ReMix: Xenogears 'Pilot the Yggdrasil'
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- Game: Xenogears (Square, 1998, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Jared Hudson
- Composer(s): Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Wings'
- Posted: 2002-08-24, evaluated by djpretzel
Have you always wanted to pilot the Yggdrasil, but have never gotten around to it? Felt unsure about your abilities, or the danger involved? Now all your Yggdrasil-piloting dreams can be fulfilled, simply by listening to this inspirartional, upbeat orchestral ReMix courtesy Jared Hudson. This is one of Jared's earlier pieces that he submitted a little close to a couple others such that it's coming up now. Beginning with heavenly harp glissandos, choir, bell, flute and pianos, things pick up quickly with a cymbal roll into an upbeat syncopated pizzicato section that gains momentum as strings build and an orchestral snare comes in. At 1'11" the first big "umph" hits with a cymbal crash, church bells, and brass fully establishing the melody with a series of swells. The rest of the piece follows the lead of this specific section, with tasteful addition/subtraction work. Ending kills the drums and pizzicato for a nice piano+strings conclusion, also bringing back the harp glissandos for that "full circle" feel. I especially enjoyed this piece because it felt more celebratory and epic, rather than a darker, more dramatic tone, and communicated well a feeling of awe and motion. Though older, this holds its own with Jared's other, more recent pieces, and is not to be missed. Recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Truly epic. If/when I build my own airship and go careening through
the skies, I will definitely play this piece nonstop over the
intercom and drive my crew/passengers completely insane.
It will be awesome.
- Lucentas on December 6, 2008
It will be awesome.
- Lucentas on December 6, 2008
Super intense Orchestral work here, the shifting textures are
fantastic and very inspirational. Though I think the piano was
mixed quite a bit louder than it normally would have been in a
traditional orchestral setting, the choice was a good one, as it
lent a lot more power to certain passages.
There were a lot of well thought out chord changes from the original which were all tasteful and colorful, and though this has a lot of power and emotion in it, I agree with CasualT that some full orchestra crecendos would really give it the final boost it needed.
Stellar work though, this track deserves the attention it got back in the day.
- OA on July 23, 2007
There were a lot of well thought out chord changes from the original which were all tasteful and colorful, and though this has a lot of power and emotion in it, I agree with CasualT that some full orchestra crecendos would really give it the final boost it needed.
Stellar work though, this track deserves the attention it got back in the day.
- OA on July 23, 2007
This is a very nice piece of work capturing a lot of the essence of
the original. At least what I remember of the original from many
years ago :wink:
While it's very good overall, it was definitely missing something, and I think it was Kaijin who pointed out the lack of much of a dynamic range. I like what you do with the cymbals, but I really wanted that trumpet to simply become overcome with emotion and just belt out the melody.
I definitely got the Metal Gear May Cry vibe as well, mentioned by GustaveNiGHTS. Some of the arpeggios were identical to the point where I could tell he was trying to vary them. Listen to the piano in MGMC around 4:05 and this track at 1:50. Didn't help that many of the instruments were the same as those used in Jared's previous hit. Although I'm only half-complaining as I'd love to get some more MGS2/DMC action from Jared!
The intro for the first minute or so was a great appetizer as well. Love the harp :D
- CasualT on August 25, 2004
While it's very good overall, it was definitely missing something, and I think it was Kaijin who pointed out the lack of much of a dynamic range. I like what you do with the cymbals, but I really wanted that trumpet to simply become overcome with emotion and just belt out the melody.
I definitely got the Metal Gear May Cry vibe as well, mentioned by GustaveNiGHTS. Some of the arpeggios were identical to the point where I could tell he was trying to vary them. Listen to the piano in MGMC around 4:05 and this track at 1:50. Didn't help that many of the instruments were the same as those used in Jared's previous hit. Although I'm only half-complaining as I'd love to get some more MGS2/DMC action from Jared!
The intro for the first minute or so was a great appetizer as well. Love the harp :D
- CasualT on August 25, 2004
very beautiful mix. i love the intro and the main body, but the
thing that i don't like is the ending. and that last note,
(shudders). it doesn't sound right, or maybe there's a note
missing. a higher note that goes with it. but it is a very
beautiful mix
- Subz1987 on March 14, 2004
- Subz1987 on March 14, 2004
My god this is good....beautiful and uplifting... I love all the
orchestration.... the pizzicato violin, the bells, the snare, the
chorus.... hehe, even that shaker....amazing. I love this remix.
Jared is an amazingly talented person! :D
- kirbenvost on February 2, 2004
- kirbenvost on February 2, 2004
Bravo to Mr. Hudson! Listening to this was the most fun I've had in
a long time.
First off, I adored the pizzacato violin (which is quickly becoming my favorite sound on earth). I love the way the orchestra builds into the beautiful theatrical-quality theme. I can't say I've ever heard the original piece, but after hearing this, I'm very curious just how much of this is Jared's.
The entire thing makes me vividly think "flying." And I mean vivid to the point of feeling the wind whip past me. I like flying.
I guess it's needless to say that this song will definitely lift one's spirits. It's a real "spread your wings and soar" piece that'll make even the worst day not-so-bad.
Mr. Hudson, consider me a fan.
:)!! Musical Brilliance Award :)!!
- rebirth9283 on April 21, 2003
First off, I adored the pizzacato violin (which is quickly becoming my favorite sound on earth). I love the way the orchestra builds into the beautiful theatrical-quality theme. I can't say I've ever heard the original piece, but after hearing this, I'm very curious just how much of this is Jared's.
The entire thing makes me vividly think "flying." And I mean vivid to the point of feeling the wind whip past me. I like flying.
I guess it's needless to say that this song will definitely lift one's spirits. It's a real "spread your wings and soar" piece that'll make even the worst day not-so-bad.
Mr. Hudson, consider me a fan.
:)!! Musical Brilliance Award :)!!
- rebirth9283 on April 21, 2003
Another great remix. You can't put music like this in the game, or
I'll be stuck circling in my ship forever, while evil destroys the
world. :) I love the bubbly effect of the harp at the beginning and
the end.
- hakamanakus on February 7, 2003
- hakamanakus on February 7, 2003
This is simply an amazing arrangement of this piece- "Wings".
Throughout the song, I instantly noticed the 'Victory' feel as
people describe it. This song is arranged and performed as a
closure to me. It may be me, but I was somewhat reminiscent of
Uematsu in it's arrangement (as an ending theme). But maybe it's
just me. Great work man. :P [/img]
- Narvick on December 7, 2002
- Narvick on December 7, 2002
All i've got to say is Jared, great work AGAIN, and don't listen to
dumbass hippocrites like this who think they are big time industry
professionals.
REALITY CHECK KAIJIN
Wake up buddy! Come on! Wake up!
I personally don't care about your discography, as most people don't.
Jared does excellent work for his setup, and I am very impressed that he can run circles around you in musical quality even though you seem to consider yourself elite.
- danny B on November 8, 2002
REALITY CHECK KAIJIN
Wake up buddy! Come on! Wake up!
I personally don't care about your discography, as most people don't.
Jared does excellent work for his setup, and I am very impressed that he can run circles around you in musical quality even though you seem to consider yourself elite.
- danny B on November 8, 2002
Well, it looks like we both made our points, but notice how I said
"ABOUT" all your remixes are ballads, and I HAVEN'T HEARD YOUR
ORIGINALS. That was the key point. Anyways, I'VE made my point. :D
- Jared Hudson on November 8, 2002
- Jared Hudson on November 8, 2002
fxscreamer wrote: I haven't heard any of your original music, but I do know about all your songs are ballads on OCR. Would you think that's hypocritical? I'm not trying to be an asshole, but I just want to let you know. I'll give you credit on the piano and drums.
All my works on OCR are ballads? Sorry, you're mistaken bro.
Radical dreamers was not a ballad, it falls more under new age pop.
Bloody Hell was obviously Hard Rock.
Reel Big Mario was obviously Ska.
To Far Away Times (featured on the commerical release SquareDance) was obviously electronica.
and the only song there that really feautred someone elses work would probably be bloody hell cause even after I had arranged a purely rock version of the song, Ailsean took it to the next level (without butchering what I had already done).
Though admittingly the rest that are actually posted on OC follow a ballad-esque trend, they're merely remixes. My original work covers far more styles than even those. My live works that I've been performing with my band even branch into acoustic alternative rock, punk, metal and many more. Anyways, I think I've made my point.
- kaijin on November 8, 2002
Kaijin,
As I DO respect your opinion, I'm kind of surprised to hear that I need to go into other genres. That's all I've been TRYING to do the last year. I have rock pieces, techno, piano pieces, gothic, slow orchestrals (hardly any percussion), epic ones, pop, latin songs, polkas, musak (smooth jazz), and now currently.....jazz, ACTUAL jazz with REAL trumpet solos, and more piano stuff. If you don't call that expanding into other genres, then I don't know what the hell is. I understand some of what you said, some of those genres aren't posted as of right now. They're just sitting on my hardrive.
I haven't heard any of your original music, but I do know about all your songs are ballads on OCR. Would you think that's hypocritical? I'm not trying to be an asshole, but I just want to let you know. I'll give you credit on the piano and drums. I unfortunately went on a song binge at the time of this song and made Pilot in one day. The snare wasn't accented enough (I'm a percussionist), and I do guess the piano could get monotonous after about 6 tunes. Well, that about raps up my reply. Thanks for reviewing and glad you found it somewhat decent.
Jared Hudson
P.S. I know what sound I need to go for (gigasounds, will BUY someday), it's just I have nothing. (free soundfonts, SBlive, program from the time of Windows 3.1, NO keyboard).
- Jared Hudson on November 5, 2002
As I DO respect your opinion, I'm kind of surprised to hear that I need to go into other genres. That's all I've been TRYING to do the last year. I have rock pieces, techno, piano pieces, gothic, slow orchestrals (hardly any percussion), epic ones, pop, latin songs, polkas, musak (smooth jazz), and now currently.....jazz, ACTUAL jazz with REAL trumpet solos, and more piano stuff. If you don't call that expanding into other genres, then I don't know what the hell is. I understand some of what you said, some of those genres aren't posted as of right now. They're just sitting on my hardrive.
I haven't heard any of your original music, but I do know about all your songs are ballads on OCR. Would you think that's hypocritical? I'm not trying to be an asshole, but I just want to let you know. I'll give you credit on the piano and drums. I unfortunately went on a song binge at the time of this song and made Pilot in one day. The snare wasn't accented enough (I'm a percussionist), and I do guess the piano could get monotonous after about 6 tunes. Well, that about raps up my reply. Thanks for reviewing and glad you found it somewhat decent.
Jared Hudson
P.S. I know what sound I need to go for (gigasounds, will BUY someday), it's just I have nothing. (free soundfonts, SBlive, program from the time of Windows 3.1, NO keyboard).
- Jared Hudson on November 5, 2002
Remember what happened when SquareSoft tried to do a fighting game?
It was terrible, that's what happened. Jared has found his idiom in
this orchestral style. I'm not saying that if he tried to branch
out, he'd crash and burn, but if he's good at orchestral, then he's
going to produce orchestral. And this is still one of my favorite
mixes from OverClocked. If he tried anything else, I don't doubt
that it'll have the same quality and overall technical proficiency
as his other pieces.
P.S. I liked the percussion... it was tactfully in the background, and was there more to be sensed than heard. It gave the whole piece a sense of motion, which rounded out the image of flight.
- Old Omen on November 5, 2002
P.S. I liked the percussion... it was tactfully in the background, and was there more to be sensed than heard. It gave the whole piece a sense of motion, which rounded out the image of flight.
- Old Omen on November 5, 2002
GustaveNiGHTS wrote: Maybe it's just me, but I heard a *lot* of Metal Gear May Cry in this mix. At some points I worried it was going to change into that song! I must admit though that it is a very enjoybale mix.
Not to rag on Jared's works or anything because they all tend to stand out of the crowd that frequents this "scene" if I dare call it one, but this, to me, sounds like more of the same from him. Jared is very good at arranging songs to fit a Mitsuda-esque atmosphere. But I want to see him really expand into other genres, if he can do that. Sure, you'll probably point me to his little "hardcore" prelude cheese or something but that's not showing a real understanding of how to arrange in various styles. I think Jared has the potential to grow and simply hasn't taken the initative needed to do so. Now I suppose you'll ask if I've heard any of his original work. Yes, I have and it's quite mediocre for the industry standards (which, not surprisingly, is much higher than any of the crap we all do.) but still quite decent. Dispite the obvious shotty string parts and light brass work used to try and create a full sound, this arrangement in particular is still very nice. I like that trumpet patch he used... infact I think I might have it laying around here somewhere. The snare needs some more dynamics. Sure, it's a good sample, but the slight (if any) change in dynamics causes it to lack intrest (which apparently is driven by variations in pattern alone). The piano he used sounds like the same one used in most of his works, which, for the everyday listener, probably wouldn't bother you too much. However, I'm a pianist and it's starting to get to me. Not that you shouldn't use it anymore or anything, it's still a decent patch. Other than that, it's a fairly decent arrangement and I'm happy that it's gained a small cult following (or so it seems).
-Kai-
Ps. You do realize that if you keep mixing things with Harry Gregson-Williams style percussion lines, that people will grow tired. It doesn't hurt to add variety.
- kaijin on November 5, 2002
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