent this video to her as "homework" before the show, and she loved it.

Ugh, another "Sonic's music is great!" video. Wait, almost two hours? Hell yeah, sign me up!

I haven't even finished watching yet, but this is put together so well. Great stuff, man!

Along with Gioeli, some of the other vocalists of the Adventure era were from glam bands as well. Tony Harnell sang for the Norwegian band TNT on their albums from 1984-2005, Paul Shortino sang for Rough Cutt and on a Quiet Riot album, and Ted Poley sang on most Danger Danger albums.

If there's a ever a video to introduce me to your channel, this is probably the best foot you could have put forward, I can really feel your love for the series pouring out in the detail to attention!!

No words can explain how much I absolutely adore this video Sonic music has always been apart of my life, and made me realize the power good music has. I love the sonic franchise, and the music more so I honestly cried during some parts of this vid

As bad as Sonic 06 is, "Solaris Phase 2" is one of the greatest pieces of music in video game history.

Sonic Rush was a huge part of my childhood and I still listen to the soundtrack today

I'd argue that a lack of rhyming makes these songs more enjoyable. Its like next level poetry. You don't have to sound like dr suess, you just need to describe a concept.

I’m obsessed with the Sonic CD Japanese soundtrack it’s so *good* !

So happy to have this recommended after just listening to Sonic songs.

I ended up loving both ameirca's and japan's sonic CD OST. I didnt mind the chill vibes the us ost gave off but i love the intenseness of japan's. Glad to see love for Endless possibilites and Gamma's synthy theme too. Unleashed is probably my fave modern sonic game, werehog included... but man if i could make a change i would just axe that battle theme getting in the way of the sober night tunes. Plenty of new sonics i cant really enjoy like Colors, lost world, and forces, but their music always comes out on top. Aquarium Park is just a toe tapper man.

This is the fourth time I've come back to the video and watched it all the way through. It's such a good video explaining such an important piece of what makes Sonic, well, Sonic. Over the coming years, I may just come back and watch this again. It's crazy. And with the advent of the next sonic game being released this year, there will be more great music to groove to. Keep being you, Liam!

This is the video I’ve been waiting for my whole life. When I was in the 4th grade, I made a 60 slide PowerPoint about the history of sonic the hedgehog, half of which were just about the music

Don't worry about the Stardust Speedway Good Future theme playing during the race. No matter what, when the Metal Sonic race starts, the music will always be the Bad Future.

I love sonic colors so much. Before I knew much or anything about games (about 6 or 7) my parents bought me a ps3 and sonic colors with it. The soundtrack for that game makes me so happy. When I was younger I was terrified of fish (weird I know) so i never played much of the aquarium stages of colors. I was too scared to. But the soundtrack of those levels along with whisp planet and everything else, just brings joy to my heart. I love this series, and I can't wait for frontiers

Jungle joyride night is one of my favorite night stages as it has great music and looks amazing. It’s unique in that it takes place at dusk instead of pure night

This video brought back memories of screaming Sonic vocal tracks on the playground as a kid. Thank you. But how dare u insult "I Am (All of Me)" and "All Hail Shadow" that edgy trash was my SHIT sbdkfnekxk

24:10 We love acknowledgment of Janet Jackson, one of the most influential musicians of the 80's and 90's whose history was erased after... that damn incident. Anyway, listen to the Rhythm Nation, it's actually great.

24:04: Teaching the Youngin's about New Jack Swing brings joy to my heart.

Thanks for his creator for bringing him to entertain, enjoy and made the whole world laugh and made him legendary video game mascot .... Mario's rival....

Also *for those who dont know* Twinkle Parks song, "Pleasure Castle" was an unused song from Sonic 3D blast as well. I believe for the special stage. I was shocked when I found out lol.

This was an insanely well thought-out, researched, and presented essay of love with a level of quality that is rarely found in a typical KZfaq essay. Thank you for really diving into the specifics of what made each soundtrack stand out, with examples and contextual history. I gained a much deeper appreciation of all these tracks, thanks to you! Can't wait to check out the rest of your channel.

zebrahead is literally my favorite band of all time and it's thanks to sonic 06, they're other songs are all pretty much bangers and yet everyone i've ever talked to has never heard of them.

The US Sonic Boom was the first Sonic song i heard and i immediately fell in love with the franchise.

Liam: Sonic music is atmospheric and gives off the feel of speeding around at the speed of sound perfectly. Me: And is sounds good too.

Carnival Nights Zone will always be my favorite piece of music from Sonic.

Sonic Boom from Sonic CD is so incredibly badass, and perfectly represents Sonic. I often set it as the theme of every zone in Generations.

I love this whole retrospective and it perfectly sums the love many of us hold for Sonic and the music associated but I won't lie that the only offhand mention of the two PS2-era collections does irk me. Anyone who's played Mega Collections and just decided to go into the extras menu knows the magic that the History theme contains. Not once since the first time I opened that menu have I been hit by auditory nostalgia in the purest form ever conceived. The History theme may be one of the most minor themes ever composed but for longtime Sonic fans more than likely stands as a pillar that still holds the love, they cherish with Sonic. The song feels embedded into the collective consciousness of the Sonic fanbase as it should be but also feels distinctly isolated from all negativity that surrounds the fanbase because the song was somehow composed so magically that it breathes nostalgia. The same can be said of Gems Collection's manual theme while holding a more sappy love vibe as opposed to pure nostalgia with History. History for myself personally, besides being there to remind me how much I love Sonic, is also a piece that brings stability and peace of mind because no matter where my life goes that song has never lost it's magic or luster and never fails to heal me personally. For as minor as these two songs are and the rest of Gems and Mega Collections' collective Original songs they're beautiful pillars that alongside Generations help solidify the love older Sonic fans have and help forge a bond with the younger newer fans as they grow and travel back in time into Sonic's history and are the only things I selfishly wish this already long video could've gone into more detail on.

41:38 Seriously that was an excellent timing.

As someone who is very insecure with my opinions (with everything, not just Sonic) that speech in the conclusion is exactly what I needed to hear. Excuse me while I go jam to my favorite video game soundtrack: Sonic and the Secret Rings

I came looking for background sound while I worked on a puzzle and got so, so much more. Amazing video! Made me very happy and get literal chills at various times

No E.G.G.M.A.N.? *"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!"* (Also no Dreams of an Absolution the best song in the series)

"ah the green eyes era, that's something everyone can get down with" - SomecallmeJohnny 2011 Edit: didn't expect this many likes tbh, thanks guys :)

i had seen this video so many times. i don't think anyone had made such a loveletter for this franchise with so much meaning to me other than this video. it means so much to me, thank you.

Just subscribed after watching your sonic R retrospective (a game I adored) and was not disappointed with this overview of the music of the series! Looking forward to watching all your older videos and your future ones 😊

I waited 50 minutes for you to talk about the godly Amy rose theme and I got an “eh” reaction... great vid otherwise

Ah the nostalgia. A lot of good games I've enjoyed throughout the years. The one thing Sega never disappointed me was the music. I'm definitely excited where their next Sonic game will lead ❤

You broke this down to the level of detail that I've been craving. Thank you!

The Sonic Adventures series (especially the first one) will forever sit in my head ever since I played the Dreamcast as a little boy. My favourites would have to be... Mystic Ruins (Sonic and Knuckles), the Sky Deck (sonic) and probably Speed Highway.

Funny thing about me: Nostalgia isn't a _thing_ I really ever feel or value. I don't love Sonic because of nostalgia, childhood memories, any of that sort of sentimental stuff. I love Sonic because at his heights - 2, 3&K, Mania, Generations, Unleashed daytime stages - I _know for a fact_ what a _tour de force_ of game design Sonic games can be.

"So I... thought "Oh, this is a movie!"" And now it is one.

I can't believe you didn't mention Sonic Rush Adventure. Those songs are in my head to this day and are absurdly good

So I just started watching this video and ,BOY, the way you describe each track followed by the track itself gives me goosebumps! Excellent video!

Im feeling confident after watching this, so I'm going to say what I feel to everyone. *Knuckles Chaotix was a fun game and the music was nice.*

When I heard the Apotos theme as he was talking about Sonic Unleashed, a wave of nostalgia and happiness rushed over me. Thank you.

This video and Dan's video on Sonic animation are the two pinnacles of Sonic KZfaq

Thank you for mentioning Dreams Come True and making the link with Sweet Sweet Sweet. I was in love with the Sonic music as a kid, and used to figure out a lot of the songs on bass and keyboard. In my 20s I looked into Masato Nakamura and got really into Dreams Come True, and theyve been one of my favourite bands ever since. I see a lot of love for Sonic music on youtube and people rarely mention Dreams Come True. Fun fact: Dreams Come True have a song called Marry Me, and if you listen to it, you'll see it is a slowed down version of the exact arrangement from Green Hill Zone, and is an example of Nakamura using a sonic arrangement for later Dreams Come True songs!