Kingdom Hearts
Villains of a Sort
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 1:32
Kingdom Hearts II
Villains of a Sort
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 0:53
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
Villains of a Sort
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Villains of a Sort
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX
Villains of a Sort
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 1:33
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX
Villains of a Sort
Theme Notes.png
Arranger Yoko Shimomura
Composer Yoko Shimomura
Length 1:14

"Villains of a Sort" is a musical composition by Yoko Shimomura that appears in the Kingdom Hearts series.

AppearancesEdit

"Villains of a Sort" appears only in cutscenes. It is used in scenes pertaining to villains and Darkness and is most commonly associated with Disney villains.

Kingdom HeartsEdit

  • Hollow Bastion: "Assembly of Darkness", "Figures in the Darkness", "Riku's Wish", "Dark Powers", "The Purest Hearts", "Mistress of All Evil"
  • Traverse Town: "A Dark Proposal"
  • Olympus Coliseum: "Hades' Plan"
  • Agrabah: "Jafar's Plan"
  • Monstro: "A Heart's Darkness"
  • Neverland: "Kairi's Heart", "The Seven Chosen Ones", "Fly, Sora"
  • Atlantica: "Ursula, the Sea Witch", "Stolen Trident"

Kingdom Hearts IIEdit

Kingdom Hearts Re:codedEdit

  • Disney Castle: "A Shady Character"
  • Olympus Coliseum: "Hades on Fire", ""Buy a clue", " "Meet Hades", "Hades Complains", "Loose Ends"
  • Agrabah: "Pete and the Lamp", "Let the City Go!", "Reminder of Maleficent's Power"

Kingdom Hearts Birth by SleepEdit

"Villains of a Sort" is the field theme in the Magic Mirror Chamber only during Terra's visit to the Dwarf Woodlands after The Queen orders him to bring back Snow White's heart.

Terra's StoryEdit

  • Enchanted Dominion: "Darkness Within"
  • Dwarf Woodlands: "Who is the Fairest One of All?", "The Shadows Lengthen"
  • Lanes Between: "Servant of Darkness"
  • Olympus Coliseum: "How to Conquer the Darkness", "Registration"
  • Neverland: "Captain Hook Returns"

Ventus's StoryEdit

  • Enchanted Dominion: "Terra Stole Her Heart?"
  • Neverland: "Tinker Bell is Pixie-napped"

Aqua's StoryEdit

  • Dwarf Woodlands: "The Witch and the Apple"
  • Enchanted Dominion: "Reunion with Ventus", "A Castle Wrapped in Thorns"
  • Olympus Coliseum: "Bluebird"

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop DistanceEdit

Kingdom Hearts Union χEdit

  • Daybreak Town (Main Story): "Darkness in the Land of Light", "A Way to the Future"
  • Dwarf Woodlands: "An Enchanting Encounter", "An Evil Plan", "Threat of Darkness", "The Poisoned Apple"
  • Olympus Coliseum: "Hades", "Plan B", "On the Same Side"
  • Beast's Castle: "Let Them Come"
  • Enchanted Dominion: "A Knowing Smile"
  • Agrabah: "Diamond in the Rough", "The Magic Lamp", "The Master, Jafar"
  • "Dark Footsteps"[KH χ]

Kingdom Hearts IIIEdit

Kingdom Hearts Dark RoadEdit

  • Wonderland: "Dark Presence", "Darkness's True Form"
  • Agrabah: "Disposable"

CompositionEdit

"Villains of a Sort" is approximately one minute and thirty-two seconds long in Kingdom Hearts. In the HD remake of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, the piece is one minute and thirty-three seconds long. In Kingdom Hearts II, the piece is fifty-three seconds. However, in the HD remake of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, the piece is one minute and fourteen seconds long. The piece lacks an introduction or proper conclusion, allowing for a smooth transition between loops.

In the original Kingdom Hearts version, the instrumentation includes: a complete strings section- violin, viola, cellos, and stringed bass, flute, piano, For Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, the instrumentation is the same, but with the addition of a clarinet. For Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, the clarinet joins the flute with its short theme. In Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, the instrumentation resembles that used in Kingdom Hearts II. However, the piano and lower string parts are more dominant and pressing. This new dynamic and slight rhythm change helps create a new variation and level of uneasiness. For Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts III, the instrumentation resembles the original Kingdom Hearts version.

The underlying "villain" tone is immediately established by the chords played in the strings section. The dissonance of the underlying chord progression serves to heighten the tension and foreboding tone. The flute's entrance seems a bit out of place, with it's short "flighty" flourish. This brief moment of uncertainty is answered with the piano. Playing in the lower bass clef register, the piano plays an equally brief motif that accents more of the rhythmic subdivision- almost like an irregular heartbeat or misplaced footsteps.

For the HD remake of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, the instrumentation includes that shown in Kingdom Hearts II, now with the addition of the French horn. Unique to this arrangement, however, is the shrill vibrato played in the higher register of the violins. The French horn part mirrors that of the mid and lower pitched voices of the strings section, adding another layer to the chord progression. For the HD remake of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, the instrumentation includes that shown in Kingdom Hearts II, but adds multiple bass drums . The addition of percussion adds a unique tone to the piece- one that closely resembles the rumbling of thunder.

AlbumsEdit

Notes and referencesEdit

  1. ^ A unique unnamed arrangement.
  2. ^ As part of an unnamed arrangement.
  3. ^ A unique unnamed arrangement.
  4. ^ A unique unnamed arrangement.