Every August 22nd, “Be An Angel Day” is a day for people to do an act of kindness. It may be as simple as opening a door for someone or as great as helping carry someone’s groceries to their car. The day was created by Jayne Howard Feldman, an ordained interfaith minister, Reiki master, and the curator of Angel Heights Healing Arts Center, who claimed she was inspired by angels.

For this week’s episode, we’re playing tracks from video games where good deeds pay kindly and helpfully in return: a delinquent high school student befriending lots of people, a soldier rebuilding a base and team, and a group of people searching to solve their health crises. As always, there’s covers and remixes to follow each track.

After a listen, perhaps it may be inspired to do an act of kindness for someone…

“Be An Angel Day”

“Life Will Change” – [Persona 5] – composed by Shoji Meguro

” “Life will Change” – Persona 5 Remix (ft. @hackerling)” – remixed by Noteblock

“A Phantom Pain” – [Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain] – composed by Ludvig Forssell

“Metal Gear Solid 5 – A Phantom Pain | METAL REMIX” – remixed by Vincent Moretto

“Main Theme Part I” – [Baldur’s Gate 3] – composed by Borislav Slavov

“Baldurs Gate 3: Main Theme | EPIC Metal Version” – covered by LUOVA

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I’ve got good news and bad news.

First the bad news: there will be no Masters of VGM this year and for the foreseeable future, as there was no one able to pick up the mantle.

And now the good news: a bunch of other podcasters decided to carry on with their own event, called the VGM Hall of Fame!

Simply put, participating podcasts put forth an original soundtrack from a video game to be on the VGM Hall of Fame, the video game version of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. It was already started by The Messenger, host of “A VGM Journey”.

For my part, I present to you the VGM soundtrack to “Child of Light”, composed by Cœur de Pirate (Beatrice Martin).

“Child of Light” is a beautiful RPG  that takes place in the land of Lemuria. Aurora wakes up and tries to find a way back to her home as she explores this new world, meets new friends, and tries to help this new world’s people against the Queen.

The soundtrack is crafted with a piano backed by an orchestra that resonates with the environment, the gameplay, and the dialogue. While there are some hints of pain and yearning, there are also moments of danger, struggle, and triumph that allow players to connect with the game beyond the typical senses.

Enjoy these tracks for a game that shows the growth and maturity of Aurora and her journey in Lemuria.

“Level 168: Shovel Knight (VGM Hall of Fame)”

“Child of Light – Making the Music”

Track Listing

Intro and BGM: “Aurora’s Theme”

“Pilgrims on a Long Journey”

“Child of Light & Chill – Pilgrims on a A Long Journey – Chill Video Game Music Remix – JP Soundworks” – remixed by JP Soundworks

“Dark Creatures”

“Child of Light – Battle Theme (Dark Creatures) [Piano]” – rearranged by synthicify

“Bolmus Populi”

“[Cmaj] GW2 Quartet: Bolums Populi – Child of Light” – covered by Minstrel’s Waypoint

“Leave Your Castle”

“Leave Your Castle – Child of Light (Piano and Viola Cover)” – covered by Asea’s Collabs

“Hymn of Light (Orchestral)”

“[Music box Cover] Child of Light – Hymn of Light” – covered by Musicbox cover

Outro: “[Celie cover] Off to Sleep – Child of Light RE DONE COVER” – composed by Cœur de Pirate, covered by Celie Cover

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Today, on August 8th, we are celebrating International Cat Day. First put together by the International Fund for Animal, this day honors on the most popular pets, with an estimated 350-370 million cats owned and about 480 million that are strays or feral. There are 75 recognized breeds of cats (according to The International Cat Association), and between TICA and CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association), the most popular breeds are the Maine Coon, the Ragdoll, and the British Shorthair.

Going through the past five decades, we’ve got tracks from video games that feature cats: a police mouse roaming a cat mansion, a big cat that prefers to fish, the first cat person you come across before getting to town, a cat with some mental issues, and a toy cat that prefers to play you to death. Of course, we’ve got covers and remixes of these tracks.

Give your cat a few head pats and scratches as you listen to these tracks…

International Cat Day

Track Listing

“Main Theme” – [Mappy] – composed by Nobuyuki Ohnogi

“Mappy (Banjo & Guitarra)” – covered by Fedeitor

“Mystic Ruins” – [Sonic Adventure] – composed by Fumie Kumantani

“Sonic Adventure Mystic Ruins Sega Genesis Remix” – remixed by Remixis SG

“Title” – [Animal Crossing] – composed by Kazumi Totaka

“Animal Crossing – Title Theme” – remixed by Retro Game Remix

“Mae’s House” – [Night in the Woods] – composed by Alex Holowka

“Mae’s House (Night in the Woods)” – remixed by Allan Näusland

“Sleep Well” – [Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3] – composed by CG5

“Sleep Well by CG5 Full Piano Cover (from Poppy Playtime Chapter 3)” – covered by NONPIANO

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HTTP, HTML, Gopher, Mosaic…

If you recognize these words, then we were there when the World Wide Web was just beginning. Today, on August 1st, we’re celebrating World Wide Web Day, that online place where we browse the pages, game with friends across the world, and stream our favorite videos, music, and podcasts.

Tim Berners-Lee is the father of the World Wide Web, creating and building a program based on hyperlinks, markups, and protocols. He started in 1980 with ENQUIRE, a database of people and software models while experimenting with hypertext. Later, he installed TCP/IP protocols in Unix machines, which turned CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) into the largest Internet site in Europe at the time. When the first direct UP connection between Europe and North American was established in 1988, it brought about the possibility of creating a web-like system at CERN.

We’ve got a list of tracks from video games that feature the World Wide Web in some form: a NetNavi fighting crime on the Net, a lone player searching for answers about comatose players, and a character exploring an MMORPG to fill the void of her amnesia. There’s also covers and remixes to follow.

Enjoy this tracks in celebration of the World Wide Web…

World Wide Web Day

Track Listing

“Theme of Mega Man Battle Network” – [Mega Man Battle Network] – composed by Akari Kaida

“Theme of Rockman EXE – Orchestral/rock Arrangement – Megaman Battle Network” – rearranged by Tyler Gonelli

“aura1″ (Aura’s Theme)” – [.hack series] – composed by Chikayo Fukuda

“Dot Hack – Aura’s Theme Piano Cover” – covered by Azamonde

“Battle 2” – [CrossCode] – composed by Deniz Akbulut

“Battle 2 / S-Rank Battle (Crosscode) – GaMetal Remix” – remixed by GaMetal

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July is about to end, which means it’s time for our special episode of “On Stage Now”. It’s an episode where I step back after introducing a musician of covers or remixes of video game music and play their works for all to hear. This month, we’re featuring Smooth McGroove.

A virtuosic musician of acapella, Smooth McGroove (real name Max Gleason) has been performing covers and arrangements of video game music as a one-man band. He also records and produces his music and videos all by himself, showing how passionate he is about his work. If you get a chance to watch any of his videos, you may catch a glimpse of his feline buddy Charl.

Prepare to have your ears entertained by Smooth McGroove…

Smooth McGroove (YT, FB, IG, X, TikTok, Spotify, Bandcamp, Patreon, Merch)

Track Listing

“Zelda’s Lullaby Acapella” – [The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time] – composed by Koji Kondo

“Chrono Trigger – Corridors of Time (Zeal Theme) Acapella” – [Chrono Trigger] – composed by Yasunori Mitsuda

“Punch Out!! – Fight Theme Acapella” – [Punch Out!!] – composed by Yukio Kaneoka, Akito Nakatsuka, Kenji Yamamoto

“Super Mario World – Overworld Theme Acapella” – [Super Mario World] – composed by Koji Kondo

“Gwyn, Lord of Cinder Acapella” – [Dark Souls] – composed by Motoi Sakuraba

“UNDERTALE – Bonetrousle Acapella” – [Undertale] – composed by Toby Fox

“Sonic 2 – Metropolis Zone Acapella” – [Sonic 2] – composed by Masato Makamura

“Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow – Title Theme Acapella!” – [Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow] – composed by Junichi Mitsuda

“Super Mario Kart – Battle Mode Acapella” – [Super Mario Kart] – composed by Soyo Oka

“Chrono Trigger – Schala’s Theme Acapella” – [Chrono Trigger] – composed by Yasunori Mitsuda

“Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum – Lake Theme Acapella!” – [Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum] – composed by Junichi Mitsuda

“Super Mario World – Athletic Theme Acapella!” – [Super Mario World] – composed by Koji Kondo

Outro: “Flying Battery Zone Acapella” – [Sonic & Knuckles] – composed by Howard Drossin, Jun Senoue, Milpo, SEGA Sound Team; arranged by Smooth McGroove

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Today we’re celebrating the arcade release of Street Fighter IV in Japan, back in July 18, 2008. The following month, August 12th, it was released in the North America regions. In 2009, it was ported to consoles in February and later July to Windows. As the first original main entry in the series since Street Fighter III back in 1997, SF IV features 3D models and backgrounds yet maintains the same gameplay known to all fans and players.

For this week’s episode, we’ll play a couple tracks for two characters (C. Viper and Gouken) and two stage themes (Volcanic Rim and Snowy Rail Yard). Following these tracks are covers and remixes.

Sit back and enjoy these tracks as you ponder your purpose for fighting…

Street Fighter IV

Sheng Long

Interview: One-Two Punch of Street Fighter IV’s Audio (Game Developer)

Track Listing

All tracks, unless noted, were composed by Hideyuki Fukasawa

Intro: “Introduction”

BGM: “THE NEXT DOOR” (Japanese version), by Exile, from their album “The Monster ~Someday~”

“Theme of C. Viper”

“Street Fighter – C. Viper’s Theme [8 Bit Remix] – remixed by 2mg

“Theme of Gouken”

“Nothingness”//Street Fighter 4 GOUKEN CONCEPT” – produced by Okugawa Jr. “KAIRU”

“Volcanic Rim Stage”

“Volcanic Rim Stage/Street Fighter IV [Music Box]” – covered by R3 Music Box

“Snowy Rail Yard Stage -Russia-”

“SF4 Snowy Rim Yard Theme in Atari Advanced Music System II” – remixed by Nuclear Productions

Outro: “Street Fighter IV – Orchestral ver.-“, composed by Hideyuki Fukasawa

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The open road lays ahead of you. You look far down the lane and then mount your two-wheeled stallion. With a turn of the key, the beast between your lets roars to life. You twist the handle, coaxing its combustible instincts, and then, after kicking up the stand, you accelerate your way onto the road. The wind rushes about you as the sun bears its heat…

Today, on the second Friday of July, we’re celebrating National Motorcycle Day, to honor this vehicle that has become a symbol of freedom of the road and power among other riders. What started out as a wooden bicycle with an engine mounted on rubber blocks has become a complicated metallic cycle with a powerful engine.

We’ll be playing tracks from video games that feature motorcycles: a race that leans into the turns, a rash of racers trying to knock each other out, and a group of mice in a race for their planet. There’ll also be some rocking covers and remixes to follow each track.

So, mount the saddle, kick up the stand, start and rev the engines, and let’s ride!!!

National Motorcycle Day

Track Listing

“Main Theme” / “Theme of Love” – [Hang-On] – composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi

“SEGA HANG ON – MAIN THEME – Epic Metal Guitar Cover” – covered by CelestiC

“Main Theme” (Genesis) – [Road Rash] – composed by Ron Hubbard

“Road Rash – Title Theme | Rock Metal Guitar Cover” – covered by Kris Di’Kascos

“Circuit” / “Race Theme 4” – [Biker Mice from Mars] – composed by Hideto Inoue, Nobuyuki Akena

“Rock and Ride” – remixed by WillRock

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Today, on the Fourth of July, we are celebrating Independence Day properly…

Well, on Episode 22, we celebrated the Fourth of July with video games about America in some form. This year, we’re celebrating with video games that highlight independence and freedom: a colony sailing to the New World, Allied Forces fighting against power-hungry regime, and a one-man army up fighting to take back America. Of course, we’ve got covers and remixes to follow each track.

Fire up the grill, cook up some burgers and hot dogs, and enjoy the music freely…

Independence Day (Fourth of July)

Track Listing

Intro: “God Bless the U.S.A.” (“Proud to be an American”), written and performed by Lee Greenwood

“Bonny Morn” – [Sid Meier’s Colonization] – arranged by Allister Brimble and Anthony Putson; originally composed by Jeffrey L. Briggs, Ken Lagace, and Roland J. Rizzo

“Colonization (Bonny Morn Remix)” – remixed by Aknotronic

“Hell March” – [Command & Conquer: Red Alert] – composed by Frank Klepacki

“Hell March (Retaliation Remix)” – remixed by Frank Klepacki

“The New Colossus” – [Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus] – composed by Mick Gordon, Margin Stig Andersen

“Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus – Main Theme (Electro Rock cover)” – covered by Music Interpretation Laboratory

Outro: “United States of America – National Anthem (Chiptune Cover) | Star Spangled Banner” – arranged by Chiptuverse (Joshua Foster), music composed by John Stafford Smith, lyrics based on a poem by Francis Scott Key (Spotify)

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June went by fast, with today as the last Friday of the month. That means it’s time for our special episode of “On Stage Now”, and this month’s musician is Rachel Hardy.

Rachel Hardy has lived and breathed music since high school, when she started posting videos of her covers of music from video games and other popular media on YouTube. In the meantime, she’s earned an education in music (B.A.  in Music from University of Calgary and Professional Certificate in Composition for Film and Music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass.) and applied her knowledge (a grant from Alberta Foundation for the Arts as an intern for Sacred Tiger Music and one of the runner-ups for the Spitfire Audio and HBO’s Westworld Scoring Competition). Rachel first worked as a Music Supervisor for Hidden Path Entertainment for an unannounced video game. She’s also worked on video game projects for several companies (Tencent, Real Game Machine, NatGames, Nexon, etc.) and composed scores and contributed vocals for a variety of media (documentaries/docu-videos, podcasts, events, sample libraries, TV broadcasts, albums, and short films).

Sit back as you listen to her vocal and choral covers of video game music, some in collaboration with other musicians…

Rachel Hardy (Personal Website, YT, FB, IG, X, Patreon, Merch)

Track Listing

“Daughter of the Sea – World of Warcraft” – [World of Warcraft] – composed by Neal Acree, Logan Laflotte

“Dragon Age: Inquisition – The Dawn Will Come” – [Dragon Age: Inquisition] – composed by Trevor Morris

“Skryim – The Dragonborn Comes” – [The Elder Scrolls V: Skryim] – composed by Jeremy Soule

“HADES – Good Riddance (Eurydice Solo)” – [HADES] – composed by Darren Korb

“We All Life Together (WARFRAME)” – [Warframe] – composed by Keith Power

“Lullaby of Woe (Cover)” – [The Witcher III: Wild Hunt] – composed by Marcin Przybylowicz

“Setting Sail, Coming Home (End Theme) from Bastion” – [Bastion] – composed by Darren Korb

“Dungeons of Dreadrock” – [Dungeons of Dreadrock] – composed by Christoph Minnameier

“BALDUR’S GATE SONG || “Answer the Call” ||” – composed by Jonathan Young

Outro: “Memory of You” – [Remothered: Tormented Father] – composed by Mattia Cupelli, lyrics by Rachel Hardy, performed by Rachel Hardy, available on Amazon Music

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This past Sunday was Father’s Day, celebrated on the third Sunday of the June. Similar to Mother’s Day, this day honors fathers and dads of all families and relations. Sure, they work hard to earn a living and at times offers words of advice or humor, but they may feel dutiful to protect their family and their children. Their presence may be felt or absent, yet fathers can provide some wisdom and guidance in life.

For this week’s episode, we’re celebrating Father’s Day with several tracks from video games that have fathers or father figures: a man searching for his infant daughter, an absent dad that can only be reached by phone, and a long-time mentor on the adventure of a lifetime. We’ve also got covers and remixes to follow.

Enjoy these tracks as you think about the dad or father figure in your life, or perhaps from video games you’ve played…

Father’s Day

Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light

Track Listing

“A Moment’s Respite” – [Resident Evil Village (RE 8)] – composed by Shusaku Uchiyama

“Resident Evil Village – Save Room Theme [Mono Memory Synth Remix]” – remixed by Mono Memory

“Home Sweet Home” – [Earthbound (Mother 2)] – composed by Hirokazu “Hip” Tanaka, Keiichi Suzuki, Hiroshi Kanazu

“Home, sweet home – Earthbound/Mother 2 REMIX” – remixed by Kowjja

“A Thief’s End” – [Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End] – composed by Henry Jackman

Audio clip from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”

“Uncharted – Nates Theme (Altered Serentiy Remix)” – remixed by Sensu Audica

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