Wumbo Wednesday With Weaselo: Video Game Soundtrack Dives (& Knuckles)

A little bit of video game music trivia from two of my favorite game series for tonight’s listening pleasure. First, we go to the early ’90s for one of the big mascots, and maybe the crowning jewel of the series, or half of the crowning jewel, whether you consider the a trilogy or tetralogy.

This is The Jetzons’ Hard Times, and if you’re in your 30s to 40s, this song will sound very familiar, because it’s by the guy who also sampled it to write this.

Now, for that reason you’re not going to hear it in other media, likely because Sega doesn’t own the rights. (See Sonic Origins.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWB_2OC8B7o

Brad Buxer, who wrote the music, ended up being Michael Jackson’s musical director for some time. And yes, Michael Jackson (and Buxer, and others) collaborated with Sega for Sonic 3 (but not Sonic & Knuckles, though technically in that case yes for Sonic 3 & Knuckles although once they realized they couldn’t fit it all in one cartridge it led to the split games and lock-on cartridge), I shit you not. Like everyone’s favorite zone, Carnival Night Zone taking from Jam, like the broken glass sample and the bit before the rap (at 3:15 in “Jam”). Or the Sonic 3 credits and Stranger in Moscow (listen to Stranger in Moscow 2x to hear the similarities). Jackson didn’t want his name on the final product due to not being happy with the capabilities of the sound chip. In fairness, it’s a video game sound chip from a 16-bit system in 1994, so listen, you’re not gonna get the world’s greatest audio quality and I’d consider it impressive what they were able to do with the limitations of the system. Oh yeah, and also Jackson’s first wave of sexual abuse allegations happened in 1993, which also led to Jackson’s termination with the project.

I find it unfortunate that I have Sonic 1, 2, and CD downloaded (okay, at this point offloaded for space reasons called “Need for Speed makes me download the entire fucking app’s worth of data when I have to update it, goddammit, I’m running out of space because of all the things Senorita Weaselo sends me”) but there is no Sonic 3/Sonic & Knuckles/Sonic 3 & Knuckles for the iPhone. I don’t want Sonic 4, I could not give a flying battery fuck about Sonic 4. (Actually, the Sonic Mania version of that track’s pretty good, but that’s always been my favorite Sonic zone soundtrack along with Chemical Plant Zone.)

(Inspiration and some information for this segment by)

Okay, how about some news?
If you like iceball, and many of us do, the trade deadline’s approaching and it’s been a surprising frenzy. Just over the last day or so:

-F Patrick Kane to the Rangers
-G Jonathan Quick and picks to Columbus for G Joonas Korpisalo and D Vladislav Gavrikov
-D Matthias Ekholm to Edmonton
-F Luke Schenn (back) to Toronto
-F Marcus Johansson to Minnesota
-Toronto trades D Rasmus Sandin to Washington for D Erik Gustafsson and a 1st

What about football? That’s why we’re here.
Paging CrimeBeat! And it’s a big one: Georgia DL and top draft prospect Jalen Carter has been charged with reckless driving and racing relating to a crash which killed teammate Devin Willcock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy back in January. He’s expected to turn himself in when he returns to Athens after the combine.

QAARON QAVE WATQH: Aaron Rodgers has left his darkness retreat.

And his answer? Update soon.

What’s the sports?
Slap Shot
One brand-spankin’ new Patrick Kane vs. Gritty (NYR vs. PHI, 7:30, TNT)
Raleigh Man vs. BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon (CAR vs. VGK, 10:00, TNT)

NBA Jam
Sword People vs. “Itchy Runs Afoul of an Irishman” (CLE vs. BOS, 7:45, ESPN)
Fightin’ Not-Zions vs. Fightin’ Lillards (NO vs. POR, 10:00, ESPN)

NCAA Jam
At Least One Musketeer vs. Friar Tucks (#19 Xavier vs. #20 Providence, in progress, FS1)
Iron Basketbowl: Auburn vs. #2 Alabama (7:00, ESPN2)
Getting Dunked on by Patrick Chewing vs. Barrels (Georgetown vs. Creighton, 8:30, FS1)
#9 Tejas vs. #22 Bloodeyes (9:00, ESPN2)

All right, celebrate Women’s History Month accordingly with what Padre Weaselo’s ’90s Italian wedding band dubbed the women’s national anthem.