It Doesn't Matter

"It Doesn't Matter" is Sonic the Hedgehog's theme song in Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. In Sonic Adventure, the song has a BPM around 120, and the song (verses especially) is a little more laid back. In Sonic Adventure 2, the song is much faster and has a different melody and arrangement. Both versions are performed by Tony Harnell.

Legacy

In 2014, a remix named "It Doesn’t Matter -RMX 2.014k" was released as a single along with both vocal and instrumental albums Passion & Pride: Anthems with Attitude from the Sonic Adventure Era. It is based on the Sonic Adventure 2 version.

The Sonic Adventure version also plays briefly in Sonic and the Black Knight in part of the cutscene when the Knights of the Round Table cast their swords to aid Sonic and Caliburn, also a violin remix of the Sonic Adventure 2 version plays during the fan art showcase video. The Sonic Adventure version is also featured as an unlockable song in the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Sonic Generations. In addition, the song can also be played during Stages and Challenge Acts in place of the level's default music.

Lyrics

Sonic Adventure

Ooooh, yeah!

Well, I don't show off, don't criticize
I'm just livin' by my own feelings
And I won't give in, won't compromise
I just only have a steadfast heart of gold

I don't know why, I can't leave though it might be tough
But I ain't out of control, just livin' by my word
Don't ask me why, I don't need a reason
I got my way, my own way

It doesn't matter now what happens I will never give up the fight
There is no way I will run away from all of my frights
Long as the voice inside me says go, I will always keep on running
There is no way to stop me from going to the very top
It doesn't matter who is wrong or who is right

Well, I won't look back, I don't need to
Time won't wait and I got so much to do

Where do I stop, it's all a blur and so unclear
Well, I don't know but I can't be wrong

This fight is not for anybody, this is purely for myself
There is no way I'm gonna give up 'til the very end
I can't tell what is wrong and what is right, I've got to find the answer
But until I do, there's no way I will ever give up
Place all your bets on the one you think is right

(instrumental)

It doesn't matter now what happens I will never give up the fight
There is no way I will run away from all of my frights
Long as the voice inside me says go, I will always keep on running
There is no way to stop me from going to the very top
It doesn't matter who is wrong or who is right

Sonic Adventure 2

Oh yeah!
All right

Well, I don't show off, don't criticize
I'm just livin' by my own feelings
And I won't give in, won't compromise
'Cuz I only have a steadfast heart of gold
I don't know why, I can't leave though it might be tough
But I ain't out of control, just livin' by my word
Don't ask me why, I don't need a reason
I got my way, my own way

It doesn't matter
Now what happens, I will never give up the fight
Long as the voice inside drives me to run and fight
It doesn't matter who is wrong and who is right

Well I don't look back, I don't need to
Time won't wait and I got so much to do
Where do I stop now, it's all a blur and so unclear
Well, I don't know but I can't be wrong

It doesn't matter now what happens, I will never give up the fight
Long as the voice inside drives me to run and fight
Place all your bets on the one you think is right

Oh, it doesn't matter now what happens, I will never give up the fight
Long as the voice inside drives me to run and fight
It doesn't matter who is wrong and who is right
No, no no no
It doesn't matter!

Connection to Character

Well, I don't show off, don't criticize - Sonic's lifestyle.
I'm just livin' by my own feelings - Sonic living by his rules.
And I won't give in, won't compromise - Sonic never surrendering to evil.
I just only have a steadfast heart of gold - Sonic always living on the path of good and looks on the brighter side of life.
I don't know why, I can't leave though it might be tough - Sonic never retreats no matter what.
But I ain't out of control, just livin' by my word - Sonic living by his word.
Don't ask me why, I don't need a reason - Sonic doing what he does by will and not by reasons.
I got my way, my own way - Sonic preferring to do things his own way.
It doesn't matter now what happens, I will never give up the fight - Sonic's "never give up" attitude.
Long as the voice inside me says go, I will always keep on running - Sonic always running for adventures.
There is no way to stop me from going to the very top - Sonic never stops until he wins.
It doesn't matter who is wrong and who is right - Sonic's carefree judgement.
Well, I won't look back, I don't need to - Sonic living without regrets.
Time won't wait and I got so much to do - Sonic always living fast.
Where do I stop, it's all a blur and so unclear - Sonic not knowing where does his trip end.
Well, I don't know but I can't be wrong - Sonic always being sure he is in the right path.
There is no way I'm gonna give up 'til the very end - Sonic never gives up until the enemy is beaten.
But until I do there's no way I will ever give up - Sonic will continue fighting until he makes it right.
Place all your bets on the one you think is right - Sonic's friends are always by his side.

Trivia

The "Twinkle Circuit" music from Sonic Adventure has a remix of the chorus of "It Doesn't Matter".
"It Doesn't Matter" is the only character theme that was remixed by the exact same artist as the original.
In Sonic Generations, the music that plays in City Escape contains a small part from "It Doesn't Matter" (SA2 version).

Songs

Games	CD	Sonic Boom • Sonic - You Can Do Anything • Cosmic Eternity - Believe in Yourself
	R	Super Sonic Racing • Can You Feel the Sunshine • Living in the City • Back in Time • Work It Out • Diamond in the Sky • You're My Number One
	Adventure	Open Your Heart • It Doesn't Matter • Believe In Myself • Unknown from M.E. • My Sweet Passion • Lazy Days ~Livin' in Paradise~
	Adventure 2	Live and Learn • It Doesn't Matter • Believe In Myself • Unknown from M.E. • My Sweet Passion • Throw It All Away • E.G.G.M.A.N. • Fly in the Freedom • Escape from the City • Kick the Rock! • A Ghost's Pumpkin Soup • Dive into the Mellow • Deeper • Space Trip Steps • Rhythm And Balance • The Supernatural • For True Story • Supporting Me
	Heroes	Sonic Heroes • We Can • This Machine • Follow Me • Team Chaotix • What I'm Made of...
	Shadow	I Am... All of Me • Almost Dead • Waking Up • E.G.G.M.A.N Doc. Robeatnix Mix • Chosen One • All Hail Shadow • Never Turn Back • Who I Am (unused) • Broken (unused) • All of Me (unused) • Tripod Baby
	Rush	A New Day • Right There, Ride On • Back 2 Back • Ethno Circus • Ska Cha Cha • Jeh Jeh Rocket • Get Edgy • What U Need • Metal Scratchin' • Vela Nova • Bomber Barbara • Wrapped in Black • Raisin' Me Up
	Riders	Sonic Speed Riders • Catch Me If You Can
	Sonic (2006)	His World • Sweet Dreams AKON Mix • All Hail Shadow Remix • Dreams of an Absolution • My Destiny • Solaris Phase 1
	Secret Rings	Seven Rings In Hand • Let the Speed Mend It • The Wicked Wild • The Palace That Was Found • No Way Through • The White of Sky • Unawakening Float • Poison Spear • Blue on the Run • How It Started • It Has Come to This • Worth a Chance
	Zero Gravity	Un-Gravitify • Catch Me If You Can
	Unleashed	Endless Possibility • Dear My Friend
	Black Knight	Knight of the Wind • With Me • Fight the Knight • Through the Fire • Live Life
	Colors	Reach for the Stars • Speak with Your Heart
	Generations	Escape from the City • Back 2 Back • Supporting Me • Super Sonic Racing • For True Story • Open Your Heart
	Forces	Fist Bump • Infinite • Fighting Onward • Nowhere to Run • Justice • Moonlight Battlefield • Virtual Enemies • Set in Motion • Fading World • The Light of Hope • Rhythm And Balance • Supporting Me
	Other	You're My Hero (Sonic 3D Blast) • A New Venture (Sonic Rush Adventure) • Race to Win (Sonic Rivals 2) • So Much More... (Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing) • Free (Sonic Free Riders) • Green Light Ride (Team Sonic Racing)
Media	AoStH	Italian/French opening theme • Sonic's Song
	SatAM	Fastest Thing Alive • Burning Way Past Cool (unused)
	Live in Sydney	What Are We Waiting For? • Give Me Chaos • Thank You For Being You
	Underground	Sonic Underground • Someday • Working Together in Harmony • We're All In This Together • Have You Got The 411? • I've Found My Home • Money Can't Buy • Let the Good Times Roll • Teach the Children, Light the Way • Face Your Fear • We Need to Be Free • Listen to Your Heart • Society Girl • Built For Speed • Let's Do It to It • You Can't Own Everything • Never Give Up • The Fastest Thing Alive • Not Always What They Seem • Take a Chance • Where There's a Will, There's a Way • The Cosmic Dance • Being a Kid Is Cool • True Blue Friend • Mummy Wrap • Part of the Problem • I Can Do That For You • No One Is an Island • Learn to Overcome • The Mobius Stomp • When Tomorrow Comes • How You Play the Game • Don't Be a Backstabber • We're the Sonic Underground • Never Easy • Fun in the Sun • Have It All Again • Justice Callin' • The Sound of Freedom • Lady Liberty • Don't Let Your Guard Down
	Sonic X	SONIC DRIVE • Fu-tu-re • The Shining Road • T.O.P • Gotta Go Fast • Sonic X • Just Call Me SONIC • Sonic
Other		Super Sonic Dance Attack • Wonderman • They Call Me Sonic • Sonic Electronic • King of the Ring • Look-a-like • Metal Sonic • Dr. Robotnik • Sonic Youth

Sonic Adventure

Playable characters		Sonic (Super Sonic) \| Tails \| Knuckles \| Amy \| E-102 Gamma \| Big \| Metal Sonic*
Non-playable characters		Dr. Eggman \| Beta (Mark II) \| Chao \| Chaos (Chaos 1, Chaos 2, Chaos 4, Chaos 6, Perfect Chaos) \| Cream* \| Delta \| Epsilon \| Froggy \| Grandma \| Mr. Know-It-All \| Pachacamac \| Tikal \| Unnamed Sonic robot* \| ZERO \| Zeta \| Animals (Deer, Elephant, Gorilla, Kangaroo, Koala, Lion, Mole, Parrot, Peacock, Penguin, Rabbit, Seal, Sea Otter, Skunk, Swallow)
Adventure Fields		Egg Carrier \| Mystic Ruins \| Station Square
Action Stages		Emerald Coast \| Windy Valley \| Casinopolis \| IceCap \| Sky Chase \| Twinkle Park \| Speed Highway \| Red Mountain \| Sky Deck \| Lost World \| Hot Shelter \| Sand Hill \| Twinkle Circuit \| Final Egg
Enemies		Beat \| Bladed Spinner \| Boa-Boa \| Buyoon \| Cart Kiki \| Cop Speeder \| Egg Keeper \| Electro Spinner \| Fighter Aircraft A \| Fighter Aircraft B \| Gola \| Ice Ball \| Icecap's unnamed aircraft \| Kiki \| Leon \| mechanical fish \| Pirate \| Rhinotank \| Sky Deck's unnamed jet fighter \| Spiky Spinner \| Sweeper
Bosses		Chaos 0 \| Chaos 2 \| Chaos 4 \| Chaos 6 \| E-101 Beta \| E-101 Mark II \| E-102 Gamma \| E-103 Delta \| E-104 Epsilon \| E-105 Zeta \| Egg Carrier \| Egg Hornet \| Egg Viper \| Egg Walker \| Knuckles the Echidna \| Perfect Chaos \| Sonic the Hedgehog \| ZERO
Moves/ Techniques	Playable characters	Bolt of lightning \| Climb \| Dig \| Flight Mode \| Glide \| Hammer Attack \| Hammer Jump \| Hover \| Homing Attack \| Homing Missile Launch \| Jump Attack \| Laser Gun \| Light Speed Attack \| Light Speed Dash \| Lure Attack \| Maximum Heat Knuckles Attack \| Pick \| Propeller Flight \| Punch Attack \| Rapid Tails Attack \| Spin Dash \| Spin Hammer Attack \| Spin Jump \| Tails Attack
Moves/ Techniques	NPCs	Arm Punch \| Bomb Attack \| Bomb Gun Attack \| Charge \| Double Punch \| Earthquake Attack \| Electric Arm \| Energy Ball Attack \| Flame Thrower Attack \| Guiding Missiles \| Instantaneous Liquefaction \| Laser Beam Attack \| Homing Tail Slice \| Inhale Attack \| Marble Attack \| Phantom Shadow Move \| Punch \| Quarter Attack \| Scorpion Attack \| Shockwave Attack (Chaos 6) \| Sonic Boom \| Spin Attack \| Spinning Spike Attack \| Spouting Attack \| Squash Roll Attack \| Swing Punch
Gimmicks and obstacles		Bumper \| Bumper Car \| Cannon \| Conveyor Belt \| Crank \| Dash Panel \| Dash Ring \| Drum Can \| Explosion Trap \| Fan \| Flipper \| Fountain \| Goal Balloon \| Hanging Bell \| Helicopter \| Hint Box \| Hint Orb \| Icicle \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel (plate) \| Jump Panel (ramp) \| Laser field \| Lit Panel \| Mirror \| Monkey Detonation Switch \| Orca \| Power cube \| Rocket \| Satellite \| Slot machine \| Spring \| Spring Catapult \| Switch \| Teleporter \| Trick Jump Panel \| Wide spring \| Wind Path \| Zip Line
Objects	General	Air Bubble \| Capsule \| Cart pass \| Chao Egg \| Chaos Emerald \| Doll \| Emblem \| Emerald Shard \| Employee ID Card \| Item Box (Bomb, Extra Life, Invincibility, Lightning Shield, Power Sneakers, Shield, Super Ring) \| Key Stone (Gold Statue, Ice Stone, Silver Statue, Wind Stone) \| Point Marker \| Ring \| Sandboard \| Snowboard \| Sonic Token
Objects	Level Up Items	Ancient Light \| Crystal Ring \| Fighting Gloves \| Jet Anklet \| Jet Booster \| Laser Blaster \| Life Belt \| Light Speed Shoes \| Long Hammer \| Lure \| Power Rod \| Rhythm Badge \| Shovel Claw \| Warrior Feather
English voice actors		Ryan Drummond (Sonic) \| Corey Bringas (Tails) \| Michael McGaharn (Knuckles) \| Deem Bristow (Eggman) \| Jennifer Douillard (Amy) \| Jon St. John (Big) \| Elara Distler (Tikal, Station Square Train Voice, Default Menu Voice) \| Steve Broadie (Gamma, Pachacamac, Mystic Ruins Train Voice) \| Tomoko Sasaki (Chao)
Japanese voice actors		Jun'ichi Kanemaru (Sonic) \| Kazuki Hayashi (Tails) \| Nobutoshi Canna (Knuckles) \| Chikao Ōtsuka (Eggman) \| Taeko Kawata (Amy) \| Shun Yashiro (Big) \| Kaori Asoh (Tikal) \| Jōji Nakata (Gamma) \| Tōru Ōkawa (Pachacamac) \| Kaho Kōda (Station Square Train Voice) \| Nobutoshi Canna (Mystic Ruins Train Voice) \| Elara Distler (Default Menu Voice) \| Tomoko Sasaki (Chao)
Music	Songs	Believe In Myself \| It Doesn't Matter \| Lazy Days \| My Sweet Passion \| Open Your Heart \| Unknown from M.E.
Music	Albums	Sonic Adventure Original Sound Track (Digi-Log Conversation) \| Sonic Adventure Remix \| Sonic Adventure: Songs With Attitude Vocal Mini-Album \| Sonic Adventure Original Soundtrack 20th Anniversary Edition \| Passion & Pride: Anthems with Attitude from the Sonic Adventure Era
Other		777 Slots Pinball \| Angel Island \| Auto Running \| Black Market \| Card & Pinball \| Chao Garden (Station Square Garden, Mystic Ruins Garden, Egg Carrier Island) \| Chao Stadium \| Chao in Space \| Chao Machine \| Chao Search* \| Corkscrew loop \| Debug Mode \| E-100 Series \| Egg Carrier \| Egg Carrier 2 \| Emerald Radar \| Freeze \| Hedgehog Hammer \| Life gauge \| Mission Mode \| Mystic Ruins \| Shrine of Knuckles's race \| Shuttle loop \| Sonic Adventure (LCD) \| Station Square \| Station Square Police Department \| Tails' Lab \| Tornado \| Tornado 2 \| Transporter Machine Exclusive to Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut*.

Sonic Adventure 2

Playable characters		Sonic (Super Sonic) \| Tails \| Knuckles \| Amy* \| Shadow (Super Shadow) \| Rouge \| Eggman \| Big^ \| Tikal \| Chaos* \| Dark Chao Walker* \| Chao Walker* \| Metal Sonic*
Non-playable characters		Chao (Dark Chao, Hero Chao, Chaos Chao) \| Gerald \| Maria \| President \| Secretary \| Sigma-Alpha 2 \| Animals (Bat, Bear, Boar, Cheetah, Condor, Dragon, Gorilla, Half Fish, Parrot, Peacock, Penguin, Phoenix, Rabbit, Raccoon, Seal, Sea Otter, Sheep, Skeleton Dog, Skunk, Tiger, Unicorn)
Stages	Hero	City Escape \| Wild Canyon \| Prison Lane \| Metal Harbor \| Green Forest \| Pumpkin Hill \| Mission Street \| Aquatic Mine \| Route 101 \| Hidden Base \| Pyramid Cave \| Death Chamber \| Eternal Engine \| Meteor Herd \| Crazy Gadget \| Final Rush
	Dark	Iron Gate \| Dry Lagoon \| Sand Ocean \| Radical Highway \| Egg Quarters \| Lost Colony \| Weapons Bed \| Security Hall \| White Jungle \| Route 280 \| Sky Rail \| Mad Space \| Cosmic Wall \| Final Chase
	Misc.	Cannon's Core \| Green Hill
	2P Stages	Downtown Race \| Grind Race \| Planet Quest \| Pool Quest \| Deck Race \| Pyramid Race
Enemies	G.U.N.	Blue Eagle \| Bomb Beetle \| Bomb Wing \| Gold Beetle \| Gun Beetle \| Gun Hawk \| Gun Hunter \| Gun Wing \| Hornet-3 \| Hornet-6 \| Hornet-9 \| Laser Hawk \| Laser Hornet \| Laser Hunter \| Mono Beetle \| Phoenix \| Rhino Cannon \| Rhino Jet \| Rhino Metal \| Rhino Spike \| Shield Hunter \| Sky Hawk \| Spark Beetle \| Spring Beetle
	Badniks	Buzz Bomber \| Chopper \| E-1000 \| Gola \| Unidus \| Kiki
	Misc	Artificial Chaos (Artificial Chaos P-1, Artificial Chaos P-100, Cell, Float Type, Guard Type) \| Boo \| Boom Boo
Bosses		B-3x Hot Shot \| Biolizard \| Dr. Eggman \| Egg Golem \| F-6t Big Foot \| Finalhazard \| King Boom Boo \| Knuckles \| R-1/A Flying Dog \| Rouge \| Shadow \| Sonic \| Tails
Moves/Techniques		Amy Flash* \| Black Shield* \| Black Wave* \| Booming Missile* \| Bounce Attack \| Captive Light* \| Chaos Bind* \| Chaos Control \| Chaos Impact* \| Chaos Screw* \| Chaos Spear \| Chaos Strike* \| Charm Ray* \| Crazy Rush* \| Crouch \| Dark Finish* \| Dark Omochao* \| Dig \| Drill Claw \| Drill Drive \| Fire Somersault \| Glide \| Grind Step \| Grinding \| Hammer Punch* \| Heaven's Justice* \| Hell Bomber* \| Hip Drop* \| Hover \| Homing Attack \| Jump Dash \| Kick/Kick Attack \| Knuckle Spin* \| Laser Missile* \| Light Attack \| Light Speed Dash \| Lock-on \| Lock-On Missile \| Magic Hands \| Omochao \| Pick \| Power Flash* \| Power Laser* \| Propeller Punch \| Punch (Eggwalker) \| Punch/Punch Attack \| Rocket Launcher \| Rumble Launcher* \| Screw Kick \| Somersault \| Sonic Wind* \| Speed Up* \| Spin Jump \| Spin Dash \| Spiral Upper \| Storming Heart* \| Super Sonic Boost \| Swim \| Thunder Arrow* \| Time Stop* \| Volkan Cannon \| Wrath of Gaia* \| Zap Laser*
Gimmicks and obstacles		Ancient Ruin \| Ball Switch \| Bungie Vine \| Dash Panel \| Dynamite \| Egg Beetle \| Gravity Control Switch \| Green energy fluid \| Grind Rail \| GUN Military Truck \| High-speed warp tube \| Hint Box \| Hourglass \| Iron ball \| Jump Plate \| Laser field \| Missile \| Pipe \| Propeller Spring \| Pulley \| Rocket \| Safe \| Spikes \| Spinning drum \| Swing Bar \| Time Stop Switch \| Turtle \| Warp Hole \| Warp Wall \| Weight \| Wide spring
Objects	General	Balloon \| Chao Egg \| Chao Key \| Chaos Emerald \| Chaos Drive \| Container (Cage, Chao Container, Steel Container, Unbreakable Container, Wooden Container) \| Emblem \| Emerald Shard \| Goal Ring \| Item Box (Bomb, Extra Life, Health, Invincibility, Magnetic Barrier, Power Sneakers, Shield, Super Ring) \| Key Stone (Gate Key) \| Meteorite \| Outfit \| Point Marker \| Ring \| Snowboard
Objects	Level Up Items	Air Necklace \| Air Shoes \| Ancient Light \| Bazooka \| Booster \| Bounce Bracelet \| Flame Ring \| Hammer Gloves \| Iron Boots \| Jet Engine \| Large Cannon \| Laser Blaster \| Light Speed Shoes \| Magic Gloves \| Mystic Melody \| Pick Nails \| Protective Armor \| Shovel Claw \| Sunglasses \| Treasure Scope
English voice actors		Ryan Drummond (Sonic) \| Connor Bringas (Tails) \| Scott Dreier (Knuckles/GUN Soldiers) \| Jennifer Douillard (Amy Rose) \| David Humphrey (Shadow the Hedgehog) \| Lani Minella (Rouge/Omochao) \| Deem Bristow (Doctor Eggman) \| Moriah Angeline (Maria Robotnik) \| Marc Biagi (Gerald/GUN Soldiers) \| Steve Broadie (President) \| Shelly Fox (Default menu voice) \| Jon St. John (Big) \| Elara Distler (Tikal) \| Tomoko Sasaki (Chao)
Japanese voice actors		Jun'ichi Kanemaru (Sonic) \| Kazuki Hayashi (Tails) \| Nobutoshi Canna (Knuckles) \| Taeko Kawata (Amy) \| Kōji Yusa (Shadow) \| Rumi Ochiai (Rouge) \| Chikao Ōtsuka (Eggman ) \| Etsuko Kozakura (Omochao) \| Yuri Shiratori (Maria) \| Kinryū Arimoto (President) \| Shun Yashiro (Big) \| Shelly Fox (Default menu voice) \| Tomoko Sasaki (Chao)
Music	Songs	A Ghost's Pumpkin Soup \| Believe In Myself \| Deeper \| Dive into the Mellow \| E.G.G.M.A.N. \| Escape from the City \| Fly in the Freedom \| For True Story \| It Doesn't Matter \| Kick the Rock! \| Live and Learn \| My Sweet Passion \| Rhythm And Balance \| Space Trip Steps \| Supporting Me \| The Supernatural \| Throw It All Away \| Unknown from M.E. \| Vengeance is Mine
Music	Albums	Multi-Dimensional Sonic Adventure 2 Original Sound Track \| Sonic Adventure 2 Vocal Collection: Cuts Unleashed \| Sonic Adventure 2 Official Soundtrack \| Sonic Adventure 2 Battle - Sampler \| Sonic Adventure 2 Original Soundtrack 20th Anniversary Edition \| Passion & Pride: Anthems with Attitude from the Sonic Adventure Era
Other		Angel Island \| Auto Running \| Black Market \| Central City \| Chao Adventure^ \| Chao Adventure 2^ \| Chao Garden (Dark, Hero, Neutral) \| Chao in Space \| Chao Kindergarten \| Chao Machine \| Chao Stadium \| Chao Transporter^ \| Chao World \| Corkscrew loop \| Cyclone \| Eclipse Cannon \| Eggman Bombom \| Eggwalker \| Emerald Radar \| Fake Emerald \| Gerald Robotnik's diary \| Health Gauge \| Hi-Speed Shoes \| Kart Race \| Prison Island \| Project Shadow \| Rank \| Shuttle loop \| Space Colony ARK \| Station Square \| Teleporter \| Totem Pole \| Winding Tunnel Appears or is playable only in the 2P mode ^ Dreamcast version of Sonic Adventure 2* only