One day, I felt like listening to the shop theme: not the one from Ocarina of Time that I grew up with, but the more laid-back version from The Wind Waker. I put it on and kept it going in the background as I was working on a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Sometimes I’m a bit odd like that, keeping the same song on repeat for a very long time. This time, I kept it playing for over two hours. The next day, I had it on for another two hours. That’s when I realized that I (may have a problem and) had to write a column on it.
This wonderful song starts playing when you enter a very specific boat among many sailing on the Great Sea, Beedle’s Shop Ship. It has a tropical vibe and a cheerful tune which ensures you that you’ve come to the right place — even though the shop owner, Beedle himself, might look a bit anxious and expresses his joy of seeing you, a potential customer, a tad too enthusiastically. But I can understand if he chose this comforting song to play in his store; after all, it can’t be easy drifting along the waves all alone and avoiding Bokoblin-infested lookout platforms.
The tropical and nautical sound is perfect for a game where the hero spends most of his time surrounded by water. Typical Caribbean musical instruments such as güito, maracas, and conga drums help bring that sound together. Even something that sounds similar to a steel guitar can be heard and gives the shop theme a more relaxed feel, just like lazy vacation days in Hawaii. As long as Link stays in Beedle’s shop, he can take a break from his adventurous journey and focus on getting what he wants.
I may not be the Hero of Winds but I find the soundtrack to be perfect for me as well. I may overplay certain songs sometimes but trust me, there are few songs I’m able to keep on repeat for hours while writing a text or doing some virtual window shopping.
