Some notable tracks you should listen to: A Call to Arms - World of Warcraft (2004) Arthas, My Son - World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (2008) Nightsong - World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (2010) Way of the Monk - World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (2012) Times Change - World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor (2014) A World Divided - World of Warcraft: Legion (2016) What Makes Us Strong - World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth (2018)
The Taverns of Azeroth is a collected album of tavern themes from classic WoW written by David Arkenstone, who may be more familiar to some since he was a new age composer before doing video games (namely WoW). I think after the taverns, his best work in WoW was the more recent Zuldazar theme City of Gold which screams Arkenstone.
Love the Song of Elune. Ashenvale is my favourite zone of all time just above. Zangarmarsh. Blizz no longer makes zones with deep flavour. Like Ashenvale, Zangarmarsh, Crystal Song forest, Nether Storm.
@@iclicklike3397 anything by Derek Duke is dreamy enough for me, he's involved in ~70% of the WoW tracks I love most at this point, I just used to be less aware of that fact. But I like almost everything from WoW tbh, especially the old-school stuff obviously, but the rest are good too, just in different ways I guess. The variety and quality are a real gift ^^
"Arthas, My Son" is such an iconic track for World of Warcraft. I don't know if it's the most complex but it's instantly recognizable by any player. World of Warcraft is an open game where there isn't one single narrative, but instead you play a character in a huge world with lots of travel and adventuring. The music tends to be either ambience, heroic calls to action, or themes/leitmotifs for locations and concepts in the game.
To me it's Lament of the Highborne, really, can't even remember that one. Need to check it out now, I'm probably going to feel pretty stupid afterwards. Edit: Yeah I do.
Your feel about this being an establishing song is quite right. Legends of Azeroth is the log-in theme when you launch the game. There are these two huge statues forming a gate which is inviting you into the World of Warcraft. You log-in and get to create your character and start your epic journey.
Nostalgia kick in the balls. Haven't played the game in what must be 15ish years now but you took me right back to being pimple faced high school kid in 2004 booting up 'WoW' for the first time.
@@johanneswestman935 As someone who last played just a couple of weeks ago, I'm still getting the feels. My brain wants me to immediately log back into the game upon hearing it haha
Invincible, Arthas my Son and Seasons of War give me Goosebumps every time i hear it. And dont forget to mention "A Call to arms". There are so many awesome tracks! Ty for listening!
"Not a memorable melody" - I felt chills listening to this piece again after so long. This game consumed my life for a few years which is something I can't say for any other game. Amazing memories.
Man this song is SO nostalgic for me, personally its incredibly memorable and like sad to hear again. It's really hard to explain, original wow players know what i mean
I love that you're doing game OST's now! The thing with alot of the music from WoW is the tracks are tied to specific areas or events. So when you're moving from one zone to another (the map for WoW is huge, about 61 sq mi. according to google) you'll have one track fade out to another, so the music is more about keeping immersion.
The composer Jason Hayes did a wonderful job with the WoW OST, great new pieces as well as taking themes and old tracks from Warcraft 2 and 3 and building upon them. As a recommendation from other Blizzard games, I would mention Diablo 1, Tristram theme, all the way back from 1997. For people who played in that time, it is THE theme everyone recognizes.
Your comment if you're unsure if Legends of Azeroth should be the first track to listen to, technically, it COULD be the best first track to listen to. This specific track is the OG/Vanilla/Classic login screen and character screen menu music. When you first boot up the game and watch the intro cinematic, you get that powerful intro of string and drums when its asking you to log in. And each expansion has it's own login screen music, based off this track.
World of Warcraft's OST is very huge, but many tracks are variations of each other. - A melody played by a violin and some drums - The same melody played by a trumpet, violin and drums - The same melody played by minimal violin and no drums - The same melody sung by a choir, with a violin and drums - And so on... In the game, you're walking around towns or forests, and hearing slightly different melodies. The variations keep things fresh. It can also be used in a way like, play the vocal version when you enter a town, play the softer melody afterward as you're exploring the town's buildings. Still the same melody to give that city its own leitmotif (?). World of Warcraft's songs are not meant to be looped. Using standard settings, you'll hear a one-minute song or two, then the background music becomes silent to make place for ambience (birds chirping, soft wind, etc.) until you enter a new area. In the game's settings, there is an option to loop songs; which continues to play variations of the area's theme without end. The music pieces themselves are still not looping. The first song you were listening to is the title screen. You'll hear it every time the game starts up, when you log in to your account, and it keeps playing when you enter the character creation screen. With each expansion of the game, the title screen music changed up, incorporating the expansion's main themes while still holding on or referencing to this melody; often in the shape of a medley of melodies.
I was a kid when I installed WoW for the first time back in 2004. Coming from the Warcraft series listening to this soundtrack when logging in really felt like stepping through the portal to another world. It still makes me feel this way after so many years. The power of music! It's so cool to see you break it down and explain how the odd time makes you feel uncomfortable. When I hear the music I just get flooded with so much comfort. I love music.
When the sound shifted during that first song, I could actually see the Tauren shaman from the opening cinematic. The power of music, I guess. I'd recommend The Isles Awaken, from the newest expansion, Dragonflight.
One thing to know about World of Warcraft (at least the classic game) is that it doesn't have a particular story or narrative. It is rather a big expansive world with lots of different and rich cultures, people and environments, where you're thrown into as an adventurer. Therefore, the music really isn't meant to support a particular moment or scene like in a movie or or other video games. It is rather meant to be expansive or represent a particular culture or environment within the game. This is the reason why if you listen to more WoW tracks, you'll find they don't really correlate to one another (some do), and they will elicit different feelings. You will find ambient music for fantasy cities of different races, pirate themes, horror themes or military themes, ambient music for deserts or magical forests, etc. You'll find eastern, middle eastern and western inspirations and instruments, and more. WoW has been around for almost 20 years, so there is a lot of variety. One of my favourite themes in WoW is Mountains of Thunder, which is just a track for a very mountainous and ancient zone in the game. I'm excited to watch more videos of you breaking down WoW music! :)
Hey Geebz! I would highly recommend "World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria Main Theme Login Intro", it's an absolutely beautiful track with chinese instrument inspiration. I first heard it when I was still a young lad new to the game and is what got me into orchestral music. Still pick a tear listening to it 10 years later remembering all the nostalgic memories and friends I met along the journey which the song truly beautifully encapsulates! Another absolutely EPIC soundtrack is "A Siege of Worlds", probably my favorite track out of World of Warcraft, just not as nostalgic as the intro I mentioned earlier -but A siege of worlds is one of my favorite video game soundtracks ever made. Also a massive rollercoaster ride of epicness and emotion. I REALLY hope you listen to these two tracks. I'm sure you'll enjoy them!
So the thing about the original WoW ost is that some of the songs are broken up into "moods" or "locations" moreso than actual songs. For example, "Enchanted Forest" is listed as one song, but its made up of like 6-7 different songs, each somewhere between 30 seconds to a minute, with very clear starting and stoping points marked by the music fading in and out. The music plays at different points throughout the game and so they dont necessarily flow into eachother when listening all the way through. For example, some play during the day, or some at night or at very specific locations. Something to keep in mind. But Enchanted forest is a great choice, especially the first ~30 seconds of it. "Forest" "Jungle" "Mountain" "Volcanic" "Desert" and "Barren Dry" are also good and iconic, though more on the ambient side. I think you should pick which ever name/location appeals most to you! If I had to pick one or two of these ambient tracks, i recommend "Jungle" or "Desert." I especially like Desert because it strongly captures the feeling of walking through an endless expanse of sandy dunes and ancient ruins, as you are suffering from heatstroke and dehydration. Jungle has great unique instruments like rain sticks, tribal drums and cool wind instruments! Volcanic gets a special mention because its just plain badass. Forest and Mountain are nice and cozy if you're more in the mood for that. Other songs I recommend are Gnomeregan, Sacred and Tavern (these ones are much shorter than the others more ambient tracks I listed) I know its a pipe dream, but it would be absolute amazing if you were to somehow listen through the entire album! WoW is a special interest of mine, its a game ive played on and off since it released almost 20 years ago.
so there are like 8 or 9 expansions to this game and it'd be very interesting to hear Geebz listen to the opening song for each and break down the evolution of it. OG WoW - Legends of Azeroth The Burning Crusade - The Burning Legion Wrath of the Lich King - Wrath of the Lich King Cataclysm - The Shattering Mists of Pandaria - Heart of Pandaria Warlords of Draenor - A Siege of Worlds Legion - Kingdoms will Burn Battle for Azeroth - Before the Storm Shadowlands - Through the Roof of the World Dragonflight - The Isles Awaken
@@tsj8726 It was always fun to see how much it would change; yet still kept us grounded in that leitmotif. The Shattering is still my personal favorite opening theme (though Cataclysm the expansion was meh)
I LOVE how each expansion has the same theme, but it's own identity based on what that expansion is supposed to be about. I really would love to see a comparison video where you go through the intro theme for each expansion. You did vanilla, so here are the rest: The Burning Crusade (2007) The Wrath of the Lich King (2008) Cataclysm (2010) Mists of Pandaria (2012) Warlords of Draenor (2014) Legion (2016) Battle for Azeroth (2018) Shadowlands (2020) Dragonflight (2022)
I got very excited about sharing WoW's music with you... I had a short list ready and came to your stream but you were having technical difficulties. And here you go and post this right after! One of the fun things about WoW's music is there two sides to it. There is the epic music that is used for trailers and certain key moments, and then there is the more ambient side that players hear more often while adventuring in the open world. I'm going to do my best to share some of those on your stream.
I am a musician but i can't listen to this song deconsrtuctively. It has such a special place in my heart that i never even thought of doing it. Just pure feelings flowing when i listen to it :D
Definitely listen to the Grizzly Hills music it’s so atmospheric and peaceful, shows the power of the northern forests. If you watch the track of it uploaded by the yt channel: Everness it will show the zone it’s played in in game. It’s one of the most popular and beloved tracks in Warcraft!
Hell yeah, tonight we "Prepare to Cry" (it's kind of a meme, maybe one time it'll be fun if you look that up) but World of Warcraft is an amazing game OST. "Arthas, My Son" is definitely one you should listen to. Hope things are looking better Geebz! I'm still here!
These songs were all made to capture the sense and vibe of certain zones (areas) of the game. They were meant to drive your emotion and immersion to the locations of the game.
I just subscribed a week ago or so but im so incredibly happy to see you react to WoW. Was my first MMORPG and holds a very special place in my heart, the music being one of the main factors. I dont know if you can show them on your video, maybe on stream? but there's videos where people walk thru in game areas focusing on the overall ambience of the location to enhance the music. If nothing else I recommend it for your personal viewing
For frame of reference; I've been playing this game, for nearly 20 years. And, the original ost (the 1st one), took me back all the way I really appreciate a professional's viewpoint on things i'm personally very familiar with. Incredible.
Heya! You're right, it's an establishing theme - what's interesting is if you go ahead and listen to the main theme from each of the following expansions (there are what, like nine now), you'll hear callbacks to that original theme in each of them that takes it and carries it forward. For the original soundtrack, highly recommend Nightsong as well as the tavern tracks
Hey Geebz! Thank you for taking my (and perhaps others) request for World of Warcraft OSTs. This is my most played music on Spotify, despite being a major fan of lots of music. I just saw that you posted this a few days ago, so THANK YOU!!! WoW OSTs always have 2 things: 1) TRACK 1 of every album, featuring a semi-fixed theme (utilizing Marty's "emotional equity"). 2) A track that is heard in the CINEMATIC (remember this term?) for each respective expansion. I'd REALLY like you to do a video comparing the main titles, perhaps 2 at a time. I'll list the albums at the end of this comment so you can find them easily, but basically just TRACK 1 of, say WoW (2004) to WoW:TBC (2007) album, back-to-back so you can hear the similarities and differences. ALSO I'd REALLLLLY like you to do a video where you listen to the "Cinematic track", commentate, then WATCH the cinematic, and commentate again. The "cinematic track" I will post the name of, as well as a link to the cinematic. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OSTs World of Warcraft (2004) World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (2007) World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (2008) World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (2010) World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (2012) World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor (2014) Cinematic Tracks "Seasons of War (Intro Movie)" then watching ua-cam.com/video/vlVSJ0AvZe0/v-deo.html "The Dark Portal (Cinematic Intro) then watching ua-cam.com/video/IBHL_-biMrQ/v-deo.html "Arthas, My Son" (Cinematic Intro) then watching ua-cam.com/video/BCr7y4SLhck/v-deo.html "Xaxas" then watching ua-cam.com/video/Wq4Y7ztznKc/v-deo.html "Why do we fight?" then watching ua-cam.com/video/wvYXoyxLv64/v-deo.html "Times Change" then watching ua-cam.com/video/TLzhlsEFcVQ/v-deo.html These are just the first 6 albums, but this will be plenty for a good while!!!!! If you're still here, REPLY I'M STILL HERE. THANK YOU GEEBZ!!!!!!!!
Grizzly Hills is considered the best, most atmospheric music. There's videos where someone flies around the zone as the music plays for the full experience. This song is the login music for the original game that came out in 2004. Every expansion remixes the login theme- my personal favourite is the Cataclysm one, it's called The Shattering. Mist of Pandaria Inn Music is a lot of fun too!
I'm so happy to see you doing WoW. This game has followed me through my life and has been a constant as I've aged from young lad to man. There are many many tracks across this near 20 year old game, as the game is still actively updated. Others here have outlined great tracks to pursue, just wanted to say I appreciate this dive! I hope more from WoW is to come!
What you were listening to was the ORIGINAL log-in music from the base game. It's what plays as you sign into your account and choose or make your character. Some of the leitmotif will continue through the log-in music of all of the expansions. The log in music for expansions include that, but throw in themes from that expansion, and mix in tunes from older ones. World of Warcraft is a HUGE game, made back in 2004. You'll see repeated themes throughout. "Warlords of Draenor," while not the most popular expansion had fantastic music. "Malach" is a beautiful piece combining tribal beats and soaring orchestration. For more atmospheric tunes, try . . . "Teldrassil" and "Song of Elune," from the original World of Warcraft (what many of us call Vanilla, or nowadays, Classic). It sounds really magical. "Village" variations from Warlords of Draenor - some of my favorites! "Jaina Homeland" (also called "Kul Tiras") variations from Mists of Pandaria expansion. "Invincible" from Wrath of the Lich King. Various music from Grizzly Hills, also from Wrath of the Lich King, which very well conveys the feeling of being outdoors. "Lament of the Highborne" from the Burning Crusade. "Anduin" from the Legion expansion. It would take HOURS but it's interesting to note the various themes that weave in and out of different pieces. For example, "Anduin," the child-king (while his dad was missing), then Prince, and then King in his own right, of Stormwind, has the Stormwind theme in his music, which makes perfect sense. A small snippet of "Call to Arms" from the original game can be heard in Jaina's theme, first introduced in MoP (and "Call to Arms" was also briefly played in a pivotal cinematic from Warcraft 3, where Arthas, who had once been betrothed to Jaina, murdered his own father - not sure if that's why it's there or for other reasons). And some of the music has different variations that play at different times, such as lyrical, military, etc. I think someone could do a deep dissertation just on the music of Warcraft / WoW (someone probably has).
From World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Totems of the Grizzlemaw is my all-time favorite track. But Salty Sailor, which is a tune for one of the taverns in the game is just a lot of fun.
The world of warcraft soundtrack has a lot of music that means a lot to many people. Though it's nature is more akin to that of a movie than traditional game soundtrack, in that you wont find as much in the way of strong melodies but rather many recurring themes representing certain characters and locations. And as such you will get strong recommendations of nearly everything because whichever faction and location any person started with will have made the strongest impression. Although also worth pointing out the world of warcraft soundtrack is only one part of it's own whole as each expansion has at least a whole CD worth of additional and altered tracks. So with all that said the best track out there is clearly Orgrimmar. For the horde!
What's great about Legends of Azeroth isn't the piece itself. World of Warcraft operates on expasions, which is to say that every few years or so, the developers add more content to the game. It's basically like adding another chapter to the book. Each time they do that, the game gets an overhaul. A lot changes. This piece played when you loaded up the original World of Warcraft, and with each expansion, the music changed, but the beginning motif is still there, followed by the music that showcases the expansion. For example, in Mists of Pandaria, the beginning motiff you heard when the song started is there, then it fades into the pandaren themed music after a bit. Anyway, if you wanna continue down the WoW Rabbit hole, I would definitely suggest "Arthas, my son/Invincible" and "Call to Arms". We love this, keep 'em coming!
I can’t begin to tell you how many hours I spent during my teens and twenties listening to this as I smoked a bowl or two before logging in to play for untold hours. I quit playing years ago, but many of the tracks from this game are ingrained into me and instantly get my emotions stirring even though I lost my passion for the game itself long ago. Even though I quit playing around 2017 or 2018, at that time I had nearly 2 solid years of played time on my account, which is time I spent actually logged into the game across all my characters. It’s crazy to think how much time I spent in that world.
So yeah, World of Warcraft has been active since 2004, with new expansions approximately every two years. So there are a LOT of OSTs. Legends of Azeroth is from the original, way back in '04. I think all of the OSTs over the years have done some cool stuff- but I'd particularly recommend Wrath of the Lich King and Mists of Pandaria, some really unique flavors in those OSTs
legends of azeroth still sends shivers down my spine,that login screen when i was a kid,everything around me,a whole new world for me to escape from,some of my favorite music pieces i still listen to today to take me back
Good morning Geebs. Lovley video as always. I have a great idea for a eye catching youtube video. Once you feel you have given a wide listen to many different video game OST's, you should do a OST teir list! I know it's a bit rediculous to say one song is better then another, but tier list videos are VERY good for attracting clicks and views and most of us understand it will just be based on your own personal opininon. Anyways hope you have a great day. :)
I'm not saying that would be a bad idea, but personally I'm not a fan comparing totally different kinds of music for example DOOM tracks against let's say Warcraft. It's little like comparing some jazz piece with progressive metal song :).
I love this music. This is the original login music for the game. You would always hear this when you were getting ready to play the game for the day. Its extremely nostalgic for people who grew up playing the game!
The track in the beginning was for the trailer/opening cinematic. It shows different scenes from the world and sounds a lot better with the images accompanying it then just a music piece. It does fit the images perfectly and gives life the the cinematic though.
That first song! Your face haha!! You got the same exact experience as every WoW player with that listen. Legends of Azeroth is the music that plays when you first open the game, always got me lol. For sure the right song to listen as a first and to immerse yourself in the World of Warcraft. Great video
Some of the tracks i can't stop thinking about when playing WoW are: Mulgore Plains - World of Warcraft Cataclysm Song of Liu Lang (Vocal) - World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria Magnificent Desolation - World of Warcraft Warlords of Draenor Smack the Giant - World of Warcraft Warlords of Draenor Dazar'alor Bazzar - World of Warcraft Battle for Azeroth I hope this is a good selection most of these i don't see too many people point out, anyone who doesn't know these tracks, enjoy and hopefully we might see a vid on them
Mountains of Thunder is my one and only WoW song I still listen to. It's like a choir song. No lyrics. It's from the Wrath of the Lich King expansion from an icy zone called Storm Peaks where giants and Norse gods live.
every time I hear this music tears come to my eyes, I wanna throw everything and just deep dive into this wonderful world of mystery, friendship and adventures.
I'd also suggest checking out the Guild Wars 2 OST because it has some incredible music as well! Guild Wars 2 - Overture The Charr Triumphant Fear Not This Night - Asja Kadric Icebrood Saga - No Quarter: Steel's War (#5 is the best imo) The Cycle Ends - Lena Raine I also know you do metal and they have a whole set of metal songs for an in world metal band Metal Legion, it's very cheesy but good fun. A notable example imo is Ballad of the Soulkeeper
The WoW soundtrack leans a lot towards longer, more 'ambient' tracks that create atmosphere but don't draw attention to themselves. For recommendations, in addition to tracks already mentioned by others, check out Mountains of Thunder from the Wrath of the Lick King OST, or Toast from the Mists of Pandaria OST.
The franchise I grew up with! imagine a happy little kid in the middle of nowhere in the middle east learning all the mysteries and stories about this magnificent universe. ~ very thankful for your analysis, we've heard these songs many many manyyyy times but learning from your experience and point of view is something very precious to me~ bless you geebz!
"We Will Be Conquerors", "Time & Tide", "Return to Arms". But others have made great suggestions too. The opening track from each World of Warcraft expansion is like a suite for that game. Looking forward to the next one :)
Final Fantasy XIV, another MMORPG has *so* many tracks, it's actually insane. It's a very different vibe to World of Warcraft's tracks for most of them. Gets very experimental in terms of genre as well. It uses a lot of leitmotifs, so I will put the first instance of the track appearing, as well as my favourite usages of the Leitmotifs in parentheses. Some of the more iconic ones are Torn from the Heavens (Favourite variants: Heartless and "Torn from the Heavens / The Dark Colossus Destroys All Medley") (Heartless specifically is the theme for Omega-M/F. There are two tracks with the English name Heartless on them. Both have different Japanese names. The other one is a medley with The Dark Colossus Destroys All from NieR: Automata) The Maker's Ruin (Favourite variants: "With Hearts Aligned / Footfalls" - You will know it as the "Endsinger Final Phase" theme - and More Than Truth - if you take a listen to any of these tracks, let it be these two. With Hearts Aligned (and the original The Maker's Ruin) and More than Truth really show how differently you can make the same leitmotif and still have them be recognizeable) Answers (Favourite arrangement is the original) Dancing Mad (originally from Final Fantasy 6 - one of the most famous tracks in the Final Fantasy series) Eternal Wind (originally from Final Fantasy 3 - Favourite variant: Eternal Winds (Shadowbringers) or the part of it that appears in the Shadowbringers trailer) Ultima (Favourite Arrangements: Ultima (Symphony) - You can find it under the name "究極幻想 (Orchestral Version)" on UA-cam, as well as The Primals/Scions and Sinners (same track, released under two different names) variant) Full Fathom Five / 'Neath Dark Waters (Favourite Variants: 'Neath Dark Waters (Scions and Sinners), To the Edge (also contains parts from the original Shadowbringers theme - which you should also take a listen to). Shoutout to Mortal Instants as well) Sky Unsundered (Day theme)/ Stars Long Dead (Night theme) - Favourite Variant: Miracle Works (dungeon theme)
So the first piece you listened to is indeed an establishing shot, it is multiple themes mashed together that get feeling added along the way as you explore the characters the theme's belong to. The second one, Shaping of the World is actually a bonus track only added in the ocd as far as i know, i have never heard this music ingame. For actual iconic pieces listen to the Stormwind theme / Arthas My Son
Some fun/good to know facts about World of Warcraft is that ever since the original game that came out in 2004, every single expansion (A continuation (not a sequel) of the game set in the same world where you can play the same character) they keep the same main theme. However, they do an entirely take on the theme song to fit each expansion. It might be fun for you to see so many different takes on the same song for the same game and see how it evolves with the story and setting. As a very long time WoW player, I can vouche for these: Nightsong - Cataclysm Way of the Monk - Mists of Pandaria Arthas, My Son - Wrath of the Lich King A World Divided - Legion Defenders of Azeroth - Cataclysm Some other music that might be interesting that I can recommend is: Once, There Was an Explosion - Death Stranding Kara Main Theme - Detroit Become Human Hela - Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice The City Must Survive - Frostpunk (I think you might have heard it, but I can't remember) Suicide Mission - Mass Effect 2 Leaving Earth - Mass Effect 3 An End, Once and for All - Mass Effect 3 And if you want to listen to something from the movie world, I would highly recommend music from "Tron Legacy" the music is made in collaboration with Daft Punk, and probably has one of THE best soundtracks to date for a movie. Personal choice for non-movie non-game would be Wardruna - Lyfjaberg (Healing mountain) It is made by a Norwegian music group that specifically focuses on musical renditions of Norse cultural & esoteric tradition. They use all traditional instruments, deer-hide frame drums, flutes, goat horns and even use sounds like torches and rocks. Very specific music, but it really grips you on a personal level if you feel it.
The World of Warcraft expansion themes are a great way to look at the game as a whole, actually. They all incorporate the Legends of Azeroth theme in some form with flavor of the expansion added in. Definitely not just "Legends of Azeroth but now it has some Asian instruments," but some actually quite cool ideas, like incorporating themes of other factions into it. Everyone goes nuts over Invincible and it deserves it but honestly, the main themes of the expansions are themselves pretty amazing.
The reason it changes from time to time is because the music follows the trailer video where it switches between showing the different classes, races and factions. The music adapts to the overall theme and feel of those races and classes.
I got a fun World of Warcraft one for you. The song is called Stormstout Brew is from World of Warcraft's expansion Mists of Pandaria. Warning it's an ear-worm :P
They said it wasn’t possible, but we have found him. The last person on earth to hear about World of Warcraft
Somehow I found that comment damn funny xD
Some notable tracks you should listen to:
A Call to Arms - World of Warcraft (2004)
Arthas, My Son - World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (2008)
Nightsong - World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (2010)
Way of the Monk - World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (2012)
Times Change - World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor (2014)
A World Divided - World of Warcraft: Legion (2016)
What Makes Us Strong - World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth (2018)
Also Spires of Arak 1 really great soundtrack
Wolf a the gates!!!
Great choices, I am sucker for pretty much all of Wrath of the Lich King ost, especially Grizzly Hills.
SS+ tier list there man
Invincible > Arthas my son
Song of Elune, Stormwind City, and Pirate Tavern are all great songs from the WoW OST
The Taverns of Azeroth is a collected album of tavern themes from classic WoW written by David Arkenstone, who may be more familiar to some since he was a new age composer before doing video games (namely WoW). I think after the taverns, his best work in WoW was the more recent Zuldazar theme City of Gold which screams Arkenstone.
Ironforge, too!
Love the Song of Elune. Ashenvale is my favourite zone of all time just above. Zangarmarsh. Blizz no longer makes zones with deep flavour. Like Ashenvale, Zangarmarsh, Crystal Song forest, Nether Storm.
@@iclicklike3397 anything by Derek Duke is dreamy enough for me, he's involved in ~70% of the WoW tracks I love most at this point, I just used to be less aware of that fact.
But I like almost everything from WoW tbh, especially the old-school stuff obviously, but the rest are good too, just in different ways I guess. The variety and quality are a real gift ^^
After playing this game for 20 years or so, its insane how much this music sticks with me. So many emotions wrapped up in it.
"Arthas, My Son" is such an iconic track for World of Warcraft. I don't know if it's the most complex but it's instantly recognizable by any player.
World of Warcraft is an open game where there isn't one single narrative, but instead you play a character in a huge world with lots of travel and adventuring. The music tends to be either ambience, heroic calls to action, or themes/leitmotifs for locations and concepts in the game.
To me it's Lament of the Highborne, really, can't even remember that one. Need to check it out now, I'm probably going to feel pretty stupid afterwards.
Edit: Yeah I do.
this man speaks the truth
But i dont know why - there are better songs - Night song, The Shaping of the World, Lament of Highborne, and few more.
Your feel about this being an establishing song is quite right. Legends of Azeroth is the log-in theme when you launch the game. There are these two huge statues forming a gate which is inviting you into the World of Warcraft. You log-in and get to create your character and start your epic journey.
This is THE song we heard when we logged in for the first time. It's iconic.
This track injects nostalgia straight into my veins.
Nostalgia kick in the balls. Haven't played the game in what must be 15ish years now but you took me right back to being pimple faced high school kid in 2004 booting up 'WoW' for the first time.
@@johanneswestman935 As someone who last played just a couple of weeks ago, I'm still getting the feels. My brain wants me to immediately log back into the game upon hearing it haha
There is something extra special about the Classic WoW music. They really went the extra mile to make them sound really epic.
You are referring to Vanilla WoW.
Classic WoW is garbage.
@@server1ok 😂😂😂😂😂
@@server1ok same music
I disagree strongly, as bots are unable to appreciate music even if they can "listen" to it.
Best regards @@Guthewarrior
@@server1ok I'm just gonna reply to you so you can read your comment again, jesus man, you're so angry and for what.
Invincible, Arthas my Son and Seasons of War give me Goosebumps every time i hear it. And dont forget to mention "A Call to arms". There are so many awesome tracks! Ty for listening!
"Not a memorable melody" - I felt chills listening to this piece again after so long. This game consumed my life for a few years which is something I can't say for any other game. Amazing memories.
Man this song is SO nostalgic for me, personally its incredibly memorable and like sad to hear again. It's really hard to explain, original wow players know what i mean
Forreal… wish I could go back to playing it for the first time.
I know exactly what you mean. Its like a timetravel in head to a simple, good and unique Time.
I love that you're doing game OST's now! The thing with alot of the music from WoW is the tracks are tied to specific areas or events. So when you're moving from one zone to another (the map for WoW is huge, about 61 sq mi. according to google) you'll have one track fade out to another, so the music is more about keeping immersion.
The composer Jason Hayes did a wonderful job with the WoW OST, great new pieces as well as taking themes and old tracks from Warcraft 2 and 3 and building upon them. As a recommendation from other Blizzard games, I would mention Diablo 1, Tristram theme, all the way back from 1997. For people who played in that time, it is THE theme everyone recognizes.
everytime i feel like my first time logging inn when i hear this song.
Your comment if you're unsure if Legends of Azeroth should be the first track to listen to, technically, it COULD be the best first track to listen to.
This specific track is the OG/Vanilla/Classic login screen and character screen menu music. When you first boot up the game and watch the intro cinematic, you get that powerful intro of string and drums when its asking you to log in. And each expansion has it's own login screen music, based off this track.
World of Warcraft's OST is very huge, but many tracks are variations of each other.
- A melody played by a violin and some drums
- The same melody played by a trumpet, violin and drums
- The same melody played by minimal violin and no drums
- The same melody sung by a choir, with a violin and drums
- And so on...
In the game, you're walking around towns or forests, and hearing slightly different melodies. The variations keep things fresh.
It can also be used in a way like, play the vocal version when you enter a town, play the softer melody afterward as you're exploring the town's buildings. Still the same melody to give that city its own leitmotif (?).
World of Warcraft's songs are not meant to be looped. Using standard settings, you'll hear a one-minute song or two, then the background music becomes silent to make place for ambience (birds chirping, soft wind, etc.) until you enter a new area. In the game's settings, there is an option to loop songs; which continues to play variations of the area's theme without end. The music pieces themselves are still not looping.
The first song you were listening to is the title screen. You'll hear it every time the game starts up, when you log in to your account, and it keeps playing when you enter the character creation screen. With each expansion of the game, the title screen music changed up, incorporating the expansion's main themes while still holding on or referencing to this melody; often in the shape of a medley of melodies.
I was a kid when I installed WoW for the first time back in 2004. Coming from the Warcraft series listening to this soundtrack when logging in really felt like stepping through the portal to another world. It still makes me feel this way after so many years. The power of music! It's so cool to see you break it down and explain how the odd time makes you feel uncomfortable. When I hear the music I just get flooded with so much comfort. I love music.
When I hear this music I get all teary so much emotion and good memories of this
When the sound shifted during that first song, I could actually see the Tauren shaman from the opening cinematic. The power of music, I guess.
I'd recommend The Isles Awaken, from the newest expansion, Dragonflight.
One thing to know about World of Warcraft (at least the classic game) is that it doesn't have a particular story or narrative. It is rather a big expansive world with lots of different and rich cultures, people and environments, where you're thrown into as an adventurer. Therefore, the music really isn't meant to support a particular moment or scene like in a movie or or other video games. It is rather meant to be expansive or represent a particular culture or environment within the game.
This is the reason why if you listen to more WoW tracks, you'll find they don't really correlate to one another (some do), and they will elicit different feelings. You will find ambient music for fantasy cities of different races, pirate themes, horror themes or military themes, ambient music for deserts or magical forests, etc. You'll find eastern, middle eastern and western inspirations and instruments, and more. WoW has been around for almost 20 years, so there is a lot of variety.
One of my favourite themes in WoW is Mountains of Thunder, which is just a track for a very mountainous and ancient zone in the game. I'm excited to watch more videos of you breaking down WoW music! :)
"Nightsong"
"Arthas, My Son"
"A Call to Arms"
These are some of the most iconic epic tracks.
Uuuugggghhhh Nightsong, YES.
Light in the Darkness
Invincible is a very emotional and dramatic song from the OST
Hey Geebz! I would highly recommend "World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria Main Theme Login Intro", it's an absolutely beautiful track with chinese instrument inspiration. I first heard it when I was still a young lad new to the game and is what got me into orchestral music. Still pick a tear listening to it 10 years later remembering all the nostalgic memories and friends I met along the journey which the song truly beautifully encapsulates!
Another absolutely EPIC soundtrack is "A Siege of Worlds", probably my favorite track out of World of Warcraft, just not as nostalgic as the intro I mentioned earlier -but A siege of worlds is one of my favorite video game soundtracks ever made. Also a massive rollercoaster ride of epicness and emotion. I REALLY hope you listen to these two tracks. I'm sure you'll enjoy them!
The opening tracks from each expansion really is a good way to enjoy the scores. It's basically a curated suite from each album.
So the thing about the original WoW ost is that some of the songs are broken up into "moods" or "locations" moreso than actual songs. For example, "Enchanted Forest" is listed as one song, but its made up of like 6-7 different songs, each somewhere between 30 seconds to a minute, with very clear starting and stoping points marked by the music fading in and out. The music plays at different points throughout the game and so they dont necessarily flow into eachother when listening all the way through. For example, some play during the day, or some at night or at very specific locations. Something to keep in mind. But Enchanted forest is a great choice, especially the first ~30 seconds of it. "Forest" "Jungle" "Mountain" "Volcanic" "Desert" and "Barren Dry" are also good and iconic, though more on the ambient side.
I think you should pick which ever name/location appeals most to you!
If I had to pick one or two of these ambient tracks, i recommend "Jungle" or "Desert." I especially like Desert because it strongly captures the feeling of walking through an endless expanse of sandy dunes and ancient ruins, as you are suffering from heatstroke and dehydration. Jungle has great unique instruments like rain sticks, tribal drums and cool wind instruments! Volcanic gets a special mention because its just plain badass.
Forest and Mountain are nice and cozy if you're more in the mood for that.
Other songs I recommend are Gnomeregan, Sacred and Tavern (these ones are much shorter than the others more ambient tracks I listed)
I know its a pipe dream, but it would be absolute amazing if you were to somehow listen through the entire album! WoW is a special interest of mine, its a game ive played on and off since it released almost 20 years ago.
so there are like 8 or 9 expansions to this game and it'd be very interesting to hear Geebz listen to the opening song for each and break down the evolution of it.
OG WoW - Legends of Azeroth
The Burning Crusade - The Burning Legion
Wrath of the Lich King - Wrath of the Lich King
Cataclysm - The Shattering
Mists of Pandaria - Heart of Pandaria
Warlords of Draenor - A Siege of Worlds
Legion - Kingdoms will Burn
Battle for Azeroth - Before the Storm
Shadowlands - Through the Roof of the World
Dragonflight - The Isles Awaken
Yeah I would love it.
Yeah i like how they evolve starting truck every few years
@@tsj8726 It was always fun to see how much it would change; yet still kept us grounded in that leitmotif.
The Shattering is still my personal favorite opening theme (though Cataclysm the expansion was meh)
I LOVE how each expansion has the same theme, but it's own identity based on what that expansion is supposed to be about. I really would love to see a comparison video where you go through the intro theme for each expansion. You did vanilla, so here are the rest:
The Burning Crusade (2007)
The Wrath of the Lich King (2008)
Cataclysm (2010)
Mists of Pandaria (2012)
Warlords of Draenor (2014)
Legion (2016)
Battle for Azeroth (2018)
Shadowlands (2020)
Dragonflight (2022)
I got very excited about sharing WoW's music with you... I had a short list ready and came to your stream but you were having technical difficulties. And here you go and post this right after!
One of the fun things about WoW's music is there two sides to it. There is the epic music that is used for trailers and certain key moments, and then there is the more ambient side that players hear more often while adventuring in the open world. I'm going to do my best to share some of those on your stream.
I am a musician but i can't listen to this song deconsrtuctively. It has such a special place in my heart that i never even thought of doing it. Just pure feelings flowing when i listen to it :D
Anduins Theme is a personal favourite of mine
Definitely listen to the Grizzly Hills music it’s so atmospheric and peaceful, shows the power of the northern forests. If you watch the track of it uploaded by the yt channel: Everness it will show the zone it’s played in in game. It’s one of the most popular and beloved tracks in Warcraft!
The WoW OST is a blast, especially since its so huge with all the expansions they've released!
Hell yeah, tonight we "Prepare to Cry" (it's kind of a meme, maybe one time it'll be fun if you look that up) but World of Warcraft is an amazing game OST. "Arthas, My Son" is definitely one you should listen to.
Hope things are looking better Geebz! I'm still here!
One of the best songs to me is Seasons Of War (that song from the first cinematic). And of course Lament of the Highborne. So haunting.
You should definitely listen to Invincible, Arthas My Son, Times Change and Lament of the Highborne
11:55 This part is the reference to choir in a more bombastic piece. You could argue there's a bit of a Leitmotif in some of these pieces.
Wrath of the lich king themes are really the best ones in the game
Another vote here for Arthas, My son, and Lament of the Highborne. They have this kind of beautiful, but haunting vibe to them.
It's fascinating how watching you react to this it's like we can see you map the song in your head, it's insane o_o
These songs were all made to capture the sense and vibe of certain zones (areas) of the game. They were meant to drive your emotion and immersion to the locations of the game.
I just subscribed a week ago or so but im so incredibly happy to see you react to WoW.
Was my first MMORPG and holds a very special place in my heart, the music being one of the main factors.
I dont know if you can show them on your video, maybe on stream? but there's videos where people walk thru in game areas focusing on the overall ambience of the location to enhance the music. If nothing else I recommend it for your personal viewing
For frame of reference;
I've been playing this game, for nearly 20 years. And, the original ost (the 1st one), took me back all the way
I really appreciate a professional's viewpoint on things i'm personally very familiar with.
Incredible.
Arthas, My Son (With the cinematic) Wrath of the Lich King cinematic, great piece of music. My personal favourite: "Magnificent Desolation"
Heya! You're right, it's an establishing theme - what's interesting is if you go ahead and listen to the main theme from each of the following expansions (there are what, like nine now), you'll hear callbacks to that original theme in each of them that takes it and carries it forward. For the original soundtrack, highly recommend Nightsong as well as the tavern tracks
Hey Geebz!
Thank you for taking my (and perhaps others) request for World of Warcraft OSTs. This is my most played music on Spotify, despite being a major fan of lots of music. I just saw that you posted this a few days ago, so THANK YOU!!!
WoW OSTs always have 2 things:
1) TRACK 1 of every album, featuring a semi-fixed theme (utilizing Marty's "emotional equity").
2) A track that is heard in the CINEMATIC (remember this term?) for each respective expansion.
I'd REALLY like you to do a video comparing the main titles, perhaps 2 at a time. I'll list the albums at the end of this comment so you can find them easily, but basically just TRACK 1 of, say WoW (2004) to WoW:TBC (2007) album, back-to-back so you can hear the similarities and differences.
ALSO
I'd REALLLLLY like you to do a video where you listen to the "Cinematic track", commentate, then WATCH the cinematic, and commentate again. The "cinematic track" I will post the name of, as well as a link to the cinematic.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OSTs
World of Warcraft (2004)
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (2007)
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (2008)
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (2010)
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (2012)
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor (2014)
Cinematic Tracks
"Seasons of War (Intro Movie)" then watching ua-cam.com/video/vlVSJ0AvZe0/v-deo.html
"The Dark Portal (Cinematic Intro) then watching ua-cam.com/video/IBHL_-biMrQ/v-deo.html
"Arthas, My Son" (Cinematic Intro) then watching ua-cam.com/video/BCr7y4SLhck/v-deo.html
"Xaxas" then watching ua-cam.com/video/Wq4Y7ztznKc/v-deo.html
"Why do we fight?" then watching ua-cam.com/video/wvYXoyxLv64/v-deo.html
"Times Change" then watching ua-cam.com/video/TLzhlsEFcVQ/v-deo.html
These are just the first 6 albums, but this will be plenty for a good while!!!!!
If you're still here, REPLY I'M STILL HERE. THANK YOU GEEBZ!!!!!!!!
My favourite from World of Warcraft is Arthas My Son, which I think is the theme for the wrath of the lich king expansion
"A world divided" has always been one of my favorite wow tracks
Grizzly Hills is considered the best, most atmospheric music. There's videos where someone flies around the zone as the music plays for the full experience.
This song is the login music for the original game that came out in 2004. Every expansion remixes the login theme- my personal favourite is the Cataclysm one, it's called The Shattering.
Mist of Pandaria Inn Music is a lot of fun too!
I think in terms of composition, WOW themes and recording mix quality, Warlords of Dreanor is the peak of the WOW soundtracks.
Warlords of Draenor is good but I really do feel like the peak scoring was Burning Crusade and Wrath
I'm so happy to see you doing WoW. This game has followed me through my life and has been a constant as I've aged from young lad to man. There are many many tracks across this near 20 year old game, as the game is still actively updated. Others here have outlined great tracks to pursue, just wanted to say I appreciate this dive! I hope more from WoW is to come!
That first track, I got chills about 3-4 times while listening with ya. Holy crap!
right in the bloody feels.. right in there.... miss those times so MUCH !!!!
Warbringers: Jaina, not part of the OST but song made for a character in the game to promote the new update, the next chapter in the story to come.
I would love to see you react to Malach, Angel Messenger. I’ve seen that piece performed live and I get chills every time.
What you were listening to was the ORIGINAL log-in music from the base game. It's what plays as you sign into your account and choose or make your character. Some of the leitmotif will continue through the log-in music of all of the expansions. The log in music for expansions include that, but throw in themes from that expansion, and mix in tunes from older ones. World of Warcraft is a HUGE game, made back in 2004. You'll see repeated themes throughout.
"Warlords of Draenor," while not the most popular expansion had fantastic music. "Malach" is a beautiful piece combining tribal beats and soaring orchestration.
For more atmospheric tunes, try . . .
"Teldrassil" and "Song of Elune," from the original World of Warcraft (what many of us call Vanilla, or nowadays, Classic). It sounds really magical.
"Village" variations from Warlords of Draenor - some of my favorites!
"Jaina Homeland" (also called "Kul Tiras") variations from Mists of Pandaria expansion.
"Invincible" from Wrath of the Lich King.
Various music from Grizzly Hills, also from Wrath of the Lich King, which very well conveys the feeling of being outdoors.
"Lament of the Highborne" from the Burning Crusade.
"Anduin" from the Legion expansion.
It would take HOURS but it's interesting to note the various themes that weave in and out of different pieces. For example, "Anduin," the child-king (while his dad was missing), then Prince, and then King in his own right, of Stormwind, has the Stormwind theme in his music, which makes perfect sense. A small snippet of "Call to Arms" from the original game can be heard in Jaina's theme, first introduced in MoP (and "Call to Arms" was also briefly played in a pivotal cinematic from Warcraft 3, where Arthas, who had once been betrothed to Jaina, murdered his own father - not sure if that's why it's there or for other reasons). And some of the music has different variations that play at different times, such as lyrical, military, etc.
I think someone could do a deep dissertation just on the music of Warcraft / WoW (someone probably has).
The OST I listen to the most is the Lament of the Highborne.
It's a sad one but also a beautiful one, even without knowing the backstory to it.
From World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Totems of the Grizzlemaw is my all-time favorite track. But Salty Sailor, which is a tune for one of the taverns in the game is just a lot of fun.
Thanks for doing a couple of more tracks than the main theme! Much appreciated!
Always happy to see new videos on video game OSTs. I think a lot of people don't consider how well written a lot of them can be.
So iconic, just listening to the opening gives me chills, like I’m back in college waking up going to school and then spending non study time raiding.
The world of warcraft soundtrack has a lot of music that means a lot to many people. Though it's nature is more akin to that of a movie than traditional game soundtrack, in that you wont find as much in the way of strong melodies but rather many recurring themes representing certain characters and locations. And as such you will get strong recommendations of nearly everything because whichever faction and location any person started with will have made the strongest impression. Although also worth pointing out the world of warcraft soundtrack is only one part of it's own whole as each expansion has at least a whole CD worth of additional and altered tracks.
So with all that said the best track out there is clearly Orgrimmar.
For the horde!
I like how you analyze the music! So precise and correct!
What's great about Legends of Azeroth isn't the piece itself. World of Warcraft operates on expasions, which is to say that every few years or so, the developers add more content to the game. It's basically like adding another chapter to the book. Each time they do that, the game gets an overhaul. A lot changes. This piece played when you loaded up the original World of Warcraft, and with each expansion, the music changed, but the beginning motif is still there, followed by the music that showcases the expansion. For example, in Mists of Pandaria, the beginning motiff you heard when the song started is there, then it fades into the pandaren themed music after a bit.
Anyway, if you wanna continue down the WoW Rabbit hole, I would definitely suggest "Arthas, my son/Invincible" and "Call to Arms". We love this, keep 'em coming!
I can’t begin to tell you how many hours I spent during my teens and twenties listening to this as I smoked a bowl or two before logging in to play for untold hours. I quit playing years ago, but many of the tracks from this game are ingrained into me and instantly get my emotions stirring even though I lost my passion for the game itself long ago. Even though I quit playing around 2017 or 2018, at that time I had nearly 2 solid years of played time on my account, which is time I spent actually logged into the game across all my characters. It’s crazy to think how much time I spent in that world.
Excellent video, seeing something I've enjoyed on my own that gets more thoroughly examined is quite nice.
So yeah, World of Warcraft has been active since 2004, with new expansions approximately every two years. So there are a LOT of OSTs. Legends of Azeroth is from the original, way back in '04.
I think all of the OSTs over the years have done some cool stuff- but I'd particularly recommend Wrath of the Lich King and Mists of Pandaria, some really unique flavors in those OSTs
legends of azeroth still sends shivers down my spine,that login screen when i was a kid,everything around me,a whole new world for me to escape from,some of my favorite music pieces i still listen to today to take me back
Login screen music for Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm was epic
The cataclysm theme always gives me goosebumps and nightsong.
I always love listening to people that love music this much
Good morning Geebs. Lovley video as always. I have a great idea for a eye catching youtube video. Once you feel you have given a wide listen to many different video game OST's, you should do a OST teir list! I know it's a bit rediculous to say one song is better then another, but tier list videos are VERY good for attracting clicks and views and most of us understand it will just be based on your own personal opininon. Anyways hope you have a great day. :)
That sounds like a great idea, thank you!
I'm not saying that would be a bad idea, but personally I'm not a fan comparing totally different kinds of music for example DOOM tracks against let's say Warcraft. It's little like comparing some jazz piece with progressive metal song :).
I love this music. This is the original login music for the game. You would always hear this when you were getting ready to play the game for the day. Its extremely nostalgic for people who grew up playing the game!
The track in the beginning was for the trailer/opening cinematic. It shows different scenes from the world and sounds a lot better with the images accompanying it then just a music piece. It does fit the images perfectly and gives life the the cinematic though.
That the start is ambiant makes perfect sense as this was the song that was used for the login screen for wow
Stormwind City, I get chills every time.
The Sin'Dorei, also Eversong Woods, from the first WoW expansion The Burning Crusade, deserves special mention.
Good culmination of works, starting from teh Original Warcraft: Orc & Humans on MS DOS and Mac OS in '95/'96 respectively
That first song! Your face haha!! You got the same exact experience as every WoW player with that listen. Legends of Azeroth is the music that plays when you first open the game, always got me lol. For sure the right song to listen as a first and to immerse yourself in the World of Warcraft. Great video
Some of the tracks i can't stop thinking about when playing WoW are:
Mulgore Plains - World of Warcraft Cataclysm
Song of Liu Lang (Vocal) - World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria
Magnificent Desolation - World of Warcraft Warlords of Draenor
Smack the Giant - World of Warcraft Warlords of Draenor
Dazar'alor Bazzar - World of Warcraft Battle for Azeroth
I hope this is a good selection most of these i don't see too many people point out, anyone who doesn't know these tracks, enjoy and hopefully we might see a vid on them
Mountains of Thunder is my one and only WoW song I still listen to. It's like a choir song. No lyrics. It's from the Wrath of the Lich King expansion from an icy zone called Storm Peaks where giants and Norse gods live.
every time I hear this music tears come to my eyes, I wanna throw everything and just deep dive into this wonderful world of mystery, friendship and adventures.
the transition to strings and harp, when i first time heard it i literally collapsed on my chair and just listened to the rest of the song
I'd also suggest checking out the Guild Wars 2 OST because it has some incredible music as well!
Guild Wars 2 - Overture
The Charr Triumphant
Fear Not This Night - Asja Kadric
Icebrood Saga - No Quarter: Steel's War (#5 is the best imo)
The Cycle Ends - Lena Raine
I also know you do metal and they have a whole set of metal songs for an in world metal band Metal Legion, it's very cheesy but good fun. A notable example imo is Ballad of the Soulkeeper
The WoW soundtrack leans a lot towards longer, more 'ambient' tracks that create atmosphere but don't draw attention to themselves. For recommendations, in addition to tracks already mentioned by others, check out Mountains of Thunder from the Wrath of the Lick King OST, or Toast from the Mists of Pandaria OST.
The franchise I grew up with! imagine a happy little kid in the middle of nowhere in the middle east learning all the mysteries and stories about this magnificent universe. ~ very thankful for your analysis, we've heard these songs many many manyyyy times but learning from your experience and point of view is something very precious to me~ bless you geebz!
Back in the day we called it "You have been disconnected from the server". This is the music that played on the login screen.
The opening title music from original WoW brings so much nostalgia to me…
Been playing World of Warcraft since 2006 and the music has always been spot on.
The first track makes my heart leap and gives me goose bumps, probably because of memories i love it so much
"We Will Be Conquerors", "Time & Tide", "Return to Arms".
But others have made great suggestions too. The opening track from each World of Warcraft expansion is like a suite for that game.
Looking forward to the next one :)
Final Fantasy XIV, another MMORPG has *so* many tracks, it's actually insane. It's a very different vibe to World of Warcraft's tracks for most of them. Gets very experimental in terms of genre as well. It uses a lot of leitmotifs, so I will put the first instance of the track appearing, as well as my favourite usages of the Leitmotifs in parentheses.
Some of the more iconic ones are
Torn from the Heavens (Favourite variants: Heartless and "Torn from the Heavens / The Dark Colossus Destroys All Medley")
(Heartless specifically is the theme for Omega-M/F. There are two tracks with the English name Heartless on them. Both have different Japanese names. The other one is a medley with The Dark Colossus Destroys All from NieR: Automata)
The Maker's Ruin (Favourite variants: "With Hearts Aligned / Footfalls" - You will know it as the "Endsinger Final Phase" theme - and More Than Truth - if you take a listen to any of these tracks, let it be these two. With Hearts Aligned (and the original The Maker's Ruin) and More than Truth really show how differently you can make the same leitmotif and still have them be recognizeable)
Answers (Favourite arrangement is the original)
Dancing Mad (originally from Final Fantasy 6 - one of the most famous tracks in the Final Fantasy series)
Eternal Wind (originally from Final Fantasy 3 - Favourite variant: Eternal Winds (Shadowbringers) or the part of it that appears in the Shadowbringers trailer)
Ultima (Favourite Arrangements: Ultima (Symphony) - You can find it under the name "究極幻想 (Orchestral Version)" on UA-cam, as well as The Primals/Scions and Sinners (same track, released under two different names) variant)
Full Fathom Five / 'Neath Dark Waters (Favourite Variants: 'Neath Dark Waters (Scions and Sinners), To the Edge (also contains parts from the original Shadowbringers theme - which you should also take a listen to). Shoutout to Mortal Instants as well)
Sky Unsundered (Day theme)/ Stars Long Dead (Night theme) - Favourite Variant: Miracle Works (dungeon theme)
I’ve always loved Theme from Grizzly Hills (violin!)
hyped for this video🙏
So the first piece you listened to is indeed an establishing shot, it is multiple themes mashed together that get feeling added along the way as you explore the characters the theme's belong to.
The second one, Shaping of the World is actually a bonus track only added in the ocd as far as i know, i have never heard this music ingame.
For actual iconic pieces listen to the Stormwind theme / Arthas My Son
I love ur vibe an input man, this is my first vid watching you an you got my subscription lol
Some fun/good to know facts about World of Warcraft is that ever since the original game that came out in 2004, every single expansion (A continuation (not a sequel) of the game set in the same world where you can play the same character) they keep the same main theme. However, they do an entirely take on the theme song to fit each expansion. It might be fun for you to see so many different takes on the same song for the same game and see how it evolves with the story and setting.
As a very long time WoW player, I can vouche for these:
Nightsong - Cataclysm
Way of the Monk - Mists of Pandaria
Arthas, My Son - Wrath of the Lich King
A World Divided - Legion
Defenders of Azeroth - Cataclysm
Some other music that might be interesting that I can recommend is:
Once, There Was an Explosion - Death Stranding
Kara Main Theme - Detroit Become Human
Hela - Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice
The City Must Survive - Frostpunk (I think you might have heard it, but I can't remember)
Suicide Mission - Mass Effect 2
Leaving Earth - Mass Effect 3
An End, Once and for All - Mass Effect 3
And if you want to listen to something from the movie world, I would highly recommend music from "Tron Legacy" the music is made in collaboration with Daft Punk, and probably has one of THE best soundtracks to date for a movie.
Personal choice for non-movie non-game would be
Wardruna - Lyfjaberg (Healing mountain)
It is made by a Norwegian music group that specifically focuses on musical renditions of Norse cultural & esoteric tradition. They use all traditional instruments, deer-hide frame drums, flutes, goat horns and even use sounds like torches and rocks. Very specific music, but it really grips you on a personal level if you feel it.
Such an iconic game soundtrack from 20 years ago ^_^
Lament of the Highborne is definitely one to check out.
gotta check out the Lament of the Highborne from WoW. it's not very long, but it's beautiful
I dont know technicalities,all I know is when this music is playing,I’m crying
Totems of the Grizzlemaw is another fantastic and REALLY different one.
The World of Warcraft expansion themes are a great way to look at the game as a whole, actually. They all incorporate the Legends of Azeroth theme in some form with flavor of the expansion added in. Definitely not just "Legends of Azeroth but now it has some Asian instruments," but some actually quite cool ideas, like incorporating themes of other factions into it.
Everyone goes nuts over Invincible and it deserves it but honestly, the main themes of the expansions are themselves pretty amazing.
The reason it changes from time to time is because the music follows the trailer video where it switches between showing the different classes, races and factions. The music adapts to the overall theme and feel of those races and classes.
I got a fun World of Warcraft one for you. The song is called Stormstout Brew is from World of Warcraft's expansion Mists of Pandaria. Warning it's an ear-worm :P