Well, I’ve been hinting at a huge surprise regarding Mitsuda’s work on Chrono Trigger for weeks, and here it is. I hope the build-up pays off! People who have played Chrono Trigger have always joked that “Robo’s Theme” was the first rick roll, so I thought I’d show the video to Mitsuda and ask him what he thought of the track.
I’m surprised to say that he was actually a good sport. I was expecting him to say, “Oh, interesting, I never heard that before.” Instead we get what sounds to be genuine surprise. Maybe we’ve made a fan of him?
See his response after the jump.
OSV: Mitsuda-san, please bear with me, as this is hard to explain even in English! There has been an Internet phenomenon in the United States called a “Rick Roll” where people send the following video to one another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
This is a big Internet prank or joke, and some game music fans have noticed how the background melody sounds similar to “Robo’s Theme” from Chrono Trigger, calling “Robo’s Theme” the first “Rick Roll.” It’s this big Internet joke. I was hoping you could comment about this, and about Rick Astley’s song? Do you think the video is funny?
Mitsuda: It certainly is the first time I’ve seen this. I’m surprised! That’s the first time I’ve heard of Rick Astley, and it’s interesting that such a phenomenon is happening in a different country. Thank you for your time!
So, that’s it. Was it everything you imagined? Maybe “Never Gonna Give You Up” will become the next karaoke craze in Japan.
[Special thanks to Justin Pfeiffer and Brad Rice for translation]
Tags: Chrono Trigger, Mitsuda, Prank, Rick Roll, Robo's Theme, Square Enix, Videogame, Videos
Not what I was expecting, but amusing nonetheless.
I wont’ be happy until Mitsuda remixes Never Gonna Give You Up and uses Robo’s theme as the instrumental.
I always loved Robo’s theme too. I love never gonna give you up too.
Looks like you got Kotaku’d. 😛
He probably didn’t think much of the video if he didn’t really tell you what he thought. It’s considered pretty impolite in Japanese culture to say something negative. “I’m surprised” is probably as close as you’d get to “Wow, that sucked.”
[…] last remaining Chrono Trigger mystery has finally been answered. Yasunori Mitsuda Gets Rick Rolled, Is Surprised (Original Sound […]
Now to inquire about Kirby’s relationship with Snoop Dog, as seen here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXzg0D-cKds
[…] noticed. The interesting part is the composer of the Chrono Trigger soundtrack, Yasunori Mitsuda, swears he never heard of Rick Astley before: “It certainly is the first time I’ve seen this. I’m surprised! That’s the first time […]
I’ve seen a vid online with robo’s theme synced together with the song. It came out really good, even catchy. Good to hear that Yasunori Mitsuda is a good sport.
[…] semelhança é tanta que a Original Sound Version foi falar com o autor, Yasunori Mitsuda para ver o que ele tinha a dizer. Confira a […]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF6L1Agbg_o&feature=related
Doesn’t line up as well as it did in my head. I suppose some things are better kept apart.
wonderful post))
А мне нравится этот блог, только авторам надо помнить , что посетители разные бывают. Короче учитывайте возростной ценс посетителей.
[…] na trilha sonora ficaria só na base da especulação. Até que o Jayson Napolitano, do site Original Sound Version, resolveu entrar em contato com Yasunori Mitsuda, o principal compositor da trilha sonora do jogo. […]