How Cynthia's Theme Terrorized a Generation 

There's also the psychological impact of walking into a random house on the beach in Pokemon B/W and getting smacked in the face with the approach theme the instant you're inside. No warning whatsoever. At least for the champion fight you knew to expect something epic.

I played the first two bars of Approach in a crowded auditorium once. Instant silence. Palpable fear. It was glorious, and terrifying.

The literal embodiment of, "Why do I hear boss music?"

Piano is absent from battle themes throughout DPPt. We're conditioned to associate the piano with familiary and safety. Then Approaching Cynthia turns that on its head. Youre familiar with her, but you are not safe.

Bro, hearing you talk about how menacing and daunting Cynthia is while you're showing chibi Cynthia I CAN'T😂

I think the impact of these themes are greater because of how they contrast with how Cynthia is a friendly character throughout the game, yet her themes sound so villainous, making them even more intimidating.

The one detail I would add regarding the “approaching” piece is that the fact that it’s a solo piece emphasizes her power. She stands alone in this room and she’s able to command that much power solely from her presence. It adds to her intensity and adds to your isolation as you have to face that force one on one.

"A skeleton that will feel very familiar to any Pokemon fan." -Shows a Cubone You monster.

One thing that's notable about _Battle Against Cynthia_ being a slower intro that ramps up to a faster, disco vibe is that her theme was rearranged for Black and White (the famous House Jumpscare) and again for B2W2 (the Pokemon World Championships) and both times the rearrangement was up-tempo compared to the previous version. Cynthia's theme gets faster and scarier and everyone cries.

Ok but you forgot to talk about that beeping sound that permanently is played fighting cynthia that normally only occurs when your mon is low hp!😂

I feel Cynthia is the perfect champion for gen 4. To me gen 4 has some of the strongest storytelling in the franchise, rivalling B/W at its best. The previous generations were about kids coming in and cleaning up messes of problems made by adults, but Gen 4 is the first one that really makes you feel like you're _not ready_ to enter this scary adult world that's much bigger than you expected. Sure, Gen 3 had its adult villains losing control of forces they didn't understand too, but Max and Archie felt like petty squabblers who were too caught up in their own dreams to actually talk things out and think things through. Cyrus, on the other hand, is very understandable: he's an old man who never grew up. Fundamentally, he fully knows the world is scary and unpredictable, and he hates it. He wants to destroy and remake the world into something simpler easier to grasp, so that he doesn't have to face the difficulty of living in a world that's much bigger and more powerful than he can fathom. The irony is that he has to face uncontainable cosmic power in order to achieve this goal, and in Platinum this is especially apparent when the sublime eldritch horror that is Giratina simply ignores any attempt to control it. But after defeating Cyrus, what's next? The story's basically over, right? Well yes, the threat is done, but Cynthia is still a continuation of the player's journey. She is in many ways Cyrus' opposite. Where Cyrus wishes to control pokemon and the world, Cynthia has already mastered it by accepting the world. She is calm, elegant, and at peace with herself. Her party is full of pokemon who are fundamentally "untamable": Garchomp, Milotic, Spiritomb. She is a pokemon master not because she can control her pokemon, but because she understands them and accepts them. She's tough not just as a final challenge, but also because she's an illustration of the final message of the game: that even though you've come so far, even though you've faced cosmic horrors beyond your imagining and saved the world, you still have only had a glimpse into the true grown-up world, a world full of wonders and horrors and struggles and triumphs you can't even imagine yet. Cynthia is the kind of person Cyrus wished to be without understanding what makes that kind of person great, an open person who is able to deal with life's problems with flawless grace and deceptive ease. And her fight and the music that accompanies it are so threatening not because she herself is a threatening person, but because she represents the true final boss of pokemon: the world itself. Idk maybe I'm thinking too deeply about pokemon. But I love Cynthia and I love this music.

More like "How teaching her entire team Earthquake terrorized a generation".

Bro the seeing Cynthia on the thumbnail poppin up on my notification was enough to jump me

13:18 I Love that you mention how these lines are "alien", because that actually connects in game with the Palkia/Dialga/Giratina themes(not only musically) of eldritch-like entities. Cynthia is probably the first spot you'll see a Spiritomb, a pokemon with no weaknesses, and having this type of "alien" structure in music combined with the overall theme of the game just makes it even more memorable.

I always thought Cynthia's theme was a brilliant study in contrast. Sure, some of the melodic motion is unsettling, but the bouncing bass and drums just give you such a powerful feeling of excitement. Heroic major sections clash with dissonant minor sections, and the darkest chord at the end leaps right back into the eager intro. To me, her theme evoked a mood of something tense and serious, but also joyful. It feels like one of the hardest things you've ever done, but also one of the most exciting.

You wanna experience REAL damage from Cynthia, set the piano that plays before her battle to your morning alarm. Never have I woken up faster in my life.

9:00 "Champion Cynthia theme but it never starts" gave me as much anxiety as the battle did. Thanks for that!

I never noticed the similarities between Fairy Fountain and this theme. I always used to like them both very much. That's cool to notice.

I didn't understand a word of this. 10/10 quality content.

It took me 15 years to finally defeat Cynthia... No, I am not exaggerating, I got the game as a child and didn't defeat her until last year. To say I have PCSD is an understatement. Unknowingly walking into her house in Undella was terrifying. It was a surprise when I did manage it though. My strongest Pokémon was a whole 5 levels below her weakest. When her Garchomp went down, and the tide of battle shifted, I felt it. I focused up, gave it everything I had left and finished her off. Once it was over, I stared at my game in shock. I had defeated Cynthia with a team below her level!

The whole PCSD thing is partly the music and partly the pure shock of going into a random House in Undella Town and finding Cynthia, instantly ready to battle

12:00 This section is played in Legends Arceus when Volo reveals his intentions. It’s incredibly menacing!

Approach is one of those few pieces of music that you recognize in your CORE as "oh fuck, that's boss music" there are TONS of incredible boss fights with amazing scores that i could gush over for months on end, but there are only a couple (IN MY EXPERIENCE) that stand out to me as genuinely terrifying to hear

Instead of making jokes I will say this: The multiple build and release sections (that often just build to more tension) are absolutely perfect for watching health bars drain. Youll notice from the footage, it's quite slow in generation 4. It can give the feeling that attacks arent having much effect, especially if the bar stops moving quickly. But even if you do a lot of damage, you're given a gambler's apprehension as the dice settle: will it be enough? And if you're the one being attacked... Can your partner endure it? Absolutely incredible gameplay for the despair-laden trailing gasp at the loop.

Hearing that Cynthia's theme is so similar to the Red Blue trainer theme makes me wish we get a video on that.

As a percussionist, the rhythms behind Cynthia's music always struck me as very understated, yet just as masterfully crafted as the rest of the music. More specifically, the rhythms seem to have been specifically chosen to emulate the heartbeat of the player at this incredibly-tense moment in the game. The triplet melody figures in the approach give the effect of singular heartbeats, these 'stabs' of anxiety as even your heart picks up on the dread before you. In that short transition, though, the tense bu-BUMP of the heartbeat rhythm slides into that pounding disco figure, with the driving eighth notes of the bass and drums giving the effect of adrenaline taking over as the heartbeat stabilizes into the still-dangerous, yet focused pattern that you'll need in order to beat Cynthia. I love it when even very underspoken areas of a piece of music contribute so integrally to the overall experience like that.

9:00 got me. I GOT CHILLS THE MOMENT THAT BATTLE THEME STARTED. I knew it was coming and it still hit me like a truck. I love this music so much!

This is the third video about Cynthia's theme I've seen in the past few days. Not that I'm complaining though, Pokemon music is always a banger.

Diamond and Pearl was my last played generation and I will always remember this fight. 1. I did not anticipate Cynthia as the current champ 2. This masterpiece of music I'll sometimes play just to hear it again 3. Cynthia was the first champ in my whole pokemon career who made me sweat for the first time to win

While we're on Pokemon, can we talk about how the layering of different instruments and dissonant melodies bring an unsettling/ethereal quality to Area Zero in Scarlet/Violet? Entering there for the first time was a transcendent experience, it was so different from everywhere else in the game up to that point.

The thing about the battle theme that always gets me is that snare drum, just feels like its a random pattern between triplets and quintumplets. helps with the feeling of being insecure during the battle.

A little disappointed that there wasnt an addendum talking about volo's theme. That said, what an amazing video that perfectly explains my deepest, darkest fears!

Never clicked faster

Damn, I love how you point out that Cynthia's theme, while menacing, also has bright, hopeful tones in it. It really highlights her outlook on life in the games: that all life is meaningful no matter how "useful" one is--a stark contrast to Cyrus' nihilistic view. Not only that, but as someone who's mentored the player character and personally witnessed their growth, she also has immense respect and high hopes for them. In such a foreboding melody, those bright major chords show that she's having fun battling with you. But like you said, the tone shifts back to its dark, oppressive tones. Regardless of how she feels about the player character, she doesn't intend to lose the champion battle. And against many challengers, she doesn't. Thanks for the video!

Can't believe you took a full two minutes and even cut music ENTIRELY before letting her actual battle theme kick in beyond the intro, that was horrifically unsettling and I don't even have PCSD! I used to have my empoleon solo the entire e4 and her just to make cash ingame, I'm not scared of her, and she's a super fun character! but I guess that's just a testament to how powerful her themes are

I went to Pokemon Symphony Orchestra in Japan last year, I saw so many people in the audience flinch immediately when they started playing Cynthia's theme lol

This epic theme definitely took heavy inspiration from the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 2 No. 1. I was learning this sonata around the time DPPT came out and was definitely inspired to practice the final movement more because of its similarity! I remember liking this theme so much that I would wait on the last text box before initiating the battle just to let it loop as long as possible haha. Great video, thanks for the nostalgia!

CYNTHIA ON MY DASH YEAH Big up to the Volo fans out there btw

The combination of Cynthia’s Theme & your elaborations make me feel like I should be having a cup of tea while watching this

Really excellent to call back to Junichi Masuda's overall style with past battle themes! The way the tone jumps around the song really does resemble the other most memorable tracks of the series, classic pokemon especially, even though it gives off a completely different kind of oppressiveness.

You know, seeing Cynthia's battle them written out made me realise something very fun with it versus Volo's music, in that the contexts are also flipped: Volo's battle music is based of off Cynthia's approaching theme, while his theme from Masters (which might be considered sort of an approach theme) is based off of her battle theme.

The cynthia jumpscare is Game Freak telling you to NOT go looking around random people's houses looking for shit. You'll enter the wrong one... and then get your ass royally whooped.

I think it's interesting that these two themes have become so infamous together, since they're an example of something very rare in Pokémon - a character theme & that character's battle theme being composed and arranged by different people without shared motifs. Now, I'm certain there was still some level of communication between Ichinose (Approach) and Masuda (Battle), but to me the fact that the two tracks are still quite jarringly different in a lot of ways while still working together to create a reputation that's basically become a meme at this point because of the way they've given so many people a shared experience.

I love how the base of the battle theme echoes a heartbeat, starting off slow as your heart sinks before the plunge Then racing as you strive to save yourself in the fight of your life

Is there some sort of Cynthia resurgence? “The 8-bit drummer”and “jesses auditorium” posted Cynthia content yesterday too. Great video!

A person’s reaction to this music is the perfect descriptor of just how much they've been scarred. It is a genuine survival mechanism.

Cynthia is the most well designed champion from her theme to her personality to her team which paints her as having an extreemly overbearing presence without even trying and a drive to never stop improving even though she is the champion and despite being that powerful doesn't see herself as someone above losing and learning from it. All of that combined makes her an extreemly likable and intriguing character.

DPPt bicycle mysic for outro ?! I literally cried

I wish I understood music theory... 😢 However these videos give me hope that at least I'm enjoying music for the right reasons. 😅

lol I was just on the piano practicing exactly this piece when I got the upload notification wtf 😂😂

Those drawn out loops of each section played in the background legit gave me anxiety

My interpretation was always one of someone high on adrenaline, fighting for their life. The bouncy bass and percussion like a rapid heartbeat, the off-key chaos around you, the major melody a sign of hope. Garchomp is hungry, but you have opposable thumbs and the ability to make tools.

Approaching Cynthia is such a good song. Its so well composed.

How fortuitous, I was just Google searching Cynthia's theme (thanks for failing me once again yt home page).

Man, that wrap up connecting to the first generation's battle theme was just amazing. I would never realize that. Thank you! PS: I miss the time when champion themes were supposed to scare the hell out of you

😃 Boy: **turns doorknob** 😨 Me: "No! Don't go in there!" 🗿 Cynthia: _"Though you have wandered in here unknowingly, you shall not escape from here with your heart still beating. Now then, approach me."_

The theme was a motivator than a Fear, it brought me joy as well. It was an epic battle theme for the Champion of Gen 4.

At 5:30 when you mention that figure not having a name, it really is just a slow turn figure, which is an extremely common ornament in classical music. Granted turns tend to be quick and not carry the same metrical weight but it's still unmistakably what it is.

Such an incredible piece of music, your analysis really made me appreciate it for the first time!

I frankly loved this theme. I was around 15 when I played pearl and I don't remember how many tries it took, but I loved this theme.

12:17 the cynthia scale - what childhood trauma sounds like

this was a good video, even if I only understood about half of the music concepts

I've always always been a huge fan of the music but getting a deep dive explanation just makes me love it that much more. Great vid 👍

This video essay came at the perfect time. I was just telling a coworker about how I want to learn “Cynthia’s theme” and just needle drop it on any random piano I come across.

One of my favorite themes actually.

Excelente video Es emocionante escuchar como explca detalladamente todo.

Absolutely fantastic analysis and discourse here, as always!

Legends say that the Author created the whole music after trying to battle her, such was his despair after the encounter.

Now do Giratina's theme from Platinum! lol

definitely felt the imminent threat while battling Cynthia because of the track

Such knowledge ❤ I loved your video! Well done 👏

Hell yeah 8 bit music theory on cynthias theme. When I was younger I was obsessed with her battle theme, but then more recently I fell more in love with her approach theme. It's so damn good and I'd attempt to learn it on piano if every cover of it didn't say something like "this was incredibly challenging to learn" and those are the pros.

Great video! Please do N's theme next!

a terrifying, terrifying BOP

Thanks for the video - Cynthia really packs the punch! Also it was fun jamming at VGMCON briefly on Sunday night with Route 10 - hope you're able to return next year!

The channel gets better by the video! Keep it up!

0:08 very subtle

Go Ichinose is a genius (for Cynthia's theme). Masuda's battle themes all sound similar to me lol

Love that you ended a video of the greatest champion theme of all time with the best bike theme of all time

This was such a cool breakdown video!

Does the arpeggio section kinda sound like the Spiderman chord progression or am I losing it?

Les go. 8BMT uploaded!

Never heard it before, but man even without prior knowledge and context this piece pumps adrenalin. And not in a good kind... Brilliant composing.

I find it as a great introduction to her battle. You are hit witha fast paced, hard hitting melody. You are already overwhelmed to fight her because you just fought the 4 hardest fights in the game up to this point, then you get hit with the music, and it multiplies you doubt over your own readiness. All you can do is hope you bought enough potions and revives

Cynthia is also everyone's first waifu

10 seconds into the video and pikachu already tries to engage in cynthias bubs

This video is awesome!! So fun to see such a deep dive into a single song!! (okay two songs)

I'm really bad at music theory, but your explanations really help me follow some of the stuff that would normally leave me scratching my head. You make it feel approachable. Thanks!

Finally, a video about the best PokeWaifu's theme song. ❤

I mean it wasn't just her music that 'terrorized' us. ;)

The champion that reminds you competitive pokemon is more than just.. beating up your opponent properly

I've always loved this song and approaching cynthia especially... I never thought that the champion was going to be a music theory masterpiece, thank you for the amazing video!!!

I’ve heard the thing at 5:39 called a reverse turn in some jazz contexts

I will do one like for each pushup

The moment the approach theme transitioned into the battle theme, I got chills. Love the analysis!

Showing Monsoon's introduction for your section about context got a laugh out of me

Love the music- hate the meme status

Great video! I get what you're going for with the PTSD analogies, but as someone with the disorder I think it's important to not trivialize PTSD which is a hugely debilitating and life-threatening disorder by using it to talk about stressful experiences in a Pokemon game

Thanks for covering this beast

When listening to this it gives me the “only one can stand atop this mountain” kinda vibe as she looks down on you almost makes you feel like you haven’t reached her level yet