Valor Lakefront – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum

About game/music

This is “Valor Lakefront” from the RPG game “Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum” released by The Pokémon Company.
The song is composed by Hitomi Sato.

This is the BGM that plays in the area leading to Lake Rishi, where there is a legendary Pokémon called Azelf.
It’s a bit lazy, but it gives you an image of a relaxing landscape.

Analyzing

bar 5~8:

• The beginning is II7-V7-I-VI7 (B7-E7-A-F#7), which is similar to ii-V-I-VI7 often used in jazz.
• At the end of the repeat, I7 (A7) is used instead of VI, leading smoothly to IV (D) in the next part.

bar 13~16:

• iv in major key (other Tabs include this)
  • one of the subdominant minor chords, which include b6th of main key.
  • It’s nostalgic or romantic.
  • Typically used following IV.
  • It’s borrowed mostly from parallel minor, but also from Mixolydian b6 or Harmonic Major (in this case, ivM7)
  • examples;
    • 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
    • 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

• IV-V-iii-vi, or variants (other TABs include this)
  • Very popular chord progression in Japan, called “王道進行”. It means “popular” or “typical”.
  • examples;
    • Re-Tail – Animal Crossing: New Leaf
    • Dogcheck – DELTARUNE Chapter 1
    • 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
    • Grass Land – Kirby’s Epic Yarn
    • Apt.102 – Kirby’s Epic Yarn
    • Abandoned Beach – Kirby and the Forgotten Land
    • A Home For Flowers (Empty) – OMORI
    • Challenge Go Go! – Pocket Card Jockey
    • Jazz Racing Jam – 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
    • Wedgehurst – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Battle! (Hop) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Wyndon – Pokémon Sword/Shield
    • Cobalt Coastlands – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
    • Purity of your smile – Ragnarok Online
    • Seaside Hill – Sonic Heroes
    • Dear My Friend – Sonic Unleashed
    • End Of The Summer – Sonic Runners
    • Guest Book – Tomodachi Life
    • Shop – UNDERTALE
    • Oh! One True Love – UNDERTALE
  • examples in minor key (in this case, bVI-bVII-v-i);
    • Blooming Villain – Persona 5
    • Battle! (Rival) – Pokémon Black2/White2
    • 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
    • Magical Snow Day – Sonic Runners
    • Desire Drive – 東方神霊廟 ~ Ten Desires.
    • 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 27~end:

• Tonic Pedal
  • The base is fixed to I.
  • The sound is controlled and stable, and has a bit of complexity. There is a suppressed elation.
  • other example are below.
    • Boat Buds – A Short Hike
    • Mountain Level/Yogurt Yard – Kirby’s Adventure
    • Song of Mana ~Opening Theme~ – Legend of Mana
      • it may not be called a pedal point because it is so short.
    • Rainbow Road – Mario Kart 7
    • Destination Unknown – Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
    • Clear Breeze – Skullgirls
    • The Cursed Ship – Ragnarok Battle Offline