Maidens of the Kaleidoscope

~Hakurei Shrine~ => Touhou Addict Recovery Center => Topic started by: Letty Whiterock on November 25, 2009, 02:29:57 AM

Title: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Letty Whiterock on November 25, 2009, 02:29:57 AM
For my podcast blog, I wrote up a list of my top ten favorite Touhou songs (http://thisisnotananimeblogspot.blogspot.com/2009/11/lettys-top-ten-touhou-tunes.html), and I'd like to compare notes. So what are your top ten favorite songs, and why?
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Seian Verian on November 25, 2009, 03:13:21 AM
10. Hiroari Shoots a Strange Bird~ Till When

I'll be honest... The song itself, isn't why I like it so much. I like it because of the sheer atmosphere it gives to the fight. When you come up to this girl with a sword, see that first nonspell of hers, and hear the beginning of this song playing, you just know that you're about to go into an epic fight where you're gonna get your butt kicked so hard you'll have a foot sticking out of your throat.

9. Higan Retour~ Riverside View

I'll be honest, I simply love this song. I'm not even sure how to say WHY I love it. I suppose that part of it, is that like Cosmic Mind and Septette, is that it's just plain flat-out BEAUTIFUL.

8. Crimson Belvedere~ Eastern Dream

Yep, another song that I can't really explain why I like it so much other than that I really think it's beautiful. Huh.

7. Border of Life

This is for both songs with this title, both Sumizome, and the Resurrection Butterfly version. Sumizome is quite beautiful, and actually, almost calming. I'm not sure if it actually quite reaches it, but it's definitely not what I expect for a final boss, and yet, it really does work. Perfectly.

And of course, the Resurrection Butterfly version... Partially, it's just because of Resurrection Butterfly itself. That sheer awesome moment... Beating Yuyuko, that moment of silence, then you're suddenly fighting against her again, this awesome song playing, and you're trying to go against this survival card that will DESTROY you if you don't know how to do it. Then finally, that finishes, and you're led to...

6. Sakura, Sakura~ Japanize Dream

This... Is just an amazing song. I have no words for it honestly. NOTHING feels more like a crowning moment of awesome than doing a random run, then out of nowhere beating the game on Hard mode, then hearing this song playing as the credits roll by. Nothing.

5. Phantom Ensemble

This is really just an amazing song. The first thing I notice when I go into a battle with the Prismrivers is just how... How clear the song is. I'm not sure how else to explain it... It's just an amazing song, that's all I can really say.

4. Judgement in the Sixtieth Year~ Fate of Sixty Years

This song... Actually was responsible for my discovering Touhou. That alone is enough to put it pretty high, but when you consider just how well it manages to convey a feeling that this IS the final battle, without managing to sound like it's nothing but drama, not actually anything worthwhile (See: One Winged Angel) definitely makes this an amazing song.

3. Emotional Skyscraper~ Cosmic Mind

It's a beautiful song, for a beautiful character, and to be honest, it's just flat-out AMAZING. Like Septette, it is quite beautiful, and filled with emotion, albeit of a different kind. It conveys Byakuren's feelings, and convictions, perfectly... She's willing to fight for what she believes in, but she holds no malice whatsoever. She's just doing what she needs to do, to stand up for her beliefs, and she deserves an amazing amount of respect.

2. Vessel of Stars~ Casket of Star

The song just seems to give a feeling of power to me. It doesn't seem to exactly have a really bright mood, but it certainly isn't dark... Alright, I'm not exactly sure how to describe just WHY I like this song, but it just seems to be made of pure, unadulterated awesome, exactly like the character it belongs to~


1. Septette for the Dead Princess

This song is just... Amazing. It's filled with emotion, and while the instrumentation gives it all the intensity you would expect for a final boss, especially the awesome Scarlet Devil, mistress of fate, the melody itself is one that's actually more fit for sheer beauty, regardless of the fact that it's also perfect for intensity.

Note: My top three songs actually are in no particular order, I can't really decide between them... Coincidentally, they also happen to belong to my three favorite characters. It seems that awesome characters tend to have awesome themes <3
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: jigglyppuff8 on November 25, 2009, 03:15:21 AM
1. 天空の花の都 (The Capital City of Flowers in the Sky) - Because PCB stage 4 is amazing. The general atmosphere has a very eastern feel to it and how appropriately so for this game series. The immense build up to the end only to end in a sudden stop and repeat loop was amazing given the way Stage 4 PCB worked.

2. アルティメットトゥルース (Ultimate Truth) - It just has that "this is it, the end is near" feeling to it. Again, it has a more eastern feel to it.

3. 明治十七年の上海アリス (Shangahi Alice of Meiji 17) - Because Meiling is my fave character. I prefer this to Chinese Tea.

4. 神々が恋した幻想郷 (The Gensokyo the Gods Loved) - Mostly, its because the arrangements of this tune that are really good.

5. 信仰は儚き人間の為に (Faith is for the Transient People) - The guitar riffs are rocking. Again, its arrangements are cool too.

6. 不思議の国のアリス (Alice in Wonderland) - It has a slightly melancholic feel that makes me want to listen to it over and over again.

7. アンノウンＸ ～ Unfound Adventure (Unknown X ~ Unfound Adventure) - This song has no arrangements to my current knowledge, but that in your face beginning makes me want to listen to it everytime I play 12.3.

8. ヴワル魔法図書館 (Voile, the Magic Library) - On my first playthroughs of EoSD when I only just started to get into Touhou Project, I always remember reading "Voile, the Magic Library" and thought "OH COOLIOS!!! IT'S A LIBRARY STAGE!!!". It was a nice way to set the atmosphere for the stage. It doesn't hurt that IaMP and Hisoutensoku breathed a new, rocking life to the song.

9. レトロスペクティブ京都 (Retrospective Kyoto) - To me, the intro sounded very "retro" for some reason. When playing through StB, this song was always nice to listen to when failing and trying again. The build up to the piano is also nice.

10. エクステンドアッシュ ～ 蓬莱人 (Extend Ash ~ Hourai Victim) - The build up to the part at 1:45 makes that part oh, so worth it to wait for. I may also liked this song because of a certain arrangement. Or Trumpets.

I'm more of an "I like it because I like it" sort of guy. Sorry about that.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Janitor Morgan on November 25, 2009, 03:35:18 AM
One of the main reasons I got into Touhou is the music, so this is right up my alley. Also, as a disclaimer, this list will most likely change after I've played more of the games.

10) The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITYCfbE76ZM) (I saw this on your top ten list, Letty. Holy crap, this is awesome.)
9) Flight of the Bamboo Cutter ~ Lunatic Princess (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIwNJJ37LHk) (Haven't played Imperishable Night yet, but this piece seems quite fitting for Kaguya. It also seems very catchy to me.)
8) Beloved Tomboyish Girl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIZ12EQ2SFg) (I'm not sure what it is about this one that makes me like it. I just do.)
7) Crystallized Silver (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOVwuiBuGzI) (see below, minus the piano bit)
6) Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy_-7OXophY) (A bit outside my normal tastes, but I really like the melody to this one. Also, I want to learn to play this and Locked Girl on the piano eventually.)
5) Voile, the Magic Library (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy0LvaLAIxo) (see Locked Girl)
4) Bloom Nobly, Cherry Blossoms of Sumizome ~ Border of Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLGW4-pgGXc) (Less calming than Phantom Ensemble, but it's still one of my favorites.)
3) Phantom Ensemble (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdnIdRPJtpo) (As much as I hate fighting the Prismrivers, their theme is actually quite calming to me.)
2) Septette for the Dead Princess (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJQ5HsXlPTo) (The harmony, dear God, the harmony.)
1) Locked Girl ~ The Girl's Secret Room (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygyraTutBJg) (I've always liked flowing pieces of music more than any other kind. In addition, it fits Patchy well. This has nothing to do with Patchy being the top of my Tohosort.)

Honorable mentions:
--Hiroari Shoots a Strange Bird ~ Till When? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owG2_kQC2Go) (see Phantom Ensemble, but replace "calming" with "motivating")
--Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-usbNcDD9g) (see Lunatic Princess)
--The Capital City of Flowers in the Sky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQAliyNOVUo) (In context, I dread hearing this because it means massive bullet spam. On its own, though, I can focus more on how the melody meshes with the harmony.)

EDIT: Reordered because I apparently was standing the list on its head, and replaced Flowering Night with something that wasn't SWR-related.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Seian Verian on November 25, 2009, 03:47:06 AM
Quote from: rdj522 on November 25, 2009, 03:35:18 AM
Phantom Ensemble (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdnIdRPJtpo)

Oh crud, how did I forget about this? *edits list*
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Ghaleon on November 25, 2009, 05:54:17 AM
Some Touhou songs I absolutely love the remixes for, but the original are not so hot IMO (Sepette of a dead princess is the best example. While I enjoy the original, it just doesn't stand out in quality as much as the remixes IMO). Based on your list I guess this isn't what you want.

While I have heard the music for Touhou 1-5 and UFO a little bit, and I really really enjoy it. I will not include them in my list simply because I haven't heard them nearly as much to really be 100% sure about them (Though I'm sure that if I knew them better many would make my list. My list also has no order, I can't begin to fathom which ones I prefer over the others. I'll just go in chronological order for the most part:

1: Centennial festival for magical girls (seems like nobody likes this one but me).

2: U.N. Owen was her (this song perfectly describes how I felt the first time I met this boss) "Holy fuck it's hopeless but this is so fun!"...Not only that, but the way the song is written is just plain unique, yet it still sounds great. I just wish the remixes (that I've heard so far) didn't suck in comparison.

3: The Doll Maker of Bucuresti...Though I think I over-value this song for the very first minute. I really like dissonance in my music, and this song does a great job of giving it to you in spades without making you grind your teeth...For the first minute.

4:The Capital City of Flowers in the Sky...Nothing to say, it owns. I really like PCB's soundtrack the most

5: Border of Life. I lied about not being able to tell which song I like more than the others, this one is it. Include the final spellcard bit too. I feel like some kinda superhero every time I battle this boss simply because of her music, I don't still feel as moved by other soundtracks even though I really like them (while playing the game).

6: Necrofantasia. Not surprising I know, Problem is with Necrofantasy is it pretty much completely lacks my fave part of Necrofantasia. the 0:25-0:50 part (which repeats later on of course). Totally sounds like something from a black metal band I'd like, without sounding too apart from the rest of the song, and really makes you feel like you're fighting a tough boss. I just love it.

7: Uhh. I'm still not sure if it's called Flight of the Bamboo cutter, or lunatic princess. But you know the song. I adore this one. I actually enjoy it more Border of life by itself, but not as much whilst playing the game (though it's still an excellent song in-game).

8: Faith is for the Transient People. Share's the same problem is Flandre's theme though. Great original, boring remakes (from what I've heard so far).

9: Suwa Foughten Field. A definite #1 for remixes (even better than Remilia's, though Remilia has like 5 good ones for every 1 this track seems to have). Every remix of this song I hear is godlike (no pun intended). Pretty much everything you said about this song yourself I agree with though.

10: Be of good cheer! Ok, It's odd for me to like this song so much. The only way it fits the game IMO is comic relief or something. You just endured one of the most frusteratingly difficult parts of all of Touhou, and now you're currently fighting the most ridiculously difficult non-final/extra boss in the series as well. WTF, at least the music is keeping me happy.

Seriously, that's how I feel about this song while playing the game. But listening to it alone...Well, it's my favorite cheerful song I know, and I don't just mean Touhou. Most of the music I like is dark, but this one stands out anyway for me. I don't know many remixes for this song either, but one I do know is absolutely wonderful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGrF1kYCzpo&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Mounting Jaggis on November 25, 2009, 06:16:52 AM
I don't have a particular order yet, but here are my favorites

Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Verloren on November 25, 2009, 06:38:48 AM
1. Satori Maiden ~3rd Eye~: I totally love this piece. It sets the battle for someone as intimidating as Satori-sama PERFECTLY.
2. U.N. Owen was her: Whimsical, yet dangerous just like myself~
3. Septette for the Dead Princess: A beautiful melody.doesn't sound all that boss-like to me, but it's Remilia-sama. She fights with elegance, just like this song.
4. Native Faith: I'd worship Suwako any day.
5. The Young Descendant of Tepes: Another great piece, just like
6. The Centennial Festival for Magical Girls. These two stage themes don't get enough love.
7. Hartmann's Youkai Girl: Ominous incarnate.
8. Phantom Ensemble: No top ten list is complete without it.
9. Tiger-Patterned (however you spell that word): The opening to Shou's theme is so ear-wormy... too bad in remixes the rest tends to be kinda bland.
10. Nue's theme. Dunno the name, but I love it.

Honorable Mentions: Necrofantasia and Border of Life. So close, but not quite on the list. Suwa Forgotten Battlefield is much the same.

For Remixes:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnOvKKmEu6A You don't beat both sibilings with one song~
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJZUfYdmXbM So beautiful... and so great...
3. Give Me Praise and Celebrate My Miracles (IOSYS). Simply wonderful.
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zodM4OmYn8E Another very playful piece~
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XolsNry5es Wonderful Satori Remix...
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22V6wXNCQWw If you don't love this song, there's something wrong with you.
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwZVRgyrAnA Mysteriously Creepy~
8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTWHIat9tGM Another Satori theme? Yes. It's great.
9. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvcIHbw5Rxg Nue~!
10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FPGLuvf5Ro If you want a battle, Meiling's your girl~
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: theshirn on November 25, 2009, 06:52:15 AM
Whoooof...narrowing it down to 10 is tough.

10) Voyage 1969 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptQHyJiZM_g).  Final Stage themes usually speak of a journey drawing to its epic conclusion, and the final moments coming fast upon you.  Voyage 1969 does this, but it does so much more.  It feels like as you reach the end, the world, the endless sea of stars opens for you as well.

9) Fires of Houkai (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dsc1uDMaqc).  For pure instrumentation, and for bringing the aforementioned sense of culmination out better than any of the amazing final stage themes ZUN has composed to date.

8 ) Himorogi, Burn in Violet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_oPUHY-0hE).  The almost unknown Stage 4 theme from Story of Eastern Wonderland.  As poor a game as it was, with mostly sub-par music as well, it nonetheless contains this theme, an absolute gem.  I first had though the stage title was the song title: "Revengeful Ghost".  That of course refers to Mima, but this theme speaks so much of revenge for a long-nurtured hate, and it is truly the best theme in the game and number 8 on my list.

7) Gensokyo, Past and Present ~ Flower Land (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHYGoBNT5hM).  Yuka's PoFV theme.  Probably my favorite aspect of PoFV is simply the percussion; ZUN goes out of his way more than any other game to do fun stuff with it.  Almost every song has offbeat stuff, random sections, and other things I'd be able to put names to if I had any education in drumming.  That said, Flower Land is another masterpiece of percussion usage, and it is an amazing theme to boot.  Yuka is an added plus.

6) Maple Wise (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2C6LUPVvAs).  The oft-overlooked (and almost completely unremixed :( ) stage 4 theme of Mystic Square.  Like its counterpart, Forbidden Magic, the theme speaks of sadness more than anything else, but it is so...moving; it's high and low, ice and fire, sadness and joy.

5) Maiden's Capriccio ~ Dream Battle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRelf7LkH2s).  The main character of the Touhou Project is here...and she's pissed.  This is such an amazing track notably for being an arrange of the original Maiden's Capriccio, and unlike LCMS ZUN did an absolute wonder with this.  Everything about this track stands out to me, especially the piano and percussion.

4) Demystify Feast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc9_x1vl86E).  For all the power released in this song, nearly the entirety of it is nothing but an intro, both to the final, EPIC piano, and to the feast as a whole.  It fits IaMP perfectly, it fits Touhou perfectly, and it fits into any top 10 list with ease.

3) Lullaby of Demonic Hell (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvLBi8VNKzk).  From the very opening, with the lonely howl of the wind, you know that this piece is destined for greatness.  It is exactly what is says: a lullaby, though in the darkest and most demon-ridden of places, and it is superb musical arrangement.  It also wins points for ranging so far afield of ZUN's work, but SA as a whole is a mess of genre-breaking win.

2) Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETTk83qis0w).  Still, in my opinion, ZUN's absolute greatest piece of music.  It conveys so much emotion, so much depth; it really brings to life the concept of Mokou, immortality, the Phoenix, and everything else about IN's Extra, and is absolutely beautiful.

1) Lunar Clock ~ Luna Dial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6DdltbYzas).  This has always been my favorite of all the Touhou songs, period.  For many reasons.  The fact that the whole track sounds like a clock is a big plus...but honestly, I have trouble pinning down exactly what it is that makes it so awesome.  Suffice to say, nothing can upset this.

There are a crapload of honorable mentions; these are just the ones that I had to kick off the list at the very end:
Infinite Being
Centennial Festival
Phantom Ensemble
Ultimate Truth
Suwa Foughten Field
Hartmann's Youkai Girl
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Fightest on November 25, 2009, 07:34:45 AM
Hmm, if we get more people to post in here, a general list could be put together of favourite tracks and how often they crop up, and that way I wouldn't have to rely on hearsay...

As for my favourites, that's easy - final boss themes go!

Of course, not an exhaustive list.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Lybydose on November 25, 2009, 07:38:25 AM
I don't feel like justifying my choices, so I'll just make a list.

10 ) The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field
9 ) A Maiden's Illusionary Funeral ~ Necro-Fantasy
8 ) Hartmann's Youkai Girl
7 ) Satori Maiden ~ 3rd Eye
6 ) Ghostly Band ~ Phantom Ensemble
5 ) Emotional Skyscraper　～ Cosmic Mind
4 ) Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion
3 ) Mystic Oriental Dream ~ Ancient Temple
2 ) Bloom Nobly, Cherry Blossoms of Sumizome ~ Border of Life
1 ) Reach For the Moon, Immortal Smoke
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Sana on November 25, 2009, 01:25:29 PM
I don't think I can put them in any order, but:

-Ultimate Truth
-Girl's Sealing Club
-Nuclear Fusion
-Neo Super Express
-Faith is for the Transient People
-Border of Dreams and Reality
-Makai City Esoterica(?)
-Mary the Magician
-Cosmic Mind
-Last Remote
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Formless God on November 25, 2009, 01:37:50 PM
My list has changed slightly.
10. Corpse Voyage ~ be of good cheer !. Really nice song for a really stupid fight.
9. Voyage 1969/1970. *puts on headphone while gazing at the stars*
6. Phantom Ensemble. Awesome opener, that's it. The rest makes my ears bleed.
7. Welcome to the Moon Tour. I love strange-sounding songs.
6. Maiden's Sealed Fraternity. All tracks from the music CDs are dreamy and wonderful. Those two are my most favorite.
5. Future Universe of Wheelchair.
4. Native Faith. Simply the best Extra boss theme.
3. Border of Life. One of the most epic moments in gaming history.
2. Neo Super-Express. Thanks to this vocal remix. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx6AaxbGhB4)
1. Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind. The first and most epic Touhou song I've ever listened to. *cough*Started with UFO*cough*
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: COPIRIGHTO on November 25, 2009, 02:35:03 PM
10. Native Faith. Song make me feel Happpy~
9. Nuclear Fusion. It gives me the "OH SHI-" feeling
8. Dark Side of Fate. Very spinny
7. The Gensokyo The Gods Loved. Dunno
6. Wind God Girl. I'm not sure
⑨. Beloved Tomboyish Girl. You can't beat the ⑨
4. The Dark Blowhole. It was fun blowing up the rocks and the bucket loli. It also has a funny name
3. The Traditional Old Man and The Stylish Girl. Sure the brofists were tough but it was right? RIGHT!?
2. Hartmann's Youkai Girl. I like how it sounds the same backwards
1.  Cemetery of Onbashira~ Grave of Being. ...I'm not sure

Edit: Okay now it's the order I remembered down to one. I don't want to retype the thing or endless copy and pasting so here from most favorite to least most favorite: 10,9,8,6,2,3,4,(9),7,1
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Chainsaw Guitar on November 25, 2009, 03:21:15 PM
1. Maiden's Capriccio (IaMP version)
2. Alice in Wonderland
3. Ultimate Truth
4. The Youkai Mountain ~ Mysterious Mountain
5. Shanghai Alice of Meiji 17
6. Sleeping Terror
7. Lunatic Eyes ~ Invisible Full Moon
8. Nuclear Fusion
9. Forest of Magic - Fragrant Plants
10. Flowering Night
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Gpop on November 25, 2009, 03:49:33 PM
10.Satori Maiden ~ 3rd Eye

So Halloween-like...and intense. Actually, it reminds me Goldeneye's Depot level. Nostalgic in that sense, and really intense. It fits Satori well.


9. Solar Sect of Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion

When you listen to this while dodging giant sun bullets, you have the total sense epicness. My god, I have so much respect for Utsuho now


8. The Youkai Mountain ~ Mysterious Mountain

The best of Aya...speed and epic. If you like a character, you have to give her one of the best themes.


7. Ultimate Truth

Oh god I'm gonna meet the final boss of the game!

You will not believe how this pumps me up before I meet Yuyuko. It truly does feel like the Ultimate Truth.


6. Ghostly Band ~ Phantom Ensemble

This touches me. Why? Because it's a bunch of instruments mashed together.

AND IT MAKES FUCKING SENSE!

Man that takes skill to actually so much crap going and still get the flow to be consistent.


5. Border of Life

No, this is not Yuyuko's Boss theme. IT'S HER LAST SPELL THEME! It just completely blows the boss theme out of the water and brings in the sense of "it is the end, you will not survive" feeling. God the keyboard solo is so fucking epic and I'm glad that it loops at that part.


4. Last Remote

The chorus...it takes me away. And the piano. It fits the snowing background.


3. Alice in Wonderland

I never thought it could be possible...but this song...oh my god...it can almost make me cry. ZUN...must've known that it was the last game in the PC-98 series. I love PC-98 Alice so much and her themes definitely gains my respect.


2. Romantic Children

Okay...I could cry to this theme. Literally. It so fucking beautiful. I feel like a child trapped in a children's storybook. It's so nostalgic. I feel young again.

...

...and now...


1. Green-eyed Jealousy

This...song. I can not cry to this song. That's because I'm already drained out of my tears after listening to this so many times. I feel so sympathetic for Parsee I just want to HUG HER SO HARD!

It's so saddening, and it fits Parsee so much. The youkai that manipulates so much jealousy...she's dangerously close to overtake Satori for 3rd place in my Touhou sort. I never knew that a stage 2 boss theme would ever be my favourite theme...congratz Parsee.

/me hugs Parsee really hard
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Chainsaw Guitar on November 25, 2009, 04:09:48 PM
(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/Usatei/4906145.png) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77pQPqFkBgw)
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Tarquinius on November 25, 2009, 04:20:43 PM
Hard to decide on an order, but:
Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke
Faint Dream ~ Inanimate Dream
Green Eyed Jealousy
Doll Judgement ~ The Girl who Played with People's Shapes
Last Remote
The Gensokyo the Gods Loved
Septette for the Dead Princess
Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind
Maiden's Capriccio ~ Dream Battle
Lullaby of Deserted Hell
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Matsuri on November 25, 2009, 04:46:55 PM
This will be more or less a 'favorites list of the moment' kind of thing, since my favorite Touhou songs change at the drop of a hat.

10. Heartfelt Fancy
I adore this song, and it fits Satori's stage (as well as Satori herself) very well.

9. Treacherous Maiden ~ Judas Kiss
Mai's theme from Mystic Square. Short and intense, it feels like ZUN's giving it everything he's got.

8. Flight of the Bamboo Cutter ~ Lunatic Princess
I remember how absorbed into the game I got when I got to Kaguya for the first time, and the first time I beat her. IN was my first 1cc, so it's kind of nostalgic for me!

7. Strawberry Crisis!!
Yumemi. Do I have to say more?

6. Bloom nobly, cherry blossoms of Sumizome ~ Border of Life
Graceful and melodic, and fits the atmosphere of my favorite Touhou battle.

5. Doll Judgement ~ The Girl who Played with People's Shapes
I love Alice.

4. Alice in Wonderland
I really do.

3. Plastic Mind
Seriously.

2.Tabula rasa ~ The Empty Girl
Ellen doesn't get enough love, and it makes me sad.

1. The Grimoire of Alice
Nothin' makes you say 'oh shit' like cheeto lasers being fired by an angry little girl with a superpowerful magic book.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: RainfallYoshi on November 25, 2009, 04:57:20 PM
I think I could easily get a list up... but to put it in some order? That's gonna be a challenge.

10) Grimoire of Alice
Like I mentioned in Fightest's analysis topic, I find Grimoire of Alice to be  symbolism of Alice's growth from an emotionally scarred young girl into a powerful youkai.

It gives Alice a theme that makes her sound very confident and powerful. I approve

9) Visionary Game ~ Dream War
Seriously, this is one of ZUN's best PC-98 pieces. Rikako may just seem like a scientist at first, but this song gives her such a bigger level of depth. She not only is a scientist, but she believes wholeheartedly in her abilities with science. She has an unbreakable faith in it.

Rikako seriously needs to return from the dead. Think of the good stories that could be made.

8) Dimensional Dream
Marisa is, all too often, portrayed as a happy-go-lucky girl that just flies through and blasts everything while having fun. Dimensional Dream shows the serious side of Marisa that we don't see often enough. This is Marisa when she is showing her true power and when you've really pissed her off. I think we should see this side of Marisa more often.

7) Hiroari Shoots A Strange Bird ~ Till When?
Youmu is an awfully simple girl. She's strongly devoted to protecting Yuyuko and following the ways of the sword. This song is the song of a defender and protector. It's strong and confident. I never used to like Youmu too much until I started taking a liking to this song.

6) Sailor of Time
Chiyuri is just awesome. This song shows a free and wild girl that loves to have fun while still being a formidable opponent. The drum solo is kickass too.

5) Gensokyo Millenium ~ History of the Moon
Eirin is mystical. She's powerful and wise and should not be toyed with. Her theme says "Best be careful, this woman has more power and wisdom than you could comprehend".

4) Maiden's Capriccio ~ Dream Battle
We all love Reimu. This is the Reimu we all love. It shows power... but also a bit of hesitation. She loves to kick some youkai ass but she knows that her power comes with responsibility.

3) Phantom Ensemble
There's so much going on at one time, and yet it is all refined and practiced. It all flows together to create an emotional piece. The Prismriver Sisters perform freely and frantically, but they are professionals and it all comes together.

2) U.N. Owen Was Her?
The first time I actually made it to Flandre and this started playing, it was just insanity. "Holy shit I'm so gonna die" comes to mind actually. It displays Flandre's incredible power and yet is also playful. Flandre is incredibly powerful even when she's just playing. What would happen if she actually got serious? *shudder*

1) Green-Eyed Jealousy
If you listen to this and don't feel bad for Parsee, you have no heart or soul. There's so much emotion in this piece that it's just depressing. All she wants to do is to have what other people have. She just wants to have freedom. But day after day she watches that bridge. Alone.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Doomsday on November 25, 2009, 06:19:14 PM
Man. This was a tough list to make. Can't really be bothered to say why i placed each song like i did.

1. Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind
2. Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion
3. Bloom Nobly, Cherry Blossoms of Sumizome ~ Border of Life
4. The Tiger-Patterned Bishamonten
5. Unknown X ~ Unfound Adventure
6. The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field
7. Faint Dream ~ Inanimate Dream
8. Reach for the Moon ~ Immortal Smoke
9. Fall of Fall ~ Autumnal Waterfall
10. The Primal Scene of Japan the Girl Watched

This probably isn't totally accurate. I like too many of ZUN's tracks to make a definate list.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Onozuka Nikuyokura on November 25, 2009, 07:32:55 PM
10. Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion
9. Luna Clock ~ Lunar Dial
8. Walking the Streets of a Former Hell
7. Flower Studded Sake Dish on Mt. Ooe
6. A Soul as Red as Ground Cherry
5. Hellfire Mantle
4. The Young Descendant of Tepes
3. Maiden's Cappricio ~ Dream Battle
2. Unknown X ~ Unfound Adventure
1. Evening Sky ~ UNL Remix


Like above, this isn't totally accurate. I'll need to look at a list.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Tengukami on November 25, 2009, 07:37:36 PM
Using Letty's methodology (going through my entire Touhou music collection, from HRtP to UFO, pulling out all my favorites, and then narrowing that down to ten), I came up with the following list:

10. Romantic Children - This is a neat little chiptune, and my favorite from the PC-98 series. It's at once sweet and sad at the same time, and stands entirely on its own.

9. UN Owen Was Her? - This song is positively Burtonesque in its grotesque cartoonish horror. It's not typical ZUN at all. When he wants to convey terror, he can do it well. We get the impression that Flandre is completely unhinged, possessing great and insane power.

8. Candid Friend - I don't know what it is about this piece, but it has an innocent, magical quality to it. It's like the faeries are dancing for you themselves, or you're watching them dance from a distance.

7. Beloved Tomboyish Girl - I realize this piece has been remixed a gajillion times, but there's probably a good reason for that. It's a fun little song, light and carefree. Not that the melodies are superficial, though - the song might be playful but the melodies are woven together well.

6. Maiden's Capriccio ~ Dream Battle - I can't not love this song. It's Reimu. It's glorious and triupmhant, just like her when she's in top form, and has some really pretty arpeggios moving through it.

5. Mystic Oriental Dream ~ Ancient Temple - I don't know why this song gets overlooked so much. The string crescendos in the background are chill-inducing. You hear this song ingame, and you know you're about to enter a whole new level of difficulty. You really feel like you're crossing some boundary between this world and the next.

4. Faith is for the Transient People - Mountain of Faith has the best music in the series, as far as I'm concerned, and this song is a great example of why. It's powerful, but has a youthful spirit to it, and seems to be aiming ever upwards. And by that I mean in spirit, not in melody. You're about to reach the mountain's peak, and this is the song ringing in your ears as you get there.

3. The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field - A song fitting of a goddess. Grandiose and ornate, conveying well the feeling that you've reached a peak in the conflict, and that this is your final showdown. Yet it manages to convey this without being corny or overdone. Simply pitch perfect.

2. Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion - For many of the same reasons as Suwa Foughten Field, only this adds the element of madness. Your opponent is not only unbelievably powerful but also clinically insane. The insanity and the destructive force of nuclear power comes through in this piece. A boss song that fits the boss flawlessly.

1. Wind God Girl - Surprised? Well, to tell the truth I liked this song before I knew it was Aya's. To me, it's the most "complete" piece ZUN has composed, in that it sounds like a band of musicians playing together, rather than one man with a synth and a mixer. This piece is at once playful and powerful, ancient and modern, joyful and melancholy - much like Gensokyo. In addition to being a real pleasure to listen to, I think it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Touhou.

Sorry there was no UFO in this list, but to be honest, only Nazrin and Kogasa's theme do anything for me. Emotional Skyscraper made me laugh. It sounds like the theme to a cheesy 80s cop show. I just don't get it. But to each their own. In the end, ZUN is a skilled musician in his own right. And that's why so many fans of a game series spend probably as much time talking about the music as they do talking about the gameplay itself.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Snaka on November 25, 2009, 08:03:27 PM
10. Hakurei ~ Eastern Wind - As the second shooting game music piece in touhou history, it really sets the bar in my opinion. Its melody just... flows
9.The Capital City of Flowers in the Sky - Sounds so uplifting. Really should've been used in UFO, what with all the flying.
8.Interdimensional Voyage of a Ghostly Passenger Ship - Damned catchy. Plus the pop up.
7. The fantastic Legend of Tohno - Awesome song.
6.Fires of Hokkai - It's tense, and builds up to a moment of glory.
5.Flight of the bamboo cutter~Lunatic princess - This theme is everything a final boss theme should be. Its epic, with a good melody and fast tempo.
4.Imperishable Night~Eastern Night - It's the main touhou theme. The calm before the storm never sounded so good.
3. Illusionary Night~Ghostly eyes - It gives the impression that this is the start of an epic journey.
2. Luna clock ~ Luna dial - Its so hard and driving; I find myself humming along to it as I fight sakuya.
1. Walking the streets of a former hell - This song just strikes me as awesome. It fit its stage really well and the main melody feels so nostalgic for some reason
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Letty Whiterock on November 25, 2009, 09:11:12 PM
Just as a note, some of you need to remember that Top 10 lists go backwards.

Also, IaMP and SWR remixes can't be eligible for the list, because they are remixes of pre-existing Touhou themes.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Cabble on November 25, 2009, 11:51:55 PM
I will have to add more later, but I'll update it as I go along.

1. Strange Oriental Discourse (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YfdWajgUYU)
It is most definitely my favorite song in the entire series. It definitely gives off that 'ZUN' vibe, despite being a theme in the first game in the series. Pretty cool if you ask me, and it really feels like you're descending into Hell. Jittery, nervous, and not knowing what to expect. Then at 1:17, i'll just let it speak for itself.

2. Himorogi, Burn in Violet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_oPUHY-0hE)
I had actually never heard this song before coming to this thread. I instantly fell in love. The beginning has a bunch of discord, which for me, is calming. However this song made you feel like you were about to face an extremely powerful opponent. Well, the boss of the stage is Marisa, who, yup, is pretty powerful. Then the fast portion of the stage kicks in and - well, too bad the pc-98s aren't able to run on windows... I think.

3.Sleepless Night of Eastern Country (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfMNcbgE79w)
It really must have been that beginning that pulled me in. It is just fast and gives you the feeling that you are flying over an eastern country. Then, like every Shoot the Bullet theme, in come the trumpets. I love you ZUN <3~

4.Greenwich in the Sky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--UuWfB2H4o)
The beginning is my favorite part, no doubt about it. It gives the feeling of wind blowing through your hair on a dark night, possibly in a danmaku battle. The trumpets come in and it feels like your flying around, dodging danmaku, and overall just having fun. Then comes the eerie sections where it's like you don't know what to expect.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Tengukami on November 26, 2009, 12:03:13 AM
Quote from: Letty Whiterock on November 25, 2009, 09:11:12 PM
Just as a note, some of you need to remember that Top 10 lists go backwards.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: N-Forza on November 26, 2009, 12:51:55 AM
I haven't played any of the PC-98 games, MoF, or SA, but...

10. Necrofantasia
9. Withered Leaf
8. Paradise ~ Deep Mountain
7. Border of Life
6. The Traditional Old Man and the Stylish Girl
5. Fate of Sixty Years
4. Touhou Hisouten
3. Love-colored Master Spark
2. Phantom Ensemble
1. Fujin Girl

I'll list some reasons later.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Verloren on November 26, 2009, 01:01:53 AM
Quote from: Tengukami on November 26, 2009, 12:03:13 AM


Some of us don't care.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Benny1 on November 26, 2009, 02:12:03 AM
Geez, this took a while.

10. 神さびた古戦場　～ Suwa Foughten Field
The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field

10.  At MoF, this would have been #1, but my tastes have changed slightly.  This song holds a VERY special place in my heart though as my mental image for it is strikingly vivid.

9. テーマ・オブ・イースタンストーリー
Theme of Eastern Story

This song is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.  I loved it so much when it came out, but it wore off a little.

8. 博麗神社境内
Hakurei Shrine Grounds

The sheer intensity of this song puts it this high.

7. 信仰は儚き人間の為に
Faith is for the Transient People

This song is so tragic.  I'm a bit odd, and from my perspective, if you look from Sanae's perspective, MoF is quite a tragedy.  Taken from the outside world where she is basically a God and put into Gensokyo where she is ordinary.  I think that's what this song is.

6. 不思議の国のアリス
Alice in Wonderland

This holds a very, very, very special place in my heart, and always will.  Astoundingly beautiful song.  Piano suits it very well, search for some arranges of it on piano, they exist.

5. 紅楼　～ Eastern Dream...
Crimson Belvedere ~ Eastern Dream...

This song is what a staff roll should be.  It is final, ends on a wonderful "ending" feeling, and is nostalgic, which I like the most.  Sakura, Sakura is even more nostalgic, but I didn't like it enough to put it here.

4. 廃獄ララバイ
Lullaby of Deserted Hell

Words don't exist to express why I like this song, sorry.

3. 空の帰り道　〜 Sky Dream
Returning Home From the Sky ~ Sky Dream

I wrote a giant blog post in which I rambled about how this song is the epitome of a staff roll: It's over, so why not look back at what just happened?  I love this song so much.  So, so much.  Emotional bliss.

2. 霊知の太陽信仰　～ Nuclear Fusion
Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion

IT'S SO FREAKING INTENSE WHAT THE HELL

1. 感情の摩天楼　〜 Cosmic Mind
Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind

You aren't my friend if this surprises you at all.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Kilgamayan on November 26, 2009, 04:06:53 AM
Posted this recently on Lunatic Red.

10. Heartfelt Fancy, SA
9. Higan Retour ~ Riverside View, PoFV
8. Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke, IN
7. Fires of Hokkai, UFO
6. Fall of Fall ~ Autumnal Waterfall, MoF
5. Lunatic Eyes ~ Invisible Full Moon, IN
4. The Capital City of Flowers in the Sky, PCB
3. Doll Judgment ~ The Girll That Played With People's Shapes, PCB
(2.5. Flowering Night, Touhou Battle Gaiden)
2. Wind God Girl (Full Version), BAiJR
1. Patchouli Fortress 1 & 2, MegaMari

Full story, as well as the opportunity to list other songs that deserve mention:

Quote
Boss Themes

1. Doll Judgment - I'm a cool kid because I loved this sans the annoyingly famous IOSYS remix. Combination of nostalgia and pure emotional pull.

2. Lunatic Eyes ~ Invisible Full Moon - Basically the exact same reasoning as #1.

3. Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke - This is the most genius piece ZUN has ever composed. Nowhere in any Touhou game will you find a song that does more to tell the story of the corresponding character, and it does an excellent job of portraying how truly tragic Mokou's life is.

4. Higan Retour ~ Riverside View - Unbelievably awesome laid-back theme. This song fits Komachi to a T. Think of all the other penultimate boss themes and you'll notice how dark and determined they all are, sometimes even frantic. Not this one. This one is a nice easy swing you'd expect to hear on a calm boat ride.

5. Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion - This song riled me up for the final boss battle like no Stage 6 Boss theme had before, and I doubt any that follow will equal its power. You know a song is awesome when the accompanying awesome sound effects play in your head manually while you listen to it, and there isn't a person alive that can listen to this and not hear the CAUTION alarms going off.

Honorable Mentions: Reincarnation (PoDD), Vanishing Dream ~ Lost Dream, The Grimoire of Alice, Lunar Clock ~ Luna Dial, A Maiden's Illusory Funeral ~ Necrofantasy, Wind God Girl, Faith is For the Transient People, Native Faith, Satori Maiden ~ 3rd Eye, Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind

Stage Themes

1. The Capital City of Flowers in the Sky - This song seems built solely to make you cry. Love this so much for reasons similar to Doll Judgment.

2. Fall of Fall ~ Autumnal Waterfall - A brilliant guided tour up MoF's beautiful waterfall that accompanies one of the most enjoyable stages I've ever played.

3. Fires of Hokkai - This was UFO's "holy shit" moment and the thing that single-handedly saved the entire game from being one huge letdown. I have to believe 90% of the effort ZUN put into UFO went into this one song (and the other 10% are distributed evenly between Kogasa, Rural Makai City Esoteria and Cosmic Mind). I'm a big fan of Genesis, especially their Phil Collins days, and this sounded like it had been pulled right from them.

4. Heartfelt Fancy - Stage 4 sure is well-represented, isn't it? This has a lot of emotional pull as well as Nuclear Fusion's "manually inserting the sound effects" property with Rin's meows.

5. Lullaby of a Deserted Hell - Pretty much the same as Heartfelt Fancy. The only reason it's lower is that I slightly prefer Heartfelt Fancy's pull to this song's soothing.

Honorable Mentions: Too many to list...uh, Chinese Tea, Centennial Festival, Ancient Temple, Charming Domination, Night Bird, Kagome-Kagome, Voyage 1969, Dark Road, Primal Scene, Grave of Being, Tomorrow Will Be Special, Rural Makai City Esoteria

Bonus Fave 5! Songs That Appeared in Fangames

1. Patchouli Fortress 1/2 (MegaMari) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gejbezJy4w&fmt=18) - This song defines epic. I actually like it more than anything ZUN has ever produced(!). There is no adequate way to describe this song, other than saying that it does Megaman 2 Wily Fortress 1/2 proud.

2. Flowering Knight (Touhou Battle Gaiden) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuCcM4cD7yw&fmt=18) - An intense remix of Sakuya's PoFV theme that will kick your ass six ways 'til Tuesday. The one fault I can find with the song is that it doesn't exactly fit in a Tetris Attack clone.

3. Hakugyokurou (Super Marisa World) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DUw7GN0W3A&fmt=18) - This was very, very well-crafted as a mix of the Ghost House and Fortress themes from Super Mario World and Ancient Temple from PCB. Easily the most atmospheric song in the game, and arguably the most likely to stick in your head.

4. Forest 1 (Koumajou Densetsu Scarlet Symphony) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPOXIaLS7n0&fmt=18) - The theme to Cirno's stage. This does a fantastic job of setting the mood for the entire game while simultaneously perfectly matching the environment it's in.

5. Boss Battle (MariAri) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAAuOAy7-uE&fmt=18) - Incredibly cute and catchy with a little bit of darkness thrown in (c'mon, it's a boss battle theme). The repetitive nature of this song actually benefits it because of how catchy it is - you can't fight a boss for more than 3 minutes without singing along.

Honorable Mentions: Underground (Super Marisa Land) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vITr1-Jc7E), Intro/Final Battle (MegaMari) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnx1J2KuPlM), Scarlet Devil Mansion (MegaMari) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep3xpp9GavY), Bamboo Forest (MegaMari) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX9BgECQw9U), Eientei  (MegaMari) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v5uSK6i6nE), Sanzu River/Endless Staircase (MegaMari) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzFscdp66tI), Worlds 2 & 5 (MariAri) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HzRkK5tWIw), Worlds 3 & 6 (MariAri) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bIpT2tmMyw), World 7 (MariAri) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86P7NT4sJfM), Lunar Megalopolis (Touhou Battle Gaiden) (sorry for the gameplay video, but the song isn't anywhere else on YouTube) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9QvX5eYRDQ), Entrance (Scarlet Symphony) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTFm30Gh2Vo), Battlefield (Scarlet Symphony) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8CeWiLj6-Y), Clock Tower (Scarlet Symphony) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYLT4c1Xdts), Forest of Magic (Super Marisa World) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KxGesjVteM&feature=related), The Sky (Super Marisa World) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdlX_DiZTLk)

EDIT: Just for shit-stirring fun, have a Top 10 Most Overrated Touhou Songs. (Note that I do like several of these.)

EDIT 2: Expanded to Top 15 because Letty couldn't stand me not listing 3rd Eye, and as much as I love the song I really have to agree with him.

15. Bad Apple!!, LLS
14. Native Faith, MoF
13. Heian Alien, UFO
12. Phantom Ensemble, PCB
11. Satori Maiden ~ 3rd Eye, SA
10. Akutagawa Ryuunosuke's "Kappa" ~ Candid Friend , MoF
9. Deaf to All But the Song, IN
8. The Fantastic Legend of Tohno, PCB
7. Love-Coloured Master Spark, IN
6. Locked Girl ~ The Girl's Secret Room, EoSD
5. Septette for the Dead Princess, EoSD
4. The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field, MoF
3. U.N. Owen Was Her?, EoSD
2. Hartmann's Youkai Girl, SA
1. Necrofantasia, PCB
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Formless God on November 26, 2009, 04:46:50 AM
Quote from: Kilgamayan on November 26, 2009, 04:06:53 AM
8. The Fantastic Legend of Tohno, PCB

I have no idea how that song got #1. (http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=958471&topic=50927417&page=1)

Quote from: Kilgamayan on November 26, 2009, 04:06:53 AM
6. Locked Girl ~ The Girl's Secret Room. EoSD

This. It's good like every other Touhou songs, but nothing too special :(
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Tinari on November 26, 2009, 05:10:32 AM
Because I don't know names, here's my list.  The top ten in no particular order.


EoSD Ex-stage.
EoSD Flandre's theme.
PCB Yuyuko's theme. (Either)
PCB 5th stage.
PCB Ran's theme.
PCB Prismriver Sisters
IN Mokou's Theme
SA Yuugi's Theme
SA Parsee's Theme
UFO Ex-boss's theme.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Janitor Morgan on November 26, 2009, 05:19:19 AM
Quote from: Letty Whiterock on November 25, 2009, 09:11:12 PM
Just as a note, some of you need to remember that Top 10 lists go backwards.

Also, IaMP and SWR remixes can't be eligible for the list, because they are remixes of pre-existing Touhou themes.

Fixed my list accordingly.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: TheMasterSpark on November 26, 2009, 09:24:17 PM
My list of favourite songs is actually only 5 long, but I'll post it anyway.

1# Amakasu Barley Tenji's theme, A Drunkard's Lemuria, from Uwabami Breakers (I count this one as a Touhou song)
2# Stages 6, 7 & EX theme, Sleepless Night of the Eastern Country, from Shoot the Bullet

The following three are in no particular order (3-5#)

Marisa Kirisame's theme, Oriental Dark Flight, from Phantasmagoria of Flower View
Komachi Onozuka's theme, Higan Retour ~ Riverside View, from Phantasmagoria of Flower View
Shikieiki Yamaxanadu's theme, Touhou Judgement in the Sixieth Year ~ Fate of Sixty Years, from Phantasmagoria of Flower View

I can't really provide you with many solid reasons for why I like these ones the most. I just do. :)
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Grand Octopus on November 26, 2009, 10:29:02 PM
So recently I did my first major comparison of all the
Windows
tracks, contrasting and eliminating until I ended up with my favourites. Took way too long.

10. Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind
Possesses a self-evident class that lifts it out from amongst UFO's general drudgery.

9. Ghostly Band ~ Phantom Ensemble
Inspiring instrumentation, culminating in a delightful din.

8. Fires of Hokkai
Something about this piece in tandem with the seemingly infinite stream of 'Space Invader' fairies affects me deeply. I suspect I was an Arcade Machine in a past life.

6=. Last Remote
Furious and frantic, save for one beautifully contrasting period of calm and collectedness.

6=. Lullaby of Deserted Hell
Noticeably different from much of ZUN's other work, but a very welcome departure in my opinion. A wonderfully melodic piece.

5. Satori Maiden ~ 3rd Eye
A deliciously haunting backdrop to an exquisite battle. Intense, intimidating and I SEE YOU LIKE CASTLEVANIA

3=. Fall of Fall ~ Autumnal Waterfall
Again, excellent instrumentation, and perfectly suited to its scenery. It's a shame you don't usually hear the best part of it in-game.

3=. The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field
An imposing, awe-inspiring climax to the heroine's ascension of the mountain. So this is the difference between gods and humans, eh?

2. Septette for the Dead Princess
Still the greatest thing ZUN's ever composed, but it suffers at the hands of EoSD's technical limitations.

1. Illusionary Night ~ Ghostly Eyes
Gloriously atmospheric, an enchanting whole far greater than the sum of its parts. Webster defines 'underrated' as...

---

I want to give Lunate Elf an honourable mention, because it'll never show up in this topic otherwise.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Sen on November 27, 2009, 07:14:58 PM
Why does everyone like Phantom Ensemble, I always thought it was a terrible song to accompany a terrible boss battle. Same goes for Tiny Tiny Clever Commander, that song bores me to tears. )=

Annnnnnyway:


10. Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind - Byakuren Hijiri's Theme
-- I just adore this song. It was all I listened to for about a week after UFO came out. It's just a wonderfully powerful song that echoes with determination and Byakuren's inner strength, how she will not let you defeat her, how she will achieve her dream one day. It's...well, frankly, emotional.

9. Spring Lane ~ Colorful Path - Reimu Hakurei's PoFV Theme
-- Going from the powerful determination of Cosmic Mind, we go to Reimu's PoFV, pretty much the total opposite. I can't find a single intense moment in the song; it's just a very mellow song that moves to its own calming beat. It shows quite well how Reimu's not really concerned about what's happening, she's only doing this because she has to, she's relaxed and knows everything's going to be alright.

8. Ultimate Truth - PCB Stage 6 Theme
-- PCB was my first Touhou game, and Ultimate Truth was my first Stage 6 theme. It's still the best out of all of them, I don't care what anyone else says. I've never heard a song that made me truly feel "this is really it! This is the end!" outside of this. It's a short, sweet, and beautiful end to the journey that is PCB. I usually stall out the conversation with Yuyuko just so I can listen to this.

7. Interdimensional Voyage of a Ghostly Passenger Ship - UFO Stage 4 Theme
-- Aaaaaaand then we go from the seriousness and beauty of Ultimate Truth to Interdimensional Voyage, one of the silliest and most whimsical songs ZUN's ever made. IdV is just weird, there's no other way to put it. It's different from everything ZUN's ever made, but at the same time it just works so well.

6. Doll Maker of Bucuresti - PCB Stage 3 Theme
-- Oh, Alice. All your themes are wonderful (except your PCB boss theme, oddly enough), but this song stands out amongst most of PCB's soundtrack. It's a fast-paced song with a sense of mystery and almost panic; you don't know where you're going, and there's nothing to indicate where you're going. It's just a void of blue, and you have to find your own way through it (or in PCB's case, blow things up until Alice appears :V).
I feel like the jazz arrange of DMoB in SWR/UNL kinda takes away from the song. It's still pleasant to listen to, jazz suits Alice oddly well, but the jazz seems a bit too forceful and upbeat for the original song. ):

5. Reincarnation - Mima's PoD.D Theme
-- Ah, now we get to the PC-98 music. I personally don't think Mima's all that great a character, she's fairly boring in personality and design and I can't stand hearing people screaming WE WANT MIMA BACK WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. That being said her PoD.D track is great. It's got a bunch of different emotions in it, going from playfulness to seriousness and everything in between and then going all the way back around at the loop. It's just fun to listen to.

4a. Alice in Wonderland - MS Extra Theme
4b. Grimoire of Alice - Alice's MS Extra Theme
-- I really had a hard time deciding if I wanted this spot to go to the intense battle in Grimoire of Alice or the calm before the storm of Alice in Wonderland. I decided to go with both :V
AiW is very calming, almost with an air of sadness as you stumble through the extra stage, wondering what's at the end. Then all of a sudden, Alice! You've basically destroyed her home and she's pissed. She's not gonna take any shit from you anymore. Both songs are fantastic farewells for the PC-98 series, so different yet somehow working so brilliantly together.

3. Alice Maestra - LLS Stage 4 Theme
-- Words cannot describe just how beautiful this song is. It's a quiet path through a mysterious mansion and you are utterly lost. It's like a mixture of sadness, mystery, quiet determination, and...it's just beautiful. I've said that a lot but AM really is probably the god damned prettiest thing ZUN's ever made. I've never heard an arrange that comes even close to the original; it's amazing how well the chiptunes capture the mood of the song.

2. Hartmann's Youkai Girl - Koishi Komeiji's Theme
-- Oh, Koishi. You are just one of my favorite things ever: your character is lovely, your boss fight is ridiculously fun, and your theme is the second-best song in the series. It starts out so chaotic, being in 7/8 time (apparently that's unusual, I don't know, I'm quoting a friend on this :V), and so off-beat. Then an escalating few bars, building up the emotion and tension in the song and then...!
...a fairly calm break at the end.  Koishi's playing around, she's not worried at all. But then the calm part grows in strength, swells in power. Koishi's not letting up, but she never stops having fun, she's going to play and she is going to kick your ass.

1. Faith is for Transient People - Sanae Kochiya's Theme
-- And here we are. I rather like Sanae as a character; she's new in Gensokyo, she's from the outside world, she's just finding her place in this strange new place, and she's a lovably naiive Nazi girl. But her theme is another thing entirely. FifTP is all the power and determination (I need a thesaurus) in the world, packed into one incredible melody. It's her way of establishing herself, denying you passage, asserting that she will not let you by. While Kanako's a god and her theme definitely gives that impression, Sanae's theme almost makes me think she's doing this to make Kanako happy. Sanae wants to make her (and later, Suwako) proud of her by doing her best, and her theme manages to capture all her emotions into one song.
And it's really damn awesome to dodge bullets to. Sometimes I do a pacifist Sanae battle just to hear this song :V


Honorable Mentions
Tabula Rasa ~ Empty Girl - Ellen's PoD.D Theme
Bad Apple!! - LLS Stage 3 Theme
U.N. Owen Was Her? - Flandre Scarlet's EoSD Theme
Night Falls ~ Evening Star - Yukari Yakumo's CtC IaMP Theme
Flowering Night - Sakuya Izayoi's PoFV Theme
White Flag of Usa Shrine - Tei Inaba's PoFV Theme
Gensokyo, Past and Present ~ Flower Land - Yuka Kazami's PoFV Theme
The Gensokyo the Gods Loved - MoF Stage 3 Theme
The Traditional Old Man and the Stylish Western Girl - Ichirin Kumoi's UFO Theme
Heian Alien - Nue Houjuu's UFO Theme


Quote from: Kilgamayan on November 26, 2009, 04:06:53 AM
EDIT: Just for shit-stirring fun, have a Top 10 Most Overrated Touhou Songs. (Note that I do like several of these.)
[...]
2. Hartmann's Youkai Girl, SA

:V :V :V
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: triangles on November 27, 2009, 10:10:28 PM
10) Lullaby of Demonic Hell (SA Stage 5): So peaceful and calming, yet doesn't let you forget where you are and who's going to be carting away your charred remains lest you trip up facefirst into a bullet.

9) Love-colored Master Spark (IN Stage 4 boss): This theme fits the bulletspam so well.  Frantic rainbow colored laser beams and stars falling from all directions.  Upbeat yet confident and in-your-face, you're not going to be able to ignore Marisa no matter how hard you try.

8) Shanghai Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea (EoSD Stage 3): When I hear this I can totally imagine strolling through a garden, stopping to smell the flowers and tiptoe past the sleepy groundskeeper to refill my tea.  Beautiful is the word for it.

7) The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field (MoF Stage 6 boss): I gotta admit, this one took a while to grow on me because I struggled with Kanako for far longer than I care to admit.  But now that I actually can beat the game (and even 1cc'd it!) I see it less as the background music to my inevitable death, but as the climax of the fateful trip to a larger than life goddess of the mountain.

6) Gensokyo Millenium ~ History of the Moon (IN Stage 6a boss): It is both epic and wistful at the same time.  This is the song that embodies GOING TO THE MOON BRB and brings back all the nostalgia of reading classic pre-Apollo sci-fi novels that idealize moon and space travel.

5) Rural Makai City Esoteria (UFO Stage 5): The fact that I really dig this song is one of the reasons I haven't rage-uninstalled UFO yet since I can't beat Shou, so I hear it an awful lot.  It's got that familiar yet bizarroland vibe to it that works so well and makes me forget my stress over those goddamn side bullet spammers.

4) Ultimate Truth (PCB Stage 6): It's short, as Stage 6 themes tend to be, but really packs an emotional punch in getting you ready for the final battle and chatting with the ghost girl behind the spring.

3) Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion (SA Stage 6 boss):  This was the first final boss theme in my opinion that really let loose the HOLY SHIT GUYS THIS IS IT.  You really get the feeling that Utsuho's not just some misguided nice girl tossing some pretty rainbow bullets, she's pretty power crazy (or just crazy)  and going to nuke you to next Wednesday.  There's so much going on in this song, it really captures the manic feel of reaching the final level of hell and tackling head on what's there.

2) Walking the Streets of a Former Hell (SA Stage 3): It's so fitting for the stage itself - strolling through the underworld and OH HEY SUP YUUGI LET'S HAVE SOME SAKE.  If I could hang out with any Touhou it would be her no questions asked.  Even in the depths of hell, there's still some pretty rocking joints and fun times to be had, it's such a contrast to the rest of the game and the theme really reflects this.

1) Reach For The Moon, Immortal Smoke (IN Extra boss): If I find myself humming a Touhou theme, 9 times out of 10 it's this one.  It's also the only one on the list I've never gotten to hear legitimately, but regardless I feel it really sets the mood and tale of Mokou amazingly well in addition to being just so beautiful

Honorable Mentions:
Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind (UFO Stage 6 boss): If I can ever manage to stop raging at the UFO system and quitting in anger beat UFO Stage 5 and actually get to Byakuren this will probably move up higher.
Because Princess Inada Is Scolding Me (MoF Stage 1 boss)
The Fantastic Legend of Tohno (PCB Stage 2)
Flowering Night (PoFV Sakuya)
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Lexica on November 28, 2009, 12:23:49 AM
10 Charming Domination / PCB Extra
The piano theme is very refreshing, befitting the strange colours of the extra stage. Fast-paced, in fact too fast-paced or otherwise it could've gotten higher.

9 Last Remote / SA Extra
The pressure is not really on in an extra stage, and the job is pretty much done. But still, rushing through a downpour and encountering Sanae en route was to be expected. The song sounded like a fight without the regular heat of battle, calming in nature.

8 Shanghai Alice of Meiji 17 / EoSD Stage 3 Boss
If it's a fight with Meirin, the fast-paced battle will just go on and on with the rainbow-coloured bullets. The fight had been elegant, but a little tiring. The music says exactly the same, though I couldn't associate that with whatever Zun had to say about Meiji and Shanghai... Maybe because it's a blissful place?

7 Satori Maiden ~ 3rd eye / SA Stage 4 Boss
It's below ground, there is no sun. But nothing in your heart can hide from the third eye of Satori. She is in control of everything in there, and this unseen pressure is conveyed properly through music.

6 Mystic Oriental Dream ~ Ancient Temple / PCB Stage 5
It does sound like a Japanese temple... An endless stairway, trees and fallen leaves in a quiet garden. --Until where a gardener apparently holding a sword appears, and slashes the peaceful scene apart. Youmu is not my best character but I appreciate the theme...

5 Lunar Clock 〜 Luna Dial / EoSD Stage 5 Boss
Time is ticking, but not for long. The maid who can stop time is on the opposite side of the corridor. The clock ticks, stops, ticks again and then rewinds without warning, locked in a loop of eternity. Zun didn't do a great job mixing this piece, but dBu's faithful reproduction had done the piece justice.

4 Gensokyo, Past and Present ~ Flower Land  / PoFV Yuka Kazami
Did not appreciate this theme until once I happened to walk in a field of sunflowers. I believe the opening was done in pipe organ but here the sounds come out with a different feel, a garden of endless sea of flowers, with no person in sight, only the flowers themselves moving with the wind. I have no feeling for Yuka but this theme fits the image of her standing in such a sunflower field. (Oh and those flowers hurt big time...)

3 The Capital City of Flowers in the Sky / PCB Stage 4
Flying above clouds all the way, swift, warm and sunny after coming out of the showering weather below. It's an elegant and simple composition that I can not grow tired of. [Oh and there is also the lovely LilyWhite

2 Maiden's Capriccio ~ Dream Battle / IN Stage 4A Boss
Likes Reimu a lot. Though she is a human, the theme just sounds out-of-this-world. You finish the dialogue and knew what's coming next: Reimu is not letting you off for good. There is an eerie echo before Reimu sets off, but even before finishing the loop it's already as though Reimu's unescapable spells are set all around the listener. Oh and that's why I frequently fail on her SC's... (Though I fail more frequently on Marisa's)
BTW this is one of the few tunes that's impossible to hum properly

1 Doll Judgment ~ The Girl who Played with People's Shapes / PCB Stage 3 Boss
The entry is like a world unfolding itself, and progresses to a varied yet methodical main theme. It's as if dolls keep appearing from behind Alice, fits her battle too well. IaMP's 5-beat remix gets a joint award. Downside is it's pretty hard to hum both the main theme and accompanyment at the same time.

Quote
Why does everyone like Phantom Ensemble, I always thought it was a terrible song to accompany a terrible boss battle.

I share the thought... I can never like that song apart from one piano remix version.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: non-lolicon Ange fan on November 28, 2009, 01:56:11 AM
Let's see if I can narrow down my top ten favorite Touhou scores.

(For now, I'll just be using the original ZUN scores.)

10: Lunatic Princess: It has a very epic feel to it, like you're fighting someone of great power, which, of course, is what's happening.

9: The Road of the Apotropaic God (MOF stage 2): I swear, this is the most underrated Touhou score ever. It gets me pumped up every time I hear it.

8: The Fantastic legend of Tohno: The first time I heard this, I was like, "Whoa. I've never heard music like this in a SHMUP." It's beautiful, it's energetic, it's catchy as can be.

7: The Doll Maker of Bucuresti: It's a really dark piece, yet it's stunning to listen to. The midi version sounds better, I think.

6: Reincarnation: It's my favorite of the PC-98 scores. Also my favorite Mima theme. It gives the feeling that Mima is more than meets the eye, I think.

5: Lullaby of Deserted Hell (SA stage 5): When I first heard this, I thought, "Wait, this sounds more like a song from Odin Sphere than Touhou." (If you don't know, Odin Sphere is a game that has a good soundtrack.) Nonetheless, it's a gorgeous, almost tragic, piece.

4: 3rd Eye: Oh YES. I LOOOOOOOOVE this song. It's so evil, so gothic, and yet, Satori doesn't strike me as evil and/or gothic. Even so, it gives the feeling that you're in deep trouble just for picking a fight with her.

3: Wind God Girl: Who would've guessed that a professional fibber journalist like Aya would have such an epic theme? It has a fast beat that never lets up, and the last notes are just bombastic. I nominate Wind God Girl, "Best use of ZUN trumpets"!

2: Flowering Night: Don't get me wrong: Luna Dial is awesome too, but Flowering Night is my favorite Sakuya theme. It captures her elegant yet lethal persona perfectly, I think. That, and it's awesome to listen to in and out of the games.

1: Tie between Septette for the Dead Princess and U.N. Owen Was Her?: Alright, I know what you're thinking, "What? Your favorite song is Remilia's theme AND Flandre's theme? Too obvious!" However, you must remember, it was these two songs that made me a Touhou fan. Why do I love them so? Simple: Because both songs are just deliciously . . .  delightful!

Okay, if I listed every Touhou song I liked, the list would be like five times longer than this. I haven't even mentioned my love for Faith is for the Transient People, Heian Alien, Invisible Full Moon, History of the Moon, Alice in Wonderland, Mystic Oriental Love Consultation, Onigashima in the Fairyland ~ Missing Power, and Phantom Ensemble yet. And this isn't even mentioning the remixes yet.

I am a sucker for Touhou music.
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Kilgamayan on November 28, 2009, 07:27:29 PM
Bonus fun! You got a Top 15 Overrated Songs, so here's a Top 10 Underrated Songs!

PC-98 songs disqualified since they're all underrated (aside from a select few) due to lack of people giving a shit about PC-98.

10. Retribution for the Eternal Night ~ Imperishable Night, IN
9. The Road of the Apotropaic God ~ Dark Road, MoF
8. UFO Romance in the Night Sky, UFO
7. Poison Body ~ Forsaken Doll, PoFV
6. The Centennial Festival for Magical Girls, EoSD
5. A Maiden's Illusory Funeral ~ Necro-Fantasy, PCB
4. Tomorrow Will be Special, Yesterday Was Not, MoF
3. Sleepless Night of the Eastern Country, StB
2. Song of the Night Sparrow ~ Night Bird, IN
1. Heartfelt Fancy, SA
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: tjk on November 28, 2009, 09:48:31 PM
well apart from the odd techno remix and IOSYS my touhou experience is mainly EoSD and PCB but here's my top 5

1. U.N. Owen was Her (flandre)
2. Phantom Emsemble (primsriver sisters)
3. Locked Girl (Patchouli Knowledge)
4. Sepette for a Dead Princess (Remilia)
5. Cinderella Cage ~ Kagome-Kagome (Imperishable Night Stage 5)
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Shizzo on November 30, 2009, 09:16:39 AM
Oh well~


#1 - The Centennial Festival for Magical Girls
#2 - At the End of Spring
#3 - Interdimmensional Voyage of a Ghostly Passenger Ship
#4 - Shanghai Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea
#5 - A Flower-Studded Sake Dish on Mt. Ooe
#6 - Emotional Skyscrapper ~ Cosmic Mind
#7 - Deaf to All But the Song
#8 - The Gensokyo the Gods Loved
#9 - The Primal Scene of Japan the Girl Watched
#10 - Phantom Emsemble

I like beaty songs, but some of these are just so calm that they make me high~~  :V
Title: Re: Your Top Ten Favorite Songs
Post by: Flandrenonymous on December 16, 2009, 03:14:42 PM
I definitely don't think I could put my faves in any particular order.  I used to be able to give a solid #1 at least until UFO came out.  I'll just justify why each particular one is in my top 10 at the very least.