Awesome Music / Rayman

(All music is available at RayTunes.)

Rayman 1

• The Magician's Challenge which, fittingly enough, plays during the challenge levels. Equal parts mysterious, energetic, and simply pretty, it holds its own as one of the more ear-catching songs in a game that's chock full of fantastic music.
• The Dream Forest starts the game off on the right foot with fanciful tunes reminiscent of carefree wandering in the woods with just enough hints of peril and uncertainty to keep you on your toes, and the levels featuring the boss have a very appropriate swarm-like sound to them.
• The appropriately named "Suspense" makes for perfectly intense chase music. It's used several times in the game, but the first and most memorable time you hear it is in Level 1 of the Swamps of Forgetfulness, and it doesn't start until you plant the first seed and the water begins to rise. The gong at the very start almost sounds like a starting pistol, warning you that you need to hurry.
• It's only fitting that the original Band Land would have some of the best music in the game. The game's themes ranged from the sweet, flute-filled trill used in the first few stages, to more peaceful, dreamlike music, to a sweet jazz riff.
• Picture City's music starts out incredibly peaceful, with a lovely string piece fitting for a museum. Good thing, too, given how frustrating Picture City can be. Its later music takes on an almost chilling, mystical tone. There's also an upbeat poppy track that's tons of fun.
• Betilla the Fairy's Theme is so wonderful, especially when it hits the 20 second mark.
• The Cave of Skops has a varied musical selection. From serene loneliness, to the feeling of wonder inherent in entering an expansive subterranean cavern, to the tense funkiness in being deep underground, to what sounds like a tropical drink stand theme, every track feels cohesive with its fellows yet distinct. Special mention goes to Skops's boss music, which is both whimsical and full of dangerous suspense.
• Candy Château bucks the trend of a game's levels becoming darker and spookier the closer you get to the boss. The mood of the whole place is jovial and sweet; in the case of the latter, quite literally, and the music tracks reflect this. They are circus themed, bouncy, happy, and all around celebratory. Overall the themes of this world are all very uplifting and fun.
• The continue music has a nice jazzy touch and the music can go from joyous to creepy in a heartbeat.
• Mr Dark's theme is the perfect mix of action and suspense with some wicked synths and guitars.

Rayman 2

This game has a lot - its eerily beautiful soundtrack is a major factor of its success.

• The Woods of Light. Beautiful and mystical, with an absolutely fantastic guitar line. A gorgeous atmospheric piece.
• The Walk of Life. The opening is slow and funkalicious, and then the main melody kicks in... And it's interspersed with what can only be described as a flute teasing you by going "Nyeh-nyeh nyeh nyeeeeh nyeh!" The first Rayman Game Boy game featured an epic 8-bit remix of this song. Used in—where else?—Band Land!
• The Precipice perfectly captures the frantic pace of the level as Rayman, high up in the mountains, desperately attempts to out-run a pirate ship destroying the bridges under his feet. Especially noteworthy is the way the track alternates between the pirates' and Rayman's motifs.
• Tomb of the Ancients (non-N64) is a severe case of Nightmare Fuel in an otherwise kid-friendly game. As such, it's awesome.
• Both the regular and final boss themes. Shit goes down.

Rayman M

The PS2/PC versions are referred to as "Rayman M", the Gamecube/Xbox versions are referred to as "Rayman Arena".

• The Menu theme is simple, yet has a nice beat to it. The one used in Rush is slower.
• Rayman's theme. There also exists a more electric Reprise version for the Factory, used in most of the Bonus League Race stages.
• Globox's theme is really silly. This one is different between M and Arena, each uses a different horn: compare M's Pirate's Stronghold and Arena's Pirate's Stronghold.
• The Teensies' techno theme is phenomenal.
• Razorbeard's theme fits great in The Pirate Stronghold.
• Henchman 800 is a nice rocking piece. It perhaps works the best in M's Factory.
• Tily's just whimsical. Just like Globox's theme, her main instrument is different between M and Arena, such as a lovely sax at the end of the Arena version: compare M's Pirate's Stronghold and Arena's Pirate Stronghold.
• Razorwife has opera of all things. Still really good, especially when there are strings in the arrangement.
• Henchman 1000 gets a really cool theme in the vein of Spaghetti Western. Here's his theme for The Pirate Stronghold in M.
• Dark Globox, exclusive to Arena (although shared with Rush's Globette), somehow manages to get a catchy theme out of what sounds like a soundtrack out of belches or frog croaking (though the swinging sax at the end is a nice touch). Here's the Crypts version.
• Just about every character has a more mechanized version of their theme for the Factory in Arena: even Rayman's matches more with the Reprise Factory version from M. This is very noticeable with Globox's, Teensies' and Razorwife's themes (the latter having a robotic filter over the singer), but a bit less with Razorbeard's, Henchman 800's, Henchman 1000's and Dark Globox's themes. Interestingly enough, Tily's theme now sounds closer to her themes in M.
• Shadow Plain is suitably creepy for its location.
• Rise & Shrine might just be the most beautiful in this game, both audibly and visually. It's almost a precursor to Rayman 3's "Land of the Livid Dead". Plays also in Zenith Harbor in Popolopoï mode.
• Sunset Coast. Considering the track is used in the Popolopoï stages for Dawn Sand, Water Canyon and Thousand Waterfalls, as well as the Staff Roll (which in turn is also the pause menu in Arena), the composers really liked this relaxing track as well.
• Haunted Yard's music does it job really well. Fittingly used for Electric Final (Popolopoï) and Speed Stress too, two very stressful final challenges. Arena adds a variation of it in Kuraï.
• Palm Beach. A variation can also be heard in Arena's Low-Gravity Arena.
• Spellbound Forest knows how to make itself enchanted.
• Coconut Island really gives off this cool, adventurous vibe one would expect from a pirate-ridden jungle. Also used for Forest Jump and Lava Factory.
• Gemstone Temple's BGM accentuates the regal and mysterious touch of the aforementioned battle stage quite nicely. Plays also in First Ruins and Nebulous Tower.
• Forgotten Dungeon combines the menu theme with an ambient tune that fits well with the ancient aesthetic of the heated stone chamber.
• Ghastly Trees combines the creepy elements of Shadow Plains and Haunted Yard, and makes a new mix out of it (which can also be heard in the Popolopoï modes for Dark Sewer, Treasure Ship and Pipe Maze. A calmer variation can be heard in Spooky Towers.
• Exclusive to Arena is Pac Arena, which is a lovely, retro-style remix of Rayman's theme in order to fit the Pac-Man tribute.
• A cheat in Rayman M give us this little ditty.

Rayman 3

• Madder by Grove Armada, the game's main theme, is really catchy.
• The title screen, also used for the first part of the Fairy Council level.
• The Fairy Council features ethereal, beautiful music that, coupled with some Scenery Porn, takes your breath away.
• The music that plays during the Funkyboard segments fits the kaleidoscopic background and surrealness of the segments quite well.
• Razoff's Mansion, played while Rayman chases him through his mansion. A Baroque-style piece that evokes the culture of aristocracy - though Razoff proves to be anything but.
• The theme of the Land of the Livid Dead is absolutely beautiful and matches the otherworldly/beautiful landscape. The theme is remixed through the various levels, but the very first version might be the best of them all.
• "Hoodoo Sorcerer" is one incredibly funky and catchy song.
• The latter half of the Tower of the Leptys, with the Armaguiddon, features some of the most twisted, bizarre music in the game.
• Reflux's battle theme is ridiculously intense. The didgeridoo-like melody and vocals all combine into one awesome track that's fitting for the strongest of the Knaaren.
• The Snow Board theme in the Summit Beyond the Clouds is a funky track that demonstrates both the wonders of a snowy land and the rush of adrenaline you get while riding down the mountains.

Rayman Origins

• The Tricky Treasure, aka "Chest". A comedic ditty with banjos, violins and horns, used in levels where you have to chase a living treasure chest through a wacky obstacle course. It's basically the Rayman equivalent to The Benny Hill Show's "Yakety Sax", which only adds to the fact that these levels are literally playable Chase Scenes.
• First Staffs. Appropriately, Band Land's revamped counterpart also gets great music, following the more "peaceful" trend in the first game. Although simplistic, there's something very soothing and meditative about this track.
• Land a Chef. An amazing, high-energy jazz track. Not only does it mesh wonderfully with the cocktails-and-punch atmosphere of the ice half of Gourmand Land, the track also uses sound effects made by clinking silverware, glasses, and pouring liquids. It doesn't just sound great, it's also thematically creative.
• The Dragon Chef's Belly, a flamenco boss fight theme worthy of a toreador taking down a mighty bull. (And all you're doing is curing a dragon's indegestion!)
• The catchy (and adorable!) Lums of the Water. The Lums sing their own oceanside serenade! And they seem to be having a lot of fun with it, judging by their giggling. Somehow manages to be hilarious and awesome at once.
• Speaking of the singing Lums, Panic at the Port. "Whackadoo Whackadoo Whackadoo!" is a pretty good onomotopoeia for what goes on in the level.
• The eerie, Spaghetti Western-esque whistling of Nowhere to Run really makes it clear what you're in for when you enter The Land of the Livid Dead. Those zombie grannies are cackling directly at you.
• Chasing a Dream just makes you feel awesome that you've managed to make it so far. It's no wonder it got remixed in the sequel.
• Escape The Dance is a very groovy track.
• The Darktoon Chase is one of the catchiest action themes in the game, with its bizarre mix of jawharp, percussion and string orchestration. The Sea of Serendipity's Darktoon Chase theme is just as good, with its frantic pace, frenzied island percussion, and even some parts of Reflux's boss battle music.

Rayman Legends

• The Medieval Theme. It really sets up the more fantastic theme of Legends, and sounds like setting off on a fantastic new adventure.
• Mariachi Madness. "Eye of the Tiger" was made for mariachi bands. Somehow, the fact that one of the main instruments is a kazoo doesn't ruin the gravitas of the song at all.
• The silky-smooth, James Bond-inspired riffs of 20,000 Lums Under the Sea. Complete with radar boops for atmosphere and emphasis, the music sets a tense tone for the stage's stealth-inspired stages, and makes you feel like a true super-spy! And then comes the music from the Laser Hallway segments, which is a homage to "The a La Menthe" from the Ocean's Eleven film series.
• Grannies World Tour. A face-melting rock version of "Nowhere to Run" from Origins. Played by zombie old ladies with electric guitars. It kicks precisely as much ass as it sounds like.
• Castle Rock is a part metal, part banjo, part gibberish rendition of "Black Betty" by Ram Jam. "Woah bah bee noy!" "BUM BA-LUM!"

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