I'm still sad that we never got Catra and Adora's themes playing together as they fought side by side against one enemy. Just one would've made me happy.
Yup. Music affects my soul anyway, especially grand, emotional stuff, so when it's accompanied by such major moments like this, well, it's like you said: ALL the emotions. I think the most profound moment was when Catra was sending off Glimmer. "I'm dead, there's no more hope for me. Bye, Adora." Especially considering, of all people, _Glimmer_ goes into the void screaming her name in longing anguish. It's odd to put the actual climax below the top spot, but it happens with Lord of the Rings, too. The Battle of Pellinor Fields meant more to me, musically, than the Crack of Doom. Likely for similar reasons, in that a secondary major force is putting their everything into one event for the chance to keep fighting. It's not the "All or nothing" kind of desperation, where this is their chance to win, it's the desperation of "Just one more day". "We can't win this fight, no matter what we do, but we'll fight anyway because we need to. Someone else needs us to." Wow, I guess I had a lot to get off my chest.
Okay but the swell in the Chipped Catra fight scene with Adora...that was when I realized: I LOVE THIS SOUNDTRACK. IT'S SO GOOD. I can list the exact moment in that entire sequence where Catra takes a step back onto Prime's lil raised platform, says "He will free all of us. Forever" and then leaps into action and BAM, there's the infectious swell that I love so dang much.
IKR I LOVE THAT BIT I STG I REWATCH JUST FOR THAT - plus the music and visuals coming immediately after she jumps even if it only lasts a couple moments
My favorite motif is what I call the "She-Ra Motif." It's that little "ooh ooooh" theme that comes up whenever She-Ra does something amazing. The first couple times it shows up when She-Ra just appears, her very presence is amazing enough. It plays all the time in season 1 as Adora discovers more about her abilities, and is especially awe inspiring there. It's the kind of theme that makes all the characters stop and stare at how incredible She-Ra is. It continues to surface throughout the series whenever Adora learns a new She-Ra power, such as when she learns to heal in The Price of Power. In these later instances, it's less grandiose but more heroic and slightly more emotional. The characters have stopped looking at She-Ra as some mythical saviour, but as an inspiration to follow. But the theme really comes back to punch you in the stomach during Heart Part 1. It plays as Adora looks out over VR Etheria and talks to Mara. There's nobody there to behold She-Ra's might, it's just Adora and Mara, the two young women behind the legendary figure. It's no longer awe inspiring or heroic, it's sad and lonely, like all that power made its wielder forget who they are, and how that responsibility led them both towards self-destruction. And it shows up one final time in Heart Part 2 when Adora walks out of the Heart and restores magic to Etheria. It's not loud and triumphant like you might expect for the grand finale, it sounds closer to the lonely version in the Heart than any other iterations. But instead of being downcast and lonely, it's joyful and inspiring, and it's also mixed in with that magic motif too. It's like Adora finally figured out who she is and what She-Ra represents. The theme's progression really nicely shows Adora's relationship with She-Ra growing from wielder of the ancient power, to hero and leader, to twenty year old girl about to sacrifice herself to save the world, and finally to Adora becoming her most authentic self.
It is also my favorite its so pretty i get chills whenever i hear it and i love what it represents and how it changes a bit as adora fully realizes who she is and what shera is
One of my favorite musical bits is the season 5 transformation music, as Adora becomes She-Ra without the First Ones' sword. The transformation sequence in seasons 1-4 was cool and all, but there was something perfunctory about it, like it came preprogrammed with the sword. Now that Adora is transforming all by herself, every step of the progression is an act of sheer will, and the music reflects that. The basic melody is more or less the same, but it's slower, in a higher key, and several notes are missing. It's also led by a French horn in its upper register, so that the top notes sound like they require more effort. It's a brilliant musical depiction of Adora learning to control on her own the magic she used to take for granted.
I love that the themes are tied together with the score. So many scores these days just pay attention to the music, but not what the music *means.* The other composer that comes to mind that puts this much thought into their music is John Williams, who - shocker, I know - may have created a *few* classic movie themes. Harry Potter’s score was never the same after he left. The Star Wars prequels feel much better than they are because he does the score. The Schindler’s List theme brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. This is in part because he pays attention to what the music means to the story, not just “Oh this is a sad moment cue the sad music.” She-Ra’s theme does that and more, making amazing moments that much greater and amplifying this show’s emotion to take it to the heights we all know and love.
I absolutely LOVE the "childhood theme" specifically when it plays in Corridors. It's such a quiet, introspective moment in the show. Contrasting the war and explosions that are happening outside of the ship and Catra's simply staring out the window. The first few notes are hauntingly beautiful and it really portrays the longing for innocence that Catra, and even us the audience have. By far my favourite moment in the score
The music in She-ra was attention grabbing since the very first scene. However it wasn't until Promise episode that it punched me in the emotions, with Corrupted Catra vs Adora scenes really knocking me out. From then on, the use of music (& lack of!) just gets more and more clever!
Can we all agree the Horde Training theme is the catchiest track in the series? For reference, it's the theme that plays at the start of episode one and at the beginning part of promise on the soundtrack.
That theme is my personal favourite and I always love it everytime it plays. The music in She-Ra is such high quality in how it helps to narrate the story and themes, the emotions, the characters and it stands on its own as good music too.
There's a tiny part of the soundtrack during Destiny (Part 2) when Adora breaks the Sword of Protection. It's near the end of it, and Promise plays at almost double speed in the soundtrack. I think that's pretty important too, since the sword was one of the first things that broke the bond between them. Also it is criminal that Destiny (Part 2) soundtrack is not available >:(
One of my favorite little details is that the guitar riff in Catra’s theme uses a motif from the She-Ra transformation theme (D-F-A-Bb-A), which makes sense when you consider that it mostly plays in moments of ascension for Catra.
Great analysis of the motifs used in the score. I think one of the things that strikes me the most about the soundtrack is the blend of synthesized electronic music and orchestral music. Those two styles tie in with the science fiction and fantasy elements of the show perfectly. Orchestral music is known for accompanying many classical fantasy series including films like Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and even How to Train Your Dragon while electronic music and sounds have a strong association with science fiction from films like The Forbidden Planet and Blade Runner. In She Ra we hear orchestral themes associated more often with the Rebellion, specifically Madame Razz, while the Horde is represented by more electronic sounds. You could even argue that this connects to the dichotomy of the artificial vs the authentic aspect of the show.
Take notes Hollywood, identifiable music themes have a really important place. Great work, worth the wait ^^ The 'take care of eachother' theme thing was a revelation. The composer really thought about the show to give us this detail.
Right? This is what Hollywood seems to have forgotten. I love that the story’s themes are all tied together with the score. So many scores these days just pay attention to the music, but not what the music *means.* The other composer that comes to mind that puts this much thought into their music is John Williams, who - shocker, I know - may have created a *few* classic movie themes. Harry Potter’s score was never the same after he left. The Star Wars prequels feel much better than they are because he does the score. The Schindler’s List theme brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. This is in part because he pays attention to what the music means to the story, not just “Oh this is a sad moment cue the sad music.” She-Ra’s theme does that and more, making amazing moments that much greater and amplifying this show’s emotion to take it to the heights we all know and love.
i didn't pay much attention to the music up until this video. the thing that really caught me off guard is that the promise theme INSTANTY evoqued emotions in me. i legit started crying. man sunna really did an amazing job.
It goes to say something when just clips of the music from a video analysis makes my hairs stand on end. The music in She-Ra isn't just something you hear but you feel it too.
I really love the She-Ra soundtrack with how clever it is using the same pieces and how it knows when to use silence, which isn't something a lot of shows know how to use correctly. A very good video, thank you.
Honestly, the first time I registered the music box sound in Corridors, I cried. There's just something about the innocence being inserted right before Catra's turning point--and the literal fighting for your life moment soon after--that knocks me out. Such a beautiful soundtrack
It really felt like a moment where everything clicked. The childhood reassembled and used as a catalyst for change. The power of a forgotten innocence is so perfectly reflected in that piece.
Does anybody know where I can find the music box soundtrack? Or the childhood motif in general? Cus I've been trying to find it for ages and I literally can't find anything.
It continues to amaze me just how brilliantly-crafted this little show is. It's a cartoon about space wizards made (primarily) for kids, based on a set of 30-minute toy commercials from the '80's. If any show could have counted on being able to spoon out some paint-by-numbers schlock dressed up in nostalgia and fan-service and get away with it, this is that show. And yet the creators gave us this gorgeous, multi-layered masterpiece built on a scaffolding of deep, meaningful interpersonal relationships between characters truly worth caring about. I really hope this creative team produces more shows, of whatever type. Also, I love your analyses, and eagerly await whatever you might make next about this show.
Silence evokes a finality. Angella's sacrifice, she doesn't come back outside of that one flashback, she's /gone/.. and the music cutting out underlines it, it's a punctuation, full stop. That's how I've always remembered silence in music scores. It's a capstone, the clang of an iron door closing for the last time, the sound of a bell to chime the end of the day.
The critics (and everybody) can say what they want about the reboot She-Ra 2018, but after viewing this incredible explanation of the 'what, why, how, and even the reasons that all these characters came into play were so much more than just a love story!! Omg, the parallel explanation scene with Adora, Queen Angella, Catra, and Shadow Weaver ... 💯🌟
Also I'd like to mention another amazing score from she-ra that has a lot to do with one particular character and is definetley worth mentioning. It's Glimmer's theme. It first plays when we discover what happened to Sallineas and how it fell under the Horde's grasp. Glimmer was gradually taking a dark turn ever since Angella left, and that theme played the first time her character took a turn. Her determination to win the war at any cost. That season she also shows constantly how she and Catra are, like it was already mentioned so many times before, two sides of the same coin. Much like Catra, she doesn't care what she has to do in order to achieve what she wants, ending up being the villain of her own story and also subconsciosly adopting toxic traits from her mother figure . Catra uses SW's manipulation and Glimmer abuses of her title to control others(specifically Bow on Adora). Ofc Angela wasn't toxic and she had her reasons, but Glimmer picked up on that habit of hers that always took place during their quarrels. The theme plays another time when Glimmer's determination and decission is set in stone, as she begins to panic only to realise Bow and Adora had left. "If they don't trust me, I don't *trust* them" , I'll do it *alone* if I have to" . The theme later comes in one last time as a parallel to that scene, her father calling her "Pathetic, *alone* , weak" as now Glimmer's determination is at her peak, but not out of vengeance or desperation but rather, out of love, growth, and especially, *trust* . She may not have her friends physically around her, but she wasn't alone, and picked on everything positive she had to learn from both them and her mother. The symbolism and character development there is amazing. The theme is pretty epic and dramatic too, I think it's underrated just like her character. Catra and Adora are amazing and my personal favourites, but She-Ra as a whole has so many diverse and complex characters that we shouldn't forget.
This kinda brings to mind some pacing issues I have with the show not that it's bad but, as with every good show you wish you had more of X and Y and in this case I think it could have been improved a bit. I think they could have given Glimmer and Catra a lot more time with the jail visits. They have a lot to talk about that could help flesh out Catra's turn some and help Glimmer get some perspective. Glimmer feels guilty and wants to apologize ( though not to Catra ) for going along with Shadow Weaver's plan, if there's a thing in the entire world other then Adora that could warm Catra to someone it's some good old SW griping. Heck that's probably an easier angle then Adora since it taps into her well worn habits of rage. Catra sharing even a fraction of the torment she's gone through with SW would provide Glimmer with the insight to make her 'do you really want that' comment actually make sense. Then at some point Glimmer relays some of what Adora's expressed about SW and everyone just gets a chance to feel validated and after that Glimmer queues up Catra with some comment about how Adora saved her. They might talk more after this point but that's sorta what I view as necessary, Catra does her reflection sees the teleport room and without the whole guilt-trip 'do one good thing' ( since in spite of a history of many bad things Catra has done good before ) goes and does the plan. Glimmer also gets to teleport to friends with a lot less confusion about Catra's motivations and generally lets her show more emotional intelligence about the situation which she could probably use after an emotionally dumb season 4. I think it would have improved all the characters involved, I also think that shifting the power core episode before Glimmer's saved so you can save Glimmer and then cat one after the other.
Shadowed stranger in an alleyway: "Hey, want another reason to rewatch She-ra? I got some 'music you never thought to pay attention to when you binged it'."
This is so funny to me cause i'm starting a rewatch cause i just realised i didn't pay much attention to the music when i binged it. Maybe even spread out the episodes(or at least try to lol)
THE BIT ON SILENCE YES YES YES it feels like nobody talks about the use of silence in media - it's so underappreciated!!! and she-ra is such a good example of how to use it!! aaaaaaa the sword smash too I'm still in absolute AWE every time i watch it. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT
Oh man, I appreciate the She-Ra music so much, but I didn't think how they were being used during certain character momentsand conflict, mostly because they sound pretty different to me. This reminds me in one of the Tumblr site I was at where a video shows how Suanne integrated Entrapta's theme with Hordak's that represents their growing relationship. I really appreciate this and all of your She-Ra videos (and Love Letter to Korrasami) and sorry for my previous deleted comments. I was going through some difficult time emotionally.
YES finally a positive video about this series.....been in the internet lately not be very fun if you are a fan of this show looking for videos, some stupid ones pop up.
Thank you. This soundtrack is what got me through 2020. I played it everytime I had to commute between home and my university/study sites, which takes about as long as the full released soundtrack. It was what brought joy into moments of tiredness, exhaustion and loneliness. It is so good to see a video to put into words how I feel about this music and that gives it the credit it deserves.
I absolutely adore (lol) the soundtrack but my fav are when 1) Glimmer gets saved thanks to Catra 2) Angella valiantly takes Adora's place to retrieve the sword between 2 worlds and 3) the unused theme song cover AJ sung. That would be perfect for a Mara prequel tbh.
Promise was definitely my favourite theme of the show. It reminded me a little bit of Battle Of The Heroes from Star Wars actually. When I watched the episode Light Spinner for the first time, I didn't actually think that Shadow Weaver was going to use Catra like that, I didn't see that ending coming at all, so I felt the shock and betrayal that Catra did, and the music just emphasised that more. Every time I think of the line 'I want you to go further than I did, but you have to be smarter than me, stronger than me', the music just reminds me of how both Catra and I believed she had good intentions completely. And I loved your points about silence. I think sometimes they made the scenes just feel more real and raw. The fact that the music at both Angella and Shadow Weaver's sacrifices were similar, I hadn't noticed that before, that's interesting. Another favourite soundtrack part is when Mara talks to Adora in Heart Part 1. That was a really beautiful scene.
Shout out to the season 5 transformation soundtrack that really floored me. Triumphant with some organ thrown in the first time to mark it as a sort of miracle, and more serious and grounded to mark this She Ra being a more mature version. Not a hype for awesomeness to come, but a culmination of everything she's learned and almost a fanfare for a savior.
There is another theme that qualifies for Mara‘s theme - noticed by WaterWitch, who uploaded the soundtrack of certain scenes and the end credits here on youtube. That theme is in the end credits (and also in the episode I guess) of ‚Signals‘, ‚The Crimson Waste‘ and ‚Hero’. Even though arranged differently every time it can all three times be seen as a legacy: A legacy yet to be discovered by going on a adventure: One that unravels by digging out clues, putting them together and by expeditions into the Crimson waste. Just as much as a legacy of a lost friend and a timeless connection for Razz. That „Legacy theme“ of Mara does appear again in Destiny part 2: It’s in the scene where Adora tries to convince Light Hope to stop the weapon and fights against the sword‘s programm, just before she destroys the sword (‚I Won‘t be Controlled‘). It has both Mara‘s theme and a variation of Promise which I think you didn‘t mention here. I think all that very smart things you said about the Promise scene before (Number 6) also applies here. And it‘s also interesting how Adora‘s character arch of the broken promise (overwhelming expectations like explained in 6) is combined with Mara‘s legacy: Adora now turns against evil again, just as she did when she left the Horde, „left Catra“ and broke the promise. ‚Promise‘ has a scence of tragic destiny in it here (but I mean the destiny Adora chooses): Doing what is right, but, again, at a great cost. Just now it’s the sword, not leaving Catra behind. And Mara is a parallel here: Mara, too, turned against the first One‘s plan at great cost - she sacrificed herself and her legacy would be shattered.
You are the greatest, and agreed that this soundtrack is emotionally destructive. Also I probably send “She-ra is Worth Your Time” to somebody new at least a few times a month, and I love that the soundtrack is a key part of that too.
Never since Avatar The Last airbender or Batman the Animated series, have i ever seen a show that made such a powerful, amazing and unique original soundtrack and music then She-RA princesses of power Adora’s transformation scores literally give me chills every time i hear them, i right away think and desire to do something heroic and noble The horde and Hordak’s electric guitar theme is awesome in a daft punk rock type of way and is threatening but more in a “you’re going to get it feel” Horde Prime’s Organ, choir and church like/gospel themes are terrifying and uncomfortable, like some bizarre and disturbing requiem Mass, which makes sense when you know that Noelle and the crew based him and his mannerisms on cult leaders. The friendship and love themes between Glimmer and Bow, Glimmer and her mother Angella, the friendship squad etc. Also the other types of music Like Mermista’s rock ballad, Sea Hawks sea shanty and pirate songs, Scorpia’s singing and etc (and shout out to Lauren Ash, she’s got a beautiful voice)
I've watched this Video like a thousand times now and I have heard the score at least a million times, but for some reason, this time, hearing Promise made me cry again like it did the during S5. There will never be another show like She-Ra.
YES, THE SILENCE! I noticed its use immediately and how well the show chose its moments. Its a tool that screams "FOCUS" to me, when ur supposed to really breathe in something from the story. And not just for big moments, but for smaller one too like the characters just talking and bouncing off of one another. I love it, and I wish I saw it used way more in recent productions.
The Children's theme got me. And You're videos always make me cry. They are good tears, but my SO is starting to worry why this a a comfort channel for me.
Wow, I didn't even realize how infectious the soundtrack is for this show, I know that you struggled very much with CZcams to upload this video and I'm glad you got it out! Thanks for another great video and opening my ears!
THANK YOU for talking about the score in She-Ra, sometimes I feel it's so underappreciated. A good score can add so much to the emotion of a TV show. The other show I really appreciate the score to is Murray Gold era Doctor Who, as both of these shows leave enough space for the music to tell a story and add so much feeling to it with identifiable repeating themes throughout that we link to the characters. also that short childhood motif in heart part 1 will live in my mind forever
I was so sad that the cute little tune that plays when everyone is putting on their tuxes and dresses for princess prom wasn't in the official soundtrack release
Such a good video. The soundtrack of the show is genius and deserves every praise possible. Promises always manage to make me tear up. It was really cool that you pin pointed the moments of the show with each piece of the soundtrack. Nice editing :) People underestimate the power of silence. Its refreshing to see it being used so well.
I guess this is the second or third time I'm watching this videos and i cant get enough of it. I really love that song and my heart cries every time I listen to it. I'm still trying to figure out how and why, but this series gets me in a way I cannot explain. Plus, I'd love to watch a video appreciation about fractures too. Actually the soundtrack is amazing, Sunna did a great job 🫶✨️
You got REA OML!!! Okay I absolutely loved every part of this video and Rea making an appearance to rant about Silence and how I need to appreciate it more just... AHHHh As one She-Ra nerd to another, well done.
It's the dynamic of the golden child and the scapegoat. It's good for children to see that abusive parents often pit their children against each other to get control. By seeing it on a kids show they can know what it is, and that it's not normal.
I really really love the way you pace your entire video. You’re a cool storyteller, thank you for all the She-ra content the brainrot will never end so I’m so happy to get another vid from u
Ok, two things. 1: this is a fantastic analysis, thanks for making this! and 2: I didn't even manage to make it a third of the way through the video without crying. Fuck, _She-Ra_ had a bigger emotional impact on me than anything else I've watched in a long while, and I think the score was a big part of that.
Ok this was such a great video. I'm almost done with my She-ra rewatch, but after this analysis i will have to rewatch it AGAIN to pick up all the little musical motifs I missed. You simply gave me no other choice. I'm so happy this video exists because She-ra's score, just like most of the show itself, is vastly underrated. She-ra can look from the outside like a silly, simple fantasy story and I'm glad this channel is around to show to everyone how brillhant this series is! It's brillhant, and understated. It's not in your face about how deep it is, leaving smart people like you to tear into it and reveal it's greatness. It was nice to see that so many of my favorite moments were featured in this video. The friendship theme and Promise theme in the finale had me weeping when I first watched, and it was around those moments I realized the score was something special. Likewise, I always ranted about how the portal scene and the sword breaking scene fucking elevate this show to another level, and it's clear the silence was a fantastic artistic choice. Finally I will say again how much I love this channel and that I hope you stick around doing these videos! You guys do seriously great work that's way above and beyond the average youtube video essay and you really deserve more recognition!
want to make sure this doesn't go unnoticed but whenever adora has her own promise theme without catra there is always a marching beat that is often used to symbolize military and soldiers (coming from a former snare drum performer) showing us how adora even still is inflicted by her past narrative from the horde and how she still sees herself as a soldier, a fighter and eventually as a weapon.
I never noticed much about the soundtrack. As you said, it plays a very understated role. Mostly, I thought about how much the transformation theme slaps hard, and how drastically different and more awesome it becomes in Season 5, because it was the most frequently repeated motif. But now, on my inevitable rewatch of the show, I'm definitely going to pay way more attention to the music. It's my favorite show, and you've opened up a whole new dimension of it. So, genuinely, thank you so much for this video.
You're She-Ra analysis videos are some of my favorite. Thank you for showing the show such love. Edit: Something I noticed recently is that there's a sort of fifth moment of silence being used for effect in the show. It's at the end of Season 5's "The Perils of Peekablue" after the group receive Perfuma's warning not to come to Etheria. The shot just pulls back on the ship floating silently in space as the reality of their defeat hits home.
Subtlety is grand, but I confess I am at heart a lover of bombast. For me, the most powerful musical sequence in the series is the final transform, first heard partially in "Stranded", and finally unleashed in its full glory in "Taking Control". The same transform theme we've heard dozens of times from a full orchestra, but the melody now carried entirely by the horns, transposed to a lower, deeper key and slowed to a majestic, powerful surge. It's so short, but I can never get through it with dry eyes.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve always seen shadow weavers final action as yet another act of manipulation and cowardice, not “love”. Throughout the entire show everything she did was for control. That’s why she was so set on getting Adora back, she had molded her into the perfect conduit for her control. But as the show goes on the girls break free from that control. And by the time of heart part 2, Shadow weaver basically can’t manipulate Catra and Adora anymore, especially when it comes to each other. So, Shadow Weaver being a coward and a terrible person does the one this she can to manipulate and control them one final time in a way that will be really difficult for them to process. She had already lost all her power, and in her final act decided to plunge the knife back in.
Also i think that shadow weaver knows once prime is defeated, she'll face punishment. With no war going on anymore, she cant just move to the other army to escape comsequences, and she wont be able to manipulate anyone anymore. She knows she will be punished, and her only way out of that would be to change her ways and apologise. She does definitely want to be remembered as a hero, or at least have her last act be one of good, because a positive legacy would give her what she always craved. Power. But also she did it i think to escape facing consequences for her actions. All of her actions. Her actions as light spinner, shadow weaver, as a maternal figure/mentor to micah, adora, catra and glimmer. Shee knew shed have to look all of that in the eyes, and she doesnt wannt to. She wants to keep believing shes in the right, that she's being practical and striving high. Everything that shes built her power on -- staying on the winning side of the war, manipulating young people in a form of self projection, stealing and harnessing etherias magic - she knows it'll all go away once adora uses the failsafe. She cant stay on the winning side of the war, when theres no war. She cant manipulate anyone else, because the people she manipulated before have evidence of how harmful listening to her is. She cant steal etherias magic if its now amplified: if everyone is surrounded by magic you cant claim to be more powerful than anything else. She knows that everything she worked for will disappear. So, in a final, calclating move to protect her legacy, she sacrifices herself. Escaping consequences, running away from all the morally corrupt choices shed made.
@@bellac6311 I think you’re exactly right, throughout almost the entire story Shadow weaver was a coward running away from the mess she made. I thought it was very telling that Shadow Weaver didn’t want to help Catra until Adora wanted to go back for her, showing definitive defiance to Shadow weavers lifetime of manipulation. She realized she was powerless and that no one was going to follow her script anymore. So she again ran from her own mess.
I think it was almost cruel of her to tell Catra she was proud of her. Because now Catra will spend the rest of her life in this terrible confusion and guilt of not knowing whether it was right for her to hate Shadow Weaver
I was waiting for someone to make a video like this and the fact that it's made by my fave She-Ra channel just makes it all the better. ^^ The soundtrack in the show and the intelligence with which it's used is on another level istg.
She ra and avatar (both) soundtracks are next level. I often have it playing on the background and pp are always surprised when I tell them where it's from
Promise does whatever it does to me regardless of how good you are in music. That but you did at the end still makes me tear up. Promise is that good for me. It reminds me of what it feels like to care so deeply about someone.
I adore your content so much. Your voice is just so grounding and your insight in movies and shows always makes me see them in a different perspective. I’m so thankful to have found your channel and I can’t wait to see where you go in the future because I’m sure it’ll be incredible! Much love
This is one of the best videos on CZcams. It’s looking at music not from a theoretical perspective, but just a pure artistic perspective. It’s taking so much time and thought to just appreciate my favorite aspect of life within one of my favorite shows
Another observation I made that wasn't mentioned in this video was that the music that played when Light Spinner taught young Micah made a reprise when Shadow Weaver taught Glimmer magic in S4E4 Pulse
It's been 3 months since I first watched she ra and I am still obsessed. I'm now at the point of trying to disect a few score pieces even though I know nothing about music theory. The music in this show is so immersive and emotional. I would honestly re watch she ra without the dialog just to fully soak up all the variations of the score through out.
Every time I hear your voice I IMMEDIATELY get goosebumps because I've heard so many well constructed, thoughtful, and genuinely moving takes from you that I've been Pavloved.
I wasn't expecting to watch this whole thing. Your She-ra videos are incredible and are much appreciated after watching the show (again). I adore the music in the show and to me, your commentary and insight adds power. Your videos are the next ones to watch after She-ra!
12:50, That small detail you caught is just... I'm in awe. Speaking as someone who read a fair bit of Batgirl(Cassandra and Stephanie's run as the heroine), I'm hopefully optimistic a cartoon series based on either or one of them is just as significant. Keep up the stellar work.
I'm still sad that we never got Catra and Adora's themes playing together as they fought side by side against one enemy. Just one would've made me happy.
(Imagine Netflix gives us a movie and that actually happens)
Queitly opens garageband
I would've loved for them to fight side-by-side! And especially with their themes playing together. That would've been so cool!
@@izzypaige07 And romantic
@@falconeshield Oh. Yeah!
I can't ever listen to "promise" without feeling ALL the emotions.
Yup. Music affects my soul anyway, especially grand, emotional stuff, so when it's accompanied by such major moments like this, well, it's like you said: ALL the emotions.
I think the most profound moment was when Catra was sending off Glimmer. "I'm dead, there's no more hope for me. Bye, Adora." Especially considering, of all people, _Glimmer_ goes into the void screaming her name in longing anguish. It's odd to put the actual climax below the top spot, but it happens with Lord of the Rings, too. The Battle of Pellinor Fields meant more to me, musically, than the Crack of Doom. Likely for similar reasons, in that a secondary major force is putting their everything into one event for the chance to keep fighting. It's not the "All or nothing" kind of desperation, where this is their chance to win, it's the desperation of "Just one more day". "We can't win this fight, no matter what we do, but we'll fight anyway because we need to. Someone else needs us to."
Wow, I guess I had a lot to get off my chest.
Got me feelin all the feels
Okay but the swell in the Chipped Catra fight scene with Adora...that was when I realized: I LOVE THIS SOUNDTRACK. IT'S SO GOOD. I can list the exact moment in that entire sequence where Catra takes a step back onto Prime's lil raised platform, says "He will free all of us. Forever" and then leaps into action and BAM, there's the infectious swell that I love so dang much.
IKR I LOVE THAT BIT I STG I REWATCH JUST FOR THAT - plus the music and visuals coming immediately after she jumps even if it only lasts a couple moments
@@jrdnlyr SAME I rewatch the scene just for the swell it's incredible.
Ah man that is a beautiful piece of music.
the way its literally a 40 minute video and i felt like there was still way more to talk about.. sunna is a genius
listen if i make a part two
@@5x5Takes YOU SHOULD
@@roza2633 Yes please! To put it in Entraptas words: „We have so much to talk about“
Wait it was 40 MINUTES???? 👁👄👁 and I thought it went by too quick
@@5x5Takes you shoulddd
My favorite motif is what I call the "She-Ra Motif." It's that little "ooh ooooh" theme that comes up whenever She-Ra does something amazing. The first couple times it shows up when She-Ra just appears, her very presence is amazing enough. It plays all the time in season 1 as Adora discovers more about her abilities, and is especially awe inspiring there. It's the kind of theme that makes all the characters stop and stare at how incredible She-Ra is.
It continues to surface throughout the series whenever Adora learns a new She-Ra power, such as when she learns to heal in The Price of Power. In these later instances, it's less grandiose but more heroic and slightly more emotional. The characters have stopped looking at She-Ra as some mythical saviour, but as an inspiration to follow.
But the theme really comes back to punch you in the stomach during Heart Part 1. It plays as Adora looks out over VR Etheria and talks to Mara. There's nobody there to behold She-Ra's might, it's just Adora and Mara, the two young women behind the legendary figure. It's no longer awe inspiring or heroic, it's sad and lonely, like all that power made its wielder forget who they are, and how that responsibility led them both towards self-destruction.
And it shows up one final time in Heart Part 2 when Adora walks out of the Heart and restores magic to Etheria. It's not loud and triumphant like you might expect for the grand finale, it sounds closer to the lonely version in the Heart than any other iterations. But instead of being downcast and lonely, it's joyful and inspiring, and it's also mixed in with that magic motif too. It's like Adora finally figured out who she is and what She-Ra represents.
The theme's progression really nicely shows Adora's relationship with She-Ra growing from wielder of the ancient power, to hero and leader, to twenty year old girl about to sacrifice herself to save the world, and finally to Adora becoming her most authentic self.
omg it was my favorite too
It is also my favorite its so pretty i get chills whenever i hear it and i love what it represents and how it changes a bit as adora fully realizes who she is and what shera is
Why can’t I find it?
Thank you for writing my thoughts in a way I could never do :')
That whispery ethereal oooo oooooo is so good and gives this sense of daeific power and legend
One of my favorite musical bits is the season 5 transformation music, as Adora becomes She-Ra without the First Ones' sword. The transformation sequence in seasons 1-4 was cool and all, but there was something perfunctory about it, like it came preprogrammed with the sword. Now that Adora is transforming all by herself, every step of the progression is an act of sheer will, and the music reflects that. The basic melody is more or less the same, but it's slower, in a higher key, and several notes are missing. It's also led by a French horn in its upper register, so that the top notes sound like they require more effort. It's a brilliant musical depiction of Adora learning to control on her own the magic she used to take for granted.
I agree. One of of BEST SCENES in the show.
Gall, why wasn't this in the official score???
The score is incredible. It plays such an undernoted role in the series, but without it Shera wouldn't have been nearly as good as it is.
You said it. Sunna Weirmeijer is amazing and I cannot WAIT to hear what she dies next.
@@HaydrogenBomb24 does, I hope she has a very long, happy and creative life before she dies some very very remote day in the far future ;)
Sunna's score for She-Ra is amazing, the amount of themes woven throughout the entire series really elevate the story being told
I love that the themes are tied together with the score. So many scores these days just pay attention to the music, but not what the music *means.*
The other composer that comes to mind that puts this much thought into their music is John Williams, who - shocker, I know - may have created a *few* classic movie themes. Harry Potter’s score was never the same after he left. The Star Wars prequels feel much better than they are because he does the score. The Schindler’s List theme brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. This is in part because he pays attention to what the music means to the story, not just “Oh this is a sad moment cue the sad music.”
She-Ra’s theme does that and more, making amazing moments that much greater and amplifying this show’s emotion to take it to the heights we all know and love.
Whoa, it's nice to see you here!
I absolutely LOVE the "childhood theme" specifically when it plays in Corridors.
It's such a quiet, introspective moment in the show. Contrasting the war and explosions that are happening outside of the ship and Catra's simply staring out the window.
The first few notes are hauntingly beautiful and it really portrays the longing for innocence that Catra, and even us the audience have. By far my favourite moment in the score
The music in She-ra was attention grabbing since the very first scene. However it wasn't until Promise episode that it punched me in the emotions, with Corrupted Catra vs Adora scenes really knocking me out. From then on, the use of music (& lack of!) just gets more and more clever!
Promise is that one theme that punches me in the gut every time I hear it and drags my mind back to that one moment.
Can we all agree the Horde Training theme is the catchiest track in the series?
For reference, it's the theme that plays at the start of episode one and at the beginning part of promise on the soundtrack.
That theme is my personal favourite and I always love it everytime it plays.
The music in She-Ra is such high quality in how it helps to narrate the story and themes, the emotions, the characters and it stands on its own as good music too.
Yes. Yes we can.
It also plays whenever horde members(and formers) are fighting each other, like when Adora and Huntara was fighting
I love that scene with Huntara, they do a variation of the theme with electric guitars and it sounds awesome.
@@thejohnhopkinscompany9599 Me too. I love the dynamic between Adora and Huntara 😀
26:37
HOLY SHIT the way "Promise" sorta starts swelling up along with the "Take Care of Each Other" motif...
I love this show.
There's a tiny part of the soundtrack during Destiny (Part 2) when Adora breaks the Sword of Protection. It's near the end of it, and Promise plays at almost double speed in the soundtrack. I think that's pretty important too, since the sword was one of the first things that broke the bond between them. Also it is criminal that Destiny (Part 2) soundtrack is not available >:(
NO I MISSED IT!
One of my favorite little details is that the guitar riff in Catra’s theme uses a motif from the She-Ra transformation theme (D-F-A-Bb-A), which makes sense when you consider that it mostly plays in moments of ascension for Catra.
Music gives you something, silence leaves you with what you have.
Dang . . .
I have a feeling the soundtrack is for sure going to be hella nostalgic.
it's only a matter of time, it's already gone on repeat in my head:')
@@emily.c518 me too 🙃🥲
Especially the promise theme…haha…I love pain 🥰
oh when I hear the promise theme that plays in the finale I get goosebumps and just reminisce
@@AceStudios10 sameeee
@@AceStudios10 it happens every single time and at this point it’s concerning. #Therapy
Great analysis of the motifs used in the score. I think one of the things that strikes me the most about the soundtrack is the blend of synthesized electronic music and orchestral music. Those two styles tie in with the science fiction and fantasy elements of the show perfectly. Orchestral music is known for accompanying many classical fantasy series including films like Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and even How to Train Your Dragon while electronic music and sounds have a strong association with science fiction from films like The Forbidden Planet and Blade Runner.
In She Ra we hear orchestral themes associated more often with the Rebellion, specifically Madame Razz, while the Horde is represented by more electronic sounds. You could even argue that this connects to the dichotomy of the artificial vs the authentic aspect of the show.
part two will happen 👁
Take notes Hollywood, identifiable music themes have a really important place.
Great work, worth the wait ^^ The 'take care of eachother' theme thing was a revelation. The composer really thought about the show to give us this detail.
Right? This is what Hollywood seems to have forgotten.
I love that the story’s themes are all tied together with the score. So many scores these days just pay attention to the music, but not what the music *means.*
The other composer that comes to mind that puts this much thought into their music is John Williams, who - shocker, I know - may have created a *few* classic movie themes. Harry Potter’s score was never the same after he left. The Star Wars prequels feel much better than they are because he does the score. The Schindler’s List theme brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. This is in part because he pays attention to what the music means to the story, not just “Oh this is a sad moment cue the sad music.”
She-Ra’s theme does that and more, making amazing moments that much greater and amplifying this show’s emotion to take it to the heights we all know and love.
"Eat loud chips and you'll miss it" too accurate
i didn't pay much attention to the music up until this video. the thing that really caught me off guard is that the promise theme INSTANTY evoqued emotions in me. i legit started crying. man sunna really did an amazing job.
It goes to say something when just clips of the music from a video analysis makes my hairs stand on end.
The music in She-Ra isn't just something you hear but you feel it too.
I really love the She-Ra soundtrack with how clever it is using the same pieces and how it knows when to use silence, which isn't something a lot of shows know how to use correctly.
A very good video, thank you.
Honestly, the first time I registered the music box sound in Corridors, I cried. There's just something about the innocence being inserted right before Catra's turning point--and the literal fighting for your life moment soon after--that knocks me out. Such a beautiful soundtrack
I loved that bit so much! And then when they played that one intense note as she runs off I was like 'yesssss we're gonna get a redemption!!!'
what is the song callled tho, ive been trying to find it for so long but i just cant
And then when they bring back after Catra falls off the platform. Just
It really felt like a moment where everything clicked. The childhood reassembled and used as a catalyst for change. The power of a forgotten innocence is so perfectly reflected in that piece.
Does anybody know where I can find the music box soundtrack? Or the childhood motif in general? Cus I've been trying to find it for ages and I literally can't find anything.
It continues to amaze me just how brilliantly-crafted this little show is. It's a cartoon about space wizards made (primarily) for kids, based on a set of 30-minute toy commercials from the '80's. If any show could have counted on being able to spoon out some paint-by-numbers schlock dressed up in nostalgia and fan-service and get away with it, this is that show. And yet the creators gave us this gorgeous, multi-layered masterpiece built on a scaffolding of deep, meaningful interpersonal relationships between characters truly worth caring about. I really hope this creative team produces more shows, of whatever type.
Also, I love your analyses, and eagerly await whatever you might make next about this show.
the way ive been listening to the tracks on repeats and now i see this video.. perfect timing
Silence evokes a finality.
Angella's sacrifice, she doesn't come back outside of that one flashback, she's /gone/.. and the music cutting out underlines it, it's a punctuation, full stop.
That's how I've always remembered silence in music scores. It's a capstone, the clang of an iron door closing for the last time, the sound of a bell to chime the end of the day.
The critics (and everybody) can say what they want about the reboot She-Ra 2018, but after viewing this incredible explanation of the 'what, why, how, and even the reasons that all these characters came into play were so much more than just a love story!!
Omg, the parallel explanation scene with Adora, Queen Angella, Catra, and Shadow Weaver ... 💯🌟
Also I'd like to mention another amazing score from she-ra that has a lot to do with one particular character and is definetley worth mentioning. It's Glimmer's theme. It first plays when we discover what happened to Sallineas and how it fell under the Horde's grasp. Glimmer was gradually taking a dark turn ever since Angella left, and that theme played the first time her character took a turn. Her determination to win the war at any cost. That season she also shows constantly how she and Catra are, like it was already mentioned so many times before, two sides of the same coin. Much like Catra, she doesn't care what she has to do in order to achieve what she wants, ending up being the villain of her own story and also subconsciosly adopting toxic traits from her mother figure . Catra uses SW's manipulation and Glimmer abuses of her title to control others(specifically Bow on Adora). Ofc Angela wasn't toxic and she had her reasons, but Glimmer picked up on that habit of hers that always took place during their quarrels. The theme plays another time when Glimmer's determination and decission is set in stone, as she begins to panic only to realise Bow and Adora had left. "If they don't trust me, I don't *trust* them" , I'll do it *alone* if I have to" . The theme later comes in one last time as a parallel to that scene, her father calling her "Pathetic, *alone* , weak" as now Glimmer's determination is at her peak, but not out of vengeance or desperation but rather, out of love, growth, and especially, *trust* . She may not have her friends physically around her, but she wasn't alone, and picked on everything positive she had to learn from both them and her mother. The symbolism and character development there is amazing. The theme is pretty epic and dramatic too, I think it's underrated just like her character. Catra and Adora are amazing and my personal favourites, but She-Ra as a whole has so many diverse and complex characters that we shouldn't forget.
This kinda brings to mind some pacing issues I have with the show not that it's bad but, as with every good show you wish you had more of X and Y and in this case I think it could have been improved a bit.
I think they could have given Glimmer and Catra a lot more time with the jail visits. They have a lot to talk about that could help flesh out Catra's turn some and help Glimmer get some perspective. Glimmer feels guilty and wants to apologize ( though not to Catra ) for going along with Shadow Weaver's plan, if there's a thing in the entire world other then Adora that could warm Catra to someone it's some good old SW griping. Heck that's probably an easier angle then Adora since it taps into her well worn habits of rage. Catra sharing even a fraction of the torment she's gone through with SW would provide Glimmer with the insight to make her 'do you really want that' comment actually make sense. Then at some point Glimmer relays some of what Adora's expressed about SW and everyone just gets a chance to feel validated and after that Glimmer queues up Catra with some comment about how Adora saved her.
They might talk more after this point but that's sorta what I view as necessary, Catra does her reflection sees the teleport room and without the whole guilt-trip 'do one good thing' ( since in spite of a history of many bad things Catra has done good before ) goes and does the plan. Glimmer also gets to teleport to friends with a lot less confusion about Catra's motivations and generally lets her show more emotional intelligence about the situation which she could probably use after an emotionally dumb season 4.
I think it would have improved all the characters involved, I also think that shifting the power core episode before Glimmer's saved so you can save Glimmer and then cat one after the other.
Shadowed stranger in an alleyway: "Hey, want another reason to rewatch She-ra? I got some 'music you never thought to pay attention to when you binged it'."
This is so funny to me cause i'm starting a rewatch cause i just realised i didn't pay much attention to the music when i binged it. Maybe even spread out the episodes(or at least try to lol)
I could listen to you discuss she ra all day. Seriously, thanks for taking the time to put this together!
SUCCESS
THE BIT ON SILENCE YES YES YES it feels like nobody talks about the use of silence in media - it's so underappreciated!!! and she-ra is such a good example of how to use it!! aaaaaaa the sword smash too I'm still in absolute AWE every time i watch it. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT
Just one day left!!!!!! Also I wholeheartedly agree with the description.
Yup. Gonna watch She-Ra again and let it tear my heart out like it did before.
Oh man, I appreciate the She-Ra music so much, but I didn't think how they were being used during certain character momentsand conflict, mostly because they sound pretty different to me. This reminds me in one of the Tumblr site I was at where a video shows how Suanne integrated Entrapta's theme with Hordak's that represents their growing relationship. I really appreciate this and all of your She-Ra videos (and Love Letter to Korrasami) and sorry for my previous deleted comments. I was going through some difficult time emotionally.
YES finally a positive video about this series.....been in the internet lately not be very fun if you are a fan of this show looking for videos, some stupid ones pop up.
you’re in the right place then :)
The only one's I've seen are usually always very positive
Outrage fans really need to tone their rage towards the MOTU franshise, it's starting to leak into Revelations too now
You mean clownfish tv right? Yeah their videos aren’t about the show normally some type of outrage related to it.
Similarly seem almost exclusively (fittingly) glowingly positive videos on She-ra.
Praise Sunna 🙌
Yes 🙌🏼
Amen.
Thank you. This soundtrack is what got me through 2020. I played it everytime I had to commute between home and my university/study sites, which takes about as long as the full released soundtrack. It was what brought joy into moments of tiredness, exhaustion and loneliness. It is so good to see a video to put into words how I feel about this music and that gives it the credit it deserves.
Promise has pavlolved me into crying.
Also want to say that “no princess left behind” was in the background of when Bow and Adora left Glimmer to go to beast island and i am in tears
I absolutely adore (lol) the soundtrack but my fav are when 1) Glimmer gets saved thanks to Catra 2) Angella valiantly takes Adora's place to retrieve the sword between 2 worlds and 3) the unused theme song cover AJ sung. That would be perfect for a Mara prequel tbh.
A very intelligent analysis of how music (and the lack of) immensely affects your experience of any artwork and situation. Well done.
I really love when you dissect She Ra, I really hope you do a break down of Catra and Adoras relationship someday.
Great video
👁
Promise was definitely my favourite theme of the show. It reminded me a little bit of Battle Of The Heroes from Star Wars actually. When I watched the episode Light Spinner for the first time, I didn't actually think that Shadow Weaver was going to use Catra like that, I didn't see that ending coming at all, so I felt the shock and betrayal that Catra did, and the music just emphasised that more. Every time I think of the line 'I want you to go further than I did, but you have to be smarter than me, stronger than me', the music just reminds me of how both Catra and I believed she had good intentions completely. And I loved your points about silence. I think sometimes they made the scenes just feel more real and raw. The fact that the music at both Angella and Shadow Weaver's sacrifices were similar, I hadn't noticed that before, that's interesting. Another favourite soundtrack part is when Mara talks to Adora in Heart Part 1. That was a really beautiful scene.
Shout out to the season 5 transformation soundtrack that really floored me. Triumphant with some organ thrown in the first time to mark it as a sort of miracle, and more serious and grounded to mark this She Ra being a more mature version. Not a hype for awesomeness to come, but a culmination of everything she's learned and almost a fanfare for a savior.
There is another theme that qualifies for Mara‘s theme - noticed by WaterWitch, who uploaded the soundtrack of certain scenes and the end credits here on youtube. That theme is in the end credits (and also in the episode I guess) of ‚Signals‘, ‚The Crimson Waste‘ and ‚Hero’. Even though arranged differently every time it can all three times be seen as a legacy: A legacy yet to be discovered by going on a adventure: One that unravels by digging out clues, putting them together and by expeditions into the Crimson waste. Just as much as a legacy of a lost friend and a timeless connection for Razz.
That „Legacy theme“ of Mara does appear again in Destiny part 2: It’s in the scene where Adora tries to convince Light Hope to stop the weapon and fights against the sword‘s programm, just before she destroys the sword (‚I Won‘t be Controlled‘). It has both Mara‘s theme and a variation of Promise which I think you didn‘t mention here. I think all that very smart things you said about the Promise scene before (Number 6) also applies here. And it‘s also interesting how Adora‘s character arch of the broken promise (overwhelming expectations like explained in 6) is combined with Mara‘s legacy: Adora now turns against evil again, just as she did when she left the Horde, „left Catra“ and broke the promise. ‚Promise‘ has a scence of tragic destiny in it here (but I mean the destiny Adora chooses): Doing what is right, but, again, at a great cost. Just now it’s the sword, not leaving Catra behind. And Mara is a parallel here: Mara, too, turned against the first One‘s plan at great cost - she sacrificed herself and her legacy would be shattered.
You are the greatest, and agreed that this soundtrack is emotionally destructive.
Also I probably send “She-ra is Worth Your Time” to somebody new at least a few times a month, and I love that the soundtrack is a key part of that too.
OMG the second I heard "Promise" play in the background of your video I got goosebumps and chills. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Never since Avatar The Last airbender or Batman the Animated series, have i ever seen a show that made such a powerful, amazing and unique original soundtrack and music then She-RA princesses of power
Adora’s transformation scores literally give me chills every time i hear them, i right away think and desire to do something heroic and noble
The horde and Hordak’s electric guitar theme is awesome in a daft punk rock type of way and is threatening but more in a “you’re going to get it feel”
Horde Prime’s Organ, choir and church like/gospel themes are terrifying and uncomfortable, like some bizarre and disturbing requiem Mass, which makes sense when you know that Noelle and the crew based him and his mannerisms on cult leaders.
The friendship and love themes between Glimmer and Bow, Glimmer and her mother Angella, the friendship squad etc.
Also the other types of music Like Mermista’s rock ballad, Sea Hawks sea shanty and pirate songs, Scorpia’s singing and etc (and shout out to Lauren Ash, she’s got a beautiful voice)
I've watched this Video like a thousand times now and I have heard the score at least a million times, but for some reason, this time, hearing Promise made me cry again like it did the during S5. There will never be another show like She-Ra.
YES, THE SILENCE! I noticed its use immediately and how well the show chose its moments. Its a tool that screams "FOCUS" to me, when ur supposed to really breathe in something from the story. And not just for big moments, but for smaller one too like the characters just talking and bouncing off of one another. I love it, and I wish I saw it used way more in recent productions.
The Childhood Theme actually makes me tear up and break out in cold sweat. HOW IT'S JUST A SONG
The Children's theme got me. And You're videos always make me cry. They are good tears, but my SO is starting to worry why this a a comfort channel for me.
I got mad about bad faith media criticism so i came to watch this to cleanse my palate
Wow, I didn't even realize how infectious the soundtrack is for this show, I know that you struggled very much with CZcams to upload this video and I'm glad you got it out! Thanks for another great video and opening my ears!
OMG...I've seen She-Ra 7x and I never noticed Promise being played over and over. This is amazing!
The melodica and kalimba at the end made the perfect outro.
this video was a masterpiece as i suspected it would be
also the cover of promise at the end was *chefs kiss*
rea’s a genius
Can't wait to see the premiere :D
same :DD
Yeap :D
THANK YOU for talking about the score in She-Ra, sometimes I feel it's so underappreciated. A good score can add so much to the emotion of a TV show. The other show I really appreciate the score to is Murray Gold era Doctor Who, as both of these shows leave enough space for the music to tell a story and add so much feeling to it with identifiable repeating themes throughout that we link to the characters.
also that short childhood motif in heart part 1 will live in my mind forever
I was so sad that the cute little tune that plays when everyone is putting on their tuxes and dresses for princess prom wasn't in the official soundtrack release
The quality of your content is incredible! Thanks for this, subscribed.
Wonderful video! Love this show.
Sad that Fractures didn't get a shout out but honestly this video essay is perfect
There is also silence after her scene when Catra drops Adora in the episode called promise
Such a good video. The soundtrack of the show is genius and deserves every praise possible. Promises always manage to make me tear up.
It was really cool that you pin pointed the moments of the show with each piece of the soundtrack. Nice editing :)
People underestimate the power of silence. Its refreshing to see it being used so well.
I guess this is the second or third time I'm watching this videos and i cant get enough of it. I really love that song and my heart cries every time I listen to it.
I'm still trying to figure out how and why, but this series gets me in a way I cannot explain.
Plus, I'd love to watch a video appreciation about fractures too. Actually the soundtrack is amazing, Sunna did a great job 🫶✨️
AAAAAA YES THE SCORE NEEDS MORE APPRECIATION
You got REA OML!!! Okay I absolutely loved every part of this video and Rea making an appearance to rant about Silence and how I need to appreciate it more just... AHHHh
As one She-Ra nerd to another, well done.
It's the dynamic of the golden child and the scapegoat. It's good for children to see that abusive parents often pit their children against each other to get control. By seeing it on a kids show they can know what it is, and that it's not normal.
I really really love the way you pace your entire video. You’re a cool storyteller, thank you for all the She-ra content the brainrot will never end so I’m so happy to get another vid from u
Ties That Bind by Sunna Wehrmeijer is a personal fav
My favorites are Beast Island and The Heart Pts. 1 and 2
@@HaydrogenBomb24 same but I also love the end credits. It’s a vibe
Ok, two things. 1: this is a fantastic analysis, thanks for making this! and 2: I didn't even manage to make it a third of the way through the video without crying. Fuck, _She-Ra_ had a bigger emotional impact on me than anything else I've watched in a long while, and I think the score was a big part of that.
Ok this was such a great video. I'm almost done with my She-ra rewatch, but after this analysis i will have to rewatch it AGAIN to pick up all the little musical motifs I missed. You simply gave me no other choice.
I'm so happy this video exists because She-ra's score, just like most of the show itself, is vastly underrated. She-ra can look from the outside like a silly, simple fantasy story and I'm glad this channel is around to show to everyone how brillhant this series is! It's brillhant, and understated. It's not in your face about how deep it is, leaving smart people like you to tear into it and reveal it's greatness.
It was nice to see that so many of my favorite moments were featured in this video. The friendship theme and Promise theme in the finale had me weeping when I first watched, and it was around those moments I realized the score was something special. Likewise, I always ranted about how the portal scene and the sword breaking scene fucking elevate this show to another level, and it's clear the silence was a fantastic artistic choice.
Finally I will say again how much I love this channel and that I hope you stick around doing these videos! You guys do seriously great work that's way above and beyond the average youtube video essay and you really deserve more recognition!
This video is absolutely great. The analysis is succinct yet in-depth. Informative and fun. Amazing.
Ngl, after binging all your she-ra videos, the theme song is hitting a little different
Does anyone else get chills when you hear the promise soundtrack
want to make sure this doesn't go unnoticed but whenever adora has her own promise theme without catra there is always a marching beat that is often used to symbolize military and soldiers (coming from a former snare drum performer) showing us how adora even still is inflicted by her past narrative from the horde and how she still sees herself as a soldier, a fighter and eventually as a weapon.
oh love that
I never noticed much about the soundtrack. As you said, it plays a very understated role. Mostly, I thought about how much the transformation theme slaps hard, and how drastically different and more awesome it becomes in Season 5, because it was the most frequently repeated motif. But now, on my inevitable rewatch of the show, I'm definitely going to pay way more attention to the music. It's my favorite show, and you've opened up a whole new dimension of it. So, genuinely, thank you so much for this video.
DreamWorks animation on 🔥 with their composers. SPOP and Kipo are S-Tier
You're She-Ra analysis videos are some of my favorite. Thank you for showing the show such love.
Edit: Something I noticed recently is that there's a sort of fifth moment of silence being used for effect in the show. It's at the end of Season 5's "The Perils of Peekablue" after the group receive Perfuma's warning not to come to Etheria. The shot just pulls back on the ship floating silently in space as the reality of their defeat hits home.
Subtlety is grand, but I confess I am at heart a lover of bombast. For me, the most powerful musical sequence in the series is the final transform, first heard partially in "Stranded", and finally unleashed in its full glory in "Taking Control". The same transform theme we've heard dozens of times from a full orchestra, but the melody now carried entirely by the horns, transposed to a lower, deeper key and slowed to a majestic, powerful surge. It's so short, but I can never get through it with dry eyes.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve always seen shadow weavers final action as yet another act of manipulation and cowardice, not “love”.
Throughout the entire show everything she did was for control. That’s why she was so set on getting Adora back, she had molded her into the perfect conduit for her control.
But as the show goes on the girls break free from that control. And by the time of heart part 2, Shadow weaver basically can’t manipulate Catra and Adora anymore, especially when it comes to each other.
So, Shadow Weaver being a coward and a terrible person does the one this she can to manipulate and control them one final time in a way that will be really difficult for them to process. She had already lost all her power, and in her final act decided to plunge the knife back in.
Also i think that shadow weaver knows once prime is defeated, she'll face punishment. With no war going on anymore, she cant just move to the other army to escape comsequences, and she wont be able to manipulate anyone anymore. She knows she will be punished, and her only way out of that would be to change her ways and apologise. She does definitely want to be remembered as a hero, or at least have her last act be one of good, because a positive legacy would give her what she always craved. Power. But also she did it i think to escape facing consequences for her actions. All of her actions. Her actions as light spinner, shadow weaver, as a maternal figure/mentor to micah, adora, catra and glimmer. Shee knew shed have to look all of that in the eyes, and she doesnt wannt to. She wants to keep believing shes in the right, that she's being practical and striving high.
Everything that shes built her power on -- staying on the winning side of the war, manipulating young people in a form of self projection, stealing and harnessing etherias magic - she knows it'll all go away once adora uses the failsafe. She cant stay on the winning side of the war, when theres no war. She cant manipulate anyone else, because the people she manipulated before have evidence of how harmful listening to her is. She cant steal etherias magic if its now amplified: if everyone is surrounded by magic you cant claim to be more powerful than anything else.
She knows that everything she worked for will disappear. So, in a final, calclating move to protect her legacy, she sacrifices herself. Escaping consequences, running away from all the morally corrupt choices shed made.
@@bellac6311 I think you’re exactly right, throughout almost the entire story Shadow weaver was a coward running away from the mess she made.
I thought it was very telling that Shadow Weaver didn’t want to help Catra until Adora wanted to go back for her, showing definitive defiance to Shadow weavers lifetime of manipulation.
She realized she was powerless and that no one was going to follow her script anymore. So she again ran from her own mess.
I think it was almost cruel of her to tell Catra she was proud of her. Because now Catra will spend the rest of her life in this terrible confusion and guilt of not knowing whether it was right for her to hate Shadow Weaver
@@RowanArk Oooh I never thought about that- 😭😭
I was waiting for someone to make a video like this and the fact that it's made by my fave She-Ra channel just makes it all the better. ^^ The soundtrack in the show and the intelligence with which it's used is on another level istg.
She ra and avatar (both) soundtracks are next level. I often have it playing on the background and pp are always surprised when I tell them where it's from
Every time I watch a she-ra video essay I want to rewatch the show which I have done 8 times so I am restraining myself
Promise does whatever it does to me regardless of how good you are in music. That but you did at the end still makes me tear up. Promise is that good for me. It reminds me of what it feels like to care so deeply about someone.
I stayed up till 3:00 am to watch this and it was worth it.
I adore your content so much. Your voice is just so grounding and your insight in movies and shows always makes me see them in a different perspective. I’m so thankful to have found your channel and I can’t wait to see where you go in the future because I’m sure it’ll be incredible! Much love
Entrapta's leitmotif is so damn good too and perfectly reflects her mysterious yet playful personality and scientific interests
This is one of the best videos on CZcams. It’s looking at music not from a theoretical perspective, but just a pure artistic perspective. It’s taking so much time and thought to just appreciate my favorite aspect of life within one of my favorite shows
wow! thanks, i’m glad you dug!
Another observation I made that wasn't mentioned in this video was that the music that played when Light Spinner taught young Micah made a reprise when Shadow Weaver taught Glimmer magic in S4E4 Pulse
oh there’s a lot that didn’t make it for a part 2 👁
It's been 3 months since I first watched she ra and I am still obsessed. I'm now at the point of trying to disect a few score pieces even though I know nothing about music theory. The music in this show is so immersive and emotional. I would honestly re watch she ra without the dialog just to fully soak up all the variations of the score through out.
Every time I hear "Promise", I get emotional because it ties in so many scenes in this show that made me cry.
Every time I hear your voice I IMMEDIATELY get goosebumps because I've heard so many well constructed, thoughtful, and genuinely moving takes from you that I've been Pavloved.
I wasn't expecting to watch this whole thing. Your She-ra videos are incredible and are much appreciated after watching the show (again). I adore the music in the show and to me, your commentary and insight adds power. Your videos are the next ones to watch after She-ra!
Fascinating as always. Also just hearing that small bit with Mara was already drawing tears.
Breathtaking. Both the show and this vid
12:50, That small detail you caught is just... I'm in awe. Speaking as someone who read a fair bit of Batgirl(Cassandra and Stephanie's run as the heroine), I'm hopefully optimistic a cartoon series based on either or one of them is just as significant. Keep up the stellar work.
Title: She-Ra Score Appreciation
50% of the video: Catradora Score Appreciation.
she ra = the catradora show lbr
@@5x5Takes well, you’re not wrong 😂