ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'Sacratus Bellator'
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- Game: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): GrayLightning
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda
- Song(s): 'Frog's Theme'
- Posted: 2004-12-19, evaluated by djpretzel
Nothing like the massive traffic, brief sales, and last-minute gift shopping preceding Xmas to bring a meaningful holiday cheer to one's spirit. I'm personally just looking forward to the break itself, though food and stuffs will be nice. 2004 marks the first year I didn't send out a Xmas list of any kind. Whether this is because I've matured into a sensible adult who realizes the true gifts come from the heart, or because now that I have a decent job I simply buy everything I want in a blaze of conspicuous consumption would be an interesting debate. But I digress; Mr. Lightning gives us a very unusual take on the theme to everyone's favorite amphibian, the intuitively-named Frog, in his latest opus. He writes:
"The title is in Latin. It means Holy Warrior. It's done in Orchestral with new age and ethnic elements also. There's a lot of arrangement/structural and form changes with new additions and orchestration going on in this mix. There's even a section with the xylophone that is somewhat inspired by Aaron Copland's well known Hoedown piece from his Rodeo suite."
Some might better know Hoedown as "the beef song" :) This is a very elaborate arrangement of the original that really plays with rhythm/progression; the intro alone didn't give it away for me, I clued in at 1'12" where the main melody, albeit altered, first pops up. Strings, bells (this is GL, what'd you expect?), xylophone, lovely orchestral percussion that's spiced up with some latin accoutrements, piano, chimes, choir, flute (with flares that - while cool - may be overused a bit here), and I believe some brass brought in towards the end to help with the ever-heightening volume and oomph that the crescendo/climax called for. The structure of the piece is interesting, because I think of the (very conspicuous) source melody as being something that's more fanfarish, but Gray's successfully turned it instead into a motif that runs throughout a more atmospheric, building composition. It does still have a majestic element to it, but it's also, as the title suggests, more reverential and mystical. Great mix title, great way to handle a well-known theme in a way that no one would have expected, and great execution. At the risk of, after having just used the word 'great' three times in the last sentence and probably over 1,500 times in all write-ups, sounding repetitive, this is a great piece from Gray - just as good as ever with sound quality/production, and an arrangement that really tries some smart, new tricks and gets 'em right.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - wolfmizu on September 20, 2009
- DragonFireKai on March 13, 2007
Phthisis wrote:grey it's a kick ass song.GrayLightning wrote: Certainly not my best mix, but that wasn't a goal of mine anyway.
Hey, I think it is.
*aurgasm*
- maestermatt on September 16, 2006
My best part was The walkover to the
foreign music style(or whatever) at 2:04,
and the bells through the whole mix was
great.
This remix is awesome, a-must-download, and
lets not forget HOLY.
- Bummerdude on September 12, 2005
- jordex on June 27, 2005
IC wrote: This is AMAZING stuff. I'm not familiar with the original, so I can't speak from that respect (it's 'remix' status), but on it's own, this is a very enjoyable piece. Very emotive, inspiring, and original. I <3 the rhythm work here, with the triplets in the opening and everything--very unique and frickin' awesome.
My music terms vocabulary is not as extensive as IC but this describes a lot of what I feel I want to say. Everytime I listen to this I hear a new dimension I have not heard before. Very original.
Ram
- kaiserramsus on April 26, 2005
But I'm just making myself clear about one small little problem. I'm being picky.
[Edit: I posted that without reading other reviews, then went back to read the ones that were similar to mine. noticing that so many people agreed that it's melody suffered, i went back and checked out some of his other music...
I’ll just say this... it sounds like he takes the song, and normalizes the entire thing to a 4/4 march and then makes up for this weird fetish by having great samples, smooth transitions, and all that other jazz. Almost all of his peices suffer from this, but for some it works, but not this one.
I'm not saying it's bad, but i just can't stand Grey's taste for rhythm. It's still a decent song, overall]
- Akaroo on April 26, 2005
As for the 'climax' (or lack of one, as people have complained), I feel like this song is more of an adventure, with all the variations bringing a new experience to the table, and if any section was outright blaring and in your face, it would dominate the other sections. Rather I like the rise and fall between the section--keeps it spicy.
I've had this on repeat for about a half an hour now, and it's only getting better. This is actually the first GrayLightning song I've really [i]listened[/i] to, and I'm thoroughly impressed. I'm gonna have to go listen to all of them now.
GL, you have a new fan!
- IC on April 26, 2005
- Freemind on February 5, 2005
- Squall379 on January 22, 2005
GrayLightning wrote: Certainly not my best mix, but that wasn't a goal of mine anyway.
Hey, I think it is.
*aurgasm*
- Phthisis on January 12, 2005
The mix is very well done and has obviously had a good deal of thought put into it. The sampling is very clear and the arrangement is great.
Personally, I belong to the school that was looking forward to another Frog Remix, and was a bit disappointed at this mix. However, that does not mean I don't like it. I thought it was very well done and I praise it very wholeheartedly, but it is not my particular cup of tea.
GrayLightning gets my thumbs up for his creativity and execution. Well done man.
- Ticadrius on January 12, 2005
GrayLightning wrote:Jagunço wrote: Gray, you always have a place in my Sunday morning playlist.
So I guess that's a good thing. ^_^
It's the "only" hours of my week that I can sit and watch things carrefully, tasting every moment and trying to see things that passed by my lightspeed week.
It's 9am here and I'm listen you right now.
By the way, the flute is saying something important. It is saying that it wants to go to a new place, a place that it never was before. I can't figure out where it want to go, but since you have better ears than mine, you problably already listen.
My kudos Gray.
- mrjag on January 9, 2005
Jagunço wrote: Gray, you always have a place in my Sunday morning playlist.
I was wandering about a team up with Zircon, it will be cool, huh?
Thanks Jagunço, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have never had more interesting feedback either way with a mix than with this. So I guess that's a good thing. ^_^
Zircon and I have been discussing a team up/collaboration on a mix soon. I hope we can do it sometime in the next few months. I also have several exciting collaborations with other OCR mixers this year. Stay tuned. :)
- GrayLightning on January 7, 2005
Life is very special because just a few moments. By now, the flute screaming open my eyes to a new future.
I was wandering about a team up with Zircon, it will be cool, huh?
How much cost the choral that sings the melodies for you?
SirRus wrote: Gray really makes me think about music.
Me too.
GrayLightning wrote: I personally had no problem hearing the source material.
This is why I want to borrow your ears, just for a couple days, you know.
- mrjag on January 7, 2005
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