2022 will be history in a couple of days. The parties will be dripping in style, decorated to the nines, and loaded with food and drinks. New York will be filled as the crowd gathers to watch the ball drop during the final seconds of the year. The world will see sun set and the moon rise for the new day as 2023 arrives.

For this week’s episode, we’ll be playing some video games tracks that play during the roll of the ending credits, along with their covers and remixes. I also talk about my personal thoughts and feelings of 2022: the fight to find some sense of self, trying to see through the lie, and finding our light in our moments of darkness. I hope you’ll listen with an open mind and a considerate heart.

Happy New Year, everyone. May you walk into the new year with courage, perseverance, and hope…

Track Listing

“Simple and Clean” – [Kingdom Hearts] – composed and sung by Hikaru Utada

“Simple and Clean” – covered by J-Music Ensemble

“Still Alive” – [Portal] – composed by Johnathan Coulton, vocals by Ellen McLain

“Still Alive – Frank Sinatra Big Band Swing Version” – covered by The 8-Bit Big Band, vocals by Benny Bennack III, from the album “Choose Your Character!”

“Our Light” – [Persona 5 Royal] – composed by Shoji Meguro

“ENGLISH- Our Light Personal 5: Royal (Akane Sasu Sora)” – covered by Akane Sasu Sora

Outro: “Auld Lang Syne” – by 8 Bit Christmas, from the album “8 Bit Christmas”, originally based on a poem written by Robert Burns

YouTube playlist

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

This week’s episode is the culmination of the 25 Days of Holiday VGM covers and remixes that were featured on Instagram and Twitter. We’ll be playing all 25 tracks in order, starting with Day One. These tracks were from Overclocked Remix, an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of video game music as an art form. They are definitely worth checking out.

I hope you enjoy Christmas Day, whether it’s with family and friends or simply being with yourself… and maybe Santa Claus finally got you that video game you always wanted.

Overclocked Remix (Website, Facebook, Twitter, YT channel, Soundcloud, Patreon)

Track Listing

Intro: “A Video Gaming Christmas” – composed and performed by Retro-Fusion (David Wise and Grant Kirkhope)

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

Day Seven

Day Eight

Day Nine

Day Ten

Day Eleven

Day Twelve

Day Thirteen

Day Fourteen

Day Fifteen

Day Sixteen

Day Seventeen

Day Eighteen

Day Nineteen

Day Twenty

Day Twenty-One

Day Twenty-Two

Day Twenty-Three

Day Twenty- Four

“Forzen Landcape” – covered/remixed by Tweez; “Buried in Snow” [Final Fantasy VI] – composed by Nobuo Uematsu

Day Twenty-Five”

YouTube playlist

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Okay, so perhaps you’re tired of celebrating Christmas. You know, because of how much more commercialized it has become, how few understand the real meaning of the holidays, and why so many people feel burned out after the 25th of December.

How about celebrating a non-traditional holiday known as Festivus!

This week’s episode will attempt to match video game music related to parts of this tradition that was made public by a comedy show called “Seinfeld”. We’ll start with stuffing a bag with a clock and nailing it to the wall. Next, during a meal with meatloaf on a bed of lettuce, we’ll have a moment to air our complaints and disappointments to everyone at the table. Finally, before the tradition is over, we’ll wrestle the host until someone pins them.

Put up your aluminum pole and watch for any Festivus miracles..

Festivus, according to Wikipedia

The Story of Festivus (YouTube)

Festivus the website

Track Listing

“Corridors of Time” – [Chrono Trigger] – composed by Yasunori Mitsuda

“Chrono Trigger – Corridors of Time (80’s remix)” – remixed by sulkembo

“V” – [Cyberpunk 2077] – composed by Marcin Przybylowicz

“Cyberpunk 2077 OST – V (Dubstep Remix)(Main Theme)” – remixed by Aaron F. Bianchi Jupiter

“Western Land” – [Mario Party 2] – composed by Hironao Yamamto, Shohei Bando, Kazuhikko Sawaguchi

“(remix) Mario Party 2 – Western Land Music” – remixed by PolarPandarMusic

YouTube playlist

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Christmas is less than two weeks away, but I’ve decided to celebrate it early.

This week, I’ll be gifting several podcast hosts with some tracks, along with covers and remixes. It’ll be a long episode as I talk about several podcasts in particular: Rhythm & Pixels, VGMporium, Very Good Music: A VGM Podcast, A VGM Journey, and Shujin Academy VGM Club. Hopefully, I’ve picked some goods ones, but any excuse to play lots of video game music is a great excuse.

So enjoy this episode and perhaps consider giving a listen to any of these fine podcasts.

Rhythm & Pixels (Website, Spotify, Apple Music)

Track Listing

“Stage One” – [Bionic Commando (1987)] – composed by Tim Follin

“Area One Music C64” – remixed by karlsav

“When the Moon Reaches for the Stars” – [Persona 3] – composed by Shoji Meguro, lyrics by Yumi Kawamura, vocals by Reiko Tanaka

“When the Moon Reaches Out to the Stars” – covered by Consouls, with Sapphire on vocals

“Palmtree Panic Present” – [Sonic CD] – composed by Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata

“Palmtree Panic [8-bit VRC6] (ft. ThePaperNESGuy)” – covered by Musikage

“Nostalgic Song” – [Legend of Mana] – composed by Yoko Shimomura

“Nostalgic Song (Oboe/Recorder/Ocarina cover)] – covered by Field of Reeds

“Strike the Earth! (Plains of Passage)” – [Shovel Knight] – composed by Jake “Virt” Kaufman

“Shovel Knight – Strike the Earth (Plains of Passage) REMIX” – remixed by MiatriSs

“Beyond the Galaxy” – [Galaxy Force 2] – composed by Koichi Namiki and Katsuhiro Hayashi

“Beyond the Galaxy (Johnny James Remix)” – remixed by Johnny James Music

YouTube playlist

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Put on your best dance outfit, gather your friends together, and break out the lightsticks!

December the ninth of Friday, according to DaysoftheYear, is known as World Techno Day. It is a day to celebrate two things: the genre of techno and dance music, and the birthday of a musician (Juan Atkins) who founded and promote techno. Four on the floor and running at 120 to 150 beats per minute, techno is widely recognized by its heavy use of electronic instruments, namely synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencers. People gather at EDM concerts to feel the bass, dance to the rhythm, and show their admiration with lightsticks, lighted props, and at times outrageous costumes; they certain know how to party.

This week, we’ll be listening to some video game tracks that sound techno (as far as I was able to research on YouTube and the rest of the internet). We’ve got some flying dragons, a hacker fighting off viruses and corrupted firewalls, and shapes avoid collisions to a pulsating beat.

So, crack those sticks and raise them up as you move to the beat.

World Techno Day (Days of the Year)

Track Listing

“Confrontation” – [Panzer Dragoon] – composed by Yoshitaka Azuma

“Confrontation” – [Panzer Dragoon Remake] – arranged by Saori Kobayashi

“Fear ” – [Rez Infinite] – written and produced by Adam Freeland, vocals by Cage

“Rez Level 5 – Fear is the Mindkiller – Maship OST/Ingame music” – remixed by Ramasse

“Courtesy / Hexagon” – [Super Hexagon] – composed by Chipzel

“DustZallax – Super Hexagon Remix” – remixed by Dustzallex

YouTube playlist

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See you next year, November. Hello, December…

As the last of the leaves fall from the barren trees, and the last of the migrating flocks of birds make their way to warmer areas, the winds blow cold and crisp on your face, nipping your nose and shivering your skin. The sidewalks are getting covered in sporadic wet piles of fallen ice, much to the consternation of workers furiously scrapping the windshields. People are walking about in their portable bundle of warmth and chilly protection.

Yes, winter is coming.

This week’s episode will feature some tracks from video games that take place in cold weather. Whether it’s fighting aliens on a harsh, cold planet, building and surviving in the chilly tundras, or taking an adventure through a frozen wilderness, you’re sure to find yourself surrounding in snow.

So, sit back in your cozy seat, wearing your best warm clothes, buried by your favorite throw blanket, and have your favorite hot drink close as we listen to these tracks.

“Best Winter Themed Video Games”

Track Listing

“NEVEC Theme” – [Lost Planet: Extreme Conditions] – composed by Jamie Christopherson

“The Volcano/NEVEC Battle – Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (metal cover)” – covered by Siolfor the Jackel

“Frostpunk Theme” – [Frostpunk] – composed by Piotr Musial

“Frostpunk OST – Main Theme – Remixed by GM” – remixed by GM

“Into the Frozen” – [Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds] – composed by Joris de Man

“The Frozen Wilds – 80s REMIX” – remixed by Levi Doron

Audio clip from “Game of Thrones”

YouTube playlist

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Thanksgiving is here, and that means every family member and their friends are gathered together at home. The dining table is decorated with the colors of brown and yellow, from the table cloth, to the name placard. Each seating place has their plate and silverware, set upon a table cloth and highlighted with a tall wine glass. The food table is dressed up with a variety of dishes: a tray of gravy, a plate of sliced, canned cranberry sauce, a stack of square cornbread pieces, a mound of mashed potatoes, a plate of steamed vegetables, etc. At the center of this food table are a couple of main dishes: a plump, well-cooked turkey, and a piece of ham with some slices ready to be taken. It’s a delightful and delicious sight to behold.

But who wants to eat, when you’d rather be playing video games?

This week’s episodes will feature some tracks from video games that can played on Thanksgiving, as well as their covers and remixes. Whether it’s for laughs or for rivalry, it’s nice to know that these and other games can bring everyone together to cheer or sneer at each other. Now play nice and be sure to help Mom clean up and make some take-home portions for the guests…

“5 Video Games to Play On Thanksgiving”

Track Listing

“Main Theme” – [Overcooked 2] – composed by Oliver Wood

“Overcooked 2 Trap Remix” – remixed by Gold Bloch

“Main Theme” – [Super Mario Party] – composed by Masayoshi Ishi, Toshiki Aida, Satoshi Okubo, Naruki Kadosaka

“Super Mario Party – Main Theme Remix”  – remixed by guesswhatmusic

“Planet Timbertree” – [Super Bomberman R] – composed by Seima Iwahashi

“Super Bomberman R – Planet Timbertree Remix” – remixed by Bland White Cube

YouTube playlist

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This month’s special episode of “On Stage Now” goes across the ocean to Europe, where we feature a delightful and folksy musician who calls herself Alina Gingertail. She plays a variety of instruments, most of them that are traditional and a few that are modern. In addition, she displays a lovely voice that serenades with sweet lullabies and chorus.

It’s not enough for me to speak more about her, so allow this set to show how well she plays and sings. Sit back and enjoy a sample of her video game music covers and an original track.

Alina Gingertail (YT, Facebook, VK, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Patreon)

Track Listing

“Scars of Time (Chrono Cross cover)” – [Chrono Cross] – composed, arranged, and produced by Yasunori Mitsuda

“Red Alert 3 – Soviet March – TRUE EPIC RUSSIAN COVER” – [Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3] – composed by James Hannigan

“Final Fantasy VII – Let the Battles Begin/Those Who Fight (Gingertail Cover)” – [Final Fantasy VII] – composed Nobuo Uematsu

“Silent Hill Theme (Gingertail Cover)” – [Silent Hill] – composed by Akira Yamaoka

“Priscilla’s Song/The Wolven Storm (Gingertail Cover)” – [The Witcher 3] – composed by Marcin Przyblowicz, arranged by Matt Fuss

“Prince of Persia – Time Only Knows (Gingertail Cover)” – [Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time] – composed by Stuart Chatwood, vocals by Cindy Gomez

“Genshin Impact Main Theme (Gingertail Cover)” – [Genshin Impact] – composed by Yu-Peng Chen, HOYO-MiX

“Horizon Zero Dawn – Main Theme/Aloy’s Theme (Gingertail Cover)” – [Horizon Zero Dawn] – composed by Joris de Man

“Undertale – Bonetrousle” – [Undertale] – composed by tobyfox

“God of War – Memories of Mother (Gingertail Cover)” – [God of War] – composed by Bear McCreary

“Ori and the Blind Forest – Main Theme (Gingertail Cover)” – [Ori and the Blind Forest] – composed by Gareth Coker

Outro: “Ginger Jig” – original track by Alina Gingertail

YouTube playlist

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Raise those fists and scream your face into melted madness, headbangers! There’s an important event that we’re celebrating, called “National Metal Day”!

If you’re a fan of the movie This is Spinal Tap, then you know that any heavy metal music sounds awesome at eleven. Thanks to VH1 Classic, National Metal Day is celebrated on November 11, the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year.

This week’s episode will feature some ripping, shredding, and bashing. In addition to original tracks, we’ll also have some heavy metal covers and remixes. No expense was spared to ensure all these tracks are heavy, loud, and proud, but we’re not playing that bloody Stonehenge.

So, plug your ears and secure the furniture, because we going to shake the walls, crack the foundation, and bother the neighbors, and believe me, these tracks deserve to be at eleven…

National Metal Day (Days of the Year)

Track Listing

“Moon Light” – [Mega Man X6] – composed by Naoto Tanaka, vocals by Showtaro Moribuko

“The Plasmas – Luz de Luna (Moonlight – MegaMax X6)” – covered by The Plasmas

“Devil Trigger” – [Devil May Cry 5] – composed by composed by Casey Edwards, lyrics by Casey Edwards, vocals by Ali Edwards

“DEVIL TRIGGER – Devil May Cry 5 (Metal Cover by Jonathan Young)” – covered by Jonathan Young

“Sunshine Coastline” – [Ys VIII – Lacrimosa of DANA-] – composed by Takahiro Unisaga (Falcom Sound Team jdk)

“Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA – Sunshine Coastline | METAL COVER” – covered by Vincent Moretto

“Love the Subhuman Self” – [Guilty Gear STRIVE] – composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari, vocals by AISHA and Jamison Boaz

“GUILTY GEAR: STRIVE – Love the Subhuman Self [COVER] feat. @Lollia” – covered by FamilyJules, vocals by Lollia (Lolia Rose)

“The Instinct” – [Killer Instinct (2013)] – composed by Robin Beanland, arranged, performed, and mixed by Mick Gordon, from the Season One Soundtrack

“Killer Instinct Theme “Epic Rock” Cover (Little V)” – covered by LittleVMills

Outro: “Dawn Winery Theme” – [Genshin Impact] – composed by Yu-Pen Chen, covered by BAND-MAID, from Genshin Concert 2022

Audio clip from This is Spinal Tap

YouTube playlist

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It’s a new month, and November is known for more than just Thanksgiving. It’s a special time of the year called National Novel Writing Month, when writers around the world attempt to write a novel of their own creation of at least 50,000 words. It doesn’t matter your level of experience (beginner or professional), your amount of education (self-taught or formally educated), or your current employment status (unemployed or full-time). All writers have an opportunity to accomplish something that could be the start of something wonderful.

This week’s episode will have a set list of tracks from video games based on novels. A barren planet that holds the power of the universe, an amnesiac waking up in a cybernetic world, and a scientist uncovering the powerhouse of human life, these games have lifted some aspects of their respective books into an interactive medium.

Come and listen to these tracks and consider diving deeper into reading their source material.

To all the writers participating in NaNoWriMo, may your motivations be great, your enthusiasm be plenty, your willpower be strong, and your words be flowing from your mind to paper or pixel…

National Novel Writing Month

Track Listing

“The Lego Tune” – [Dune 2: The Battle of Arrakis] (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive) – composed by Frank Klepacki, Dwight Okahara

“The Lego Tune” – covered by Inrudiment

“Morgue” – [Shadowrun] (NES) – composed by Marshal Parker

“Shadowrun (SNES) music Revamp [12 – Morgue]” – remixed by unununium

“Arise With You” – [Parasite Eve] – composed by Yoki Shimomura

“Arise With You (Parasite Eve Remix)” – remixed by Luminist

YouTube playlist

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