View source for Crush 40

{{Short description|Japanese-American rock band}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Crush 40
| image             = Crush 40.JPG
| caption           = Crush 40 performing at [[Summer of Sonic]] 2010 in [[London]]. From left to right; Jun Senoue and Johnny Gioeli.
| image_size        = 
| alias             = Sons of Angels
| origin            = Japan, United States
| genre             = <!-- Before changing the genres, please discuss it on the talk page --> {{hlist|[[Hard rock]]|[[video game music]]}}
| years_active      = 1998–present
| label             = {{hlist|[[Wave Master]]|[[Frontiers Records|Frontiers]]|[[Victor Entertainment|Victor]]}}
| website           = 
| current_members   = *[[Jun Senoue]]
*[[Johnny Gioeli]]
| past_members      = 
| alt               = Jun Senoue with a guitar and Johnny Gioeli with a microphone
}}
'''Crush 40''' is a Japanese-American [[hard rock]] band. The group consists of guitarist and composer [[Jun Senoue]] and principal vocalist [[Johnny Gioeli]]. Crush 40 is best known for producing most soundtracks for the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic The Hedgehog]]'' series in the [[2000s in music|2000s]].

Senoue has been employed by [[Sega]] as a composer since 1993.  While preparing music for ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998), he contacted Gioeli to perform the theme song, "Open Your Heart".  They also recorded the soundtrack for ''[[NASCAR Arcade]]'' under the name Sons of Angels, which was released in Japan as the album ''Thrill of the Feel'' (2000). Senoue and Gioeli continued recording music for ''Sonic'' games and their own projects.

Crush 40 has released two studio albums, two live albums, two compilations, an EP, and individual tracks, mostly under Sega's [[Wave Master]] label. Their style of hard rock, considered by some to be a continuation of [[glam rock]], has created a legacy with fans of the ''Sonic'' video game series.

==History==

===Formation, ''Thrill of the Feel'', and ''Crush 40''===
After graduating from college, [[Jun Senoue]] was hired by [[Sega]] in 1993 to compose music for video games. His first project in the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series was ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]'' (1994)'',''<ref name=":6">{{Cite magazine|title=Jun Senoue on Creating Music for 'Team Sonic Racing' and the Future of Video Gaming Music|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/gaming/8529526/jun-senoue-interview-sonic-the-hedgehog-video-games|last=Herman|first=Tamar|date=September 10, 2019|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230221108/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/gaming/8529526/jun-senoue-interview-sonic-the-hedgehog-video-games|archive-date=December 30, 2019|access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> and he also contributed to ''[[Dark Wizard]]'', ''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'', and ''[[Sega Rally 2]].''<ref name="list">{{cite web|title=Style Factory interview with Jun Senoue|url=http://junsenoue.com/content/view/13/19/|date=May 13, 2004|website=junsenoue.com|publisher=[[Jun Senoue]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103005741/http://junsenoue.com/content/view/13/19/|archive-date=January 3, 2008|access-date=January 27, 2008}}</ref> For ''[[Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition]]'', Senoue worked with [[Eric Martin (American singer)|Eric Martin]] of [[Mr. Big (American band)|Mr. Big]] to record the main theme, "Sons of Angels".<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Sega Rocks with Rubbin' Racing|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/14/sega-rocks-with-rubbin-racing|last=Williamson|first=Colin|date=March 13, 2000|website=[[IGN]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428165534/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/14/sega-rocks-with-rubbin-racing|archive-date=April 28, 2020|access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref>  Senoue said he brought a rock music feel to the games he worked on, including the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' series, because he is a "rock guy".<ref name=":6" />

In 1998, Senoue contacted vocalist [[Johnny Gioeli]] during the recording process for ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' and recorded their first song, "Open Your Heart". Senoue first recorded a demo with [[Eizo Sakamoto]] on vocals,<ref name=":2" /> but Senoue wrote the song assuming Gioeli would sing it.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Shea |first=Brian |date=August 21, 2021 |title=Crush 40 Guitarist Jun Senoue Talks The Band's Creation And The Evolution Of Sonic Music |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/interview/2021/08/21/crush-40-guitarist-jun-senoue-talks-the-bands-creation-and-the-evolution-of |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=[[GameInformer]] |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321143919/https://www.gameinformer.com/interview/2021/08/21/crush-40-guitarist-jun-senoue-talks-the-bands-creation-and-the-evolution-of |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Gioeli, Senoue was a fan of Gioeli's band [[Hardline (band)|Hardline]] and connected with him via [[Doug Aldrich]], the guitarist for [[Whitesnake]]. After making the track, the two stayed in contact,<ref name=":2" /> having enjoyed working together and wanting to do more.<ref name=":15" /> Senoue and Gioeli worked together again on songs for ''[[NASCAR Arcade]].''<ref name=":4" /> In addition to Senoue and Gioeli, Naoto Shibata played bass and Hirotsugu Homma of [[Loudness (band)|Loudness]] played drums,<ref name="crush40" /> and the group took the name Sons of Angels, from the title of the song Senoue recorded with Eric Martin.<ref name=":7" /> In 2000, the band released ''Thrill of the Feel'' in Japan, published by [[Victor Entertainment]]. The album contained the tracks they had written for ''NASCAR Arcade'', along with "Open Your Heart".<ref name="crush40">{{cite web|title=Crush 40 History|url=http://www.junsenoue.com/content/view/1/14|last=Gill|first=Parminder|date=April 10, 2005|website=junsenoue.com|publisher=[[Jun Senoue]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130073822/http://junsenoue.com/content/view/1/14|archive-date=January 30, 2008|access-date=January 7, 2008}}</ref><ref name="jvc">{{cite web|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discography/A014575/VICP-61014.html|title=JVC Music/Victor Album Information: Thrill of the Feel|language=ja|access-date=April 10, 2008|publisher=jvcmusic.co.jp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009175049/http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discography/A014575/VICP-61014.html|archive-date=October 9, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the development of ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'', Senoue and Gioeli reunited to record the title track, "Live & Learn". As Shibata and Homma were busy performing with Loudness and later [[Anthem (band)|Anthem]], {{Interlanguage link|Takeshi Taneda|lt=Takeshi Taneda|ja|種子田健|WD=}} was brought in to play bass, and Katsuji Kirita from [[Gargoyle (band)|Gargoyle]] and [[the Cro-Magnons]] played drums.<ref name="crush40" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=2 Nights 2 Remember! "Crush 40-Live In Tokyo 2014" report showing two new songs|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/02/07/74153.html|date=April 7, 2014|website=Inside Games Japan|publisher=IID, Inc.|language=ja|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702223045/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/02/07/74153.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  According to [[Vice (magazine)|''Vice'']], "Live & Learn" is one of Gioeli's favorite songs.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=McDonald|first=Andy|date=June 23, 2016|title=How Sonic the Hedgehog Kept Glam Rock Alive After Its Grungy Demise|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-sonic-the-hedgehog-kept-glam-rock-alive-after-its-grungy-demise-430/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122041954/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jmkqx7/how-sonic-the-hedgehog-kept-glam-rock-alive-after-its-grungy-demise-430|archive-date=January 22, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]}}</ref>  Senoue recorded the intro to the song for the game's trial edition; he worked on the rest of the arrangement later and completed it within one day.  He then sent a [[Demo (music)|demo]] to Gioeli to record his vocals.<ref name=":15" /> Gioeli was given the task of writing the lyrics for "Live & Learn". He initially was nervous and asked Senoue if his lyrics were okay on multiple occasions, but despite this, "Live & Learn" became one of the most memorable songs on the ''Sonic Adventure 2'' soundtrack according to Sean Aitchison of ''Fanbyte'', and even appearing in the third Sonic The Hedgehog movie.<ref name=":2" />

Around this time, the band was renamed Crush 40, after discovering that there was a Norwegian rock band already named [[Sons of Angels (Norwegian band)|Sons of Angels]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Sonic Youth: The History and Impact of Crush 40|url=https://www.fanbyte.com/features/sonic-youth-the-history-and-impact-of-crush-40/|last=Aitchison|first=Sean|date=January 10, 2020|website=Fanbyte|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426023945/https://www.fanbyte.com/features/sonic-youth-the-history-and-impact-of-crush-40/|archive-date=April 26, 2020|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref> When asked why he chose "Crush 40", Senoue said, "When we had to pick one, we chose the word we like... 'Crush' is one of them, and Johnny added the number. Crush is the name of [[Crush (drink)|the soda]] too... that's my favorite!"<ref name=":7">{{cite web|title=MelodicRock.com interview with Jun Senoue|url=http://junsenoue.com/content/view/10/19/|author=McNiece|first=Andrew|date=February 7, 2004|website=junsenoue.com|publisher=[[Jun Senoue]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201025824/http://junsenoue.com/content/view/10/19/|archive-date=December 1, 2007|access-date=January 13, 2008}}</ref> Gioeli added that his inspiration for the title was a desire to "crush" his forties, which he was approaching at the time.<ref name=":2" />  Two years after the 2001 release of ''Sonic Adventure 2'', the album ''Crush 40'' was released by [[Frontiers Records]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Crush 40 - Review|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/crush40/|last=Greening|first=Chris|date=August 1, 2012|website=Video Game Music Online|access-date=May 5, 2020|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812172857/http://www.vgmonline.net/crush40/|url-status=live}}</ref> The album contained the vocal tracks from ''NASCAR Arcade'', ''Sonic Adventure'' and ''Sonic Adventure 2''.<ref name=":0" /> According to Senoue, Crush 40 is specifically the band of himself and Gioeli, though tracks "It Doesn't Matter" and "Escape from the City" (sung by [[Tony Harnell]] and [[Ted Poley]], respectively) were included on the album.  Senoue explained this was done to exhibit these songs to fans.<ref name="faq2">{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions to Jun Senoue|url=http://junsenoue.com/content/view/5/11/|author=Gill|first=Parminder|date=February 27, 2004|website=junsenoue.com|publisher=[[Jun Senoue]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205221118/http://junsenoue.com/content/view/5/11/|archive-date=February 5, 2008|access-date=April 12, 2008}}</ref>

===Recordings for Sega and ''The Best of Crush 40: Super Sonic Songs''===
In 2003, Crush 40 composed two new songs entitled "Sonic Heroes" and "What I'm Made Of..." for Sega's ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'', the first [[multiplatform]] ''Sonic'' game.<ref name="crush40" /> Both Senoue and Gioeli have called "What I'm Made Of..." their favorite song to perform.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|title=Summer of Sonic 2012: Crush 40 Interview|url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/2012/07/sos12-interviews-part-1/|last=Swiss|date=July 24, 2012|website=Sonic Stadium|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305130041/https://www.sonicstadium.org/2012/07/sos12-interviews-part-1/|archive-date=March 5, 2020|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref> For ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'' in 2005, Crush 40 recorded "I Am... All of Me", as well as "Never Turn Back".<ref name=":2" /> The drums for both songs were recorded by Toru Kawamura.<ref name=":8">''The Best of Crush 40: Super Sonic Songs'' booklet.  [[Wave Master]]. 2009.</ref> Additionally, Crush 40 recorded covers of songs used in 2006's [[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 video game)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'']], ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]'', ''[[Sonic Riders]]'' and [[Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity|''Zero Gravity'']], and ''[[Sonic CD]]''.  The band also recorded five original songs and a cover for ''[[Sonic and the Black Knight]].''<ref name=":2" />

For their first 10 years, Crush 40 never performed live.<ref name=":15" /> In 2008, Crush 40 performed live at the [[Tokyo Game Show]], with Senoue and Gioeli performing with [[backing track]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Jun Senoue Interview: Part One|url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/2010/02/the-jun-senoue-interview-part-one/|last=Tuff|first=Adam|date=February 23, 2010|website=Sonic Stadium|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725193518/http://www.sonicstadium.org/2010/02/the-jun-senoue-interview-part-one/|archive-date=July 25, 2015|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref>  A year later, Senoue revealed to ''[[Famitsu]]'' that Crush 40 had two album releases in the works, one of which was a "Best Of" album, due for release in September 2009.  He also announced the release of future songs that were not written for video games.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Exclusive interview! The secret story of the ending song of "Baseball Tsuku 2"|url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1225015_1124.html|date=June 21, 2009|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726020237/http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1225015_1124.html|archive-date=July 26, 2015|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref> ''The Best of Crush 40 – Super Sonic Songs'' was released on November 18, 2009.  In addition to compiling various Crush 40 songs from previous games, the album featured a new song, "Is It You,"<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|title=The Best of Crush 40 - Super Sonic Songs|url=http://www.wave-master.com:80/ent/details/wwce/wwca31207/index.html|website=wave-master.com|publisher=[[Wave Master]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228144333/http://www.wave-master.com/ent/details/wwce/wwca31207/index.html|archive-date=February 28, 2016|access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> and a cover of "[[Fire Woman]]", a song released by [[The Cult]] in 1989.<ref name=":8" /> Senoue was also credited as a soloist on "Before This", a song from the 2009 Hardline album ''[[Leaving the End Open]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leaving the End Open - Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/leaving-the-end-open-mw0000816334/credits|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=May 12, 2020|archive-date=July 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703045246/https://www.allmusic.com/album/leaving-the-end-open-mw0000816334/credits|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Rise Again'', ''Live!'', ''2 Nights 2 Remember'', and ''Driving Through Forever''===
[[File:Crush40LiveTokyo2012.jpg|alt=Johnny Gioeli and Jun Senoue performing live to a crowd|thumb|Crush 40 performing in Tokyo in 2012]]
After the 2010 release of ''[[Sonic Free Riders]]'', Crush 40's contributions to ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' decreased.<ref name=":2" /> Senoue was no longer lead composer on games in the ''Sonic'' series after 2011's ''[[Sonic Generations]]''.<ref name="LeadComposer">{{cite web|title=Jun Senoue lead composer on Sonic Team Racing|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/jun-senoue-lead-composer-on-sonic-team-racing/|last1=Gallagher|first1=Mathew|date=June 7, 2018|work=Video Game Music Online|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142216/http://www.vgmonline.net/jun-senoue-lead-composer-on-sonic-team-racing/|archive-date=June 12, 2018|access-date=June 7, 2018}}</ref> During the next few years, Crush 40 made more live performances and recordings.<ref name=":2" /> In 2010, Crush 40 performed live at the [[Summer of Sonic]] convention. The next year, Crush 40 recorded a single, "Song of Hope", as inspiration for hope for victims of the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]].<ref name=":5" /> According to Senoue, the song was written for charity, specifically for the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]].<ref name=":10" /> Subsequently, "Song of Hope" and three new songs were released as an [[Extended play|EP]] called ''Rise Again''. One of the included songs, "Sonic Youth",<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Rise Again|url=http://www.wave-master.com:80/wma/crush40/wwca31280.html|website=wave-master.com|publisher=[[Wave Master]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608022809/http://www.wave-master.com/wma/crush40/wwca31280.html|archive-date=June 8, 2015|access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> pays tribute to Crush 40's fans with numerous references to the band's past songs.<ref name=":2" />

On March 29 and 30, 2012, Crush 40 performed live at Shibuya GUILTY in Tokyo, with [[Sonic Team]] producer [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] in the audience.<ref>{{Cite web|title=This is the Crush 40 Live! Photo report of the live performance of Mr. Jun Senoue, who works on the "Sonic" series!|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2012/04/01/55592.html|date=April 1, 2012|website=Inside Games Japan|publisher=IID, Inc.|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106015227/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2012/04/01/55592.html|archive-date=January 6, 2020|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref> From this concert, performed with Taneda and Kawamura, Crush 40's album ''Live!'' was recorded,<ref>''Live!'' booklet.  [[Wave Master]]. 2012.</ref> and was released on October 3, 2012.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|title=Crush 40 Live!|url=http://www.wave-master.com/wma/crush40/wwca31281.html|website=wave-master.com|publisher=[[Wave Master]]|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026212057/http://www.wave-master.com/wma/crush40/wwca31281.html|archive-date=October 26, 2019|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> The band also performed at the St. Louis Sonic Boom Festival in August 2013,<ref name="St. Louis" /> [[Detroit]]’s [[Youmacon]] anime convention at the [[Renaissance Center]] in 2015,<ref>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=McGonigal|title=Event preview: A look at some of the music on hand at Youmacon|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/music/event-preview-a-look-at-some-of-the-music-on-hand-at-youmacon-2378408|website=Detroit Metro Times|date=October 28, 2015|access-date=October 8, 2024|archive-date=July 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701214513/https://www.metrotimes.com/music/event-preview-a-look-at-some-of-the-music-on-hand-at-youmacon-2378408|url-status=live}}</ref> and performed additional shows at the [[Summer of Sonic]] convention in 2012 and 2016,<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=One Glorious Day at London's Summer of Sonic Convention|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/one-glorious-day-at-londons-summer-of-sonic-convention/|last=Jones|first=Matthew|date=August 9, 2016|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|access-date=May 13, 2020|archive-date=May 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505025923/https://brightcom-d.openx.net/w/1.0/arj?ju=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fen%2Farticle%2Fy3vbnk%2Fmicrosoft-is-now-accountable-for-activision-blizzards-mess&ch=UTF-8&res=1600x1000x24&ifr=true&tz=0&tws=1215x17778&be=1&bc=hb_pb_3.0.3&dddid=fd3bab80-242b-45e1-adf9-009f69736efa&nocache=1651719563320&gdpr=0&schain=1.0%2C1!brightcom.com%2C20474%2C1%2C%2C%2C&aus=300x250&divids=google_ads_iframe_%252F16916245%252Foo_web%252Fvice%252Fgames%252Farticle_5_hb&aucs=&auid=556674782&aumfs=50|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[San Diego Comic-Con]] conventions in 2016 and 2017.<ref name=":2" /> After more live performances at the Tokyo Game Show and Japan Game Music Festival 2013, in 2014 Crush 40 was announced for another two-night performance at Shibuya GUILTY.  For the concert, Senoue and Gioeli were joined by Taneda and Katsuji.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A must-see for hard rock fans! "Sonic the Hedgehog" Crush40, a band led by Jun Senoue, holds LIVE|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/02/07/74153.html|last=Kyanko|date=February 7, 2014|website=Inside Games Japan|publisher=IID, Inc.|language=ja|access-date=May 13, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702223045/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2014/02/07/74153.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The concert featured two new songs, as well as a performance of Hardline's "[[Double Eclipse|Love Leads the Way]]".<ref name=":3" /> Recorded from that performance, ''2 Nights 2 Remember'', Crush 40's second live album, was released on May 13, 2015.  It features four additional studio-recorded songs.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|title=Crush 40 releases new album featuring new originals and live recordings|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/crush-40-releases-new-album-featuring-new-originals-and-live-recordings/|last=Greening|first=Chris|date=May 13, 2015|website=VGM Online|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621113133/http://www.vgmonline.net/crush-40-releases-new-album-featuring-new-originals-and-live-recordings/|archive-date=June 21, 2017|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref>

In 2018, Senoue was named lead composer for the soundtrack for ''[[Team Sonic Racing]]''.<ref name="LeadComposer" /> He was requested to make the game's theme a song by Crush 40.  This led to Senoue and Gioeli recording "Green Light Ride" for the game,<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=Team Sonic Racing Theme Song 'Green Light Ride' Short Ver. Now Available|url=https://www.siliconera.com/team-sonic-racing-theme-song-green-light-ride-short-ver-now-available/|last=Wong|first=Alistair|date=December 28, 2018|website=[[Siliconera]]|access-date=May 13, 2020|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217001957/https://www.siliconera.com/team-sonic-racing-theme-song-green-light-ride-short-ver-now-available/|url-status=live}}</ref> Crush 40's first ''Sonic'' game theme in several years.<ref name=":2" />  The song was premiered at [[E3]] 2018, to a stronger reaction than Senoue expected.  A short version of the song was made available in December 2018, before the 2019 release of the game itself.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=「チームソニックレーシング」メインテーマ曲がiTunesとAmazonで先行配信開始|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/421/G042176/20181227100/|date=December 27, 2018|website=[[4gamer.net]]|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228135929/https://www.4gamer.net/games/421/G042176/20181227100/|archive-date=December 28, 2018|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> Senoue expressed his joy at being able to record another game theme with Crush 40,<ref name=":6" /> twenty years after Crush 40 began.<ref name=":9" /> Subsequently, Crush 40 released another compilation album, ''Driving Through Forever'', in 2019.<ref name=":2" /> In 2020, Gioeli re-recorded "Song of Hope" with Bulgarian vocalist [[Sevi (singer)|Sevi]], as a way of reconnecting with fans during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Johnny Gioeli Re-Records Crush 40's "Song of Hope" with Bulgarian Vocalist Sevi; Video Available|url=http://bravewords.com/news/johnny-gioeli-re-records-crush-40-s-song-of-hope-with-bulgarian-vocalist-sevi-video-available|date=May 9, 2020|website=BraveWords|access-date=May 11, 2020|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121043114/https://bravewords.com/news/johnny-gioeli-re-records-crush-40-s-song-of-hope-with-bulgarian-vocalist-sevi-video-available|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 23, 2021, Sega held the [[Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Symphony]] with Crush 40 as one of the participating acts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shepard|first=Kenneth|date=June 25, 2021|title=I'm Still Crying About the Sonic Symphony Concert Days Later|url=https://www.fanbyte.com/trending/sonic-the-hedgehog-30th-anniversary-symphony-concert/|url-status=live|access-date=October 6, 2021|website=Fanbyte|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625175015/https://www.fanbyte.com/trending/sonic-the-hedgehog-30th-anniversary-symphony-concert/ |archive-date=June 25, 2021 }}</ref>

In February 2024, following the use of its instrumental in a teaser, Gioeli confirmed that "Live & Learn" would be featured in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (film)|Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''. He said that how the song is used is ultimately up to producers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shepard |first=Kenneth |date=February 7, 2024 |title=Sonic 3 Movie Is Bringing Back An All-Time Sonic Adventure 2 Banger |url=https://kotaku.com/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-movie-live-and-learn-crush-40-song-1851236128 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |website=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref> The song was ultimately used in the movie's climax and its riffs were used as a [[leitmotif]] for the character of Shadow.<ref>{{cite news |last=Russell |first=Bradley |title=There was "no version" of Sonic 3 that wouldn't include Live and Learn according to director Jeff Fowler: "The fans would hunt me down" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/live-action-movies/there-was-no-version-of-sonic-3-that-wouldnt-include-live-and-learn-according-to-director-jeff-fowler-the-fans-would-hunt-me-down/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=gamesradar |date=December 21, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2024, Gioeli sued Sega of America, claiming ownership of the master recording and co-ownership of the composition of "Live & Learn." Gioeli demanded $1 million in damages and restitution for the song's unauthorized use in more than two dozen subsequent releases, including ports of ''Sonic Adventure 2'' and the Japanese version of the ''[[Sonic X]]'' anime.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |title='Live and Learn' musician suing Sega over ownership of iconic Sonic the Hedgehog song |url=https://www.polygon.com/news/498953/sonic-music-live-and-learn-copyright-lawsuit-crush-40-sega |access-date=December 19, 2024 |work=Polygon |date=December 18, 2024}}</ref> On August 28, 2025, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in favor of Sega. On September 22, 2025, Gioeli publicly revealed the outcome on social media.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |title=Lawsuit over ownership of Sonic theme Live and Learn dismissed, but Fortnite collab proves song remains in "limbo", says songwriter |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/lawsuit-over-ownership-of-sonic-theme-live-and-learn-dismissed-but-fortnite-collab-proves-song-remains-in-limbo-says-songwriter |access-date=September 23, 2025 |work=Eurogamer.net |date=September 22, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==Musical style and legacy==
According to Allegra Frank and Philip Kollar of [[Polygon (website)|''Polygon'']], Crush 40 and Senoue have made "some of the most memorable [[Post-grunge|butt rock]] tracks from Sonic history (and the history of video games in general)".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sonic series' high point is not a game|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/5/12053024/sonic-adventure-2-city-escape-best-song-ever|last1=Frank|first1=Allegra|last2=Kollar|first2=Philip|date=July 5, 2016|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230215534/https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/5/12053024/sonic-adventure-2-city-escape-best-song-ever|archive-date=December 30, 2019|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> Writing for [[Vice (magazine)|''Vice'']], Andy McDonald stated that Crush 40 helped to keep [[glam rock]] alive after [[grunge]] had supplanted it as a more popular style of rock music.<ref name=":1" /> Reviewing the album ''Crush 40'', [[Chris Greening]] of ''Video Game Music Online'' highlights the hard rock sound and showing of Gioeli's experience in the vocals, stating that "Live & Learn" is "an ecstatic Americana rock anthem featuring Johnny at his best", while also stating the instrumentals are inspired by early 1990s [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]].  He calls the album "among the best of the genre in [[Video game music|game music]]".<ref name=":0" />

Gioeli, who is not a [[gamer]], described his songwriting process with Senoue for games as being akin to writing a soundtrack for a movie, watching scenes from the game or looking at [[storyboard]]s.  According to Gioeli, "Jun and I have our system—he starts with a musical feeling and sometimes a melody idea and then I go nuts with it! The lyrics do have to be approved for content, but that's it. We have the freedom to write what we feel is the right song for the scene."<ref name=":1" /> He has stated that among his three main projects—Crush 40, Hardline, and performing with [[Axel Rudi Pell]]—all three are different styles of rock music and he has to set himself in the "right emotions" to perform.<ref name=":10" />

When interviewed about his style and that of the band, Jun Senoue said, "I know what my style is, and I know what my favourite genres of music are. I listen to a lot of metal music, as well as other genres of music, and my inspiration is always there. The style of the music in the game does change, and it gives a great sense of progression... When we got together to write stuff for ''Shadow'' [''the Hedgehog''], we found that our fresh ideas were a lot different to the songs we'd written back in 2002 – our sound had changed."<ref>{{cite web|title=Q&A with Jun Senoue Part 1|url=http://junsenoue.com/content/view/114/19/|author=Tuff|first=Adam|date=August 14, 2006|website=junsenoue.com|publisher=[[Jun Senoue]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223060735/http://junsenoue.com/content/view/114/19/|archive-date=February 23, 2007|access-date=August 14, 2006}}</ref> Senoue has stated that the tempo of each song written for a game is based on how it is planned to be used and what would be suitable, but those songs not for a game are what the duo want to perform.<ref name=":15" />

Writing for ''Fanbyte'', Sean Aitchison stated that Crush 40 provided a signature musical style for the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series and expanded the musical tastes of ''Sonic'' fans.  According to Aitchison, "The band embedded themselves in the memories and hearts of an entire generation of ''Sonic'' fans. Though their contributions to the ''Sonic'' franchise may be small in number, they are massive in impact."<ref name=":2" /> Kofi-Charu Nat Turner's 2008 study of media usage in an American urban middle school listed the band as a common interest within the group studied.<ref name=Turner/>

==Discography==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Album
!Publisher
!Type
!{{Refh}}
|-
|2000
|''Thrill of the Feel'' (as Sons of Angels)
|Victor Entertainment
| rowspan="2" |Studio album
|<ref name="jvc" />
|-
|2003
|''Crush 40''
|Frontiers Records
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2009
|''The Best of Crush 40: Super Sonic Songs''
| rowspan="5" |Wave Master
|Compilation
|<ref name=":11" />
|-
|2011
|''Rise Again''
|EP
|<ref name=":12" />
|-
|2012
|''Live!''
| rowspan="2" |Live album
|<ref name=":13" />
|-
|2015
|''2 Nights 2 Remember''
|<ref name=":14" />
|-
|2019
|''Driving Through Forever''
|Compilation
|<ref>''Driving Through Forever'' booklet.  [[Wave Master]]. 2019.</ref>
|}

== Games ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Game
!Song(s)
!{{Refh}}
|-
|1998
|''[[Sonic Adventure]]''
|
* "Open Your Heart"
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|2000
|''[[NASCAR Arcade]]''
|
* "Revvin' Up"
* "Into the Wind"
* "In the Lead"
* "Fuel Me"
* "Dangerous Ground"
* "All the Way"
* "Watch Me Fly..."
|<ref name=":4" /><ref name="jvc" />
|-
|2001
|''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''
|
* "Live & Learn"
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|2003
|''[[Sonic Heroes]]''
|
* "Sonic Heroes"
* "What I'm Made Of..."
|<ref name="crush40" />
|-
|2005
|[[Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)|''Shadow the Hedgehog'']]
|
* "I Am... All of Me"
* "Never Turn Back"
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|2006
|[[Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 video game)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'']]
|
* "All Hail Shadow"{{Efn|Cover of "All Hail Shadow" by [[Magna-Fi]], originally in ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog]]''|name=|group=}}
* "His World"{{Efn|Cover of "His World" by [[Ali Tabatabaee]] and [[Matty Lewis]] of [[Zebrahead]].  Soundtrack release only.|name=|group=}}
|<ref>''Sonic the Hedgehog Vocal Traxx: Several Wills'' booklet, pages 1-2.  [[Wave Master]]. 2006.</ref>
|-
|2008
|''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''
|
* "Open Your Heart"
* "Live & Learn"
* "Sonic Heroes"
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Full Song List with Secret Songs|url=https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music24_list.html|url-status=live|access-date=October 6, 2021|website=smashbros.com|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808071026/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music24_list.html|archive-date=August 8, 2013}}</ref>
|-
|2009
|''[[Sonic and the Black Knight]]''
|
* "Knight of the Wind"
* "Live Life"
* "Fight the Knight"
* "Through the Fire"
* "With Me"{{Efn|Written by Crush 40 and performed by Emma Gelotte and Tinna Karlsdotte of [[All Ends]].  A "Massive Power Mix" version by Crush 40 is on the soundtrack only.|name=|group=}}
* "Seven Rings in Hand"{{Efn|Cover of "Seven Rings in Hand" by [[Steve Conte]], originally from ''[[Sonic and the Secret Rings]]''.}}
|<ref>''Face to Faith: Sonic and the Black Knight Vocal Trax'' booklet.  [[Wave Master]]. 2009</ref>
|-
|2010
|''[[Sonic Free Riders]]''
|
* "Free"{{Efn|Written by Crush 40 and performed by Chris Madin. A version performed by Crush 40 is on the soundtrack only.|name=|group=}}
|<ref>''Sonic Free Riders Original Soundtrack - Break Free'' booklet.  [[Wave Master]]. 2010.</ref>
|-
|2011
|''[[Sonic Generations]]''
|
* "Open Your Heart" (Crush 40 vs. Circuit Freq remix)
|<ref name="enix">{{cite web|title=Game Music :: Sonic Generations Original Soundtrack -Blue Blur|url=http://squareenixmusic.com/reviews/joehammond/sonicgenerations.shtml|last1=Hammond|first1=Joe|website=Square Enix Music Online|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331145059/http://squareenixmusic.com/reviews/joehammond/sonicgenerations.shtml|archive-date=March 31, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U]]''
| rowspan="2" |
* "Open Your Heart"
* "Live & Learn"{{Efn|"Live & Learn" is the only track available in ''for Nintendo 3DS''; all other tracks are in ''for Wii U'' and ''Ultimate'' only.|group=}}
* "Sonic Heroes"
* "Knight of the Wind"
|<ref>{{Cite video game|title=[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]|developer=[[Bandai Namco Studios]], [[Sora Ltd.]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|platform=|date=September 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite video game|title=[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]|developer=[[Bandai Namco Studios]], [[Sora Ltd.]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=November 21, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Jake|date=April 17, 2019|title=Super Smash Bros Ultimate Music List - Every Song in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Full Soundtrack|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/17-12-18-super-smash-bros-ultimate-song-list-every-music-track-in-ultimate-full-soundtrack|url-status=live|access-date=October 6, 2021|website=[[USgamer]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115162830/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/17-12-18-super-smash-bros-ultimate-song-list-every-music-track-in-ultimate-full-soundtrack |archive-date=January 15, 2019 }}</ref>
|-
|2019
|''[[Team Sonic Racing]]''
|
* "Green Light Ride"
|<ref name=":9" />
|-
|2022
|'' [[Sonic Frontiers]]
|
* "Open Your Heart"
* "Live & Learn"
* "Sonic Heroes"
* "Knight Of The Wind
| As part of the jukebox update
|-
|2024
|''[[Shadow Generations]]''
|
* "Boss Battle: Metal Overlord (What I'm Made Of...)"
* "Boss Battle: Neo Devil Doom (All Hail Shadow - Symphonic ver.)"
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-27 |title=Sonic X Shadow Generations Full Soundtrack Now Available, Here's Every Song Included |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/12/sonic-x-shadow-generations-full-soundtrack-now-available-heres-every-song-included |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="St. Louis">{{cite web |url=http://www.lexisnexis.com/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?lni=5936-JTX1-JBM5-C359&csi=270944,293847,270077,11059,8411&hl=t&hv=t&hnsd=f&hns=t&hgn=t&oc=00240&perma=true |access-date=May 16, 2014 |title=Best Bets |last1=Newmark |first1=Judith |page=G4 |date=August 9, 2013 |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |via=[[LexisNexis]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517154309/http://www.lexisnexis.com/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?lni=5936-JTX1-JBM5-C359&csi=270944,293847,270077,11059,8411&hl=t&hv=t&hnsd=f&hns=t&hgn=t&oc=00240&perma=true |archive-date=May 17, 2014 |url-status=live }} {{closed access}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref>

<ref name=Turner>{{cite thesis |last=Turner |first=Kofi-Charu Nat |title=Multimodal Media Production in the Development of Multiliteracies |publisher=[[University of California, Berkeley]] |year=2008 |type=Ph.D. diss. |page=61 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/304697401 |access-date=May 16, 2014 |id={{ProQuest|304697401}} }} {{closed access}} {{subscription required|s}}</ref>

}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Japan|Rock music|United States|Video games}}

[[Category:1998 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Japanese glam metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Japanese hard rock musical groups]]
[[Category:Japanese video game composers]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1998]]
[[Category:Sonic the Hedgehog]]
[[Category:Video game musicians]]