The holidays are a magical time of the year. From the bright and cheery displays to the whimsical music and decadent cuisine, the season is an annual promise of hope. The buildup to these merry occasions is always thrilling; however, the joyous celebrations quickly become fainting memories as the calendar year turns over its new leaf.
As the winter rolls along and we patiently wait for glimpses of the next season, we can still enjoy a lighthearted, wintery rendition of our favorite Zelda music. The “Mabe Village” song from Link’s Awakening remains one of my favorites in the series, and a talented artist by the name of thepsynergist created an alternate version of the melody with a wintery twist.
Psypher begins the arrangement with an instrument choice that is commonplace for alternative themes with a wintery twist: chimes. Although an ordinary selection, the chimes immediately create tones of carefree lightheartedness that are distinct from the original piece.
The transition of the first verse to the chorus is where Psypher’s creativity begins to shine. Deeper notes from stringed instruments are introduced and accompany the chimes with an alt version of the chorus. This selection adds depth to the composition before a surprising reveal.
The second verse is perhaps my favorite interpretation of a Zelda song. As the verse begins, a distinct yet familiar voice enters the fray. With an incredible sense of imagination, Psypher is able to utilize a wind instrument to produce a sound that mimics Marin’s voice but with a feeling of faraway distance. The result is a series of progressions that feels as though Marin is singing along with the alternative piece.
The ending begins with a return to a short windchime solo before concluding with an improvised rendition from each of the instruments. In a similar fashion to the holiday’s abrupt conclusion, the final notes of the piece leave the listener with a desire for more.
If you enjoyed this holiday cover from thepsynergist, be sure to check out the YouTube channel for more video game covers. Psypher covers a host of video game franchises, which include Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokemon. There is definitely something for everyone in this talented composure’s repetiteur of video game covers. Enjoy!
