How Can the CHARACTER CREATION Music Be THIS GOOD?! - Baldur's Gate 3
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- Опубліковано 10 жов 2023
- We're finally listening to some Baldur's Gate 3 music. This one is called Down by the River and I was surprised to find out this is actually the Baldur's Gate 3 character creation music. Such a powerful way to start out the game. Now I can't wait to listen to more of the Baldur's Gate 3 OST.
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Hey, you like RPG soundtracks, right? I've done a bunch of videos on Final Fantasy music: ua-cam.com/video/AZiYXpOQL4c/v-deo.html&pp=gAQBiAQB
Hey Davi! If you get a chance, you should check out "Outer Wilds" and its soundtrack. Its some of the most memorable music I've ever heard in a game!
Good video as always Davi! By the way, it would be amazing if you check a "Blasphemous" (1 or 2) track, at least one, for example "Clavada", "De Blanca Mantilla" or "Cante de los muertos" are really good. At least, if you don't make a video listen part of the soundtrack and I'll be glad to hear your opinion about it. Also waiting for the democraty edition stream!
Something cool about this theme that you miss by just listening to the full version of the song on UA-cam without experiencing it in the game, is that this is the FOURTH version of the music you hear during Character Creation! The song goes through FIVE different versions all building up over almost 30 minutes of time.
- The first version is a non-lexical version of pure harmonies sung by Mariya Anastasov, with very little background music accompanying her voice. Focusing instead on the natural ambience of the scene you're in, a waterfall and forested glade.
- The second version is far more instrumental, with only Mariya coming in as a hum later in the song to add texture. But it is predominantly an instrumental version of the track.
- The third version is similar to the last, mostly instrumental, but with Mariya's voice coming in more prominently, with harmonies and non-lyrical vocalizations; all the way until the very end when "Down by the river" finally breaks through, the first lyrics you've heard this entire time, almost 15 minutes in.
- The fourth version, this version you listened to, is finally the fully lyricized form of the song, and the most well known for obvious reasons.
- The fifth and final version (before looping back to the first) is big and bombastic! Once again losing the lyrics, but adding in drums and a male choir to back up Mariya's vocalized hums. It has a marching cadence to it. It sounds adventurous and epic, classic fantasy.
It all combines into this gorgeous exploration of the motif and theme of the game, with each version even hinting at the events within the game in order. But that's all I'll say about that ;)
So main theme 1, main theme 2, who are you, down by the river and finally main theme 3
Those madmen (and women) on Larian knew we're gonna spend 30 minutes minimum on character creation so instead of a 5 minute track looped over and over again, they used 5 tracks with the same motif instead to keep it fresh and engaging. The user experience is absolutely 10/10.
And I ignored it for the literal hours I was creating my first character because I'm a madman that uses unrestricted colors, and I was hellbent on finding the absolute best combination of colors for my dragonborn sorcerer.
YES!
Knew you'd pick up on the creepy ending, and it is indeed a important detail, giving the listener a sense of "something is not right".
This detail gets you thinking, Its not just an invitation, its luring you, baiting you, tricking you and realising this anomaly leaves you wary.
The song was originally supposed to be the tadpole trying to lull the mind of the host to sleep so it can take over
There some other great songs in BG3. Raphael’s Theme, Bhaal’s theme, there’s a few other good ones.
Yes Raphael's theme slaps!!
Twisted Force!
Pretty much every song on this soundtrack is amazing, but I want to Live and The Power will live in my head for yeara
I really love 16 strikes, the battle music when you slay an enemy
I love I Want to Live and even more after Astarion's story line/romance...graveyard scene so good@@Eperogenay
"I bet the lyrics distracted you from character creation from time-to-time" - yes, but in a good way. It just made me pause and appreciate the ambience, before resuming my work. It really made me more excited to dive into the world with the perfect character.
13:30 There's a lore reason for this line.
The story was changed, so slight spoilers ahead, but when this was composed it was actually supposed to be from the perspective of the "Dream Visitor" - an entity who wanted to tempt you into accepting questionable power. They were originally designed to be a hard-loving temptress, but they toned it down when the story changed. This is why the lyrics say "let our hearts intertwine" and "take me through the night" along with the ending "Leave me there, dreaming."
DOWN down DOWN down DOWN down down by the river
Another way this song introduces you to the game is that the "Down, Down, Down by the River" sequence is the main heroic theme of Baldur's Gate 3.
I’ve played BG3 for many many many hours. 10/10 masterpiece and this song is just so amazing. Love the game. Playing right now lol what a coincidence.
Can't wait to play it myself!
Great analysation as always, Davi.
I never noticed the creepy part while in character creation, but it fits so perfectly with what's going on in the game... with your character slumbering in a transformation pod of a Nautiloid. It just brings a whole level of chilling realisation that the victims are suspended in artificial bliss.
The story was changed, so slight spoilers ahead, but when this was composed it was actually supposed to be from the perspective of the "Dream Visitor" - an entity who wanted to tempt you into accepting questionable power. They were originally designed to be a hard-loving temptress, but they toned it down when the story changed. This is why the lyrics say "let our hearts intertwine" and "take me through the night" along with the ending "Leave me there, dreaming."
BG3 is an absolutely phenomenal game. very highly recommended.
Can't wait to play it soon. There are too many excellent games this year, I can't keep up
This track is beautiful. I truly love how you break the music down and show us what the composer is doing without getting caught up in music theory jargon. Great job!
FYI Davi, that creepy part at the end is absolutely appropriate :D
Raphaels theme next please. It's very unique even among game music as it utilized hyper exaggerated words in place of pitch change.
That one seems to be the most popular track in the game. Could be a cool video indeed!
oh the Raph fight was incredible. I was not ready.
Legacy of Bhaal would be awesome too, a lot of dread on that one.
Voice for Raphael's theme
DO NOT DO IT YET if you think of ever playing the game
Its not a massive spoiler per se, but the moment it plays is one of the greatest in the game and I lost a lot by spoiling myself@@DaviVasc
While talking about pitch lowering with the word down, or raising with the word higher, I'm thinking of Star Wars "more. More! MOOORE!!!" with rising intensity lol
It's like I said, if you don't do it you go to composer jail
@@DaviVasc For SURE! 😀
😂Composer jail! 🤣
I've heard of the game just when it released and bought it because I liked the gameplay screenshots in steam. Didn't even watched any videos or reviews about it))))
And now I LOVE the hype that is going on around the BG3😍 Amazing game, amazing creators, amazing music, amazing characters, AMAZING everything!
Hundreds of hours have been spent on this creation and I want more😋
(Not a native speaker, sorry if sth is incorrect🙃)
Amazing video as always! I haven't played the game yet, but I love this piece and Weeping Dawn. I often listen to them on YT. It's so mystical and enchanting that feels like immerses you in the world-building of the game in an instant. It really feels like fantasy. Thanks for the video, Davi!
I just wanted to thank you. Your videos actually helped me make my choice to study music production in college. I really hope to have an understanding of how music works like yours someday!
character creation took me almost 45 minutes .... its not just choosing your nose :D
The nose is the most important part though
@@DaviVasc on that i agree!
@@DaviVasc True! How else does one "sniff out" what things need to be done, or not done? 😀
@@GrandmasGotGraceLW +4 perception check
Baldur's Gate has been appearing all over my feed lately ☠️
Also, please do Coalescence from Risk of Rain!!
The reason why the ending of the song ended on an ominous and creepy tone is due to the fact that this was supposed to be the song where, in the story, you succumbed and ended up staying in the delusion of your own mind hence the line "just leave me there, dreaming" because you are never waking up. However, that storyline got scrapped but the song still made it in the game.
Well said, all the way through! The music itself is very beautiful, and I love that voice! I thought your word pictures to go with the chords and progressions were perfect. Being able to see what was happening, on screen, from the beginning, was totally wonderful, with your beautiful intuition really telling the story, without seeing, at all, what was actually happening on the screen. Most people wouldn't have had a clue.
I rather felt like, with the choices having to be made...from character to character, rather than smaller things like facial features (at that point, anyway)...it was kind of like, "OK now, you HAVE to make a choice here at SOME point...stop wasting time. Let's "get down" to the game, OK? Let's get this done, and get down to the river, where the action is, and where the rest of the people are. Aren't you ready...YET? Oh...no? Well...OK...let's try this again, and then...maybe you'll be able to make up your mind. Are you ready? Finally? Ahhhhh...
Anyway...I loved the music, and I always have fun watching the music just run through you, and come out in descriptions that are so perfect. Thanks, Davi. I kind of needed that tonight. I've been stressing a bit about being behind five days (already), in my INKTOBER sketches. I don't like being behind in schedule for anything. I will catch up...I know from experience, but...yeah. Again...thank you for this beautiful interlude.
Oh...almost forgot...I was going to say that, when I was trying to find "just the right track" to add as a (very small, I knew) possibility for this month's polls, I went through all of the RT3 tracks about six times, in order to find the one that appealed to me the most, every time through. RT3 is one of the games I've played where I ALWAYS leave the music ON (even though I keep the volume fairly low). One of the problems in choosing less than ALL of them, is that I love them all--most of them simply as songs that I've known since childhood. Since they ALL are actual songs, and they ALL have the necessary rhythms (and rhythms are VERY important to me) to fit with the "music" of the trains themselves (engine sounds, rhythms from the rails being met by the wheels, whistle stops, people's conversations coming to the foreground over the mechanical sounds, cargoes being loaded, people embarking and disembarking, etc.). I finally just chose the one that always has gotten my attention the most during actual gameplay, which usually turns up when I've chosen a good cargo loading and offloading system for a particular, and I KNOW I'm on my way to the next interim goal with enough funds to get more track and necessary buildings built in order to get the best win. There's such a gentle excitement and encouragement in the music that plays, then. Mostly, though, all of that has to come through playing the same scenes over and over again, until you "get it right," and find that sweet spot at which you pretty much KNOW you can get the proper, winning scenario done in the time allotted--when that certain music appears.
I like it how you show the Notes on the Screen! You need to do more BG3 Tracks like: "Nine Blades" "Twisted Force" "Power"
Really awesome breakdown of the music, i really like the way you explain the chord progressions lol, even as a musician myself it's a pretty good way to explain to people who don't know much music theory, and even to those who do it's a pretty cool way of describing music
I came to your channel because I enjoyed your guitar playing in Dans videos, but I stayed and subscribed, because I find your content so informative and interesting. Thank you, I’m listening to music quite differently now.
Could you give Dan's channel name please?
Music channel is Dan Vasc, his gaming channel is SuperVasc 3D enjoy!
Thank you kind sir!
brightens the darkest of souls.
This song, especially the lyrics, was originally designed around the idea that the parasites that infect the main characters and attempt to seduce them with illusions. If you succumb to it, you essentially submit to the parasite and it won't end well for you. This becomes kinda obvious at the end of the song where the lyrics go "Don't wake me up, just leave me there, dreaming" and then at the very end there's that spooky sound effect that contrasts with the rest of the song. That idea was scrapped though, so this song is essentially a leftover from cut content even though it also provides the leitmotif for the game.
Great reaction as always- hope that you'll get around to reacting to the main theme and other songs from this game- it has an incredible soundtrack. The one that took me most by surprise in the game was Raphael's Final Act.
"In character creation, you don't read too much or anything wile picking your noze. That type of menue is not distracting."10 min in the video
My poor unfortunate soul...
You can and I sure did ,spent hours in the creation menue of this game. Reading backstory, menue, class, spells, races, historics... It's insanely great. ^^
G'day Davi,
This is such a pretty piece of music, I find the lyrics to be very much as you said, enchanting...
This is the type of music that I have on my "please let me sleep tonight" playlist, as someone who suffers from chronic pain, sleep doesn't always come easily so to have soft lilting Celtic feeling music such as this is a great help. I enjoy your breakdown of the music, I learn something new every time I watch,,, thank you 😊
🙃🐨🇦🇺
Also, one interesting thing about this song is that it's a variation of the main theme leitmotiff. As a lot iof other songs in the game are, by the way. I am a fan of using leitmotiffs in soundtracks because they tell a story of their own and BG3 uses them very well. Another case in point besides this one - Raphael's Final Act.
Not sure if its true but ive read the lyircs for this song were written in reference to a storyline thread that got shufffled around a bit in the final release of the game. The game was in early access for quite some time and im sure they felt it was a waste to not use the version of the song with the lyrics.
Hey! It’s probably old news for you but I just noticed you now have 100K subscribers! Wow!🎊Congratulations!🎉 Wishing you the very best for your channel.
The creepy sound you hear towards the end has actually been lurking in the background the entire song.
It’s a roar, but not of a beast. It’s the roar of an empty chasm, or a ripping wind over the open ocean.
The music is calm and inviting, but somewhere in the background something huge and hungry lurks. Waiting.
Yes it's the looming sleep deprivation but yes it suits the lore
You breaking down epic/tragic music is my absolute favorite. new fan! Positive note
That uncanny, creepy ending is a big clue to the player that there is something not quite right with their character's situation, and it's awesome. The level of emotional intimacy with the game that was generated through the music sends chills down my spine and gives me goosebumps on a regular basis.
The Power (orchestral and with vocals), Nine Blades, Nightsong, Harpy's song are also amazing. I know you've already analyzed Raphael's Final Act, which is also top tier
Now you understand why some of us dicked around in the character creator well past the point of having finished our character.
One of my fav' one is "i want to live". With or without lyrics
Is the part where there are multiple voices called a madrigal? I was wondering if you would have commented on that part. I think it's super cool!
The zooming edit at the end was perfect 😂
Mary Poppin’s Spoonful of Sugar made a point of breaking the up/up down/down lawn by going up when the medicine goes down.
Really hope you do more from this easily game of the year game
I used to be a big fan of Kirill Pkrovskiy, the previous composer for Larian Studios, who, unfortunately passed away. When Borislav was announced to take the position a little while before Divinity Original Sin 2 release, I was, admittedly, sceptical. I didn't believe he could be on par wiith Kirill. But I am glad that I was proven as wrong as it can possibly be. This track and many others both in BG3 and DOS2 are some of the best music I've heard in games.
Also, as I am not a musician, so I have no clue why, but many of Borislav's tracks sound very smilar in style and distinct from any other RPG music composer in a way that is immediately recognisible. I think it has something to do with the choice of instruments, but I don't know. Maybe somebody could enlighten me why this is the case?
It's great to listen to Davi Vasc Dan sounds and look the same nice to meet him. xx❤
Love your breakdown of music ❤
Thank you Gaijin!
Oh man, if you liked this track, you're gonna love the main theme dude!
i love how you looked so lost at the end lol.. same tho
I guess every composer has followed the law because I have never heard of anyone being locked up when they did not match the song with the words.....lol.
Probably not...grin. However, in some cases, it COULD mean getting oneself to the unemployment office.
Love your videos Davi.
Don't know why but I loved your energy in this one.
Yay, a BG3 reaction! The game truly has some stand-out pieces. I spent over 3 hours total in the character creator already and the theme never gets old. I think that's quite the achievement. You hear the same motif all throughout the game in different versions.
I hope you listen and react to more soon! The main title screen theme, Harpyi Song, Nightsong and especially Raphael's Final Act are awesome!
3 hours on Early access character creation screen this being active all the time I was humming this song the whole week even invaded my dreams... It was such an earworm..... still like it :D still need to sing along every time. Gets into your brain and takes root there, just like the mind flayer tadpoles. :D
11:38 The Return of the Touhou Sequence.
Congratulation for 100k! 🎉🎉
Baldurs Gate 3, let's go!
holy shit gratz on 100k subs !
it definitely helped me to connect to the character i created, too., which makes you more invested in the game before you even start.
Im now 220 hours in, in my 3rd playthrough ( not finished 1 yet since the previous 2 runs stopped me because of game breaking bugs ) and still i keep discovering things.
I looooove this game ❤
Edit: yes you need to listen to Raphael's theme. Its an amazing suprise to a boss fight.
I would love a take on 'I want to live' next , gods how much I want someone to talk about it. I'm in love with it
This is driving me crazy, I heard this song for the first time yesterday because I was curious with all the hype was about. Except I’ve already heard this song several years before Baulders gate three came out.
The original version I heard was on a Pandora radio station I was listening to. I can’t seem to find record of that version anywhere. I wonder if the composer bought the rights to the song and changed some of it? Or it’s an old folk song, which is what I originally thought , the folk song name might be different?
This is a great rendition, but I swear I have heard at least the beginning of this song elsewhere. just putting this comment out there in case anyone else has had a similar experience.
they fricking know we will spend our time in CC almost like hours, these fricking tadpoles really merciless in catfishing player
the baldurs gate 3 songs are ALL this good and finished composed
If you haven't already, listen to Raphael's Final Act. It's not even a maim boss, but he sings his own battle music and its a fantastic piece.
Fun fact: if you silence Raphael in the fight, the music stops unless he can break your concentration on the spell, or the spell expires.
That alot of polish and finesse, for SIDE CONTENT
I've done it. Look it up!
@@DaviVasc hell yeah I found it!
Speaking of rivers, you should listen to The River and River's End from Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye back to back
Joke's on you, your nose is tied to your face choice and isn't it's own dedicated option
Ok davi, i have a song from a game you probably have seen or heard but... i want you to listen to my sknging monsters plant island. It has been built so much from the early years, and it sounds awesome.
While I doubt it will ever get featured, I'd love to hear some day your opinions on Baldur's Gate 2s or even 1s main theme
It's awesome that the character creation music is so good. I personally spent about an hour in that step.
Shadowheart learns to swim.
One of the best games of the decade, absolutely a masterpiece, from gameplay to music.
You're very right to pick up on something off at the end. Once you play through the game and start to think about who the singer might be, this beautiful song takes on a distinctly sinister character.
For me, after the path I chose, it's such a bittersweet song
@DaviVasc could you analize the song of despair from Elden ring? I think you could make a great video out of it. It's the song from the merchants that you find through the game
PLEASEE DO DELTARUNE MUSIC ITS SO GOOD, ESPECIALLY "AROUND THE WORLD" FROM CHAPTER 1, "ATTACK OF THE KILLER QUEEN" AND "BIGSHOT" FROM CHAPTER 2 PLEASSEE
You should listen to some tracks from Metal Gear Rising, Revengeance. Would definitely bring in some more content for a few weeks
A couple instances of not going down in pitch are of course Mary Poppins, but also Hamilton:
“Oceans rise ⬇️
Empires fall ⬆️”
Hi !
I know that this is not exactly Baldur's Gate, but you should listen to the main theme of Divinity Original Sin II
That's Larian Studios studio last game before this one, the main theme is also used for the character creation (same composer) !
Fun fact this wasn’t originally written for Character Creation. This song, Down By The River and The Power (also plays in CC and it’s the ending credits song) was originally created for a story that was changed and cut from the game. Originally this character was meant to take the part of the character The Emperor in the game but have a complete opposite role. This character was meant to be bad and convince the player character to stay with them in a peaceful dream world whilst their physical body becomes a monster. Hence the dreamy, lullaby sound but sinister ending. I really recommend listening to The Power (Credits version for lyrics) to hear the other part of the original story. It’s also my personal favourite from the OST but it sadly doesn’t seem to get as much love as the others💔
2:00 so Johnny Cash broke the law with Ring of Fire
The hardest challenge in the game is making past the character creator.
Uploading a video midnight Davi, what is this? 😂😂
srly though, great video!
Would love for this guy to get ahold of OMORI's soundtrack.. there'd be some really good breakdowns in there. Some of the best video game music I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.
Beautifull song.
Please do Shadows, Curses and Death, that track is so fucking good
The Baldur`s Gate 3 Devs completely nailed character creation. They knew that people might spend Tens of Minutes some even hour on character creation and music always was there even change of tracks that happened was perfectly matched ;)
"You dont have to read à bunch of Stuff un Character creation"
Baldur's Gate and DnD's players : "So.... who's gonna said to him ?😅"
do you want to check Outer Wilds perhaps?
you really need to listen to Raphael's final act
I like Alfira's song more, tbh.
I am proud that both the composer and the woman singing are Bulgarians.
there's another pretty one - i want to live
I reccomend Vide the wicked and Those who would deny the dawn. Both from octopath traveler 2 ^^
I laughed when he said you didn't have to read anything in the character creation screen.... Obviously not familiar with how many choices you get in D&D
You can be a bit distracted during Character Creation... because in such RPGs ppl spend maybe 1 hour+ sometimes in that part anyway, getting distracted by the music as well maybe adds a few minutes, which is fine.
P.s. Yea the song and also with the Lyrics, she invited us into this world indeed... just 1 problem, can I stay there? 🥴 Well.. I'm half joking. (maybe that's why it got, as you say at the end a bit creepy? 🎶 "Don't wake me up... just leave me there...dreaming")
11/10 baldur's gate3 music👍👍
I would love to see you react to Jhin’s theme from League of Legends. Probably the best theme from that game for the best designed character
please make Raphael Final Act Song ! This is RIGHT in the game with lyrics! Like many others i want to live etc.
10:00 Well the character creation in this game is VERY demanding you need to read a lot of stuff :D
Please do Raphael final act