If there’s one thing about The Legend of Zelda that is most memorable, it’s the music.
Zelda games have some fantastic melodies that stick with you long after you roll credits. One song in particular has always left a lasting impression on me: Zelda’s Lullaby.
For lack of a better description, this is essentially Princess Zelda’s theme song. Compared to The Legend of Zelda’s main theme, Zelda’s Lullaby is slower and more soothing as a means to communicate the personality of the eponymous princess.
Many of the games have used this song over the years with varying instrumentation and different tempos. Additionally, each one comes at different moments in their respective games, adding numerous emotions to each scene. This song can really play a factor in which version of Princess Zelda is your favorite.
So, which version of Zelda’s Lullaby is your favorite?
Zelda’s Lullaby first appeared in the 1991 release A Link to the Past and made appearances in almost every mainline game since.
The version from Ocarina of Time was one of my first exposures to this iconic track because it was my first encounter with Princess Zelda. You meet her early in the game as she lays out a plan to stop the villainous Ganondorf while passing the lullaby onto Link so he can use its magical properties throughout his adventure.
What makes this one memorable is you get a softer version when you meet young Zelda in the courtyard while a more earnest version plays when you encounter her again in the future.
Another memorable version is from Twilight Princess, where it conveys a sense of sadness. This results from Hyrule falling to Zant and his Twili army. Still, there are moments that blast hopeful because through it all, Zelda still holds strong and encourages Link and Midna to do the same.
The Twilight Princess one is also unique because Zelda’s Lullaby plays during the final boss fight when Ganondorf possesses Zelda and makes her fight Link. This version is a distorted rendition that conveys the gravity of the moment while reminding the player that it’s still Zelda.
One last one worth mentioning is the version from Skyward Sword. This is our first fully orchestrated version and boy, it sounds gorgeous.
This calming version is unique because we don’t hear it until later in the game during an insanely emotional scene. That said, we hear a version of this from the get-go thanks to the triumphant Ballad of the Goddess, which is just Zelda’s Lullaby in reverse. These two versions contrast greatly, but sound gorgeous either way.
As for me, the version of Skyward Sword is my favorite. It captures the mood of the moment so well and it really emphasizes the emotional impact of the scene. That said, every version is unique and beautiful in its own way.
It’s also exciting to know we’re less than two weeks from another version of this song in Tears of the Kingdom. I’m excited to see how this will play out.
So what about you? Which version of Zelda’s Lullaby is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.
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My favorite arrangement is Minish Cap’s, my favorite as a complete piece is A Link Between Worlds’, but Wind Waker’s version will hit me with a wall of emotion in a way no other version does.
Skyward Sword’s version does that for me. The scene that is attached to that version is one of the best in the series. I do agree that Wind Waker is right up there with it. That whole bit in the castle midgame is phenomenal.