Get Your Groove On! /// Music Monday #85

I swear, these Music Monday love to creep up on me and be like, "Hey, remember us? It's our time again!"

Today's song is a funky one called . . .

"Sand 'n Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

Composed by Pascal Michael Stiefel

If you're all about that type of music that makes you want to get up and start dancing like crazy, or snapping your fingers to the beat, or even just bop your head to, this is the song for you. (I'm pretty sure I've done all three.) There's something about the whole thing that I can't get enough of. I need a whole album of music like this, please. It's too short on its own as a single song.

So in the game, the last chapter (pretty sure it's the last one, anyway) is this place called Alpine Skyline. It's more open world than the other chapters are, and based on the title, it's obviously mountain-themed. However, it originally was supposed to be a desert, but it got changed because of, and I quote, "a mismatch between visuals and gameplay." I'm not sure why they couldn't have kept it as a desert, though since I haven't played much of the game, I can't really say a lot on the matter.

What I can say is that I would've loved to have been able to hear this music in an open world desert area, if for nothing else than the fact that it'd be very different from your stereotypical sandy level song. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I hate the trope. There are a number of songs (particularly some Nintendo ones) used in desert levels that have that "classic Egyptian" feel to them. There are others (more Nintendo ones come to mind) that find a way to change things up a little or flip it on its head in some way. I have yet to hear, however, something that's completely different, like this song--and if I have heard it, it's not being very memorable at the moment.

All that to say this: don't be afraid to break the tropes or whatever's considered the standard when it comes to your creative works. Be brave enough to get a different angle on the box, exit it, or maybe just smash it entirely. It's like me when I've been thinking about and working on a playlist for The Portal Chronicles. Sure, I want it to have some epic fantasy music, but what if I want to get creative and try something different? What if I want to use a heavy metal song from the Doom soundtrack for when a horde of monsters is bearing down on the heroes? What if a groovy wubstep piece by MDK was used for an epic and intense chase? What if I find a song from an anime that really captures the mood I need for a battle that turns the tides better than what a song that "should" work because it's more fantasy-ish? Honestly, it's fine if you want to stick with what's normal, but dare yourself to try doing something abnormal next time and see what happens.

And that's the end of it! What're your thoughts on the music? Did it make you dance like it did to me? Do you have any creative project where you decided to go against the norm in some way?

A Complex Blend of Emotions /// Music Monday #84

 Has it really been two weeks already? Time seems to fly by so fast these days, and yet not.

Our song for today will be . . .

"The Simulation" from OneShot: Solstice

Composed by Nightmargin

OneShot is an amazing game. I'm pretty sure I've talked about it on here before, but it's about this kid named Niko who wakes up with no memories and is tasked with the burden of restoring the sun to a world void of light. He talks directly to you, the player, as you are the god of said world. The game does things that seriously break the fourth wall, which was one of its coolest features. In the end, you are forced to make a choice that will affect everyone.

If you play the game a second time, you can find an alternative route known as the Solstice run. I know next to nothing about it, as I have yet to do it myself. However, with that new chapter came an additional soundtrack, where you'll find today's song.

There's something about the musical style of the track that I can't get enough of. I suppose it might be considered lo-fi or something, maybe? What I do know is that it is nothing short of absolutely delightful. It's got this really happy vibe to it, with a bouncing melody and light electronic beats. But at the same time, it's almost kind of . . . sad? Bittersweet may be a better term.

When I just listen to it, it brings to mind images of good times spent with friends--times of laughter and joy. You're making memories, trying new things, exploring the unknown, just enjoying each other's company. In the back of your mind, though, you know that all good things must come to an end. So you're aware of when you'll have to go back to normal life, but you're living in the moment.

Then the time to say goodbye comes, and that's when the bittersweet emotion truly hits. You had such a great time. Maybe it was one of the best experiences of your life. You really don't want to return to the grind, the normalcy. Not like you have a choice. So you part ways, and as all of the feelings hit your heart, the last few melancholy notes play. It was good while it lasted; too bad it couldn't have been that way forever.

What're your thoughts on the song? Does it bring to mind any specific images or moods? Have you played OneShot or listened to its OST?

Monthly HapPENings: August

Well, it seems the heat of summer is drawing to a close, which means it's time for another one of these.

What even was life back in August? What did I do? I honestly can't remember. Life is just a haze these days, hours drifting by and blending into one another. All I can really recall doing is attending a small birthday party that one of my coworkers (who I call my work mom) was holding for her youngest son, and that we've now begun harvesting things from the garden. Don't know what else occurred--which is not a good sign in my mind.

Bookish HapPENings

Did I say I was gonna finish a book this last month? That was obviously a joke, duh! I meant that I'm going to finish a book this month. Ahem. Yep. That's what I meant.

HapPENings on the Screen

I don't watch a lot of movies these days, as I'm finding I currently enjoy the TV show format a lot more. However, Train to Busan is a movie that I can't recommend enough. I'd never seen a zombie film before, and I've barely seen any K-dramas. This one was absolutely perfect. It was intense--extremely so--but it wasn't terrifying just for the sake of being terrifying. It told a powerful, raw story that moved me. With each zombie attack, the stakes increased both physically and emotionally. By the time the end credits rolled around, I felt it was wrong to leave before they were finished. If you're only gonna ever watch one more new movie, let it be this one.

When I started watching S5 of The Flash, I really wasn't into it. It was dull and bland, something I'd hoped this show would never become. S4's beginning was already showing signs of this problem, but not as bad. However, just like with S4, once I got past the crossover stuff (which was actually super good this time around) . . . man, did things kick up a notch. Well, several notches at the point I'm at in the season. I'm honestly looking forward to seeing how things go down. There've been a couple of great twists that I predicted, but only the episode of said twist. I'm holding onto the hope that S5 might end up being very, very good.

AVATAR AAAAHHHHH! IT'S SO EPIC AAAAAAHHHHHH! HOW IN THE WORLD IS IT GONNA END AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

(Really, what else can I say that wouldn't spoil things? I'm nearly done S3, so . . . yeah. Probably won't talk about the show again until I'm done so that I actually have something to say.)

Going back to the subject of great movies, Two Heroes is another one to add to the list! Because honestly, an anime about superheroes with fantastic characters that you love (or love to hate) getting a 90 minute movie is one the best things that could happen. To tell you the truth, I still think about it quite frequently. It was just so epic! I knew it was gonna be good, but I had never thought it was gonna be just as great as it ended up being. Definitely a must-see.

Wow, okay . . . so I just finished S1 of Tower of God, and OH MY GOSH. Never before have I hated a character as much I did with how the season ended. (Okay, so Attack on Titan has made me feel very similar things, but this was different somehow. Can't really explain how or why.) And now I have to wait until possibly April of next year until S2 drops? How am I gonna wait that long??? I need answers, and a lot of 'em.

Gaming HapPENings

I finally got my first solo win in here, and it was absolutely insane! Megan and I were having a competition to see who could get a solo win first between the two of us, which she ended up doing. However, on a later date the three of us were gaming together and decided to do a solo match. While Preston was fighting Megan, I snuck into the forge where his axe (one of the best weapons in the game) he'd crafted was waiting. I stole it and ran, with Preston giving chase when he defeated Megan and found out what happened. He ended up dying, and I made it so far that it was just me and one other player. They tried to ambush me, but with a bit of a luck and skill mixed together, I managed to turn the tables and take him down in an intense showdown. I was super ecstatic to get my first solo victory with both Megan and Preston watching. Definitely one of the most satisfying gaming moments for me.

Writerly HapPENings

I didn't write--again. The other night, I was really struggling as I was think about my writing and how I've been feeling about it for a while now (along with some other things), which put me in a bad mental funk. I'm trying to work on it, so . . . yeah. I hope this is an obstacle I can get past sooner rather than later.

What was your August like? Do you remember what you did? Are you as excited for autumn as I am?