Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) – Soundtrack Review

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Soundtrack Review

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994)

Console: Sega Genesis

Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s Music Still Sounds Amazing Decades Later

I remember the summer of 1994 like a blur of chaos, neon lights, and the feeling of a TV remote guarded by my crossed legs. My younger self, not yet fully aware of the creeping existential doom of the adult world, sat mesmerized in front of a television, greasy controller in hand, guiding a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog through loop-de-loops and across burning jungles. It was Sonic the Hedgehog 3, a game that was more than a game – it was a sensory overload … a technicolor fever dream that buzzed like a live wire with one of the most unforgettable soundtracks to ever grace a 16-bit console.

Let’s not mince words: this was no ordinary soundtrack. This was the rumored brainchild of Brad Buxer, a wizard on the keys, and Michael Jackson, the King of Pop himself. Officially denied and shrouded in mystery for years, the rumors only made it feel more like the stuff of legend. As I sped Sonic across Hydrocity Zone and juggled platforms in Carnival Night Zone, the music felt alive, pulsing through my terrible tv speakers with rhythms that seemed both familiar and otherworldly. It was funky, it was groovy, and it was perfect.

A Collaborative Mystery in the Chaos Emeralds

The story behind Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s soundtrack is as surreal as the game itself. By 1993, Sega was looking to cement Sonic’s place as a cultural icon, and when Michael Jackson comes along as says he wants to contribute to the soundtrack, you don’t turn him down. Jackson was riding high from his album Dangerous, and he was a self-proclaimed fan of Sonic the Hedgehog. Yet, due to controversies surrounding Jackson at the time, Sega distanced itself from his involvement, leaving him uncredited. Despite the denials, traces of Jackson’s style permeate the game’s music, from the funky basslines to the layered harmonies.

As Jackson’s longtime collaborator, Brad Buxer was brought on to spearhead the project. Buxer, a master at synthesizing melody and rhythm, took Jackson’s ideas and worked within the constraints of the Sega Genesis’s YM2612 sound chip to create a soundtrack that was both innovative and emotionally engaging.

Michael’s Influence Was Obvious

Every level had its own distinct vibe, and the music wasn’t just accompaniment; it was a driving force that propelled the player through Sonic’s high-speed escapades. But what’s interesting is that a lot the melodies on these tracks were so similar to the King of Pop’s discography it was hard not to notice. “Carnival Night Zone” has very similar timing and melody to Jackson’s song “Jam”, while the ending theme is basically a happier version of “Stranger in Moscow.” From syncopated rhythms to harmonized melodies, Jackson’s influence can be felt throughout. Buxer has acknowledged that some tracks were direct translations of Jackson’s ideas into the Genesis’s sound capabilities.

The controversy surrounding Michael Jackson’s involvement only adds to the soundtrack’s mystique. We all continue to dissect the music, searching for connections to Jackson’s other works and speculating about what could have been – kind of like this article.

In our opinion, this soundtrack remains a magical part of music history. Brad Buxer and Michael Jackson created a soundscape that feels as thrilling today as it did in 1994.

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