ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Zeal Love'
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- Game: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Unipulator
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Corridor of Time'
- Posted: 2003-10-12, evaluated by djpretzel
Unipulator, aka Eric Weg, sent us one of the most impressive, original initial submissions in the history of OCR with his Last Blade 2 ReMix, still a great piece of music and something I go back to often. Now, that was both a great ReMix and a submission that covered material near-and-dear to my heart, which also happened to be untread territory. For his second submission, Unipulator does a 180 degree turnaround and covers one of the most explored themes in game music arrangement, Zeal from CT, but with what I think is a similarly interesting and well-produced style. No doubt the altered chord progression and counter-melody might give a couple purists an aneurysm, but especially for such a familiar theme I think such changes are not only appropriate, but called for. Introing with the original simple motif Eric's added in that sort of sets up the new progression and gives you an idea of the feel, delayed, cross-panned synth arpeggios, a deep bass, minimal but effective and quality drums enter at 0'21". It's the distorted piano - an instrument you rarely hear distortion being applied to (the end result is unpredictable in a mix and not a timbre that often "works") - that some will either react negatively towards, or (like myself) appreciate for its riskiness, isolated simplicity, and aversion towards a more cookie-cutter clean synth or piano or wind solo at this point. I like it infinitely more than had distortion not been applied, but some of my favorite bands (The Strokes, for example) use distortion in abundance, so it's a subjective thing. The piece progresses from there, largely capitalizing on the altered progression, original harmonies on the pads and melody in the piano segments in between, and concludes on a nice if uninspired fadeout. I would have liked a more conspicuous ending, but this is a different take on Zeal, the progression of which I feel makes it a more melancholy, introspective piece. It's not as singularly breathtaking as his Last Blade 2 mix, but it's definitely worth checking out. Good stuff.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - DusK on December 27, 2011
- Less Ashamed Of Self on September 27, 2010
Fantastic work. This is the best Zeal remix.
- OA on August 27, 2010
- tweex on August 26, 2010
There's lots to love about this, so even if some elements don't jive with you, you might find that the end product is still something highly listenable!
- Emunator on December 19, 2009
- yosefu on July 7, 2009
I downloaded "Zeal Love" in 2005 after a friend of mine told me about the website, and it was more than just a trip into the memories I had of playing this game-- but of music linked to emotion in a way that was startling, sad, though sweet and familiar all at once.
While I'm no remixer, I'm a fan of music across the board. I like to think of ways in which it affects soundtracks to film and how it's used in theatre. "Zeal Love" certainly seems to sound like the utopia that would have been. The oft maligned distorted piano that was used in this piece can almost be compared to the swell of woodwinds that Mozart used in his "Gran Partita". At first, like a rusty instrument that seems to groan and ache, but then when the rest of the instruments fall into place, the transformation from the old world to the new is complete, and the music is accomplishing its mission in ways you couldn't begin to define.
For the "haters", I'd say they have to let the piece do its work. It's not the original. It doesn't need to be. It's an expression; in this case, a well-crafted, beautifully moving expression.
- fullmetal_puck on February 13, 2009
and i don't care what any of those other losers say. :wink: (i kid, i kid - some of those 'losers' are the big names around here) but i like the distorted piano. emotional acid reflux aside, this is my favorite zeal remix.
- i talk to the rain on March 23, 2007
I first listened to this mix about two years ago, when I first discovered the site. It was a relatively rough time in my life, and I would often listen to this mix, as well as many others. Anyway, time went on and it's been a couple years since I've listented to it.
Just five minutes ago, I decided to listen to it again, and I was completely overwhelmed with a feeling of nostalgia. In my opinion, the fact that this remix brought up old memories and emotions is [b][i]proof[/i][/b] that video game music and remixes are a form of music that is just as powerful as any other.
- about:blank on March 5, 2007
- Fiendofthenorth on March 6, 2006
