When it comes to video game sub-culture, rapping over 8-bit chip tunes and making up lyrics to accompany classic game themes is about as obscure as it gets.
“I am Mega Man
I’m Blue and Cyan
The Creation of Dr. Light, or “Right” (If you are from Japan)
Also known as Rockman
Brentalfloss – Mega Man 3 Title Screen
But these iconic melodies stay with gamers for decades after release and, from Super Mario Bros’ opening stage to Megan Man 2’s Dr Wily level; these classic tunes hold as much nostalgia as the gameplay itself. This article is about the diehard video game fans, and the musically gifted, who combine their passions to put lyrics to those beloved tunes.
One of the first, and arguably the most famous musical-game fusions was simply called “The Legend of Zelda”, a 61 second song about Link’s triumphs, sung to a cover of Koji Kondo’s classic tune. Incorrectly labelled as a System of a Down song on music-sharing services, the original stars “The Rabbit Joint” are still incorrectly credited for their work. “Yes, we did that frickin’ Zelda song”, their MySpace page groans.
But when it’s not Nintendo’s figurehead franchises, Capcom’s Mega Man is one of the most popular games to receive lyrics. YouTube user Brent “brentalfloss” Black proposes new lyrics for the second and third games, while full band “The Megas” rerecord the classic tunes (retaining the original songs without the 8bit shrill) before planting the words.
Welcome to my level, my name is Metalman
I throw metal blades from my metal hands!
I dance around with style and finesse
Better watch out for these blades or you’ll end up headless
The Megas – Metal Dance (Metal Man)
Compartmentalising the genre further, video game chiptunes (referring to music generated by a console’s sound processor) seemingly mix well with rap and hip hop. Coined at the turn of the century by self proclaimed “world’s 579th greatest rapper”, MC Frontalot, neo-music style Nerdcore is a genre that fuses hip hop with all things nerdy and geeky; games included.
But while the front runners of the genre, such as mc chris, YTCracker and MC Lars, infrequently mention the joy of gaming (such as Lars’ Guitar Hero Hero, and YTCrackers Meganerd), its left to the most hardcore players to create the best game inspired hip hop.
Your defence is weak; fought imps tougher than you!
Good knight turned bad knight? Good night for you!
Surrender the princess, or surrender your life!
I’m light speeds ahead of you, now bleed on my knife!
The Adventures of Duane & BrandO – Final Fantasy
That’s where our current favourite act, The Adventures of Duane & BrandO, come in. Duane Zuwala and Brandon Lackey, two budding musicians from Michigan with a passion for music and a love for video games, put rap and hip hop to classics from the NES, Super NES and Mega Drive.
“I started doing Video Game Music so I would have a platform for so-called traditional music”, Duane told Ready-Up in an interview. But with some of their songs evolving into 10 minute long epics, it’s surprising they have any time for their conventional tunes at all these days.
Their lyrics are full of sub-culturally relevant jokes, fired at a ruthless pace with perfect delivery. You’ll be repeating your favourite lines for weeks, whether it’s about Duane beating Duck Hunt by firing the Zapper at a mirror, or the Double Dragon twins threatening to “tell mom” for hitting each other.
The finished pieces, polished to sheen with accompanying sprite-based videos, are no quick jobs as Brandon explains “Final Fantasy took us about 9 months to finish, Double Dragon took about 3”. He goes on to rattle off dozens of instruments and pieces of equipment with musical jargon, “Custom Fender/Schecter with 2 Seymour Duncan humbuckers”. I think he might have made “humbuckers” up.
Duane Zuwala, shooting like a girl
Step aside, Sally, let me give it a whirl
I got the mirror in my hand with my back to the screen
Shooting without even looking like nothing you’ve ever seen before
The Adventures of Duane & BrandO – Duck Hunt
But the eight bit duo is far from finished in their game music career, even rerecording old songs with new content. “Because we’ve levelled up since the beginning of the game” says Brandon, “Metaphorically”, “there are just too many cool songs”. I asked if they ever get sick of the constant barrage of fan requests, where every other YouTube comment and every third MySpace message is a plea for D&B to take on Altered Beast or River City Ransom or some other retro fancy. “I’m just glad that people like what we do.”
Read the full article to see some YouTube videos of our favourite video game songs. (Some lyrics are not safe for work).
Mega Man 3 Title with Lyrics – Brentalfloss
Metal Dance – The Megas
Final Fantasy – The Adventures Of Duane & BrandO
Meganerd – YTCracker
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