Introduction:

Childhood memories hold a special place in our hearts, often evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing. In this commentary, we explore a field recording of Jumpin Gym U.S.A., delving into the sonic landscape that transports us back to the enchanting realm of our childhood and revives the cherished memories associated with this vibrant space.

Body:

The Gateway to a Forgotten Realm:

We went to the largest Jumpin Gym USA in Whampoa and we used H3 VR microphone to record. As the recording unfolds, the familiar sounds of a game centre whisk us away on a journey through time. The melodic jingles of clamp machines, the rhythmic clattering of buttons, and the energetic banter of young voices all converge to create a vivid soundscape that takes us back to the carefree days of our childhood.

Analysis:

Although recently Jumpin Gym USA has been exposed the scam of rainbow coin-toss game, it has a significant impact on 90s and 00s Hong Kong people’s childhood. When we were little, Jumpin Gym USA is a wonderful place that we fantasize it as a paradise since it provides camaraderie and unique experiences, most importantly, it is the memory of us playing with our families and friends.The recording shows diverse melodies and rhythms of the games machines as well as people’s laughter intertwine harmoniously such as the pingpong sound of pacman smash game and the jingle of coin pusher, enriching the immersive field recording experience, adding depth and excitement.

Interpretation:

We chose to record several arcade games like air hockey, coin pushing game, and bumper cars because they all have their significant sound. We can immediately recognise the games when we listen to them. And we also walked around the playground since different areas would have different listening experiences. Like when we walked near the bumper cars we could hear the sound of crashing and fractions, and movements as the sound of fraction moves back and forth. And with H3 recorder which records all-rounded location sound, the audience can hear distance and space, which creates a feeling of being in the middle of the site. We hope that when the audience is listening to it, they can feel like being in it and enjoying the environment, as well as catching the nostalgic feelings.

The whole recording can be divided into four parts, the first part is coin pushing with repeated melody, second part is entering an area filled with dreamy game music, the third part starts when there is sound of announcement follows by the sound of bumper cars, the last part is going inside the cartoon carts and hearing familiar cartoon music.

Personal Reflection:

When I stepped into the Jumpin Gym USA again, it evokes all the imaginations and desires of my childhood. Since my parents are poor and selfish, I didn’t gain any happiness in my whole childhood, not to mention playing in such a fancy game center. Therefore, I felt satisfied when I listened to those familiar rhythms and melodies.(Chung Yan Yu)

This is a place we usually wouldn’t go often, but when we walk past it, the energetic melodies always attract us and remind us of the excitement from our childhood. By recording in the middle of the site, we can hear lots of melodies and the sound of the arcade games all around us at the same time, which hype us up even if we can only listen to it. (Chung Cheuk Ki)

Conclusion:

The field recording of Jumpin Gym U.S.A becomes a time machine, transporting us back to the cherished memories of our childhood. Through its immersive sonic landscape, filled with the sounds of play, laughter, and camaraderie, we are reminded of the joy, wonder, and deep connections that defined this magical place in our hearts. It serves as a testament to the lasting impact of childhood experiences and the power of nostalgia to bring them to life once again.