Game Scores: Katamari Damacy (PS2)

I've mentioned before that Katamari Damacy for the Playstation 2 is the complete package.  It has well designed graphics, controls, themes, and this extends to the soundtrack as well.  While the iconic first track is so great and representative of the game that we featured it twice here as part of our MIDI Week singles series, the rest of the soundtrack is fun an delightful as well.

Walking on a Star

This song has a lush blend of acoustic and electronic instruments, creating a very strong sense of Whimsy.  This whole game is whimsical, and this is the music that plays in between stages while you choose what you want to do.  I particularly love the funny Vocal synth that shows up every few measures, in the first part of the song.  Occasionally, the sensation of the song rises to a steady forward march before mellowing out again.  Almost as if saying "alright, let's head forth!  ...No?  Okay, let's hang out." 

Lonely Rolling Star

The chorus of this song is so catchy, yet so gentle and soothing.  This song is a perfect background to the early stages of hte game, where you are learning how best to prioritize your rolling, to gather up all the right sized items, and move ahead, unimpeded.  This levels have low stakes, and are contained in small buildings, this soundtrack encourages you to just relax and have fun.

Gin and Tonic and Red Red Roses

Scatting?  Why not?  This song is very silly and I love it. It's a fun, upbeat piano jazz song with a really great vocalist scatting along the way.  Not knowing Japanese, the scatting blends seamlessly into her singing.  It has a lot of hop, and I can see my katamari rolling when I hear this song. 

Que Sera Sera

The tone on this song is very hard to place.  By all rights, this song seems to be dramatic, but it comes across as so cheesy, I can't help but imagine that this is on purpose.  I mean, you have a look at this silly game, and it seems clear the makers must know a thing or two about camp sensibilities.  Ultimately, it is a distinctive song in a soundtrack full silly sensibilities.