OCR00405 - Super Mario 64 'Sunken Suite'

[Ginnsu]

Super Mario 64 'Sunken Suite'

Ok, first off, I just have to say that everything by DJ Pretzel is amazing. And, believe it or not, I’m just saying that because this is his site, and he’s the one telling me what to do here. As for this mix, it starts off with a smooth melodic piano which is very soothing on the ears. If you’re waiting for some moving musical excitement, wait for the drums to kick in at around 1:33, where it sounds like an orchestral rendition of a national anthem. It must be the anthem for the Mushroom Kingdom. Then once the anthem ends, the chimes tinkle and we fade out of our dreams of Mario’s world. So yes, this one is kind of... how can I say this best? What about soft and mushy? A far cry from the usual electronic sounds we get around here. This one is defiantly one I’d repeat and listen to a couple times.

[Kooper909]

This song is pure awe. Being a big Nintendo fan, this mix instantly appealed to me. When I listened to it, I couldn't believe it. This remix is so great! I never fail to appreciate it, after countless times of listening. It's just so well done ... This is my favorite remix. Ever.

[skawttieboy]

Very nice piano in this mix! Smooth and melodic....very nice. Great game with many great mixes for it...including this one. A recommendation for anyone looking for a great Super Mario mix. :)

[DarkCecil13]

This mix is fucking fantastic... From the soothing pianos and bells to the full bodied percussion. This is a must have for ALL!

[Hakken]

This is one of the best mixes on this site. Nintendo should've had this to replace that stages current music. Sure the percussion goes a little overboard, but I'm not complaining because it suited the peice perfectly. A nice strong closure with the quiet finish. I hope DJ Pretzel makes more like this one. If this were a movie review... 5 stars :wink:

[Cypher19]

This is a good remix, but seeing as how I like listen to the Water Theme daily, I really wished it could have been more true to the original, with a stronger/louder melody, and redone drums to make them A) more subtle and B) more true. Otherwise, great.

[DarkRose]

Yes, more subtle drums...
Otherwise, great feel to it.
I fell like I'm in a pool right now! :wink:

DarkRose

[PhantomMagi]

Very nice, almost soothing mix...
Although the drums come in very suddenly and a bit too loud for my taste.
Oh well.
Great mix anyway.

[Sage 0]

nice djp, you really did a grand job. a mix of prolly my fav song off the super mario 64 soundtrack. thnx

[Zergling183]

SunkenSuite ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!! I love this song, djpretzel please make another song like this :D :) :lol: :wink: :twisted: :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

[Trance-Canada™]

This is a great remix of one of the best Mario songs. I remember listening to some of your earlier work and I think you made a great breakthrough along the way and I can't wait to hear what you do next.

[mDuo13]

....WOW. Beatiful. Just beatiful. I don't usually review songs that have more than 3 or so, but for this one, I have to make an exception. At first you may have a tough time figuring out what song it is, but in a little bit, you'll figure it out and sit in awe. True, at the end, the percussion is a bit loud, but it's still amazing.

[Eccles]

When all's said and done, you cant beat a good symphonic remix.
This is just amazing, it really is.

[Shadow Wolf]

This is, to be frank, the most stunningly beautiful remix I've ever heard. The water theme from Mario 64 has been my favorite piece of game music since my 10 year old hands first picked up an N64 controller in late '96, and to hear it remixed with so much care, beauty, and obvious talent is wonderful. I especially enjoyed the shatter\glitter effect at the 1:46 mark, right before the finale. I don't know much about remixing music, but I know that DJPretzel is the most talented Remixer I have ever come across. Excelsior!!

[DCT]

There's nothing I can say about this mix that hasn't already been said. In my opinion it's one of the best songs on this site, and djpretzel is a musical genius for taking the best song on the Mario 64 soundtrack and making it even better. If you haven't downlaoded this song yet, you better have just found out about OCR yesterday or something. In any case, if you don't have it, GET IT NOW!

-DCT

[Catriona Clawford]

I'm probably repeating what's been said, but I just wanted to express my deep attachment and appreciation for this song. Unless my memory is faulty (which, the majority of the time it is) I think I read from someone that the drums weren't that great. The drum crescendo is actually my favourite part, as it gives me the impression of Mario doing the canonball dive into the waters. The chimes have a great effect for water splashs, and the ending gives the feeling of the waters resuming a calm state. This is definitely one of the best ReMixes on the site.

[Jimmy the Lip]

OCR's resident site administrator, DJ Pretzel, puts forth an excellent take on the Dire, Dire Docks/Jolly Roger Bay theme from Super Mario 64 in his ReMix "Sunken Suite". The song starts off with a lead-in apparently composed by Pretzel himself, which is in itself very well-done, before the theme breaks out into the music from Super Mario 64 itself. The piano is accompanied by samples of supporting strings and something in the way of a "distant guitar", so to speak (DJ Pretzel named the sound as vibes, I believe) as well as an English Horn, which I would not have been able to pick out had not the ReMixer mentioned it in his own review. A drumbeat in the backround comes into the piece about two-thirds through and gives the piece a much more lively feel while still keeping in with the general ambience of Pretzel's rendition of that unforgettable underwater theme from SM64. The piece closes with the piano slowly playing out a few bars of the tune before this superb song finally closes.
The Dire, Dire Docks theme was probably the best song in SM64 in the way of composition and giving a real ambience to the levels in which it was included. That theme stuck in my mind the first time I heard it played in Jolly Roger Bay six or seven years ago now, my introduction to the Nintendo 64, and has been embedded in my memory ever since. DJ Pretezel does justice to one of Koji Kondo's most atmoshperic pieces with his "Sunken Suite", and I thoroughly enjoy it. I recommend that you download this one, as it is one of OCR's site administrator's best ReMixes and is worthy of recognition by all accounts.

[Atomic Dog]

I really really really love this song.

I had such a shitty day today, came home, turned it on, and immediately felt better. Not too many OCR's have THAT particular effect.

Gotta give recognition where recognition is due.

[False Illusions]

.

I remember back in the day that this was released. It seemed that everybody hated it or had some gripe about it. It was something about the tempo or the key of the song that got people furious. That was shortly before the "Great Exodus" or whatever people want to call it.

Truthfully, there was nothing wrong with this song. Time has passed and people now see it for what it really is: a work of art. I'll say now what I said then: this is an incredibly well done arrangement that shows the craftsmanship of a phenomenal musician.

Not only is this one of DJ Pretzel's best pieces of music, it is one of the best on this entire database and one of the best videogame rearrangements ever.

.

[MasterSword]

I'm editing my post from a while back. I'm advising you to get this song. It is still the best song on this site, and one of the best instrumental pieces I have ever heard. HANDS DOWN. And there's a TON of good stuff on this site. This song makes me want to do 2 things. Get the hell up and Dance, and learn how to play the drums.
You're still reading...why? You don't get it, do you. You should have clicked 'back' a long time ago. You'll understand once you hear it. You might as well just loop it. I play it in my car driving to work. It just stays on repeat.

[nachokun]

Oh my god! The percussion... godly... :o

[The Original Shadow Wolf]

Wonderful
Outstanding
Wymsical

Wow! That's one of the best remixes I've heard in a while. It almost made me cry... :cry:

[Zaphlin]

I really like this remix. It is very... good. heh, I don't know how to describe it. But I like it.

http://www.angelfire.com/ultra/zaphlin/a_backflip.gifhttp://www.angelfire.com/ultra/zaphlin/a_backflip.gifhttp://www.angelfire.com/ultra/zaphlin/a_backflip.gif

[Longinus]

This is absolutely my favorite remix on the site. It gives me chills, makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.... That's rare for ANY music, this is beautiful.

[Flockman the Wise]

Superb.

[Bilbo_Baggage]

WOW

<speechless>

I absolutely love the original, but i never thought you could change it into something like this :D

Its like when you've been watching some epic movie and you've done your best not to shed a tear in front of anyone, then as the movies winding up the music changes the mood to happily ever after which makes tears burst out even worse out of total happiness :oops:

[DarkMatter_the_Enchida]

I've had this remix for a long time... but I just felt I should come and say this is a amazing remix and if you don't download it you are missing out of something beautiful.

[SnIpErMiKe]

To start, this song is as good as everyone says, bla bla bla [insert usual compliments]

... but it still could be a little better. My only complaints are with the marching percussion's entrance and their crescendos in the middle... they're just too loud, to the point of any audio system I use (PC speakers, CD Player + Headphones, etc) needs to be turned down just to deal with the noise.

The effect of it is just fine, but it just gets too loud, I would've liked a little bit of a quieter entrance and possibly a LITTLE quieter exit.

Just being picky for a good song.

EDIT: Yeah, ran it through sound forge, now I know what the term is, the song's clipping during the perc. feature.

[Doctor Device]

I love this remix, definitely one of my top 10. the piano and strings at the beginning draw you in, particularly the cello (or is it a bass, I'm not a musicalologist). it sets up this beautiful mood, and oddly enough, the appearance of the percussion only augments it, leading perfectly into the second half of the piece. the drums might be just a touch heavy, but personally I don't mind it.

in fact, the only problem I have with the piece is that it's so short. it's wonderful the way it is, but a tiny part of me wishes it would've kept going.

[NekoKun]

Every game has it's own what I like to call "Uber-ReMix."

This is, without a doubt, Super Mario 64's Uber-ReMix. 8)

Unfortunately, I came to associate it with the first time I met my (now ex) girlfriend, and I can't listen to it anymore without crying. :(

[TheBaConMan]

Strange, i dunno why.. maybe its the way the piano is being played, this ReMiX reminds me of "The Entertainer.."
:o

[OrchestratedManiac]

Wow...I loved the original music from SM64 but this...this is a masterpiece! 8O

My only problem, as someone else stated, was that the precussion came in a little strong. The crescendoes were lovely, as well as the piano melody. I'm a sucker for piano :oops: ! I could listen to this song for HOURS. I would like to congratulate djpretzel for such an outstanding job on this already terrific song.

Yay, my first semi-review of a song!

Mike

[Blaze the Sirens]

djpretzel really did take the original and turned it into a true masterpiece. One of the greatest ReMixes available.

[Vash the Stampede]

Love this ReMix. Always have! The drum work is fantastic, as is the quality and vast variety of sound types!!! BRAVO djp!!! :D

[Khakhan]

Absolutely wonderful remix. One of the most uplifting songs ive ever heard. Just great, thank you for making it.

[jordex]

Why does everyone love this remix??
Yes, I like it, Its very soothing, drums go nice with it, the piano's nice and all but i don't like the piano melody, nothing really happens, its just piano

[Lizz]

I have no major gripes about this remix, except for when the drums come in. They overpower the piano. This deserves a 4/5.

[SilentSufferer19]

Amazing piano work for this remix. I'll have to agree that the drums were a little loud, but I didn't mind much. The ending, in the way that it simply faded away, was perfect to me. Great remix (if you don't mind drums taking over piano near the end) all around.

[RimFrost the Tourianist]

I have no major gripes about this remix, except for when the drums come in. They overpower the piano.

Well .. I for one liked the insertion of drums very much ..it'd been too close to the original otherwise in terms of calmness. Well done djpretzel :o

[tyler_lucero]

I've been addicted to OCR for a little over a year now, and this is, hands down, the single best remix that I've heard to date. Djp has really outdone himself, and I just wanted to join in the chorus of praise for this amazing masterpiece. It's uplifting, yet somehow haunting...great work, djp, and thanks for everything u do here at OCR. :)

[Even]

This was the very first song that I checked out here at OCR, so I thought it would be appropriate that it be my first review.

My favorite music in Super Mario 64 is the Jolly Roger Bay music, and this remix really does it justice. Like some others have commented, I think the drums come on a bit strong at the end (And when all is said and done, I actually prefer The Wingless' PearlSong), but the fact that I get goose bumps every time the violin/piano combination comes on at the 0:20 mark secures this remix in my top 10. Excellent, excellent work.

[jordex]

This song reminds me of the sims music, anyone else think the same?

[PancakeHero]

very nice pretzel.....makes me want to run 6824387 miles. Very impressive.

[HumpteeFree]

The best remix of this theme I've heard. I think the drums just add to the strong climax.

[Jabberbox]

great, and around 1:35 to 2:29 was just awesome especially how you blended climax wwith the softness...

[Jabberbox]

PLEASE TEACH ME PIANO!

[Mary_mari]

Awwww, it's so nice ^-^. The climax is very good. I like the subtle intro of the drums right before it just blasts into hyperdrums!!!...hmmmm...and then, it's very nice! It's so different f/the original while keeping true to it at the same time! How DO you do it???

[EntreNous]

On ormagas.com, as a rating scale, they tell you, "...1 (sucks donkey butter) to 5 (this song will play on my wedding day)..." I give this a full 5. YES, I WANT THIS SONG TO PLAY AT MY WEDDING. Yeah, maybe I'm weird, or maybe I just have a soft spot for our favorite short Italian plumber, but it really is gorgeous. This was my favorite song from Mario 64, and one of the first songs I downloaded here. Since then, I've sought out nearly everything djpretzel has done, whether I've played the game or not (I'm not done yet...did you SEE the list of songs he has???). Good...no...GREAT job, djpretzel.

[AboveTheDust]

Even this is one of the older (relatively) remixes on the site, this remains as one of my favorites. It doesn't mess around with slow melodies and jumps straight into telling a story. Piano and synth whatever in the background start it off and keep the tempo for the entire song.

My personal favorite part comes at 0:54, when the piano cuts to the underwater theme and plays the tune. It's as if the clouds of the song pull back and tell you "THIS is what this song is about." And it carries on from there.

The drums that come in 1:34 are most likely the centerpiece and highlight of the song. When they start hammering away 1:47 or so and builds in strenth and intensity... Wow. I always crank the volume at the second drum-raise at 2:17 until the sudden and abrupt end of the crescendo.

Anyway, a masterfully done piece by one of the best remixers on the site.

-Dust

[Ventrex]

Good god. I just heard this on the OC radio station, and slapped myself for never having discovered it before. This is the kind of song I'm going to end up playing again and again; during moments of extreme elation and happiness, to enhance those feelings, as the music itself is so joyful and symphonic. And during times of sorrow and pain, I will also slap it into the 'ole mp3 player, to remind myself that beauty still exists in the world.

Very, very, very, extremely ultimately fantastically good job, Pretzel. This is easily and instantly one of my favorite OC mixes, ever. A truly stunning and beautiful piece.

[/gushing praise]

[Hyper Inferno]

This song is almost like something straight of a movie soundtrack.

Imagine, its a race (like in Chariots of Fire or Seabiscuit).

The beginning is the people all getting ready to go.

When the main theme comes in (54 sec.), that's when the race has started. All you see is the man firing the gun (no sound) and the people start racing off.

The main hero is behind, but keeping up with the crowd. The camera shifts to the audience cheering for the hero running at 1:14 with the new strings.

At 1:34 with the snare drum coming in, the hero gets his second wind and starts pulling forward. At 1:50, he's now up in 2nd place.

From here to 2:08, he's gaining on first place. At 2:08, he barely pulls ahead and the finish line is seen. And at 2:28, the camera freezes on the frame where he runs over the finish line in first, with the guy right behind him. Then the camera blurs and fades out.

[Bummerdude]

Wow, the mix practically bursted at 1:46.
Very well done pretzel.

[J2L]

its remixes like this that remind me why DJP is the owner of OCRemix.

[Ninbear]

I created an account here JUST for this song. I've been going to OCremix for years, gathering nearly every song on this site, but always too lazy to create an account, or I just forget. I don't know why I'm so late in posting this, seeing as I've had this song since it was new and just posted here, but holy shit this song is orgasmic. It's perfect for that Happy Time moment, a good song to listen to before bed, a song you can listen to while doing homework, etc, it just fits about nearly every mood, yet never makes me feel bad. It's just so... perfect in my ears. Id'e learn piano and get some friends and play just this song if I had the time/money to do so :). Thank you, djpretzel, for this magnificent and enthrilling piece. This is my #1 favourite song on the site (With Super Metroid songs following, since that is my most favourite game EVER).

[Decoy Octopus]

I've been a part of OCR for nearly two years, been visiting the site as a non-member for quite a lot longer than that, and somehow this remix has gone unnoticed by me until just now. I don't understand how...

The Water Theme from Super Mario 64 is among my favourite VG tunes of all time and I've heard a great many mixes of it in my time. Some good. Some bad. Sunken Suite here is, by far, the most fully realized remix/rearrangement of the Water Theme that I have yet to come across.

My iPod has found a new permanent addition.

[shenroc]

DJPretzel, this is one of the better ones out there. I gotta hand it to ya. You make the underwater stages seem more relaxing to me since I mute the TV and play this instead now lol. Can you do the 'inside peach's castle' theme?

[shadowglo]

This song rocks. Does any know where I can find sheet music for this song on piano?????? Or if not, does anyone have a midi file or .mus file of this song, if so, could they private message me or post the site with this song???

[VideoGameGuy232]

This is the most prize possetion in my music files.Also I will cherish this song until I die!The piano at the beggining is great!

[Argle]

I just want to say this is a fantastic song. One of the best on the site IMO.

[Loning]

Truly magnificent! I do not think i've yet to hear a remix by you that can top this one! Amazing work on creating a masterpiece that focuses on orchestral arrangements that brings out the life of the original. I actually used this for my music appreciation class in college a few years back to turn in for a certain beat. This fit in perfectly!

Great work and I salute your efforts to bring this type of music to those who love to hear these mixes!

-Lon

[Lucentas]

Oh wow, when the snares come in near the end it's a total "Chariots of Fire" moment--was that intentional?

Anyway, beautiful piece. I always enjoy your work, I think you have a great sense of arrangement and it really shows through in these mixes you've put on the site.

[OA]

Pretty classy stuff, with a nice soundscape and the snare at the end was a nice touch. I definitely hear the Dale North and Matt Pollard connection, though the drums were a bit more bombastic than what they would do.

The arrangement is short but sweet, and it's a good original song to cover, easily the best track in SMB64. No reason to not check this one out, It's good.

[ChaoticOverdrive]

Oh wow. I heard this song years ago when I was listening to random remixes on the web. I loved it so much. It's so beautiful and peaceful. It literaly gives me chills.I am SO glad I found it again.

[wildarms007]

First heard this track when it came out originally. It still stands the test of time. djpretzel should do the entire OST w/collaborators. This track would make it hands down.

[Fflwcs]

First heard this track when it came out originally. It still stands the test of time. djpretzel should do the entire OST w/collaborators. This track would make it hands down.

Totally agree. This is so very beautiful.

[Skinner3D]

This song is amazing. It builds well and flows well and is just beautiful. I like how well it keeps with the source material both in note and in essence.

For those of you who know what Audiosurf is, this is one of those tracks that is just plain fun to ride.

[Crulex]

Oh....such beautiful music, good sir! The piano was SO good, and when the drums kick in, holy shit! This has....em....let's see if I can say it right, a kind of classy heroic anthemish thing going on in the middle, and it really blows me away before ending on that piano again. It's just one of those ReMixes that are so amazing, they seem to go by really fast and truly make me want more. Thank goodness for the repeat button.

[SubNormal J3]

This is a very unique take on the 'Dire, Dire Docks' theme. Namely because the seventh chords are all dropped in favor of basic chords. The result: it is still beautiful and perhaps more impressive because djp was able to evoke this much emotion without the aid of more advanced chords.
1:32 drums do a great job at pushing forward to the climax

[Speck]

I absolutely love this song. Maybe the official re-tweet will forgive my thread necromancy here , but I think it's time I took this into Audacity (unless someone has a better Linux tool they'd recommend) and dropped the intensity on the drum entrance. It's just too heavy for me.

I know most modern music for TV and small movies is synth rather than orchestral, but it can be really jarring when you go from something that's beautifully orchestral and natural sounding to some painfully obvious synth trumpet or sax; or in this case drums.

[Locke]

Of the 200 or so mixes I've listened to, this is one is my favourite. The opening piano is beautiful, and when the percussion kicks in....

Goosebumps.

[Argle]

This is astonishing work given the stone age release date of 2001. Production is really good for a time before the VST and DAW boom. You were making sweet tunes before I even started to make music at all.