This is a Persona game. Nuff. Said.
Original Game:
- "Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There"
, the main theme of the game, an exciting, groovy tune that sets the mood of the game, with lyrics that describe the rebellious nature of the Phantom Thieves. It gets an instrumental reprise during the grand cutscene where the Phantom Thieves send their final calling card to Shido and reveal that Joker is alive. - "Phantom" plays during the Title Select and it's a great relaxing jazz number that gets you pumped up. "Let Us Start the Game."
- "Desire" and "Tension" perfectly encapsulate Oh, Crap! in musical form, with "Desire" as the more serious of the two.
- "Beneath the Mask" (with instrumental version), a smooth, relaxing acid jazz number that plays whenever Joker ventures out into the streets at night. While a bit of a melancholic piece since it shows the insecurity of Joker as well as figuring out who is one's self (the shapeshifter in a masquerade), it suits the tone for the coming-of-age story Joker goes through and portrays even more character of him. The rain remix (which also has an instrumental version) is an even smoother and calmer version, playing during rainy days.
- "Sunset Bridge" conveys feelings of regret, self-reflection, and hope — a beautiful accompaniment during such emotional events in the game.
- "Sweet" sounds exactly as it says — a warm, romantic tune that sets just the right mood for Joker when it's time to get intimate with his chosen lady friend(s).
- "Butterfly Kiss", which plays whenever Joker visits Takemi's clinic, is the eponymous doctor's own leitmotif: funky, mysterious, sensual, and a tad bit playful — just like the alluring woman herself.
- "Layer Cake", another smooth number that plays in Iwai's store. Despite its rather ominous intro, it quickly segues into a nice tune to relax to and enjoy as you purchase your model guns, much like the man whose store it represents.
- "Life Will Change", a Triumphant Reprise of the main theme that plays when the Thieves are ready for their heists. During the last three dungeons, the lyrical version plays, which is even better.
- "Awakening" plays when one of the Phantom Thieves awakens to their Persona. It immediately segues into a mini-boss fight that has the continuation theme "Will Power", which is also used during the second phase of the sixth boss fight and during the fight with The Dragon. The music is an intense rock guitar track, and the fierceness of it is a symbol that there's no messing around, no more holding back. It's the embodiment of Beware the Nice Ones as the Thieves finally embrace their other selves, ready to fight back against the adults who have been tormenting them and every other innocent people.
- "Last Surprise", the main battle theme, trades the high energy of the previous game's themes for a cross between smooth jazz and disco. The lyrics are basically a four-minute long Badass Boast about not only how they're going to bring their opponents' carefully built plans down to pieces, but also how they're going to make it look good as a proper Phantom Thief is wont to do. And it will be stuck in your ears. You never saw it coming. This is a most perfect example of a first reaction to the battle theme. The game also deliberately plays the chorus whenever you unleash an All-Out Attack, creating cathartic ends to random battles.
- "Have a Short Rest", the theme for safe rooms is also a very chill, calming track, sounding a bit like "Beneath the Mask", showing out Thieves taking a breather.
- "Blooming Villain", the boss theme. The perfect music for taking the corrupt targets down a peg.
- "A Woman" has a contemplative, sedate sound that makes it an ideal complement to Madarame's Palace-museum.
- "Price" is a fun and catchy tune that plays while sneaking around Kaneshiro's Palace, very reminiscent of the more comedic takes on the Heist Film genre. On the other end of the Sliding Scale of Silliness vs. Seriousness, the aptly called "Price -another version-" that starts playing instead once the Phantom Thieves breach into the Vault's sub-level is much darker, creepy even, befitting a high-stakes do-or-die heist such as a Bank Robbery.
- "The Days When My Mother Was There", a somber and melancholy and at the same time bouncy and cheerful track, as befits the target. It's also got some smooth guitars playing a pinch harmonic.
- "Sweatshop", a very catchy and fitting techno trance theme for Okumura's Palace.
- "The Whims of Fate", the theme for the Casino dungeon and the only vocal palace theme, is a deliciously catchy tune that captures the vibe of the location.
- "Ark", the theme for Shido's Palace, helps set the stage for the showdown against the head of the Conspiracy. It even features a remixed motif from "Tokyo Daylight", one of the main overworld themes, highlighting Shido's influence over the entire city.
- "Rivers in the Desert", the theme used for endgame bosses and the Superboss, which is almost perfectly tailored for each of the climactic battles it plays in. The lyrical version kicks in after its first two appearances and the awesomeness just increases from there. The lyrics are all about the climax of the final stages of the game, how close the Phantom Thieves are to both victory and defeat, the chance for a new start and finally, the necessity of their actions.
- "Keeper of Lust", the theme for the various mid-boss battles and for the battles against the bosses at the end of the Mementos requests. The heavy guitar riffs bring old-school PS2 Megaten games to mind, and serve as a stellar accompaniment for intense, but still routine battles.
- The final boss theme is even heavier on the guitar shredding, pseudo-orchestral metal prog elements, and general awesomeness. Good thing too, because if you're not prepared you'll be hearing it a lot. Then, when all hope is lost, cue the incredibly triumphant remix, "Our Beginning" and Satanael being summoned by the people's restored faith in the Phantom Thieves to kick Yaldabaoth's ass. It speaks to the talent of Shoji Meguro that a track which so unabashedly embraces both The Power of Friendship and Clap Your Hands If You Believe is legitimately moving.
- "Confession/Secret", the theme that plays whenever a conversation baring either half of its namesake occurs, is beautiful to say the least, as is the piano version.
- "Freedom and Security", the theme for the final dungeon, Mementos Depths, and the bad endings, is appropriately somber and relaxed in its melody, while the constant beating thud emphasizes the genuine oppressiveness of the situation.
- "With the Stars and Us", otherwise known as the ending credits theme, is a somber, melancholic ballad that erupts into a classic, hard rock-styled chorus with the singer showing off her powerful and emotionally charged vocals, even including a reprisal of the game's own Max Confidant theme in the melody. Unlike the previous games' more lighthearted ending themes, Persona 5's ending theme sets the perfect tone for the ending as the emotions are clearly conveyed, regardless of whether you can understand Japanese or not. A strong melancholic piece reflecting the utter joy in achieving the best ending yet also the sadness one feels that their journey with the Thieves is over, but ultimately showing that our heroes will no longer let anything stop them, showing how much they've grown.
- "Swear to My Bones" is a beautiful and emotionally charged piece, playing when Joker maxes out with a Confidant. It truly tops up just how much of a relationship Joker has made with them and how they've helped each other, solidifying it into a true life-long friendship, a pact of the confidant to be there for Joker. It also plays when Joker goes to the rest of the Thieves in the Velvet Room and help them believe in themselves once more after nearly being removed from existence, showing how much Joker has helped them and reaffirming the convictions to themselves and each other. In Royal, it's also used as the theme for the fist fight at the end of the final battle, as Joker finally manages to help Maruki let go of all of his regrets.
Royal:
- "Take Over" is a blood-pumping theme similar to "Last Surprise", as well it should be, since it's introduced in Royal to play during a successful Ambush, whereas "Last Surprise" stays back as the normal encounter battle theme.
- "Colors Flying High" rocks in the opening of Royal as all the Phantom Thieves dance and have a snowball (well, diamondball) fight. It also provides a clue about Kasumi's true identity.
- "Prison Labor", the theme for Special Velvet Room Battles, is an intense metal song that, like "Keeper of Lust", is reminiscent of Shoji Meguro's earlier work on the franchise. The difference in tone between it and the game's other battle themes conveys the Brutal Bonus Level nature of its context, and it fits the mood quite nicely regardless of whether you're winning or losing.
- "No More What Ifs" is a smooth jazz song that will calm your mind. Its instrumental version, which plays in the Thieves' Den, is just as excellent, and the perfect song to take a break from, as well as reminisce on, your journey so far.
- Equipping your party members with Featherman costumes replaces the normal battle themes with "Let's Go! Phoenix Ranger Featherman", a bombastic homage to the classic theme songs of Super Sentai.
- "Ideal and Real -end version-" - as the name implies - is a remix of Dr. Maruki's theme, "Ideal and Real", but cranking up the emotion by turning down the beat, replacing the Rhodes piano melody with an electric guitar, and the funky wah-wah guitar with hollow keyboard percussion. It plays during the actualisation ending of the new palace, if you end up taking Maruki's deal to live in his dream world where everyone gets their heart's desires. The sombre tone reflects the melancholy of Joker's choice, being the only person aware the new reality is a fake construct of Maruki's design, but that his friends will live in blissful, unaware happiness.
- As opposed to the usual overworld themes which play during after school, the Third Semester replaces them with "So Happy World", a melancholic and peaceful tune that seems uplifting given the circumstances of Maruki's new reality, but also has enough sadness in it to reflect the very unnatural circumstances that led to its creation, almost as if to say that such a utopia existing in the way it does should not exist to begin with, even if it was done with the best of intentions.
- "Gentle Madman", a somber piece for the new Very Definitely Final Dungeon and the Anti-Villain who dwells within.
- "I Believe" serves as the musical sequel to "Life Will Change", showing how the Phantom Thieves have grown from their role as vigilantes against the corrupt to vigilantes against anyone who attempts to destroy the very future of humanity, regardless of their intent. Hearing it in-game is glorious, especially as its lyrics about breaking through illusions and seizing a future stolen away are incredibly fitting for when it plays during the day you storm Maruki's Palace on the Day of Fates.
- "Throw Away Your Mask" is the final boss theme of Royal, and it captures their feelings beautifully. Dr. Maruki is the game's most sympathetic antagonist, and he truly wants what's best for the world and the Phantom Thieves in particular. He doesn't wish to fight them, and the lyrics reflect his desire to see them happy. It also captures the feeling of a battle that shouldn't be taking place, but has to because there's no other way that Maruki and the Phantom Thieves can settle their conflicting desires."Keep Your Faith", an instrumental version for when you fight Maruki and Azathoth, is an intense yet sorrowful electric guitar tune, perfectly fitting the foe you're going up against.
- "Our Light", the theme for the true ending of Royal, is even more somber than "With the Stars and Us", with the lyrics of the song pertaining to the regret that Joker feels about the possibility that Akechi is gone forever and the feelings of sadness that he has to part ways with the rest of his friends, yet also a bit of hope that they'll continue moving forward and that one day "our light" will guide him back to them. The strong piano instrumentals combined with Lyn's powerful vocals is sure to leave a huge impact on the players after all is said and done.
- "Another Ideology" initially plays during the protagonist and Actualized Akechi's meetup to discuss the strange situation they've started to witness. It later serves as the credits theme for the bad ending where the Phantom Thieves failed to meet the deadline for Maruki's palace, and now Joker will spend the rest of his days in an eternal slumber. This music effectively combines a sense of deeper suspicion and intrigue with a feeling of total failure, embodying both Maruki's sorrowful motives and the tragic logical end result of his dream world.
Meta:
- "You're Nothing Without Me". Robbie Daymond and Xander Mobus sing a cover duet focusing on Joker and Akechi dissing each other, fighting in song over who is superior (Joker laughing that Akechi's detective status isn't as impressive as he thinks, Akechi returns that Joker's a nobody who can't decide if he's Akira or Ren). With a jazzy, Broadway swing ballad that exudes power and harmony, it is nothing but glorious.
