Music Theory: Spyro the Dragon

A music theory exploration into the soundtrack of Spyro the Dragon.
If you would prefer this video to use the original PS1 soundtrack, you're in luck! Here's the same video but with with original OST:

Special thanks to "The Relatively Irregular Guy," who posted the amazing Dancing Spyro clip, included during the backbeat sequence in this video. It was omitted from the credits in error.

Clips

0:01
“Don’t Stand So Close To Me” by the Police
A&M / Universal Music Group

0:07 & 0:12
“Can’t Stand Losing You” by the Police
A&M / Universal Music Group

0:10
“Message in a Bottle” by the Police
A&M / Universal Music Group

0:14 & 2:24
Interview clip by Playstation Underground
Spyro: Behind the Music

0:20
Copeland Drumming
The Police - Full Concert - 06/15/86 - Giants Stadium (OFFICIAL)

0:23
Copeland Drumming
The Police - Synchronicity Concert (1983)

0:24 & 6:27
Copeland Interview by The Sessions Panel
STEWART COPELAND - Drummer (The Police) for The Sessions Artist Series

12:12
Interview Clip by Drumming Channel
Stewart Copeland's Approach To A Backbeat

13:48
Copeland Drumming with Lions
From “The Rhythmatist” Movie

13:52
Copeland Drumming on Letterman
By Worldwide Pants / NBC / Paramount

14:05
The Amanda Show
By Nickelodeon / Paramount

Audio

0:01 & 11:35
Artisans
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

0:41 & 6:35
Spyro the Dragon (Main Theme)
Composer: Stewart Copeland

1:07 & 5:08 & 8:08
Stone Hill
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

2:05
Alpine Ridge
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

2:54
Tree Tops
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

3:31 & 12:48
Dry Canyon
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

4:52
Balloon Park, Sonic 3 (Arrangement)
Original Composer: Sega

5:00
Cliff Town
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

5:47 & 8:22
Town Square
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

7:03
Crystal Flight
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

7:48
Terrace Village
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

9:47
Toasty
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

11:11
“Message in a Bottle” (Arrangement)
Original Composer: Sting
Remix Instrumental: Pablo Gerónimo

12:32
Misty Bog
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

13:02
Sunny Flight
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

13:37
Wizard Peak
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Arrangement: Stephan Vankov

14:06
“The Amanda Show” Theme
Composer: Stewart Copeland
Nickelodeon / Paramount

[AlexYardZone]

If you'd prefer this video to have the original soundtrack, you're in luck!

[Sparkys_World-]

My mind is blown as I realise I almost prefer the more harsh, staccato sound of the original PS1 score to the more filmic and lush Reignited tracks. It sounds less like live rock music and more like the kind of tunes you can make with keyboard samples. It’s almost childlike, but still sophisticated. Copeland seems like such a cool guy~

[RichardGarcia]

This soundtrack changed my life. As a kid I loved so much of Copeland’s melodies and when I grew up and started playing guitar I noticed that most of my favorite music from him were Lydian. Now I’m in love with Lydian. In the later game Spyro YoTD.

[MiketheEye]

I had NO idea a member of the POLICE did Spyro's music! No wonder it is so memorable and iconic. Thank you again for the amazing content!

[TheHangedMan]

I loved the original Spyro trilogy so much as a kid. I had no idea what mixolydian was for the longest time; whenever I heard it growing up I would always say "hey, that's like Spyro!" One of the first songs I wrote I discovered the flat 7th and incorporated it, wanting to "sound like Spyro."

Thank you Stewart Copeland... and thank you Alex for this kickass video!

[generalZee]

I am such a huge fan of this soundtrack, and I thought I knew all the trivia, but that Amanda Show fact completely flew under my radar until now and my entire world is shook!

[GreyWolfLeaderTW]

Aw. You left out the best part of that PlayStation Underground clip of Stewart Copeland explaining how he composed the music for Spyro. After talking about transposing the chords from one to four, he leans over to the camera and goes, "They pay me for this!"

[AnferneeMyers]

I actually never noticed how much Spyro music lacked usage of a snare. very cool

[jesset]

Absolutely fantastic video! Copeland's work on the Spyro-series always fascinated me. Apart from his frequent use of the mixolydian scale, he also used a ton of polyrhythmics. A good example being one of my favorite Spyro-tracks, Dark Hollow. It follows a strict 6/8-beat with a melody built upon 16th's in 4/4.

[Bcklm]

I really really like the editing and visuals you have on this. It's easy to just take them for granted, but they all look nice, creative, smooth, engaging and all that. The content itself is fascinating and a trip down memory lane as an original Spyro player, but I also wanted to point out how awesome the little bits you add are. Great stuff man.

[MangaMarjan]

I always felt like The Police sounded like the Spyro soundtrack, which was the first game I really played besides Mario Kart. Turns out, it's the other way around and now I know why. Great video!

[AnferneeMyers]

I don't care what I'm doing; if I see an Alex Yard & Knuckles video, I'm gonna stop what I'm doing and click it.

[GreyWolfLeaderTW]

My preference for Progressive Rock as my favored music genre is a bit of an ironic coincidence of the fact that my dad is a huge Moody Blues fan (one of the early major Progressive Rock bands) and so played a lot of classic Moody Blues music in the house while I was growing up, and me playing *A LOT* of the original Spyro trilogy with its Progressive Rock soundtrack.

[venooshka]

I don't have much knowledge about music theory, but for some reason I love watching videos about it. Spyro is my childhood in a nutshell and the soundtrack still feels magical to me. You truly did an amazing job explaining it like I'm 5! Oh, and the editing is god tier. The way you used the game's landscapes and objects to illustrate it is genius

[davidblack]

I’d really love to see videos on the other 2 original Spyro Trilogy Games (I’m sure a lot of people would too as well). The soundtrack alone to those games absolutely altered the course of my life and remains so impactful on me (the games themselves meant and mean so much to me and my brother in every way. As if they are far more than just video games). Insomniac really caught lightning in a bottle with those, while they are other brilliant games out there, there’s nothing quite like the Original Spyro Trilogy.

[kankeydoo]

Spyro is my absolute favorite game of all time & the music has so much to do with my nostalgic love for it after all these years. As someone who grew up in band & choir, & now a vocal musician & writer myself, this was so interesting to me. Loved every minute of this amazing analysis😭🙌🏽

[chrilz]

The way Copeland voices what would otherwise be percussive rhythm (like you mentioned with Dry Canyon especially) almost seems to add such a driving sensation to the mood of a song! This was excellent, Alex! It’s one of my favorite games and favorite OSTs

[frost]

I only played the first Spyro, and only a few hours of it, but to this day, I feel such a sense of nostalgic bliss from this game. It's difficult to explain, but everything seemed so right. Such as the way Spyro controls, and feeling the controller rumble strongly to running and fire, just seemed so fitting and satisfying in a way that no other game really captured. The cartoony graphics just worked, and then the music and voice acting brought even more life to the game. It was never one of my most favorite games, but still somehow found a place in my heart.

[mojojojox]

I'm so happy to see this! I love learning about how my favorite music works. Learning what makes Spyro sound like Spyro, this was great and I hope this video does well. I love seeing you branch out even though it may not be as popular as Sonic. I'm excited to see what else you have in store.

[MrMatthias]

It's funny you say that you don't often hear people hum the bass line in Dry Canyon, because I hum that bass line literally all the time. It's just so catchy!