ReMix: Super Mario Kart 'Rainbow Rain'

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Super Mario Kart

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.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 11 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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

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