ReMix: Final Fantasy VII 'Nanaki Searches For Truth'
Download MP3
Play Preview
- Game: Final Fantasy VII (Square, 1997, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Dev
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'It's Difficult to Stand on Both Feet, Isn't It?'
- Posted: 2004-01-18, evaluated by the judges
Dev's been waiting awhile to see this posted - some behind-the-scenes logistical issues - and it definitely deserves some attention. Not only is it a very expressive, guitar and piano duet that morphs into a fuller orchestral piece, but the dynamics are ace, the transitions fluid, there's some unorthodox processing and effects (like a phased/flanged wind), and the arrangement itself has some challenging but well-executed progressions and intervals. There's good attention to discrete panning, with piano and guitar clearly consuming their own adjacent spaces, as well. GrayLightning writes:
"Overall, it's hard to argue against this mix. Beautiful piano and guitar work, combined with rich strings with a paddish feel in the background. All in all this is very nicely arranged, and the result is a very nice filmic style, that gives off a haunting and lonely vibe."
This ReMix truly captures the exact sound of someone named Nanaki looking for truth. Well, actually, I can't speak from experience on that one, but at any rate, it's a very human, beautiful piece, and does in all seriousness evoke the atmosphere of a more personal quest. Great stuff from Dev - long time coming, but singular, delicate, and definitely worth checking out.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the So melancholy. So beautiful.
Its amazing how you took the source audio and changed the entire feeling, but kept it true the the source. A true remix.
Its beautiful. Not much more to it than that.
Good job.
EDIT: The string orchestra accompaniment of a Piano/Guitar duet is brilliant. Again, well done.
- sefirosu on April 2, 2009
Its amazing how you took the source audio and changed the entire feeling, but kept it true the the source. A true remix.
Its beautiful. Not much more to it than that.
Good job.
EDIT: The string orchestra accompaniment of a Piano/Guitar duet is brilliant. Again, well done.
- sefirosu on April 2, 2009
This is pretty nice stuff right here, yo. Nice and delicate touch
on everything, and a good sense of progression and a sad but
contemplative atmosphere. The piano sounded a little more muffled
than i'd have liked, but it still fit really well, and when the
guitar came in, the high end had some attention. Strings were
subdued and tasteful, and the flute bits were sparse but very nice.
I wish there was more flute actually, as the beginning was pretty
haunting.
Overall a really good mix.
- OA on March 30, 2009
Overall a really good mix.
- OA on March 30, 2009
This could almost be the soundtrack to the destruction of the
Earth, it's so sad and epic in scale. The emotional element has
been really well presented here, I really feel directed down the
path the mix intends me to go, which isn't the case for a lot of
mixes that attempt melancholy. I love the scaled back structure and
arrangement also. More ambitious mixers might have needlessly
chosen to make something busy and intricated; but for the mood of
the piece, the choices that were made here really work and really
appeal to me. Impressive stuff.
- Marmiduke on February 3, 2009
- Marmiduke on February 3, 2009
Whenever I hear the intro to this remix, I expect an episode of
Star Trek TNG to begin. I also have the problem of imagining Red
XIII awkwardly hopping about on two feet in a sailor uniform,
except with the reflective nature of this remix he's now
slow-dancing.
HoboKa might have been listening to Stone Eyes. The source tune to this remix, however, is clearly what is stated on the main page of this remix.
I've always heard a bit of pensiveness in the source tune from 1:08-1:29 (despite the distracting horns), but I never expected that concealed emotion to be laid bare as has been done here. This remix is truly creative in its complete departure from the mood and instrumentation of the source tune. The piano line is wholly depressing; it is restrained and deliberate, and with this the listener feels the weight of every note. The spareness of the first half of this piece highlights the solemn interplay between each (imaginary) hand on the piano and between the piano and acoustic guitar. The background wind fills every space between notes with an oppressive emptiness and fleetingness, and when the strings come in I feel like I've been punched in the gut. It's enough for me to remember the deep, dark places I've been and how I wished so hard to escape but couldn't find a way. The atmosphere becomes haunting and bleak, with a glimmer of hope returning at 3:30.
My only gripe is the stylistic choice with the ending (3:52 onward). I would have, had I the ability to construct such a beautiful work, left this unresolved. But it is clear that Dev desired a degree of closure, and this he accomplished masterfully.
- K.B. on December 30, 2008
HoboKa might have been listening to Stone Eyes. The source tune to this remix, however, is clearly what is stated on the main page of this remix.
I've always heard a bit of pensiveness in the source tune from 1:08-1:29 (despite the distracting horns), but I never expected that concealed emotion to be laid bare as has been done here. This remix is truly creative in its complete departure from the mood and instrumentation of the source tune. The piano line is wholly depressing; it is restrained and deliberate, and with this the listener feels the weight of every note. The spareness of the first half of this piece highlights the solemn interplay between each (imaginary) hand on the piano and between the piano and acoustic guitar. The background wind fills every space between notes with an oppressive emptiness and fleetingness, and when the strings come in I feel like I've been punched in the gut. It's enough for me to remember the deep, dark places I've been and how I wished so hard to escape but couldn't find a way. The atmosphere becomes haunting and bleak, with a glimmer of hope returning at 3:30.
My only gripe is the stylistic choice with the ending (3:52 onward). I would have, had I the ability to construct such a beautiful work, left this unresolved. But it is clear that Dev desired a degree of closure, and this he accomplished masterfully.
- K.B. on December 30, 2008
Dhsu;22484 wrote: It isn't Nanaki's Theme. It's the song you hear on the boat to Costa del Sol ("It's Difficult to Stand on Two Feet, Isn't It?"). He just decided to give it that name because it was in a more contemplative style.
No, this is when he finds Seto, his stone-transformed father who had sacrificed himself, so that the other Cosmo canyon duders could live. When you think of it, it's sort of sad, in the boo hoo way, not the lame way.
- HoboKa on January 20, 2007
This was one of my first OCR remixes I ever listened too, and it's
still one of my favorites bar none to this day. Obviously from
technical standpoint everything is done very well. The best part
about this is the emotional depth it provides. The song really
paints a picture in ur mind.
- avaris on January 13, 2007
- avaris on January 13, 2007
I don't cry easilly, in fact I didn't even when my grandpa did, but
burn my soul for all eternity if u will and call me a douche if u
want, but man I actually shed a few tears for this song. It
captures the whole drama between Nanaki and his father Seto. Nicely
done.
- HoboKa on January 13, 2007
- HoboKa on January 13, 2007
This is a real good piano remix, it sure is, but I want to know
what piano it is, it sounds so beautiful. Has a very bright tone to
it, sounds like a classical piano like something Mozart or Beet
would play on. But enough about the piano, the guitar that follows
is great too, totally fits in with the mood, and all of he strings
sticks to the whole remix like a cape.
As I said, beauuuuutiful arrangement, Devdude.
- Bummerdude on October 17, 2005
As I said, beauuuuutiful arrangement, Devdude.
- Bummerdude on October 17, 2005
I seriously thought that "It's Difficult to Stand on Both Feet,
Isn't It?" was unRemixable in the fact that it had a
funky....twangy...disposition for lack of a better word. Obviously
I've been proven wrong because of
this composition. It stays true to the tune and changes the feeling. I'm not one to trifle with instruments since I only learnt a few instrument names from my music class but the Guitar and Piano both come together nicely. And even though the violin[is it] background is oh so cliche for ReMixes, Dev made it work. Dev, you are a true artist. Keep up the good work. The only possible problem I can think of is the very starting where there is no sound. And since this song only has 1 really minor problem, I give it a:
9/10
- Chubbly on October 2, 2005
this composition. It stays true to the tune and changes the feeling. I'm not one to trifle with instruments since I only learnt a few instrument names from my music class but the Guitar and Piano both come together nicely. And even though the violin[is it] background is oh so cliche for ReMixes, Dev made it work. Dev, you are a true artist. Keep up the good work. The only possible problem I can think of is the very starting where there is no sound. And since this song only has 1 really minor problem, I give it a:
9/10
- Chubbly on October 2, 2005
This is one of my favorite songs since guess its my favorite
character from ff7. nicely done
- Ninja-san on September 19, 2005
- Ninja-san on September 19, 2005
As the song rolls on, it reminds me very much of Ennio Morricone's
"Il Tramonto (The Sundown)" from "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly."
I think that having a song comparable to that of "Il Maestro" is
quite a compliment.
- Being on November 18, 2004
- Being on November 18, 2004
Shhteve wrote: This is truly beautiful.. But I don't remember this being Nanaki's theme, and for some reason this reminds me of Final Fantasy 6 instead.. Why is that? :?:
It isn't Nanaki's Theme. It's the song you hear on the boat to Costa del Sol ("It's Difficult to Stand on Two Feet, Isn't It?"). He just decided to give it that name because it was in a more contemplative style.
- Dhsu on January 31, 2004
This is truly beautiful.. But I don't remember this being Nanaki's
theme, and for some reason this reminds me of Final Fantasy 6
instead.. Why is that? :?:
- Shhteve on January 30, 2004
- Shhteve on January 30, 2004
Content Policy
(Submission
Agreement and Terms of Use)
Page generated Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:11:06 -0500 in 0.0568 seconds
All compositions, arrangements, images, and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Original content is
copyright OverClocked ReMix, LLC. For information on RSS and JavaScript news feeds, linking to us, etc. please refer to resources for webmasters. Please refer to the Info section of
the site and the FAQ available there for information about the site's
history, features, and policies. Contact David W. Lloyd (djpretzel), webmaster, with
feedback or questions not answered there.
