Tag: music

PHB Series, Pop 5

Pop 10: Best Poptropica Soundtracks 🎶

LJ

Funny story: I started drafting this list over 8 years ago, but for various reasons—from procrastination, to getting sidetracked, to even forgetting about it—I never managed to complete it. Until now!

Howdy-doo Poptropicanos!🤟 LJ here, and today I’m thrilled to present my selection of the top 10 soundtracks from Poptropica! Or shall I say “pop” 10? All of these amazing tracks were composed by the talented Jeff Heim, who was the musical genius behind Poptropica for years—hats off to him!

It was honestly quite challenging to compile this list, especially with so many outstanding soundtracks in the game. Trust me, narrowing it down to just 10 was no easy feat. Anyway, let’s jump right in and enjoy some wonderful music!

#10) Monster Carnival Main Theme

This piece of music perfectly encapsulates the essence of the words “Monster” and “Carnival.” The fusion of creepy and whimsical elements is executed perfectly. I once knew how to play this tune on the keyboard after being inspired by a fellow Poptropican’s piano rendition, but I have since forgotten, unfortunately. 😅

#9) Poptropolis Main Theme

This track is sure to energize anyone for an intense tribal competition! 💪 I’m glad this one was chosen as the primary theme for Poptropolis Games compared to the other tracks that were featured on the island (though they’re great in their own right too!). I really like its triumphant, glorious, and powerful tone. I can totally imagine this one echoing at the Olympics in real life.

Balloon Boy: No, you won’t recognize anybody in one of these hot-air balloons.

#8) A Free Poptropican

This represents the first entry (among several on this list) that embodies the distinctive “Poptropica sound” in my ears. I can’t exactly describe what that sound is, but all I know is that I feel an immediate urge to hop aboard my blimp and set off on a grand adventure just by listening to this one! That’s what Poptropica is all about! 😀

#7) Genie Dance

This track can still be heard today in the free desktop version of the game on Jade Scarab Island (originally heard in the 3rd episode of Arabian Nights Island). Its repetitive quality is what I find makes it so catchy and unforgettable that I had to put it on this list. Plus, it stands out due to its prevalent middle eastern sound. The way the song builds in speed with each reiteration almost makes me want to dance. It’s an awesome one indeed. 🙌

In Spired: I can see my house from here.

#6) Action Adventure

This track couldn’t be more appropriately titled, as it reflects the splendor of an epic poem or a fantasy action movie. 😁 My favorite part starts at the 49-second mark, where a sound similar to a piccolo emerges, really elevating the overall impact of this one for me.

#5) Night Theme

Although Night Theme may not have the same level of grandeur as some of the other tracks on this list, it speaks to my soul which I believe is what truly matters. This piece makes me feel as if I were drifting in the cosmos, meditating among a sparkle of fireflies, and flowing with the current of a delicate stream all at once. Does that make any sense? 😝 I love how dreamy, yet mysterious this one sounds. 😌

Amore: When the moon hits your eye like a big camel’s eye.

#4) Super Power

This is another one that showcases the quintessential “Poptropica sound”. I first heard it in a 2016 trailer for the game, and I was immediately captivated, thinking, “This sounds really cool!”. 😱 I feel like this one is quite complex and elaborate featuring a variety of upbeat and melodious components. “Super Power” serves as a strong testament to Jeff’s talent in music composition.

#3) Mythology Main Theme

The main theme of Mythology brings back a wave of nostalgia. In 2016, it was certainly my favorite, and I can clearly see why. Mythology Island has always ranked among my top islands in Poptropica, and I distinctly remember hearing this track during every playthrough, which may contribute to a slight bias. 😉 Nevertheless, the sounds of the flute, horns, and lyre transport me to the realm of ancient Greece which is well inspired.

Olympus has Risen: We’ve always had our heads in the clouds.

#2) Mega Fighting Bots

This piece is nothing less than exceptional! It carries an epic quality that mirrors the awesomeness of the Mega Fighting Bots in Poptropica. I think the energetic and dramatic tones are ideally suited for a boss battle. I can confidently say that this is my favorite boss battle theme and a strong second place overall. (Shoutout to their battle intro theme! That one is great as well.) 🤩

#1) Poptropica Overture

Poptropica Overture is undoubtedly the hallmark track of Poptropica. I mean, it’s the very tune that everybody encountered while both logging in and exploring Home Island at one point in time. Jeff truly outdid himself with this piece, as it is one of the finest compositions I’ve ever heard. 😍 I’m enamored with the tune, the atmosphere, and pretty much every other aspect of it. Each moment of this ethereal, melancholic melody is heaven to my ears, and the outro is especially beautiful. Not going to lie; I’ve felt a surge of emotions while listening to this one, as it resonates like an echo, reminding me of all of the cherished moments I’ve enjoyed within the Poptropica community and during my time playing the game. 🥹 The slowed + reverb version on YouTube is just as enchanting and quite addictive too. Let’s give a well-deserved round of applause for Poptropica Overture! 👏

One Stop Shop: Say hello to our bundle of joy.

I really went in, didn’t I? Well, my love for Poptropica can hardly be put into words and the soundtracks are no different. Big thanks to you if you made it all the way through this post. See you guys next time. Pop on! 🍀

Pop Protips

Pop Protip: Listen to Poptropica Music without logging in 🎵

Slanted Fish

Have you ever, while playing Poptropica, found yourself pausing to appreciate the music in the background? We’ve got a way to let you jam to your favorite tunes from the game without having to log in! 🎧

Over on our Poptropica Music page, we’ve gathered a huge collection of Poptropica soundtracks, sorted by islands, for you to enjoy. They’re embedded right on the page, so simply hit the play button under each title to listen! ▶️ Here are a few of my personal favorites:

🌀 Carnival Ride – Poptropica Theme (download)

🧞 Genie Dance — from Arabian Nights Island (download)

👾 Mega Fighting Bots – Battle – Orchestral Variation (download)

🏅 Poptropolis Games Main Theme (download)

😜 Washington DC Lengthened — from Goofball Island (download)

Listen to more poptropica music

Not only can you listen and even download tracks right on our Poptropica Music page, you can also save them to your personal devices!

⬇️ Download all the music files below and more, as a selection or all at once, via our folder of Poptropica OST (Original Soundtrack) mp3 files.

download poptropica music

If you save them to your computer, you can then import them into your music player app of choice. From there, you may also sync your imported files to your other devices, such as a phone or tablet, to listen to the tracks whenever and wherever you like. 📲

Bunk: Perhaps you, too, will love the 90s.

We hope this music collection helps you relive the magic of Poptropica! A huge shout-out goes to Jeff Heim, Poptropica’s main music composer who created so many of these melodies. Enjoy the tunes! 🩵🎵

~🐠

PHB Specials

The Poptropica Island Eras Tour 🏝️🗺️✨

Slanted Fish

Poptropica has given us a lot of adventures to go on over the years, since the game first began in 2007. To celebrate the game’s legacy, in this post we’re going to go on a tour of its island eras! 🏝️

Compilation of islands on map by idk

This Poptropica Island Eras Tour, as some of you may have swiftly guessed, is inspired by another iconic Eras Tour — the 2023 concert tour of pop queen Taylor Swift, whose music career has also spanned a similar timeframe as Poptropica over the years. An enchanting connection! ✨

Speaking of Taylor, let’s kick this off with one of her hits! The PHB came out with “Backspace”, a parody on “Blank Space”, back in 2021 to petition for the return of old islands that have disappeared from the game since the end of Flash in 2020. Enjoy:

And now, let’s meet the Poptropica Island Eras…

The Classics (2007–2013)

Welcome to the beginning! The Classics are the earliest islands to have popped onto the map. These OG islands from 2007–2013 came with small screens and almost no sound. They were built with AS2, a Flash-based programming language, and are now only playable via Flashpoint.

Bonus Tracks — these mini-quests from the Classics era were not quite islands, and a couple were released on consoles besides the computer.

Episodic (2014–2015)

After years of solid standalone stories, Poptropica decided to shake things up by introducing episodic islands, breaking up an island’s story into a series of episodes. This Episodic era only lasted a couple years from 2014-2015, bringing shorter but more frequent releases.

Flashier (2013–2016)

Starting from 2013 and encompassing the Episodic era, Poptropica used a newer (but now still outdated) Flash technology, AS3. These Flashier islands came with more sound and bigger screens. These adventures can be found in AS3 Flashpoint as well as Poptropica’s paid Steam bundle.

Worlds (2017–2018)

With the looming demise of Flash, Poptropica Worlds was introduced as a new platform for the game’s future development. From 2017–2018, Worlds brought a handful of 3D adventures. Sadly, it remained inactive until it was quietly discontinued in 2022, and is no longer playable.

Haxe (2019–2023)

While Worlds went dormant, Poptropica continued updating its original platform. In 2020, Poptropica rolled out Haxe to replace the Flash build. This current era is characterized by islands that are shorter and simpler than in years past, along with a curious trend towards Roblox.

Like Taylor reclaiming her music by re-recording her previous songs, Poptropica has also since re-released some of their old islands after they were lost to Flash. The Flashier era and a few of the Classics are recovered on Steam, but we can only hope that more adventures join them someday. Until then, we also have the unofficial Flashpoint.

Anyway, that’s a wrap for the Poptropica Island Eras Tour! We hope you enjoyed this journey through Pop’s many storytelling eras of 16 years and counting. Share your favorite era with us in the comments! ✏️

Poptropica, it was enchanting to meet you.

~ 🩵 the PHB

Galactic Hot Dogs Island, Steam Bundle

Wiener Hints at Leaner Steam Islands 🐕💨

Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans, steamy sounds of more clues incoming!

Since the announcement of some old islands to return on Steam, Poptropica’s been sharing daily clues as to what those islands may be. The third hint is but a lone image: a pink wiener dog. 🌸🐕

While a few islands of the past had their share of dogs, the specificity of the clue being a wiener dog seems to point strongly to one in particular: Galactic Hot Dogs. In this island based on the eponymous graphic novel series by Max Brallier (son of former Pop publisher Jess Brallier), we hop aboard a spaceship called the Neon Wiener, which has a hot dog inside.

If we want to look to other possibilities for the clue, we might also consider the B.A.D. guard dogs you have to dodge in Spy Island, or Spitsy, a slender dog who helps you dig up the time capsule in Big Nate Island.

Spy Island dogs
Snacktime for Spitsy.

With the three hints we’ve seen so far, rumors have been circulating about the choice of the 13 islands to return on Steam: they may all be newer old islands, as opposed to super longtime classics. These newer old islands are sometimes known in the fandom as SUI (Sound-Updated Islands) or AS3 (ActionScript 3, the Flash-based programming language) and include islands released from around 2013 to 2015, which had bigger screens and sound, and may be easier to port as the technology isn’t as old as AS2 (encompassing all pre-2013 islands).

As Tough Spinner points out, these AS3 islands had been playable on the Poptropica app before they were removed in early 2022 to match with the desktop experience. Those now-missing islands are the complete sets of episodes for Survival, Mission Atlantis, PoptropiCon, and Arabian Nights, as well as standalone islands Reality TV: Wild Safari, Mystery of the Map, Shrink Ray, Galactic Hot Dogs, and the original Mythology Island. Maybe these are the islands returning via Steam…

Some of the islands from the Poptropica app before they disappeared in early 2022.

…but that’s nine islands (counting episodes as part of a full island), leaving four more, since we were promised 13 islands on Steam. It just so happens that there are at least four more AS3 islands that were never ported to the mobile app: Virus Hunter, Monster Carnival, Mocktropica, and Monkey Wrench (whose return was promised last year). Poptropolis Games was also re-released as an SUI/AS3, though it was originally an AS2 island.

Yet another possibility for some of the Steam islands could be those AS3-turned-Haxe islands that already exist on desktop: 24 Carrot, Time Tangled, Timmy Failure, and Escape From Pelican Rock — a perfect four. (The former two are OGs from 2008, but later remade into SUI/AS3 format.) Hopefully not, since we can already access them, and it wouldn’t really be in the spirit of “old islands” as promised…

Branching Out: Time for us to make like a tree, and leave.

The fact that Galactic Hot Dogs was never really a popular island among the fandom also makes it an odd choice, but it lines up with the AS3 islands theory, as do the rest of our best guesses for the other hints so far (Shrink Ray and Mythology). But who knows? Maybe we can still have hope for a few truly older AS2 islands… time will tell.

For a bit of nostalgia about islands old and new, check out our updated Poptropica Music collection under the Pop Plus tab here on the PHB! 🎵

Formerly known as “Behind the Scenes,” we’ve recently updated this page to remove outdated links as well as share previously uncovered Poptropica music files as embedded audio so you can listen directly on the page. For a taste, enjoy this track from Monster Carnival at daytime:

There’s more! Pop into the PHB’s Poptropica Music page to hear tunes from Mocktropica, Time Tangled, and many more. Enjoy!

~🐠

Creators' Blog Guest Posts, Social Media, YouTubers

Think this music has a nice Ring to it 🎶

Slanted Fish

What’s that melodious music playing throughout our island adventures? That’s the topic of the latest guest post on the Creators’ Blog, brought to you by one not-so-unseen Invisible Ring.

As Ring shares, you can find a huge library of Poptropica music freely available on composer Jeff Heim’s Soundcloud playlist. Give it a listen:

Here on the PHB, we’ve been fans of Jeff Heim’s popping tunes for quite some time. PHB readers even voted his Monster Carnival Main Theme for Best Soundtrack in our first ever Poppies fan awards event back in 2015, plus Jeff Heim was the first Pop Creator to ever comment on the PHB in all its years of existence. Lots of love to our man Jeff! 💙

Anyway, back to the guest post. Ring writes, “I used to revisit Mystery of the Map, Monkey Wrench, and other islands again and again just to hear those sweet sounds!” Though most of the islands are now gone until further notice, Heim’s Soundcloud preserves much of their musical memory. (And there’s more on the PHB’s Music page, too!)

You might also recognize this karaoke party scene from Invisible Ring’s Party Clubhouse Tour she shared on the PHB a while back. In case you missed it, she’s also shared a castle and regular room from her clubhouse. Incredibly, a fourth one is on its way, so stay tuned for that!

On the same day, the Creators’ Blog also dropped a sentimental post for Thinknoodles, the longtime Poptropica YouTuber, and his recent release of an OG-style Fairytale Island playthrough. The PHB covered this a few days ago, but in case you missed it, check out the vid below:

It’s a little amusing to see the Creators gushing so hard with sentences like, “Please tell us we’re not the only ones that are starstruck! 🤩” One might wonder how this could possibly be the same Creators team who just last week forgot about Betty Jetty, an iconic villain from Super Power Island. Are they compensating? 😉

But the praises for Thinknoodles also offer some hope that perhaps there are still some OG Pop Creators around who understand what made the game so special, which has been a concern among the fandom particularly since the involuntary exodus of several talented Creators in 2018 and the questionable direction of the game ever since.

And yet, our unnamed blogger from Pop HQ boldly claims, “…to think the best is still yet to come! 🥺💙”

We certainly hope so, Poptropica.

~🐠