ReMix: Shenmue 'Come to Bob's Pizza'

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"Come to Bob's piiiiizaa!"

Dale North gives us some very quirky, creative, and musical mixage of a nature you wouldn't expect from Shenmue. Well, unless you played it and specifically remember Bob's Pizza and the brief music associated with it. Dale's taken what little was there and expanded on it with a piece that's largely original but plays off the theme and even features custom English replacements for the Japanese vocals. Dale didn't know exactly what they were saying, so he went with a jazzy-white-guy-chorus doing "Come to Bob's Pizza" that's very kitsch and fits in well. Otherwise the piece is a brief foray into what I would actually classify as good smooth jazz. Electric piano is overpowering, heavy on the tine, and uber-heavy on the stereo tremolo, beats are good and gradually develop through layering, and there's even some string stabs and a crystal clear monoglide lead that come in as well. We don't have much if any music on the site that sounds like this - it's quirky, it's unique, it covers music that (in all likelihood) only Dale would cover, and though it's the only piece from Mr. North I've heard in the genre, it shows a pretty deep understanding of the common ingredients and construction. Take a break from the electronica and orchestral a bit, relax, put together a nice vodka Red Bull (assuming you're of legal age and have the affinity - see also Johnnie Walker), and chill to the flow. Of course, given the length, you may want to loop it a few times, and don't be surprised if afterwards you've got the sudden craving for a large pizza with double extra cheese. A recommended respite.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
One of my favorite memories from shortly after I began following OCR. Once in a while, while driving around town I'll begin singing this to myself out of the blue.

- docnano on January 4, 2011
I love quirky mixes like this. A perfectly played-straight cheezy mix.

- WesternZypher on December 25, 2010
It's been three years since I last commented here, but I think this remix calls for a second vote. The ingenuity, the creativity, and even the sound samples stand the test of time (I know it hasn't been that long). Major kudos on this too-short gem.

- MechaFone on December 19, 2010
Awesome Bob's Pizzeria commercial. It's one of those things you can't get out of your head, until you catch yourself pointlessly muttering the words for no good reason and suddenly all you can think of is getting a slice of pizza to silence the maddening jingle circling around and around inside your skull! It's marketing 101.
Musically, the source is pretty basic, and this mix doesn't stretch it to any new bounds at all. The faux-jazz, lounge pop direction suits it pretty well, but I think most of the legs are in the back end of the piece. The beginning is a flood of low tones, overwhelming on my headphones (but I'm sure is less of a problem on speakers) and threw me off slightly. But by the end, and with the vocals as an especially nice touch, things resolve decently and the I think the intended sound of the mix is achieved. It has distinction, and is wisely brief.
A small, fun track from a master of versatility and family restaurant plugging.

- Marmiduke on March 13, 2010
I get a huge smile on my face whenever I hear the first few notes of this song.

- TheHoboMan on January 11, 2010
Ashamedly I must admit that despite being an avid Shenmue fan, when I was looking through the list of remixed Shenmue tracks, 'Bob's Pizzeria' and it's tune didn't immediately spring to my mind. So I downloaded the track to have a listen and see if I could remember which piece of music it was.

And then it all came flooding back to me! :D

This track is lovely, capturing the ambience perfectly and makes for great easy listening music. While not one of my favourite OCR tracks, it makes for very pleasant listening :D

- _heartilly_ on June 6, 2009
oh man this brings back memories, very nostalgic for me, cause this was one of those track i would constantly loop for hours when i was in jhs. has that 90's feel haha for me that is. the piano and the bells go well together sounds like a christmas theme. i could definitely see myself chilling to this mix while gazing out onto the stars.

man they don't make mixes like these anymore, very special 9 out of 10, man i being completely bias xD

- Ascendancy on March 17, 2009
I have loved this mix from afar for too long.
It is time that I express my love in the time-honored tradition of writing a review. In this case, maybe I'll have pizza for lunch as well. :P
Great soundscape, the panning tremelo is a bit much on headphones, but sounds lovely on speakers. The instruments used are pretty classic Dale North, who shares my affinity with early-mid 90's pop, but adds a few surprises, most notably his excellent singing voice. The lyrics silly of course, but it adds some personality to an otherwise brief mix. The synth that comes in at the end is also great.
Overall this is a fun and classic mix. Check it out if you haven't already. :-)

- OA on March 16, 2009
This song was brilliant. I never did get very far in Shenmue, I didn't even leave the first town, heh. So, I've no idea if I heard that little diddy in the game. But goodness gracious, this little creation was so well done, and I love that 'Come to Bob's Pizza!' bit at the end. I hadn't heard it before, but I laughed so hard when I heard it. Brilliant.

- MechaFone on December 3, 2007
hahahaha "Come to Bob's Pizza". That is so classic sir

- ChloroPhil on December 13, 2006
I used to play this game JUST to hear this song!! You'd ALWAYS know where MY Ryu Hazuki was a 7pm ;p. And Remixed SO well!! In the traditional Dale North style in that the soul of the song is... well you could say, untouched. But it's also MAGNIFIED. DALE IS THE MAN!!
BTW the voice is out of the game... Though I always thought it was 'Thatsa' good pizza' but... Maybe Dale changed it, but he did a HELLA' good impression.

- Knowname on March 6, 2006
If you listen to this song with headphones on, it makes your head sway involuntarily...whoa... :O

- ghaleon on January 24, 2005
*laughs* I like it. I don't really know why... I just do.
EDIT: Wait... that voice is YOU, Dale? *laughs again* Very nice way to plug your own voice.

- Jered Cain on October 2, 2004
lol that was great :D

- PotatoeCS on January 24, 2004
This remix is probably better than the original which was alright, but for which I didn't care. Shenmue had some great music.

- DarkWolf on July 11, 2003