Magical Melodies: Zelda Covers I Keep Coming Back To

The music of The Legend of Zelda is iconic, and it’s one of my favorite things about the franchise. Zelda songs, no matter the console, have a unique and distinct sound. They’re each imbued with some special kind of magic that makes you think, “Oh, this is from Zelda!” when you hear them. The melodies we encounter in each game are both memorable and incredibly catchy.

The Zelda series’ talented composers and arrangers have gifted us fans pieces of ear candy to last a lifetime. But it goes beyond even that. These songs have also inspired the larger Zelda fan community to create its own collection of wonderful music, with several fan arrangements standing beside the originals in quality and catchiness. Many talented musicians have over the years created fan covers of Zelda music that I absolutely love — and I want to celebrate them!

Without further adieu, here’s a list of some of the Zelda covers that I have on repeat to this very day.

---

A nod to the medieval aspects of Zelda, this Celtic folk medley by Rebecca E Tripp is a delight.

In this Legend of Zelda medley, Rebecca E Tripp seamlessly blends together thirteen themes from Zelda towns. This would be an impressive feat on its own, but she also added a creative twist; the piece was made in a Celtic folk/medieval style.

I think each rendition is lovely, but my absolute favorite part starts a minute and six seconds in. You will notice YouTube has dubbed that moment the “most replayed.” I’m pretty sure I was responsible for the designation, because I have listened to this segment on repeat countless times. The percussion and accompanying harp exceptionally round off the flute melody of “Knight Academy” from Skyward Sword.

This medieval mashup makes me feel as though I’m strolling through Hyrule Castle Town. I always have it on in the background when I need a boost in the mornings.

Rebecca E Tripp: YouTube, Ko-Fi, Patreon, X, Facebook

 

Listen to this chill lo-fi cover of “In the Fields” (Spirit Tracks) by KaatuWaves during your morning commute.

This song is #1 on my driving playlist. “In the Fields” is a bop on its own, but I feel this cover adds an energy to the chorus that really excites me. The added train ambience in the background perfectly complements the song.

“In the Fields” is energetic, reminiscent of Link exploring towns and islands, and this cover captures that with a modern vibe. It’s perfect background music for studying, commuting, or dancing to while you wait for the train!

KaatuWaves: YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, Ko-Fi, Amazon Music, Apple Music

 

This mystical mashup by Hyrule Orchestra combines the whimsy of songs from Skyward Sword and Ori and the Blind Forest.

Skyward Sword and the Ori games hold the top three spots on my favorite-soundtracks-of-all-time list. And since I am addicted to soundtracks, that is a very high bar. With well-chosen instrumentation and elegant transitions into each melody, this whimsical cover combines what I love about both series.

Ori songs have a mystical forest energy, while Skyward Sword songs are emotional and adventurous. The songs chosen for this mashup, the Ori “Main Theme” and “Fi’s Theme,” encapsulate both games wonderfully. Whenever I want to listen to well-written fantasy music, I pull up this mashup.

HyruleOrchestra: YouTube

 

This unique cover by liltommyj utilizes sound effects and Breath of the Wild‘s soundtrack to create something entirely new.

To not-so-eloquently sum up my feelings on this song: Wow.

This song is a marvel of music production, and I cannot imagine how many hours it took to make. I will say that the genre is a bit of an acquired taste, and it’s a little niche. But as an avid plunderphonics enjoyer, I absolutely love it. (Plunderphonics songs take samples from the original media and use them to create a collage of sound that becomes a new song.)

My favorite part of “Open Your Eyes” melodizes the voices of NPCs in a way I can only describe as ethereal. Every time I listen to this song, I think, “Hey, I just realized where this sample came from!” In that way, I think this song perfectly emulates the sense of discovery in Breath of the Wild. 

I absolutely adore the “Riding” bit that leads into a climactic ending. The video editing perfectly complements the emotions of the melody, and I can’t stop rewatching it.

liltommyj: YouTube, X, Tumblr, Patreon

 

These “Ballad of the Goddess” covers by Luke Chu and Laura Shigihara soar to the heights of the original.

I love both of these covers of “Ballad of the Goddess” for different reasons.

Chu’s cover draws inspiration from the grandeur of the original, faithfully re-orchestrating the piece to invoke the same feelings. Meanwhile, Shigihara has created a more subdued version. She’s added more Hylian lyrics, and she provides beautiful harmonies that are overlaid with the main melody. Both covers encapsulate different parts of Skyward Sword. Chu invokes the feeling of flying through the sky, and Shigihara emulates the beginning scene in which we are introduced to Zelda.

I believe these covers stay faithful to the original “Ballad of the Goddess” without undermining it. I revisit all three versions of the song on a regular basis. When you want to feel like you’re soaring through the clouds, definitely give these covers a listen!

Luke Chu: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Ko-Fi

Laura Shigihara: Website, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer

 

Rozen provides us with a rainy take on “Song of Storms” from Ocarina of Time.

The “Song of Storms” has always had a hauntingly alluring appeal; this cover manages to increase that allure tenfold. With the rain sounds and effectively chosen percussion, this song manages to sound just like a rainy day. I like listening to this when I am craving stormy weather.

This song is almost entirely crafted from percussive elements, which are not instruments I would expect when thinking of the “Song of Storms”, but it turned out perfectly. The tuned drums and glockenspiel/celeste somehow feel like a soft rain beating down on Kakariko Village, not too stormy, but just rainy enough that you’d need an umbrella to go outside.

This cover is one of my favorite covers from Rozen’s fantastic discography.

Rozen: YouTube, Linktree

 

Here’s a breathtaking Oracle of Ages rendition by Zelda ReOrchestrated.

I always love to hear orchestrations of the 8-bit Zelda songs. This stunning cover of “Nayru’s Song” uses harp, strings, and a vocaloid in the essence of the goddess Nayru. If Oracle of Ages were to be remade today, I imagine her theme would sound a lot like this.

The harp and choral parts of this piece do an amazing job at invoking a sense for Nayru’s divine nature. They almost paint a picture of a water temple, perhaps built to worship Nayru many years after the events of the game. This is a great peaceful cover to add to your meditation or sleeping playlist!

ZREO: Second Quest: YouTube, website, X, Instagram

 

Enjoy a fun twist on “Tadtones Collected” by Blacctoad!

To cap things off, here’s a fun remix of Skyward Sword‘s “Song of the Hero”/“Tadtones Collected” theme. The Tadtones theme uses marimba, percussion, and choir for a bouncy song that almost sounds like bursting bubbles. In this remix, you can really imagine the scene it evokes, one jumping on lily pads over a watercolor lake and observing the pops of color below.

I always thought this song was so fun and wished that it was longer. Blacctoad leans into the watery aspects of the original theme with reverbed synths and additional flute themes. It’s very upbeat and bright, but it also has a chill vibe to it. This song makes for great background music, and I often put it on when I’m writing or drawing.

Blacktoad: YouTube, Twitch

---

I love Zelda music, and I’m so glad these artists created these covers for all to enjoy. Fan arrangements allow me to appreciate my favorite songs in a new light and, more importantly, vibe to really catchy tunes in my car. I’ve listened to every song on this list more times than I can count, and I will doubtless be revisiting them in the future.

What are the Zelda fan covers that you can’t get enough of? Please share them in the comments below!