ReMix: Final Fantasy IV 'GroundUp'

What can I say, this is just a great, solid mix that really gets me dancing like a maniac, much to the chagrin of anyone who happens to be in the same room, car, or county.

- Lucentas on July 22, 2009

A pretty straightforward arrangement, but very listen able and some nice synth choices. The gated synth and the pads give a very nice foundation, and I think the lead being slightly pushed back was a interesting choice that worked out pretty well.
One issue I do have with the mix is the clap layered on the snare is fricking loud and it repeatedly pierces my liver with it's burning hot sharp pain thing. Seriously, FFdj, WTF? I need my liver intact, thanks. :-(
That said, this is a solid if unambitious performer, with an excellent source selection. I'd have preferred it to take a few additional risks, but just the fact that it played it safe doesn't make me want to dance any less.

- OA on January 23, 2008

Can everybody stop all this chit-chat about techno or not? Qonas may have some point, an orchestral mix would surely release this track´s true and majestic form, plus I like orchestral too, but a techno is not a bad thing either. This site was made to give gamemusic a better or DIFFERENT look, besides are techno good at giving calm themes a liitle more spice so it gets alot more funky to listen to. We all got our tastes, we shall not complain about others, instead focusing on having your own style.
With that put aside, I really did enjoyed this mix, the techno groove gave this track a whole new outfit, those synths and beats are quite good. FFMDJ still kept the origibnal melody and let it do its calm race at the back, together with the rest this mix isn´t a thrashing trance hit, but more of a mix perfect to chill too.
FF music Dj, keep on fighting. Your obviously good at it. 8)

- Bummerdude on October 4, 2005

Kai's right. Just 'cuz it's techno doesn't make it terrible. I actually think that techno does it PERFECT justice, Qonas. After all, it isn't that rock bullcrap. (Sorry, couldn't resist!) Now, this guy had some pretty meager source material, and he made it sound pretty tanj good. It IS pretty repetitive, but it does loop perfectly, and so makes great background music for a party.

- SixthFlyingMan on September 7, 2004

I am SICK of people whining about techno, if you have a problem with the genre, then don't mislead others by writing a review in blind ignorance of a song that you have judged by something that it sounds like. You must let the song stand upon it's own merits. in this songs case it is an excellent representitive of the techno remix, it's not another song with no changes but a enhanced baseline, the song has been changed in most aspects, except for the melody. It exemplifies what OCRemix is about. once again, I must beg DJPretzel to overlook it's size, and let FFMusicDJ's remix of Falling Star stand on its merits.

- DragonFireKai on July 20, 2004

go to hell qonas
techno/trance is the way of the future
this song is god
i especially love how the kick sounds more rubbery... err... or bouncey, then a regular haroon kick, i think it gives the drums a more jumpy quick feeling, which carries the song along very kootley

- Siamey on October 29, 2003

This piece is not [i]simplistic[/i] techno per se, but one step above. The arrangement is good, as is the use of synths and percussion without drowning out the main melody. It's a solid remix, but the fact that it is basically less than two minutes (the identical repeat doesn't count) doesn't help it stand out in the crowd.

- zircon on July 14, 2003

Despite the fact that Qonus's words were unnessesarily simplistic, not to mention rude, I feel obligated to say a few words in his defense simply because I can relate to his frustration. There have been way too many times when I excitedly downloaded a song, only to be disapointed to find out it was another bad techno remix. Not to say that there are no good techno remixes on OCR, on the contrary, if you know where to look there are very many... However, I think everyone's been there and knows the disapointment I'm talking about. Every genre has its weaker ones, but the techno/electronica genre seems to be notorious for it. For every good one there's atleast 2 or 3 bad ones.
My point in saying this is not to just bash a genre I don't like. I allready stated my high opinion of certain works in the genre. I just wish that:
1) More artists would branch out into different styles of music and try new things instead of sticking to the same old tried/true techno formula.
2) DJPretzel and other reviewers would not be so diplomatic and over-enthusiastic in there comments. Granted, there's no need to be criticize everything, and I think it's great that they love music so much they can find something good about almost any remix, but I think they could be more forthcoming when a peice not be horrible, but may not necessarily stick out above the rest.
It would be stupid to say "people who make techno mixes should stop doing bad ones". However, if remixers were more aware of how easy it is to fall into a rut on a techno mix, it would probably help them to avoid it through either looking for ways to break the mold of the genre, or trying out a different style. I don't think the policy of "it doesn't have any gaping flaws, therefore it's great!" helps.
Anyway, sorry to go off on a rant, it's just something that's been on my mind for a while.
And also, I want to make it clear that I didn't go on the preceeding rant because this particular mix, Ground Up, was one of those "notorious bad techno remixes". I hadn't even heard it before I wrote the preceeding paragraps. I just wanted to comment on some of the preceeding posts. After listening to it, it's not bad at all, however, techno is not my favorite genre, and I've been a bit jaded by the professional performances of the song on the japanese arrange albums like FF4: Celtic Moon. Furthermore, the song is among my favorites of the game, and FF4 is my favorite game in the series, so I have particularly rough standards for the song. If I have to pick favorites, I like Silent's Totorian Love song much better, even though the lyrics put it in a completely different category. Still, I don't want to discourage anybody. I sure couldn't do it, I have my opinions, but I'm no musician.
Oh yeah, and about "sterotyping"... Electronic music is a genre with very blurred lines, especially at Overclocked Remix. As far as I'm concerned, any song that you can immitate by rapidly going "oom-tss! oom-tss! oom-tss!" with your mouth fits under the "techno" blanket term for all practical purposes.

- Gnam on July 11, 2003

Please don't bash a remix due to genre, it's very unnerving to music enthusiasts, especially those who do enjoy electronica (by saying techno, that's stereotyping). Stating your preference fine, but your post belongs more on the Request forum.
Anyway, I might as well give my own review. Personally, I thought this remix was repetitive. I know Mr. Piracha has improved much over the course of time, one only has to look at his more recent remixes, but strictly speaking, I would've preferred the melody having a more driving role in the song, maybe a less muffed-sounding synth. Also, I didn't like the beginnings and ends of the song too much, they kinda took out interest for the remix. Third, there is the other instrument synths, they are pretty annoying. And finally, it could've probably been longer and been packed with a lot more.

- Bahamut on April 29, 2003

Would someone please remake this amazing song into a sound that does it JUSTICE, like rock? Or orchestral? None of this techno bullcrap.

- Qonas on April 29, 2003

I've always been a fan of that lonely-yet-encouraging FFIV overworld theme. This mix makes it sound at least 100% better. It's a pretty sound, with the melody being played by a cool wind instrument-thing (Pardon my newbiosity). I agree with the others. If they ever remake FF!V in 3D, this should be the overworld tune.

- Domukaz on March 8, 2003

This remix is one of my favorite FF remixes...it just pulls me back to the endless days I spent playing this game! The thing is, I never realized how great the overworld music really was until I hear this remix of it! :)

- tranceblue7 on September 15, 2002

One of my favorite ff mixes, energetic without being annoying, it just pulls you along. This is how the original should have sounded.

- ellipsis on August 17, 2002

The Final Fantasy battle theme has always been my favorite piece of game music. This mix, I think is the best I've heard away from the Nintendo. . . actually, best ever.

- bulletproofpossom on August 12, 2002

Final Fantasy 4 'Ground Up'
One thing I must mention about his mix, not that it has any bearing on the remixer’s skill, but with the new Winamp 2.80 Crossfading DriectSound Support it loops perfectly. Not that you people care, because I’m sure most people don’t listen to 1 of these songs twice, but it just sounded cool when I heard it loop. Other then that, all I can say is it’s your run of the mill techno song, nothing too special, but I can’t find anything wrong with it either. It is defiantly good for an easy listen, and maybe even a repeat listen. Come on, I know you want to.

- Ginnsu on May 22, 2002