Video game music is continuing to gain the attention and appreciation that it deserves in modern pop culture and The Legend of Zelda series has been no exception. The franchise continues to provide fans with countless recognizable melodies and musical motifs. This has led plenty of fans to take their own initiative and musical talent to rearrange and cover Zelda music.
Tim de Man is no stranger to the video game music scene; he is a skilled musician who has created covers that range in style from solo piano to jazzy improv. Two years ago, he released Hyrule Highlands, a crossover album that adds Celtic flare and contrast to popular Zelda soundtracks, and the album was received very well by fans. The one-man Celtic band now joins forces with ZREO: Second Quest to follow up on the success of his Celtic-themed album with Hyrule Highlands II.
The album features a vast array of instruments, such as the piano, drums, guitar, accordion, nyckelharpa, tin whistle, mandolin, and vocals, which cover a range of over three octaves. It consists of ten tracks from seven different Zelda games that are infused with Celtic flavor to add emotional depth and build on the storytelling and character development that these songs did so effectively.
Full Disclosure
Tim de Man graciously gave Zelda Universe a review copy of Hyrule Highlands II.
“Ballad of the Goddess” (Skyward Sword)
The “Ballad of the Goddess” is the song most synonymous with Skyward Sword. It is first heard at the start of the game when Zelda plays it on Goddess’s Harp and accompanies it with Hylian lyrics that translate to “Oh youth, guided by the servant of the goddess, unite earth and sky, and bring light to the land.”
Later on, Link obtains the Goddess’s Harp and learns the song, which has been passed down from ancient times. He must play it throughout the game, and it symbolizes his progression in saving Zelda and ridding the world of evil. The lyrics connect the Link, the “youth”; Fi, “the servant of the goddess”; and Zelda, “the goddess”, and serve as a metaphor for Link to “unite earth and sky, and bring light to the land.”
Although Hyrule Highlands II’s rendition does not feature these lyrics, they manifest their meaning. It focuses on the tin whistle’s melody at the start, which provokes a feeling of youth and intense emotion. The entrance of the accordion embodies both Skyloft and the song’s ancient origins. Its accompaniment to the main melody can be seen to represent the Goddess Hylia’s aid to Link on his quest. The increasing intensity of the drums illustrates the continuing obstacles that face Link, yet, as the song decrescendos at the end, there is a feeling of triumph that both Skyloft and the land below the clouds will be saved from Demise.
“Romance in the Air” (Skyward Sword)
A significant portion of Skyward Sword’s story revolves around Link and Zelda’s relationship. Fans have speculated whether they are simply childhood friends or have developed romantic feelings toward each other. “Romance in the Air” is played across various Skyloft cutscenes and sets the mood between the two. I would go as far as to say the song’s purpose is to solidify their developing romance.
“Romance in the Air” is one of the album’s most joyful songs and uses many instruments, such as the tin whistle, guitar, and drums to build on this romance. The addition of his vocals and the accordion truly captivates the tone of the track, and it leaves you feeling that the original song mixed perfectly with the album’s Celtic flair. The airy tone of his interpretation highlights the couple’s friendship while the crescendos build on their emotion and make you think that Link and Zelda are destined to be more than friends.
“Title Theme” (Ocarina of Time)
Upon turning on Ocarina of Time, the “Title Theme” accompanies a cutscene of adult Link riding Epona across Hyrule field. The opening shows off the scenery of Hyrule but in a paradoxical manner as Hyrule castle is shown even though adult Link’s in-game map has Ganon’s tower in the same location. Both the opening song and background cut scene provide the player with a very soothing and dreamlike atmosphere despite the otherwise nightmare sequence at the start of the game.
The Hyrule Highlands II arrangement builds on the raw emotion and poetic feeling that the original “Title Theme” provides. It is a statement that the player is about to be taken on an emotional journey that is deeper than just a game full of open-world adventure, action, and puzzles. The track’s slower tempo and tranquil guitar strings allow for a very mellow sound that is still able to create intense emotion through the main tin whistle melody. Tim de Man’s interpretation gave me the same goosebumps I felt when hearing the “Title Theme” on my first Ocarina of Time playthrough and it will evoke the same feelings of nostalgia for other listeners.
“Hyrule Field” (Ocarina of Time)
Hyrule field connects all of Ocarina of Time’s distinct regions through a broad area of rolling grass, paths, and trees, as well as housing Lon Lon Ranch. The game’s overworld was such a vast and immersive environment for the gaming standards in 1998, and the area’s music played a big role in creating such an atmosphere. Although Hyrule Field did not age as well as the other aspects of the game, its music certainly has.
Tim de Man’s cover begins with the iconic intro to “Hyrule Field” which represents the sun rising at the start of the new day, aka the “Sun’s Song”. The orchestration creates a more rich sound in contrast to the original but maintains the adventurous spirit. The shift to a slower tempo in the middle adds some drama before transitioning back to the upbeat melody. The variety in instruments and trade-off between the accordion and tin whistle playing the melody gives the listener a more intimate sound while coincidingly maintaining that same adventurous feeling throughout.
“Song of Storms” (Ocarina of Time)
The “Song of Storms” is a fan-favorite track that has made recurring appearances in the Zelda series since its debut in Ocarina of Time. Adult link learns the song from Guru-Guru in Kakariko village and plays it as a child in order to drain the village’s well and obtain the Lens of Truth. Guru-Guru states that he learned the “Song of Storms” from a child seven years prior, who many speculate to be Link.
The Celtic texture in Hyrule Highlands II’s “Song of Storms” adds to the mysterious feeling of the song. The cover reimagines the simple melody with its dynamics and newly added bridges. The crescendo both drives intensity and signifies the power that the melody provides Link throughout both Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. The instruments rotate between driving the melody and fading into the harmony which could relate to the bootstrap paradox between Link and Guru-Guru teaching each other the song.
“Hyrule Field” (Twilight Princess)
In Twilight Princess, Hyrule Field is nearly five times larger than the overworld found in Ocarina of Time. It is made of three provinces (Lanayru, Eldin, and Faron) and has a more grand and interactive landscape than previous Zelda games. Unlike the one in Ocarina of Time, this Hyrule Field is several interconnected regions rather than one large area.
Hyrule Highlands II’s rendition manages to maintain the majestic sound of the “Hyrule Field” despite the lack of brass instruments that drove the intensity in the original. The change in tone and intensity throughout the song signifies the diversity in areas throughout the game’s overworld and the change in emotion as the story progresses.
“Hilda x Zelda” (A Link Between Worlds)
Princess Hilda is Lorule’s equivalent of Zelda in A Link Between Worldsand helps Link on his quest to defeat Yuga. Her ancestors had destroyed Lorule’s triforce to end the constant strife over its power, but it caused the kingdom to collapse. Hilda would learn of the existence of Hyrule and plot to steal its Triforce alongside Yuga in an attempt to save her people.
Just as the game pays tribute to A Link to the Past, “Hilda x Zelda” does the same to “Zelda’s Lullaby”. Tim de Man’s cover captivates the somber tone of Hilda’s character and presents her theme as if it could be a lament. Again, the Celtic instrumentation works very well to add further emotion to the plight of both Hilda and Lorule.
“The Wind Waker” (The Wind Waker)
The Wind Wakerhas provided fans with some of the most beloved songs across the Zelda series. “The Wind Waker” is Hyrule Highlands II’s most ambitious cover as it spans over seven minutes in length and combines the game’s most iconic tracks together in one. The medley consists of the “Title Theme”, “Legendary Hero”, “Outset Island”, “Windfall Island”, and the “Great Sea”.
The medley perfectly captivates the mood of Link’s journey throughout The Wind Waker. The “Title Theme” sets the tone with its strong orchestration and delicate vocals before slowing down the intensity with “Legendary Hero.” The Outset & Windfall Island assortment follows with a more upbeat sound and contains motifs from “ Kokiri Forest” and “Kakariko Village”. “Great Sea” ends the majestic arrangement as the accordion and strings seem symbolic of the moving waves across the sea.
“Deku Palace” (Majora’s Mask)
In Majora’s Mask, the Deku Palace is home to the Deku Scrubs and is situated in the Southern Swamp, which is in Termina’s Woodfall region. There is a somber atmosphere in the palace as the Deku Princess has been kidnapped. However, Link eventually rescues her and reunites her with the Deku King.
Although the overall tone in the game and this specific area is profoundly mournful, Hyrule Highlands II’s interpretation of “Deku Palace” focuses on celebrating the Deku Scrubs as a race and culture. The fast tempo and instrumentation create a sound that you can only presume would have everyone in the palace dancing.
“Revali’s Theme” (Breath of the Wild)
Revali is the Rito Champion in Breath of the Wild and aids Link in his journey to defeat Calamity Ganon. He is the most arrogant and prideful out of the four Champions and wanted to be given Link’s role as the main hero. Revali’s diary and Champion Revali’s Song cutscene both suggest that his reserved personality and need to prove himself to others are means of coping with his insecurities.
Hyrule Highlands II’s final track is the mellowest on the album. The melody is shared between the guitar, accordion, and whistles, with short bursts of intensity in what makes up an extremely tranquil song. “Revali’s Theme” provokes a romantic aroma and feelings of optimism that suitability concludes the album.
Final Thoughts
Tim de Man’s returns as the one-man Celtic band and utilizes the expertise and creativity of ZREO: Second Quest to follow up on the success of his debut album. Hyrule Highlands II infuses the Celtic flavor into ten popular Zelda songs and adds further emotion and color to all the tracks. ZREO’s studio-level care and sound engineering provide for a more polished and fluent sound in comparison to the original Hyrule Highlands while showcasing Tim’s musical talent with a multitude of instruments.
When looking at the positive reception and success of both Hyrule Highlands albums, it seems inevitable that a third album will be in the works sometime in the future, something that I and countless other listeners will eagerly look forward to. You can subscribe to Tim’s YouTube channel for his latest video game covers and ZREO: Second Quest’s channel for their upcoming Zelda projects. Hyrule Highlands II is currently available on Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp.
Dima
Features writer at Zelda Universe. Has been gaming since his earliest days. He also enjoys writing about soccer and music.
by Dima on July 29, 2022
