What the hell is that noise?

JUST FOR FUN: Time for a musical tour through Silent Hill. I shall be posting the intro tracks, and other others I think of note.

For once, I shall keep it all in the same thread. Haha, lies - this was originally going to be a Facebook post, then it kind of expanded. Possibly  bloated.

So, without Further ado - here's a big reason why I love these games. And it's mostly the fault of one Akira Yamoaka:

Silent Hill

 

 

 

 

 

Intro track:

I also dig the intros themselves. Very vague and ambient, but strangely surreal and slightly uncomfortable.

This one was nice, too. Plays when you get the best ending:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2UJOl1P4KQw

Here's another good one for a pretty sad scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=owDMFLSBtsg

Isn't all that low-fi acoustic melancholy nice? By the way, here's a digitally warped dentist drill:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tY92NAdGaR4

which makes for pretty interesting feeling (ie UTTER PANIC) when fighting Mr Final Boss. Joy.

Silent Hill 2


 

Probably my favourite intro and track:

HD version because the voice acting is better.


This one is possibly my favourite track in the series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6qalGezr76o

The theme for Maria, incidentally. Who's Maria? That's... a difficult question to answer.

And I don't always have a final and inevitable and inescapable confrontation with my inner demons; but when I do, I do it to this track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8zq2VSlgFwI

Silent Hill 3

 

Things get a bit more upbeat for the next game:



Well, musically, at least. As far as 'horribly grotesque things happening' goes, 3 probably takes the cake.

3 also saw the introduction of Mary Elizabeth McGlynn on vocals, which I think works quite well, as well as lyrics written by Joe Romersa. Hint - if you're a Japanese developer writing about the adventures of English-speaking characters in an American town, hire some American audio support.Because then you get tracks like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vRZcdnWH8Do

Which sound rather nice.

Oh, who likes Industrial Electronica? I do! I do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jiY6cN1p2PE


Silent Hill 4: The Room

Here's the Silent Hill 4 intro. Watch and enjoy the feeling of not knowing what the hell's going on, but knowing that this stuff just ain't right.





Also, the menu music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Jce3Frxot9s

Don't worry, man. I'm sure you'll be able to fix your guitar one day.
 
And then we get grungy guitars, with smokey vocals. When you're singing about having your mind ripped
away by events you only scarcely comprehend, it's always nice to have the appropriate vocalist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OqVRYsTT7bY

I hate you wall of creepy baby-things, I really do. :(

More niceness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aKMksGsv-9U

And, finally, what is probably the main theme of the game. It's not a terribly happy song, but that kind of fits, really.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PMvOkUMPZ0g


Silent Hill: Origins



After crossing the pond to America, a few things about the series changed, but series composer Akira Yamaoka stayed on - which I think is a very good think.

Origins doesn't have the same kind of music video introduction as the rest of them, but it does have this:

...which I'm including for the sake of completeness. However, the must that you can hear playing there? It's pretty awesome, and continues to play as you make your way through the opening scenes of the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3FqZ9AezbB4

We also have this little number, just to make everything seem more like Twin Peaks than it already did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=q-aJ6MNfEZ0


The ending tracks are very good, too. This one might be my favourite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qooX7hLtMtg#t=23s

Silent Hill: Homecoming

Just when I think the old days of vague video sequences without context were over, they make a smashing return for the second American developed title:



Oh vague and incomprehensible intros, I missed you and I'm glad you're back.

And then some friendly robots made us this song after listening to too much Regurgitator:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Uc_MTu2ZfMg


And this one is possible the only time I've ever heard the sound of drowning be incorporated into a song. Cheerful fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=03h2B2ZbJ88


And I dig them heavy, angry guitars. Homecoming, I don't know why you're so grouchy at me, but I dig the way you've incorporated the old Silent Hill motif into the background, there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_8CzrRDjhMw

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

More inexplicable strangeness, set to rock music. Is there a theme here? Well, yeah. Yeah there is.




In a first for the series, we also get a cover - in this case, it's 'You are Always on my Mind.' They made it sound much darker and somehow sinister. Groovy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJtBXW4abRI&feature=player_embedded


And this last track, which has been known to work certain emotional effects on my person, simply because of the context of when it's played. This game has one of those stories that's actually definitely enjoying unspoiled. So I won't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CL0u9_gNUX0


Alright, fine. It was the butterfly, I tells ya! The butterfly!



Silent Hill: Downpour

 

Sadly, with this game we see the departure of Akira, and his loss is definitely felt. Dexter composer Daniel Licht is brought in as he replacement, and whilst he does a decent job, there is a marked disconnect between the music of this game and the earlier ones. First of all, the intro track is by Korn. Yeah, I know.



Strangely, I don't find myself hating it, but I don't find it anywhere near as engaging as the old tracks.

The soundscapes presented in this chapter are a lot more minimal than the old games - truth be told, I'm not crazy about them. A good example of the sort of thing on offer can be demonstrated by the menu track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YhL6S7loE9U

So, is that it for wonderful Silent Hill music? Well, I'm actually strangely hopeful. Mixed in with a lot of forgettable music, we get a couple of cool tracks, like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c8wDcDPh4Ms

Doesn't that sound bad-ass? I think so. I could totally walk out of prison with my head held high to that. I like to consider it the main character's theme.

I am also fond of the 'sprong' noise you hear in this one, and the angry electronic guitars. Hell, the mandolins played thought the whole game are quite lovely

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz24zb3Aclg&feature=player_embedded





WELP. That's it. What started out as a silly Facebook post has become a minor project of a few hours effort. The things I do for you. Well, okay, let's face it, me. But never-the-less, I hope the point is made. The music for these games is pretty damn awesome, and I hope you've enjoyed some of it.