The Legend of Zelda games have always had catchy background music, thanks in large part to legendary Nintendo and long-time Zelda composer Koji Kondo. The games often have signature instruments as part of the story, which allows for different styles of music that results in unique songs with exotic twists.
Legend of Zelda music always fits so well with gameplay. With the background music being an accompaniment to the action on the screen, it needs to be catchy while at the same time something players won't get sick of hearing over and over again. This has amounted to a vast collection of catchy and original tracks across the series.
10 "Lake Hylia" From Twilight Princess Is A Soothing & Melodious Tune
The serene "Lake Hylia" was composed by Toru Minegishi for Twilight Princess. The synth keyboard gives an expansive feel, like a bird soaring high above the lake, while the overlapping melody is catchy while also being soothing, the reverb evoking a sense of being surrounded by water.
The only percussion is the soft tapping of a tambourine, while strings enter halfway through to take the ear on an uplifting journey.
9 "Zora's Domain" From Ocarina Of Time Is Hard Not To Tap Your Feet To
First appearing in Ocarina of Time, this ethereal theme plays when Link is in Zora's Domain. The relaxing tune sounds like something you might hear in the Caribbean. The steel drums and bongos give it a tropical air, while the acoustic guitar plucks a bright, melodic tune to create a real toe-tapper.
"Zora's Domain" also appeared in Twilight Princess and again in Breath of the Wild, although in a slightly different guise, with the melody tweaked and with more synth added.
8 "Realm Overworld" From Spirit Tracks Provides Catchy Melodies For Those Long Train Journeys
The signature instrument of Spirit Tracks was the pan flute, which really complimented traversing vast stretches of land on a train. The fact that the train journeys could get fairly long meant the music had to be energetic and have variety, which "Realm Overworld" does.
Clocking in at just over 4 minutes long, it slows down halfway through before building up again like a train would— fitting for the game it appears in— creating anticipation of the gradually rising and incredibly catchy main melody.
7 "Midna's Lament" From Twilight Princess Is Catchy Yet Haunting
Twilight Princess may be one of the darkest Zelda game in the series, but it still has plenty of catchy songs, "Midna's Lament" being one of them. The off-kilter melody suits Midna's character perfectly.
The song plays as Wolf Link carries a dying Midna to Princess Zelda. Listening to it, you're not quite sure where the melody's going, which note will appear next, just as Link doesn't know if Midna will survive.
6 "Song Of Storms" From Ocarina Of Time Takes You For A Spin
"Song of Storms" sounds like a jaunty Legend of Zelda song that's been twisted around and spun on its head to make it sound vaguely disturbing while still being fun. This makes the track perfectly suited to be the background music for the windmill, where the Phonogram Man lives in Ocarina of Time.
The repetitious accordion in the background makes players feel like they're on a merry-go-round, going up and down and round and round, disorienting you.
5 "Astral Observatory" From Majora's Mask Is An Offbeat Treat
"Astral Observatory" sounds like an offbeat lullaby. The harpsichord gives it a medieval twist, while the chord progression creates an uneasy sensation in the listener. It plays in the background as Deku Link explores the Astral Observatory outside the walls of Clock Town.
The observatory houses a giant telescope, the music complimenting the magic of stargazing. It's a simple and catchy tune that's pleasant to listen to over and over again.
4 "Overworld" From The Legend Of Zelda Is Still The Most Well-Known Zelda Theme
The NES didn't have the capacity to play recorded instruments; its songs were in 8-bit. This forced Koji Kondo, the composer of the theme, to create a catchy tune, something that was distinctive and recognizable and didn't just blend into the background.
The "Overworld Theme" first appeared in The Legend of Zelda but since then it has been used in various other games in the series to become the iconic Legend of Zelda theme. One of the most important— and catchiest— songs in video game history.
3 "Lost Woods" From Ocarina Of Time Is A Jaunty & Ominous Tune
In Ocarina of Time, a Skull Kid plays an impish, jolly melody on his flute as Link passes through the Lost Woods. Starting out as a carefree wander through the woods, in the last few bars an arpeggio creeps up and the tambourine's rhythm is interrupted as if we're now lost, and have stopped in our tracks to check to see if something's following us.
A simple but atmospheric song that does a lot with very little, it's hard not to hum along to this one or not get it stuck in your head for days after.
2 "Gerudo Valley" From Ocarina Of Time Inspired A Generation To Pick Up The Guitar
Emblematic of the Legend of Zelda series as a whole, this background music was no doubt the inspiration for many a Zelda fan to pick up the guitar. The fast tempo and flamenco feel of "Gerudo Valley" are just so distinctive.
Filled with castanets, Spanish horns, and flamenco guitar, it's a testament to the Japanese composer of the theme Koji Kondo that he could create such an original yet authentic-sounding Latin song.
1 "Dragon Roost Island" From The Wind Waker Is A Fan Favorite With Good Reason
It's not hard to see why "Dragon Roost Island" is such a fan favorite. It's catchy and memorable, with the main melody being played on the pan flute, which plays over a mandolin and castanets.
Dragon Roost Island is home to the Rito tribe, and since the Rito appear in Breath of the Wild, the theme "Rito Village" is somewhat of a reprisal or continuation of the theme that appeared in The Wind Waker.
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