Unless you’ve spent hours trawling through YouTube in a desperate search for more Critical Role content, you may not be aware of the sheer amount of music that’s been inspired by the show. I’ve put together a list of my favourite CR fan music creators — some of them well-known, and some of them underviewed.
You’ll recognize Welcome to Wildemount from the campaign 2 art reel, but his two other Critical Role-inspired songs, Trost and Ashkeeper, are both gorgeously atmospheric.
I have a special place in my heart for The List [spoilers c1e24-26], a song about what’s going through Percy’s head after the feast with the Briarwoods — because it’s what convinced me to watch campaign 1. Say [spoilers c1e77] is also a wonderful Kimallura duet.
If you weren’t already aware that a group of amazing Critters rewrote the entirety of Hamilton to fit Vox Machina’s Chroma Conclave Arc, consider listening to Vox Machina: An Exandrian Musical immediately. Special shout-out also to their song In the Cobalt Soul, a cheesy monk training-montage song.
willing [spoilers c1e44] a song from Vax’s perspective in the Sunken Tomb, and Hell and Back [spoilers c1e72], a Perc’ahlia song, both have the potential to leave me in a puddle of tears.
I’m in love with his creepy and tender theme for one of my favourite c2 locations, The Blooming Grove [spoilers c2e28]. Also check out The Road to Zadash [c2e30].
This pianist has written a handful of themes for c1 characters, including Wonder for Keyleth, The Tinkerer for Percy, and (my favourite!) an Anna Ripley theme. Her pieces are intricate and capture the characters perfectly.
I’ve linked to this guy before because he’s created the only Critical Role lo-fi beats that I know of. My favourite might be Mask [spoilers c2e18], but honestly, they’re all pretty amazing.
This channel has inspiring and emotional musical themes for Yasha, Molly [spoilers c2e26], Fjord, and (personal favourite) Caleb. Again, they fit the characters absolutely beautifully and I’m kind of in love.
Oh shit, another song about Vax that’s making me want to cry? Hell yeah. Premature Requiem [spoilers c1e103] is a heartbreaking song about how Vax’s choices affect those closest to him. The same artist wrote a sweet Thank You song to Vox Machina.
If you’re like me and love when important objects get their own soundtracks, check out this theme for the Beacon, A Fragment of Possibility, with a weird and sometimes disturbing techno ambience that’s entirely appropriate. The same creator has also written themes for Caleb and Fjord.
Another composer working on themes for the Mighty Nein! My favourite of these is Fjord’s theme, Ballad of the Sea, which is the perfect accompaniment to his arc. Check out all the Ballads so far as well as the early versions of all the themes.
I think Ginny is pretty well-known for her amazingJestercosplayvideos, some of which include her singing, but my favourite song of hers will probably always be her Ruby of the Sea song (even though she didn’t manage to work in “the best lay ever”).
There are a bunch of other artists whose stuff I love, but this post is long enough as it is! I hope you enjoy 🙂
My local Faire’s season just wrapped up this weekend, and our Shakespeare sang this song. That version doesn’t seem to be online yet, but this is probably a higher quality recording anyway. Is there a specific word of “End-of-the-performance-run-ose?”
“Hope Eyrie” by Leslie Fish, performed by Julia Ecklar. Originally about the moon landing, but I think it suits current events as well. It is a GOOD DAY to be HAPPY about SPACE.
Lyrics, chords, and a 4-part choral arrangement can be found here
Happy 50th anniversary of the moon landing, everyone!
Note: unfortunately the link above no longer works 🙁 Lyrics (without music) can now be found here.
These folks are a hidden gem I just discovered in my quest for new things! Meet “Clearly Guilty,” a clever geek trio from Kansas City. Great harmonies for a sad, sad subject.
The album we’re funding, “Swearing is Caring,” is full of wonderfully nerdy, feminist, LGBTQIAP+-inclusive filk music, plus a lot of swearing, because #Big2019Mood, y’all.
It’s got songs about libraries, anxiety, what not to say after sex, mansplaining, catcalling, Star Trek, Harry Potter, and more.
Because we’ve met stretch goals, everyone who backs the Kickstarter gets bonus stuff, too:
1. All physical-reward-level backers will receive a “Swearing is Caring” sticker
2. ALL backers will receive a bonus, downloadable coloring book page
3. All $5+ level backers will receive an early-release single IF we hit our $17,500 stretch goal (and as I write this, we’re less than $500 away!)
Backer-exclusive rewards (ones you won’t be able to get anywhere else) include:
1. Skull pillow
2. Drunken postcard
3. Glittery variant “Swearing is Caring” enamel pin
So don’t miss out! And thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign so far – please continue spreading the word! And even if you don’t have money to spare right now, reblogs are super helpful. Thank you for boosting the signal!
So I want to draw your attention back to these wonderful people for a sec, and their latest CD. And the Star Wars feels. All the Star Wars feels. This is great in person as well, but that backing track really hits the spot.