I've been thinking recently (dangerous I know), and I wonder if anyone else agrees with me:
Throughout it's history the Sonic games have had some of the most advanced and coolest BGM for computer games ever!
Allow me to explain. Cast your minds back to the first Sonic game. At the time it's main contender was probably Mario, but I'm sure many would agree that it beat the little plumber hands down. Reasons for this vary from better graphics and gameplay to the fact that Mario was just plain annoying, but one of the major differences was...? The music. Mario had a plinky plonky brain-destroying soundtrack that sounded like somone had let a chimp sit on a keyboard while they recorded it, but what did Sonic have? Marble Zone, Starlight Zone, Scrap Brain Zone...quality tunes that you could tell people had spent a long time on!
This trend has continued through all the Sonic games up to present day...just look at some of the tunes from SH for example! They rock! It is unfortunate that, while playing the games, it is all too easy to become destracted and not notice the awesome BGM to levels, but this possibly only serves to show just how good they are! They fit the level so well and are so well constructed that they become part of the games atmosphere! If they weren't so refined they would be much more noticable!
Everyone agree, or dissagree?
And while we're on the subtect, what are your favorite tunes from the games? I could name virtually every zone from every game, but I'll try to narrow it down...
Metropolis Zone - S2
Lava Reef Zone - S&K
Rusty Ruin Zone - S3D
Diamond Dust Zone (Act 1) - S3D
Grand Metropolis and Both Casino Zones on SH
(Unfortunately not heard music to SA or SA2, but I want to!)
Wraith
Lava Reef, hands down. It's hard to believe something so good could be produced by that FM chip.
Ice Cap gets honorable mention for being so damn hum-worthy.
I do agree Sonic music is great. Sometimes while listening my dad comes by and asks: "Great music! What song is it?" "It's Sonic dad.." ^^''
My favourite tunes are:
Sandopolis - S3&K
Ice Cap - S3&K
Open your Heart - SA
Sonic's Theme - SA and SA2 (both versoins, the faster one and the not-so-fast one)
Escape from the City (or whatever it's called) - SA2
Team Chaotix's theme - SH
Eggman's theme - SA2
Sonic Spinball Boss - Sonic Spinball
Scrap Brain - Sonic 1
I like almost all Sonic music, except for a few ones like Rouge's and Amy's theme, which I only enjoy listening to when in a certain mood.. o.o Amy's annoying and Rouge's too calm.
I want Blaze to have a heavy metal theme. 😛
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It's hard to believe something so good could be produced by that FM chip.
I dunno, I think the jazz tune in the bar scene of Streets of Rage 2 is a little more impressive.
Shadow of a Hedgehog has nearly all of the Sonic music in existence, if you can tolerate using FilePlanet. 
Indeed Sonic music rules. My faves...
Starlight Zone - S1
Green Hill - S1
Chemical Plant - S2
Aquatic Ruin - S2
Carnival Night(one of my faves) - S3&K
Open Your Heart - Sonic Adventure 1
Live and Learn -Sonic Adventure 2
E.G.G.M.A.N. - Sonic Adventure 2
Doesn't Matter - Sonic Adventure 2
Team Chaotix! - Sonic Heroes
This Machine(at the moment my favorite) - SH
What I'm Made Of - SH
I'm sure there are more, but to keep it short.
Here are my favorite Sonic tunes:
Green Hill Zone- S1
Marble Zone- S1
Starlight Zone- S1
Scrap Brain Zone- S1
Emerald Hill Zone- S2
Mystic Cave Zone- S2
Carnival Night Zone- S3
Flying Battery Zone- S&K
Sky Sanctuary Zone- S&K
Leaf Forest Act 1&2- S Adv 2
Hot Crater Act 1- S Adv 2
Egg Utopia Act 1&2- S Adv 2
...and almost all the music in S Adv 3.
They all sound so nice, though I like the classic ones better.
My personal favorites are...
Marble ZOne-S1
Ice Cap ZOne- S3
Mystic Cave Zone- S2
Live and Learn- SA2
WHat I'm Made of- SH
Emerald Coast- SA
Lava Reef Zone Act 1- S3
Also this is kind of off topic, but didanyone else notice taht Marble Zone's music sounds sort of like a Frank Snanatra Song? I wonder if that was done on purpose.
The must favourite two so far wold have to be the ending music from Sonic 3 and the intro from Sonic CD (Eur).
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I dunno, I think the jazz tune in the bar scene of Streets of Rage 2 is a little more impressive.
And Arranged Dungeon 2 from Phantasy Star IV is even MORE impressive. Unfortunately, neither being Sonic games in the least, they don't really factor here. 
First off, PSX is that Sae in your avatar? If so, kill it. Kill it dead
Secondly, is this limited just to Sonic and Mega Drive?
Because, Sonic Team hit BGM gold on two occasions, once in NiGHTS which has undoubtably spiffy music, and the other is Sonic Fighters, which is so damn awesome it's worth buying the album.
Alot of the Mega Drive tunes are nice and all, but nothing overly exceptional, beyond the bass tracks in Sonic 2's stages, most notably Emerald Hill and Mystic Caves; notable mentions for Ice Cap for being so overly whored (and cut completely out of the PC version ) and Lava Reef Act 1
But, best Sonic BGM, in my opinion is Fighters, especially South Island (Lovers) and the unused Sunset Hill music. Death Egg's Eye is pretty damn cool too.
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First off, PSX is that Sae in your avatar?
Yes.
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If so, kill it. Kill it dead
Murder is never the answer, Craig. 'Sides, she might kick my butt.
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Secondly, is this limited just to Sonic and Mega Drive?
Naw, it's Sonic across all platforms. I just make it a point that, in my eyes, Lava Reef Act 1... despite competing with the likes of Sonic CD and the Adventure series, decidedly trumps all with its powerful beats synched in a perfect blend of rythm and melody.
Is it crazy to overly-praise a single track out of an already impressive collection of songs?
...
Why, yes. Yes it is.
No. Seriously, PSX. Don't joke about, I let you keep the Nahga one because I was destracted by her... laugh... but, Sae is the damn Anti-Christ, and you are walking around advertising that you are her worshipper!
-
Back on topic, Lava Reef 1 DOES deserve much praise (not to mention sadness, as it's only one level instead of 2)
Also, I committed a crime against humanity for TOTALLY FORGETTING Sonic CD, until you mentioned it. That entire game is just awesome music personified (European/Japanese version, anyway. Hell if I'm praising Neilson after the whiney Collision Chaos guitar)
Personal favourites have to be Stardust Speedway (all 4 versions, especially Bad Future for being Metal Sonic's race music), Quartz Quadrant Good Future has a reaaally nice intro, Palmtree Panic and Metallic Madness' bad futures both captivate the amount of panic and "OH SNAPS!" atmosphere that should accompany the destructive future, and of course Tidal Tempest's water sounds need to be referenced, big time
Hopefully come August i'll be able to hear the music from Sonic CD...can't wait. And uhh...Psx...your sig....
XD!!! Oh my goodness 
I think saw that coming when she kept asking her who it was, and she just kept smiling. XD!!!!11
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(not to mention sadness, as it's only one level instead of 2)
Hidden Palace's tune is a remix of Lava Reef's.
Yeah, but the good Lava Reef music is act 1, then it changes to the Hidden Palace theme for act 2.
Unless people are trying to confuse me by calling the Hidden Palace Theme "Lava Reef" because it's act 2 of LR, and then the first stage is... umm... Lava Reef but the other one, despite coming first and being vastly superior?
*Head hurts*
We are talking about Act 1 being greatness, right?
I'll second that, Psx your sig is freaing AWESOME. ^^
As for what I think is the best music? O_o; Lord is this hard.
Starting with the Genesis games....
S1 ~ Spring Yard Zone and Labyrinth Zone. I love the beat in the former and the latter is just plain pretty ^^
S2 ~ Chemical Plant Zone, Sky Chase Zone, Metropolis Zone, and the credits music. That is the best mix of all (okay most) of the songs I have EVER HEARD. It totally beats the pants off of the other ones. Chemical Plant is one of those levels where I love the music but hate the level itself. I suppose I could say the same for Metropolis Zone. Sky Chase is so pretty sounding!
S3 ~ Hydrocity Zone Act 1 and Launch Base Zone Act 1. Hydrocity is another case of love the music/hate the level. The music is so fun and catchy, but.... yeegh, water levels = PAIN. Launch Base is one of those tunes where I can't sit still while playing/listening. ^^ Like many have said before though, Ice Cap (especially act 2) gets a special mention for being just an overall awesome track.
SK ~ Um.... almost all? XD Flying Battery (prefer act 1 but both are great), Lava Reef, Hidden Palace, Sky Sanctuary. Flying Battery has one of the most catchy melodies in my opinion, and long after I've gone through the level, I find myself humming it. Lava Reef = teh PWN, Hidden Palace is beautiful as well. Sky Sanctuary I had to sort of grow to like.... but after awhile, I realized how nicely it's composed and think it deserves a shot at being some of the best music for the Genesis games.
Skipping to SA2 'cause I'm more familiar with that music than any other game in between ^^; These I'm just gonna list.
~ Metal Harbor
~ Green Forest (I think?)
~ Aquatic Mine
~ Mission Street? (dear god, it's been so long since I've played, I can't remember the names of the levels @_@; )
~ Meteor Herd
~ Crazy Gadget
~ Security Hall
~ Cosmic Wall
~ Live and Learn (and Open Your Heart from SA1 as well ^^; )
....well that was a longer post than I anticipated ^^;
~Shadowed Spirit Sage
Richard Jacques' Gene Gadget Act 1 deserves a special mention for bringing the magic of UK Clubland into the Sonic world. The breakdown desperately needs a sweaty man with a whistle and headphones shouting "MAKE SOME NOOOOOOOOOISE!".
Yeah, Jacques may not have had the best lyrics to go with his songs but the music was grood. I mean good... and great... great and good. *walks off*
My favourites:
Team Chaotix/Team Dark/Team Sonic/Team Rose Theme tunes-SH
Egg Fleet Zone- SH
Green Forest-SA2B
Sonic's Theme tune-SA&SA2:B
Open Your Heart-SA
Live and Learn-SA2:B
Chemical Plant Zone-S2
Well I was going to go through each Sonic game, but there are quite a few, so here are a few fave songs off the top of my head in no particular order:
Lava Reef Zone Act 1 - S&K
Sky Santuary - S&K
Sonic Finish AKA: Level Complete - most Sonic games (I know it's short, but it's one of the few that have lasted through the years)
Super Sonic - S2
Credits - S1 & S3
Hydrocity Zone Act 2 - S3
Mini Boss - S3
Marble Garden Zone Act 1 - S3
Sonic Boom (slow version) - SCD
Diamond Dust Zone Act 2 - S3D Blast
Special Stage - S3D Blast
Open Your Heart - SA1
The Air - Windy Valley - SA1 (along with the entire SA1 OST, but those are my top two from it)
I can't remember much from SA2 or SH right now, so yeah. There's my list!
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Oh yea as SSS said, Metropolis totally owns. My goodness that beat is crazy. *goes to play S2 right now*
Sonic 1: Starlight/Spring Yard
Sonic 2: Casino Night
Sonic 3: Pretty much all of it
Sonic and Knuckles: All of it
Sonic CD: All of it
That settles it...=p
Sonic Heroes had some snazzy tunes but I was too busy falling off edges to notice...
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Sonic Heroes had some snazzy tunes but I was too busy falling off edges to notice...
XD!
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The Air - Windy Valley - SA1
That was actually a reorchestrization of the Green Grove Act One music from the Mega Drive/Genesis 3D (Blast, Flickie's Island, etc.).
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That was actually a reorchestrization of the Green Grove Act One music
I knew that sounded like another zone, but I couldn't place it exactly. Thanks much for clearing that up, Matt.
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We are talking about Act 1 being greatness, right?
We better be.
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No. Seriously, PSX. Don't joke about, I let you keep the Nahga one because I was destracted by her... laugh... but, Sae is the damn Anti-Christ, and you are walking around advertising that you are her worshipper!
You make a valid point.
Naga was a bit unhinged, wasn't she? Anyways, my offshore Sae CulT island HQ is on the verge of completion and I'm now taking membership applications. **litters forum with pamphlets**
S1: StarLight and GHZ
S2: Metropolis, Mystic Caves
S3: Angel Island, Launch Base
Sa1: Ice Mountain Act1
SA(DX): Open Your Heart
SA2: Live & Learn, Ghost Pumpkin's Soup (Pumpkin Hill), City Escape, Shad's theme, Meteor Herd, Biolizard theme
SB: Colosseum, Gimme Shelter
SH: Casino Park, Bullet Station, Hang Castle, This Machine
Here we go:
S1: Starlight and Scrap Brain
S2:The final boss fight.
S3: Carnival Night(original), Ice Cap(original), and the end credits(original)
SK: Sky Sanctuary and Doomsday
S3-D: All of it
Knuckles Chaotix: All of it(Mainly the bad ending theme)
Sonic spinball: Lava powerhouse
SA 1,2,Heroes: All of it
Sadv2: All of it except the music factory zone. It doesnt seem like it has a nice flow to it.
Sadv3: Aqua base and Chaos angel(all verisons). Chaos Angel especially because it seems to fit the zone more perfectly than the others.
Let's see...
S1: Boss theme/Green Hill
S2: Metropolis/Sky Chase/Wing Fortress/Death Egg/Final Boss (Overall groovy soundtrack)
S3 - Sub-boss theme/Marble garden
S&K - Knuckles' theme/Flying Battery/Sky Sanctuary
S3D - nearly all of it.
Sonic R - Everything. Great soundtrack
SA - Basically everything. Brilliant soundtrack.
SA2 - City escape/E.G.G.M.A.N. Very lacklustre compared to SA.
SH - What I'm made of.
SAdvance - Chaos Angel (One of my faves)
SAdvance 2 - Nothing memorable.
SAdvance 3 - nothing memorable.
My faves are Sonic adventure and Sonic R. Sonic R's synth driven and peppy lyrics do it for me everytime.
Amen to that OTB!
I still say Diamond in the Sky should be releaced as a single 😛 It'd beat the Crazy Frog dead!
I love some of the theme songs on SH though too! Team Rose's song has a great guitar riff, and the swoopy harmonies on the chorus are fantastic! The others are cool too, esp. Team Sonics!
And as for level music, yeah Lava Reef 1 (S&K) has to be the...SECOND best of all time...!!!
I'm sorry but the atmosphere and complexity of Diamond Dust (S3D) just takes the buiscuit for me. Both the tunes were mixed and composed brilliantly, but DD has SO MANY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS all coming together in absolute perfect and fantasticly atmospheric harmony that if I sit listening to it with my eyes closed i almost start to cry!
It's one of those tunes that, when you're stressed out of your head, you stick it on, crank the volume up to FULL, throw yourself backwards onto your bed and just escape from EVERYTHING!
EDIT: Ah yeah good point Shadow. I'd have to say Zone 1. 2 is nice, but loses something...
EDIT 2: o.O Oh ok...I've never heard the Saturn version of it. I mean Gen.
Which version of Diamond Dust, though?
EDIT: I meant Saturn or Genesis, not which Act!
As a huge fan of Jun Senoue and Richard Jacques, their music warrents inclusion. For the former - "Open Your Heart" would be amongst his best (to go through his other greats would take too long though...), and for Jacques, the entirety of Sonic R. The 2nd act of Diamond Dust (Saturn) and the Panic Puppet zone BGM's were good too. The end theme tune "You're My Hero" is good too.
Concerning the lyrics, granted they're hardly up there with Matt Johnson's best (forgive my blatent "The The" inclusion), but it's not much worse than the pap they call dance music nowadays anyhoo.
If we're moving onto the Mega Drive music, then for the original - the Marble, Spring Yard and Star Light zone BGM's still bring a warmth to my heard 12 years after first playing the game! Sonic 2's BGM wasn't as memorable for me as the original but favourites from there include Hill Top and Metropolis Zone.
Sonic 3 contains one of my most favourite BGM's under the Ice Cap zone (both Acts 1 and 2), while S+K has Lava Reef as one of the finest pieces of music to come from that little chip. Flying Battery and Death Egg Zone are great too.
These are my favorite BGMs.
Sonic 1
Green Hill Zone: You can't beat the original
Marble Zone: I love the synthetic drums in the intro
Starlight Zone: It's so relaxing
Sonic 2
Metropolis Zone: This is something you'd expect a DJ to be playing
Sonic 3 and Knuckles
Ice Cap Act 1: It really gets you into the action of the zone and certain parts sound like the tinkling of ice
Ice Cap Act 2: Much gentler than Act 1, the music is very relaxing
Flying Battery Act 2: I love the techno-esque sound to it
Sandopolis Act 2: This BGM sounds very Egyptian. The drums in the intro really set the stage for the act
Lava Reef Act 1: Once again, I love the intro. I don't know what instrument is playing in it, but it sounds great, much like the flowing of magma
Final Boss: Possibly my favorite S3&K track. This BGM perfectly sets the stage for the final boss
OTB....uh wasn't Chaos Angel in Sonic Advance 3?
Which reminds me that I loved all the tunes from the Advance games as well and now that I have a Gameboy Player, I can hear it in surround sound stereo (There are advantages to living at home while at college)
This is my list:
Sonic the Hedgehog (MS/GG)
All
Sonic the Hedgehog (MD)
-Marble zone
-Scrap Brain zone
Sonic 2 (MS/GG)
-Green Hills zone
Sonic 2 (MD)
-Emerald Hill zone
-Mystic Caves zone
-Oil Ocean zone
-Metropolis zone
Sonic 3
-Hydrocity zone (act 2)
-Ice Cap zone act 2
Sonic & Knuckles
-Mushroom Hill zone
-Sandopolis zone
-Death Egg zone
Sonic CD (jap/pal)
-Palmtree Panic Past, Present, Good future
-Tidal Tempest Past, Present, Good future
-Wacky Workbench Present, Bad future
-Metallic Madness all
-You can do anything
Sonic 3D (MD)
-Green Groove acte 2
-Rusty Ruins
-Boss themes
Chaotix
-"Walkin' "
-Botanic Base
Sonic Spinball (MD)
-Toxic Caves
-The Machine
-Boss theme
Sonic Adventure
-Open your Heart
-Egg Viper boss
-Windy Valley (the Green Groove remix)
-Emerald Coast
-Big: "Lazy Days"
Sonic Adventure 2
-Live & Learn
-Green Hill
Sonic Heroes
-Seaside Hill
-Hang Castle
-Mystic Mansion
Sonic Advance 2
-Leaf Forest act 1
Sonic Advance 3
-Boss
-Chaos Angel
I think that's all
Ah yes...the advance games. On Sonic Advance 2(which I lost at my grandmother's ;_
that music level (Music Plant maybe) I loved it loved it and loved it.
All of it.
Gotta say that it's difficult to pick a favourite Sonic song, but I have to say that the boss music kicks rectum (especially Sonic 3 boss music) and the Ice Cap zone in Sonic 3.
Real toe tappers if you ask me.
I love all the Sonic R level tunes (I have them taped for the car, even!), but above all Back in Time. Its sentiments are just perfect when you're bored sick of studying or stuck in a traffic jam or whatever ("So take me away from here to a place that's nowhere near" or "Take me away from this cos this place I'll hardly miss").
I do have a fondness for some of the Master System / Game Gear ones, since that's where I started Sonic.
Bridge, Jungle and Scrap Brain for Sonic 1.
Sonic 2: whichever level is basically Sonic Warrior.
Sonic Chaos: Aqua Planet (Master System version) rocks amazingly, as does the end credits theme.
Sonic Triple Trouble: Sunset Park boss (that great long train).
I don't even know where to begin on the MegaDrive stuff though, or Sonic Adventure / SA2 - except perhaps Believe in Myself (SA1) and It Doesn't Matter (either version).
For Heroes, I adore Hang Castle and Mystic Mansion, Casino Park and Bingo Highway, This Machine, Follow Me, What I'm Made Of...
DW
Greatest game music ever created; infact perhaps the greatest music ever created all together. I think a lot of it is very good, especially the Sonic Adventure games soundtrack and Sonic Heroes.
My favorite Sonic track ever is the BGM from Sonic World. It's just so bouncy and happy that it makes me wanna get up and dance around the room like a total idiot. 
Another good one is Character Select ~ Get into the Wave 2 from Sonic the Fighters. It's very catchy. I can't wait to hear it on Gems Collection along with all the other musics from the game, in action.
Last but not least, Sonic - You Can Do Anything. I really like the lyrics & how it fits the events unfolding in the opening movie to SCD.
From Sonic 1: Starlight Zone. I just LOVE peaceful sounding music like that.
From Sonic 2: Aquatic Ruin Zone. It just fits so well. Emerald Hill nad Oil Ocean also get props.
From Sonic 3: Angel Island Zone (both acts). Hydrocity Act 2 for being so liquidy. Ice Cap (both acts) for just plain rocking out loud. Launch Base fits well. And the boss music (mini-boss, Robotnik, and final boss variations) is just plain sweet.
From S&K: Lava Reef. Hidden Palace for sounding all palace-y. Sky Sanctuary was heavenly (literally). Final boss battle was good, and the Death Egg music was stupendously fitting.
From Sonic CD: Good lord, too many to list. X.x
From Sonic Adventure: The only defnite winner here is E-102's theme. The techno just really seemed to work here.
From SA2: Two definite faves. One is the 'Master of the Desert' boss theme when facing King Boom Boo or the Egg Golem. It's so powerful, yet ominous at the same time. Plus, it fits that you're in a desert setting.
And finally...Live & Learn.
