Like so many other Zelda fans in the world, “Gerudo Valley” in Ocarina of Time is one of my absolute favorite tracks in the series. One hot summer day, the song got stuck in my head, as great songs often tend to do, and it made me think of the Gerudo, how they were created with inspiration from the Middle East, and how “Gerudo Valley” is almost made to play on a Spanish guitar.
When I was younger, I chose to read Spanish in school and learned that once, many centuries ago, Moors came from the east and lived in southern Spain and influenced the regions heavily with their architecture and culture. I started to wonder if any Zelda fan had recorded the song with typically Middle Eastern musical instruments and searched for a cover on both YouTube and SoundCloud. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find what I was looking for but I found something even better instead: an entire medley with an Arabic twist.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I hit play, but Hani Al-Dahshan surprised me several times as I watched the video. From the very start, Hani impressed me with a performance of Ocarina of Time’s title screen theme that was so beautifully played that it almost made me tear up. I’m sure Hani must’ve known and decided it was time to change the mood because the nostalgic melody got suddenly switched into something much more energetic and joyful.
At first, I thought Hani would just play his favorite songs from the game, but as I watched on, I understood that he was retelling the story of the game’s first half with his instruments. He’s so confident with his instruments that he will occasionally look into the camera and act along with the scenes playing in the background. Hani isn’t just the sole musician for this medley, he’s the characters, the villain, and the Legendary Hero as well!
It’s beautiful to hear a different take on the songs we know so well and love, and I really appreciate that Hani has mixed these songs with instruments he has clearly mastered. The medley reaches its climax when we get to the Temple of Time and the hero’s fight against Ganondorf. I wish I could hear more interpretations like Hani’s: video game songs played with traditional instruments, mixing something geeky with heritage and culture. I think I will have to look for more, but if I don’t find any today, maybe I’ll have to wait for seven long years to find them.
