www.camineet.net - Phantasy Star Dream Soundtrack

I may have accumulated over 100 Dream Castings for Phantasy Star characters, but finding perfect theme songs for those characters -- or for the games themselves -- is somewhat harder. Herein, however, are the songs I have so far chosen to form my Phantasy Star Dream Soundtrack.

Most of these songs are from my favorite music genre, punk rock. Even if you're not a big fan of Ramones-influenced three chord punk, trust me, it would make a great soundtrack for Phantasy Star! (I should know, I listen to a lot of it while playing the games.) However, there's also some heavy metal and some "alternative" (a very overused label, in my opinion) herein, as well.

If these artists/songs are unfamilar to you, I encourage you to check them out. Go to a cool record store near you that lets you listen before you buy, or just buy these albums outright if you trust my taste in music. (And then there's always places like Napster, but of course, www.camineet.net officially discourages the dispicable practice of using the Internet to listen to music before you decide if you want to spend your money on it.)

Alis's Theme
"Hold On" by Green Day
Album: Warning

I searched for a long, long time for a song that could be Alis's Theme. I wanted a song that was about what I feel are Alis's two greatest traits -- determination and hope. I should have known that the greatest band in the world, Green Day, would come through for me.

As I stepped to the edge of the shadow of a doubt
With my conscience beating
Like the pulse of a drum that hammers on and on
Until I reach the break of day
As the sun beats down on the halfway house
Has my conscience beating
The sound in my ear, the will to persevere
As I reach the break of day

When you lost all hope and excuses
And the cheapskates and the losers
Nothing's left to cling onto
You got to hold on
Hold on to yourself

A cry of hope, a plea for peace
And my conscience beating
It's not what I want for, it's all that I need
To reach the break of day
So I run to the edge of the shadow of a doubt
With my conscience bleeding
Here lies the truth, the lost treasures of my youth
As I hold on to the break of day

When you lost all hope and excuses
And the cheapskates and the losers
Nothing's left to cling onto
You got to hold on
Hold on to yourself

Lassic's Theme
"My Poor Friend Me" by Bad Religion
Album: Recipe For Hate

I know a man who doesn't have many friends
I know a place he lives where trouble never ends
I know it's hard for him to read 'tween the lines
And his days are getting so much shorter

He simply turns away and dons a bitter frown
His world is crumbling, his ship is weighted down
He doesn't care as long as he can wear the crown
I know this man all too well

It's my poor friend me
A portrayal of the great dichotomy
It's my poor friend me
And I'm running out of steam

I know there are people who are cynical and vain
They point their finger cause they can't accept the blame
They live their lives under a blanket of shame
And their progeny crawl from underneath it

Lately I've come to see the solution
And it begins with me
But I'm so fallibly human
I've picked the lock but will not turn the key

Our people running scared we live, breathe and die
All too aware that time is slipping on by
We have solutions but don't even try
And I feel I know just who to blame

It's my poor friend me
A reminder of a tragic history
It's my poor friend me
And I'm running out of steam

Phantasy Star II Theme
"Desensitized" by Green Day
Album: Nimrod (Import versions only)

This song is about our modern-day information age, and since PSII-era Mota is the information age from hell, I find this tune very appropriate for that game. Hint: imagine some of these lines coming from Mother Brain, but others coming from Rolf.

Clenching my teeth tight
My head is like a sponge
Give it to me free

I wanna get ripped off
And drown in the airwaves
Another fatal wreck
On the information highway
So go ahead and kill yourselves
It all amuses me
For I'll be damned to spend my life in hell
Another wise ingrate

Bring me blood and pain
Of a stranger's fate
Give it all away
Give it to me now
I'm desensitized
I wanna watch the bomb
Blow the masses high

Bring me blood and pain
Of a stranger's fate
Give it all away

Rolf's Theme
"Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who

www.camineet.net reader Fistan suggested this song to me as Rolf's theme. At his suggestion, I sought it out, and I agree, it makes a great theme for Rolf -- and besides, shouldn't a hero of Algo have some Pete Townshend guitar riffs in his theme song? You're damn right he ought to!

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes

No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you

No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool

And if I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
And if I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes

Nei's Theme
"Butterfly" by Weezer
Album: Pinkerton

Site reader Psi3768610 suggested this to me as Nei's Theme and as with some other Dream Soundtrack suggestions I've received, I had to agree. This is another one of those Dream Soundtrack songs where if you can hear an actual recording of the song, rather than just read the lyrics, you'll understand so much more about why it's an appropriate choice. The song is played only with acoustic guitar.

Yesterday I went outside
With my momma's mason jar
Caught a lovely butterfly

When I woke up today
Looked in on my fairy pet
She had withered all away
No more sighing in her breast
I'm sorry for what I did
I did what my body told me to
I didn't mean to do you harm
Everytime I pin down what I think I want
It slips away - the ghost slips away

Smell you on my hand for days
I can't wash away your scent
If I'm a dog then you're a bitch

I guess you're as real as me
Maybe I can live with that
Maybe I need fantasy
Life of chasing butterfly
I'm sorry for what I did
I did what my body told me to
I didn't mean to do you harm
Everytime I pin down what I think I want
It slips away - the ghost slips away

I told you I would return
When the robin makes his nest
But I ain't never comin' back

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry

Neifirst's Theme
"Dinosaur Act" by Matthew Sweet
Album: Altered Beast

Yes, the album's name was inspired by the video game. This one was suggested on the Phantasy Star Discussion Board by fellow Matthew Sweet fan Myei. The two of us will now sing along...

Borne on a cloud, stupid and proud
I'm gonna take you back now
Cursed by the past, held under glass
I was too hard to shake down

And I'm coming back with my dinosaur act
Did you forget me baby after the fact
I'm telling you
I'm coming back with my dinosaur act
I still remember, baby, what we both lack
We both lack

Lost in the head, lost in your bed
I wouldn't call you lucky
You're getting old, ready to fold
You do not feel like fighting
Don't worry

'Cause I'm coming back with my dinosaur act
Did you forget me baby
After the fact (I'm telling you)
I'm coming back with my dinosaur act
I still remember baby what we both lack
We both lack
We both lack

I'm coming back with my dinosaur act
Did you forget me baby
After the fact (I'm telling you)
I'm coming back with my dinosaur act
I still remember baby what we both lack
We both lack
We now lack
We now lack
We now lack

Love Theme For Rolf and Nei
"Nothing Lasts" by Matthew Sweet
Album: Girlfriend

I've never really seen a romantic love between Rolf and Nei, but there was definitely a sibling love there, and that is the type of love I'm speaking of. Matthew Sweet is an awesome artist and this song is a beautiful acoustic guitar tune about love that's been lost, perfect for Rolf and Nei.

Nei

If one could stop time
Or make it up
If two could realize
The best of luck
If I could locate a God above
And you only wanted to be loved
Then I'd try to hang on to the past
But you know that nothing,
Oh no nothing lasts
Nothing lasts

It's time to move on
Let the past go
I've waited for you here
But you never showed
Although I asked you to let me know
I only felt a cold wind blow
While I tried to hold on to the past
But you know that nothing,
Oh no nothing lasts

Nothing's in your way
Now you can stand right up and run
Wouldn't even change things
If you took back what you'd done
I have tried to hang on to the past
But I couldn't keep my grasp
'Cause nothing lasts
Nothing lasts
Nothing lasts

Shir's Theme
"Been Caught Stealing" by Jane's Addiction
Album: Ritual de lo Habitual

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory.

I've been caught stealing once when I was five
I enjoy stealing, it's just as simple as that
Well, it's just a simple fact
When I want something and I don't want to pay for it
I walk right through the door
Walk right through the door
Hey all right!
If I get by, it's mine
Mine all mine!

My girl, she's one, too
She'll go and get her a shirt
Stick it under her skirt
She grabbed a razor for me
And she did it just like that
When she wants something and she don't want to pay for it
She walk right through the door
Walk right through the door
Hey all right!
If I get by, it's mine
Mine all mine!

We sat around the pile
We sat and laughed
We sat and laughed and waved it into the air
And we did it just like that
When we want something and we don't want to pay for it
We walk right through the door
Walk right through the door
Hey all right!
If I get by, it's mine
Mine all mine!

Lutz's Theme
"A Story at Three" by A.F.I.
Album: The Art of Drowning

For about as long a time as I searched for a theme song for Alis, I also searched for a theme song for Lutz. There just aren't a whole lot of artists today writing songs about extending your life for centuries in order to battle constantly returning monsters, ya know? There were a couple of songs on A.F.I.'s album Black Sails in the Sunset that I came this close to using as Lutz's theme, but none of them were perfect. Then they released The Art of Drowning, with this song, and I knew I had found Lutz's theme.

This song is perfect for Lutz not only because the refrences to "I" can refer to Lutz speaking of himself, but the refrences to "we" can apply to Phantasy Star II era Esper society, as well.

Again and again they blend into one
My father the morning pushes through my moonlight love
So what's sleep? (Sleep!)
I'm tired, so tired, so tired...
But it seems there's someone here with me

We are the wakeful, wry and watchful
We're awaiting deathless ones
We are the wakeful, wry and watchful
We're awaiting deathless ones

A story at three with the shrillest of cries
My mind fights with the sparkles in the corner of my eyes
So what's sleep? (Sleep!)
I'm tired, so tired, so tired...
But it seems there's someone here with me

We are the wakeful, wry and watchful
We're awaiting deathless ones
We are the wakeful, wry and watchful
We're awaiting deathless ones

I hear the morning choir sing to me their elegy...
I hear the morning choir sing to me their elegy...
So beautiful... They sing to me their elegy...
I hear the morning choir sing to me their elegy...

We are the wakeful, wry and watchful
We're awaiting deathless ones
We are the wakeful, wry and watchful
We're awaiting deathless ones

Requiem

Phantasy Star III Theme
"Cupid de Locke" by Smashing Pumpkins
Album: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

This is a song about love, and because one of the prevalent themes of Phantasy Star III is love, I feel the song works perfectly for the soundtrack -- especially the spoken word part at the end of the song, which might as well have been specifically written for PSIII, as far as I'm concerned. Besides the lyrics, though, there's also just something about the music that makes me think of PSIII.

Maia

Cupid hath pulled back his sweetheart's bow
To cast divine arrows into her soul
To grab her attention swift and quick
Or morrow the marrow of her bones be thick
With turpentine kisses and mistaken blows

See the devil may do as the devil may care
He loves none sweeter than sweeter the dare
Her mouth the mischief he doth seek
Her heart the captive of which he speaks
So note all ye lovers in love with the sound

Your world be shattered with nary a note
Of one cupid's arrow under your coat

And in the land of star crossed lovers
And barren hearted wanderers
Forever lost in forsaken missives and satan's pull
We seek the unseekable and we speak the unspeakable
Our hopes dead gathering dust to dust
In faith, in compassion, and in love

Lena's Theme
"I Can't Be With You" by The Cranberries
Album: No Need to Argue

This song is just heart-wrenching. It makes you feel like your heart's been ripped out and thrown down on the ground in front of you. I think it more or less perfectly sums up what Lena had to be feeling in the Ayn timeline, where Rhys leaves her -- and the entire world of Landen -- to stay with Maia in Cille.

Lying in my bed again
And I cry cos you're not here
Crying in my head again
And I know that it's not clear
Put your hands, put your hands
Inside my face and see that it's just you
But it's bad and it's mad
And it's making me sad
Because I can't be with you

Be with you, be with you...
Baby I can't be with you
Thinking back on how things were
And how we loved so well
I wanted to be the mother of your child
And now it's just farewell

Put your hands in my hand
We'll find another end
And come with me,
And my head, and my head
On anyone's shoulder
Cause I can't be with you
Be with you, be with you...
Baby I can't be with you

Cause you're not here, you're not here
Baby I can't be with you
Cause you're not here, you're not here
And baby I'm still in love with you

...Still in love with you

Alair's Theme
"Kinder Words" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Album: Question the Answers

"Kinder Words" is about making peace, and that is most definitely Alair -- one of the only residents of the Alisa III who wants to make peace between the Orakians and Layans.

No time now for losing tempers
Or filling up with rage or anger
Flying off the handle could be detrimental
Calmer heads are called for here
A breath or two could be applied
Count to ten and then decide
A rash decision, crash collision
Damage done beyond repair

Kinder words here we could pick
A kind approach might do the trick
Hurt you, hurt me, well that needs to stop
Kinder words here we could choose
We've kind of got a lot to lose
The temperature we need that to drop

A wrong move now might spell disaster
A selfish one might spell it faster
Let's relax, review the facts
For all involved that might be best
A world of difference might be made
If our next move could be delayed
We'll sort it out and we'll talk about
Just what it was that caused this mess

Kinder words here we could pick
A kind approach might do the trick
Hurt you, hurt me, that's the worst thing we could do
Kinder words here we could choose
We've kind of got a lot to lose
Watch what we say, don't walk away, we'll see it through

Chaz's Theme
"Bottom of the 9th" by Screeching Weasel
Album: Teen Punks in Heat

At first I was hesitant to use this song in the Dream Soundtrack because I felt the baseball refrences in the song made it "too Earthy," and not universal enough to be able to apply to characters in the distant Algo Star System. But then I realized that "The Bottom of the 9th" is a good analogy for the time in which Chaz lives, the time of Phantasy Star IV.

This song basically says that there comes to be a time where you just have to live your life, and it calls that time "The Bottom of the 9th." The time of the impending release of The Profound Darkness into Algo could basically be called "two outs in the bottom of the 9th," and it is most definitely at this time that Chaz needs to suck it up and live his life.

So in the end, I felt it felt it was perfect to use as Chaz's Theme, not despite the baseball refrences, but because of them.

You've gotta have love in your heart
And you've gotta have pain in your life
And you've gotta have some vision and confusion for some peace of mind
You've gotta respect what you can't control
'Cause you'll never even get to second base
When you're on your ass 'cause you got brushed back when you crowded the plate

You've gotta know when you're all fucked up
When you're running a cheap game on yourself
'Cause you're only gonna make life miserable for you and everyone else
If you wanna get into a zone
You're gonna have to take risks on either side
'Cause there's nothing worse than getting called out looking at the third strike...

...With two outs in the bottom of the ninth
You've gotta live your life
You've gotta live your life
You've gotta live your life
You've gotta live your life

Phantasy Star IV - Night of Alys's Death Theme
"Scattered" by Green Day
Album: Nimrod

The speaker in this song is Chaz; the "you" is sometimes Rika, but most of the time Alys. This song perfectly sums up the number of emotions Chaz was no doubt going through the night his mentor died.

Well I've got some scattered pictures
Lying on my bedroom floor
Reminds me of the times we shared
Makes me wish that you were here
'Cause now it seems I've forgotten
My purpose in this life
Now all the songs have been erased
Guess I learned from my mistakes

Open the past and present now and we are here
Story to tell and I am listening
Open the past and present and the future, too
It's all I've got and I'm giving it to you

Loose ends tied in knots
Leaving a lump down in my throat
I'm gagging on a souvenier
Lodged to fill another year
Well drag it on and on
Until my skin is ripped to shreds
I'm leaving myself open wide
Living out a sacrifice

Open the past and present now and we are here
Story to tell and I am listening
Open the past and present and the future, too
It's all I've got and I'm giving it to you

If you've got no one
And you've got no place to go
Would it be all right?
Could it be all right?

I've got some scattered pictures
Lying on my bedroom floor
Reminds me of the times we shared
Makes me wish that you were here
'Cause now it seems I've forgotten
My purpose in this life
Now all the songs have been erased
Guess I learned from my mistakes

Open the past and present now and we are here
Story to tell and I am listening
Open the past and present and the future, too
It's all I've got and I'm giving it to you
It's all I've got and I'm giving it to you

Zio's Theme
"Blackened" by Metallica
Album: ...And Justice For All

Blackened is the end
Winter it will send
Throwing all you see
Into obscurity
Death of mother earth
Never a rebirth
Evolution's end
Never it will mend
Never

Fire to begin whipping dance of the dead
Blackened is the end
To begin whipping dance of the dead
Color our world blackened

Blistering of earth
Terminate its worth
Deadly nicotine
Kills what might have been
Callous frigid chill
Nothing left to kill
Never seen before
Breathing evermore
Never

Fire to begin whipping dance of the dead
Blackened is the end
To begin whipping dance of the dead
Color our world blackened

Opposition... contradiction... premonition... compromise
Agitation... violation... mutilation... planet dies
Darkest color
Blistered Earth
True death of life
Termination... expiration... cancellation... human race
Expectation... liberation... population... lay to waste
See our mother
Put to death
See our mother die

Smouldering decay
Take her breath away
Millions of our years
In minutes disappears
Darkening in vain
Decadence remains
All is said and done
Never is the sun
Never

Fire to begin whipping dance of the dead
Blackened is the end
To begin whipping dance of the dead
Fire is the outcome of hypocrisy
Darkest potency
In the exit of humanity
Color our world blackened
Blackened

				My diodes haven't been this stiff since the last time I came out of stasis.

Please send all comments and feedback to mike at ripplinger dot us