Oh, the Nostalgia! /// Music Monday #21

Another Monday, another music . . . piece. Song. Thing. It was supposed to be a parody of, "Another day, another dollar," okay? Cut me some slack!

Now, I know I've posted a lot of video game music this year so far, and I wasn't planning to today. Then I listened to a certain song while I was doing dishes, and it brought back so many good memories that I have to share it with you.

"The Grand Finale" from Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Composed by Yoko Shimomura

If you've never heard of the Mario & Luigi franchise, you're missing out. They are humorous (and sometimes darker) RPGs featuring the bros facing off against out-of-this-world threats--and in one game, that is literally what happens.

Bowser's Inside Story was my first forage into these games. At first, because of the title, I assumed this game would give Bowser's backstory, but I don't think that's something we'll ever get. Rather, it's about Mario and Co. being sucked inside Bowser's body. This gives you a chance to play as the Koopa King himself in this title. I could go on and on, not just about this game, but the entire series. Instead, I will focus on the song itself.

You've reached the end, and it's time for Bowser to face the foe without and the bros to face the foe within. You might expect some powerfully epic song, but what we get is something else. Something a bit . . . grander. There is an urgency to it, as the Mushroom Kingdom lingers on the brink of destruction. You are the only hope of preventing overwhelming evil from enshrouding the entire land. But wait . . . is there another emotion tucked away in this song? Could it be . . .

Sorrow?

I hadn't even realized this until someone asked why it sounded emotional in the video's comments. One person's answer caught my attention. To paraphrase (while doing my best to avoid spoilers, though this game has been out for nine years now), Bowser has lost everything in this game, thanks to the dastardly schemes of the conniving Fawful. And while the King of Awesome may not have revealed his backstory, he has shown more of his character, something virtually none of the Mario games go into. Part of that is his unwillingness to be walked over, especially by his measly Beanish foe.

And so he goes forth to reclaim that which has been taken from him, and also save the whole kingdom. After all, if someone's gonna rule, it'd better be him, right? So perhaps "sorrow" isn't the right word for it. Maybe it's . . .

Determination.

Oh wait, wrong game.

Anyway, like I said, I could blabber about these games a lot. I'll spare you today, but maybe I'll post more about the series in the future . . .? (Man, my list of posts that I wanna make is absolutely massive.) But I hope you enjoyed the music. It definitely sets the mood for the final curtain; I should know, since the first time I tackled the last battle, it took me about an hour. Or at least, it felt like an hour. I didn't die, though, so that's a plus!

Thanks for tuning in! Have you played any of the Mario & Luigi installments? If you have, what're your thoughts? If you haven't . . . I'm questioning all of your life choices right now.