ReMix:Final Fantasy VI "The Sveldt" 3:31

By djpretzel

Arranging the music of 2 songs...

"Strago", "Wild West"

Primary Game: Final Fantasy VI (Square , 1994, SNES), music by Nobuo Uematsu

Posted 2005-02-09, evaluated by djpretzel


If you'd asked me five years ago whether I thought I'd still be doing ReMixes and running OCR half a decade later... actually, I might have said yes. From the very get-go, I thought it was a great way to practice arranging and mixing while at the same time paying homage to excellent and often overlooked melodies. Five years and over a thousand mixes later, I still think there's plenty of life left in the concept. I still think there's places ReMixes can take us where we haven't been yet, and I know for a fact that there's tons of great undiscovered country out there - plenty of games with amazing soundtracks that haven't yet been touched. I think the idea of ReMixing will continue to have life as long as there are people who love game music and who feel they can best express that love via interpretation. Imitation takes a back seat to interpretation as the highest form of flattery, in my book, and looking back over five years of interpretation and expression, I am simply amazed/envious/surprised/shocked/impressed at what people have come up with.

Which is not to say the road has been easy. Through five redesigns, dramarama site politics, forum migrations, the creation and evolution of the judges panel, and sixty-four ReMixes, I have been here. Sometimes not as much as I wished I could be, and at other times more than I wished to be, but for half a decade, since we moved out of the 90's and into 2000, OCR has been an integral part of my life. Out of necessity, I've chosen it over many other avenues. I've spent countless hours writing write-ups, posting mixes, talking with judges and moderators, working on the technical guts of the site, etc. All of which would truly suck if I didn't get such great help from everyone that's involved with this community that makes all of the above absolutely worth it. From the guys at ztnet who you may not know but who basically make OCR possible by providing and supporting the infrastructure for it and a huge percentage of the emulation community, to each and every last listener who's ever downloaded a single track, every last minute of effort and time that I've spent on OCR has been repaid tenfold by the community. So I can't complain, and hell yes, I'd do it all again... in a heartbeat. I'm lucky to have this site to run.

There's far too much to really cover in terms of a five-year retrospective; for one, we usually do a year-end wrap-up, and furthermore we don't have a huge flood of mixes prepared for the event, or anything too elaborate. Consider it fortuitous, then, that Eliot Van Buskirk from CNET/mp3.com happened to interview me a few days back, and just posted the interview on mp3.com. It's not specifically relevant to OCR's 5-year anniversary, but in a way it is: he asked some darn good questions, and I think (or at least hope) my answers sum up what we're about, and will expose the site and the concept of unofficial game arrangements to a whole new group of listeners. While game mixing gets a fair share of attention within the gaming world, whenever an entity that's geared towards music in general sits up and takes notice, I think that's an excellent sign that the idea can be appreciated by non-gamers as well. Big thanks to Eliot for posting the interview on the exact date of our five-year anniversary - hope you enjoy reading it.

And finally, the mix: I've always loved the Veldt theme, and I'm a child of the 80's. I threw out a WIP arrangement of this theme that I'd been working on for the last month a week ago, and decided to pay homage not only to Nobuo's great material, but also to a kickass decade. You'll hear musical nods to the likes of Trio's "Da Da Da", "Lily Was Here", "Carribean Queen", and "Sweet Dreams" if you listen closely. It's not a juggernaut of a track that tries to be everything to everyone, but is instead my electro-pop vision for the primary motif, taken and retooled into a backing pattern, with soprano sax, piano, and guitar soloes that work around the melodic structure. Heck, I can't let Rayza have all the kitsch, retro-80's fun, now, can I? At any rate, as always I hope you enjoy, and here's to another five years of games, music, and game music.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
avatar
CJthemusicdude
on 2011-06-19 15:16:36

This mix really grew on me. Definitely a worthwhile listen. That opening really hooks you in. Great thing to listen to on the road.

Also, at 2:52...Ice Cap anyone? :P

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OA
on 2010-04-26 18:15:26

Wow, a very different sound than i was expecting from both the source and from DJP- it's kindof funky, kind of serene, and i'm not sure it's the strongest way to handle the theme; it's very much the opposite way i'd take the theme.. but for some reason, I can't help but loop this one. There are a lot of clever details, and the arrangement is very unique to the theme. Samples are good, and well balanced, and otherwise quality.

...

I just looked down and noticed Justin basically wrote the exact same review. :P I swear we are not the same person. If you don't like this one at first, give it a few more listens, it really grows on you, and I recommend it.

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Nutritious
on 2009-12-02 03:13:38

Not at all the way I'd expect this source to be remixed. Production is very clean throughout (pretty typical DJP). Some of the instrument choices are a little quirky (also typical DJP ;), but on the whole, catchy stuff. Really liking the soprano sax that enters in around the minute mark. Very pretty sound and, assuming it's sequenced, it's very capably done.

One part I didn't like was how all of the energy was lost with the breakdowns - I think the song in general could've been more effective if he breakdowns were handled with either more energy or building expectations. Anyway, really like the ghostbusters 80's synth feel at 2:32 - some of the elements here really could pass for an 80's track, especially if the synths were more pronounced and embellished IMO. I'm not always a fan of DJP's stuff, but this is catchy and a keeper.

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Platonist
on 2008-09-29 19:34:53

one of mr. pretzel's best works!

can't deny the fact that im sooo biased when it comes to remixes from this game... :tomatoface:

somehow i like FF6 ReMixes better than FF7 ReMixes, even if FF7 has a better soundtrack (maybe i just love the original TOO much to appreciate reworked material) 8O

anyway.. great interpretation of a catchy tune

makes me wanna dance :-o

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Audity
on 2007-02-11 19:30:48

I think this is one of the only songs ever that makes me want to get up and dance.

For this purpose I have created a DDR-length version of this song!

http://www.escaprism.org/audity/Final_Fantasy_6_The_Sveldt_OC_ReMix_(DDR_Edit).mp3

The main thing about the song that causes this is all that silence in between each 8th note. I think they call that sticatto...

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JimSelve
on 2006-03-19 07:29:02

I like this piece, because the main bass melody reminds me somehow of the one in Pink Floyd's "Sorrow". =]

Oh and the sax is great.

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Bummer
on 2005-09-20 04:21:33

This isn´t a normal remix. It´s not beautiful, not

really a jamming one, clearly not serious. Instead, it´s funny. My sister and I began to laugh at the beginning, the melody is just jumping around with a wide selection of instruments. But at some points it gets more beautiful and serious, like at 0:55, when it goes over to a more blues type mood with a saxophone-sounding melody. I can clearly say that this song is stuffed with everything, thanks to djpretzel.

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thespider
on 2005-07-12 19:13:34

I love the funkiness at the beginning and how DJP worked in the melody. Does anyone else hear this beat in the Gorillaz's new single?

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Jean Quad Van Damage
on 2005-06-14 12:16:35

This remix...it really makes me think of Lando, and that really weird looking co-pilot guy from RoTJ flying around space, and "party planets" with half-naked women.

They drop out of hyperspace as the mix begins, and warp back into it as it ends.

Oh, yeah. I've listened to it maybe 15 times since this morning. It rocks. : ]

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SirRus
on 2005-04-09 23:22:19

I hadn't really fully appreciated this song until... just now. It is full of fun, I'm lovin it. djp is a mighty good man. And a mighty man. This song is a mighty good song made by said mighty man of goodlyness. Grooooooovy baby.

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jordex
on 2005-04-08 20:33:06

Ah wow! Groovy! Definatly groovy! Outstanding solos giving the song a sort of funky, laid-back feel. I dig those piano solos! And then jumping back into the funky feel. I can't wait to see what djp's working on next

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DJ Magotrox Brazil
on 2005-03-24 23:26:45

Ok. This is my first post here. So you guys take it easy about my english. Let´s directly to the core of the thing.

The Bad Side

I didn´t like the beating so much. To me, if the first part of the music (00:00 to 00:50) was cutted, the mix would be better. And, of course, the same goes to the rest of music where the same is found. But, as our friend drk-mega said here, maybe it's just a question of pesonal taste.

The Good Side

To me, second part shows a lot of musical sensibility, mainly the flutes,keyboards, strings (seems to be played with a real intrument) and the piano. In a few words: A good mix, but far away from the best that DJP have done and will do.

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zircon
on 2005-03-08 22:29:04
At the start I can barely hear any FF. Maybe it's just me. Near the middle a little FF nostalgia comes in mixed with DJP's own touch on the track. Great track which of course is expected for the founder of our OCR.

Pretty sure right off the bat you can hear the "Wild West" melody playing..

great remix, of course :D

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Quinn X5
on 2005-03-08 21:54:27

I can't say much of what many others haven't, but I WILL say that this is pretty damned good! I remember the theme very well, it's interpretation is liberal yet respectful, and since I'm also a child of the 80's, hearing any reference to Trio is elation.

Heh heh, "Sunday you need love, monday be alone..."

Nice work, David, and a wonderful, eloquent write up. Cheers!

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DaBubba
on 2005-02-22 04:19:45

Fun! I like the Thamasa part at the end; you almost don't see it coming until it's already underway. And do I detect FF1's "Temple of Fiends" stashed away in there somewhere?

DB

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Kin Stanley Robinson fandom: www.geocities.com/heiankyo794/tyoras-guide.html

Sources Arranged (2 Songs)


Primary Game:
Final Fantasy VI (Square , 1994, SNES)
Music by Nobuo Uematsu
Songs:
"Strago"
"Wild West"

Tags (6)


Genre:
Mood:
Chill
Instrumentation:
Acoustic Guitar,Electronic,Piano,Saxophone,Synth
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Final_Fantasy_6_The_Sveldt_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,791,409 bytes
MD5:
772c8c316607a5294d16d2d234ddb0e6
Bitrate:
216Kbps
Duration:
3:31

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