ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Tears for a Girl'
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- Game: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Freemind, GrayLightning
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Schala's Theme'
- Posted: 2004-01-11, evaluated by the judges
Freemind and GrayLightning collaborated on this CT Schala mix that's got a mix of acoustic and synthetic elements and some unorthodox approaches to sequencing, mostly involving apparently intentional delays or un-quantized portions so as to achieve a humanized feel on the timing. Works in some instances, not so much in others. The intro is very strong as it sets the stage in an orchestral fashion that analoq likens to anime scoring, a comment I'd agree with:
"the trills in the beginning are a nice effect. flute sounds very full when it comes in around 1:30. the strings sound very full throughout the track, the voicings are muddy sometimes but not in a bothersome way. yeah, 3:45ish is where this mix really feels good. the distorted guitar abstraction sounds a bit conspicuous at times in this section. overall this track feels like anime underscoring, what with the slow melodrama and fake yet pleasing instruments."
In particular, some of the musical cues in the intro felt akin to some of Joe Hisaishi's work. Less so when the electric guitar (actually a Reason Maelstrom synth) enters, with a nice percussive groove that gets some respectable guitar strumming layered on top. The delay on the folk-style guitar pattern that follows the strumming for me is problem, as it sounds less like humanized timing and more like semi-stuttering, but the instrumentation is still very pleasant overall. Interesting piece for GL - more straight melodic arrangement with little emphasis on ambient soundscapes, usually ubiquitous in his work. This sits well with the other Schala mixes on the site, including GL's own solo rendition, as it's elaborate and has perhaps slightly a more Eastern feel to it. In some cases, quantizing probably could have helped individual instruments and gave it just a bit more polish, but in others the more organic feel is a help and not a hindrance. Good, developing, exploratory work from Freemind and GrayLightning, who shed some new light on Schala.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Pretty extended intro right before the familiar schala riff. In
some of the intro parts i didn't think the melody was supported
enough by the backing, but things got very well balanced for the
majority of the mix. THe dirty synth guitar was in need of a little
bit of modulation, but otherwise the instruments really blended
nicely.
I'm pretty over Schala's theme, but this is good stuff.
- OA on April 2, 2009
I'm pretty over Schala's theme, but this is good stuff.
- OA on April 2, 2009
I love the new age feel to it, very soothing, but the synths clash
slightly. All in all, very well done, 4/5.
- DragonFireKai on March 21, 2007
- DragonFireKai on March 21, 2007
Man, what a slow night - so i'm browsing around not much to do here
at work and I figure, how 'bout some CT to pass the time. Now i'm
looking for something that I haven't heard yet and I notice this
title "Tears for a Girl" schala mix. So it gets me thinkin' - hey I
loved the mix for schala on Chrono Symphonic - this needs a
spin.
This tune is absolutely gorgeous! I love it. I want it. I need it. Too much? Bear with me - i'm using the internet mounted player (this is work) so I can't delve too deep in detail. Full points on the intro - nice and slow, builds, then you get a bit of suspense before breaking into the tune itself. I love how this sways back and forth between a deep powerful sound and a gentle myriad of tingles. Kinda like schala herself, right? Lotsa power - nice and gentle. This got full points - I think i've repeated it 4 times now - and I bore VERY easily.
Typically I'm far more into the beat blasting techno and so on as so forth. But we've all got our dramatic sides and mine is feasting on this tune. This is an easy plug to the game. There's a criticism here somewhere but i'm at work and too enamoured right now - i'll post back later if something rubs me the wrong way (not bloody likely).
Excellent work.
- Daltonius Sigma on October 27, 2006
This tune is absolutely gorgeous! I love it. I want it. I need it. Too much? Bear with me - i'm using the internet mounted player (this is work) so I can't delve too deep in detail. Full points on the intro - nice and slow, builds, then you get a bit of suspense before breaking into the tune itself. I love how this sways back and forth between a deep powerful sound and a gentle myriad of tingles. Kinda like schala herself, right? Lotsa power - nice and gentle. This got full points - I think i've repeated it 4 times now - and I bore VERY easily.
Typically I'm far more into the beat blasting techno and so on as so forth. But we've all got our dramatic sides and mine is feasting on this tune. This is an easy plug to the game. There's a criticism here somewhere but i'm at work and too enamoured right now - i'll post back later if something rubs me the wrong way (not bloody likely).
Excellent work.
- Daltonius Sigma on October 27, 2006
Solid orchestral work, dude, and nice mastering. It's a bit
predicatable and I don't like the electric guitar AT ALL. It starts
out all sorrow and ends in schlock: no good. Even the acoustic
guitar, which fits the theme better (though it should have been
spanish imho), isn't really neccessary. I'd venture to say it even
detracts from the overall mix.
- meccaneer on October 3, 2005
- meccaneer on October 3, 2005
Bummerdude wrote:
Great stuff, to both Gl and Freemind for their great work, but remember:
NEVER do a Schala remix again!
Maybe just one more? :twisted:
Thanks for the comments though.
- GrayLightning on September 27, 2005
Schala is going for the rock´n roll.Whoooo!
I have lost all of the possibilities to count, keep track or remember all of the Schala remixes, there are just too many of them. Remix something new, PLEASE!
This time, I can make an exception, it´s gray after all.
Very cool and inspiring remix, at first it sounded more like a facelift for the original, but then a lovely and frenetic flutesolo tune came in in my head, followed by a mellower theme with those characteristic tiny bells. Sweet...And there I was, enjoying the song to the fullest, when a guitar suddenly came onto the scene and did it´s tune with cool echo and drums at the side of it. We have a new Schala here, and you aint messing with her.
Great stuff, to both Gl and Freemind for their great work, but remember:
NEVER do a Schala remix again!
- Bummerdude on September 26, 2005
I have lost all of the possibilities to count, keep track or remember all of the Schala remixes, there are just too many of them. Remix something new, PLEASE!
This time, I can make an exception, it´s gray after all.
Very cool and inspiring remix, at first it sounded more like a facelift for the original, but then a lovely and frenetic flutesolo tune came in in my head, followed by a mellower theme with those characteristic tiny bells. Sweet...And there I was, enjoying the song to the fullest, when a guitar suddenly came onto the scene and did it´s tune with cool echo and drums at the side of it. We have a new Schala here, and you aint messing with her.
Great stuff, to both Gl and Freemind for their great work, but remember:
NEVER do a Schala remix again!
- Bummerdude on September 26, 2005
Ok...long time listener, first time caller.
ANYWAY... i saw nothing wrong with this mix at all, given what i am able to do with remixing and arranging, which is next to nothing, and having been listening to and appreciating music for years, i believe this mix has MANY good qualities, and the humanized timing doesn't detract from the overall quality...ill admit there are a few spots where the quality drops, but thats to be expected in almost ANY mix if you arent using uber-software/hardware.
great mix overall, you guys should do another sometime... preferably of a final fantasy game this time around.. and NOT 8!!!
- Deathsangel34 on June 4, 2005
ANYWAY... i saw nothing wrong with this mix at all, given what i am able to do with remixing and arranging, which is next to nothing, and having been listening to and appreciating music for years, i believe this mix has MANY good qualities, and the humanized timing doesn't detract from the overall quality...ill admit there are a few spots where the quality drops, but thats to be expected in almost ANY mix if you arent using uber-software/hardware.
great mix overall, you guys should do another sometime... preferably of a final fantasy game this time around.. and NOT 8!!!
- Deathsangel34 on June 4, 2005
Amazing. The guitar really shows how good this is. It's hard to put
something discordant like that in and have it sound that good. Hats
off to you. The flute is absolutly beautiful, and as a flutist I
can see firsthand how good it is.
Absolutely epic. One of my favorite mixes (if not my favorite) on the site.
- eoaifhgak;shg on August 22, 2004
Absolutely epic. One of my favorite mixes (if not my favorite) on the site.
- eoaifhgak;shg on August 22, 2004
What i love about this song is the guitar work that comes in at
2'39, the way it changes my emotions, making me sad and happy at
the same time. This part of the peice is most excellently arranged,
it brings the whole thing together into something more than just a
remix.
I listen to this on my portable mp3 player alot btw. :) And much thanks to Freemind and GreyLightning for their excellent collaboration(s).
- vahagn on February 18, 2004
I listen to this on my portable mp3 player alot btw. :) And much thanks to Freemind and GreyLightning for their excellent collaboration(s).
- vahagn on February 18, 2004
I loved it! Schala's theme is my favorite song in Chrono Trigger.
The begging is so peaceful, then the song launches into its true
beauty. The flute fits nicely with Schala, then the song launches
into something much more beautiful.
- Silveranth on February 15, 2004
- Silveranth on February 15, 2004
Garde wrote:
Freemind, excellent concept, this song is great and I hope to see more things from you soon! Gray, good job on mastering and touching it up, I can't wait for DS2 to come out! ;) And Freemind and Gray, good luck on your Battle of Olympus, I can't wait to hear the final version (I believe I only have a WIP of it)! :)
Gray did the most difficult job....He made a brand new remastered remix from an average old classical and boring remix...And..I have stopped making remixes..I like the idea of collaborations with Gray ( who is the best remixer of new age ), but I don't have much time to create remixes...
- Freemind on January 16, 2004
I really like this song, and it definitely brings a completely
different style to the Schala mixing scene. This song has a very
calming effect, as many have stated. The instruments work very well
together, I like both the guitars (electric and acoustic-steel
stringed, if I'm not mistaken) and the flute.
I love how this starts out. It's quite original, and the strings that join it give it that emotional feel, you know?
The flute is excellent. I don't know, I have a weakness to flutes, and well, this flute is no exception. When I hear flutes, I get this feeling, I can't explain it though. One of those things that our written language can't express... Art seems to do that a lot to me. :)
The arrangement is great, I like the acoustic guitar, it reminds me of Diablo's Tritram theme (which Daknit made an OC ReMix of, which I believe is what it actually reminds me of).
Freemind, excellent concept, this song is great and I hope to see more things from you soon! Gray, good job on mastering and touching it up, I can't wait for DS2 to come out! ;) And Freemind and Gray, good luck on your Battle of Olympus, I can't wait to hear the final version (I believe I only have a WIP of it)! :)
Edit: Came back and finished it up. :)
- Garde on January 16, 2004
I love how this starts out. It's quite original, and the strings that join it give it that emotional feel, you know?
The flute is excellent. I don't know, I have a weakness to flutes, and well, this flute is no exception. When I hear flutes, I get this feeling, I can't explain it though. One of those things that our written language can't express... Art seems to do that a lot to me. :)
The arrangement is great, I like the acoustic guitar, it reminds me of Diablo's Tritram theme (which Daknit made an OC ReMix of, which I believe is what it actually reminds me of).
Freemind, excellent concept, this song is great and I hope to see more things from you soon! Gray, good job on mastering and touching it up, I can't wait for DS2 to come out! ;) And Freemind and Gray, good luck on your Battle of Olympus, I can't wait to hear the final version (I believe I only have a WIP of it)! :)
Edit: Came back and finished it up. :)
- Garde on January 16, 2004
GrayLightning wrote:Ramaniscence wrote: Now I KNOW I hear somethin' goin' on in the background of this song...it sounds like someone's sayin' somethin', but I can't make it out for the life of me. But I HEAR SOMETHING...I'm not crazy...
Are you serious? ^_^ There isn't. There's only orchestral instruments, pads, synths, guitar, drums and percussion.
I never noticed any "screaming" either, but it does sound like there's a really faint low ambient sound in the left ear at 2:41-3:24; sounds a little like the seashore instrument to me, but it could also be just a pad or reverb of the guitar - though I can see how it could be interpreted as screaming. Is that what you're referring to Ramaniscence? :)
You know, I wonder if this is perhaps the kind of music Psychologists play for their patients to relieve depression. Hard to say, it might work, or it might make things worse; I don't know much about how their methods - but it was just a weird question that came to my mind as I was playing through it (seeing as the effects it has on me are always very positive). Thanks for the reply and the info about future collaborations GrayLightning.
- chokst~1.bat on January 16, 2004
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