ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Blue Skies Over Guardia'

downloadDownload MP3
5,410,872 bytes, 4:30, 160kbps
Stream/preview on YouTubePlay Preview
Streaming preview on YouTube
eStarland.com
Chrono Trigger: Chrono SymphonicChrono Trigger

Well, it's almost 2004, and I still don't have a mix of my own ready, making my last ReMix of the year the August CT mix of the same theme Shariq covers here. Mr. Ansari has, however, decided to transfer Mitsuda's lively 6/8 piece into 7/8, and has also mixed in some latin percussion, church bells, given a rich french horn section the go-ahead on the melody, and empowered a ride-cymbal to do some rapid-fire syncopating for the bulk of the arrangement, all of which works together pretty durn well. The ReMixer writes:

"I've always wanted to arrange this piece in 7/8 time. The original has such a great folk quality that, for me, hearkens over to some more latin folk ideas that work in less commonplace meters. Translating the melody from 6/8 to 7/8 was surprisingly easy; I think it works well here. I tried to bring a more epic sound to the piece by using strings, horns, and bells, and at the same time keep the folk quality with some quick, syncopated percussion filled with claps and congas. Hopefully you enjoy it."

I think the folk quality has been maintained to a degree, but also think that it's been somewhat sublimated for a more epic, sweeping scope that goes well with the mix title. The tone of the piece becomes more floating or flying as opposed to dancing, to qualify it with verbs, relative to the original. Only a couple minor quibbles - the ride cymbal pattern is mixed pretty loud and doesn't change all that much, and I'd like to have heard more high-end percussion to balance/accompany it. But the accomplishment here is the time-signature switch and what I would call mood switch from something immediate and local to a grander, more encompassing scale. The cool thing about Mitsuda's piece is that it works so well in either context, but that's a credit both to the original composer and the ReMixer as well. Good stuff; different take on the theme that gives it a distinct and enjoyable new persona.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Great instrumentation, and 7/8 is the way to go with this, it feels awesome.
One of my favorite DS mixes.

- OA on December 17, 2009
Wow this is pretty amazing stuff for a theme song that i have totally forgotten about. great stuff DarkeSword!

- yosefu on October 24, 2009
Epic...marvelously epic. Makes great flying music, whether it's daydreaming of flying, drawing someone in flight, or just if you happen to be a one-winged angel with an iPod (although if that's the case, I have another video game track I can recommend to you).

- Lucentas on December 6, 2008
Leme Inthrigil;260409 wrote: What's wrong with the Chrono Symphonic Version? Is it that I need Compyfox's permission too? Or do you just like this version better?

I like this version better; it's closer to what I want the song to sound like.

- DarkeSword on April 17, 2007
DarkeSword;260359 wrote:
As for permission, I'm fine with it, as long as you don't use the Chrono Symphonic version of this song. Use this version. The CS version was tweaked slightly at the behest of Compyfox for better integration with the rest of the album, but this is the definitive version.

What's wrong with the Chrono Symphonic Version? Is it that I need Compyfox's permission too? Or do you just like this version better?

- Leme Inthrigil on April 17, 2007
Alimah Kali;260349 wrote: Quite frankly I never, ever, ever would've thought of "Guardia Millennial Fair" being remixed to sound like that. When I think of it, I think of just kinda skipping around from attraction to attraction. Your remix takes me above and beyond that, looking at the occasional loose balloon passing by. I say that if there was any song to be influenced by, it's Santorini. I heard your remix and the words "Holy shit! That's so fucking awesome!" came out of my mouth, then hopped in my bed, closed my eyes and drifted away.
You did a fantastic job, intentional or not. I <3 Blue Skies. :)!!

I always intend to do a fantastic job.
As for permission, I'm fine with it, as long as you don't use the Chrono Symphonic version of this song. Use this version. The CS version was tweaked slightly at the behest of Compyfox for better integration with the rest of the album, but this is the definitive version.

- DarkeSword on April 17, 2007
Quite frankly I never, ever, ever would've thought of "Guardia Millennial Fair" being remixed to sound like that. When I think of it, I think of just kinda skipping around from attraction to attraction. Your remix takes me above and beyond that, looking at the occasional loose balloon passing by. I say that if there was any song to be influenced by, it's Santorini. I heard your remix and the words "Holy shit! That's so fucking awesome!" came out of my mouth, then hopped in my bed, closed my eyes and drifted away.
You did a fantastic job, intentional or not. I <3 Blue Skies. :)!!

- Alimah Kali on April 17, 2007
This song seems perfect for the Millenial Fair, to make the world seem happy right before Marle and Chrono are sucked into the past. The clapping at 2:48 seems a little bit too synthetic, though. Other than that, this is music that I would put into my Chrono Trigger Movie!
By the way, Darkesword, I'm trying to get permission from all of the remixers on the Chrono Symphonic project to use the remixes and script in a live-action Chrono Trigger Movie. Do I have permission to use your Remixes?

- Leme Inthrigil on April 17, 2007
I have often heard the comparison between [i]Santorini[/i] and [i]Blue Skies Over Guardia[/i] made, and that's not too far off. [i]Santorini[/i] is one of my favorite songs. While the similarities you hear weren't intentional when I was writing this mix, I realized only a few weeks later that it had been a huge, subconscious influence.
So yes, the Santorini connection is there.

- DarkeSword on April 17, 2007
Once again thanks to OCRemix Radio, I caught wind of this amazing remix. As soon as I heard it, I was instantaneously reminded of Yanni's live version of the song "Santorini". If you're interested in checking it out, the vid's here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7sdvSYJO-4
Now when I say this, I don't mean it as an insult (if you severely dislike Yanni) in any way. I love Yanni and I love "Santorini" specifically because it's such an uplifting song. "Blue Skies over Guardia" has that same uplifting and very peppy feeling. Listening to it put a huge smile on my face. I'm swept away to think about the Millennial Fair... patrons betting on the racers... parents buying candies and balloons for their kids... maybe even Chrono trying to prove to Marle and Lucca how cool he is by how many mugs of soda he can gulp down as quickly as possible. I positively love songs that take me away and make me feel like I can fly. "Blue Skies over Guardia" does exactly that.

- Alimah Kali on April 17, 2007
Carbon Dog wrote: http://forum.starmen.net/?t=msg&th=27007
I think this tops just about anything I've seen in a while. :)
beautiful song :)

Ahahaha! That's awesome.

- DarkeSword on August 30, 2006
http://forum.starmen.net/?t=msg&th=27007
I think this tops just about anything I've seen in a while. :)
beautiful song :)

- Carbon Dog on August 30, 2006
When I first listened to this song on the Chrono Symphonic soundtrack, I stopped letting it go on, and listened to the song at least 15 times before letting it move on to number 4 of the tracks, and who can blame me? The bells in this piece really give it a light mood, which fits, as it's set over the Guardia Fair, though it doesn't feel much like a "carnival", as Bummerdude put it. The crescendo in the strings at the beginning really lifts you, and throughout the song, they gave me slight chills. I very much liked the suspended symbol that rolled ever so lightly during the mild section changes. This is defenitely my favourite remix from Chrono Trigger, and in my top five overall.

- ShadowFire on March 15, 2006
This song is growing on me, especially since it's release in Chrono Symphonic. The rhythmic liberties taken with the source are pretty strong but they are very effective. It does a beautiful job of capturing the mood of the source tune.

- Less Ashamed Of Self on January 16, 2006
A nicely put together song that has a happy relaxing feel to it. In my top 3. :wink:

- Trapical on December 6, 2005