originally posted on 2/5/2023 11:10:00 AM
The Grammy Awards celebrate a variety of music genres, from pop to jazz to spoken word. However, there’s one category that they’ve neglected - roller coaster music! Here’s some of American Coaster Enthusiasts’ picks for our favorite songs found on roller
coasters.
Best Station Music - Millennium Force, Cedar Point
The experience of a roller coaster begins before riders even board the train. The anticipation of waiting in the station only builds riders’ excitement for the ride, and one way to generate that feeling is with station music.
Millennium Force excels in the station music category, featuring a distinct futuristic tune that conveys the ride’s mystical space theme. With its groovy synth pattern, this track is sure to stay in riders’ heads well after the ride.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Most Iconic - Space Mountain, Disney Parks
It’s no secret that the Disney theme parks excel at creating fully immersive ride experiences, and ride soundtracks massively contribute to a well-themed ride. While many Disney rides feature impeccable onboard audio, one soundtrack stands out as distinctly
iconic - Space Mountain.
The soundtrack begins with an ethereal yet spooky buildup as the train navigates through tunnels, eventually reaching the lift hill. After the countdown, the tempo increases and the music shifts to complement the twists and turns through the darkness.
Give the soundtrack a listen, and see what memories it evokes of this classic Disney Parks attraction.
Photo: D. Jackson. View full-sized image.
Most Underrated - Demon, Six Flags Great America
When roller coasters like Goliath and Raging Bull are your neighbors, it’s easy to overlook the classic Arrow Dynamics looping roller coaster Demon - and its soundtrack. Previously named Turn of the Century, the ride was rethemed to The Demon in 1980,
and a theme song was introduced to cement its new identity.
The Demon song tells the tale of the legendary creature the ride was named after and instills fear in its riders as it repeats “The Demon is gonna get ya.” The song can still be heard at the plaza outside Demon, in addition to the ride’s station and queues.
Photo: S. Gzesh. View full-sized image.
Best Musical On-Ride Experience - Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Universal Studios Florida
Most of the rides on this list have just one distinct song to its name, but Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit strays from that norm. There’s a full category of songs one can hear on the ride. The best part? Riders get to choose what they listen to.
Before the train leaves the station, riders select a track to play during their ride. Legend has it that there’s hidden tracks that can be searched by pressing
and holding the ride’s logo instead of selecting from the main menu. Rip Ride Rockit immerses riders in its onboard audio like no other ride.
Photo: A. Lloyd. View full-sized image.
Most Unique - Wilde Hilde, Schwaben Park
Nicknamed “The Chicken Coaster” by coaster enthusiasts, Wilde Hilde is themed to no other than - you guessed it - chickens. An unusual theme deserves an equally unique soundtrack, and Wilde Hilde successfully delivers that.
This 4th dimension coaster delights riders with a disco-inspired track laced with melodic chicken clucks. Riders will giggle throughout the experience, whether from the disorienting layout or silly on-ride song.
Most Likely to be Listened to Off Ride - Euro-Mir, Europa Park
Many coaster soundtracks are forgotten after the ride experience. That’s not the case for Europa Park’s Euro-Mir, a space-themed family spinning coaster. Its on-ride music will make you feel like dancing, both during and after the ride.
The electronic dance tune features heavy synthesizers, echoey vocals, and a beat drop comparable to club music. In fact, this soundtrack is so groovy that if it was played at a club, most listeners would never expect it was written for a roller coaster!
Photo: Courtesy of ACE Central Europe. View full-sized image.
Best Instrumentation - Mako, SeaWorld Orlando
On-ride audio is an effective tool for building suspense. SeaWorld Orlando’s Mako is no stranger to that concept, playing up its shark theme with a dramatic soundtrack that evokes similar emotions to a real-life shark encounter.
Mako’s soundtrack accomplishes its theatrical effect by filling the tune with tense string instruments, accelerating woodwinds, and sweeping percussion. The thrilling instrumentation resembles that of a chase scene in a horror movie.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
The next time you’re on a roller coaster, keep your ears peeled for on-board audio. Pay attention to how it enhances the ride experience, and who knows? You might even find a new favorite song.
— Ella Watlykyk
#ACE360