Zelda Fans Have Made Their Own Hyrule Christmas Album
Light the fire and grab your Ocarina of Time because some gaming fanatics have released a Zelda Christmas album. When you're full up on mince pies and full up of listening to Michael Bublé's festive tunes on repeat for the millionth time this year, why not head over to Hyrule with some jolly jaunts from everyone's favourite Hylian?
As the race for Christmas No. 1 heats up and you're bored of seeing the same manufactured pop bands vying for pole position, take some time away from the buzz of modern music and enjoy a mashup of melodic Zelda songs with classic carols. Only in a year as topsy-turvy as 2020 could such a hybrid exist, but we've got to admit, we're totally here for it.
Zelda Christmas album: What is it?
Since 1986, Zelda games have become a staple of Nintendo consoles, meaning there's been a tonne of music that has defined this adorable adventure franchise. Even if Zelda herself isn't the shining star atop the tree of the games, her name carries a legacy with it. Only recently, we've seen the release of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity to push the series forward into a new era.
"A Merry Hyrule Christmas" is produced by Eric Buchholz and video game music label Materia Collective. Buchholz is no stranger to Zelda music and was the man behind the epic hour-long "Hero of Time" album. There are eight tracks in total, featuring a revamped version of the Ocarina of Time theme with "O Holy Night" and a Zelda-themed take on "The Twelve Days of Christmas". A particular highlight has to be "Din Rest Ye Merry Deku Scrubs".
If you're already sold, here's the full tracklist:
- "Kakariko Village"
- "O Sacred Light"
- "Clock Town Sleigh Ride"
- "Silent Knight"
- "Carol of the Goddess"
- "Dragon Roost Hymn"
- "Din Rest Ye Merry Deku Scrubs"
- "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
In a statement, Buccholz said, "A Merry Hyrule Christmas is the first album to combine music from The Legend of Zelda franchise with classic holiday tunes of various genres. We have Zelda music with a Christmas twist, as well as Christmas music with a Zelda twist!
"My goal was to create an album of videogame music that could blend in seamlessly with classic holiday tunes. I love the idea of folks being able to ‘trick’ their parents, grandparents, and family into listening to videogame music—without them realizing it!”.
There's something charming about Zelda games and Christmas that go hand-in-hand. Given that consoles and games are a popular choice of present on December 25, we're sure many of you have fond memories, sitting down on Boxing Day and exploring the latest Zelda game in all its expansive glory. Although earlier games skirted around the seasons, later additions like Breath of the Wild sprinkled the map with snow to turn it into a winter wonderland. Imagine sticking on "A Merry Hyrule Christmas" and strolling off to Mount Hylia in your snow boots.
While we wait for the eventual release of Breath of the Wild 2, listening to "A Merry Hyrule Christmas" is a great way to pass the time and get in the festive spirit with some of the beloved series' most iconic songs. Still, we're sure everyone is asking where's "Midna's Lament" from Twilight Princess?
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Images via Materia Collective | Nintendo