Kingdom Hearts Covers that Celebrate the Series
Via Disney & Square Enix
The Kingdom Hearts series has an enchanting collection of soundtracks throughout its 18-year history, and with Melody of Memory, we can relive some of those greatest moments. Today, I want to recap some of the excellent Kingdom Hearts tracks from the cover community that brought us to a Sanctuary “where fears and lies melt away.”
“Traverse Town” by Bassoonify
This theme is very nostalgic for those who have played Kingdom Hearts 1 over and over again. It’s the first world that Sora explores in the series, and the character of the bassoon in this familiar track by Bassoonify brings a welcoming personality. Bassoonify’s version of the song plays around with the theme in inventive ways and blends both the Dream Drop Distance version and “Hand in Hand” with it seamlessly. The warm, deep woodwind of the bassoon gives the song an almost holiday feeling as we get closer to December.
“No More Bugs” by Project Destati
This underrated battle theme from Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded was given a new lease of life within Project Destati’s Darkness album. The melody is exciting with a vibrant oboe, and the tuba in the background signifies an overwhelming villainous presence in the datascape. There’s a lot going on with strings, electronic elements, and a choir, but this track gives you a needed reprieve that has a resting element, flowing so well into the theme, “Wonder of Electron.” The subtle choir, the magical twinkle of the percussion, and a heavy piano focus during this section made it sound very Shimomura-esque. Then, there’s a crescendo as all of these elements come together to create an outstanding finish.
“Lazy Afternoons” by Charles Ritz
This jazz version of treasured Kingdom Hearts track “Lazy Afternoons” by Charles Ritz and his friends is a delight. This cover cherishes the chill vibe the world theme is going for, but like Bassoonify’s cover of “Traverse Town”, it steers off into some wonderfully creative turns. This more uptempo take has some amazing jazzy solos that any Kingdom Hearts music fan should listen to. They all respect the original, but they are some tasty jams that will leave you wanting more. With a song that you’ve listened to literally hundreds of times, it’s nice to hear an all-new version that doesn’t wreck the original context. This cover is criminally underviewed, so give it a listen.
“Vector to the Heavens” by ViolinGamer
This version of “Vector to the Heavens” from Kingdom Hearts 3 is exciting, and ViolinGamer nailed the epic scale of the track with almost two months of work on this bad boy. In total, 14 musicians came together to create this powerful cover. “Xion’s Theme”, an emotionally charged piece from 358/2 Days, is present within the track through the riveting strings players; it is also featured in a quick break from the action, thanks to a wonderful blend with “Dearly Beloved”. This cover features rambunctious drums laying down the drama of the battle, and the rocking guitars that elevate the piece even further. It all comes together to create an outstanding cover of an already incredible song.
“Dearly Beloved” by Patti Rudisill and Paula Bressman
The harp and the song “Dearly Beloved” are like peanut butter and jelly or in Kingdom Hearts terms, like two sides of a paopu fruit. It’s a match made in heaven. When you listen to this cover by Patti Rudisill and Paula Bressman, everything feels right in the world. The harp brings a sense of ease and calmness, while the violin gives an emotionally powerful melody. It sounds deeply inspired by Birth By Sleep’s take on the main theme with its dramatic violin forward presence, but the harp levels it off with a beautiful sense of sincerity. Both of the musicians harmonize perfectly in this enchanting cover of “Dearly Beloved”.
“Aqua’s Theme” by The Consouls
Aqua has a tough journey throughout the whole Kingdom Hearts series, and The Consouls do a great job of portraying her sad turn of events in Birth By Sleep. This cover doesn’t alter Yoko Shimomura’s original intent as it takes you down a riveting journey down memory lane with the keyblade master. Zorsy plays a wonderful piano backdrop to the track while Tim Teylan tells a phenomenal story with the saxophone. This version of the song is haunting to listen to if you have the time to check it out!
“Rage Awakened” by Ferdk
One of the most epic boss battle themes in Kingdom Hearts history was covered incredibly well by Ferdk. The Lingering Will was a tough fight on its own, but the metal version of the track ups the ante. The solo in the middle sounds absolutely fantastic within an already outstanding track. The drums are solid too and fit the metal aesthetic that Ferdk is going for. It also has small references to “Terra’s Theme” within the bass guitar if you listen for it—very nice touch!
“Toy Box Jam” by Brandon Skelton and Eric L.
The Toy Box in Kingdom Hearts 3 held the most exuberant battle theme in the game with a vibrant melody and a cacophony of wind instruments and drums that would make any frown go upside down. Brandon Skelton and Eric L used all sorts of instruments for this upbeat cover, including a xylophone, tambourine, piano, and multiple brass types to bring it all together. It sounds fantastic, and it will brighten your day!
CHRIS PENWELL
Chris Penwell is a writer and podcaster who loves to talk about video game music. His favorite soundtracks are from the Kingdom Hearts series, Celeste, Beyond Good & Evil, Gravity Rush, and Final Fantasy X. You can check out his hilarious gaming podcast Active Quest every Monday!