The Legend of Zelda franchise has many aspects that make it iconic and memorable: the characters, the imagery, Tingle. But probably the most well known thing about the series is something that’s not seen, but heard.

From the composer Koji Kondo, who wrote the music for every major LOZ console game, Zelda’s themes are well known even those who have never picked up a game controller in their life know where they come from. And from the first game on, the music has evolved and expanded. It’s undeniably some of the best music in a video game franchise. So good in fact that you can play it backwards and it still comes out magical to the ear drums (Skyward Sword’s intro for those wondering).

So many musicians and music lovers enjoy it so much, they decided to make their own variations of the music within copy write means. There are parodies, variations, and remixes galore out there. But who out there is dedicated to Zelda’s sound? Here are some noteworthy groups and people you might want to check out for a musical change up:

Funded by Nintendo and Jason Michael Paul Productions, the symphonic group started in 2013 and are still on tour. Check out their website if you want a schedule and their “set list”. This group travels all over the world and always has a unique and elaborate venue, so it’s worth seeing if you are into orchestrated music. Zelda Williams hosted the first show in L.A. Sadly, they play in major cities only.

Smooth McGroove– Youtube, iTunes

Yeah, I know, it’s one of those One-man-acapella deals…*sigh* So many more people are performing these and showing them off on YouTube nowadays. It almost feels like a gimmick for a instant claim to internet fame, and most lack the talent or training to even sound anywhere close to good.

But I have to say, this guy is a huge exception.

He does it all: Sonic, Mega-Man, Mario, Final Fantasy, Metroid. But my favorite? Zelda of course! He almost naturally sounds digital with his range of pitch and tone, and he plays off it so well. He’s entertaining to watch, and always posts a picture or video in the middle of his multiple selves to show you where the song is from. My favorite Zelda tune of his is hard to pick, but the most impressive has to be Lost Woods and the Main Theme. What he does to get the sounds right with just his mouth and hands is amazing to see. His cat also has cameos in the videos.

Though acapella can be more annoying than dub step if listened to for long and short periods of time, this guy makes the experience enjoyable and jam worthy. And speaking of dupstep…

Exphia and Zedd Dubstep Remixes – Youtube [/divider]

Not everyone is into dubstep and can find it annoying and repetitive. My own musical tastes strays from that category. But these particular remixes by artists Zedd and Exphia meld the melodies, the digital vibes, and original sound effects from the games into a satisfying experience. If you are in the need to feel adventurous, I’d recommend Exphia’s Song of Storms and Gerudo Valley and Zedd’s Main Theme Mix. Easiest way to find them is on Youtube.

It’s creative, upbeat, and a whole different spin on classic Zelda themes. One thing I do find fun is that in Exphia’s Lost Woods remix, instead of saying “Drop”, it’s N’avi crying “Listen!’.

There are some great independent groups on iTunes that rock classic video game themes. It’s hard to pick just one. Some music groups are better at specific games than others. Daniel Tidwell is best with Castlevania themes while Metroid Metal, well, is just that and they do awesome at it. Motchroid127 does well with a wide variety and his Zelda medley is pretty sweet to a rocker’s ears. But don’t get me started on Ducktale’s The Moon track. EVERYONE and their BROTHER has covered that one. Zelda wise, Mat Graham’s Song of Storms and Year 200X’s Zelda 2 Medley has me rocking out when I am working or playing on my console or PC. But for a great Zelda track, Retro Remix 2’s Gerudo Valley wins it for me.

And no wonder. All the instruments they use are the real deal. The percussion, guitar, and trumpets are all in studio along with a little digital noise and editing. They also put their own melodic spin on it so it’s not completely repetitive. If you want memories of getting thrown in jail by a band of ninja women, this track is for you.

But if you enjoy other video game titles, check out their other tracks. my personal favorite that calms me down is their Super Mario 64 Dire Dire Docks. Some tracks they do I am surprised to admit are BETTER than the originals.

The bad news: Their main news page is done because they are so busy.

The good news: The site is still up and has downloads available on their music tab. Downloads of what, you ask? EVERY. SINGLE. GAME’S. SOUNDTRACK. When they originally started in 2004, they began with the oldest of the game titles to work on. From there, they reached up to the beginning of Skyward Sword before putting the website on hiatus. Their goal: to perform all the games major masterpieces with a full orchestra. They even have battlescapes and soundscapes to put you into the scene no matter where you are or what you are doing. Out of all the independents I have listened to, they are by far the most impressive.

I have everything downloaded. I love it all. But if I had to pick some favorites, it would be Song of Healing, Temple of Time, Dancing Dragon Dungeon, Wind Waker End Credits, and Nayru’s Theme.

But if you download, please donate. It helps the future of their site and music! Oh, and check out the buttons at the top header of the site’s home page. It’s a secret to everybody…

Want more music to choose from? Check out the web site called RadioHyrule.com. They have all the above mentioned and even more artists to discover!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some rocking out to do…

Article written by Danielle Fryling, a guest contributor to The Hidden Triforce. If you would like to contribute to The Hidden Triforce, please click here.