ReMix: Secret of Mana 'Stomp the Summer Sky'

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Man - Ziwtra continues to impress and with this Secret of Mana ReMix takes a new, bubblier style out for a test drive and passes with flying colors. I think most everyone will dig this one quite a bit. yh writes: ". . . chalk one up for the peppy, poppy, boppy tunes. Stomp, clap, snap, or whatever it is you do, to this tune. And wear a grin for the rest of the day." - and that's an order, soldier. This is basically pop with an aweswome bit of funk in the form of a slap bass guitar brought in, and it plays off really well. Introing with unprocessed xylo and pizzicato, the arrangement gradually builds with the addition of some great organ riffage stage right and a flute on melody being the key players. But there's backing pads, well-used percussion as well as some rhythmic synth fx, piano, and bells. At 1'58" when our beloved slap bass makes its entrance, I think you'll appreciate just how well-constructed this ReMix is, with so many well done elements that contribute to a polished, musical, and just plain fun and upbeat whole. If you haven't listened to Ziwtra's work yet, this should convince you that there's definitely something here. Highly recommended.

djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
This has to be one of my favourite SoM mixes. It's so merry and bright and cute and just so completely emphasises everything fantastic about the original. Brilliant! ^_^ I'd hug it if I could. :3 And considering how much it comes up in my playlist, I think that thought a lot. Watch out for hugs. X3

- Fun on September 30, 2012
Haha, very cute intro here :). Any malice I had towards the midi sounding instruments in the opening section disappears the moment the flute and drums came in. Wonderfully chipper and upbeat. Creates this feeling of nostalgia, not necessarily for the game, but rather reminds me of a younger age. The lead synths continue to carry the song from one part to another while the drums drive it. Love the slap bass; wish it had a little bit more low end, but thats MINOR! Even though the arrangement is simple with also a few instruments being played at one time, the soundscape is lush and well polished! My favorite mix of Youngjin's so far!

- tweex on August 27, 2010
I don't think every new chord here totally clicked in a perfect manner, but it was still quite listenable- awesome percussion, and the slap bass was really fun. Creative rhythms, good panning, and clean production make this good. Not my favorite of Ziwtra's, but certainly had some great moments.

- OA on November 27, 2009
Excellent remix you have made good sir. l really would recommend it.

- metalsnakejuice on May 25, 2009
I think the title here is a bit of a misnomer; truthfully I was expecting something a little different, but after listening to it, I can't complain. :-)
This has some vaguely tropical notions/vibe going on, which I personally wish were more expounded on, but still what's been given is awesome.
This mix has 'go and get an ice cream cone on a warm spring day' written all over it. If I had to pick one word to describe
this mix, I'd say "carefree."
Great work. :nicework:
myf, three years ago;106234 wrote: Seeing as how those comments were made more than 3 years ago

Just some irony to be appreciated. :<

- 42 on February 10, 2009
sirusd wrote: You all really need to get off Ziwtra's back.

Seeing as how those comments were made more than 3 years ago, I think they did. :D

- Navi on April 17, 2006
You all really need to get off Ziwtra's back. The changes or so called "errors" in the song do not detract from the piece as a whole. Putting too much emphasis on "perfection" is a limiting factor in this sort of remixing.
Afterall, these are really rearrangements. You shouldn't come here expecting to hear the exact same song from the game. And as for this one, there's nothing wrong with it and it happens to be one of my more favored pieces from OCR.

- sirusd on April 17, 2006
Hoo-boy, this will be hard to describe. Alright, here goes. I could really feel the poppish and merry go round feel in this one, I've listened to it sometimes now, but I'm sure that I was smiling when I first heard it, it still has that effect.
But then about the chords, it does go up too much at some places, and the sound on some of the samples might be annoying. However, I don't think Ziwtra should change this. The result can surely be better if you use some more high-quality chords and all that kind of mix-stuff, but if you remove the funky and close to SNES-ish sound samples from this remix, it will lose it's charm.
The prescense of the comical, rough and funky samples are the reason why this mix is funny to listem to. Take it away and this would be cool, but not necessarily not as much fun. Put the issues aside and forget about quality, this is one of the most happiest and poppish remixes this site has.
Psycrow wrote: HAPPY JOY YAY WHEEEEEEEEEEEE :D :D :D

THAT'S THE SPIRIT LADDY!! :mrgreen:

- Bummerdude on April 17, 2006
It's a very nice track, fun and light. Definately worth a listen.
BTW, Mustin, I don't know how much theory you know, but just because the chord progression or the intervals aren't part of the major scale or one of it's modes doesn't make it "wrong." Listen to some jazz. Even better, listen to some really avant-garde jazz. There's a whole lot of theory behind that, and they use some really out-there stuff.
Now, if you hold degrees in music and everything I have said is completely wrong, accept my apology now.

- synthetic_realities on July 24, 2005
Wow, this is definately different from standard Zwitra. Unlike most of Zwitra's work, the intro is quickly done and pushed aside. Rather, the song focuses on a very peaceful melody that gives the idea of a nice sunny day in suburbia.

- [blunai] on June 20, 2005
Isn't it great when guys who you expect to be techno only mixers throw you a complete curve? Much like Rayza and his Sonic and Knuckles mix this one catches ya off gaurd. It's a great mix. It was a bit too up beat for me at 1st but the mix finds a nice groove to settle into. And the funk bass solo. My god what a stroke of brilliance!I turn the volume up every time it comes on. Really excellent stuff. How does he do it?

- Pip is uh..... on March 11, 2005
Very clean sounding mix. Very Squaresoft-ish. I love it when remixers change a tune around but keep it sounding as if it could have come straight from the original composer. The 1:30+ section really grabs your attention. And we could not give enough praise to the slap bass, which I must say sounds just like a real Warwick bass to me. I've been fooled, I can't tell if it is fake or real!

- MrNemo on August 23, 2004
A nice departure from the original tune , this one funkier 8) Good Work with the mixing 8O

- RimFrost the Tourianist on July 28, 2004
I LOVE THIS!!!!!!
It's sooo good, it made me change my SN to 'STOMP THE SUMMER SKY!!!' just to get people curious. . .and when they asked, I shared the love (and the song 8) )
-Rawnblade

- Rawnblade on April 27, 2003
If anyone thinks that music theory is about what kind of music is right or wrong, then that person doesn't know much theory.
Heh, judging from the reviews I was prepared to hear some sort of polytonal piece- but nothing of the sort. This is a very fun, upbeat and extremely well-sequenced...god that slap bass is incredible...piece.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed more of your work, I've enjoyed your mixes for quite some time now. Keep up the good work.

- Israfel on April 15, 2003