Azalea Town – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver

About game/music

This is “Azalea Town” from RPG “Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver”(2010), developed by Game Freak, published by The Pokémon Company.
This is originally composed by Go Ichinose(Twitter), who has participated in composing music since “Pokémon Pinball”(1999) as for the series,
and arranged by Shota Kageyama(Twitter).

Go Ichinose is known as a horse racing enthusiast, and is one of the planners (and composer) of “Pocket Card Jockey“(2013), also developed by Game Freak.

The game was produced as a remake of “Pokémon Gold and Silver”(2000).
Compared to the original, for example, the trainer’s strategy has improved and increased in difficulty.
In addition, there is now dedicated music for the battles against the legendary Pokémon, Ho-Oh and Lugia.
Compared to its previous title, “Pokémon Diamond/Pearl“(2007), there is additional features such as the possibility to take the first Pokémon in your possession out of a Pokéball and carry it with you.

Azalea Town is where the second gym is located, and the protagonist first encounters and fights Team Rocket at Slowpoke Well.

Analyzing

bar 4~5, 12~13, 19~20

• iii-III-vi
  • It has a strong relative minor feeling.
  • It evokes a sense of nostalgia.
  • examples;
    • Little Earth (Day) – Flying Neko Delivery
    • Littleroot Town – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
    • Eterna City – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
    • Azalea Town – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
    • Professor Kukui’s Theme – Pokémon Sun/Moon
    • Go Quickly! – Sonic Runners
    • End Of The Summer – Sonic Runners

bar 13~14

• line cliché (other TABs include this)
  • The chord is fixed and only a single voice part moves (basically).
  • The smoothness of the movement by semitone and the richness of emotion created by the notes not included in the main key.
  • It’s typical to start with I or vi in a major key, or i in a minor key.
  • It seems the chord isn’t same all the way through, but a inverted form of some other chord.
    • my Interpretation (example):
      • I-I/VII-I/bVII-I/VI ;
        • I-iii/5th-I7/7th-IV/3rd or
        • I-iii/5th-I7/7th-VI or
        • I-V/3rd-v/3rd(iiiø/5th)-VI …etc
      • i-i/VII-i/bVII-i/VI ;
        • i-V+/3rd-bIII/5th-IV/3rd
      • I-I+-I6-I7 ;
        • I-III+/5th-vi/3rd-I7
  • examples;
    • bass of I descends;
      • The Amazon – DuckTales
        • contains both patterns descending from I and from vi
      • From a Place of Love – Library Of Ruina
      • Poké Mart – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Route 110 – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Route 203 – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
      • Seaside Hill – Sonic Heroes
      • Go Quickly! – Sonic Runners
    • bass of vi descends;
      • Littleroot Town – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Azalea Town – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
      • The Battle at the Summit! – Pokémon Sun/Moon
      • Battle! (Hop) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
      • Mountain Travel East – Shantae and the Seven Sirens
    • bass of i descends;
      • Paths That Will Never Cross (Rain) – Fire Emblem : Three Houses
      • Nalao Lake – Freedom Planet 2
      • La Follia d’amore – Kirby Star Allies
      • MELTY BLOOD – MELTY BLOOD
      • Battle! (Island Kahuna) – Pokémon Sun/Moon
      • The Concealed Four Seasons – 東方天空璋 ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons.
    • 5th of I or i ascends;
      • The Reverberation Ensemble – Library of Ruina
      • Pass On – Limbus Company
      • Dewford Town – Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire