The only bad thing about P5R: The music

[Fyuun]

No matter how much I love P5R and think that P5R is the best game on earth, I simply don't like the music. The singer doesn't fit for the setting and the English lyrics make me always a little cringe when I hear them. P5R is literally a game about teenagers in Japan living a high school life and trying to find their way into the complexity of society.

I expect a singer who sounds rebellious, young, and even a little bit inexperienced with how society works. And most importantly: The whole lyrics need to be in Japanese. P5R is literally set in Japan and everything is about Japan. The moment I first heard that the lyrics are in English, I thought that this was a bug or a strange thing of the Western version. I started my Atlus experience with P5, so I didn't know that for some strange reason Atlus loves to have English lyrics in their ultra Japanese games. Maybe they hope that this will attract the global audience, even though the game is literally as Japanese as a game can be and if you don't want Japanese lyrics, you won't play a Persona game to begin with.

The singer of P5R simply doesn't fit. She sounds serious, experienced, and like a person who represents integrity. She is the exact opposite of what I expected from a singer in a P5R setting. She sounds like she sings in front of CEOs who are discussing an international business deal. Especially the English lyrics make no sense at all.

I'm not saying that the music is bad in itself. I can understand that some people love this music. But for P5R the singer and English lyrics simply don't fit.

Here is an example of what I expected in P5R:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Ph6SZE7j0

It's suffering having such a great soundtrack, but then hearing a voice and a language that simply doesn't fit and which make zero sense. P5R was so close to literal perfection, but the music ruined it.

[RDabliu]

L essay clown

[MeltingPotOfFriendship]

Originally posted by Beanpole:

Big disagree. Persona 5's soundtrack is one of the best things about it imo

Indeed, it has a great soundtrack. I personally liked "rivers in the desert". That beat! I admit, I always ♥♥♥♥♥♥' vibe to it during the boss fights it plays in. Oh and royals new OP animation track is pretty good too.

[Sankt Nimmerlein]

Nobody can argue taste, but here's why the music actually fits the game and its themes:

The vocalist (Lyn Inaizumi) was chosen because most of her stage experience is that of a background singer. They were specifically looking to put a second row artist into the limelight to represent the overarching narrative theme of a new generation "throwing away their masks" of conformity and "taking over" society with fresh morals and norms.
Speaking of "taking over", the song Take Over from the P5R soundtrack is a great example for how this theme is also prevalent in the lyrics, although it can be found in almost every track.

You write that "she sounds like she sings in front of CEOs who are discussing an international business deal." That sophistication is by design. In the game, the Phantom Thieves are a group of idealized underground millennials infiltrating the world of finance and politics. The singer is supposed to be the figurehead of this movement, the voice that signals the end to the old guard in a veil of words and music, she's also the link between the fictional world of P5 and our real world.
Why are the lyrics in English? Because the theme (which was partially inspired by the financial crisis in 2008) is ultimately international - originally the game was even supposed to feature a road trip of the cast travelling around the world with Morgana.

Lastly, Atlus games (especially those which are a part of the Megami Tensei universe) have a very different aesthetic language from most JRPGs as you've noted, I don't think the song you linked to would have fit this at all to be honest. While I would be interested in trying to find out what exactly constitutes this aesthetic, I don't have the time to explore this question further at the moment.

Instead, I'll end with some lyrics from Life Will Change which should substantiate my points:

Right before your eyes
Watch us multiply
Come to claim our rights
It's time

As your crippled brain
Tries to fight in vain
Your empire will fall
Apart

And you'll know we were out there
Swatting lies in the making
Your empire for the taking
Can't hold on or life won't change
And our voices ring out, yeah
Took the mask off to be free
Fought it out in the debris
Now we know that life will change

[Stoibs]

Originally posted by Neoyoshi:

Wait, what?
:p4g_attention:

You probably won't like any of the music from the Persona series at all if the whole English lyrics thing is what breaks it for you.

Ooh PQ tracks, don't see those games mentioned too often; I see you too are a man of culture
Personally I'm a fan of 'Cinematic Tale' and 'Pull the Trigger', but I mean everything from the series is too good to pick a fav

[War Chief]

what are you talking about the music is awesome?

[khaychi]

The one outstanding thing in Persona games are the great soundtracks. Guess one can never have enough of these clowns.

[denisvandercreycraft]

engrish ??

[Taketori]

The music is literally one of the best aspects of this game. You're entitled to your opinion, but damn if I don't think you're utterly wrong.

[wing gaster]

This is the worst bait I have ever seen, respectfully delete your account.

[TSVStriFe]

It might be a troll post though, person still hasn't responded to any of our findings/opinions or tastes.

[Camp_Ricki_Lake]

Big disagree.

P5R has one of the best soundtracks of any game imo.

[Mane]

You're giving too much credit to the plot lol

The music is great tho

[WhisperByte]

Will Power and Life Will Change are bangers, though

[ウルトラ]

I can't tell if you're being serious...

[Kieara]

I know it's just your opinion, and it's valid. There are some tracks in P5 that I'm not a fan of, but personally speaking, P5 was the first game that actually got me to buy the entire soundtrack via Itunes, it was that good to listen to during my first 100-hours of my playthrough of the game.

And I'm looking forward to hearing the new tracks and renditions in P5R as I've never actually played this version. But if it's anything like the original, I know for me personally (and hopefully a lot of players, both old and new) are in for a musical treat when it launches.

And, yes, I'm easily looking forward to hearing Behind the Mask again (especially the rain version of Behind the Mask.)

But, I still understand if this composition is not your style. Persona 5's soundtrack often goes for a much subtle and quiet melody, often using a mix of single tones and instruments mixed in with Lynn's vocals to create a laid-back and somber experience, rather than high energy like Total Destruction and Behind the TV.