Video Games Live: there is simply nothing quite like it!
While video game music began as a series of bleeps and bloops, there was no denying the melodic genius behind the themes of games such as Super Mario Bros. and Castlevania. In fact, video games have given us some of the best, most memorable melodies we know today.
Video Games Live honors decades of quality video game music by giving our favorite tunes the grand symphonic orchestra treatment. Soaring strings, blasting horns, pounding percussions, and thunderous guitar riffs make for some of the most epic performances any game and music fan can experience.
If, for some reason, you still aren’t convinced Video Games Live is one of the best things to happen to both the gaming and music industries since the invention of, well, music, we list here the 5 Reasons Why You Should Attend The World’s Greatest Video Game Music Concert.
5. An experience for everyone
The world's best video game music concert
When some of us think of classical music, either of two things immediately pop into mind: “boring music,” or “music for pretentious elitists.” While nothing could be further from the truth, we have to admit that classical music is so stylistically different from today’s pop tunes that we can’t fault the younger generations for turning their noses up at the likes of Mozart and Beethoven.
This is why Video Games Live is so important. While largely a series of performances from orchestras for which classical music is known for, these musicians play music more in line with more modern musical styles.
You’ve got your face-melting heavy guitar riffs side by side with sweeping violins – a strange combination, until you hear the performances and realize how, in the right hands, these instruments perfectly complement each other. And if you happen to be the kind of person raised on the likes of Johann Sebastian Bach and Franz Schubert, you’ve got the beautiful, soaring melodies that are the natural progression of classical music.
Gamers are therefore not the only ones who will love these concerts. Everyone, from millennials to those born in the last century, will find something to nod their heads along to. In merging the traditional with the new, Video Games Live bridges the gap between cultures and generations to give us something that can be enjoyed by anyone, gamer or not.
And to top it all off: fireworks!
And the crowd goes wild! (Photo by Fabio Santana, taken from Video Games Live.)
4. The pre and post-show events
Space Invaders and orchestral music? Epic!
Video Games Live is a festival of great video game music, true. But it’s also a celebration of all things gaming.
If you come early, or if you stay awhile after the end of the show, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of events. Cosplay featuring some of the best professional and amateur talents around the world? Video game competitions and demos? Prizes to be won? These and more are all part and parcel of Video Games Live. Fans can even meet and greet the gaming industry’s top composers and game designers.
What’s even cooler? As long as you have a ticket, you can participate in any activity or avail of the various giveaways for free!
It’s not just a music festival; it’s the consummate gaming experience!
The best way to play Tetris
Halo's Master Chief visits the Video Games Live concert!
3. The marriage of art and technology
Spectacular light show
Ever since the inception of the medium, video games have always been at the forefront of technology.
Which is why it’s fitting that Video Games Live is as much about the music as it is about a showcase of marvelous technology.
Each orchestral performance is accompanied by spectacular light sequences, lasers, and other special effects, all synchronized with the music. Also in harmony with the melodies, we get to enjoy footage of our favorite video games on enormous screens. And because each game is unique, expect a huge variety of these visual treats.
Let’s not forget the awesome segments that let lucky audience members to get up on stage to play video games, as the orchestra matches their performance with the game!
Dazzling stage effects
It ain't a video game music concert without lasers!
2. The performers
Laura "Flute Link" Intravia!
When Video Games Live debuted on July 6, 2005, the orchestra performed in the Hollywood Bowl for an audience 11,000-strong.
That orchestra was the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra: a group that’s almost a century old and which is currently home to some of the world’s most talented musicians.
Since then, Video Games Live has been bringing the most esteemed orchestral groups to our cities to render our favorite video game music in magnificent classical style. In more than 200 concerts in countries ranging from Canada to China, we’ve had the pleasure of listening to the likes of the San Diego Symphony, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and more.
But Video Games Live also has surprise appearances from other musical acts. There’s Martin Leung, who became an internet star for his blindfolded piano renditions of video game music. There’s fellow internet celebrity musician Laura Intravia, who has appeared at several shows dressed up as Link. Even Tommy Tallarico himself, a renowned video game music composer and the co-creator and co-producer of Video Games Live, finds the time to shred a mean guitar on stage. In addition, video game cover bands, like Random Encounter and The Megas, have been part of the show.
Video game music is beautiful, but with these talented artists behind it, it’s made even more unforgettable.
Martin Leung, impressing the fans with his blindfolded performance!
Rockin' to Castlevania (Photo by Paul Quitoriano, taken from Video Games Live.)
1. The music
The Legend of Zelda boasts some of gaming's best music
It is no exaggeration to say that video game music is some of the best music in the world.
From the light-hearted adventurousness of Super Mario Bros.’ “Overworld” to the rockin’ riffs of Command & Conquer: Red Alert; from the ominous guitars of Diablo’s “Tristram Village” to the grand majesty of the Legend of Zelda theme, these are anthems to heroism, danger, valor, fun, vengeance, sacrifice, darkness, justice, and everything worth composing a masterpiece about. And because these are the soundtracks to some of the biggest tales in fiction, they are as emotionally powerful as they are a pleasure to the ears.
And for the gamers among us, these were the melodies of childhood. As we saved princesses, snuck our way around guards, fought giant mechas, slayed gods and demons, and retrieved priceless artifacts, these were the songs that accompanied every adventure, every quest. They’ve lifted our spirits when we were down, gave us the courage to meet challenges, and instilled in us a little of the heroism of our most beloved video game heroes.
The cultural significance and emotional impact of video game music cannot be understated. And for these reasons we think Video Games Live, with its dedication to promoting these wondrous melodies worldwide, is the greatest video game music concert today.
We can't get enough of The Legend of Zelda! (Photo by Kevin Loh, taken from Video Games Live.)
The music of your childhood
Considering attending a Video Games Live concert?
Great news – Video Games Live will be having more than a dozen shows all over the globe between now and the end of the year. If you want to know where you can watch them, the Video Games Live website has a list of the upcoming events as well as provides links to where you can buy the tickets. Follow this link for said list!
Malaysian video game music fans rejoice! For the third time in five years, Video Games Live will be visiting the country to perform this August 29, 2015, at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Purchase the tickets here.
