Vancouver Symphony Orchestra plays Pokémon classics

by Kate Wilson on May 25th, 2017 at 12:21 PM

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We’re going to come right out and say it—anybody under the age of 30 who hasn’t been touched by the joy of Pokémon has no soul.

Whether it’s tossing up the merits of Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle in Red and Blue (FYI, Charmander learns the more powerful “scratch” at the same level that Bulbasaur and Squirtle learn “tackle”), attempting to play Gold and Silver in the evening on a Game Boy Advance with that weird USB light socket dangling over the top (because Lapras only comes out after 7 p.m. and Nintendo hadn’t figured out how to backlight a screen yet) and deliberating whether to take the plunge on buying a Nintendo DS for Black and White (totally worth it), Pokémon was all about strategy, hard work, and clocking up the hours. Which, we’re pretty sure, are three of life’s most important skills.

Soundtracking those character-building moments were some of Game Freak’s finest compositions. Accidentally wandered into the long grass in Pokémon Red or Blue? We still get nightmares from that terrifying chiptune battle-sequence music. Want to get around the map faster by hopping on your bike in Crystal? Expect that cycling song.

If you still have those melodies stuck in your head, you’re not alone—because you can bet that members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra can’t get the Gym Leaders’ themes off their minds.

Bringing Pokémon to life in a way that we always wished was true, conductor Susie Benchasil Seiter will lead the 70-strong organization in an orchestral rendering of classic numbers from every version of the game from Red and Blue to X and Y. Performing at the acoustically-optimized Orpheum Theatre, long-standing fans and newcomers will be able to experience the franchise with the combination of in-game action shots and all new musical arrangements.

In the (almost) words of Professor Oak—“your symphonic Pokémon journey is about to begin”.