One of the reasons, maybe THE reason, I started watching AoT was the music. At first it was just Sound/Linked Horizon's songs but once I started watching the show, I fell in love with the rest of the soundtrack.
But going back to LH, by looking at my @ it will come as no surprise to you that Jiyuu no Tsubasa is my favourite song from the series. It's just... everything it represents at the moment we first hear it... the hope of it all 🙂↕️. I get teary eyed when I'm listening to the other LH songs, like Shikabane, and I spot the fragment they've taken out from Jiyuu no Tsubasa. My whole brain hyperfocuses on that reference and how triumphant it is, just by nature, even in the middle of battle when nothing is certain. It kinda reminds me of the "advantage" themes used in videogames to tell you that you're winning (:
i've been rewatching the animated version of chapter 132 (for fanfic writing reasons at first... and then it got out of hands) and the music placement and use hit me so hard i decided to rant about it.
so, here is the scene (cut so it fits the tumblr size requirements, ugh), and under the read more link, a needlessly long and detailed list of parallels i've made between the music and the moment of the scene it played on. enjoy ig??
first off, i had to cut it but there's a distinct switch in the music when Floch dies and the Rumbling gets too close, violin and choir rising to convey the gravity of the situation. they go on as Armin, then Reiner, offer to stay behind and slow the Colossals down
the soundtrack goes crescendo when Hange interrupts our two blonde wannabee martyrs, picking up just as the wind gloriously shit sorry i'll limit my hange thirst in this post lifts up their cape, and the rhythm of the violin accelerates
the singing stops altogether and the melody gets slower and lower as Hange designates Armin as next Commander, leaving room for the significance of that statement that effectively cements their decision to go through with their plan
the tenors/bass voices start up again, louder than before, as Hange tells Armin they leave everything in his hands, and so does the Violin as they make their "supremely cool exit" and their Levi related joke. (so at this point, the violin theme is really starting to feel like it mirrors Hange's emotions, or at least the ones they're letting show. stay tuned for much, much more on that later)
strings then leave way for only low solemn chanting, fitting Hange's determined steps as they walk towards Levi
the second they stop and reply to him calling them out, everything STOPS. well, almost everything: the bass drum remains, punctuating the sound of the Rumbling far away, as they try to hide their feelings and beg him to let them get away with it
then, even the drumming stops as Levi lets that request sink in, a suspenseful moment when you wonder whether or not he's going to grant their wish and only the rumbling can be heard in the distant background. and still, when Levi says That Line and puts his fist on their chest (roughly when the bass drum would have hit, 3 bars after it last rang), no music. nothing that could disrupt this loaded moment between them, except for the heavy footsteps of the Titans that will cost Hange their life.
and then, when you think it can't get quieter, when the silence couldn't get more oppressive... even the Rumbling's noise fades away. completely. and as Hange forces on a smile and delivers their very last punchline to Levi, there's no sound but that of their voice and their steps -and soon, their gear propelling them away
bauklötze starts playing as they take off, backing them up as they face their opponents
and you know who makes a surprise reappearance right as Hange starts struggling with only one thunderspear left, grunting and flying between giant deadly legs, trying to find the best shot that'll give their friends the best chance at making it out of this alive? that's right, fellas. it's that damn Sir Violin back at it again with the suspicious timing
the intensity and height of the violin's pitches then start following Hange's vocal reactions like cues, and it picks up its pace right when the plane is ready to get moved (do we need yet another post making the parallel between that damned flying boat and Hange's character? we don't. am i going to keep talking about it in following points like it's just something the whole fandom agrees on? you betcha.)
our four stringed pal's notes keep going higher and higher, following Hange's movements as they slay their way through the Colossals
you know how high violins can get? those high notes that are so sharp they'd sound shrill if they were even an 8th of a tune off-key? that's how nearly unbearably high it gets right when Hange's cape catches fire
together, Hange and the plaintive violin (that so effectively translates their growing agony of getting slowly but surely burned alive) go on fighting for the next few seconds
until that ultimate moment, when Hange turns into a literal ball of fire. and you know what happens then, musically speaking? take a guess. take a wild fucking guess, my friends.
that's right. the violin dies off not unlike Hange themself fuck i'm sorry i had to
and then the plane takes off as the Alliance mourns their former leader who's slowly falling to the ground, and the violin as well as the singing voice both come back from the dead to accompany those opposing sights
interestingly, Levi speaking is the one other moment that interrupts the instrument again... as he addresses Hange.
...
you thought i was done, didn't you?
almost. but i can't not mention this, because it's oh so fitting, (unfortunately i couldn't include it here or the video would have been too heavy, but here's a link to that scene so you know i'm not making shit up)
because, see, then we get to see Hange waking up in the afterlife (or a very powerful neurotransmitter-fueled hallucination or [insert whatever hc floats your flying boat here]), and there's not a hint of music. not until Erwin confirms to Hange that they're done, dead, dunzo (get that ref?? where my parks people at)
and then the Cello, Violin's goth/angsty/chronically depressed cousin picks up as Hange realizes it's all over
of course they immediately shake off the sadness and joke instead, because that's what Hange does, isn't it? and as they do so, our overdramaric friend Violin makes a witty, playful comeback to match the happy front they're putting on -and say goodbye to us on Hange's behalf.
Oi guys! It’s gonna be my first time to write something about SNK especially to our loved boi, Levi-Heishichou. <3
You can hide your fear
We all know that no matter what goes on in SNK world, Levi only sometimes shows his true emotions. As I was carefully observing him in the manga, there are only a few times he was shown sweating, or sometimes not at all (sweat drips are very important to Isayama-san)
As the Red Swan lyrics goes on, it’s not just something coincidentally the lyrics shows at Levi’s frame. Our soft boi Levi, can be seen or shown in his face above that he looks kinda scared/worried/fear. I mean, it’s really tough to hide fear especially in SNK world.
Can lie my dear
Same goes with our kid Levi who shows a feeling of fear. I guess in my point of view, the lyrics speaks for Levi because Levi literally feels he has no shoulder to lean on. That’s why in this OST, somehow, something is telling Levi that someone is ready to lend their shoulders... (probably could be Mikasa because in this arc he’s gonna learn himself about him being an Ackermann) but still this is just my point babies
Stay on your path
You see here is a frustrated kid Levi struggling where to go. We all know or some of us know that Levi preserves humanity. The lyrics may be telling him to stay on his path (being a thug in the underground) or to change his path that may help humanity.
Envision your dreams
This part hits me the most, our kid Levi here is just shown kinda smiling but also kinda worrying/scared or just wanting approval. Kenny refers to him as his pride and joy, as he got the dream that Kenny wants for him, but Levi never know that.
So in this frame, Levi tries to seek approval from Kenny by showing him as he spins the dagger as a sign of: “Look, Kenny! I can do it better now!” :(
Levi, my boi... I promise I would risk my life joining the SC just to hug you.
And carry eternity as you
Last Levi frame. Obviously this is with Erwin. And maybe the most hurtful part.
Two same boys. But also two very different boys.
Erwin live the life of a comfortable kid inside the walls. Has enough food to eat. Has a parent to teach him.
Levi live the life of a trash underground. Has no food to eat. Has no parents to teach him. Thug here and there. Dirty and unclean.
But in one thing, they are the same. Shared the same dreams. Shared the same fate of a dying parent.
And in the picture, it was only Levi looking at Erwin. Erwin was always looking into something else. It is his hope for humanity. Levi may also have his hope for humanity, but that’s not what I see in him. Levi just wants to live a normal life. One with family, where he could share the laughter and joy.
The lyrics tell to carry the eternity because I believe his promise with Erwin is something he would accomplish till the day when it is finished.
So yeah, I was literally heartbroken when I made this blog. I mean, I just want to hug Levi.
So that’s it! I hope you liked it. It’s my own opinion about this, I am not claiming that what all I say is canon... I’m just trying to interpret it by feelings.
All pictures and words is from me, but I grabbed the crying Mikasa GIF.
Yes, Mikasa. Please comfort our dear Levi. He is such a sweetheart. Do the ACKERTALK please
To be honest I'm really scared the soundtrack for this season won't live up to the previous 3 soundtracks, specially since it's not made by Sawano. Which sucks a lot specially since this is rhe last season
I don’t think the new ost is the problem. Every new track has been just as good as Sawano’s in my opinion (I love all of them).
The problem is whoever is choosing which track to play for each scene, which I think is the sound director, is the one making poor choices. Not always, but it was definitley noticeable for this episode at the end.
