Wave 5 SOUNDTRACK REACTION for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass! 

Anyone think he should do a soundtrack breakdown to the base game's tracks?

The way that Koopa Cape somehow manages to combine all 3 of its renditions smoothly whilst racing is *insane*

Moonview Highway was given justice in both songs

At first I hated the new LA Laps music, but just like with Waluigi Stadium, I got used to it after some time

I really appriciate how your analysis increases with every video you do. Even if you felt you were just saying "this is awesome", I appreciated the in-depth comparisons to other relevant works and it seems you went even harder than last time. Coincidently, I think this is the video I've agreed with you most on. And you've also converted me from an LA Laps hater to an LA laps lover (I think)!

This may apply to a lot courses, but what I really like about SCS' music is how well it's timed as you race in 150cc - By around halfway the first part, you dive into the tub - When the key change starts, you drive through the sewage and laundry area - And you hit the glider as soon as you hear the climax - The song also just barely loops perfectly on lap 2

Wave 5 easily has the best music of any wave, not 9, not 10, BUT 11 SONGS THAT SLAP!!!

the fact that Vancouver velocity’s amazing track in mk8 references splatoon and daft punk bits/vibes makes this now one of my top 3 songs from any video game

0:00 - Intro 1:06 - Tour Athens Dash 4:33 - GCN Daisy Cruiser 10:07 - Wii Moonview Highway 15:45 - Squeaky Clean Sprint 19:39 - Tour Los Angeles Laps 28:29 - Skybox Rant #FixSunsetWilds 31:51 - GBA Sunset Wilds 36:10 - Wii Koopa Cape 41:17 - Tour Vancouver Velocity 45:03 - Outro

I love that the bass in VV resembles DS bass a lot! Since I grew up with a DS this evokes a large sense of nostalgia in a weird way!

Moonview highway feels just like a street race, and I love it.

The Koopa Cape medley is GODLY

There are a few places in this video where you seem to express insecurities you feel about whether you’re doing enough and giving us what we want - e.g. you commenting about the times you struggle to talk and listen at the same time, or commenting on all the times you say “oh nice”, “that’s cool”, etc. - and honestly (just speaking for myself here) I think none of those things are negatives. All I ever wanted from this video was to see you glowing with the genuine, authentic passion you have for these songs, and just analysing them as best you can whilst grappling with those emotions you so visibly feel. - and this video delivers that in spades, so it’s basically perfect. Thank you Sammy.

Is it just me or was I bobbing my head to LA Laps

Man, you just being so happy all around with Vancouver Velocity makes me smile. I love that arrangement!

The music in this wave is such a treat. So, so good. Nearly all new versions are on par with or improvements to their previous versions in my opinion

Amazing analysis as always. It’s almost gotten to the point where I wish for a booster course pass 2 not for the tracks but so your analysis videos can continue lol!

The underwater version of Koopa Cape sound like the version of the music in Mario & Luigi: Bowser inside story when you're inside Bowser.

Every time a booster course wave release is announced, I get excited just because I know another reaction and analysis video is on the way.

The GCN’s steel drums…so nostalgic🫶

I expect a new MK8D album with the additional songs and Booster Course music (or it's wishful copium thinking) Mario Kart has never had many credits until MK8 due to lack of album credits, unfortunately composers aren't given justice cuz they made iconic songs only to not be credited, the different wikis also have a bunch of dubious unconfirmed additions and inconsistencies between them, and the lists are non-exhaustive, Peach Beach is Shinobu Nagata's only confirmed addition in Double Dash, but she did most songs. MK Tour doesn't have credits yet, but it sounds like MK8's team works on it, the style is similar. The only difference between Tour and Booster Course team is that I believe Kenta Nagata isn't involved in Booster Course, and while most faithful arrangements of Tour music is by the original composers, songs like Los Angeles Laps, Berlin Byways or Tokyo Blur would be Kenta Nagata songs that are re-imagined by someone else. 80% of Super Circuit was composed by Intelligent Systems composers (Fire Emblem & Paper Mario), and several titles were made by only one person so we know who made every track (SNES Mario Kart, MK64 and MKDS). I'm pretty confident in my guesses since MK's soundtracks are very expressive, knowing composers' other works make songs easy to guess. I hope the last wave has Shy Guy Beach from GBA as it was the song I've always asked for, and Daisy Hills from MK7, the rest I'm impartial to lol

Vancouver Velocity is my all time favorite Soundtracks in Wave 5. Alongside Moonview Highway (City), and Los Angeles Laps

Dunno if you noticed, but Squeaky Clean Sprint has a little nod to Jump Up, Super Star in it

I love your soundtrack analysis, I enjoyed the reaction until the end. You know what's special from the original Vancouver sountrack? It is the fact that we have an Stadium version of the song where all the spectators are slapping on the beat of the song, very beautiful detail that make it unforgettable. We missed it on 8 Deluxe, but I guess every MK should have their our shine

Playing through this wave I could tell you were gonna love the music. I don’t think this is the strongest wave in general but there’s really not a single weak track musically.

Sunset Wilds believe it or not has been addictive to listen to for me, I love it, and I'm surprised you didn't catch the One Up Girl bit from Squeaky Clean Sprint.

43:21 Fun Fact: This isn’t actually a synthesizer it’s an Instrument called EWI (ee-wee) It’s basically an Electric Woodwind Instrument that can recreate Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Saxophone with all their fingering styles too. It also has its own unique sound, what is heard here in Vancouver Velocity

I'm glad I'm not the only who likes LA Laps, the vocals are fun but the saxophone adds a different jazzy vibe.

This video gave me a new appreciation for LA Laps music in this wave. I was honestly just mostly caught off guard with my disappointment that there wasn't the Ba ba bas, and I still wish they had it because that's part of what makes the original LA Laps so iconic to me. But, I suppose I can't complain with this nifty rendition, and it's not like we don't have both.

I Can't Wait For The Music Reaction, Always Have A Good Time Watching These Vids And The Individual Sound Breakdowns

Glad to see someone else loves the music of Los Angeles Laps! The song is SUCH a banger!!

I love that little ending bit of SCS, it kinda sounds like Jump Up Superstar!

moonview highway just remind me of a boss battle kind of soundtrack i love it

Is nobody gonna mention about the final lap of Los Angeles Laps, IT’S SO GOOD 😫

Smash Bros is to blame for everyone calling these 'remixes' instead of new arrangements or remakes

4:38 I mentioned this in the live chat, but the Super Mario Sunshine music used here was actually not composed by Shinobu Nagata, but by Koji Kondo. Kondo wrote the majority of the Super Mario Sunshine soundtrack. Usually when multiple people are credited collective for music in a game soundtrack, they don't "collaborate together" on the same music tracks. Each person individually writes their own music tracks, as they're usually assigned to write certain tracks by either the sound director or the lead composer (who usually doubles as the sound director). Another thing you mention is that her "only contribution" to Double Dash is the Peach Beach/Daisy Cruiser music, but that is also not true. Unlike Sunshine, Shinobu Nagata was the *main* composer of Mario Kart: Double Dash. Kenta Nagata is also credited as composer, but judging by the number of tracks confirmed to be attributed to Shinobu Nagata and the order in which both their names are presented in the credits of Double Dash (first person named is almost always the main composer), it's quite clear Kenta Nagata's role was very minimal. Hence the vastly different style from Mario Kart 64 (where Kenta Nagata was the only composer).

Lessgoo!!

Athens Dash is my favorite city course theme and it is a banger in 8. Daisy Cruiser while sounder a little like Cheep Cheep Beach gives more of a cruiser vibe to it and it is amazing. Moonview Highway is one of my favorites from Wii and 8 gave it justice. Squeaky Clean Sprint is just clean. LA Laps is one of my favorite, while it is sad to see the bahs go I like what they did with the sax. Sunset Wilds gives me the Indiana Jones feeling. Koopa Cape is Koopa Cape. I like how Vancouver Velocity gave more umph to the synth. Nice wave overall musically.

Great Video. Great Analysis. Fun hearing a lot of things I’d noticed commented on but also finding out a few things I’d missed too!

My thoughts … ATHENS DASH: Agree with you. Not massively different but great! DAISY CRUISER: Love the swooping strings. Makes the whole experience seem more calming, like relaxing on a beach! MOONVIEW HIGHWAY: I love how much more energised this sounds as opposed to the Tour version. Whole new life to it! And I admit, I’ve hit a bomb car intentionally so I could stay in the city longer and hear the live jazz soundtrack. 😂 SQUEAKY CLEAN SPRINT: The opening sounds sophisticated to me, like a shopping spree at an expensive store. Definitely agree about the French influence! Love the B section with the strings. Surprised they went so snazzy and jazzy with a bathroom-themed track. 😄 LOS ANGELES LAPS: Whoa, thanks for the mention! Apparently my “love” for the original is legendary. 😂 Anyway, your explanation helped me see the song in context-thank you!-and while I still don’t like it, at least I understand and appreciate it more now! The original is definitely more fringe and the 8 version is more mainstream. Usually I prefer something less approachable or poppy, but I am definitely more team MK8 on this one. Now that I can bear listening to it, I can appreciate how they avoid the tonic chord, which is especially evident in the 8 version: the melody line dances around a C scale but you don’t hear a C chord until the third section of the song (the C-section … coincidence?). You notice a similar thing in Singapore Speedway, whose melody dances around the A scale with a Bm base chord. (I wonder if they have the same composer.) Thanks for the music history lesson! Very enlightening! SUNSET WILDS: Yeah, I foresaw the skybox commentary. 😉 Anyway, I LOLed at the word “hootenanny”. 😂 Love the banjo. I agree that it doesn’t loop well; the transition at the end is pretty bad. But otherwise it’s a decent glow-up. KOOPA CAPE: Yeah, I’m surprised they added the extra river version, but it’s super zany! I didn’t feel as pronounced of a difference in the other two versions as you did, but it’s well-updated! I’m really impressed at how much sectioning they did with the soundtrack in this wave! VANCOUVER VELOCITY: Well, this one had some big shoes to fill, being my favourite MarioKart soundtrack in history, accompanying my favourite course. I’d say it does deliver, but I do slightly prefer the original recording. The original has a crispness to it that is slightly muted in this version, and I don’t love the synth effect they used for the solo part; sounds too much like a voice effect. But it’s still really great, and an absolute pleasure to listen to as I now can play my favourite course whenever I want. 🥰 Agree about the more pronounced 90s influence. Also, a RU-vidr named “Starmonized” does an amazing remix, with a bit funkier of a beat, a lovely string track, and even some loon calls, if you feel like checking it out. (Definitely listen with headphones!) Thanks for a great video, Sammy, and thanks again for the mention. ☺️

you’re ngl one of my new favorite channels i’ve found out recently. you’re so underrated!! i love the content i’ve seen so far, there’s so much more for me to watch. hoping you grow big as a channel :)

Im so happy Vancouver got added

Pianist Tanooki came in clutch in the live chat!

Welcome to the movement brother

41:55 that rearranging Furniture guy!!!! Ohhhh

LA Laps sounds like a blend of Yellow Magic and the LA group Tower of Power

Lemme tell you, I absolutely ASCENDED to an entirely new plane of existence when I heard the City variant of Moonview Highway… as if I wasn’t already excited enough to have one of my favorite Wii tracks in this pass I’m telling you, man, the music is the biggest reason for my hype for each BCP track… they hit everything so HARD with these

I do appreciate all the neat stuff you had to say about LA Laps, even though I'm on the "hate it" end of the spectrum. For reference, my favorites have always been basically everything that isn't electronic music, like Delfino Square and Maple Treeway. This video definitely was both entertaining and informative, very good stuff!

Something I loved about Athens Dash is how the middle of the song uses what I believe is a Balalaika, a traditional Greek guitar. Really goes to show how much care they put into the song!

Ayeeeee this was worth waiting for!

I always love your reactions to this OST, very in depth and insightful!

Just finished the video, just wanna say both thanks for these lovely reactions/analysis videos. I really loved a lot of the music in this wave, and I hope wave 6 (and potentially onward?) continue making things this good. Daisy Cruiser, Moonview Highway, and Sunset Wilds were all standouts to me. Looking forward to going and checking out Yellow Magic Orchestra! Also special thanks to Mayro for getting me hooked on these videos, I've been loving paying way closer attention to the music of MK8.

Thanks again for these Sammy. A great watch.

I was awaiting your reaction to the new strings featured on daisy cruiser, it skyrocketed it from a forgettable middle of the road song to a beautiful unforgettable one!

oh by the way before the turnaround in Squeaky Clean Sprint there's a reference to odyssey's Jump Up Super Star

You should become a band teacher one day. Elementary middle and high schools. I think you would love it. Every single video you make is amazing. Keep up the good work Sammy d. 33:46 I love your reaction to this one and a few other man. Keep up the good reactions man. 38:26 I love this one too man. 39:08 I also love this one too man. Keep up the good work Sammy d.

I could listen to you just break down music all day, I feel like I learn a lot! I was a LA Laps remake disapprover (bababa or bust) but your insights about how the remake meshes the various styles helped me to appreciate how even though its less faithful than some of the other remakes in this wave, it still has its own unique charms and I just think that's neat. P.S. I can't remember exactly but I think you were a large part of me trying and enjoying tour (sometime after the wave 2 analysis). I play it a bit more casually, ranked grind just stresses me out (I just hover around 45-50 nowadays) and I think about the backlog of games I could be playing instead lol.

I loved what they did with Daisy Cruiser amazing 😍

Always looking forward to your soundtrack vids they’re so entertaining to watch

I’ve literally stumbled upon your channel and I’m a huge fan of these music analyses ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Watched through the whole thing the moment I saw you uploaded. Super entertaining comparing my reactions up yours!

My thoughts and rating: Athens Dash - An overall great song, and very catchy. It isn't spectacular for me, but I don't really have any issues with it. A+ tier. Daisy Cruiser - I never actually found the original that memorable, since it is so similar to the other MK beach themes. But the new version is AMAZING, one of the biggest improvements to any song. The strings give it so much life! S tier. Moonview Highway - This is my favorite Wii track, one of my favorite songs from MKWii, and I am so happy it got into the BCP! And the remix is so good! I did not expect them to go that crazy with the city section, the reharmonization and just vibe solo in general is easily the highlight of the wave. I think this is either my favorite song or like top 3 or something. S++ tier. Squeaky Clean Sprint - I love this song, it never fails to make me feel happy. It reminds me of Odyssey, it has a lot of similarities to Jump Up, Super Star! S tier. LA Laps: As a SoCal resident, I think the changes to the song (and track) suit LA's general vibe a bit better than the original, which references more specific music. Like, the new version 100% fits walking down the beach. Both versions are great, orchestra hits and saxophone (I play alto sax) are 2 of my favorite sounds ever. S+ tier. Sunset Wilds: They really gave this song life, while the lack of sunset might be disappointing the song certainly isn't. I don't think this was the best track choice in general, if they didn't want to put in the effort to make some workaround of MK8's lighting system to make the sunset possible (also just not that interesting of a track), but the song certainly fits driving off into the sunset. A+ tier. Koopa Cape: They did a good job with the different versions, making them more distinct from each other. The beat in the normal version is super satisfying for me, and the underwater version is also really cool. It works a lot better in game than it does just listening to the soundtrack. A+ tier. Vancouver Velocity: Great song, always has been. Not much different in the remake, I think I prefer the old bass, I'm neutral on the synth, and I really like the strings and those little flourishes you were talking about. S+ tier. Overall, this is easily the best wave musically. The lowest tier song was A+ tier, which is kind of insane. Also, I love these videos, I always learn something interesting from them that I never noticed before.

The new Vancouver OST is by far my favorite song in Mario Kart, I find it so extremely amazingy well mixed and stuff, it's so perfect. Also fun fact: the thing that sounds liek a square synth in the original (now still) is now actually no longer a normal synth, but a kind of electronic instrument, called an Ewi :) Look it up on google, it's like a digital clarinet wannabe

I really love your MK8dx reactions!! It's so interesting like seeing a guy who really knows alot about music reacting to the beautiful and pretty underappreciated soundtrack of Mario Kart. Please keep making such amazing content man! Edit: I also would love to see some more videos on Splatoon bc this soundtrack is just beyond great as well

Great video Kart Life, my top 3 favorite were Athens Dash, Moonview Highway, and Vancouver Velocity!

Moonview Highway is by far the best soundtrack in this wave, heck it’s my second favorite soundtrack in the entire BCP! Also I loved the rant mid video about Sunset Wilds lol… #FixSunsetWilds… actually remove it and add Yoshi Desert instead 😂

I absolutely love Koopa Cape it my favorite track and song and I was happy when I heard what they didn't overly change the music in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

I had no idea you were even doing a series like this, let alone that you know your stuff when it comes to music. This makes me feel even worse about falling off keeping up with your videos. I'm definitely going to try and stick around this time!

I totally feel you with daisy cruiser. I rlly like that remake too. In general wave 5s soundtracks are top notch.

Thank you for this, Sammy! These remixes slap hard!!

I've been enjoying all of your Tour content and this is an extra treat! So glad I managed to catch the premiere. That was something else! I know it's not Nintendo, but you need *need NEED* to listen to the options menu song from Sonic R if you haven't already. It's like Tour's menu music but... groovier and from 1997. Not necessarily a reaction request, just a recommendation for a short nice listen since I think it's cool. ^-^

Koopa cape underwater section is too beautiful

38:31 the energy of this song enetirly

Surprised you didn’t comment on the choice of snare in LA Laps. It’s so low and damp. Reminds me of Steve Jordan’s in John Mayer’s ‘Where The Light Is’ album.

Sunset Wilds frontrunning is great you should listen to it

Koopa Cape actually has those 3 versions in the Wii version too. 7 and tour took out the river part tho

Koopa Cape Is Stunning I. Love this Music, the River Part is what makes it sound Enjoyable of Koopa Cape

Amazing 👏 stream, was fun listening to all the soundtracks with the community. Until wave 6, peace ✌️

Los Angeles Laps strongly reminds me of Nelward's music with some jazzy and rhythmic sprinkles of Louis Cole.

The LA Laps segment of the video really brought out the Album Of The Year user/reviewer inside of me lol. What albums from Louis Cole and Vulfpeck should I start with?

I personally really like how sunset wilds ends and loops

Loved these music analysis videos. Love hearing your insights, and especially loved the recommendations for other musicians to go check out.

BEEN WATING FOR THIS WOOO

Yess another soundtrack reaction! Awesome videos! A bit sad that this will be the 1 to last. If there wont be a second bcp

Never stop with the soundtrack reacts Sammy!

I love both MK8D and Tour Los Angeles Laps!! It’s a Bopper!! 😄

MK8DX's lighting is mostly baked , "fale", so sunset wilda could not get the treatment

Mayro was looking forward to this haha

This wave has such a good set of OSTs

Sunset Wilds skybox not changing isn't because it's a "Realistic looking skybox"; its due to Mario kart 8 Deluxe's lighting engine having pre-baked lighting that doesn't allow for the skybox to dynamically change. To add in this functionality, they would have to rework the lighting engine of the game and edit ALL 96 TRACKS to work with the new lighting engine.

Subscribed! Love the setup, enthusiasm, and analysis. I also love Louis Cole and I second that everyone should check out his stuff. Can’t wait to watch your thoughts on Wave 6 when that drops

Haven't watched the video yet but my prediction is: he won't like LA Laps, Vancouver Velocity, and *especially* Sunset Wilds, but will love Squeaky Clean Sprint, and Koopa Cape underwater variant. Others are up in the air or in between.

I always love these videos. Mario Kart OST is so underrated.

i’ve listened to a mashup of the LA Laps music, adding the “bahs” to the sax aswell, and it sounds MUCH better

They took the music up a notch when they totally didn't need too, but I am all for it.

Banger soundtracks and video, no other way to put it

Best music wave in the DLC hands down. Moonview Highways jazz rework is immaculate and going from a decent song in Wii, to the best retro song in all of 8DX, base game included.

10:36 sonic music, it sounds like sonic music (specifically the gba and genesis games)

The new Moonview Highway ost kinda sounds like a Miitopia Battle track

Fantastic video! An chance you can create a playlist for all your Soundtrack reactions?