NOT WHAT I NEEDED: YOU GOT YOUR RIC OCASEK IN MY EARTHBOUND EDITION
The bigger story here: trusted sources tell Starmen.net — clearinghouse for all things pertaining to SNES cult hit series Earthbound — that the game’s spring 2008 ESRB rating was not a sign it would be hitting the Wii’s Virtual Console, but was, literally, “a mistake,” and that the game is seemingly inextricably bound in a legal battle because of copious pop culture references and samples Nintendo of Japan is stubbornly refusing to allow Nintendo of America to fix.
(The question unanswered: what about the “time and circumstances” make now the moment for Starmen to let this out of the bag?)
But of more pertinent interest: which references and samples, exactly? To that end, Starmen spinoff blog Earthbound Central has put together a list of some of the most unexpected samples hidden deep within Earthbound‘s soundtrack.
A sampling: background clicks and synth pads from Ric Ocasek’s ‘Keep on Laughin’ show up in the Moonside area theme, ‘Jackie’s Cafe’ contains warped bits of both the Little Rascals/Our Gang theme, and, of all things, a bent version of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Though EC doesn’t overtly say that this is specifically what’s causing hand-wringing with Nintendo’s lawyers, presumably this is enough of a start.
EarthBound Music Similarities [EarthBound Central]
Previously:
Mother 3: Behind the Music – Offworld
Mother 3 musical toe-dip into Bach, Vivaldi, Satie… Batman …
Mother 3 translators start Earthbound Central blog – Offworld
Saturn-ine: another Mother/Earthbound treat we can't have – Offworld
Earthbound goods for the rest of us – Offworld
See more posts about: Offworld Originals
