Destiny Islands (track)

"Destiny Islands" is a musical composition by Yoko Shimomura. It is used throughout the Kingdom Hearts series.

Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
"Destiny Islands" plays primarily as the field theme for the Destiny Islands, but also appears in cutscenes.

Cutscenes

 * Destiny Islands: "Destiny Islands," "Tidus, Selphie, Wakka," "Paopu Fruit," "The Legend of The Paopu Fruit," "The Secret Place," "Three to One," "Sharing with Kairi"

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
"Destiny Islands" plays as the field theme for the 12th Floor and 3rd Basement Floor of Castle Oblivion, where the floor takes the appearance of Destiny Islands.

Sora's Story

 * Destiny Islands: Opening, and Key of Beginnings cutscenes

Reverse/Rebirth Mode

 * Destiny Islands: Opening, and Key of Beginnings cutscenes

Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

 * In Kingdom Hearts II, "Destiny Islands" plays during the ending sequence.

Cutscenes

 * Destiny Islands: "The Letter"

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
"Destiny Islands" primarily plays during cutscenes. It is also one of the unlockable tracks in Ice Cream Beat.

Terra's Story

 * Destiny Islands: "Legacy"

Aqua's Story

 * Destiny Islands: "Sora and Riku"

Kingdom Hearts coded and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
"Destiny Islands" mainly plays as the field theme in the digital version of the Destiny Islands, and the Destiny Islands section of Riku's Data in Hollow Bastion.

Event

 * Destiny Islands:     battle

Composition
"Destiny Islands" is approximately one minute and thirteen seconds long in Kingdom Hearts. For Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, the piece is extended to two minutes and forty seconds. For Kingdom Hearts II, the track is shortened to one minute and ten seconds. In Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, the piece is approximately one minute and fifty seconds long. For Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, the piece is one minute and eleven seconds long. Regardless of the game, the piece has a time signature of 4/4 time. in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, the piece has a tempo of 100 beats per minute. For Kingdom Hearts II and its HD counterpart, the tempo is slightly increased to 112 beats per minute. A notable tempo difference is in the Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories: an increase to 120 beats per minute.

For instrumentation, each version uses a similar instrumentation, though for games not in the HD remakes, some voices are covered through electronic means- such as synthesizer. In general, the instrumentation includes: trumpet, electric bass, synthesizer, steel drums, and piano. A more orchestral texture is used in Kingdom Hearts II, employing the following instruments: a complete strings section- violin, viola, cello, and stringed bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, crash cymbals, tambourine, timpani, and guitar.

It is important to note that Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep uses two different versions for this track. In cutscenes taking place on the Destiny Islands, the version used is the one first introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. However, during the Ice Cream Beat mini-game, the track follows the original Kingdom Hearts.

Regardless of the game, the lighter texture and tone is very evident with each version. The wide variety and use of auxiliary percussion instruments helps establish and maintain the tropical tone. The piano serves as the primary source of melody, with the trumpets occasionally joining in towards the end of the looped section. The arrangement played in Kingdom Hearts II is unique in that it does not follow the same lively tone as the other games. In this version, there is no use of percussion instruments, which naturally creates a softer, calmer tone. This more mellow sound is only enhanced by the use of the French horn and clarinet. However, the tropical tone is still established by the pan flute and "scratching" of the guitar, the latter playing in a style similar to a flamenco.This version also opens with a different rhythm: a. The version played in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories is also much calmer in nature. The version that plays in Kingdom Hearts Re:coded is very similar to the original Kingdom Hearts version, but now features the steel drums as the main melodic voice instead of the piano.