ReMix: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 'From Within'
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- Game: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Nintendo, 1995, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Darangen
- Composer(s): Dave Wise
- Song(s): 'Kannon's Klaim'
- Posted: 2004-10-04, evaluated by the judges
Though not affiliated with Kong in Concert, this ReMix from the second DKC (also known as Protricityville) is quite the cool. Newcomer Darangen (Michael Boyd) had much to say as to the origins of this inspired rock arrangement of DKC2's mine theme:
" last week my girlfriend and I decided it was best that we split up before we ruin the friendship we had before we were together, but no matter how or when you break up there is always that feeling of pain and sorrow. So I picked up my guitar and started playing around with writing a song, and sooner or later I got the basic foundation of the song written and recorded. Then came the hardest part for me, writing the lyrics (which I still haven't been able to do). No, this isn't a vocal mix at all. Anyways, first I had to come up with a melody line, and I usually start with the chorus for that. I already had the solo (1:53-2:22) written and all the other musical parts except for a melody. So I started playing around on my guitar for a chorus melody so I could figure out what I wanted the chorus to sound like to make it easier to fill in the verses afterwards. While playing, I suddenly started playing what sounded VERY much like the Mines from DKC2. I didn't originally intend for this song to be a remix, but they just sounded so good together I couldn't resist, so I filled in the chorus with the Mine Theme and the verses with a call/answer type deal which I intended to be a male and female echo originally and in any other place that would've had vocals I put the Mine Theme with some new spins on it. I still plan on writing lyrics and doing what I originally intended for this song, but that will be later and for a different audience."
You can certainly hear where lyrics would work - where the structure would support them - but this is remarkably complete without the vocals for a track that was designed with them in mind, with a strong guitar lead presence through most of the track, which features a great 80's rock lead that would make many a hair band proud, a variety of guitar textures including the afforementioned screaming lead, 'Don't Fear the Reaper' chorused electric, acoustic rhythm, and an unobstrusive bass. Some dern good acoustic rock drumming going on, as well - all too often it's the case that someone who is very talented with guitar ends up without a drummer and settles for a drum track that's not as dynamic as it could be. This apparently reminded a couple of the judges of The Police - as they're one of my favorite bands, I have to confess that I don't see huge resemblance (more the intro and percussion than anything else), but this is still great stuff - it's multi-textured and dynamic, featuring a good cross-section of kickassish bits mixed in with more subdued, subtle verses that you could definitely envision a vocal fitting nicely into. Darangen fairly liberally interpreted the original, but there's enough to pass the litmus test of recognizability, leading Judge Oji to comment that the ReMixer:
"...did a good job of taking a small section from the original and simply working within the framework of that. As long as I'm able to make tangible, significant enough connections to the source material, I'm willing to approve fairly liberal ideas like that."
This has a nice, more classic rock vibe to it, and there's a hint of The Police, Blue Oyster Cult, etc. in certain aspects. Definitely an interesting, unique direction to take the more ambient vibe of DKC's soundtrack in. I'm curious as to what the finished product, complete with vocals, would sound like, but it might end up being too distant from the source material in such an incarnation. Great initial mix from Darangen that's almost like an instrumental from Game Over. Rockin'.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - tweek on October 14, 2009
- ymlie on February 17, 2009
- Jaybell on August 18, 2007
- Iridi on June 7, 2007
- linkspast on September 3, 2006
Anyway...very cool remix here. I love the guitar at 2:22. That is pure sweetness. The ending is equally as sweet. Excellent work, [b]10/10 [/b]from me!
- Krythan on March 8, 2006
you made a remix that kicked ass, you
gave it lyrics that was totally mindblowing!
DUDE! 8)
- Bummerdude on September 16, 2005
it hit a cord with me alot my uncle just died a few month ago and the words hit me really hard.this has tobe one of the best remixes i have heard for donkey kong country 2 .i do some my self for zelda but this is way better then my stuff. thanks again
- linkwolf on July 25, 2005
- Dunnowhathuh on June 6, 2005
- viperfang on June 3, 2005
- Txai on January 20, 2005
The lyrics are clearly very inspired and fit well with the tone of the song. The vocal performance however, is fairly average. I think I would have liked an even slower delivery, kind of like what Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails does with his slower paced songs. The best part of this song is clearly the solo at 1:58, which is far more enjoyable now when standing alone.
Overall, I'll probably be listening to the original more, but this one is definetly still a keeper. Both the original and the lyrical version make "From Within" one of the most inspired remixes ever made.
- Wanderer on January 19, 2005
Darangen wrote: Well, I've finally finished writing From Within's lyrics, and just finished recording the vocals for it. Here it is for you to listen/comment :).
And the lyrics...
-------------
I spent a bit of time on production on the vocals. I know they leave much to be desired, but I'm still learning.
Hope you like it :)
Yes! I've been waiting for a version with lyrics!!!
Nice, I do like it. :)
- ProjectSpam on January 19, 2005
From Within
And the lyrics...
[i]Yesterday's gone, but tomorrows not here..
(so live for today, yeah, just live for today)
I'd live for today, but today's lived in fear..
(don't push them away, no, don't push them away)
Holding back has kept me down
Far away from you
I'm falling deeper towards this trend
And everytime you come around
I see all there is to lose
This thorn, it pierces from within...
Wasting my time, wishing somehow you'd see..
(just go for the prize, man, just go for the prize)
The feelings inside, the questions in me..
(there's nothing to hide, no, there's nothing to hide)
Holding back has kept me down
Far away from you
I'm falling deeper towards this trend
And everytime you come around
I see all there is to lose
This thorn, it pierces from within...
So sick and tired of missing out
On all I long to feel
I need to stop this wheel I'm in
No matter what, no matter how
I'll break through this seal
And pull this thorn out from within
[/i]
------------
I spent a bit of time on production on the vocals. I know they leave much to be desired, but I'm still learning.
Hope you like it :)
- Darangen on January 19, 2005
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