ReMix: Final Fantasy VIII 'Eyes on Me (Obsession)'
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- Game: Final Fantasy VIII (Square, 1999, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Children of the Monkey Machine, Dani
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Shiro Hamaguchi
- Song(s): 'Eyes On Me'
- Posted: 2001-04-09, evaluated by djpretzel
This is really cool. CotMM has paired up with Dani, an #ocremix (IRC channel) participant to create what is just an amazing concept piece. I never would have thought of this, and I mean that in a good way. Basically, this ReMix turns 'Eyes On Me' inside out and treats it as if it really were about deep obsession, including a completely warped (REALLY warped) monologue that is just insane, just insane. It's whack, it's just whack. And what about the music? Good stuff, with - again - INSANE DSP; sounds like a Wah / Distort or VCF with very specific band limiting (doesn't affect the drums) run through a well-timed gate. This is just something I never would have expected. Innovative textures and wild effects alone make this worth listening to; the idea itself defines the word original. I heartily suggest you explore - don't expect anything you're used to!
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the You can throw me on the "I liked it" pile. I've always kept an
extra-open mind when it comes to CotMM, because I know it most
certainly does not pay off to tackle some of his material with
heavy expectations. That being said, the accessibility here isn't
as strained as some of his other works.
It plays like a haunting eulogy in the shadow of the original and that alone is bound to not be everyone's ideal listening experience, but I think it's the vocals that must be throwing a lot of people off. Admittedly, the first time I heard them I thought they were a very hard sell and didn't think they belonged. They have grown on me after a few runthroughs, but they aren't quite right and fail to convey the amount that they could have. You could say they sound creepy because of it, but I think it's just that they are askew to the mix's design.
It's adequate sombre stuff, and both a successful and imperfect experiment with monologue. It deserves props for being different at the very least. I really didn't mind this at all.
- Marmiduke on March 15, 2010
It plays like a haunting eulogy in the shadow of the original and that alone is bound to not be everyone's ideal listening experience, but I think it's the vocals that must be throwing a lot of people off. Admittedly, the first time I heard them I thought they were a very hard sell and didn't think they belonged. They have grown on me after a few runthroughs, but they aren't quite right and fail to convey the amount that they could have. You could say they sound creepy because of it, but I think it's just that they are askew to the mix's design.
It's adequate sombre stuff, and both a successful and imperfect experiment with monologue. It deserves props for being different at the very least. I really didn't mind this at all.
- Marmiduke on March 15, 2010
This track is one of the most incredible things I've heard on OCR.
FF8 is my favorite PS game, so I don't take its remixes lightly.
Rather than trying to "improve" on the OSV, you did something
completely different, which is rare, and it worked, which is much
rarer!!
One criticism I have is that the middle part is probably a bit too complicated, which distracts from the excellent rendering of the lyrics. Maybe if there was a bit less echo, and if she sounded more distant... The piano accompaniment at that point is perfect; couldn't have been done better.
The, "oh god, you're still smiling!" was an insightful addition and just about made me fall out of my chair. Good work, you made my day.
- monkeyshines on May 20, 2009
One criticism I have is that the middle part is probably a bit too complicated, which distracts from the excellent rendering of the lyrics. Maybe if there was a bit less echo, and if she sounded more distant... The piano accompaniment at that point is perfect; couldn't have been done better.
The, "oh god, you're still smiling!" was an insightful addition and just about made me fall out of my chair. Good work, you made my day.
- monkeyshines on May 20, 2009
Tepid;296841 wrote: I believe someone here is suffering from the 'imajerkus' disease.
Actually, I think the biggest problem is people don't look at it objectively. This piece is an experimental piece from what I've seen. It's not supposed to be like the original. At all. Amazing how upset people can get, whatever happened to creative license?
Anyway, I think the biggest problem I have with it, is that it's rather difficult to understand Dani's vocals with the sound set at a low volume. I suppose it's supposed to be played louder than that, but I'd rather not blow out my eardrums. XD
Aside from that, I really enjoyed the twisted new take on one this, I liked the original, but I'm not so much of a purist as to hate seeing someone playing around with it. Also, I could never figure who was supposed to be the stalker; the vocalist, or the guy she's talking about.
- ZiriO on August 30, 2007
Thin Crust;280861 wrote: I can't stand this mix. Absolutely the worst thing I have ever heard. First off, song lyrics are not supposed to be spoken in monotone. It just doesn't work. Secondly, it was a monotone within a song, which count's as double points against it.
Maybe you should look up words before using them for a change.
- Dhsu on July 5, 2007
This mix blows my mind. Seriously. Blows my mind! I love it! I
can't believe it's taken me this long to download it. Thanks for a
great song!
- Cyanide cr MK on July 5, 2007
- Cyanide cr MK on July 5, 2007
I can't stand this mix. Absolutely the worst thing I have ever
heard. First off, song lyrics are not supposed to be spoken in
monotone. It just doesn't work. Secondly, it was a monotone within
a song, which count's as double points against it. I first listened
to it months ago and now I am reviewing it with the song(?) playing
in the background and I just turned it off because it just sucked
so bad. This does not reflect obsession, it creates a terrible mess
of thoughts inside one's head and the like of which shouldn't even
be accompined with music in the first plece. Also, it wasn't creepy
at all. It was just annoying and did a terrible job of trying to be
destrubing if that was the intention. The music was even
disgraceful, and relied way to heavily on reverb that was overdone
and created an even bigger mess. I can find no saving grace
anywhere in this song. It is just a mess of crappy sounds thrown in
a blender and half mixed at low speed.
- Thin Crust on June 8, 2007
- Thin Crust on June 8, 2007
I must admit i dont like this mix. But its a love it or hate it
kind of thing
The problem here is you are trying to top A. One hell of a song with one beautiful voice. B. One of the best scenes in FF VIII that quite frankly begins to pull everything into focus. It was no coincidence the song was used there. But i wont go into spoiler info. It was a good attempt i suppose but its never been nor will be my cup of tea.
- Hyperion5182 on June 8, 2007
The problem here is you are trying to top A. One hell of a song with one beautiful voice. B. One of the best scenes in FF VIII that quite frankly begins to pull everything into focus. It was no coincidence the song was used there. But i wont go into spoiler info. It was a good attempt i suppose but its never been nor will be my cup of tea.
- Hyperion5182 on June 8, 2007
Zenth Relin;45505 wrote: Lyrics:
http://www.ffspirit.net/ff/8/eyesonmelyrics
Not exact, but it'll really help piece it together. (Google is your friend, BTW. ;) )
Escuse me, I really dont find the lyric, could you tell me where did you find it?
- d4bdn_one on June 8, 2007
This is by far one of my favorite CotMM remixes. The monologue
makes me shiver everytime I hear it. It's just so emotional, the
entire song conveys the feeling of obsession and stalking. It's
just brilliant on every level. I love the choice of sounds too.
That lead synth, it kind of sounds bubbly, but distorted,
definitely something that took a lot of time to craft. (not a 3x3
Osc preset in flstudio) The whole song, is just haunting, whenever
this plays, I just stop everything I'm doing, absorbed into the
song, it's just amazing, through and through one of the best
remixes on the site, and I know I say that about a lot of the
remixes on the site, but this is just brilliant. 12/10
- about:blank on October 28, 2005
- about:blank on October 28, 2005
CotMM has always done some sort of weird remixes, but this GOTTA
take the price. It sure is Eyes on Me, and that´s what really
freaks me out. I will check the lyrics for this one, or more like
the conversation of that girl.
This mix gives off some sort of depressive feeling, like someone´s life got destroyed by drugs or something. But still, very individual for taking such a task trying to give this track the total opposite of the original.
Good work.
- Bummerdude on October 27, 2005
This mix gives off some sort of depressive feeling, like someone´s life got destroyed by drugs or something. But still, very individual for taking such a task trying to give this track the total opposite of the original.
Good work.
- Bummerdude on October 27, 2005
This song reminds me of something dreamlike, sort of strange; at
the very beginning, there's a sort of uncomfortable tension, where
therafter it slips into some sort of unconscious feeling, like
fainting, and the rest is just some sort of delusional trail of
thought.
The monologue adds to the same feeling, with some sort of psychosis, some kind of stressing, torcherous, continuous thoughts, kind of driving the speaker into the sort of confused, lost, delusion. The accent sounded a bit southern, but still, pretty genuine.
I enjoyed listening to the song, even if it was a bit strange, kind of unfamiliar at first.
And the ending is pretty nice, a very different feeling in comparison to the rest.
Hmm. I hope that makes sense.
- tabular on September 11, 2005
The monologue adds to the same feeling, with some sort of psychosis, some kind of stressing, torcherous, continuous thoughts, kind of driving the speaker into the sort of confused, lost, delusion. The accent sounded a bit southern, but still, pretty genuine.
I enjoyed listening to the song, even if it was a bit strange, kind of unfamiliar at first.
And the ending is pretty nice, a very different feeling in comparison to the rest.
Hmm. I hope that makes sense.
- tabular on September 11, 2005
