ReMix: Jet Set Radio 'Late Night Sneakin''
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- Game: Jet Set Radio (Sega, 2000, DC)
- ReMixer(s): HappyBivouac
- Composer(s): Hideki Naganuma, Tomonori Sawada
- Song(s): 'Let Mom Sleep', 'Sneakman'
- Posted: 2004-03-26, evaluated by the judges
I encourage everyone to read the judges' decision on this ReMix, linked at the bottom of the page - it gave us quite a headache trying to work through whether this met our definition of a "ReMix," which out of necessity is sometimes flexible but does have some clearer-cut aspects to it as well. Essentially, HappyBivouac has merged two songs from the heavily groove-oriented Jet Set Radio soundtrack into a new hybrid piece. He's done this using an extensive amount of sampling from the original, which is probably the single most obvious reason our eyebrows were raised - everyone was concerned the mix constituted too little arrangement and too much juxtaposition of material sampled directly from the source. We were also concerned about setting a precedent, as clearly we don't want an inundation of a million mixes incorporating a hidgepodge of samples and little else. However, in this specific case, after some judges changed their vote (twice) and Jesse came in with a tiebreaker, we decided that the merging of two themes and the original elements added, given the groove-oriented nature of the originals in the first place, was enough to be considered substantive arrangement, in a sense. To be sure, it was one of the more debated discussions to date. Vigilante writes:
"This mix borrows fairly heavily from the two original songs, but it arranges the borrowed elements in a cohesive and interesting way that is definately different from either of the originals. There is a large amount of creative overlap and original material. This mix falls in some very gray area. Both sides of the argument have valid points, and I've never seen such intense debate on IRC. A decision either way would be justifiable. I made my vote because the mix is not a straight rip by any means. It has been made clear that using in-game clips is acceptable, and this mixes the two themes in a creative way, and adds captivating bass and drum sections. It's a good listen, so I stand by my vote."
Some of the drum sections in particular are quite fun, and the mix overall is high-energy, irreverent, and full of that certain neo-urban charm that JSR and JSRF both nailed so well visually and aurally. Layering of slap bass and synth bass, tasteful use of orchestra hits, and a good feel for using samples - extensively - without things feeling arbitrary all contribute towards what could easily have been a track on the game's OST that just happened to be comprised predominantly of bits and pieces of two other tracks, "Let Mom Sleep" and "Sneakman," but constituted a unique entity unto itself. The ReMixer has done an admirable job of covering material that was very high quality to begin with, and has taken an interesting hybridization approach to combine two pieces with some original percussion work - while it stretches the definition of a ReMix a bit, we think it does enough to remain within the sphere of acceptability, and that you'll enjoy it quite a bit if you've any predilection for the JSR soundtracks or groove-based composition in general. Definitely challenging for the judges panel on a technical basis, and definitely funky.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - Ryu2Wolf on January 6, 2009
interesting to hear a remix that doesn't take the source in a new direction per say, but imitates the style of the original so well that I would expect to hear it on the soundtrack
great mix
- halc on December 11, 2008
Ironically enough, having listened to "Sneakman" for Song of the Week, Week #34's voting today, I thought this mix took a decent original and completely improved it. There's way more energy in this ReMix as compared to "Sneakman", and I'd pick it over the original any day. If I was a Judge back when this was decided, the vote only would have only been more decisively in this mix's favor. Great job, HB
Did you also listen to the original version of "Let mom sleep"? What the composer did recreate (which I forgot to acknowldge and for that I apologise) was the energy, especially from let mom sleep. The remix was too "jungle" for the originals ie. too much bongo too little break-beats, I personally think the composer fused the wrong elements from the songs with one another. Maybe a "That's Enough" and Everybody Jump Around" remix would've been better.
- DJNeon on October 6, 2005
- Lord Ilpalazzo on October 6, 2005
DJNeon wrote: Sorry dude i've listened to your track many a time it makes me sad to say; you missed the groove that both the originals have while it isn't ghastly it ain't in my view worthy of being under the Jet Set Radio or even the remix brackets, try listening to the medley on the sound track, while it isn't a remix from the quality timing it wouldn't make it hard to become one. I'm a hardcore JSR/JGR/JSRF fan and I pretty disappointed with this.
Ironically enough, having listened to "Sneakman" for Song of the Week, Week #34's voting today, I thought this mix took a decent original and completely improved it. There's way more energy in this ReMix as compared to "Sneakman", and I'd pick it over the original any day. If I was a Judge back when this was decided, the vote only would have only been more decisively in this mix's favor. Great job, HB.
- Liontamer on October 6, 2005
- DJNeon on April 19, 2005
Ok, so it's not a real word, sue me...you won't get much...
- Blue_Drac on October 15, 2004
i really like the drums that start around 1:15... they seem to on, and on, and on... just like the energizer bunny!!
really cool tho!!!
kinda cought me off guard... 'im trying to get to sleep... *yay!*'
lol that was just odd....
ok, just dl the f***in mix
- Cheeszeman_ on October 8, 2004
- jordex on August 24, 2004
- JustChris on August 3, 2004
- Vash the Stampede on May 8, 2004
- Rapyer2986 on April 6, 2004
- Mahjong No OujiSama Yoshi on March 31, 2004
In particular, that one guy at the beginning ("Whats going on here?") cracks me up. I think it is hilarious. If nothing else, that guy makes the mix. thankfully, there is also alot more here for it to stand on.
- whiteknight on March 30, 2004
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