Ever wonder what Sonic's singing voice would sound like?

[M.C.Dillinger]

Well too bad! But that's not the actual topic for this thread.

For the longest time I thought all vocal themes from Sonic games (except for E.G.G.M.A.N.) were horrible.
Recently, however, I changed my mind about "live and learn" and "open your heart" as well as the SA1 version of it " it doesn't matter." Now I think they are actually good songs that fit the characters/situation. I also forgot how hilarious the rap music from Sonic Adventure 2 was; I really don't remember it being so bad it's good.

[Obligatory question asking you about your favorite sonic vocal tracks]

[cjmcray]

I love pretty much all the vocal music to SA1. The SA1 version of "It Doesn't Matter" was way better than the SA2 version of the song.

Live and Learn is very overrated. One of my least favorite vocal tracks from the series.

It was really stupid and kinda funny how Sonic's lips were trying to be in-sync with "It Doesn't Matter" at the end of his game, as if he was really singing the song himself.

Some of my favorite vocal tracks would probably be..

Metal Overlord
I Am.. All of Me
This Machine
His World (I like the Orchestral bits.)
It Doesn't Matter (SA1 ver.)
Open Your Heart
My Sweet Passion (SA1 ver.)
Theme of Knuckles
Seven Rings In Hand
Endless Possibility
E.G.G.M.A.N
Theme of Team Rose (I know, what's wrong with me?)

I don't ever want a Sonic character to sing. Well, not Sonic anyway. Maybe Amy could have a comedic song about her love for Sonic. Make it like a music video, where Sonic is running around the world, trying to get away from her, but she keeps popping up again and again at every turn, ala the old Droopy cartoons. Sonic could maybe contribute to the song by talking (rhyming by accident with what's she's saying: "Face it, you and me, we we're meant to be!" "I don't know what you're talking about, Get away from meee!") Singing is something I think a person with a bubbly personality like Amy would do.

I wonder what Big's singing voice would sound like.

[FlashTHD]

I also forgot how hilarious the rap music from Sonic Adventure 2 was; I really don't remember it being so bad it's good.

None can escape the allure of the Fist Metal Crackle. Surrender.

[Neo]

The war began!
Earth-trembling fear!
Bold! Brave! And cold-hearted!
Distance grows closer
Little by little
Wow!
The power he possesses is incredible!
He doesn't stand a chance!

[Senbei]

Escape from the City is so much fun to sing, especially with a friend who can harmonize.

[Crisis]

def chaymba...
def chaymba...
def chaymbaaaa...

I have a weird soft spot for the Richard Jacques songs.

[Crowbar]

Neo, you have done a far better job of figuring out what those lyrics were than I've ever managed. (unless you just nabbed them from some lyrics site)

I actually always preferred the SA2 version of It Doesn't Matter, which I know is an unpopular opinion, though I can't really listen to any of that stuff anymore. Knuckles's rap themes do still have memetic value, however. I'm always up for some punkin in da alley.

[Neo]

Neo, you have done a far better job of figuring out what those lyrics were than I've ever managed. (unless you just nabbed them from some lyrics site)

Stardust Speedway:

Can't believe
In your dreams
They're gonna get you
Lots of trouble

Metallic Madness "B" mix:

You can't do anything so
Don't even try!
Get some help!

Don't do what Sonic does!

Sonic, dead or alive
Is m-m-m-mine!

Now, if you can get me the lyrics to Metallic Madness (Present), then I'll give you a hug and handyjay.

[j-man]

Can't believe
In your dreams
They're gonna get you
Lots of trouble

How'd you come up with this? The only part I remember is TURN IT UP GOOD GAAAAWD

[Pepperidge]

Can't believe
In your dreams
They're gonna get you
Lots of trouble

Wow... I think those ARE the lyrics. I never even thought to try and decipher actual words from this.

I think that Live and Learn and Escape from the City are the best vocal songs the series has had. I also like Fly in the Freedom, if only because I'm a fan of Rouge's music from SA2. Fast paced acid jazz definitely wasn't an unwelcome direction for the series' music.

[Neo]

How'd you come up with this?

There were these idiots at the Sonic Retro forum saying the words were "Egg's gonna kill you, Egg's gonna kill you, Egg's gonna kill you, oh no oh no" (seriously) which I found so deeply revolting that I spent a long time listening to that part of the song over and over until I came up with that.

Since I issued the Metallic Madness challenge I've actually been trying to solve it myself and I'm pretty damn close, so stay tuned!!!

I also like Fly in the Freedom, if only because I'm a fan of Rouge's music from SA2. Fast paced acid jazz definitely wasn't an unwelcome direction for the series' music.

Oh god. I've recently been listening to Sonic Adventure 2's soundtrack for the first time in a while, and I've fallen in love with I'm A Spy all over again. When the music breaks back into the horns with the tense organ backing it up around the minute mark, my brain has a pretty vocal orgasm.

[Blount]

There were these idiots at the Sonic Retro forum saying the words were "Egg's gonna kill you, Egg's gonna kill you, Egg's gonna kill you, oh no oh no" (seriously) which I found so deeply revolting that I spent a long time listening to that part of the song over and over until I came up with that.

I remember being linked to a topic on that forum where someone had posted the lyrics for the Sonic CD songs. The person in question made some fuss about the lyrics being written by their original author. They seemed pretty damn convincing, so I saved them into a text file, which I had forgotten about ever since. Can you confirm if these are real?

(CC)= Childrens Choir
(MET) = Spoken or sung in a mettalic voice
[ ] = Lyrics inside brackets are those in the background
--- = Drawn out or echoed sound
x = Sung or spoken multiple times during the song
(SCR) = Screamed
(!?) = Lyrics that aren't really words, but are sung sounds
(DP) = Spoken or sung in a deep voice
(SLW) = Spoken or sung slowly
~ ~ = Anything inside tilda signs is a background noise
... = Indicates music between lyrics


Palmtree Panic (Present)

Wooh! (CC)
Yeaaaaaahhhh! (CC) ...
Yeaaaaaahhhh! (CC)

Palmtree Panic (Good Future)

[Wooh!][Wooh!] Yeaaaaaahhhhh! (CC) ~clapping and cheering~ ...
Yeaaaaaaahhhhh! (CC) ...
Yeaaaaaaahhhhh! (CC) [Break time!] ...
Yeaaaaaaahhhhh! (CC)


Palmtree Panic (Bad Future)

Yeaaaaaahhhh (SLW)(MET)
Yea, Yea, Y,Y,Yeahhhh--- (CC)
Yea, Yea, Y,Y,Yeahhhh--- (CC)
Yea, Yea, Y,Y,Yeahhhh--- (CC)
Yea, Yea, Y,Y, [Wooh!] (CC)


Collision Chaos (Present)

3, 2, 4, Kick it!
x[Wow!] x[Yeah!]


Collision Chaos (Bad Future)

x[HUH!]


Quartz Quadrant (Bad Future)

Wha, How do I get outta this place (SCR)
Wha, How do I get outta this place (SCR)
Wha, How do I get outta this place (SCR)
Wha, How do I get outta this place (SCR)


Wacky Workbench (Present)

Hyea! (MET)(SCR)
Hyea! (MET)(SCR)
Hyea! (MET)(SCR)
Hyea! (MET)(SCR)
Hyea! (MET)(SCR)
Hyea! (MET)(SCR)
Hyea! (MET)(SCR)
Hyea! (MET)(SCR)


Wacky Workbench (Good Future)

Perfect takeoff, JUMP!


Wacky Workbench (Bad Future)

You bet, Y,Yus(!?) (DP)(MET)
For suggestion--- (MET)
You bet, Y,Yus(!?) (DP)(MET)
Youuu mix (DP)(MET)


Stardust Speedway (Present)

Get it right here! Get it right here!
Get it right here,
Your power stone,
Power stone
Get it right here! Get it right here!
Get it right here,
Your power stone,
Power stone ...
Hit it!
Turn it up! [Hit it!][Hit it!] Get down!
Yeah, yeahhh, yeeahh, yeah! ...
Get it right here! Get it right here!
Get it right here,
Your power stone,
Power stone
Get it right here! Get it right here!
Get it right here,
Your power stone,
Power stone ...
Turn it up! [Hit it!][Hit it!] Get down! ...
Hit it! ...
Highway to your star---


Stawdust Speedway (Good Future)

Yi, yi, yi, yu, wer, wur, wir, ee, ir (!?)
Yi, yi, yi, yu, wer, wer, wir (!?)
Wi, wur, wu (!?)
Yi, yi, yi, yu, wer, wur, wir, ee, ir (!?)
Yi, yi, yi, yu, wer, wer, wir (!?)
Wi, wur, wur, wu (!?)


Stardust Speedway (Bad Future)

Wer, ho, yeah (!?)
A, wer, hu, rer, hey, hey, yey (!?)
A, wer, ho, yeah (!?)
A, wer, hu, rer, hey, hey, hey, yey (!?) ...
Get Down!
x[Funk!] x[Get]
Get Down!
x[Funk!] x[Get]
Get Down!
x[Funk!] x[Get]
Get Down!
x[Funk!] x[Get]
Hit it!
Wer, ho, yeah (!?)
A, wer, hu, rer, hey, hey, yey (!?)
A, wer, ho, yeah (!?)
A, wer, hu, rer, hey, hey, hey, yey (!?)
Wer, ho, yeah (!?)
A, wer, hu, rer, hey, hey, yey (!?)
A, wer, ho, yeah (!?)
A, wer, hu, rer, hey, hey, hey, yey (!?)
You got the power! (SCR)


Mettalic Madness (Present)

Gyea, Kyea(!?), This place would here
Because of you, He's going through
Gotta get through, You know the deal
You got due, He's going through
Get yourself, Ready for life
That's the deal, So go. YO!
We outta here!


Metallic Madness (Bad Future)

Yeah! W,W,W,We outta here! (DP)(MET)
Haa, haa, ha, ha ,ha
Huu, huu, hu, hu, hu
Why--- (MET) ...
Haa, haa, ha, ha ,ha
Huu, huu, hu, hu, hu
You can't do anything, So don't even try it (DP)(MET)
Get some help (DP)(MET)
Don't do your sonic best (DP)(MET) ...
Haa, haa, ha, ha ,ha
Huu, huu, hu, hu, hu
Sonic, dead or alive (DP)(MET)
Is M,M,Mine! (DP)(MET)


Boss!!

Ey, hee, he, he, he, he, he
Wu, hoo, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
Work that sucker again, Come on now!
Work that sucker again.
Work that sucker again, Come on now!
Work that sucker again.
War would end, earth trembling fear!
Bold, Brave, and cold hearted!
The distance grows closer, little by little
WOW!
The power you possess is incredible!
He doesn't stand a chance!
Work that sucker again, Come on now!
Work that sucker again.
Work that sucker again, Come on now!
Work that sucker again.
H,He, H,He, H,He, H,He, H,He, He gives up the same time
Here we go!
Here we go!
Here we go!
Here we go!
Here we go!
Here we go!
F,F,F,Frame!
Hey,Hey, This time, Let me criketremastik(!?)
Now let me criketrematum(!?)
Work this, Work this, Work
Criketremastik(!?)
Criket,criketcriketremastik(!?)


Clear Stage

wuaaaaAHHHHHH!
Teleportation, Yeah!
wuaaaaaAH!
Zabadu bap dap(!?)


Invinsible!

4, 3, 2, 1 (MET)


Game Over

Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior (DP)(SLW)
Ohhhh, yeaaahh (DP)(SLW)
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior (DP)(SLW)


Bonus

Freeze ...
Freeze ...
Freeze---


Sonic, You Can Do Anything (Opening theme)

10, 10, Here we go again!
9, 9, Don't fall behind!
8, 8, Say don't be late!
7, 7, Destination heaven!
6, 5, So stay alive!
4, 3, Now its you and me!
2, 1, We're gonna have fun
Say Blastoff, HEY!
Excalibur, Its not that far
Whaddya make, Give and take
Flowin home, Time zone
Check out Egg, He's never alone
Leather and lace, Gettin' in place
Whaddya get say, Fast Jet
Doom Room, a cosmic zoom
Heads up Jake, ITS SONIC BOOM!!!
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior
Your hour is near at hand, you got the power to save the land---
Take a little chance! Slip on through!
You gotta survive, No matter what you do!
You gotta do for you
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior
The power is in your mind, to save the planet to conquer time---
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior
Deep in space and time
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior
Forever in your mind
Nothing can survive the will to stay alive, cause if you try--- you can do anything!
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior
Always takes a chance
Toot, toot, Sonic Warrior
Never says he can't
Nothing can survive the will to stay alive, cause if you try--- you can do anything!


Cosmic Eternity, Believe in Yourself (Ending theme)

wuaaaaAAHHHH!
Teleportation, Yeah!
wuaaaaAH!
Zabadu bap dap(!?)
wuaaaaAAHHHH!
Teleportation, Yeah!
wuaaaaAH!
Shubidubu(!?), Yeah!
In the air, Who's on your side?
Who can you trust, in the middle of the night?
Where will you be, if you can't find you?
There's no place to go, Nothing to do
If ya gotta do something, Ya gotta do something!
Believe in yourself, Yourself, Yourself, HEY!
Its stated anything can happen if you believe yourself---
You got to have some faith in yourself, if you want respect from your friends---
Don't rearrange, No need to change
Stay like you are, Keep it all the same
But as you move along, in your life
Keep an open mind, and don't forget
That if ya gotta do something, gotta do something
Believe in yourself, Yourself, Yourself, HEY!
Its stated anything can happen if you believe yourself---
You got to have some faith in yourself, if you want respect from your friends---
When you feel tired, look at yourself
Inside your heart you will find a special place to unwind
When you feel fright, look at yourself
Inside your mind you will see, Cosmic Eternity--- ...
When you feel tired, look at yourself
Inside your heart you will find a special place to unwind
When you feel fright, look at yourself
Inside your mind you will see, Cosmic Eternity---
When!

Sorry for the huge-ass quote, but phpBB doesn't let me attach .txt files.

Oh, and apparently, whoever wrote those didn't know some of the boss samples actually say "work that sucker to death".

[Neo]

The person in question made some fuss about the lyrics being written by their original author.

Stardust Speedway (Present)

Get it right here! Get it right here!
Get it right here,
Your power stone,
Power stone

Hahahahaha yeah right.

This one was also present in the aforementioned Retro topic. Even without taking my guess into consideration, just listen to the song yourself. Does it sound like the same thing being said three times in a row? Of course not. These are all fanwank.

Here's my jab at Metallic Madness. I still don't like the first line, doesn't seem to fit, but I honestly can't figure out anything better.

Forget this place again
Catch that dude, he's going for you!
Gotta get through, you know the deal!
Look out dude, he's going for you!

Get yourself ready for a fight
'Cause this dude is super!
Yo! We're outta here!

The boss loop is indeed "work that sucker to death", just as you said, which further puts a nail in those lyrics' authenticity. I very much doubt that they wrote and recorded all those tiny snippets specifically for Sonic CD, most of them are probably lifted from obscure sources. Then again, there's the MM "B" mix oddball with the clear reference to Sonic and the intro song (You can't do anything, so don't even try!).

For what it's worth, here' my interpretation of the opening and ending songs.

Sonic - You Can Do Anything:

10, 10
Here we go again!
9, 9
Don't fall behind!
8, 8
Say "don't be late"!
7, 7
Destination: Heaven!
6, 5
Stayin' alive
4, 3
That's you and me!
2, 1
We're gonna have fun
Say "Blastoff!"
Hey!

Excalibur! It's not that far...
Whaddaya mean!? Give and take!
Goin' home! Time zone!
Check out Egg, he's never alone!

Leather and lace, kickin' his booty!
What do you get? Say "fast jet!"
Doom Room Cosmic Zoom!
Heads up, Jake, it's Sonic Boom!

Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
Your hour is near at hand
You've got the power to save the land

Take a little chance, slip on through, you gotta survive!
No matter what you do you gotta do it for you!

Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
The power is in your mind
To save the planet and conquer time

Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
Deep in space and time
Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
Forever in your mind

Nothing can survive
The way you steer life
'Cause if you try,
You can do anything

Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
Always takes a chance
Toot Toot Sonic Warrior
Never says he can't

Nothing can survive
The way you steer life
'Cause if you try,
You can do anything


Cosmic Eternity - Believe in Yourself (of which Zone Clear is a subset):

Waaarp...
Teleportation, yeah!
Waaarp...
Sahdahdoo dat dat!

Waaarp...
Teleportation, yeah!
Waaarp...
Shebeedee boo yah!

In the end, who's on your side?
Who can you trust in the middle of the night?
Well, where would you be if you can't find "you"
There's no place to go, nothin' to do

But if you gotta do something, gotta do something
Believe in yourself, yourself, yourself! Hey!

Extraordinary things can happen if you believe in yourself
You've got to put some faith in yourself if you want respect from your friends

Don't rearrange, no need to change
Stay like you are, keep it all the same
But as you move along in your life
Keep an open mind and don't forget

That if you gotta do something, gotta do something
Believe in yourself, yourself, yourself! Hey!

Extraordinary things can happen if you believe in yourself
You've got to put some faith in yourself if you want respect from your friends

When you feel tired, look at yourself
Inside your heart you will find a special place to align
When you feel right, look at yourself
Inside your mind you will see
Cosmic Eternity

EDIT: I didn't even read the versions you posted! Let's compare them!

[Neo]

Stupid edit limit.

Nothing can survive the will to stay alive, cause if you try--- you can do anything!

This line actually has some merit. Listening closer I can clearly hear Keiko Utoku saying a very Engrish "arive", meaning this one is probably right.

Its stated anything can happen if you believe yourself---

hahahahaha OFFICIAL LYRICS.

Other than that it's pretty close, but I'm gonna trust my ears when it comes to tie-breakers.

[Rob-Bert]

This entire topic sums up why I don't like the JP Sonic CD soundtrack.

[Crazy Penguin]

Can't believe
In your dreams

Wow! In my head it was "energy, is your key".

[j-man]

This has bothered me for a while.

Leather and lace, Gettin' in place

No no no no no listen to it

[Crowbar]

Yeah, it's very clearly "Leather and lace, gets him horny". It's like the only clear lyric out of that segment to my ears, haha.

[Blount]

These are all fanwank.

Aw. Well, that's a shame. I'm generally terrible at making out the lyrics in songs, let alone when they're sung in broken Engrish with all sorts of background noise going on.

In response to the original post, I think Sonic just works better with instrumental songs. However, I do think Sonic CD is a great compromise. The voices are there, but (outside the opening and the ending) it's hard to pay attention to what the hell they're saying. They act more like musical instruments, which I like.

As you can probably guess, I think the lyrics in most Sonic songs are absolutely dreadful. The singers suck, too.

[Crowbar]

Okay, this is only sort of tangentially related, but it was far too surreal an experience for me not to want to post it here. I just loaded up a VOD for the World Cyber Games Starcraft 2 finals in Korea, and the incidental intro music being used was... well, listen yourself. I did quite the double-take, to say the least.

[Tsuyoshi-kun]

I already know what Sonic's singing voice sounds like. It sounds like this.

On a serious note - I like Unknown from M.E (both versions), Live and Learn, What I'm Made Of, Fly Into the Freedom, E.G.G.M.A.N., This Machine, Throw It All Way, This World, and anything with vocals from the Japanese Sonic CD soundtrack.

[Popcorn]

How'd you come up with this?

Oh god. I've recently been listening to Sonic Adventure 2's soundtrack for the first time in a while, and I've fallen in love with I'm A Spy all over again. When the music breaks back into the horns with the tense organ backing it up around the minute mark, my brain has a pretty vocal orgasm.

Yeah, this is a great, underrated track. I'm not really the kind of loser who has many game soundtracks on his iPod, but I'm a Spy and Red Hot Skull are regular guests.

[P.P.A.]

 While I appreciate some of them (E.G.G.M.A.N., for example), my bias against music with vocals is strong, and the very modern (rock, pop, hip‐hop) direction of most of the theme songs in the series prevails, barring—besides of course Sonic CD's vocal songs in both versions of the soundtrack—Dreams of an Absolution, and, curiously, Live & Learn, despite my aversion towards 90% of anything sporting electric guitars.
 However, when it comes to in‐game music with vocals, things look different. I love Sonic R's soundtrack with its charming melodies and its cheesy and repetitive but still very endearing lyrics. Of all the tracks only Super Sonic Racing I would not miss much, many others however—especially Diamond in the Sky, Number One, and Living in the City—I find most appealing, and also quite befitting of this racing game. If I imagine playing Sonic R with the usual Mega Drive‐era chiptunes, it would feel quite off when it comes to pacing and atmosphere; something speedy with noisy guitars however would contrast with the game's rather laid‐back pace. Thus, what we have here seems optimal to me. It's just too bad that the races are usually finished before T.J. Davis even starts singing.
 Sonic Adventure 2 also sported many catchy tracks. The background music in Knuckles' levels combine atmospheric to groovy instrumentals with a certain 70s/80s flair with rap lyrics so bad they're good again already, and though I would love official off‐vocal mixes of all of them, they are still very listenable as they are, and appropriate to the gameplay. And his counterpart's—Rouge's—tracks, if you want to consider them vocal songs, make for probably the catchiest spy songs I've ever heard.