Despite some of Koichi Sugiyama’s radical political beliefs, he is one of my musical heroes. I recall turning on my NES as a kid just to leave the title screen running so I could hear his classic “Overture” from Dragon Quest. It’s one of my favorite tracks of all time, and still is able to move me with its simple yet elegant melody voiced by triumphant brass.
It came as a huge surprise then, when I read that it only took him 5 minutes to write. In a recent interview with Famitsu, Sugiyama noted that it took him only five minutes to prepare the iconic RPG title theme which has been featured in every sequel of the game to date. Falling back into modesty, however, Sugiyama noted that he already had 50 years of experience writing music by the time he crated the theme, and it therefore took 50 years and 5 minutes to write. I’m still amazed.
Do you think the Dragon Quest “Overture” has held up after all these years? Are you surprised that he was able to come up with the melody so quickly?w
[via GameSetWatch]
Tags: Dragon Quest, Koichi Sugiyama, News, Square Enix
Sometimes, the best music is very spontaneous.
I’ve never heard the Dragon Quest theme or its games’ music. I’ll have to rectify that sometime soon.
It’s just that finest creations do not depend on time. Just skillz.
The great composer, Franz Schubert, was famous for writing legendary songs in the time that it took just to write it out. But, as cool as it is, I don’t think it’s an indicator of how “good” a composer is, necessarily. Beethoven took a while on many of his pieces, for instance, but I doubt anyone would have the audacity to say he’s not one of the greatest composers of all time.
Music composition is based on what inspires you at the time. I read that Queen(Brian May to be exact) wrote the theme for Who Wants to Live Forever on the cab ride over to see the director.
So I think Sugiyama’s theme certainly holds up as a march for DQ series in the same way that John Williams’ Imperial March fits Darth Vader so well.
IMO these songs are timeless classics that will live on past their makers (assuming copyright rules don’t forbid us from hearing them freely)
I Love Koichi Sugiyama Honesty he’s My Hero I Love his Symphonic version of the Dragon Quest Overture it makes me Happy but when I Hear the where the Strings plays the sad part it makes me feel sad I’ve actually met him in 2007 his music means everything to me and i Miss him so much and it’s also amazing that he came up with The Dragon Quest Overture so quick I Love you Koichi Sugiyama your a musical genus
What are his political beliefs?