Quick Beats: Mega Man Composer Manami Matsumae On Ocarinas And Bohemian Rhapsody

Throughout the Nintendo Life Video Game Music Festival we’re speaking to a range of composers and musicians for a mixture of in-depth interviews and shorter, sharper (and perhaps a little goofier) Q&As where we ask just ten rapid-fire personal questions; we’re calling these shorter features ‘Quick Beats’.

Following on from our recent in-depth interview featuring her, Jake Kaufman and Marc-Antoine Archier discussing chiptune in the the modern era, we were lucky enough to have legendary composer Manami Matsumae answer 10 daft musical questions, too.

So, sit back and prepare to hear her thoughts on some classic bands, musical heroes, and the one thing she’d save from a burning building…

What was the first song or album you remember buying?

When I was a junior high school student, I saved up my allowance to buy Queen’s Jazz. I listened to “Bohemian Rhapsody” a couple of years before that—it blew my mind and I became a huge fan. I love “More of That Jazz” from Jazz. The part at the end where tracks from Jazz appear in fragments is too cool to put into words.

What was the last music you listened to?

I listened to Genesis’ “The Cinema Show” for the first time in a while. Phil Collins’ drumming was really cool, and I love the irregular meter and long keyboard solo in the latter half.