Route 26 – Pokémon Gold/Silver

About game/music

This is “Route 26” from RPG “Pokémon Gold/Silver”(1999 GBC, 2009 DS), developed by Game Freak, published by Nintendo.
This is composed by Go Ichinose.

“Pokémon Gold/Silver” is the 2nd generation of mainstream Pokémon game.
In this title, the adventure takes place in the Johto region, which is inspired by Kansai region in Japan.
Compared to the previous generation, the main changes were as follows;

• 100 new Pokémon
• New types “Steel” and “Dark”
• Time system (day/night)
• Pokégear
• Held items
• Genders and Eggs
• Shiny Pokémon

This song is used in the area of the area same name as song title.
It is the border between Johto and Kanto region, and is also the route leading to the Pokémon League.

Analyzing

bar 8

• bVI–bVII
  • Both are borrowed chords from parallel key (= A minor).
  • Often resolves to I or i, but here it resolves to vi to connect the flow of music.

bar 11-12

• The bass is moving up and down in octave intervals.
• It gives the impression of stepping forward strongly.

bar 13-16

• IV-V-iii-vi in major key, or bVI-bVII-v-i in minor key (other TABs include this)
  • Very popular chord progression in Japan, called “王道進行”. It means “popular” or “typical”.
  • examples (IV-V-iii-vi) ;
    • Re-Tail – Animal Crossing: New Leaf
    • Wind Scene – Chrono Trigger
    • Continent (Sakura) – Crystarise
    • Melodies Of Life～Final Fantasy – FINAL FANTASY IX
    • Phoenix Highway – Freedom Planet 2
    • Rainbow Resort – Kirby’s Adventure
    • Ripple Field 1 – Kirby’s Dream Land 3
    • Apt.102 – Kirby’s Epic Yarn
    • Abandoned Beach – Kirby and the Forgotten Land
    • A Home For Flowers (Empty) – OMORI
    • Raise the Hoof – Pocket Card Jockey
    • Jazz Racing Jam – Pocket Card Jockey
    • Road to Triumph – Pocket Card Jockey
    • Slateport City – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Route 104 – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Rustboro City – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Hearthome City – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • Route 203 – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • National Park – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Cianwood City – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Route 26 – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Accumula Town – Pokémon Black/White
    • Route 2 – Pokémon Black/White
    • Lacunosa Town – Pokémon Black/White
    • Floccesy Town – Pokémon Black2/White2
    • Castelia City – Pokémon Black2/White2
    • Battle! (Island Kahuna) – Pokémon Sun/Moon
    • Route 10 on Ula’ula Island – Pokémon Sun/Moon
    • Battle! (Hop) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Wyndon – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Cobalt Coastlands – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
    • The Veil of Night – Professor Layton And The Curious Village
    • Purity of your smile – Ragnarok Online
    • Seaside Hill – Sonic Heroes
    • Dear My Friend – Sonic Unleashed
    • End Of The Summer – Sonic Runners
    • Shop – UNDERTALE
  • examples (bVI-bVII-v-i) ;
    • Searching for Friends – FINAL FANTASY VI
    • Blooming Villain – Persona 5
    • Full Moon Full Life – Persona 3 Reload
    • The Battle at the Summit! – Pokémon Sun/Moon
    • Battle! (Ultra Necrozma) – Pokémon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
    • Battle! (Bede) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Battle! (Battle Tower) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Battle! (Arven) – Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
    • Battle! (Zero Lab) – Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
    • Illusionary White Traveler – 東方天空璋 ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons.
    • The Great Fantastic Underground Railway Network – 東方虹龍洞 ~ Unconnected Marketeers.

bar 18

• iv in major key (other Tabs include this)
  • Nostalgic, romantic, or “good old days”-feeling.
  • Typically used following IV.
  • One of the subdominant minor chords, which have b6th of main key.
  • It’s borrowed mostly from parallel minor, but also from Mixolydian b6 or Harmonic Major (in this case, ivM7)
  • examples;
    • Continent (Sakura) – Crystarise
    • Bloom – Outro – ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights
    • The King Lost in Time – Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City
    • Lonely Rolling Star – Katamari Damacy
    • Candy Constellation – Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
    • Big-Bean Vine – Kirby’s Epic Yarn
    • Costumes & Colors – Kirby’s Dream Buffet
    • Super Bell Subway – Mario Kart 8
    • Shopping in Wakeport – Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
    • Badges – Pikmin Bloom
    • Bye Bye There! – Pizza Tower
    • Dewford Town – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Rustboro City – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Fortree City – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Abandoned Ship – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Valor Lakefront – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • Hearthome City – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • Canalave City – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • National Park – Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Cianwood City – Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Route 26 – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Pewter City – Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Castelia City – Pokémon Black2/White2
    • Marine Tube – Pokémon Black2/White2
    • Iki Town (Day) – Pokémon Sun/Moon
    • Cobalt Coastlands – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
    • Levincia – Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
    • Clear Breeze – Skullgirls
    • Wave Ocean – Sonic the Hedgehog(2006)
    • Magical Snow Day – Sonic Runners
    • Oh! One True Love – Undertale
    • Temmie Village – Undertale