ReMix: Super Mario Bros. '8-bit Eighties'
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- Game: Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo, 1985, NES)
- ReMixer(s): injury
- Composer(s): Koji Kondo
- Song(s): 'Underground BGM'
- Posted: 2001-09-18, evaluated by djpretzel
Starla gets a little goofy in this hardcore-80's ReMix of SMB . . . remember the days of glam rock hair, sunglasses at night, when Michael Jackson was human and Madonna wore hundreds of multi-colored bracelets on one arm? Them were the days. Hey, at least the 80's were conspicuous! People are gonna look back on the 90's with blank stares, whereas the 80's has a million icons and cheesy memorabilia. But about the mix . . . it's actually musically viable, with some good thick synth and a groovy beat, but the killer is starla's 80's-style "talking vocals" ala the B-52s or any number of uber-camp synth-pop outfits. If you're allergic to polyester, Gary Numan, or Neon stay away, but for a little "decade of ME" bliss, step into the parlor. It's radical.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the This is one of those mixes where if certain elements of it were
done really well, it wouldn't be half as good. The fact that
everything (except the arrangement) is just a little bit shit is
actually quite charming and often introspective in a way.
Can we view the lyrics as an almost illiterate schoolgirl's infatuation with a videogame character, or is it more a satire on the degredation of youth and society in the face of technological change and virtual escapism? I like the latter perspective.
While I think the vocals are nothing special, it sounds like that is in most part due to how far back they were, and also because this isn't a regular singing piece. injury has a much better showcase of her vocal talents in other mixes.
The arrangement on a very known, very simple theme was really well handled, surprisingly well handled in light of the lack of effort to be wholly serious in other aspects of the mix. But like I said, the camp value of this is worth more to me if it tried to be better than it could have been. It's an interesting ride through Madonna-esque territory.
- Marmiduke on August 29, 2009
Can we view the lyrics as an almost illiterate schoolgirl's infatuation with a videogame character, or is it more a satire on the degredation of youth and society in the face of technological change and virtual escapism? I like the latter perspective.
While I think the vocals are nothing special, it sounds like that is in most part due to how far back they were, and also because this isn't a regular singing piece. injury has a much better showcase of her vocal talents in other mixes.
The arrangement on a very known, very simple theme was really well handled, surprisingly well handled in light of the lack of effort to be wholly serious in other aspects of the mix. But like I said, the camp value of this is worth more to me if it tried to be better than it could have been. It's an interesting ride through Madonna-esque territory.
- Marmiduke on August 29, 2009
Another mix discovered thanks to the "missing lyrics" thread, hehe.
I'm enjoying this a lot. I find those vocals *great*. Very well
used effects on them. They're a bit too buried in the mix. I think
overall the mixing is lacking - the sounds don't mesh and sound
mostly "straight from the can", and especially the bass instruments
sound "all over the place". It's not too bad, just quite
unpolished.
Many of the sound choices are pretty good in themselves, the harsh snare percussion for instance (a bit too harsh on the ears), and the 80s keyboard that first comes in at 00:08. I also like the figure that it plays. Other arranging is good as well, and supports the chosen genre/style well. I'm not sure if the structure/pacing is the best, it's a bit on the long side for instance.
Also, this piece reminds me of Yellow Magic Orchestra, which is always a plus! Even with it's flaws It's a keeper.
--Eino
- evktalo on January 10, 2009
Many of the sound choices are pretty good in themselves, the harsh snare percussion for instance (a bit too harsh on the ears), and the 80s keyboard that first comes in at 00:08. I also like the figure that it plays. Other arranging is good as well, and supports the chosen genre/style well. I'm not sure if the structure/pacing is the best, it's a bit on the long side for instance.
Also, this piece reminds me of Yellow Magic Orchestra, which is always a plus! Even with it's flaws It's a keeper.
--Eino
- evktalo on January 10, 2009
Way to go retro Mario! haha, i got such good laugh outta this mix,
a wave of 80's-ness just rushed into my head, and ya know what? it
felt damn good.
Every aspect of the mix just kept bringin back 80s cheese, right down to that common synthesized sound that when u hear while watchin a movie...u don't even need to guess when it was made...
Great mix, does what it sets out to do, and the title/track can't get anymore appropriate then that!
- Streets of Rage bum on August 22, 2008
Every aspect of the mix just kept bringin back 80s cheese, right down to that common synthesized sound that when u hear while watchin a movie...u don't even need to guess when it was made...
Great mix, does what it sets out to do, and the title/track can't get anymore appropriate then that!
- Streets of Rage bum on August 22, 2008
"He's such a gentleman" :<
Hilarious lyrics and a pretty accurate arrangement, the only part that didn't strike me as being true to the 80's was the double-time section, but it worked with the song. I really liked the 1-1 snippets as counterpoint, nice touch.
I thought the vocals were a little too far back in the mix in some areas, and too prominent in others, but the effects applied were sufficiently 80's for me.
Not something i'd listen to frequently, but it was super enthusiastic and cheeky, and it made me smile. :-)
- OA on January 11, 2008
Hilarious lyrics and a pretty accurate arrangement, the only part that didn't strike me as being true to the 80's was the double-time section, but it worked with the song. I really liked the 1-1 snippets as counterpoint, nice touch.
I thought the vocals were a little too far back in the mix in some areas, and too prominent in others, but the effects applied were sufficiently 80's for me.
Not something i'd listen to frequently, but it was super enthusiastic and cheeky, and it made me smile. :-)
- OA on January 11, 2008
This is well done. I'm not too sure if I'm too fond of the talking,
but it's catchy and brings back the old school feel. On that note,
I think I'll listen to it more and I'll come to apprecite the 80s
more, haha. (Never was too fond of that period...)
- lady zelda on March 3, 2006
- lady zelda on March 3, 2006
lol, when i first heard this, i thought of big hair and 80s synths.
then when i heard Starla talk i was like, wow... lol, she has that
cute voice, but it makes a big impact in a song. u cant take ur
mind off it. at least for me. it really brought me back to the
sounds of the 80s pop. lol, hilarious but also a great song.
- djheartbreak831 on March 2, 2006
- djheartbreak831 on March 2, 2006
I too found this hilarious. Its a very nice remix and it truely
captures the essence of 80's music. (Although the good of this is
debatable)
Great song, its worth checking out.
- zdude255 on June 26, 2004
Great song, its worth checking out.
- zdude255 on June 26, 2004
Definitely a nice mix, and probably my favourite variation on the
underground theme. A very bass-biased piece which had me bopping my
head... The only things I find bothersome about it are the
super-echoey female audio clips, and a fairly abrupt ending.
8.7/10.
- MonkeyHead79 on January 20, 2004
- MonkeyHead79 on January 20, 2004
I like the general idea of this song, but the bass was too much. It
was a god job at a theme that lots of people try. One of the
betters of this theme. Good job!
- nodspaw51 on December 19, 2003
- nodspaw51 on December 19, 2003
I couldn't help it. I started cracking up and laughing when I heard
the vocals. SO 80's like. And when I heard "Mario, Mario, you're so
fine ..." I busted out laughing.
The normal beat, though. That sounds right from Ghettoblasters for the commodore 64. One of the songs you blast in the game. Soooo familiar. It's interesting to guess where some sound affects/beats come from. I wonder ....
- kittyanya on December 11, 2003
The normal beat, though. That sounds right from Ghettoblasters for the commodore 64. One of the songs you blast in the game. Soooo familiar. It's interesting to guess where some sound affects/beats come from. I wonder ....
- kittyanya on December 11, 2003
Hahaha.
Well, what can be said? It's an eighties mix of the Underground theme.
That's right, bad synths and all!
This remix would just be another one in the pile if it weren't for the funny and amusing vocals of a girl sort of singing-talking about how much she likes Mario.
It won't blow you away, but the vocals make it worth your time to listen to. And the fact that it's eighties style, which, although not that great for synths (IMO), it still has some sort of charm that can't be ignored.
- Jean Of mArc on August 7, 2003
Well, what can be said? It's an eighties mix of the Underground theme.
That's right, bad synths and all!
This remix would just be another one in the pile if it weren't for the funny and amusing vocals of a girl sort of singing-talking about how much she likes Mario.
It won't blow you away, but the vocals make it worth your time to listen to. And the fact that it's eighties style, which, although not that great for synths (IMO), it still has some sort of charm that can't be ignored.
- Jean Of mArc on August 7, 2003
Ugh. Everyone's applauding a song I don't enjoy at all. Though you
could argue the lyrics make this original and different, then I
guess I'm not that interested in originality after all. The lyrics
quickly lose their novelty and I usually lose interest before the
song is over, you know with the incredibly annoying melody BLARING
in the background. Wait, did I just call a classic video game tune
"incredibly annoying"??? AHHHH KILL ME :evil: 2/8
- PassivePretentiousness on February 24, 2003
- PassivePretentiousness on February 24, 2003
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