Link’s Awakening turned 25 years old this past year, and Nintendo is celebrating by releasing a re-imagined version for the Switch. The game is beloved by many and considered a classic by fans for its charming story, gameplay, and of course, its music. “Ballad of the Wind Fish” is often regarded as the most famous track from the game. The song plays throughout Link’s Awakening and is an integral part of the story. I was browsing through various tracks when I stumbled upon DSC’s cover of this cherished song. I stopped what I was doing at the moment to listen, and I’m glad I did.
The original “Ballad of the Wind Fish” is played gradually throughout the game on the variety of instruments Link discovers on his journey. As you collect the instruments they reveal additional pieces of the melody Marin first sang by the weather vane, along with the island’s secret. By the time you reach the end of the game you have the melody revealed in full 8-bit glory, leaving you with not only the memory of the island but the memory of its song as well. The melody is an essential part of the game and a memorable track, so it’s no wonder the song has been covered by numerous people since its original release.
DSC’s cover starts off slowly, much as the game does. The acoustic guitar is quiet, and the main melody is the focus while strains of a complementary harmony are played in the background. The tempo is also slowed down, which allows us to focus on how truly beautiful this combination of notes is. As the track continues, DSC enriches the melody by adding more to the background harmony while still keeping the focus on the main theme, but then the track shifts dramatically. The volume and tempo increase, and while the melody is still played on the acoustic guitar, the song takes on a different feel. It’s filled with energy, and there’s something about the way it flows that reminds me of being on a beach, surrounded by swaying palm trees and rolling waves.
“I want to know everything about you…Err…Uhh, Ha ha ha ha!”
Finally, after that increase in energy, the track changes entirely. DSC switches to an electric guitar for the finale, and while the energy is still present, there’s something mournful about the sound. I don’t really know how to describe why it felt that way to me. Maybe I was caught up in picturing Link’s journey toward the end of the game. Will he finally learn the truth: Is the island real or is it all just a wild fish’s dream?
The song finishes in this section almost like a sigh, or a dream you don’t want to end. There’s no fanfare, no flourish of notes, just the end of the melody until it fades away. Despite my wanting more, this closes off the piece well since, as I mentioned above, it seems to mimic the journey Link takes through the game. The song as a whole struck a note with me. I had originally intended to write about DSC’s cover of the Stone Tower Temple theme, but after listening to this I changed my mind. They put together a fantastic piece and if you are a fan of Link’s Awakening or the “Ballad of the Wind Fish”, it’s worth a listen (if not several).
DSC has a variety of covers on their YouTube channel: Songs from Zelda, the Mario and Kirby series, and movie covers as well. They also have a Patreon and Spotify accounts where you can follow for updates and find out more about them and their music.
