ReMix: Wolfenstein 3D 'Nazi Requiem'
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- Game: Wolfenstein 3D (id, 1992, DOS)
- ReMixer(s): Mazedude
- Composer(s): Bobby Prince
- Song(s): 'Wondering About My Loved Ones'
- Posted: 2003-04-17, evaluated by djpretzel
Mazedude has been very prolific these last several months, and we've had a hard time keeping up with him. His latest piece is a semi-electronic march that mixes orchestral percussion and classical instrumentation with assorted electro-fx percussion, similar but not as hyper and not quite as varied and intricate as his previous, FF7 ReMix. This is, however, our first ReMix from the landmark id title Wolfenstein 3D, and features appropriately disturbing samples of Hitler (or as Eddie Izzard calls him: "that mass-murdering f--k-head") that give the piece a menace. Some might say an objectionable one, depending on who you are and where you hail from, but it's definitely not used here in any sort of glorification or admiration, but to put the piece in the context of the material and add a greater sense of realism. I think it works, but it may rub some the wrong way. Referencing that this piece was in response to a listener request, Chris writes: "a part of the request for it was to maintain a level of sadness, given the general nature of war and what-not." Musically, this does a lot with the source, has some nice tempo manipulations, and the overall orchestral arrangement works well over the semi-industrial percussion bed. It's not my favorite Mazedude ReMix - some of the extended upper brass holds for durations that expose a synthetic, flat tonality at times, but the moving french horns and string arpeggios and interaction between the rolling, military orchestral snare and electronics both work very well. This is the type of arrangement that, because of many moving parts and held notes, would test greatly the quality of any sample library on the planet, so bare that in mind as well - not that the sounds used are sub-par in the slightest. Chris maintains his own high standards and gives us our first ReMix from a benchmark title that paved the way for many more like it. Recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the This song is very strong in portraying an image that is very powerful. It digs deep into your soul and forces you to remember the past and the images of war and power struggles. The dark theme helps to pull images from the game itself and also from our the history as it brings this piece to a vivid imagination that ties it to death and horror. The strength that this remix puts forth is what makes it a masterpiece, a wonderful piece of artwork in the realm of music.
Great work Mazedude!
- Loning on June 1, 2009
As for my thoughts on the music, I actually enjoy it quite a lot. The emotion that a lot of people have discussed totally missed me, I have to say. I didn't feel much of anything. Maybe it's because I'm cold and bitter, or maybe because the thought of taking Wolfenstein seriously is laughable. It's just like trying to write a touching drama fanfiction based around the characters of 'According to Jim'. No matter how much talent is there, what's already been established remains imprinted. Also, the music seems just a little too upbeat and full to be considered heart-crushing or tearjerking.
That's not to say I don't like this. I really like it. I just like it for different reasons. It's a dark remix, but it's also slightly fun. Much like Wolfenstein itself. Just like in Wolfenstein, we believe Hitler himself could be behind every corner, down every corridor. But maybe, just maybe, he's in a mech. Tongue in cheek stuff like that is what Wolfenstein is all about, and there are traces of it here.
As for the clips themselves, I can't give a valid opinion on them. For a university project two years ago, I was given the task of cutting together a piece of music out of the Hitler speech in this mix and Korobeiniki (better known as the extended Tetris theme). I listened to the speech hundreds of time, and I'm sad to say I'm completely desensitized to its meaning. No fault of anyone's there.
I've written more than I wanted to, so I'll just say that as a sum of its parts, there's a lot of talent and a lot to enjoy here. But I also think the polarity in this board is understandable. Noone should be offended by anything in this mix, of course, but there are certain things that don't gel based on various issues with the subject matter.
- Marmiduke on February 20, 2009
- Bozlifyme on November 10, 2008
Hitler. Sorry to sound immature, but being a true blood American and listening to this song gives me a strange chill. Overall- Stupendous. 4.999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999 out of 5
FoxtrotTango;63160 wrote: I like that hat with the spike on top. It's one of the coolest parts of the uniform. :D
Actually, the Picklehaube (Pimplehead) spike was only used in WW1. It was silly because the spikes kept getting plinked by snipers.
- Doomguy on March 1, 2008
I wasnt that much into Wolfenstein 3-D as a kid. And frankly, I found the Hitler samples disturbing. Even with no knowledge of german, I could feel the power in his voice. It never made it to my permanent mix rotation until recently. I'd like to think I matured a bit from the first time I heard the song. Now it is one of my favourite remixes here because the song itself seems to grow out of the videogame music genre. It is a powerful song which include quotes from a very influencial leader.
Great work, and even though I took a long time to come around to liking the song, I really enjoy it now.
- The Author on May 28, 2007
- Pikeman332 on September 11, 2005
Secondly: Thank you for the translation of the audio used of Hitler.
I'll go on with this point (not really being coherent but bleh).
Angel wrote: After all, there wasn't a whole big bunch of memorable music to that game, and what actually was there ran in five to ten second loops. how could anyone possibly do something good with that?
As I stumbled across the remix from John Romero's site I went across his Game Music page and pretty much taking any remix of any game I played. Scrolling down I came across MazeMan's remix. (I've looked around alot of OCremix and I've decided to get some background to the song).
As soon as I loaded the song on my media player I was introduced by the Heils of Hitler and the soldiers.
Piano is introduced with a marching snare. Mazeman used the next audio cut extremely well to then bring on the electronic drums, subtle strings and the dominant trumpet (which brings you the familiar melody which mazeman I presume worked the song round).
After using another heil from the soldiers, Mazeman introduces more strings to give more layering to the piece making it more of an orchestra still based round the eletronic drums. The strings emphasize emotion, the eletronic drums keeping the retro feel.
At 1:30 the single string note leads us back into the marching snare with the piano again using the audio clip MazeMan brings us back into the full song again. This time however the strings are more lifted and at the end of the bars the strings travel down and the tempo drops.
Once again the piano is introduced with eletronic drums, and the strings are a more creepy and eerie feeling to them. Building up again Mazeman I believe makes this part his own. Dropping the tempo again and bringing us back into the original song.
Leaving us to a sad ending leaving an agressive speech.
Like I said this post was just a plot of whats on the brain. If you read it thanks ;D
- Mernof on September 9, 2005
- FoxtrotTango on August 6, 2005
- DJ Pili on August 5, 2005
- FoxtrotTango on July 29, 2005
- FoxtrotTango on July 25, 2005
Silvite Gafgar wrote: [b]I hate "that mass-murdering f--k-head" [i]more than anyone else[/i][/b], and I don't find them disturbing in the least. They set an ambience that goes along perfectly with the theme of the song - the sorrows of war.
Also, Dionyseus is correct - someone should do a Red Alert mix about Stalin.
That's a fairly shallow thing to say. But you're right about the way they add to the ambience. After all, the voice clips didn't cause the holocaust, the man did.
- The Orichalcon on July 18, 2005
Also, Dionyseus is correct - someone should do a Red Alert mix about Stalin.
- Silvite Gafgar on July 18, 2005
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