Well, I’ve been hinting at a huge surprise regarding Mitsuda’s work on Chrono Trigger for weeks, and here it is. I hope the build-up pays off! People who have played Chrono Trigger have always joked that “Robo’s Theme” was the first rick roll, so I thought I’d show the video to Mitsuda and ask him what he thought of the track.
I’m surprised to say that he was actually a good sport. I was expecting him to say, “Oh, interesting, I never heard that before.” Instead we get what sounds to be genuine surprise. Maybe we’ve made a fan of him?
See his response after the jump.
OSV: Mitsuda-san, please bear with me, as this is hard to explain even in English! There has been an Internet phenomenon in the United States called a “Rick Roll” where people send the following video to one another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0 [1]
This is a big Internet prank or joke, and some game music fans have noticed how the background melody sounds similar to “Robo’s Theme” from Chrono Trigger, calling “Robo’s Theme” the first “Rick Roll.” It’s this big Internet joke. I was hoping you could comment about this, and about Rick Astley’s song? Do you think the video is funny?
Mitsuda: It certainly is the first time I’ve seen this. I’m surprised! That’s the first time I’ve heard of Rick Astley, and it’s interesting that such a phenomenon is happening in a different country. Thank you for your time!
So, that’s it. Was it everything you imagined? Maybe “Never Gonna Give You Up” will become the next karaoke craze in Japan.
[Special thanks to Justin Pfeiffer and Brad Rice for translation]
Comments Disabled To "Yasunori Mitsuda Gets Rick Rolled, Is Surprised"
#1 Comment By Don On December 5, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
Not what I was expecting, but amusing nonetheless.
#2 Comment By Joe Cam On December 5, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
I wont’ be happy until Mitsuda remixes Never Gonna Give You Up and uses Robo’s theme as the instrumental.
#3 Comment By Robby On December 5, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
I always loved Robo’s theme too. I love never gonna give you up too.
#4 Comment By David Hsu On December 5, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Looks like you got [2]. 😛
#5 Comment By CJ On December 5, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
He probably didn’t think much of the video if he didn’t really tell you what he thought. It’s considered pretty impolite in Japanese culture to say something negative. “I’m surprised” is probably as close as you’d get to “Wow, that sucked.”
#6 Pingback By Kotaku – Chrono Trigger Composer Never Heard of Rick Astley, Robo’s Theme Completely | Nintendo ds On December 6, 2008 @ 3:28 am
[…] last remaining Chrono Trigger mystery has finally been answered. Yasunori Mitsuda Gets Rick Rolled, Is Surprised (Original Sound […]
#7 Comment By Carl On December 6, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
Now to inquire about Kirby’s relationship with Snoop Dog, as seen here… [3]
#8 Pingback By Awesome Radical Gaming » Blog Archive » Robo’s Theme – Never Gonna Give You Up On December 6, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
[…] noticed. The interesting part is the composer of the Chrono Trigger soundtrack, Yasunori Mitsuda, swears he never heard of Rick Astley before: “It certainly is the first time I’ve seen this. I’m surprised! That’s the first time […]
#9 Comment By VGTO! Reviews On December 7, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
I’ve seen a vid online with robo’s theme synced together with the song. It came out really good, even catchy. Good to hear that Yasunori Mitsuda is a good sport.
#10 Pingback By weRgeeks.net » Blog Archive » Robot Roll’D On December 9, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
[…] semelhança é tanta que a Original Sound Version foi falar com o autor, Yasunori Mitsuda para ver o que ele tinha a dizer. Confira a […]
#11 Comment By Greg On December 17, 2008 @ 12:31 pm
[4]
Doesn’t line up as well as it did in my head. I suppose some things are better kept apart.
#12 Comment By Think On January 18, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
wonderful post))
#13 Comment By Kinder On September 12, 2009 @ 2:29 am
А мне нравится этот блог, только авторам надо помнить , что посетители разные бывают. Короче учитывайте возростной ценс посетителей.
#14 Pingback By Passagem Secreta » Chrono Trigger e o Rickroll On March 31, 2011 @ 9:57 am
[…] na trilha sonora ficaria só na base da especulação. Até que o Jayson Napolitano, do site Original Sound Version, resolveu entrar em contato com Yasunori Mitsuda, o principal compositor da trilha sonora do jogo. […]