While Skyward Sword is generally known to have mixed reviews, you have to admit that it holds up in regards to Nintendo’s high standards for music. From the beginning, Skyward Sword greets us with a grand intro, and the music continues to inspire throughout the entirety of the game. From the upbeat and bouncy flutes in “Skyloft,” to the eerie pan flute and strings of “Fi’s Theme,” and even to the chaotic and action-packed boss themes, the soundtrack to Skyward Sword is nothing less than the same quality music from Nintendo we’ve fallen in love with over the years. Music like this makes it hard to not feel nostalgic, even when you’re playing a game for the first time.
Every game has a story for people, and for me, Skyward Sword holds a very special place in my heart. It came out during a time in my life when I genuinely felt lost in many different ways. I was a high school graduate who hadn’t touched a Zelda game in years. I was a girl who was taught to feel ashamed for my passions in life. Skyward Sword reintroduced me to the series and helped me to embrace my passions again.
As you should assume, the music struck a chord in me, too. So much so that in nine short months, I will be walking down the aisle at my wedding to “Romance in the Air.” I knew this was the song I wanted from the beginning, and I knew that I wanted a classical guitar version of it to be played. But there was a problem: Where was I possibly going to find the tabs necessary to make this happen?
YouTube, of course. And so my search began. I definitely went in with a particular sound in mind, which made it more difficult to find the perfect song. But it was out there, and I found it: A classical guitar solo put together by TheToader.
Right from the start, his rendition of “Romance in the Air” stays true to the light, playful, and slightly romantic feel of the original song. It’s easy to appreciate the simplicity of the song with the single guitar, yet he manages to bring as much emotion to the piece as a full orchestra can. It’s impossible not to feel nostalgic when I hear it, and it reminds me why I fell in love with Skyward Sword and the entire Legend of Zelda series.
Though I’m not much of a musician myself, I’ve come to appreciate the skill needed to play a piece that sounds as simple as “Romance in the Air.” In my search for a guitarist for my wedding, I’ve realized that it requires someone with a specific skill, commonly known as fingerstyle. For those unfamiliar, it is basically when the musician plays a solo piece on guitar while keeping a bass line going with their thumb while also playing the melody using their other fingers. This is no easy feat! Yet, TheToader manages to make it look simple.
His music is both true to the games while also being unique to his own style. He brings not only a sense of nostalgia to his pieces but also a wide range of emotions, like in the hauntingly beautiful chill of Majora’s Mask’s “Final Hours” or the carefree, playful, and romantic feel of “Romance in the Air.” Naturally, I found my perfect song thanks to TheToader, and fortunately for me, he graciously offers all of his tabs to anyone and everyone eager to inspire and to share them with the rest of the world.
