Opera Singer Reacts: God Shattering Star (Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Wow!! What a banger. This is God Shattering Star from the perspective of an opera singer. We discuss, the recurring theme, that video game music holds up against the classical heavy weights and should be programmed in classical venues! We discuss singing technique, the tenor voice, and just enjoy this epic tune.

Links:

CREDITS:
Composer: Rei Kondoh
Developers: Intelligent Systems, Koei Tecmo Games, Koei Tecmo
Platform: Nintendo Switch

[BernieDSniper]

The great thing about writing songs in a fictional language is that you can accomodate your "lyrics" to make sure your singer's voice shines

[taesto]

Interestingly, God Shattering Start, while a final boss song, isn't for a final boss that is a gigantic colossus or the like as one would think, but rather a human. By no means a normal human, quite literally a god-slayer, but the enemy is in a frame of a human. This, I'd say, makes the music work even better, giving a large than life status and oppressive feel for something that is not much bigger than you, but an incredible ancient evil nonetheless, making sure you don't underestimate them as anything close to a regular human.

[Smike]

3 small fun facts
1: this is one of 4 tracks in the entire game with vocals, and the only one with a male lead
2: this song is sung ENTIRELY in Födlansk, a fantasy language made specifically for this game made from mashing latin, german, and norse
3: this is one of the final bosses, whos literally just an anime dude who happens to wield a sword made of *gods spinal column*, and depending on if you are just moving around the map or fighting it switches between the vocal and instrumental version which were mixed here

[thedom]

The way your face just lights up when you hear a fellow Tenor in their element is so endearing. Super infectious!

[krullachief]

God, can you imagine the acoustics of God Shattering Star belted out in a symphony hall? Like, it's intense just from the song itself from its own soundtrack, but in person? I bet it'd blow you away so much harder.

[Stachelbeeerchen]

-"Weapons?"
-"Sharpened and ready!"
-"Warhorses?"
-"Ready to deploy!"
-"Siegeweapons?"
-"Ready!"
-"Healers?"
-"On their positions!"
-"Suply chains?"
-"Established!"
-"Opera?"
-"Wait! what Sire? I dont understand!"

[maximilienmyre]

Lyrics from the official 3h ost booklet:

Arise, you who cannot bear death
Raise your heads bravely and take up your weapons.

No more wishing for the corpses of your comrades.
It’s time to rebel and liberate.

Warriors, gather to this banner.
Run! Raise the flag!

From the beast called God.
To take back our pride from the beast called God.

Warriors, shout to the earth!
Follow me through the wilderness!

In the name of rebellion.
Let your bodies tremble
Let your souls do as they wish

Like the wind that blows through Mother Earth(Fódlan)
Like the sunrise that colors the great Ogma

Stamp it out, raise your voice, strong as a lion.
Our cries will ride the wind for a thousand miles.
Let it reach the starry shores of the sea.

Reach high and praise me, for I am the one who will liberate you all.

Pierce the sky, mysterious artifacts
I am the embodiment of wrath
I am the god shattering star

[kinokannaki]

So interestingly enough Joe Zeija, the voice of Claude, whose story gets this song for the final fight did a cover of this song with TheFamileJules who does a bunch of video game covers, with Joe taking the vocals.

[ElijahW]

SPOILERS FOR THREE HOUSES:

Btw fun fact, although the lyrics are in a fictional language, there is an official translation, and the song's actually from the perspective of Nemesis (the final boss of the "Verdant Wind"/Golden Deer route that this song belongs to). He isn't a giant, but he _was_ a very ancient and very powerful conqueror who killed the physical form of a creator goddess and made a mystical sword from her bones. There's a secret society you fight in 3/4th of the routes (one of the other comments said there were three but Black Eagles actually splits up into two near the end of the first part based on a choice you can make, ) in Verdant Wind they actually succeed at the last second and resurrect Nemesis _and_ his army, right after you kill the cult's leader, Thales. By the time you fight Nemesis (and also phantoms of the Ten Elites who a lot of the protagonists descended from, who apparently weren't so nice and helped him slaughter the Goddess' children and descendants).

The song's lyrics essentially say that Nemesis will far surpass any and all that oppose him, even gods, who he refers to as "beasts". The song ends with Nemesis declaring himself as the world's salvation, and that he is the "God Shattering Star". Fittingly enough, the protagonist who wields Nemesis' sword for good throughout the game is nicknamed the "Fell Star" in-game by Nemesis' worshippers so there's an interesting parallel lol

[matmil]

For clarity, this is a medley of Rain version (which plays during the map section) and storm (which doesn't feature vocals and plays during battle animations)!
I look forward to you reacting to my personal favourite final boss theme, "Twilight of The Gods", from Shadows of Valentia!

[thywolfshark]

If I recall correctly the male voice is that of the actual boss for this battle. So he's singing his own boss theme.

[demi-fiendoftime]

This is actually only one of three final boss themes though it is the best in the game. Apex of the World- Azure Moon and Crimson Flower
Funeral of Flowers- silver snow
And God Shatering Star- Golden Deer

Each fits the scenario you're dealing with Apex of the World:The final end to this long bitter conflict after one final push

Funeral of Flowers: Your victory has turned into a tragedy due to an unfortunate event

God Shatering Star: Fighting a myth back from the dead who wishes to see all that you know and love destroyed.

[saint_luiz]

I can imagine myself going to watch an Opera with that music and enjoying very much. Fire Emblem has an amazing soundtrack! Other music from Fire Emblem that you might like to listen to are Lord of a Dead Empire, The Scions' Dance in Purgatory, and Twilight of Gods. There is more but I have to remember them all. Those three musics are the ones that marked me most from the ones I remember and I think it will be a good start for you.

[Paulytoadzz]

As a Tenor myself, I absolutely adore both the Fire Emblem 3 houses game and Soundtrack. When I was playing the game I often stopped in the middle of gameplay because the music is so intense and incredible!! I completely agree that this type of music should be recognized and added to repertoires since it's made with love and passion with a classical focus. It would be amazing to see some of the world's most recognized singers belt these insane notes!! Loved the video dude, I'm so glad to see another opera singer react to this beauty of a game!!

[Valleyraven]

When I was invested in music in college, I would always try to bring up to people the quality and amazing compositions that were in video game music, and that these composers were the modern composers of our time... and I'd always get dismissed with the ol "oh but its just a game hur dur", im glad there's more people out there like you coming to the realization that yeah, these games have some incredibly talented composers behind them and these pieces SHOULD be played in concert halls as more than just "pop music"

[illusive-mike]

An important note here: between the opening chords and the general tone, the singer's voice in the vocal version of the track is heavily implied to directly represent the final boss himself. This is HIS song, so the feeling of power it gives is very specifically HIS power. Similarly the heroic tone, as the factions in FE3H are multifaceted and aside from being a terrifying enemy to you the singer is also known as the King of Liberation and pretty much established the setting's current way of life. He's an ancient, larger than life legend of a man risen to rule again, and your force, the weakest of all those in the setting, is in his way. Good luck.

[makaihana]

Trust me, it's more epic when you're leading Claude's army against Nemesis during the climax of Verdant Wind route.

This song reprised again in the mobile Fire Emblem Heroes as the theme song for Legendary Claude's map.

[kenzab]

Seeing someone genuinely enjoy music like this brings such a smile on my face, thank you

[emmiccino]

God Shattering Star gets me going every time. The cadence of the voice and the instruments that, at times, can sound overwhelming, presumably on purpose, fit the theme of the battle the song plays during, a large, murky battlefield with old warriors presumed dead marching for your defeat. It makes my heart sink at the slow start in the best way possible, then gets me fired up and determined again when the orchestra kicks in again.

Three Houses is def my favorite game I've ever played. The music alone might be the reason, every track is able to instill some kind of emotion into me. Serenity in some places, and intense focus in others. God Shattering Star in particular does a good job of immersing you in the idea that "Hey, this ain't no regular fight, be on your toes and be prepared to take risks and make sacrifices."

Side note: Part of the reason I cried at the credits was because Lorenz died in that fight in order to just barely let Claude finish the boss with a ~20% critical hit. Hate that guy, but he's a champ for that one. Godspeed, and may your hair look better in the afterlife, Lorenz.

[TheHybridbloodszak]

Never woulda thought I'd see an Opera Singer Reacts perspective. A really good one I think you'd like is Octopath Traveler's That One They Call The Witch and Daughter of The Dark God. The first being a more "traditional" song while the latter is kinda like an opera-rock remix ver of the former