"I want to Live" from Baldur's Gate 3 is Beautiful
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- Опубліковано 14 лис 2023
- I want to live is sensual, deep, introspective, and gentle despite the lyrics showcasing desperation and love. It's really lovely and another absolute gem from baldur's gate 3.
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| Who am I? |
Hi, I'm Marco Meatball, a former pro opera singer, turned voice actor, turned UA-camr. I grew up loving video games and video game music after first discovering them when I was 7 years old. Since then, I have lived and breathed all things video games. This channel is all about video game music and the beauty of modern composition, how it allows us to connect more deeply with the games we love, and how we can better learn to understand ourselves through it and the experiences it provides.
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Final Fantasy, The Last of Us, League of Legends, Genshin Impact, Devil May Cry (DMC), Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Ultrakill, Terraria, Undertale, World of Warcraft, Monster Hunter, Warhammer, Honkai Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Bloodborne, Ace Combat, Doom, Warframe, Arknights, Nier, Guilty Gear, Risk of Rain, Armored Core, Destiny and much, much more! - Ігри
Thank you Marco! I very much enjoyed your thoughts on the song. 🙏
Thanks for writing these songs. I want to live has been on my playlist for the past 3 years.
I don't want to argue with the creator of the song but in my headcanon it's Astarion's song :)
This is the first piece of music that has brought me to tears in a long time. Thank you, Maesetro.
I just want to say that you are incredibly,incredibly talented..
Love your work! Beautiful work on the soundtrack!
This is the most amazing song in the game to me. Thank you so much for composing this beautiful melancholic but deeply optimistic melody... it very personally helped me lots in real life even. Maybe I'm a kind of Astarion Character 😅 Anyways, just so characteristic and special. Thank you.
The longer you spend in Baldur's Gate 3, the more appreciation you get for how much they nailed it on all cylinders. Music. Writing. Voice acting. Art and animation. Level design. Narrative choice. Combat mechanics. This is truly a once-in-a-generation game.
I just got it on Xbox about 2 weeks ago and man, it's rocketed up to one of my favorite titles of all time. I wasn't expecting to like it THIS much. I wasn't a huge fan of DoS2 so I was feeling a bit tepid about BG3, but the setting and premise seemed really cool and MY GOD, it's knocked my socks off consistently every time I've played it. I don't like jumping on band wagons and I typically avoid "That next big thing" when it comes to media and videogames but HOLYYYYYY crap, this game nailed everything.
An underappreciated bit of subtlety is that the twinkling sounds we hear is usually the sound used in film for when shattered glass is restored to a whole state. Possibly alluding to Astarion becoming his own person again and not just Cazador's spawn.
Fun fact, I think way back in early access/when BG3 was being tweaked, this was originally Astarion's theme. All the Origins were supposed to have their own themes. You can actually still hear it if you stand behind his tent in certain camps, IIRC. It puts a *lot* of context into the lyrics.
at least I can confirm that "Wash My Pain Away" is Gale's theme.
Okay but which one is EA Tav's/The Dark Urge?
Not too surprising given the characters in DOS2 by Larian had their own themes.
@@Qeshen I’d say I want To Live, it feels very fitting for both Astarion and Dark Urge in my opinion
@@ElfygamingKarlach too in a way
Hopefully this game wins Game of the Year this December. It's honestly a tremendous beauty. I didn't have many expectations when I tried it out, but it took me by my soul.
Same here. To this day only Mass Effect and Cyberpunk 2077 have captured my mind and soul in the way Baldur’s Gate III had.
I don't doubt that it will win GotY (TotK could take it and I would not be offended), I just hope Boris gets his due respect with the soundtrack of the year.
I think there were rumors that it's going to win the grand reward among several other awards, but we will have to wait. There is honestly not a ton of contenders this year that I can actively think of or really any that give the scope of work done here. I'd say that perhaps Alan Wake 2 could be a close contender however, currently both have 8 nominations each. During the golden joystick awards Baldur's gate 3 won ultimate game of the year and Alan Wake 2 for critics choice.
There's Resident Evil 4's remake, Zelda Tears of the Kingdom as two other strong contenders but I do not think they will be able to pull ahead here.
@@ChrisMorray Agreed. I've cast my votes on The Game Awards and the two categories that stood out for me with this game being the most deserving was GOTY and Soundtrack. That's not to say there haven't been others with great soundtracks - Alan Wake 2's recent entry with its musical section is also fantastic. But as an overall soundtrack, I don't think Boris missed on BG3.
Hey, good news!
I always stand on the rock behind Astarion to hear this masterpiece. It’s soothing to sort inventory to.
Hah I do this too! It's the only time we get to hear it so I sit on that rock as often as possible 💜
The instrumental version of the song plays all over the game, it's probably one of the most common ones. The version with lyrics however apparently only plays in two specific instances. I didn't even know the version with lyrics existed
I havent quite finished, but I heard the lyrics version for the first time in camp right at the beginning of Act 3 which was incredible after the powerhouse that was the end of Act 2
@@PinkNoms You have to go to a specific area of the camp so it's very easy to miss
It for sure plays during the end credits.
Woah, I hear it pretty often when I’m lallygagging in camp waiting for my friend to come back from being AFK.
Specifically in Act 1, I tended to idle on the rock that juts from the forested side.
@@Elegiast it always plays behind astarion's camp so that's probably why!
Astarion theme sang by borislav himself. There are actualy places in the game where you can encounter the vocal song
That's not Astarion's theme, that's the Main Character theme, according to the author.
the version with lyrics plays when you're in the camp going to act 3, overlooking the city at a cliff's edge. I teared up a little ngl
Same
The Legacy of Bhall is also a really great piece from the game, especially because depending on your choices and who you start the game as, it could end up being your theme rather than the enemy's.
Great theme song for a certain companion in the game.
The game is surprisingly good, GOTY for sure
Its my game of the year. A little surprised how many people people are digging a crpg. Divinity Original Sin 1 and 2 a very good as well. BG3 is a step up in story, acting, dialogue and cutscenes but those older games have very similar quality of gameplay.
I haven't gotten too far in Baldur's Gate 3, it's one of those games I don't feel any compellation to rush through, and there's so much to chew on that I'm almost holding it back for a few uninterrupted holidays when I can just sink myself in deep.
But this song I play almost every day. It's full of the emotions you describe, and that yearning for just more time, something I can so deeply relate to as I get older.
Absolutely beautiful. An incredible work of art.
This is Astarion's and Durge's theme. Change my mind.
Felt also great for my Tav. A warlock who made the pact with his Fiendish patron because he literally wanted to live another day.
The author said it's the MC theme, since in my opinion the real main character is Durge... Yeah, it's perfect for him.
I love how there is a "ticking clock" hitting throughout the song. Not only with the metronome, but certain notes throughout the song hit the same "note" the metronome is making at times when it is absent.
Baldur's Gate 3 really should win the Game of the Year Award. From music to story to art to gameplay etc., everything was perfect in my opinion
Edit: We did it boys and girls! Congrats to BG3 Team!
It will
It did!
Should have won best soundtrack
@@mindartis4081 it's probably the best game I've ever played, but despite the soundtrack being stellar for me, I can see why it's not for everyone
What you said about the left hand pulse made me rethink the song. Considering the lyrics are “there’s more to do if I can only live” I think that gives this so much life. Borislav will be remembered with the names of Howard shore and John Williams. Absolutely incredible, every song in this game. Plus how they’re anchored to the story… good god man chill!!!!
I really like the duet in the end, where instead of "I want to live" and "if I can only live" it becomes "if WE can only live". It feels like the song is telling us a story about these two people, who met by complete coincidence, tangled with one another for their own personal reasons and somehow got involved so much, that they're now depending on each other to keep themselves afloat, and become two halves of a whole. It's so lovely, and a little heart-wrenching, but so beautiful.
I had no idea there were lyrics! I am so used to just the instrumentals in game, this was very interesting! Thank you for another great video
You can actually listen to the lyrical version in-game. In the camp between Act 2 and 3 if you walk up to the cliff overlooking the Village it starts playing
You can find the lyrics version in the game on the rock behind Astarion's tent in the chapter one camp.
Think there is another spot in camp when you are between chapter 2 and 3 as well.
@@illidank996 It's not just a village, it's the outskirts of Baldur's Gate itself.
So glad you’re diving in to larian’s games, please do more! From divinity original sin too!
I absolutely adore this song, it’s instantly become one of my favorite songs from any game. I am so happy to hear your input and I can’t wait to see you stream bg3!
I love that this channel introduces me to beautiful music I'd otherwise never would've heard. Thank you so much for that.
I cant believe how much this game has taken over my life in a good way. I was going through a rough depression at the time it came out and I needed something new to try and focus my mind on something. I really appreciate this game and everything it has done to change my state of mind. Bg3 is fantastic in so many ways.
It's great to see your analysis of this song. Baldur's Gate 3 music is one of my most cherished musical discoveries this year. I equally love The Power in its lyrics version, which is used as a credit song. The soundtrack really made me feel the core of the game is the characters, their relationships and aspirations, much more than in, say, divinity or Tyranny.
Ugh thank you!!! This one is so often overlooked because it's not obvious in the game, but it's SO GOOD!! "Peaceful Unrest" is a perfect way to sum up that romance (or even friendship path). Ugh the whole game and soundtrack is so damn good.
I listened to this song on repeat for DAYS after hearing it. It's so gorgeous.
Borislav Slavov is one of the best composers to ever live, in my opinion. The music they've written will stay in my heart and mind forever.
Amazing breakdown, really educated and insightful. Thank you!
I love this song very much and acoustic version even more. Whenever I have time I listen to this.
The original context for this song, as well as Down by the River, was supposed to be about the tadpole seducing your character to keep it and embrace it. It's cool how your insights about the song reveal these bits. The tadpole is a living organism that wants to survive, but it is, at the end of the day, a parasite. It will use anything at its disposal, from pleading to seduction to promises of power in order to convince your character to keep it. "There's more to do if I can only live". In the Early Access version there was another dream character, Daisy, who was essentially the manifestation of the tadpole in your dreams as someone your character is very attracted to who tried to do exactly that - seduce you into convincing it's in your interest to work with it. It was later scrapped for the more subtle Guardian that we have today, but traces of Daisy's original concept linger in these two songs and it's really nice to see you pick up on them while analyzing the song. Also the duet voices each having their own perspective, as opposed to sharing one, which you also pointed out, and the ticking clock at the end both lend themselves to the tadpole situation as well.
Yes please on the BG3 Stream!
One of my favorite aspects of this theme is the fact that it plays in most camp areas (only instrumental tho). This essentially grounds it into the player's mind, giving them a sense of "home" or, as the song's title suggests, the plea to "live". By the end of my first playthrough, all I needed was those first few notes on the piano to give me feelings of my camp, a temporary home and bastion where I could be safe from all the horrors of the outside world. While not the most flashy or awe-inspiring, this song definitely goes in the top 3 as far as being affective on my emotions (Raphael's Final Act still is number one, and the Nightsong's theme takes spot number 2).
P.S. I would absolutely love an analysis of the Nightsong's theme. Keep up the great work! :)
I got super confused when the lyrics kicked in. Didn't realise there was two versions of the song.
It only plays in two places that I know of. Standing in the ledge behind Astarion's tent in the first camp, and then in the camp right before act 3 you can stand on a ledge overlooking the city. It took me almost 400 hours to find out this song existed lol
@Akeyins I'll keep an ear out for that on my Karlach playthrough, she's close-ish to getting to Act 3
@@Lichsorrow ooh a Karlach run sounds really fun! My next run after I finish my evil dark urge is probably gonna be Gale origin, but I definitely wanna play as Karlach one day
@@Akeyins I've got an evil and a good Dark Urge going as well. Really good fun
@@Lichsorrow dark urge is honestly so amazing because there's so many different ways to play it. My last run was a good dark urge who wasn't strong enough to resist fully in the end, and eventually I'm gonna make one that 100% succeeds in resisting. There's just so much replay value
I love this song so much.
There's something about the main motif (is that the right word?) that just presses all the right buttons in my brain. Knowing it was Astarion's theme gives the lyrics another layer of meaning.
In some ways it reminds me of the 'Oh Death' theme from the Dark Pictures Anthology.
The instrumental version of this is my favorite from the game. It makes me already nostalgic, because it plays when in camp. Makes you miss those peacful nights just talking to your companions and hanging around. It's only been 2 weeks since i finished the game & man it hurts to listen to it. There are really few games that take you on such an emotional adventure.
This is just too beautiful... god damn!
Hi big boi ! nice video as always. ahh this music is good, when that kick in the end dam.. was no far to cry ^^
I'm still in Act 1 of the game so hadn't yet heard this one. The instrumental only version is probably my favourite of the game so far. Great analysis, as always.
Go stand on the rock behind astarian’s tent.
This is the first time I’ve watched one of your videos. This song is lovely and you singing it also lovely.
❤️❤️❤️ thank you Becca!
Instrumental version when you go back to Camp is one of my favourite vibe. It's always a little calm before going back into action.
Im not a bg3 player, but- this song catched me instantly.
I started figuring out, what happend to Astarion? Want to live, is such open.
Yes, the interpretation range is given well.
Borislav did it on point.
Thanks for all of the songs, written to the scenes n givin emotions ❤
I k ow im late to the party here, but i love this song. Ive ways interpreted it as a converaation (like you said) between astarion and a female dark urge. Theyre singing about wanting to be together and to redeem themselves for each other. To love with one another, rather than continue on the path theyd been essentially forced down against their own will.
BG3 stream would be amazing, just keep in mind the combat mechanics can be a bit overwhelming at first but once it clics it's the best thing ever
The sound of the clock is heard perfectly at the end of the song, after the last phrase "The clock won't stop and this is what we get." It's just when you discover it. But the ticking is heard throughout the entire song, at the beginning it's as subtle as it is beautiful. Moreover, if you listen to this song knowing the character Astarion, it really touches the heart.
i've played this game since early access. tbh, i found the music to mostly remain in the background. the pieces that really stood out to me were: raphael's theme, alfira's song, cazador's castle, and maybe the harpy song. I've never heard of this piece, and I'm genuinely surprised with how nice it is. even the lyrics are great! i only recognize the melody as the theme for camp
I hope you do the main theme! I feel it is incredible ❤
I loved that you expressed the twinkling of glass was open to interpretation because I get "clockwork" and for me that's a call back to Larian's earlier title, Divinity Original Sin 2. The clockwork isn't itself malicious but it does suggest a machinative (made up a word, go with it) nature which I think plays in to the rest of the piece really nicely. These characters "want to live" and there are many little small gears that will have to turn before that can happen.
This is like Astarian’s song. The Vampire companion with the tormented past. A slave who was forced to do things that had a huge effect on him until he meets you the Player,where he grows as a character.❤❤❤
It is actually not Astarions song as stated by the composer while the song fits his character to a T this is actually tavs theme
@@rickyallen9672 He never stated that it's tav theme. He only said that the song is 'for you, the player'.
Originally all characters were supposed to have a theme, but i the end they decided to use this one for the entire game. Since they decided to use it for the entire game and didn't want to exclude players who don't recruit/use/like Astarion he basically had to say that it's for the player. But the lyrics are obviously about Astarion and not Tav. Tav can be anyone you want and you have to make an actual effort to interpret the lines to suit them unless of course your tav is a vampire (numerous references to vampiric lore such as drinking blood or needing the invitation, or being cold as death) who at first sight appears 'vain' ('I didn't know you well back then, I blamed it all on luck and vain' - literally nobody think Tav/Durge is a vain asshole at the beginning) but in reality is a traumatized and abused person that was forced to do a lot o fucked up things they feel guilty about against their will ('not my sins') and who is trying to break their chains. Some lines suit Durge as well, but literally none suit Tav.
Personally I think that this is a song that Astarion and Durge could sing about each other so in a way it's both the Astarion theme and a song 'for the player' as Borislav said since you can interpret it either as the player's character singing about Astarion or Astarion having Durge in mind.
The ticking clock is there from the beginning of the instrumentation. And wanting to live with the threat that you're running out of time is a theme that connects to the stories of other characters too, even if this is primarily Astarion's song. Everyone feels they're under an imminent threat to their life at first from the tadpoles. And Karlach, Gale, and Wyll all have their own unique threats hanging over their head that will kill them or ruin their lives.
I had no idea there were lyrics for this theme! so f*cking beautiful
If you played BG 3 you would instantly know that this is Astarion's theme. His story is about freedom from enslavement and dependence to a master vampire. The ultimate test *spoilers alert* is for him to get the freedom he so wanted to achieve without being tied to the same cycle of slavery through the temptation of power and personal gain; by becoming the same monster he so originally detested.
I'm more than sure this song is about Astarion and Tav's feelings, how they both feel extreme attraction towards each other and this melancholy from knowing that they might not live long enough. Really sensual, erotic and vulnerable.
Astarion+Durge! :)
Twisted Force is the best track from BG3, I'm sure you'll love it
YESSSSS BALDURS GATE CONTENT!
I dunno if this has been confirmed but it seems like this is astarion's theme. Extremely fitting.
Some ppl say it's about all characters... not sure tbh.
It’s been confirmed it’s Tav’s theme.
It also works as the emperor's theme. The gender switching sort of leans into that, but the blood seems very Astarion.
The emperor notes to you several times throughout the game is his only true desire is to just keep on living.
@@siyrean It hasn't in fact been confirmed. The composer said only that the song is 'for you, the player'. Not about the player's character.
Im begging you. Please. Even if its only one of these songs i have got to hear you cover one of these with that opera voice. Raphael gave us all a taste for it
I actually did ;)
I think this is a lament. It is a tragic tale of two lovers who split apart and spend their entire lives trying to get to the point that they would be ready for each other again. I think the man wasn't ready and didn't realize what he had left behind until it was too late, his chains being his own naivette. The woman is clearly enraptured with him, feeling they are destined to be together, but something prevented her from finding him or being found, keeping her chained down.
When they finally do reunite, still madly in love, it is only in their final moments and the only thing they truly wanted to wish for was more time together.
This song hit me harder than I expected. It is dripping with regret and I can tell these two characters never stopped loving each other, making it all the more heartbreaking when they never got to show it. I've heard the instrumental version everywhere in-game, but didn't get to a point to hear the sung version. With a game like this, the song might actually be about lovers becoming vampires.
I have no doubt it gets game of the year, but I'll be mad if it doesn't get the award for soundtrack and voice acting either. Boris makes songs that hit on the first listen, second listen, five-hundred-and-fifty-seventh-but-who-is-counting-th listen. I can confidently bet right now, that 50 years from now, I'll still be listening to Down by the River, the Power, and I want to Live. And though I would have picked Amelia Tyler for her narration instead of Astarion, if that saucy vampire doesn't take that award home then I just lose faith in the concept of awards.
always saw this as a vampire song, they both need the blood like wine, the one who is living (male in this) and the vampire (female in this). The one needs to blood to live "don't let me die" and the other one needs it "I want to live". It is the blood victim and the vampire singing to each other in this tug-and-pull story of survival between them. A song I associate to Astarian too like Marco does.
If you want to hear this in game, the forest camp, the rock above Astarion's camp
I cannot listen to this song without thinking of Tav x Astarion and crying...
While not your normal forte I’d love to hear your opinion on March of the Eagles from the Hearts of Iron IV play list or the Bella Ciao HOI IV version. Cheers mate and love your work.
I'll check it out!
you should definitely listen to the lyrical/non lyrical version of Divine's Lament from DoS2!
Have you listened to Jeff van Dyck's work for Rome: Total War? The song "Divinitus" is the only song from any Total War game that has burned itself into my - and many total war fans - brains as *the* song that invokes the feeling of a managing an empire and engaging in total war.
Hell, a lot of the music for their recent game trailers are phenomenal, they do not disappoint! Worth a listen to is the trailer music for Total War: Three Kingdoms - Eight Princes Trailer, the Total War: Warhammer - Bretonnia Trailer, the Total War: Warhammer 2 - Vampire Coast Trailer, and the Total War: Warhammer 3 Trailer Music just to name a few off the top of my head, their music does not disappoint!
can you please do starbounds ost maybe not all of it since it is 5+ hours of ost but its so good even just the trailers ost is so good and makes me want to play it every time i watch the trailer just from the music
Def Game of the Year for me
Am I the only one who thinks that this song (by the way a really really great song) have strong similar elements, most noticeable in the classical version to the song Sleep from The Dandy Warhols?
I am not a musician and I bet the notes are totally different. But for my uneducated ear these two songs have the same guitar play. But still transport very different moods.
It would be really cool to see you react to the piece from Darkest Dungeon II OST "The Winding Valley" I think it describes perfectly the game and it's Lovecraftian nature :)
Hey its the second theme called "I want to live" from a game that I like
The other is from one piece warriors 3 but thats an entirely different type of thing
hmm i feel like i've heard this melody before in divinity 2. i know he also did the score in divinity 2
Funny thing is, since I first heard it in Early Access I was sure it was Astarion's and Tavs romance theme. You could actually hear it at the first camp. But then Borislav said its for all the players which is quite confusing. Sure, you can find elements for all characters but it's just a checklist for Astarion romance
Yes!! Totally agree. This is Astarion's song to me.
Me: playing Baldurs Gate 3
Also me: Hmm wonder if Marco has listened to "I Want to Live" yet.
Me: checks UA-cam
Me, now very excited: OMG HE HAS!
Edit: How can Marco call me out on my Astarion love within the first 30 seconds of the female verse, like bro-
while i love the lyrics, I wish it wasn't so overproduced/edited and was more raw. Annapantsu has a great cover here on youtube that feels like a nice compromise between the instrumental version played in camp and the lyrical version - plus she sings it really well.
Do you have any plans to perform an analysis video for Raphael's Final Act, or is a glorified Disney Villain Song™ not deep enough to be worth the brainpower?
I did it!
Blood thicker than water.. 😅 id like to buy this game next but i know it take chunk of my life time.
I have 700 hours so far. I don't regret a moment of it, but it will consume you, given a chance.
Its not a live service game tho. No obligation to take a day off the game. It took me a month and an half with 150h on my first run
True! There is no battle pass/seasonal/limited time need to log in things. It is just a super good game.
that is the point my friend :-)
Down by the river and The Power next pleaseeeeeee
this song made ma eyes VERY wet, when I heard it first time. Astarions fate is very tragic
Maybe I shouldn't have staked Asterion on my first long rest😆
When eating at Denny's
Epic BG2/BG1 music > 😴 BG3 music