ReMix: Mega Man 2 'Teardrinker'
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- Game: Mega Man 2 (Capcom, 1988, NES)
- ReMixer(s): The Wingless
- Composer(s): Manami Matsumae, Takashi Tateishi
- Song(s): 'Bubble Man Stage'
- Posted: 2002-09-24, evaluated by the judges
Hot on the heels (well, on the OCR timeline at least) of his last ReMix, The Wingless gives us a very liberal interpretation of Bubbleman that I'd probably describe as hybrid electro-acoustic instrumental - drums are VERY much secondary to the chimelike piano arpeggio, NES-chiptune melody, harp, and orchestral strings and timpani, and the arranging emphasis is on playing quite a bit with chord progression and the overall evolution of the piece. There are some intervals that do border on atonal - Orkybash writes:
Though I usually like stuff The Wingless does, I gotta say that this took a couple listens to appreciate. There's a lot of notes that seem to clash, but somehow it works. or maybe I'm just tired. At any rate, I'm liking it now - it's something different, it's definitely *very* interesting, and it grows on you. And personally, I think one of the signs of a really good piece of music is it's deep enough that it has room to grow after several listens.
. . . and I'd tend to concur with that conclusion: not gonna be everyone's cup of tea, a little on the "avant-garde" side of chromatic relationships, but decidedly interesting and obviously something that is sonically on the level and involved planning and juxtaposition. With the wrong instruments and mixing, this is the type of arrangement that would die a thousand, slow, horrible deaths. Thankfully, The Wingless makes it work, and the results are certainly worth investigating for the curious. Also, a good example of how an oft-ReMixed tune can truly still go into unexpected territory.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the I just have to say - first post, btw - that I love this ReMix. I'd
say it's one of the most visionary on the site; cinematic, even. It
takes what it is a rather bubbly tune and draws its dark
undercurrent to the fore. I interpret this mix as something like
Bubble Man's slow descent into mania, or a haunting look into his
demented mind - it oozes creepy psychosis. In that respect, it
reminds me of modern treatments of comic book villains like Mr.
Freeze or the Joker, transforming a cartoony villain into a serious
psychopath. That's what I hear in this, anyway. I love the
transition at 1:05 and then again at 1:15, where a cheery chip tune
section clashes with the cold, spacious strings, juxtaposing these
two aspects of the villain (a similar trick occurs at 1:54ish and
then 2:12). Great work, really chilling stuff; you got a download
and a lot of listens from me.
- MC Final Sigma on November 17, 2012
- MC Final Sigma on November 17, 2012
This song started playing off my playlist, and I know I had been
listening to it for a long time, but I didn't really remember how
long. Looks like I had originally downloaded it on 9/27/2002.
I probably could have figured it was that old since the album tag is "http://remix.overclocked.org/," but I digress.
This is a great song that I have had on various playlists of mine since I downloaded it almost nine years ago.
- orlouge82 on June 3, 2011
I probably could have figured it was that old since the album tag is "http://remix.overclocked.org/," but I digress.
This is a great song that I have had on various playlists of mine since I downloaded it almost nine years ago.
- orlouge82 on June 3, 2011
It's easy to tell that 'The Wingless' has put a lot of time into
this one. There are melodies and counter-melodies dancing all over
the frequency and stereo spectrum. 1:36 things really start to come
together here. By 3:00 things start to get extra dissonant and we
get that signature 'Wingless Key Modulation.' At 3:30 we get some
haunting strings that lead up to the pseudo-climax: a fadeout harp
and square. Not what you'd expect from the source, but I find it
quite refreshing.
- SubNormal J3 on March 20, 2011
- SubNormal J3 on March 20, 2011
I used to not like this mix, now I enjoy it a lot. It's a very
strange combination of, like, what sounds like could have been this
relatively straightforward pseudo-cheesy relaxing type orchestral
piece with avant-garde weirdness. But then there's a strange
chiptune that seems almost half-assedly thrown in. It's hard to
describe, but layering of all the different parts is harmonically
very wacky and also sort of delayed in places, making stuff clash
in new and interesting ways. It sort of brings things out of the
original that you didn't think would be there in the first place.
I've listened to a bunch of other mixes by Wingless and none of
them ever hit me like this one did. It's definitely something that
was original and it's sad that more people don't try to attempt
things like this.
- ella guro on March 16, 2010
- ella guro on March 16, 2010
interesting juxtaposition of the source and the new sections here;
I think for the most part the arrangement worked, though it got a
little crazy harmonically near the end. I think some adjustments
could have tightened up that section a little bit more. Also, some
of the sounds were a bit lofi for my tastes, and the mixing of the
higher quality sounds with the 8 bit bloops wasn't as seamless as
it could have been.
Still a great source and a pretty good arrangement, so check it out and decide for your self!
- OA on December 4, 2009
Still a great source and a pretty good arrangement, so check it out and decide for your self!
- OA on December 4, 2009
[LEFT]Out of all of the Bubbleman stage OC'd, I'd have to say hands
down to this one. It makes it completly complex, simple to listen,
classical and old school. I have no idea how I missed looking at
the list of this sound track but I am as happy as a cat finding
this. :nicework:
A + must listen ...:shock:[/LEFT]
- ChaosPlayer on September 25, 2009
A + must listen ...:shock:[/LEFT]
- ChaosPlayer on September 25, 2009
This is a pretty interesting mix because it adequately represents
the original melody is a fresh way WHILST STILL tampering and
adding additional layers beneath that. So this to me sounds like a
finished mix which has then had a string backing applied much later
in production. Not that that is my assumption, that's just how it
sounded to me. The result is something that I wouldn't describe as
dissonant, but perhaps an against-the-grain harmony that I don't
entirely dislike. Whereas the piece would otherwise be a solid but
slightly bland take on Bubbleman, it most definately benefits from
a new persona with its sombre, unpredictable backing tones.
Unmistakably Wingless, which equates to top notch mixing.
- Marmiduke on March 19, 2009
Unmistakably Wingless, which equates to top notch mixing.
- Marmiduke on March 19, 2009
This mix seems vaguely Castlevania-like, and the piano is
good. It's great how it just compliments and melds with the 8 bit
sounds.
Looking through some of the older posts, I can understand and sympathize with their sentiments, but I don't really like the ending. It sounds like the dial tone after one has been cut off on the phone which is like :???:
But this is still an Incredible mix and worth listening too.
- 42 on January 17, 2009
Looking through some of the older posts, I can understand and sympathize with their sentiments, but I don't really like the ending. It sounds like the dial tone after one has been cut off on the phone which is like :???:
But this is still an Incredible mix and worth listening too.
- 42 on January 17, 2009
Man, that piano is awesome. I did recognize it somehow, and when i
saw that `The Wingless´ made this one, I ran to the remixes from
Secret of Mana and looked at Aphrodite Oceanus and the one that had
remixed it. Much indeed, it was Wingless. This kind of piano is
characteristic.
And for this song, I can understand why many felt like this was like two songs played at the same time, but I found it brilliant. The music of Bubbleman's stage is made of several different tunes, Wingless just simply brought them out into the light much more, and although it sometimes it felt that the tunes didn´t connect, it still feel that this is a great arrangement, best bubbleman remix so far.
Awesome Wingless.
- Bummerdude on November 20, 2005
And for this song, I can understand why many felt like this was like two songs played at the same time, but I found it brilliant. The music of Bubbleman's stage is made of several different tunes, Wingless just simply brought them out into the light much more, and although it sometimes it felt that the tunes didn´t connect, it still feel that this is a great arrangement, best bubbleman remix so far.
Awesome Wingless.
- Bummerdude on November 20, 2005
It's no secret that I like The Wingless, but this ranks near the
top of my favorite songs from him. Admittedly it took some time
before I appreciated it, but once I got into it this song really
took off for me.
Using the original NES music as a base is something not many remixes have and may people tend to shy away from listening. Yes, I admit, 8-bit music isn't the best stuff to listen to, but he-of-no-wings manages to splice the 8-bit music with synth pianos and a drumbeat like no one else on this site does.
On a specific note, throwing the 8-bit beeps that come it at 0:08 and last for a good part of the song between the right and left channels was a great idea.
It takes skill to work with 8-bit beeps and buzzes, yet somehow The Wingless pulls it off absolutely beautifully. Great job and great music.
Note: Admittedly, though, if you go rocking out to this in anywhere but private you will get strange looks. 8-bit tunes and sounds don't exactly recieve a warm welcome in most people's hearts. Video game players only, I guess.
-Dust
- AboveTheDust on February 18, 2005
Using the original NES music as a base is something not many remixes have and may people tend to shy away from listening. Yes, I admit, 8-bit music isn't the best stuff to listen to, but he-of-no-wings manages to splice the 8-bit music with synth pianos and a drumbeat like no one else on this site does.
On a specific note, throwing the 8-bit beeps that come it at 0:08 and last for a good part of the song between the right and left channels was a great idea.
It takes skill to work with 8-bit beeps and buzzes, yet somehow The Wingless pulls it off absolutely beautifully. Great job and great music.
Note: Admittedly, though, if you go rocking out to this in anywhere but private you will get strange looks. 8-bit tunes and sounds don't exactly recieve a warm welcome in most people's hearts. Video game players only, I guess.
-Dust
- AboveTheDust on February 18, 2005
Even after a few listens this mix is still so mysterious.. whether
it's the underlying fluttery piano in Wingless style or if it's
just the arrangement itself, I felt something beautiful stir from
beneath the warbles and fuzzes of the synth, almost like
discovering swet pineapple beneath its coarse and spiny surface. It
really is a piece you have to listen to closely and form an overall
picture to appreciate, I believe. Great stuff.
- Dr. Wily on December 7, 2004
- Dr. Wily on December 7, 2004
veddy veddy nice
its hard to find good megaman songs outa the huge list. this is definatly one of those good songs!
- jordex on November 5, 2004
its hard to find good megaman songs outa the huge list. this is definatly one of those good songs!
- jordex on November 5, 2004
It's very disonant, and that wasn't what you should've been going
for with this mix. I don't know man, could've been much better.
Nice ideas, even a nice final mood, but I'm with everyone else
here... it's kind of like listening to two songs at once, nice if
it's abstract art music... bad if it's wingless. :( I like all your
other stuff though.
- Less Ashamed Of Self on August 4, 2004
- Less Ashamed Of Self on August 4, 2004
Pff.. I like it a lot. Definitely an excellent song, just not my
cup of tea. I like his 'Secret of Mana' remix more.
- Synchrone on January 25, 2004
- Synchrone on January 25, 2004
Let me first congratulate The Wingless: he actually came up with a
remix that left me with no idea what to say about it.
To the people who called it overcrowded or disorganized or some variation of those terms: I half agree. There's a lot going on in this piece. If I didn't know better, I'd say The Wingless couldn't decide which cool ideas to implement or to leave out... so he threw 'em all in. I have to say, though, that while the piece is crowded, it sounds good.
To the bassaholics out there: Stuff it. This is good stuff even without a driving bassline. You want that, listen to AE.
One thing I have to bring up: the keychanges. They sound incredible. A bit weird, but in a good way.
Actually, that sums up this entire piece: weird, but in a good way.
And that's about all I can say about this one.
- rebirth9283 on September 30, 2003
To the people who called it overcrowded or disorganized or some variation of those terms: I half agree. There's a lot going on in this piece. If I didn't know better, I'd say The Wingless couldn't decide which cool ideas to implement or to leave out... so he threw 'em all in. I have to say, though, that while the piece is crowded, it sounds good.
To the bassaholics out there: Stuff it. This is good stuff even without a driving bassline. You want that, listen to AE.
One thing I have to bring up: the keychanges. They sound incredible. A bit weird, but in a good way.
Actually, that sums up this entire piece: weird, but in a good way.
And that's about all I can say about this one.
- rebirth9283 on September 30, 2003
