The Tokyo 2020 Olympics opening ceremony was held Friday night, July 23. Athletes from all over the world marched into the stadium, proudly waving their countries’ flags as epic music played in the background. If you like playing video games, chances are you would have recognized the tracks they played.
Japan is the hosting country for the 2020 Olympics, and what better way to welcome the athletes than to play epic video game music from famous Japanese games as they march proudly into the stadium?
Avid gamers who watched the opening ceremony immediately recognized the music and went on Twitter to express their joy at hearing their favorite video game BGMs at a grand event like the Olympics.
THEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN ANY TYPE OF MUSIC TO PLAY AT THE OLYMPICS BUT JAPAN SAID OUR VIDEO GAME SOUNDTRACKS ARE BANGERS AND ARE DESERVING OF REAL MUSIC RECONGITION GOD BLESS.
— Maku (@TropicalMaku) July 23, 2021
You have no idea how happy I am hearing video game music along with Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, NieR, and Soul Calibur playing at the Olympics. That really brought a huge smile to my face when listening through the TV.
I love it all! #Olympics
— ☁️Ultima🔑 (@Ultima_Wielder) July 23, 2021
Video game music is indeed real music and the #Olympics just proved that pic.twitter.com/UPeslUJIYq
— Stano~🌸 (@StanoYano) July 23, 2021
Gamers hearing Video Game Music during the Olympics: pic.twitter.com/uyIrAOpdvs
— Jacob #Sora4Smash (@Mega_Mii51) July 23, 2021
The Olympic opening ceremony using video game music as the athletes walk in is officially the Best Thing Ever.
— TC 💛 🎮🕹 (@TCLovesGames) July 23, 2021
Kudos to the organiser who decided the orchestra should play Olympus Coliseum from the KH series during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Welcoming the countries to the Olympics with video game music in general, big thumbs up from me!
— Anna 🎶🐱 (@AnnaWayfinder) July 23, 2021
It feels so vindicating hearing video game music used for the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony.
— 稲荷洋子⛩🦊Inari Yōko | EN/JP/PH Vtuber | (@InariYokoVT) July 25, 2021
If you’re looking for the full list of video game tracks that played at the Olympics, don’t worry – – we’ve got you:
- “Roto’s Theme” from Dragon Quest
- “Victory Fanfare” from Final Fantasy
- “Sorey’s Theme – The Shepherd” from the Tales of series
- “Proof of a Hero” from the Monster Hunter series
- “Olympus Coliseum” from Kingdom Hearts
- “Frog’s Theme” from Chrono Trigger
- “First Flight” from Ace Combat
- “Royal Capital Majestic Grandeur” from the Tales of series
- “Wind of Departure” from Monster Hunter
- “Robo’s Theme” from Chrono Trigger
- “Star Light Zone” from Sonic the Hedgehog
- “eFootball Walk-on Theme” from Pro Evolution Soccer
- “Main Theme” from Final Fantasy
- “Guardians” from Phantasy Star Universe
- “Hero’s Fanfare” from Kingdom Hearts
- “01 Act I-1” from Gradius
- “Song of the Ancients” from Nier
- “The Minstrel’s Refrain: SaGa Series Medley 2016” from the SaGa series
- “The Brave New Stage of History” from Soulcalibur
Who says video game music isn’t real music? There are plenty of video games that have bops. Even the Olympics used video game music.
Other POP! stories you might like:
Google’s cute new Doodle lets you play a miniature Tokyo Olympics RPG
Godzilla but make it Neko: This billboard in Tokyo will feature a giant 3D cat
Himig: An indie game developer’s tribute to growing up in the Philippines
This video game lets you earn income through NFTs and cryptocurrencies
