Why do people think Sonic R's soundtrack is bad?

[tonyhoro]

The first time I heard someone complain about it was in that old -- and amazing -- video made by Jontron years ago, when he still talked about games and not about silly stuff he bought on amazon:

After this, everytime the game comes into any conversation, the soundtrack -- specially the vocal tracks sang by TJ Davis -- are target of criticism.
People say the songs are cheesy, don't fit videogames, etc.

But why? In fact I always liked them since the Saturn days, and I clearly remember people in the gaming rental store I use to go back in the day gathering around the TV just to see people playing that '3D Sonic racing game with real music on it'.

Not only the concept was new, but people actually enjoyed those R&B-esque songs.

I think this is a phenomenon more frequent in english-speaking countries, since well, the songs are in english and the cheesiness may come from that, but I still respectfully disagree: Sonic R has an awesome OST and it's 'cheesy legacy' was passed on through OutRun 2, which is also a Sega racing game featuring similar tracks in style and vocals.
Also, remixes from the tracks from Sonic R appeared in recent games like Sonic & Sega All-Star Racing, Transformed and CrossWords, showing that even Sega is fond of that soundtrack.

What are your thoughts?

Here some examples:

 

[Tortuga]

Why do people with BAD taste think Sonic R soundtrack is bad?
mystery...

Personally i always liked Sonic R music, very unique and memorable

 

[Muklas]

It sounds good to me though?

 

[Pearly]

That soundtrack is

No question. All other opinions are invalid and not based on objective fact.

 

[ciro64]

I don't think anyone thought it's bad?

I mean at first sight it's just not what you expect from a Sonic game, so it's funny. And the jank from the game adds to the humor factor. But once you embrace the vibe, you feel it.

 

[beefbowl]

It's good but it's out of place for a racing game. Maybe more suited for a rhythm game.

 

[RageBurner]

The soundtrack is the least of Sonic R's problems.

 

[Sumea]

It's good but it's out of place for a racing game. Maybe more suited for a rhythm game.

This. It is not bad music, it is just weird music, at least in style, for the game. It might been something akin to "Worked for Daytona USA" that was the thought process but there was many stars aligned right when Daytona USA's soundtrack was made and gilded as legend. Of course, especially at that time people wanted to expand horizon of racing music but Sonic R's soundtrack, while not bad, makes the whole feel off, it is not like Sonic music, and it is not like racing soundtrack either.

I cannot name many examples of same happening before but I am fairly sure it has happened in other cases too.

 

[Viviana Santos]

Sonic R's Soundtrack is pure unfiltered kino!

 

[tonyhoro]

This. It is not bad music, it is just weird music, at least in style, for the game. It might been something akin to "Worked for Daytona USA" that was the thought process but there was many stars aligned right when Daytona USA's soundtrack was made and gilded as legend. Of course, especially at that time people wanted to expand horizon of racing music but Sonic R's soundtrack, while not bad, makes the whole feel off, it is not like Sonic music, and it is not like racing soundtrack either.

I cannot name many examples of same happening before but I am fairly sure it has happened in other cases too.

That's the point of discussion. I never actually thought of its soundtrack as alien to the game's aesthetics.

The whole package feels so whimsical that having vocal tracks that evoke feelings of happiness gives the game a tone that goes over the regular upbeat Mario Kart music.

Besides, the game is already bad, and having an OST that doesn't stand out with other games in the same genre wouldn't help it either.

 

[goregoregoregoregoregore]

Sonic R has one of the best OSTs i've heard. Reminds me a lot of the OST in Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast which is my favorite racing game.
I think people dislike it because it reminds them of ''old'' mainstream music and i kinda get it, it has this certain vibe, but it's the exact same thing that makes it charming for me.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

They don’t.
Even back when it was cool to hate Sonic, no one really hated Sonic R’s music besides contrarians.

 

[Viviana Santos]

 

[goregoregoregoregoregore]

Oh shit, this turning into a Sonic R OST appreciation thread?

 

[DrunkGecko]

because they have no taste

 

[Segadude113]

The first time I heard someone complain about it was in that old -- and amazing -- video made by Jontron years ago, when he still talked about games and not about silly stuff he bought on amazon:

After this, everytime the game comes into any conversation, the soundtrack -- specially the vocal tracks sang by TJ Davis -- are target of criticism.
People say the songs are cheesy, don't fit videogames, etc.

But why? In fact I always liked them since the Saturn days, and I clearly remember people in the gaming rental store I use to go back in the day gathering around the TV just to see people playing that '3D Sonic racing game with real music on it'.

Not only the concept was new, but people actually enjoyed those R&B-esque songs.

I think this is a phenomenon more frequent in english-speaking countries, since well, the songs are in english and the cheesiness may come from that, but I still respectfully disagree: Sonic R has an awesome OST and it's 'cheesy legacy' was passed on through OutRun 2, which is also a Sega racing game featuring similar tracks in style and vocals.
Also, remixes from the tracks from Sonic R appeared in recent games like Sonic & Sega All-Star Racing, Transformed and CrossWords, showing that even Sega is fond of that soundtrack.

What are your thoughts?

Here some examples:

because they weren't around in the 90s and have no taste in music.

 

[twistedbee]

if they don't like it that's their problem, the Sonic R soundtrack slaps.
I still play thru this game at least 2-3 times a year.

 

[Your_Homie_Gale]

I have never met anyone who thinks Sonic R's soundtrack is bad. Not even online have I seen people trash it so this is a surprise to me. Everyone I know and have seen say it is the only reason Sonic R is memorable aside from the Tails Doll

 

[Scotty]

"Bad"!? Literally everyone and their grandma agrees that the soundtrack is amazing. Even Somecallmejohnny—one of the biggest Sonic fans—likes it.

My favorite track has always been "Living in the City."

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 3:43 PM

Sonic R has one of the best OSTs i've heard. Reminds me a lot of the OST in Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast which is my favorite racing game.

There was someone on Twitter who actually modded one of the newer "Outrun" games (I THINK it was "Outrun 2006" but my memory is a bit fuzzy) to replace the game's music with "Sonic R's" music. It fits perfectly.

 

[Sumea]

Besides, the game is already bad, and having an OST that doesn't stand out with other games in the same genre wouldn't help it either.

That is a weird argument, like saying they set out to make a bad game on purpose and thus also chose the sound track for that goal on purpose or something? I know you likely meant that is how the stars fell but still, the soundtrack is very off given what type of music Sonic had at that point. Of course, jump to something with CD quality music would be first with Sonic R, so there was no guiding principle but I am pretty sure more people agree they nailed that with Sonic Adventure and just about every game henceforth, even the "bad" sonic games have universally liked, and fitting music like 2006 and Air Riders series. Compared to that, the style and vocals are very weird choice. Vocals is not the issue even, vast majority of sonic games have vocals and even cross to pop style music, but still, Sonic R is very off in style that would be fitting to sonic game. It would not be off for a kart racing game, maybe, but still.