Music in video games is oftentimes a varied beast, depending heavily on the genre/type of game, and how the music fits alongside gameplay. Music in games can be subtle, or music in games can be bombastic. For a genre like RPGs/JRPGs, music ends up becoming a pivotal part of the experience. Games like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest are enhanced by the epic musical compositions that complement moments of heightened emotion, boss battles, title screens, ending credits, and everything in between. Nowadays, especially after Persona 5, the musical compositions of Persona also fit into that same category of legendary JRPG video game soundtracks.
Now that various soundtracks from the series are on Spotify, the music of the Persona series has never been more available than it is now. However, Persona‘s musical compositions aren’t wholly differentiated by the compositions themselves, but are often better praised contextually. On its own, music from the Persona series is best described as impressive orchestration, but the actual lyrical songwriting can seem nonsensical out of context. When these songs play alongside moments in each respective game is where these musical pieces come to life and truly shine. If there’s one thematic element that’s defined the Persona series across all games, it has to be the music.
Persona certainly isn’t the first (or the last) JRPG to add lyrical original songs to its soundtracks, but its breadth of inspiration from musical genres is definitely unique. A defining thematic aspect of every Persona game, not just Persona 3 onward, is how each original soundtrack is composed around a certain musical genre. Obviously the most notable examples are Hip-Hop/Rap-Rock with Persona 3, J-Pop (or more accurately “Shibuya-kei”) for Persona 3, and Acid Jazz with Persona 5. Even the lesser-known first two Persona games, which were arguably more thematically equivalent to Shin Megami Tensei, still had elements of metal/hard rock motifs.
Series composer Shoji Meguro uses each genre/subgenre as a vehicle to drive home the main theme of each game’s narrative. Persona 3‘s opening song, “Burn My Dread,” is the rock anthem that literally translates the game’s darker themes of facing death and making sacrifices. Persona 4‘s opening, “Pursuing My True Self,” functions twofold; a song representing the game’s themes of self-identity in adolescence, juxtaposed with the game’s pursuit of truth around its murder mystery. Persona 5‘s opening, “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There,” utilizes acid jazz as an even more literal mission statement of Persona 5‘s themes of rebellion and fighting for true justice.
Even though the opening for each game more overtly communicates the themes of each Persona game, the rest of the soundtracks continue to emphasize them. The use of leitmotifs, and specifically repetition, continue to push each game’s central themes throughout the soundtrack in impactful ways. Using the fourth entry as an example, Persona 4‘s soundtrack does this with the leitmotifs from “I’ll Face Myself” and “Corner of Memories,” which can be found throughout the soundtrack. Tracks as upbeat and celebratory as “New Days,” and as solemn and sad as “Heaven,” all feature the same motifs that make up those pivotal musical compositions.
Persona 5 emphasizes this same approach even more, with the ascending strings motif in “Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There” appearing in the game’s battle theme “Last Surprise,” the game’s palace infiltration theme “Life Will Change,” even in the final battle theme of “Rivers in the Desert.” These ascending strings could represent determination, or to be more literally in line with the game’s rebellion theme, uprising. Composer Shoji Meguro also uses a similar motif between “Swear to My Bones” and “Our New Beginning,” representing the inseparable bonds made between the Phantom Thieves throughout the journey of Persona 5.
Each Persona game has multiple examples where music heightens the moment, because of Shoji Meguro’s amazing work with characterization and world themes. It’s why Persona‘s overworld themes, battle themes, boss themes, and more are some of the most memorable video game music ever made: Pandora’s boss theme in Persona 1, “Knights of the Holy Spear/Lance” in Persona 2, “The Battle for Everyone’s Souls” in Persona 3, “The Almighty” in Persona 4, “Rivers in the Desert” in Persona 5. The list goes on and on of notable, memorable examples from each Persona game’s soundtrack.
Listening to these songs on their own can be an isolated joy, but the juxtaposition of these orchestrations with in-game moments makes these soundtracks so impactful. Like many JRPGs, the music in Persona is a pivotal portion of the experience, but series composer Shoji Meguro takes things a step further by creating a whole world around his orchestrations. The use of different genres/subgenres to identify characters, themes, and moments throughout Persona is arguably unrivaled. Pair that with his mastery of transitioning and incorporating musical leitmotifs into impactful musical (and emotional) crescendos, it’s why Persona fans adore Shoji Meguro’s work.
Various Persona soundtracks are now available for listening on Spotify worldwide.
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