OCR02122 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 'Above the Sky'

[djpretzel]

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

[aceazure]

I can see where the comments about being synthetic are coming from, but it sounds natural to me. You had me there, WillRock, until I read the description. Heh.

I love this one, but then again, I love all piano solos on ocremix. Beautiful.

[Liontamer]

"FUCKBOOYAH!" to YouTube haters with little-to-no musical standards that whined about OCR for daring to reject the original version of Will's mix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBVTyiposSo

Unlike a lot of people with no ear for music and no objectivity, we don't just puff up egos with praise when the music needs work, we help them become better musicians through legitimate criticism.

This version of "Above the Sky" definitely took things to a higher level of refinement and quality once Will was encouraged to tweak it, and that kind of improvement serves the artist not just for this track, but for future tracks.

[BLUamnEsiac]

This is a terrific piano solo of one of my favorite Sonic 2 tracks. Good job!

[RDX]

One of the best things to be posted on the front page in awhile. Really nice.

[MechaFone]

I'm enjoying this very much, very airy and light and creative. Excellent work!

[Jewbei]

wow Will you really surprised me on this one :D keep it up man i see a very promising future for you.

[Joshua Morse]

Loving this, WillRock. The atmosphere is a wonderful compliment to the original.

[Liontamer]

Has someone been uploading stuff too early in the morning? This mix is being identified as from Sonic 3, just a heads up.
Anyway, I'm enjoying this very much, very airy and light and creative. Excellent work!

Will claimed there was some Sonic 3 "Angel Island Zone" in there. He can clarify what if anything he used from it, i.e. "I had a brainfart, and based on that you should never trust what I say again" OR "I used it as backing at X:YZ."

[WillRock]

Will claimed there was some Sonic 3 "Angel Island Zone" in there. He can clarify what if anything he used from it, i.e. "I had a brainfart, and based on that you should never trust what I say again" OR "I used it as backing at X:YZ."

I lied to you all. There is no angel island zone. I decided i'd tell you there was to screw with your minds and destroy your brains.

ok seriously, there is a bit of confusion so in that case i'll clarify. It is kinda short lived/liberal/crap but whatever.

Basically, 0:04-0:24 is the intro to angel island zone. I guess its a little hard to find the connection but its there, That was originally what I had for the mix for about 6 months, and it was going to be a full angel island zone mix, I was never going to do a ending theme for sonic 2. However, when I came back to it, it was kinda asking for the ending theme.

So yes, angel island is in there, but just the intro of the source, in the intro of the remix ;)

Also, i'm surprised no one has picked up on the richard marx accidental reference in there (I didn't realise it was there at first until someone else pointed it out to me. Oh how the human brain works)

[PROTO·DOME]

Well done man, this piece is proof that you are a varied musician with a craptonne of styles and genres up your sleeves.

[DragnBreth]

Awesome. Simply awesome.

[halc]

oh man, it gives me the chills when the melody kicks in for the first time. this is a very emotional and nostalgic mix. great work, man. :D

[Holy Land]

Man, this is so warm-sounding.

I think it's fantastic that you're aiming for different styles and moods with your pieces. Please, keep 'em coming.

[Pyrohazard]

I LOVE IT! It was so amazing I ate it XD, and now I got butterflies in my stomach >.>

But I do believe there was another mix called "Above the Sky" by Sir Nuts (I would know, I have it). It was included in the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 album. I was just noticing that XD

[WesternZypher]

Great work, Mr. Rock! Look forward to hearing more.

[Proven Paradox]

This is a pleasant little track, but I don't think I'll be putting it on my playlist for further listening. It had me going around 1:15 when it started building into something that I thought I would really enjoy, but then it just petered out at 1:45. Then suddenly at 2:00 it's going again. Then it's tired out at 2:30 again. In general this piece kind of jerks me around; the tempo switches are sudden and the transition seems clunky.

It's a good piece and well executed, but the composition could be better I think. Leading into the transitions a little more would be a major improvement, I think.

[BlackPanther]

You can play the piano too?! Sequenced or recorded, doesn't matter this is beautiful man loves =D.

[WillRock]

You can play the piano too?! Sequenced or recorded, doesn't matter this is beautiful man loves =D.

I do actually play the piano, altho I don't have to means to record myself playing live. I also doubt I could play something like this, i'm a little rusty :P
Thanks for the reviews guys, its great reading them :D

[Level 99]

Just gorgeous. Really, that's what this is. Proto did a nice job of humanizing the MIDI, and while it doesn't sound 100% authentic, it does sound incredibly close. The piano's are also clear and emotive. Great take on the source, it's definitely moving.

[Capt. Stupidity]

Beautiful piece! The piano sample sounds really authentic. I think this is the first remix I have heard of Will's where he doesn't use any synths. Great work!

[darthjc]

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the OCRemix community,

I have never posted before on this great site and have long enjoyed the marvelous work done by all the composers and arrangers featured here. You have contributed to the evolving canon of game music and I want to take this chance to offer my humble thanks to not only the composer of this wonderful piece, but all VGRemix composers.

"Above the Sky"

This is, I feel, a perfect piece of interpretive music arranging. Taken from the credits music from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, this remix has everything I hoped I would find when I first saw this site a few years ago. With intuitive harmonic freedom and flexibility combined with a respectful observance of the original theme, the balance between old and new is sublime. Thank you uploader, I aspire to compose music like this one day, and my inspiration level has officially leveled up!

Johnny

[Martin Penwald]

Beautiful and warm piece with loads of variation.

Nice work, man. Digging it.

[Bahamut]

Wait what, a piano only song by WillRock??

On a more serious note, this is a nice quaint & lighthearted piano song.

[WillRock]

Wait what, a piano only song by WillRock??

Oh yeah, i'm no one trick pony ya' know :P

[Crulex]

WillRock rocks the solo-piano, and it's impressive. The quality sounds amazing and the whole ReMix is beautiful. I've noticed that Sonic songs seem to really lend themselves well to emotional solo-piano mixes and this is a great example. Great job.