Top Zelda Music

by DesertDweller

Okay.

So I've played through many Zelda games, and have the soundtracks for almost all of them (excluding the Oracle games, original Legend of Zelda, Minish Cap, and both Four Swords games), I'm going to make a top-25 music list.  I will be taking into account when the game's soundtrack was made (so I would expect more from a more recent game)

Also, while the same songs will make it into every top-n Zelda song list, I prioritize based on not only the sound, but the story and meaning behind the title to me.

25.  Great Fairy - Wind Waker

This melody is both the menu and fairy theme for most Zelda games.  However, my favorite rendition is played when you meet the "great" child fairy of Mother and Child Isles in WW.  The mood suddenly becomes so much more playful.

24.  Gerudo Fortress - Ocarina of Time

Yes, I did have to pick this one.  Another huge favorite of Zelda fans, Gerudo Fortress adds variety and spice to the desert setting of the Gerudo.

Tons of remixes to this song exist.  My favorite is chthonic's Anthem of a Misguided Youth, closely followed by Mamacitas in My Valley by Diggi Dis.

23.  Staff Credits - Four Swords Adventure

I haven't played FSA, but this is still a great, upbeat tune.  Not much else to say about it...

22.  Inside a House - Any Game

It is so interesting to watch the evolution of this tune almost every Zelda game has.  OoT, MM, WW, and TP all have the same melody, while AoL, LA, and FSA, and PH all have new/different songs for when Link enters a house.  Spirit Tracks completely discards the whole notion altogether, playing slower versions of village tunes when Link enters a house.

This would be a tune I would like to remix when I get a chance.

21.  Clocktown Day X - Majora's Mask

Another of my favorite songs from Majora's Mask, Clocktown, played on any day, is a happy little ditty that progresses to become less happy and more mysterious as days go by, while still maintaining the melody.

My favorite is the Third Day rendition.

20.  Saria's Song/Lost Woods - Ocarina of Time

I prefer to call this song Saria's Song, but most people recognize it as the Lost Woods theme.  There's such a cheerful and quick-paced feeling behind this song; it just had to make the list.

I made an (albeit not as great as my other's) remix of this called Dance Saria.

19.  Overworld - A Link to the Past

Overworld!  I do like the OoT overworld more, but I pitied ALttP because only a couple of it's songs made my list, so I put this one.  This is where the Legend of Zelda theme started to become much more popular. 

18.  Temple of Time - Ocarina of Time

Indeed, I do have to include the epic theme of the Temple of Time.  I don't have much to say about this besides the fact that it's a great ocarina song.

17.  Linebeck's Theme - Phantom Hourglass

Oftentimes I get almost too focused on the story in the Zelda series, that I unfairly weight songs based on the setting behind them instead of individual merit.  Linebecks' Theme is a song I like based purely by how it sounds.  While most of the song is ok, the best part is right during the chord change, when you expect a minor chord like the first run-through, but you get a major one.

16.  Tal Tal Heights - Link's Awakening

!!!  I'm still playing Link's Awakening so this song has been rather spoiled for me, but it's yet another epic tune form the Zelda series.  Another favorite among Zelda fans, the song inspires courage and fortitude.

The melody is similar to the main Zelda overworld theme; what changes are the underlying bass notes.

Best remix I've found: Mountain of Dreams by Willrock.  Definitely wanna check this out if you don't do anything else.

15.  Midna's Desperation - Twilight Princess

I haven't played TP, so I can't say much about the story around this song, but if it's anything like Farewell Hyrule King, then this song would be higher on the list.  The song itself is kinda indeterminate.  The song never really seems to pick a mood, leaving you with a weird, complicated, empty feeling.

14.  Windmill Hut/Song of Storm - Ocarina of Time

An exceedingly popular tune from Ocarina of Time, the unique nature of the windmill hut and it's place in Kakariko Village adds to the already stunning melody.

I have remixed this song, but looking back, the mix is horrible and not posted here.

In Majora's Mask this song saves you from curses.

13.  Kokiri Forest - Ocarina of Time

This is probably the first Zelda song I ever heard, back when I was 12 or so and was babysitting for a friend, the kid I was watching was playing OoT.  He didn't know what to do, so this song got stuck in my head.  The song is ok, but right at the bridge at 0:39, I'm still not sure why, but that chord progression sticks in my head.  Random trivia: Outset Island from Wind Waker is a remix of this tune.  (probably are since both are Link's starting location)

I've tried remixing this song several times but to no avail.  Outset Island, it's in-Zelda remix, however, has a great 8-bit remix First Time on Outset.

12.  Dragon Roost Island - Wind Waker

Yes, we all know this song has to make the list.  There's no two ways about it, the instrumentation for this tune is awesome; the rhythm is exciting and inspiring.

11.  Kakariko Is Safe/Resurging of Kakariko of Village - Twilight Princess

This is one of those songs that is so easy to get lost in.  I whip out my ocarina and could play this one song easily for 30 minutes straight.

So beautiful.  So relaxing.

10.  Battle - The Adventure of Link

Ok, so the quality of music wasn't that great back then.  Nevertheless this is an awesome tune.  There's a rendition of this one available on ZREO that demonstrates how much potential the melodies in this song have. (link)

9.  Overworld Theme - Spirit Tracks

Now we're getting to the good stuff.  This theme is so packed with adventure and spirit (ha!) it's crazy.  The pan flute was a great choice for a main Zelda instruments; it sounds like a really breathy ocarina or something.

Love the mix here.

8.  Staff Credits - The Wind Waker

A pet peeve of mine.  Lots of people love the Title Theme for Wind Waker.  Hardly anybody remembers the Staff Credits, which expands on the Title Theme so much there's hardly a comparison.

A great ZREO rendition of this piece can be found here.

7.  Aboda Village - Spirit Tracks

Yes, this is the cutest song ever.  You can't deny it.  If I transpose all the notes down a full-step, I can play it on my ocarina.  So much fun.

I have little idea what goes on in Aboda Village, but it must be the Windfall Island of Spirit Tracks because the music makes you think the whole village is all hustle and bustle.  (as much as villages can be... >_>)

6.  Mabe Village - Link's Awakening

After making this list, I'm surprised I put this so high.  It is one of the many Zelda songs I love to play on my ocarina.  It's a simple melody that's so much fun to listen to.  Makes me think of a bittersweet farewell or something.

I would love to remix this when I get a chance.

5.  Farewell Hyrule King - Wind Waker

A beautiful piano rendition of the already popular (but not as much in my book) Hyrule Castle from A Link to the Past.  This song is one of the reasons I so much liked Wind Waker--it reminds me of how much Ganondorf's side of the story is revealed in the Wind Waker.  You almost pity him; he was originally a good leader, but pressure from his disadvantaged people compelled him into conflict with Hyrule.

The wind.  It is blowing.

4.  The Legendary Hero - Wind Waker

One of the less memorable songs from Wind Waker, but very much a gem, The Legendary Hero has an epic mood to it.  Especially when the (violin?)  comes in 0:53 into the song and the main Overworld theme plays, basically recapping the history of Hyrule from the Ocarina of Time.

3.  Zelda Theme/Zelda's Lullaby - Ocarina of Time

This melody too is full of story and nostalgia.  I remember when I first played Ocarina of Time, I kept wondering why such a boring melody on the ocarina was so important in the game.  Then I heard the whole song; wow, what a work of art.

Not so well known is that this melody was first heard in A Link to the Past whenever you obtain a crystal.  It was enhanced into Zelda's Lullaby in OoT, where it became much more popular.

Great remix of this song: Pachelbel's Ganon by djpretzel from OCRemix

2.  The Ballad of the Windfish - Link's Awakening

Another beautifully crafted piece; half the tunes in Link's Awakening seem to be based off of this melody.  It's amazing how with so many limitations in the quality of music, that such a simple song can be so entrancing.  There's a beautiful rendition of it by Fox Amoore available here.

1.  Song of Healing - Majora's Mask

Winning the top position for Zelda music is easily my favorite that I have heard.  The stories of Darunia, Mikau, Pamela, and the Happy Mask Salesman further enhance the meaning behind this already incredible song.  I made a remix of this song here.

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