ReMix: Xenogears 'Live from the Yggdrasil'
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- Game: Xenogears (Square, 1998, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): JJT
- Composer(s): Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Leftovers of the Dreams of the Strong'
- Posted: 2003-10-28, evaluated by the judges
This live JJT piano arrangement from Xenogears is quite the shit. Quite. It's full of blues comping and an extremely impressive know-how for arranging more dynamic, solo piano with strong left-hand activity. It's very different from existing piano arrangements on the site, but no less impressive, and easily makes my list of favorite solo piano game arrangements. There's wonderful variety; even the tried-and-true disco piano bass makes a couple cameos, with tone changing from upbeat and jammin' towards more cinematic, beautifully dynamic flowing melody in the second half. At the end we even hear what sounds(?) like the piano strings themselves being strummed/scraped, a nice addition and a conspicuous but creative and tasteful way to conclude the track. There's not much else to say; the breadth and depth of this arrangement, and the fact that it's live, long, and very well-developed all make it a fantastic, memorable piece. Highly recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Yes!
I've had this song in my music folder for years, I downloaded it God knows where, and I didn't even know who made it and how I found it back then!
And now here I am, finding this piece again!
If you're the maker of this remix, well then, cool job man!
- Kildem on August 7, 2010
I've had this song in my music folder for years, I downloaded it God knows where, and I didn't even know who made it and how I found it back then!
And now here I am, finding this piece again!
If you're the maker of this remix, well then, cool job man!
- Kildem on August 7, 2010
I do love me some lounge jazz. The opening progression sets the
mood perfectly! I do like the key changes, and that's saying
something as I usually despise them in songs. Jazz lends itself to
that kind of thing better than other genres, so good job
capitalizing on it :).
I can hear wrong notes here and there, but it adds to the feel. 1:50 is awesome sauce. It's got Vince Guaraldi all over it. I can just see Charlie Brown and the gang walking around town! 2:46 brings a new rhythmic feel that is great. THe syncopation in the piece is quirky and fun. The dynamic shifts between peppy and solemn were a great choice and they flow into one another well.
Just like all piano arrangements, the trick is making them interesting. Well, production quality definitely has me. The arrangement is constantly moving. It evokes new ideas and images while listening to the piece. Some times I hear Charlie Brown and other times I hear the shopping music from The Sims. The strumming of the stings was an interesting idea. All around, excellent stuff!
- tweek on August 4, 2010
I can hear wrong notes here and there, but it adds to the feel. 1:50 is awesome sauce. It's got Vince Guaraldi all over it. I can just see Charlie Brown and the gang walking around town! 2:46 brings a new rhythmic feel that is great. THe syncopation in the piece is quirky and fun. The dynamic shifts between peppy and solemn were a great choice and they flow into one another well.
Just like all piano arrangements, the trick is making them interesting. Well, production quality definitely has me. The arrangement is constantly moving. It evokes new ideas and images while listening to the piece. Some times I hear Charlie Brown and other times I hear the shopping music from The Sims. The strumming of the stings was an interesting idea. All around, excellent stuff!
- tweek on August 4, 2010
Pretty nice performance of the piece; some of the parts are a
little basic, but there is a ton of charm working for this one, and
some of the chord changes are exceptionally well thought out; some
great new colors added.
Cool ending, was really not expected, but I liked it a lot, and brought it to a close well. Good stuff for sure.
- OA on December 4, 2009
Cool ending, was really not expected, but I liked it a lot, and brought it to a close well. Good stuff for sure.
- OA on December 4, 2009
LuIzA;611639 wrote: I've known this mix for quite long. but it is only now that I've played Xenogears that I've come to fully appreaciate its AWESOMENESS. Congratulations, this is one hell of a mix :)
then again, that is to be expected from JJT.
Great to hear from a remixer whose music I really respect. This one is so old that I'm a little embarrassed by it now, but all the same, thanks for the kind words.
- JJT on November 9, 2009
I've known this mix for quite long. but it is only now that I've
played Xenogears that I've come to fully appreaciate its
AWESOMENESS. Congratulations, this is one hell of a mix :)
then again, that is to be expected from JJT.
- LuIzA on November 8, 2009
then again, that is to be expected from JJT.
- LuIzA on November 8, 2009
Another masterpiece from the mind of JigginJonT...how does he
do that?
At first, I thought the string strumming at the end was kind of gimmicky, but I've since come to realize that nobody ever said you had to play an instrument the way everyone else does.
This piece is beautiful.
- Lucentas on December 6, 2008
At first, I thought the string strumming at the end was kind of gimmicky, but I've since come to realize that nobody ever said you had to play an instrument the way everyone else does.
This piece is beautiful.
- Lucentas on December 6, 2008
Holy crap, I can't believe I've missed out on this mix for so damn
long. It's freaking amazing. Upon the first listen, it immediately
became one of my favorite piano pieces on this site. Well, I must
say that I listened to the vgmix version, which I prefer quite a
bit over this one. The vgmix version has a much more emotional and
dynamic performance, at the slight cost of production. I love the
jazzy first half quite a bit, but the second half is what REALLY
sucks me into the piece.
Anyway, I totally recommend this to anyone. An instant favorite.
- PlastikBag on December 12, 2005
Anyway, I totally recommend this to anyone. An instant favorite.
- PlastikBag on December 12, 2005
Wow, never though i was see a jazz remix of this. I'm mightily
impressed. I would like to see more of this kind of work on here,
this is just too cool!
- Sirocco on August 10, 2005
- Sirocco on August 10, 2005
I realized after a little while that not putting my 2 cents here
would be a crime to such an amazing mix.
While, after a LOT of listening there's the odd thing I could see that would improve, (picky things that would probably just put my spin on it instead of yours) this is still an astounding piece of brilliant piano jazz. It's a great take on the original piece and a huge compliment to the original composer.
This track in particular carries special memories for me from this past summer of 2004. I would drive into night shift with my OCR cd cranked (two luxuries that were new to me) and would sing along... I know that would ruin it in any jazz club, but I pretty much memorized the whole thing by ear. It was just me, the night sky, the responsibility of the car, the wet windshield, and the smooth smooth mood-setting piano. The live piano recording sounds infinitely better than the highest quality soundfont...
Gorgeous.
As a greedy fan I demand more like it... but take you're time... give me 10/10's, not that should be too hard for your blessed fingers.
JJT, I salute.
- Less Ashamed Of Self on December 3, 2004
While, after a LOT of listening there's the odd thing I could see that would improve, (picky things that would probably just put my spin on it instead of yours) this is still an astounding piece of brilliant piano jazz. It's a great take on the original piece and a huge compliment to the original composer.
This track in particular carries special memories for me from this past summer of 2004. I would drive into night shift with my OCR cd cranked (two luxuries that were new to me) and would sing along... I know that would ruin it in any jazz club, but I pretty much memorized the whole thing by ear. It was just me, the night sky, the responsibility of the car, the wet windshield, and the smooth smooth mood-setting piano. The live piano recording sounds infinitely better than the highest quality soundfont...
Gorgeous.
As a greedy fan I demand more like it... but take you're time... give me 10/10's, not that should be too hard for your blessed fingers.
JJT, I salute.
- Less Ashamed Of Self on December 3, 2004
Shnabubula wrote: Just you can have a better idea of the giants whose shoulders this remixer is attemping to stand on.
Those giants never played anything from F-Zero though now did they? :lol:
- Nebu on September 9, 2004
Shnabubula wrote: please for the love of god..... people who listened to this song and liked it....... Listen to some real jazz piano [art tatum, herbie hancock, oscar peterson, michel camillo, chick corea, ted rosenthal, bill carrothers, Brad Meldau] any of these people would do. Tatum or Oscar especially if you want to see what a real "strong left hand" sounds like. I ask you to do this for the sake of all ligitimate jazz pianists. No offense Jigginjon, but you got a LOOOOOONG way to go. Best of luck.
You mean you don't think i'm a legendary pianist who will be remembered long after he's dead as a genius and an innovater? Please don't insult me by pointing out the painfully obvious. Being a jazz enthusiast I know I don't have the harmonic insight of Bill Evans, the chops of Chick Corea, or the innovation of Herbie Hancock, etc. I study and revere these men, so please give me a little credit. Anyway, you probably didn't mean anything by it.
Everyone else, take his advice.
-Jon
- JJT on August 21, 2004
Wow... This has got to be my favorite piano arrangement on OCR.
Amazing stuff. After hearing kLuTz's work, I was pretty sure I
wasn't going to find a better arrangement - but here I am, and I
have to say, this is awesome.
One of the greatest things about this is the fact that it's two distinct styles in one song. I love the more jazzy first half, but I must say that the sweeping, emotional latter part that kicks in a little after 3:30 is just amazing. It reminds me of a John Tesh piano album... (Which I consider to be a very good thing!)
Outstanding stuff - there is so much variety, it just doesn't get old. I'll be listening to this one for a long time to come.
- Ether on February 17, 2004
One of the greatest things about this is the fact that it's two distinct styles in one song. I love the more jazzy first half, but I must say that the sweeping, emotional latter part that kicks in a little after 3:30 is just amazing. It reminds me of a John Tesh piano album... (Which I consider to be a very good thing!)
Outstanding stuff - there is so much variety, it just doesn't get old. I'll be listening to this one for a long time to come.
- Ether on February 17, 2004
Wow, this is pretty cool...however, I enjoyed the second half much
more than the first. I guess I'm more a fan of epic melodies than
bluesy grooves... Hehe, and that string-scratching part at the end
is weird, but definitel cool. 8)
- kirbenvost on February 2, 2004
- kirbenvost on February 2, 2004
