ReMix: Super Mario Kart 'Rainbow Rain'
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- Game: Super Mario Kart (Nintendo, 1992, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): vail
- Composer(s): Koji Kondo, Soyo Oka
- Song(s): 'Rainbow Road'
- Posted: 2002-08-03, evaluated by djpretzel
vail's initial offering was a nice Tempest 2000 ReMix, our first Jaguar submission, which took the high-energy original and aimed for a more hollow, ambient sound. By most estimates, it succeeded in that goal, but Nate's trying something vastly different with this Super Mario Kart ReMix of 'Rainbow Road'. Now, Mazedude gave us some very outlandish experimental jazz coverage of this very track a while back, and while its flexibility and wild meandering made me question his sanity a bit ^^, I for one enjoyed it. vail's take certainly isn't as risky or perhaps as daring, but it does change things around a bit and may be a tad more accessible for some. Nate writes:
"it starts out with a final fantasy type of arpeggio thing, but it tries to slow down to a more groovy version of this badass song. Anyhow, my email is vail@wsu.edu, and i'm kinda drunk right now, soh opefully this email makes some sense."
Sounds like me on a Friday night :) Indeed, it made enough sense to me, and if Nate was inebriated during the compostion of the mix as well as his email, it doesn't show. Though the volume is mixed kinda low, this is a nice laid back pop mix with, as vail indicates, Nobuo-esque arpeggios, as well as some nice drums and a liquid smooth midrange analog lead at 0'43" that blends very well. I think in the end Nate could have explored this idea a bit more - some trip-hop angles on the drums, slightly more agressive mixing, etc., but nevertheless it's very smooth, flows coherently, and is another jazzy and unique take on the theme. Despite my feeling that more could have been done, what's here is very atmospheric & quality, and comes recommended.
Discussion: Latest 14 comments/reviews; view the This was one of the first batch of mixes that I ever downloaded
from the site - years before getting invovled or even signing up
for the forums. With such a strong yet unique source, it's
sometimes difficult to come up with an effective approach to a
remix. So with that in mind, the downtempo relaxed feel is probably
the right call here.
While sound design might not be anything special today, this was quite solid for an '02 mix. I still enjoy listening to this.
Everyone talks about getting nostalgia hearing mixes from childhood gaming. If there is a such thing as OCR nostalgia, this would be it for me.
- Nutritious on December 8, 2011
While sound design might not be anything special today, this was quite solid for an '02 mix. I still enjoy listening to this.
Everyone talks about getting nostalgia hearing mixes from childhood gaming. If there is a such thing as OCR nostalgia, this would be it for me.
- Nutritious on December 8, 2011
I can't say that I love the crashes especially in the latter parts
of this piece, but for the most part, I love it. Very smooth synth
work and I think it does what any good ambient groove should: slow
you down, make your mind wander (ah those were the days), and put
you in a trance. The leads shouldn't get in the way, and they don't
they definitely compliment the whole composition. The crashes just
bring me out of it at times; a bit too harsh. Also, I agree that it
could've been mixed a bit more aggressively, and that the bassline
could be more pronounced, but this piece sounds great over monitors
and crappy two-way desktop speakers. So that speaks for
itself. Nice work!
- Wix on January 8, 2010
- Wix on January 8, 2010
Dafydd;489134 wrote: Yeah, this is pretty... dull. And pretty.
I would agree with this. While I can respect a mellowly slowed down piece for atmospheric purposes, this literally feels mutedly dulled, like it was dipped in sepia tone or something, and it just really downs the whole mix.
This one just isn't clicking with me; where I'm expecting something vibrant, I'm getting shades of gray.
- 42 on December 27, 2009
I remember this mix...it didn't really grab me back then, and it
still doesn't. All I see here is the original melody generally just
slowed down with a little more complexity to give it the imagery of
rain.
- Bahamut on September 30, 2009
- Bahamut on September 30, 2009
Yeah, this is pretty... dull. And pretty. Could definitely use some
more bass, that could have given it a much more cinematic feeling.
The bassline is great, it just needs to be stronger and drier. The
delayed oboe feels a little too fake for my taste. The arrangement
is really nice but being as laid back as it is it's not very
exciting to listen to.
- Dafydd on December 23, 2008
- Dafydd on December 23, 2008
Nothing really stands out for this. Overall it seems a bit quiet.
Nice laid-back feeling. I was convinced this was a FF mix at first,
kinda weird to have the Prelude arpeggio at first.
Nothing particularly wrong with it, but just not a real attention getter.
- DragonAvenger on September 26, 2008
Nothing particularly wrong with it, but just not a real attention getter.
- DragonAvenger on September 26, 2008
This is a quite relaxing remix. It creates a very soothing
atmosphere that goes on for three and a half minutes without
forcing the listener to pay too much attention to it. Nice
background music, or, as some of the earlier posters mentioned, a
good credit-roll track.
However, the low end sounds a bit weak to me, and the ending is rather abrupt. I'd rather prefer an ending where all the instruments fade out on after the other, until only the main melody remains.
- Martin Penwald on January 12, 2007
However, the low end sounds a bit weak to me, and the ending is rather abrupt. I'd rather prefer an ending where all the instruments fade out on after the other, until only the main melody remains.
- Martin Penwald on January 12, 2007
This isn't bad. Nothing in this mix really jumps out at me, but, I
geuss for the style of the song, nothing [i]should[/i] jump out at
me. That being said, I still like the style of this.
All in all this isn't one of my favorite mixes, but it's still pretty good.
- about:blank on December 31, 2006
All in all this isn't one of my favorite mixes, but it's still pretty good.
- about:blank on December 31, 2006
Total victory lap music! Nice and laid back, it evokes the memories
of a hard won race, with the future ahead. The synths are well
used, and everything is clean. I actually prefer this mix to the
original quite a bit. The mood you've created is great, though
there are a few very minor production issues. The repeated crash
cymbals need a bit of variation, and sometimes the strings are a
bit bright. Otherwise, a fantastic mix.
- OA on December 29, 2006
- OA on December 29, 2006
Wow. I'm frankly amazed about the mellowness of the Mario Kart
remix at hand. Because i was expecting to hear something upbeat and
technolike. But this ..this is sooo sweet and cool, I can't stop it
playing.
Also good use of instruments ,and excellent timing in the track.
Thumbs Up !
- RimFrost the Tourianist on August 17, 2005
Also good use of instruments ,and excellent timing in the track.
Thumbs Up !
- RimFrost the Tourianist on August 17, 2005
This sounds like something one would hear at the end of the game
while the credits roll across the background of the rainbow track
as Mario drives a final lap holding th e checkered flag.
No, that's not a run-on, and neither is it disparaging. It's good in its own merit, and has its place. Well thought of, but the engineering has too much treble, lending a rather tinny sound.
- Blue_Drac on August 16, 2005
No, that's not a run-on, and neither is it disparaging. It's good in its own merit, and has its place. Well thought of, but the engineering has too much treble, lending a rather tinny sound.
- Blue_Drac on August 16, 2005
this song is getting too much bad rap..time to give it
PRAISE!
this song was great..sure its not top notch, but its better than that other remix of it, which i couldnt even tell it was like the actual song!
but this..this is great shit..you can pick up the beat..and it has some sorta..ambient touch..(thats not bad..thats great!)
improvements needed...none..its hella good, i dont see why this gets turned down
outta 10 id give it 9.5 cuz this is probably one of my fave songs off the soundtrack and he captivates it..now if u guys wanna make a better song..go ahead...i wanna hear it..
- Stranger on August 6, 2002
this song was great..sure its not top notch, but its better than that other remix of it, which i couldnt even tell it was like the actual song!
but this..this is great shit..you can pick up the beat..and it has some sorta..ambient touch..(thats not bad..thats great!)
improvements needed...none..its hella good, i dont see why this gets turned down
outta 10 id give it 9.5 cuz this is probably one of my fave songs off the soundtrack and he captivates it..now if u guys wanna make a better song..go ahead...i wanna hear it..
- Stranger on August 6, 2002
This is a nice slow, steady groove, if you like that sort of thing.
It could be because I've still got the sugar-high of Mazedude's
funky remix of this song in my head, but I can't say this one does
much for me. Can't fault the production values, though.
- Nate on August 5, 2002
- Nate on August 5, 2002
Wow. Two Mariokart remixes with a couple of weeks from each
other... and of the same stage. It's like those Guardian Legend
remixes from a while back. Anyway, this mix doesn't appeal to me
personally, but that's because I always had a different idea of how
it was "supposed" to sound. But it's a good interpretation
nonetheless, and a nice try, if nothing else. The Rainbow Road
theme is full of 9ths, 7ths and chordal inversions up the wazoo,
not to mention major-minor combinations and an assortment of other
various jazz chords. So I really didn't expect as many right chords
and notes as I heard here. It's a tricky original, and I'd say that
the remix here was prepared very maturely. I think at times the
song sounded a bit to raw, like there were absolutely no effects
put on it, but this is just a personal preference, and overall it's
not a bad listen. Eventually I'd like to hear a version of this
song that didn't lull me to sleep, seeing as the course was always
stressful for me to play and far from sleep-inducing.
DC
- Disco Dan on August 4, 2002
DC
- Disco Dan on August 4, 2002
