(It may have gone unnoticed by some at first, but it’s definitely in there. It’s apparently morse code of … - - - … that translates to an SOS signal. This is the isolated audio of it, but the placement and style of each signal in the tracks themselves are quite telling of the characters.)
Vah Ruta: SOS comes in immediately and is quite loud. Mipha is the most pacifistic of the Champions and would have been the first one to call for help. She’s also more a healer than a fighter and probably stood the least chance of defeating her Blight. She was likely the most terrified in their situation.
Vah Rudania: SOS also comes in immediately but is fainter than in Vah Ruta. Alongside being the least technology-inclined champion, Daruk has a strong sense of family and protection. He likely projected his fainter than the rest as he didn’t want to worry the others.
Vah Naboris: The theme starts out with a jolt of piano keys, followed by the faintest SOS of the four. Urbosa is very proud and, like most Gerudo, was very battle-inclined. Combining that with her Fury means she likely would have lasted longer in her fight and not sent out the SOS immediately. My idea is that Thunderblight was too fast for her and overwhelmed her. She would have been strong enough to defeat it otherwise, and the faint SOS was her attempt to send it as she bled out.
Vah Medoh: Although coming later into the theme than the others, this SOS is most prominent and the fastest. Revali likely lasted the longest in his fight and his prideful nature meant he thought calling for help was underneath him. But he even he was overwhelmed and eventually swallowed his pride to send the message. A comment I read explained it the best. “Revali’s call was rushed. It was frantic and panicked. It was a call only someone who knew they were going to die would make”
just a little addition ive come to understand from comments underneath these themes!
other people have pointed out that there are two morse code phrases being played. there is the SOS signal, but there is also one that is … .- -.. (SAD). while there is no concrete evidence i can find for this, but comments have said before that SAD stands for Search and Destroy, meaning its probably the calamity itself fighting back
the SAD code is in every Divine Beast theme as an opposition to SOS, and this is shown by the fact that the codes are always in opposite ears, and are normally defined by different pitches.
Vah Ruta: the SAD code comes in first, low on the right, while the SOS code comes in right after it, high on the left. the entire time the codes are playing, the SAD code always comes in before the SOS code, often overlapping it. it would be hard to hear the SOS code at all if it were not a higher pitch
Vah Rudania: the SAD code comes first by just the slightest bit, high on the left, and the SOS code is low on the right. once again, the fact that the SAD code comes first makes it overlap the SOS code, except now the SAD code is also higher pitch. however, both codes are inevitably overwhelmed by the Divine Beast theme itself. Vah Rudania’s theme is so overpowering that we can only get glimpses of the codes
Vah Naboris: SOS is actually the first code to come in, high on the left, while SAD is low on the right. however, even though SOS is high and comes in first, it is very hard to hear over the opening chord (as OP said, its the faintest of all). SAD is actually much clearer than SOS. SOS is covered by little melodic themes on the left, while SAD is basically alone on the right
Vah Medoh: the first noticeable thing is that Revali’s SOS takes 15 seconds to come in, high on the right. SAD comes in later, low on the left. the codes are the most separated in this theme, clearly going one after another. it’s not until the 30-second mark that the codes begin to overlap, the SAD interrupting the SOS.
honestly examining these themes and their significance and little cues is really amazing. the amount of thought that went into them, the fact that the morse code was included in the first place. if the SAD meaning Search and Destroy is true, it is another heartbreaking detail that was not needed, but adds so much to the music and to the story.
(if it isnt Search and Destroy, or it isn’t SAD, i do wonder what that opposing code is, because its very obviously there)
maybe we’ll get an insight into the four champions battles and final moments in age of calamity, and if so, i hope that they include the morse code, even if it is just in the music again. it added so much to the atmosphere of the divine beasts, even if it hadn’t been consciously noticed at first, it is there, adding to the unease and sorrow of the divine beasts.
I knew about the SOS in Morse but the thing about a second code aggressively trying to drown the call for help made by each Champion was… Upsetting. And it’s been, what, three years since the game came out?
That level of detail is insane
