Did a 15+ hour road trip with my fam twice a little ago and I drove a good chunk of it. Used AA/DGS music to keep me awake bc music psych is a blessing sometimes. Anyway, just a roundabout way to say, I have discovered some fun things in the music that made me 👀👀👀 Idk if anyone else has noticed any of it (and I will say I have minimal music theory knowledge but I'm an English major with the tendency to read into symbolism way too much), but feel to keep reading if you're interested! Spoilers for DGS2 are in here, fair warning!
I'll try and include links to the songs when I can! It'll probably be a mix of Spotify and YouTube hyperlinks so bear with me. Fair warning, this is super long because I decided to cram everything in one post oops lmao
The Funky Time Signature
The first thing I really ever noticed was that Sholmes' "Dance of Deduction"s were weird in terms of keeping beat. It's not in common time aka 4/4 aka 8-count; I think it's in 7/8 time (so you count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 etc. etc.) which is a struggle to maintain counting since people are so used to 3, 4, and 8-counts.
Dance of Deduction - Type A
I found sheet music for easier counting! It says it's in 7/4: https://youtu.be/51vTmoQzwI8
Originally, I thought it was just because he's Weird and Silly™, but I ended up listening to "Partners - The game is afoot" which plays when Sholmes and Yuujin are on the S.S. Grouse trying to deduce where Jigoku is.
Partners - The game is afoot!
This one is surprisingly in 4/4 aka common time (you count 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 etc. etc. [though I have seen sheets put it in 12/8, which is close-ish, but it still has an even counting pattern WHICH IS WHAT MATTERS]). So in actuality, Shomles' Dance of Deductions aren't in a weird time signature because he's our favorite eccentric boy (okay, it might be part that too); it's because he's missing his partner after he left and investigating never felt quite right without him. Once he and Yuujin get to investigate together again, he's whole and happy. And it's just so fucking gay I can't.
Harpsichord
The big thing I noticed while I was driving (because there was nothing else interesting on the road) was the use of harpsichords in certain Londoner themes, specifically Stronghart, van Zieks, Iris, and Kazuma's prosecutor theme, as well as some of the final songs during 2-4&5.
If you don't know, this is what a harpsichord sounds like! Yes, I know I'm a nerd for being able to pick it out and name it while driving lmao
You can hear it a lot in Stronghart's theme, specifically around 0:38-0:49 (it's pretty in the background so you kinda have to strain your ears but it's there), but it's also pretty present throughout his theme.
Lord Chief Justice Stronghart - Time-Keeper of the Law
There's also a lot of it in van Zieks' theme as well; it's right off the bat and it's one of the prominent instruments throughout the piece.
Barok van Zieks - The Reaper of the Bailey
You have to really be listening for it, but it pops up occasionally in Iris' theme as well! You kinda have to strain your ears during 0:16-0:30 to hear it, but it's definitely there. It's more hidden compared to van Zieks'.
Iris Wilson - Young Biographer
I know Kazuma is Japanese, however, since he became a prosecutor in Britain, it still counts and it makes more sense once I tell you why it's all related (if you haven't guessed yet). ANYWAY, his theme also has a lot of harpsichord in it, even in the parts that were from his original theme.
A Prosecutor, Reborn
This could all just be a stylistic choice too, but do you see it yet? All the people who correspond with these themes are directly related to the Professor killings. van Zieks and Kazuma have the most prominent because we know by 2-4 the obvious connections they both hold. Iris and Stronghart's are more in the background since both of their involvements are big reveal-type deals by the end of the game.
Bonus points: the actual theme that plays when anything related to the Professor is mentioned also has some background harpsichord to connect it all.
The Professor - A Spectre Revived
I will note that I didn't notice anything in Gregson's theme, even though he played a big part in the false conviction. Courtney Sythe's theme also has some harpsichord, but I can't remember how she's related to it other than the fact that she helped with the autopsy (which probably means I should replay the games again lol).
Other game music that proves the connection:
Enoch Drebber - Rondo of Science and Magic
The Great Gateway to the Truth
The Prison Warders
The Great Closed Trial - Court is Now in Session
Reminiscences - The Fruits of Ambition
Others I probably completely missed
A Prosecutor, Reborn
Speaking of Kazuma's prosecutor theme, one of the really cool things about its composition is the warring back and forth between itself. It starts with the completely new theme, blending his usual string accompaniment with drums/cymbals, singular bell tolls, and harpsichord. When it gets to around 0:47, you hear the bells and then it switches back to his original theme from Adventures, though it's a lot grander now and lacking a lot of the traditional Japanese elements it once had.
A Prosecutor, Reborn
Kazuma Asougi - Samurai on a Mission
And it bounces back and forth like that until the end of the song, the bells signifying the shifting. It goes to show this internal struggle Kazuma is having between finding the truth even if it's something he won't like (his original theme) and following his emotions to falsely convict van Zieks as revenge (the beginning chunk of his prosecutor theme).
I also think it's interesting how dominating the harpsichord is, again especially over the chunks of his original theme from Adventures. In connection to it being related to the Professor, aside from the obvious connection to his father, it also shows how much influence and manipulation Stronghart had over him, with him being the BBEG.
Siblings
One of my favorite things I noticed was Susato and Kazuma's connections through themes, though not the one you're thinking. Kazuma's official theme I'm sure has a few connections to Susato's (but I haven't listened closely enough to hear them), however I really noticed how intertwined the two were when I listened to Kazuma's unused theme they provided in Chronicles.
Susato Mikotoba - A New Bloom in the New World
Kazuma Asougi (Unused)
Many of the same instruments are used, as well as note and chord progressions. They have the same peaceful/serene vibes too, which is understandable in why Kazuma's was scrapped (even if I do like it a lot). But if this ended up being Kazuma's actual theme, I would've noticed the familial relationship they share instead of my initial thoughts of it purely just being professional.
That's all I've really noticed for now, but I'm sure I'll come across more things as I listen to the soundtrack to study. I will, however, shut up now and let you get back with you day/night/whatever time of day it is for you because this is getting l o n g. If you did read this far, thank you for indulging me and listening to me be a complete nerd ^w^ And definitely feel free to share your thoughts too; I love talking about this stuff if you couldn't tell!
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This is a present for my dear friends @bandtrees and @sammisafetypin , a fansong for their fic "But Who Will Scare The Crows Away?", which is an MP100 AU where Mogami's spirit, not Dimple, mentors Ritsu as he awakens to his psychic powers.
You don't need to have read the fic to understand the song, because I have not if fact read the fic (it is too scary for me!), but if you like horror definitely check it out! Ollie and Sammi are such lovely people and put so much thought and care into their writing; I can vouch that their grasp of theme and characterization is impeccable!
They were talking about the title of the fic last night (it actually comes from a creepypasta) and I thought "Wow, that sounds like it should be the refrain of a spooky ballad!" And then I remembered that I love to write spooky ballads :)
Lyrics:
Carrion birds above the city
Circling, seeking for their prey
Speaking truths men fear to ponder.
But who will scare the crows away?
Child, you know the world is rotten
Rank and riddled with decay
Who will lance it? Who will cleanse it?
Who will scare the crows away?
The meek are only ever broken
Turned to lost, discarded strays.
Till they yearn for claws of mercy.
But who will scare the crows away?
Some will take, and use, and plunder
Glut themselves and call it play
Leave their toys as birds' foul pickings
So who will scare the crows away?
(Oooos for a verse)
Child, you know that man is rotten
Spreading poison by the day
Come and cull the blight his heart is.
Come and scare the crows away.
Come and scare the crows away.
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Ok I just got an idea I HAD to share with the more talented. Epic the musical underworld saga/Critical Role C3. I can't draw but I have like a vision of an animatic or like maybe just fan art stills of the lyrics paired to events from c3, SPOILER AHEAD
I see a song of past romances: 3 images, one of Liliana and Imogens father, one of Vax and Keylith, the final one of Imogen and Laudna,
I see the sacrifice of man: I'm not sure for this none but maybe Oryms husband dying,
I see betrayals: Lilliana not listening to Imogen and siding with Ludinus at the battle of the Bloody Bridge
On Betrayals: Imogen watching her mother crash out of the music hall after not stopping the assassination attempt
And a brothers final stand: FCG's sacrifice(I don't know of that one works as well as I know it happens but haven't caught up that far yet, I'm watching episode 91 right now)
I see a man who gets to make it home alive: I'm less solid on this part but maybe like a sweeping shot of the Hells being traumatized and shell-shocked
But it's not longer you: I'm not sure of this part either but maybe like a close up shot of Imogen being emotional devastated or like a group shot of the Hells but with all there freaky new things as they're all sort of embracing a corruption art for the greater good right now (The elementals for Ash and Fearne, Morrie for Orym, Predathos for Imogen, Delilah for Laudna, His deeper assassin things for FCG (if he's still there like I said I heard he might have probably died which I'm dreading seeing but also please no spoilers thank you) and I guess the wolf for Chetney(he's the only one not really corrupting right now which is ODD).)
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Au where Damian is closer in age to Tim and joins the batfam after Jason dies
bruce has to make himself functional with a new kid dropped in his lap and then has to cut back on the violent outbursts because Damian WILL take it as permission to kill and they're trying to teach him not to do that
tim keeps his stalker tendencies and grows to like Damian's robin just as much as Dick and Jason's, even if this new robin is a bit stabby around the edges
damian is the first robin to notice Tim tho and confronts him on his own without telling Bruce
timmy is like heyyy don't stab me I swear I wouldn't endanger the bats ever & also I can maybe give you info I find sneaking around & also hey wouldn't it be cool to have a secret from bats? You could have your own personal informant wouldn't that be so cool you could impress Batman and everything
dami: fine but you don't have any more secrets right
tim, knows their secret identities: and I said no, y'know, like a liar
so they make a truce that turns into a friendship that turns into Damian hiding the fact that he has adopted a brother, shut up Batman you picked up random children from the street so can damian
bruce and dick: wow it's so nice that Damian has started listening to us about not killing or using excessive violence on people. We're glad he understands now
Damian, who got a 72 slide PowerPoint lecture from Tim about the practicality of not killing as a vigilante in Gotham: yes, that is what happened. I have accepted your perspectives on morality. No other reason
tim’s powerpoint has a lot of graphs and venn diagrams measuring different kinds of criminal activity vs public cooperation vs batman's violence levels vs police cooperation vs rogue activity. The gotham ecosystem is delicate
when jason comes back tim throws a fit because he has to REMAKE his powerpoint and all the graphs to add red hood’s vigilante-slash-rogue effect
Tim at some point: batman is fragile if you kill people it will make his traumatized brain explode
Dami: trauma?
Tim: y'know from martha and thomas being murdered in front of him
Damian, eyes narrowed:
Tim: I mean… that's just a game theory?
but just like generally Tim and Damian being each other's support systems
they bond over having parents who are absent?? Like, damian missing his mom and tim immediately empathizing on how its hard when you love someone who is away a lot or for a long time
they talk about missing them and damian is able to open up about feeling out of place and how difficult it is to adjust or know how he's supposed to act
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