Top Ten: Zelda Tunes

Time to ignite the flame wars as Katharine counts down her top ten Zelda ditties.

By Katharine Byrne. Posted 09/04/2012 10:00 5 Comments     ShareThis

1. Fi’s Theme

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

She may be one of my least favourite companions in the Zelda series, but there are few words that adequately describe the quiet majesty of Fi’s Theme from Skyward Sword. There are several variations of this which play throughout the game, but the one I’ve chosen above is by far the most poignant and the most heartfelt.

It plays just after Link’s placed the Master Sword in the Sealed Grounds pedestal, and for a moment it seems like Link must return to his own time without saying goodbye to his old friend. But just as he turns away, Fi reappears and delivers one last message before she enters her eternal slumber.

“I do not have the capability to fully understand the human spirit,” she says, “but now, at the end of my journey with you, as I prepare to sleep within the Master Sword forever, I experience a feeling I am unable to identify. I lack sufficient data to be sure of my conclusion, but I believe this feeling correlates closest to what your people call…happiness.”

“Before I enter the sleep that calls me to the sword, I wish to relay to you words that I have recorded many times over the course of our journey. Many have said them to you thus far, but now I wish to say them for myself… Thank you, Master Link. May we meet again in another life…”

And then, just like that, she’s gone, her theme slowly fading from existence along with the glow of the Master Sword. In many ways, it’s just as sad as the demise of the King of Red Lions, but what makes this particularly tragic is the fact that, after twenty five years of Zelda games, we know that Fi will never get her final wish. It’s an incredibly powerful and moving moment, but to borrow Fi’s turn of phrase, there’s a 99.9% probability that the origins of such spirited feelings can be scientifically traced back to this beautiful piece of music– and that’s why it’s at number one. Tunes like Dragon Roost Island and the Dark World Theme may get your blood going, but few melodies can claim to hold such a vice-like grip over your heartstrings, and if you didn’t have even the smallest lump in your throat while watching this scene, then you need a soul transplant stat.


So there you have it, folks– the top ten Zelda tunes as decreed by your friendly Co-EIC. I hope you enjoyed the list, and apologies if your favourite track didn’t make it, but if you think I missed one out then make sure you sound off in the comments below!

Honourable Mentions go to…


Ballad of the Goddess and Crimson Loftwing from Skyward Sword


Return of the Ocean King from Phantom Hourglass, Bolero of Fire from Ocarina of Time and Stone Tower from Majora’s Mask.

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5 Responses to “Top Ten: Zelda Tunes”

  • 1558 points
    penduin says...

    Great list! I don’t think I could pick 10, there’s just been so much great music in the Zelda series. Zelda 2’s warbly “instrumentation” (if you can call it that) bugged me when I was young, but I’ve come to appreciate it and it made me smile to see its main palace music on the list.

    I’d love to hear a modern take on the original Zelda’s Level 9 music. Many previous dungeon themes have resurfaced in one way or another but unless I’m forgetting something, I can’t say I’ve heard that particular melody of dread and danger come up again.

    • 7 points
      Katharine Byrne says...

      Thanks! Ah, yes, Level 9. Man, that music’s creepy. It did, in fact, reappear in Four Swords Adventures in the Tower of Flames, but I know what you mean – it would be great to hear it used more often! :)

  • 1244 points
    lukas85 says...

    My 10 favorites in no particular order.

    1. Main Hyrule field theme
    2. Gerudo valley
    3. Temple of time
    4. Fairy fountain
    5. 4 gods from majoras mask
    6. Bolero of fire
    7. Ballad of the goddesses.
    8. Song of healing
    9. Ganondorf thheme from Twilight Princess
    10. Serenade of water.

    • 7 points
      Katharine Byrne says...

      All great tunes, Lukas! I was actually this close to including Queen Rutela’s Theme from Twilight Princess in the honourable mentions (a re-working of the Serenade of Water), but if I decided that if I included any more then I’d have a never-ending list!

      I’m also a very big fan of Ganondorf’s Theme, especially the Twilight Princess version (that final battle music is just epic!), but it’s a close tie between that one and The Last Battle from Ocarina of Time when it comes to my top Ganon music!

  • 1558 points
    penduin says...

    Woah, I completely forgot about the Four Swords Adventures rendition! I think I played through that level exactly once… Thanks for the tip! :^)

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