The Zelda series is full of memorable moments that rip our hearts in half and leave us drowning in tears, but none can quite compare to the utterly devastating ending of Link’s Awakening. It’s difficult to imagine the depth of Link’s guilt and sorrow, knowing that he is responsible for erasing the bright, beautiful Koholint Island from existence, along with all its wonderful inhabitants. But that’s the bittersweet reality of life: the dream may be a paradise, but we all must eventually wake up and continue with life in the real world.
And this poignant message is perfectly conveyed throughout Link’s Awakening by the “Ballad of the Wind Fish”. It encapsulates Marin’s hopes for the future and the joy of the island’s inhabitants, while also capturing the melancholy of Link’s inevitable loss. So much raw emotion is conveyed through this simple, lovely tune.
It’s always incredibly difficult to improve upon a masterpiece, requiring the talent and vision of a truly exceptional artist to pull it off. And sometimes, when you stumble upon such an artist, it marks the beginning of a lifelong love affair with their entire body of work. That is exactly what happened to me 10 years ago when I found Fox Amoore’s stunning reimagining of “Ballad of the Wind Fish”.
Fox Amoore, also known as Iain James Armour, is an independent New Age musician from Scotland who specializes in orchestral instrumental songs. If I had to sum up his music in just one word, I would call it “soaring.” Whether it’s a song about waltzing among the stars or about saying a tearful good-bye, Amoore’s music always swells to enormous heights, sweeping listeners away on amazing journeys across the magical landscapes that his songs conjure up. His Scottish roots also come through in many of his songs, adding an energetic Celtic vibe that will make you feel like dancing a jig.
In his gorgeous orchestral rendition of “Ballad of the Wind Fish,” Amoore paints a picture of Koholint Island like we’ve never seen it before. The sweetly lilting flute and ethereal vocal tracks make the landscape burst to life in the richest colors, with lush sunlit foliage under an expansive azure sky. The expressive string instruments lift us up into the air, light as a cloud so we may soar across the world unfolding before us.
With each crescendo, Tal Tal Mountain extends further and further into the clouds, dwarfing the island that continues to sparkle with life beneath. And at the song’s climax, Koholint bursts forth in all its glory, a whimsical and joyous landscape where hopes and dreams can flourish.
But then, as I said before, even the greatest of dreams must inevitably fade away. The once-exuberant flute now sounds forlorn, leading us into a quiet finale as the vibrant island disappears into the fog of memory. But what a spectacular memory Amoore has left us with, reminding us not to mourn the loss of Koholint, but to celebrate the all-too-brief time we got to spend with it.
If you love Fox Amoore’s rendition of this song as much as I do, then I highly recommend checking out his original compositions on Bandcamp and YouTube. He has several albums out (my personal favorites being The Ballad of Midnight and Feel), so you’ll have a plethora of great songs to choose from if you decide to take the plunge. This guy deserves all the fans he can get, so definitely give him a listen if you’re in the mood for something truly special!
