Top 5 Rare Crossover Motif Melodies
by Lerako on Jul 31st, 2011
If you’ve played the Banjo-Kazooie series before, you’re likely to be familiar with a musical term called leit motif, which is a fancy way of saying that each character has their own specific theme that you’ll identify with before you even see the character. It is because of this that you’ve come to associate Gruntilda’s Theme with her Lair, and Showdown in multiple games, even after only hearing the first handful of notes. What makes this especially interesting is if you manage to take a motif theme from one game and sneak it into another. Your ears will still perk up, you might even recognize the theme itself, but often times you won’t even realize that you’ve heard what you’ve heard amongst all the gaming action. For the purposes of this list we’re listening for musical allusions that don’t reference it’s parents game, in short, hearing Mad Monster Mansion in a new Banjo game is a treat, but not as exciting as hearing it tucked away in a new Conker title, exposing itself to the true fans. These are the Top 5 Motif Melodies that have lost their way, and have shown up where they don’t belong; exactly as we like ’em. Put your hands together if you want to clap, as we take you through this list and back.
#5. STATIONS MERGE, AS DO UNIVERSES
This one may be an oldie, but it’s a goody for sure, and it managed to showcase exactly what we’re looking for on this list. If you manage to find a certain hut in the Badlands of Kameo: Elements of Power for the Xbox you’ll come across a small radio perched atop a dresser. Interact with it and you’ll discover that it’s fully functional, springing to life and playing a rocking rendition of the original Banjo-Kazooie theme which you can listen to here. While this has been known for quite some time, it’s still interesting to think that the theme would eventually go on to become the Banjo-Kazooie: Nut’s and Bolts Theme. Don’t let your guard down thinking this entire list is going to be identifying theme tunes now, these next bits will really test your acute hearing…
#4. KUTTING OUT OF BANJOLAND
Take a trip to BanjoLand in Banjo-Kazooie: Nut’s and Bolts and you’re sure to hear a compilation of level tunes that cover the entire Banjo lineage. If you choose to begin a Jiggy Challenge in this world however, you’ll still manage to remember the familiar melodies, but one will have you surely puzzled. After listening to a mix of Freezeezy Peak and Mad Monster Mansion you’ll hear a new tune at 44 seconds where it flows into Gobi’s Valley although nothing out of the ordinary has happened. If you’ve conquered the creepiest of castles in Donkey Kong 64 however, you’ll manage to identify the theme as belonging to the levels boss, King Kutout, and his manic theme. You don’t remember having to face off against this Kardboard monstrosity in the sweltering heat of Gobi’s Valley? Yeah, me neither…
#3. NO, BIRDY. I HIT TENNIS BIRDIES.
Here’s another one for Nut’s and Bolts that can be found in the competition heavy Jiggoseum world. While you’re likely to hear the blaring trumpets of Hail-Fire Peaks, you’ll only manage to hear the secret melody once you initiate one of the many Jiggy Challenges found in this world. If you’re especially attentive you’ll manage to hear a very quick rendition of a familiar tune from Robin Beanland at 1 minute and 17 seconds. Don’t let the tempo mislead you, if slowed down, this theme would lend itself well to the Cock N’ Plucker Theme from both Conker’s Bad Fur Day and Live and Reloaded, though the theme is more well known for its upbeat styling as the Overworld tune; Windy, which stays more true to its reimagining in Nut’s and Bolts.
#2. MAKING A GHOUL OUT OF K. ROOL
Quick! What’s the first thing you think of when I mention a Horde of stolen Bananas, a collection of apes hard pressed to steal said horde back, and a rotund reptile King who likes to dress up in a cavalcade of costumes? Did you get ‘Skeleton Battle fought singlehandedly by unlikely hero in a large Workshop?‘ No? Who is this ‘Donkey Kong’ you speak of? Crossover confusion aside, you’ll find that the Skeleton Battle theme in Grabbed by the Ghoulies and the final fight against King K. Rool in Donkey Kong 64 each feature a memorable maddening midsection that you’re free to compare here. Could this be musical commentary to suggest the similarities between a mad Kremling and Baron with screwy eyes? Perhaps. Could it be that both Donkey Kong 64 and Ghoulies have the same musician? More than likely, yes.
#1. THE CHORUS THAT NOBODY HEARD
Speaking of Banjo composer, Grant Kirkhope, the masterful maestro made a masterpiece out of the last title at Rare that he worked on; Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise. While the previous Viva Pinata set the tone, Trouble in Paradise perfected it, featuring an abundance of original scores as well as a few old pieces given a new lease on life, such as the Dream Theme whose original counterpart can be found here. The truly interesting song that we have heard in a Rare title before however can be heard in the tantilizing start up of a certain song called Icicle Chorus though in retrospect we shouldn’t have heard the original song legitimately in the first place. If you can’t seem to place the theme, you’ll find that it shares its likeness to the Stop ‘N’ Swop Fanfare from Banjo-Kazooie which can be found.
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