Indeed, she created one of the most memorable and best soundtracks in all of gaming and some of my favorites that I can't get out of my head for the rest of my life. She's up there with Yuzo Koshiro and some others for best game composers. Ryu's theme is epic but the entire soundtrack is dope as a whole as well. Peace, fellow gamers.
I don't blame you, she's fantastic. I first discovered her in the early 2000's from her amazing work on Legend of Mana, and I didn't even know just how much stuff she had done before that, but when I find out I'm always saying "that makes sense!" Just as in the case of SFII here. I always loved this soundrtrack as a kid. Blanka's and Sagat's theme gives me chills to this day.
Actually cried when I saw this... I knew Capcom and SFII as my childhood but never recognized this brilliant artistic woman to be the mastermind behind this incredible creation of music. Thank you Yoko, I have never appreciated and realized how lucky we all are to be a part of this history as kids.
Even now i dont think she quite comprehends just how much of an impact her music has made. Her themes are so synonymous, that they are more recognisable than the actual national anthems. Legend
She always said that she wanted to work on RPG sountracks. That wasn't really Capcom's strongest genre, and it was for the best since Breath of Fire died at its 4th entry. Besides, she's a Freelancer since 2003, she didn't stay in Square that long.
Just like the legends like Bruce Lee,Michael Jackson who comes once in million years, this great woman is a legend too which a unique identity. She is all over my childhood and still going on. Thanks a bunch!!!!
when you listen back to the blanka theme now it totally makes sense that it came into existence on a train. the 5 note melody has the rhythm of the clack of train wheels on tracks.
Because of her and the sf2 stage/char themes she created, i can proudly say that have very fond and proud memories of my childhood that i shall cherish for the rest of my life:)
Yeah, no other bit of music gives me as much youthful exuberance as the starting theme to Street Fighter 2. But if SF2 was the sun, Streets of Rage was the moon. That intro by Yuzo Koshiro is so moody and crisp. Both very awesome works. Honorable mentions: Sonic, Contra, Blaster Master, Castlevania, SMB.
I already worshiped Yoko for her work with the Kingdom Hearts series, then I found that she made the SF2 soundtrack, I was shocked! Also the soundtrack of FFXV was amazing!
She really nailed it, all the tracks are great, but how she could capture that flamenco upbeat vibe for the Vega song being japanese amazes me. True legend.
Gratitude to the legend. My first Adrenalin rush in life was created by herself when i heard distinctly this sounds walking around game shops. And i literally heard this musics in dreams on that times. Hats off.
Her music in Mario RPG is the reason why I'm the musician I am today. Mushroom Kingdom and Monstro Town were the first songs I learned without sheet music, just by listening. She truly is a masterful composer and just inches over Koji Kondo & Nobuo Uematsu. Whether it's Kingdom Hearts, FG XV, Mario RPG, Shiva's Theme from Streets of Rage 4, select songs from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Kass' Theme), or even Street Fighter 2, her melodies have always stuck out to me more as unique and special. Thank you Shimomura-San for your inspiration
In order for her to produce this soundtrack she would have to listen and study other genres of music around the world and execute it through her own compositions! Shes a genius
Not only this game.... she wrote the music for Super Mario RPG. Check out Valentina's Castle cover by Patti Rudasill for a full baroque style song. (Notes lifted exactly from her composition.)
The sound test for SFII was a blessing cause the music and sounds were THAT good that I could just play the music by itself and would be happy doing stuff around my room with said music as background.
Mrs Shimomura, you have no idea how many children, now grown adults like me, have been mesmerized by the beauty of your music, in the entire world. Your music partly shaped my young musical brain. Then, as a young amateur musician, I studied in depth several SF2 themes, most notably Blanka's and Ryu's, my favourites. Your pieces are candy to the ears as much as to the thinking musician's brain. Thank you for the music, your are love all over the world. ARIGATOU from France
Algo que já percebi em algumas entrevistas da Yoko Shimomura é que ,pra ela, ter feito a trilha sonora de SF2 foi apenas um trabalho como qualquer outro, não teve nada de especial: A empresa, no caso a CAPCOM, solicitou o serviço, ela cumpriu o acordado, foi paga por isso, e pronto, assunto encerrado. Já pra nós, fãs, essas músicas tem um significado muito mais especial: São épicas, marcantes, recordações de uma época mágica, de momentos felizes, de disputas, amizades, brincadeiras. Algo que nos remete ao frescor de nossa infância e adolescência.
This made me tear up. SFII too was my whole childhood and the music was a huge part of what made the game so iconic. Thank you, Yoko! You've given so many kids (adults now) some of our fondest childhood memories.
🕺🏾Yoko Is A Muscial Goddess🎎 Who Came In Our Existence Of This Earth🌍Since Capcom Gave Birth 4 Standard Fighting Games 2 Create Their Own Lane (She's DEFINITELY A Livin Legend🏆 In My Eyes🙏🏾)
Everyone is wanting Street Fighter 6 to return to the jazz/rap style soundtrack of SF3 but for me I want Yoko Shimomura back. Her remix of Guile and Vega’s theme in Super Smash Bros Ultimate in a way felt like a tease as what a newer Street Fighter soundtrack would sound like if she were to come back and the fact the music in the Street Fighter 2 games are the most recognizable songs in the fighting game genre shows what a legend she is. What the story that is being tease for SF6 I could only imagine how godlike her orchestra style soundtrack would sound for Street Fighter 6 😍
This woman singlehandedly changed the life of millions. SF2 has easily one of the best soundtracks in history. Instantly recognizable and an influence to sound designers everywhere.
This woman deserves so much more success and fame. I cannot praise her work enough. Coming from the Super Mario RPG remake, which she remixed and remastered all of her original soundtrack for the remake, left me absolutely floored. I also didnt expect that my favorite remade song would be "Slope" that plays when running up Booster Hill. In the OG it was a good song but this woman turned it from "good" to ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! Whatever she's been paid for her work cannot possibly be enough. She's a modern day Mozart and should be in the same conversations as John Williams is but because she mostly composes for Japanese videogames it'll never happen.
Being a fighting videogame mostly targeted for men, the OST is so magnificient that still susprises me how Yoko (as a woman) perfectly understood the feeling that the music should express for SF2. Thanks for building the best memories of our childhoods ❤️🎮
My first game growing up was Mario and Luigi super star saga. She wrote the music to my childhood. It's no wonder I love Claw's theme because it sounds so similar to a Mario and Luigi boss theme!
The SFII music has become so ingrained in culture that it's weird to think an actual person created it, it feels so iconic like it just exists as part of nature. No Street Fighter game has had music as good as II and it's 99% because of Yoko Shimomura's genius. And no remix of her original themes have the same impact as her's on CPS1 hardware. There's such power there which was always watered down afterwards for some reason.
Something I've noticed in some of Yoko Shimomura's interviews is that, for her, making the soundtrack for SF2 was just a job like any other, there was nothing special about it: The company, in this case CAPCOM, requested the service, it complied with the agreement, was paid for it, and that's it, matter closed. For us, fans, these songs have a much more special meaning: They are epic, striking, memories of a magical time, happy moments, disputes, friendships, games. Something that takes us back to the freshness of our childhood and adolescence.
Yeah, her favourite soundtrack that she made was a dark horse of a franchise, Legend of Mana. She loved how diverse the tracks are and the relative artistic liberty she was given when she made the tracks.
This woman is an absolute legend.
No words can explain. She constructed my childhood memory for the love of these tracks and sounds that I still play today
I came here to say exactly this. Word for word 😆
Indeed, she created one of the most memorable and best soundtracks in all of gaming and some of my favorites that I can't get out of my head for the rest of my life. She's up there with Yuzo Koshiro and some others for best game composers.
Ryu's theme is epic but the entire soundtrack is dope as a whole as well.
Peace, fellow gamers.
yes. I used to listen to this OST with cassette tape with imagination.
and these melodies still lingers in my head after decades!
She wrote my childhood
Sf2 had AMAZING sound design
Most badass woman ever, composing one of the greatest video game soundtracks ever. Great vid - love the Diggin in the Carts documentary.
Yes, it is a great doco. Odd that they took episode 3 down.
*one*?
Several of the greatest soundtracks in gammiing. easy.
Every song in this game is homerun. How can you be this good?
She is my biggest influence as a musician, composer, and professional recording engineer. I'm deadly serious!
🔥🔥🔥🔥
Nebula, love is the KEY! Never forget that my friend! ♥
I don't blame you, she's fantastic. I first discovered her in the early 2000's from her amazing work on Legend of Mana, and I didn't even know just how much stuff she had done before that, but when I find out I'm always saying "that makes sense!" Just as in the case of SFII here. I always loved this soundrtrack as a kid. Blanka's and Sagat's theme gives me chills to this day.
Wow. She is an amazing talent! The whole sound design of SFII. She basically changed video game history.
Actually cried when I saw this... I knew Capcom and SFII as my childhood but never recognized this brilliant artistic woman to be the mastermind behind this incredible creation of music. Thank you Yoko, I have never appreciated and realized how lucky we all are to be a part of this history as kids.
Well said 👍🏼
True. We are to be a part of this, man she is so awesome.
Same here. Phenomenal artist!
same here ✋
Even now i dont think she quite comprehends just how much of an impact her music has made. Her themes are so synonymous, that they are more recognisable than the actual national anthems. Legend
I completely agree!
I cannot say it better.
I entirely agree that "The Star Spangled Banner" needs replaced with Guile's Theme.
What a shame that Capcom didn't appreciate any of her talents, prompting her to go to Square.
Don't complain too much. We have hours of glorious KH/FFXV music because of it!
Shame we got the Parasite Eve soundtrack out of it? No way... too bad for Capcom, yes.
And boy did she get rewarded for said talents
Roger bussiness ! Its all about bussiness.
She always said that she wanted to work on RPG sountracks. That wasn't really Capcom's strongest genre, and it was for the best since Breath of Fire died at its 4th entry.
Besides, she's a Freelancer since 2003, she didn't stay in Square that long.
What she really made was the soundtracks to many kid's lives
Literally millions. An entire generation
She’s so humble. SF2 gave her confidence. SF2 gave many guys on this planet what is known as life.
I spent hundreds of hours playing SF2 with friends!
Thank you so much Yoko Shimomura!
I'm sure it's been thousands of hours!
Just like the legends like Bruce Lee,Michael Jackson who comes once in million years, this great woman is a legend too which a unique identity. She is all over my childhood and still going on. Thanks a bunch!!!!
Thank you, GODDESS of Yoko! You have impacted the lives if so many kids back and in the 90’s more than you will ever know in an amazing way.
This woman is responsible for my all time favorite video game soundtrack. All the best to you Yoko.
when you listen back to the blanka theme now it totally makes sense that it came into existence on a train. the 5 note melody has the rhythm of the clack of train wheels on tracks.
This woman is a genius. She wrote simple but perfect themes that sticks into your mind for YEARS!
Yoko is the John Williams of video games
You mean Alan Silvestri.
Because of her and the sf2 stage/char themes she created, i can proudly say that have very fond and proud memories of my childhood that i shall cherish for the rest of my life:)
100% the best videogame soundtrack of all time
Dunno mate. Streets of Rage 1+2 give it a run for it's money.
BTW Manchester might be blue but Europe is RED!
Yeah, no other bit of music gives me as much youthful exuberance as the starting theme to Street Fighter 2. But if SF2 was the sun, Streets of Rage was the moon. That intro by Yuzo Koshiro is so moody and crisp. Both very awesome works. Honorable mentions: Sonic, Contra, Blaster Master, Castlevania, SMB.
She also did kingdom hearts soundtrack which Imo is better.
Uematsu, Kondo, Mitsuda
素晴らしい音楽を沢山ありがとうございます!
何十年経っても、心に響いていつまでも残ってます。
Thank you ma'am.
I already worshiped Yoko for her work with the Kingdom Hearts series, then I found that she made the SF2 soundtrack, I was shocked!
Also the soundtrack of FFXV was amazing!
She really nailed it, all the tracks are great, but how she could capture that flamenco upbeat vibe for the Vega song being japanese amazes me. True legend.
She’s extremely modest for her caliber. No, it was not only you who thanked SFII, SFII also needed to thank you.
This woman is part of historical culture and defined music and sounds for generations.
I agree.
Press like if you had goosebumps internally and externally throughout your whole body during this video.
Street Fighter, Parasite Eve, Super Mario RPG, Legend of Mana..
She's an underappreciated genius.
Kingdom Hearts too.
Gratitude to the legend. My first Adrenalin rush in life was created by herself when i heard distinctly this sounds walking around game shops. And i literally heard this musics in dreams on that times. Hats off.
Glad she gets even a bit of recognition here. Incredible iconic tracks. Ken's, blankas, Guiles, and Bisons are my favs
Her music in Mario RPG is the reason why I'm the musician I am today. Mushroom Kingdom and Monstro Town were the first songs I learned without sheet music, just by listening. She truly is a masterful composer and just inches over Koji Kondo & Nobuo Uematsu. Whether it's Kingdom Hearts, FG XV, Mario RPG, Shiva's Theme from Streets of Rage 4, select songs from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Kass' Theme), or even Street Fighter 2, her melodies have always stuck out to me more as unique and special. Thank you Shimomura-San for your inspiration
That blanka theme was pure genius really. Imagine putting the riffs on that short span of time the emotions of that music.
In order for her to produce this soundtrack she would have to listen and study other genres of music around the world and execute it through her own compositions! Shes a genius
Not only this game.... she wrote the music for Super Mario RPG. Check out Valentina's Castle cover by Patti Rudasill for a full baroque style song. (Notes lifted exactly from her composition.)
And this: (wish it repeated tho!)
ua-cam.com/video/x4hE3qp4u-M/v-deo.html
I've got to give a "Thank you" to Yoko Shimomura for making one of the most iconic video game soundtracks of all time. Thank you! Peace.
The Japanese video game industry owes her so much.
The sound test for SFII was a blessing cause the music and sounds were THAT good that I could just play the music by itself and would be happy doing stuff around my room with said music as background.
Mrs Shimomura, you have no idea how many children, now grown adults like me, have been mesmerized by the beauty of your music, in the entire world. Your music partly shaped my young musical brain. Then, as a young amateur musician, I studied in depth several SF2 themes, most notably Blanka's and Ryu's, my favourites. Your pieces are candy to the ears as much as to the thinking musician's brain. Thank you for the music, your are love all over the world. ARIGATOU from France
Thank you Yoko Shimamura.
Algo que já percebi em algumas entrevistas da Yoko Shimomura é que ,pra ela, ter feito a trilha sonora de SF2 foi apenas um trabalho como qualquer outro, não teve nada de especial:
A empresa, no caso a CAPCOM, solicitou o serviço, ela cumpriu o acordado, foi paga por isso, e pronto, assunto encerrado.
Já pra nós, fãs, essas músicas tem um significado muito mais especial:
São épicas, marcantes, recordações de uma época mágica, de momentos felizes, de disputas, amizades, brincadeiras.
Algo que nos remete ao frescor de nossa infância e adolescência.
I wish this was an hour long
This made me tear up. SFII too was my whole childhood and the music was a huge part of what made the game so iconic. Thank you, Yoko! You've given so many kids (adults now) some of our fondest childhood memories.
🕺🏾Yoko Is A Muscial Goddess🎎
Who Came In Our Existence Of This Earth🌍Since Capcom Gave Birth 4 Standard Fighting Games 2 Create Their Own Lane
(She's DEFINITELY A Livin Legend🏆
In My Eyes🙏🏾)
Yoko Shimomura is a musical genius!
Aside from good design ang programming the sound of SF2 made it iconic..and i now knew this lady did it...amazing
SF2 ost is flawless , its just perfect, What a legendary game
Everyone is wanting Street Fighter 6 to return to the jazz/rap style soundtrack of SF3 but for me I want Yoko Shimomura back. Her remix of Guile and Vega’s theme in Super Smash Bros Ultimate in a way felt like a tease as what a newer Street Fighter soundtrack would sound like if she were to come back and the fact the music in the Street Fighter 2 games are the most recognizable songs in the fighting game genre shows what a legend she is. What the story that is being tease for SF6 I could only imagine how godlike her orchestra style soundtrack would sound for Street Fighter 6 😍
Disgustingly based take. Pretty sure she's a freelancer too so who knows...
Which remix do you mean? There are three versions of Guile's theme in Ultimate that I can find, with the main one being by Yuzo Koshiro
the spain theme is an absolutly beethoven level composition.
I love the feeling of thinking about a problem on the train and rushing to my desk to write it down
Thank you for everything Yoko! (eyes in tears)
This woman singlehandedly changed the life of millions. SF2 has easily one of the best soundtracks in history. Instantly recognizable and an influence to sound designers everywhere.
My love and my salute to you Yoko san, from ex 90's child 🙏
Words can't express how grateful I am for Street Fighter 2. This woman is a genius. SF II is a work of genius.
You are my hero. Thank you for making my childhood legendary…
Her music is forever engraved into my brain until the day I'm old.
All her tracks are so memorable. Something that's really lacking from today's games is such memorable melodies. What a brilliant talent
So special 💜 I will cry 😭
This woman deserves so much more success and fame. I cannot praise her work enough. Coming from the Super Mario RPG remake, which she remixed and remastered all of her original soundtrack for the remake, left me absolutely floored. I also didnt expect that my favorite remade song would be "Slope" that plays when running up Booster Hill. In the OG it was a good song but this woman turned it from "good" to ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!
Whatever she's been paid for her work cannot possibly be enough. She's a modern day Mozart and should be in the same conversations as John Williams is but because she mostly composes for Japanese videogames it'll never happen.
The character select music was one of my favorites, she's very talented
She is not only a legend herself, but she is so humble and chill! Wow, great video!
Such a simple humble woman and yet she composed classic video games songs that could still be around 500 years from now.
Damn, no one talked about Balrog's theme :/
🥊🥊🥊💃💃🥊🥊🥊
The best theme of any game ever
That theme really fit the character like a glove, just like Guile's theme.
I've been following her masterpiece since SNES/SFC days. She's genuinely gifted, and talented.
From Street Fighter II, to Legend of Mana, amazing all around.
This lady is a legend!!
4:31 "I'm happy that so many kids overseas learnt that Japanese from the game"
Me saying "Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku" back then: Ateck-teck-tuguem!
Being a fighting videogame mostly targeted for men, the OST is so magnificient that still susprises me how Yoko (as a woman) perfectly understood the feeling that the music should express for SF2. Thanks for building the best memories of our childhoods ❤️🎮
A music legend ありがとうございますYoko!
Thank you so very much! Street fighter 2 music can’t be beaten
To this day I listen to SF2 music in the Gym. Nice to see the face that made those songs.
My first game growing up was Mario and Luigi super star saga. She wrote the music to my childhood. It's no wonder I love Claw's theme because it sounds so similar to a Mario and Luigi boss theme!
Dhalsim theme was my jam [was super skinny growing up and i just loved him]. forgot Blanka's; that one is wicked as well.
There's not enough thanks in the world for her amazing compositions! 🙏
You are a living god !! Ty sooo much for the fond memories , awesome music , may you live to be 💯
SHE MADE OUR CHILDHOOD AWESOME
This woman was destined for greatness.
Yoko is LOVE!!! ♥♥♥
She's amazing, so many female artists made my absolute favourite game soundtracks growing up, gotta love it. 💜
The SFII music has become so ingrained in culture that it's weird to think an actual person created it, it feels so iconic like it just exists as part of nature. No Street Fighter game has had music as good as II and it's 99% because of Yoko Shimomura's genius. And no remix of her original themes have the same impact as her's on CPS1 hardware. There's such power there which was always watered down afterwards for some reason.
Agree, the Super SFII SFX/music was a step backwards from Yoko’s powerful original vision
She became part of my childhood memories, my respect for you, and thank you for your great work
Ms. Shimomura also made the soundtrack for High Score Girl, an awesome anime about arcade games.
Le debo mis respetos a esta señora...
España agradece tu talento, Yoko. ¡Te queremos! Spain thanks your talent, Yoko. We love you!
Guile's theme is the best. What a legend
0:34
And this is why Guile's theme sounds like how it is, perfect
Amazing video and woman, street fighter 2 games were like a religion for me growing up, and still kinda are.
Her music was a big part of that.
Essa mulher me fez muito feliz, não apenas eu como todos os fãs de SFII... Uma verdadeira artista, criadora de obras primas!
Gotta love how chill and laid back she is.
Thank you so much for making my childhood awesome
I’ve never considered composing music before watching this vid
Yup. Inspiration.
Strikes whenever it wants.
thank you for giving us memorable times
Shimomura-san is one of the all-time great video game composers. She deserves way more recognition
This woman its true education!
I started playing SF in an actual arcade in the 90's and never knew a woman composed this EPIC music! She's my hero!
I didn't realise at the time but I remember SF2 music more than the game
Thank you Madam
Intro and character select themes are also unique and sick too.
Behold the queen
She literally wrote a better American Anthem (Guile theme) than anything the US ever had done. And just as popular too. Legendary composer.
Something I've noticed in some of Yoko Shimomura's interviews is that, for her, making the soundtrack for SF2 was just a job like any other, there was nothing special about it:
The company, in this case CAPCOM, requested the service, it complied with the agreement, was paid for it, and that's it, matter closed.
For us, fans, these songs have a much more special meaning:
They are epic, striking, memories of a magical time, happy moments, disputes, friendships, games.
Something that takes us back to the freshness of our childhood and adolescence.
Yeah, her favourite soundtrack that she made was a dark horse of a franchise, Legend of Mana. She loved how diverse the tracks are and the relative artistic liberty she was given when she made the tracks.
What an amazing interview! Blanka's theme is goated