Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the best-known video games of the 16-bit era, with the game and its titular blitzing hedgehog becoming pop culture juggernauts. One of the most memorable aspects of the game and the series as a whole is the music, namely that of the iconic inaugural level, Green Hill Zone.
However, many gamers are unaware of the ties between Sonic music and a Japanese band -- not to mention the fact that Sega actually doesn't own the music of the first two games. Japanese band Dreams Come True has recently released a lyrical version of the classic Sonic stage theme, and it's brought the game's music licensing story full circle.
Green Hill Zone Act 1991
Green Hill Zone is the first level of the very first Sonic game, launching the franchise with its colorful pixelated art style that was influenced heavily by the Memphis Milano art of the era. Beyond its design, it's best known for its music, which is instantly recognizable to this day. The game's soundtrack, as well as that of its sequel, were composed by Masato Nakamura, who was a member of recently formed J-Pop band Dreams Come True.
This association with Sonic's success led to Nakamura's own popularity increasing, with his asking rate for working on future games doing the same. Likewise, he, not Sega, owns the rights to the music for the first two Sonic games. This is why Nakamura and Dreams Come True were able to take both the melody of "Green Hill Zone" and the ending theme to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to create their own songs titled "Marry Me" and "Sweet Sweet Sweet." It's also why remixes from this era of the franchise were a rarity for a long time, as Sega would have to pay Nakamura royalties whenever the tracks were used.
In the case of the latter situation, an initial beta remix in Sonic Spinball of Nakamura's title sequence theme for the first two Sonic games had to go unused, and it's also why Lego Dimensions had to use a loose facsimile of the Genesis games' tracks instead of actual remixes. This hasn't kept the franchise from bringing Green Hill Zone's theme back in the modern era, however. Games like Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Battle, Sonic Generations, Sonic Mania and Super Smash Bros. have all used the track in either its original or a remixed form, with only Sonic Forces using the stage without a version of its classic theme. Given how popular Sonic is again, it only makes sense that Dreams Come True would cash in on the verdant hill music.
Dreams Come True's On the Green Hill
During the symphony celebrating the Blue Blur's 30th anniversary, Masato Nakamura announced a new Dreams Come True song that functions as a remix of "Green Hill Zone" with lyrics. This song was first heard in the background of a commercial for ITO EN's Oi Ocha tea, with ITO EN having partnered with Dreams Come True to promote their products. It's recently been released in full, with the song even titled "On the Green Hill."
The lyrics don't really have anything to do with Sonic and his adventures, instead depicting a lackadaisical afternoon during which the singer wishes to again go up to a familiar and pleasant hill. This just shows how, due to the rights stipulations, Nakamura and company can pretty much do whatever they want to with the songs from the first two Sonic games with or without Sega's approval. This reflects the similar copyright situation with Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Given that Sonic CD had its own musical controversies, Sonic & Knuckles is essentially the only one of the series' classic games that has music not mired in some sort of a dispute. Nevertheless, the new song's release coinciding with Sonic's big birthday is likely no coincidence, with the enchanting melody always and forever being associated with the Blue Blur's first adventure.