Anyone who has played Persona 5 can tell you that one of the best features of the game is its soundtrack inspired by the funk of Shoji Meguro. His tunes are still winning over fans to this day, who use them as background music and inspiration for their own Persona 5 fanfic and art projects.
However, the latest to stumble upon the game’s soundtrack is prolific music YouTuber and famed piano instructor Charles Cornell. Cornell regularly posts videos on his channel exploring and explaining quirks of popular music composition, and has recently delved into the world of video game music.
Cornell, by his own admission, hasn’t played Persona 5 before, but he knows a hit when he hears one. As you progress through the game’s key soundtrack tracks, the undeniable pleasure of it all creeps in, and Cornell finds himself enjoying his secret flowers and gems. Cornell listens to each song and, as they go, begins to break down their songwriting, what he feels makes them so special, and even lists potential inspirations off the top of his very knowledgeable head.
The tracks Cornell focuses on in this video are “Last Surprise”, “Tokyo Daylight”, “Butterfly Kiss” and “Phantom”. The real treat of the video, of course, is watching Cornell fall in love with the soundtrack in real time, closing his eyes as he disappears into the music. He is by turns amused, surprised, and excited by what he hears, occasionally “Woo!” escaping her lips when she hears something she really likes.
As a music nerd and Persona 5 appreciator, Cornell’s video is a very clear part of For David’s content, and maybe it will be for you too.
If nothing else, you might want to play Persona 5 again (or for the first time, if you haven’t had the pleasure yet).
If you want to know more about Cornell and his channel, do so right here.