ReMix: Sonic the Hedgehog 'Live at the Springyard'
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- Game: Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega, 1991, GEN)
- ReMixer(s): Harmony
- Composer(s): Masato Nakamura
- Song(s): 'Spring Yard Zone'
- Posted: 2005-04-27, evaluated by djpretzel
There's good mixes, great mixes, and then there's tracks that might be good or great but are first and foremost memorable due to being... singular. Unique. Something that probably would never have had a remote chance of being brought into this world, in any vaguely similar form, were it not for the ReMixer in question. Regardless of its reception, I'd like to think my recently completed arrangement from the anime Gilgamesh is such a piece, but moreso in that case because it's an anime very few people have even seen. But I digress (self-promotingly so, no less); with his second submission, Harmony not only proves that his initial Secret of Mana mix was no fluke, he one-ups it with a superb Sonic the Hedgehog ReMix that's got technique a' plenty, style to spare, and is just such a singular, unique work, featuring vegas vocals (somewhat reminiscent of some of the singing from Nilsen's incarnation of Sonic CD), acoustic guitar and piano soloing, dynamic drumming, bookended live ambience complete with applause and trusty nightclub atmosphere, and a dramatic ending that's got a tasty mini-drum solo of sorts. And hey, just for kicks, he even sings the Sega logo music at the mix's outset - a detail that should truly ingratiate him for life with us sega fanboys, even though Brandon himself admits to the heresy of having preferred the SNES:
"I was always an SNES man myself but I can’t deny the greatness that was Sonic 1. That soundtrack has been stuck in my head for years and the Spring Yard Zone is one of my favorite VG themes of all time. Some of the WIP forum comments on this remix mentioned that this is a nice change of pace, but honestly this is generally my style. Acoustic sounding stuff is always fun to do to me. Drums, keys and bass were all “played live” on the keyboard then lightly quantized and tweaked. I think that this allows for some levels of humanization and variety that’s really difficult to get with just a mouse, even though some of the better remixers on this site who only use mice have accomplished it beautifully.
Equipment used on this Remix:
- Casio CTK-551
- Cakewalk Sonar 2
- My trusty acoustic guitar
- gotta mention the egg shaker...good stuff"
Egg shaker indeed. This is just a fun piece of music - it doesn't take itself too seriously, but at the same has some seriously competent arranging and performance going on, and the entire concept of a live performance works perfectly with the jazzy, already sorta Wayne Newton vibe of the original. Production is smooth, and vocal processing well-attuned to the showy "doo-wop" nature. Everything sits well, there's nary an off note to the respective guitar articulations and piano performance, and I'd say the mixer succeeded greatly in efforts to humanize and polish the mix, especially the keys and drums. Brandon's first mix was a great track, but I think there's more of a clearly identifiable (metaphorical) voice present with this composition, in which his musical skills are matched with a two-scoops helping of gusto and pure, undiluted imagination.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Really love it.
- metalsnakejuice on September 29, 2009
- Poga on March 21, 2007
- Nateon on November 27, 2006
DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff wrote: Am I one of the few who thinks that production quality isn't the only thing that matters? I mean, [i]sure[/i] this song sounds great but... c'mon, the vocals are all so damn cheesey and I find it almost grating to listen to. Is that just me? I'm not against vocal ReMixes by any means (I absolutely love Harmony's "Dragon's Song") but I totally put this on the same level as "A Frog, a Sword and a Spoony Bard" (which I find to be one of the worst mixes on the site by the way).
I honestly wish I [i]didn't[/i] feel this way, I tell you. The song sounds so damn good.
And what about the rest of the song besides the vocals? There are many other parts of the song. Regardless, I would say they are a little bit excessive at times, but they really give the whole song its structure, since the instrumental breaks that follow them are so well done.
I like that part at 1:07 that sounds like this Cave Story song, which just so happened to also have a smooth jazz remix by Rexy. Sonic Story.
- Audity on November 2, 2006
DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff wrote: I totally put this on the same level as "A Frog, a Sword and a Spoony Bard" (which I find to be one of the worst mixes on the site by the way).
I totally agree with your assessment there.
Only the arrangement here is more likeable than aFaSaaSB.
- Chickenwarlord on July 14, 2006
Instruments like paino, keyboards and drums are well appreciatd,but I can't really hear much of the acoustic guitar, except for the moment at 1:47. The voices sounds very cheezy, and they didn't necessarily need to sing so often as in this song since you don't hear the music in the background as good. However, when it comes to mellow live performances such as this one, you really do need a choir to add some reality to it. And the opening with [i]SEEEEEEGAAAAAA[/i] was pretty humorous. :lol:
SPIKENOX07 wrote: you call that a remix??? i hated it. needs to be more upbeat and techno.too slow for my taste.
I think you've missed the main idea with this site. It's about re-arranging videogame music into any type of music style, not just techno.
- Bummerdude on July 13, 2006
I'm glad you didn't go overboard with it, like some people would, and add in background shouting/clapping every few seconds; which ruins it. You did it only at fitting moments.
If I had one complaint, it's the beginning recitation of the Sega sound..It's good, but if you're listening to the song on repeat, it's kindof grating.
- Aristobulus on January 26, 2006
The vocals are the icing for me.. "Doooctor Robot-nik [i]nooooooooooo.....[/i]".. So good...
Shhteve put it well:
Something OCR can never have enough of: Smooth jazz mixes. Especially ones like this. I think it's safe to say you've set the standard for smooth jazz pieces, and set it high, I might add.
- Defend on January 3, 2006
I honestly wish I [i]didn't[/i] feel this way, I tell you. The song sounds so damn good.
- DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff on January 3, 2006
As for this remix, I haven't been to one of these in ages. …Ahem. But all contextual kidding aside, this one might not have the trickling instrumental textures of his first, or the scale and production of the third, but I still think it's his best.
Its biggest strength, I think, is its creativity and interpretation. Though it arguably doesn't switch genres from the original "Spring Yard Zone" tune and, retrospectively, it seems like that track was screaming for this very sort of arrangement all along, it certainly brings a great deal of life and atmosphere to it. The way in which this remix was done results in what I think is one of the most fitting and unique video game music arrangements available so far.
The little ambient touches with the audience were pulled off well, and seem both comical and serious at the same time. Rather than merely sounding cliché and unconvincing (as such approaches are often prone to), they are largely responsible for imparting much of the aforementioned atmosphere, as if we are all being treated to the performance. The opening cleverly incorporates the "SEGA" soundbite most of us are so familiar with, and the subsequent lounge vocals are nearly perfect. The lyrics, which some might denounce as corny, are (in my opinion) very appropriate and tie the remix more closely in with the game in a serious yet light-hearted way.
The instrumental voicing is soft and nicely laid-back. The drums would be better served if they were actually played live and not just sampled (which I imagine is an obvious and unreasonable criticism given the assumed limited resources of Mr. Bush in this case), but the programming is still done well. (I especially like some of the semi-subtle flourishes, like the ride cymbal bell on the off-beats from 3:51 to 3:54.) The vibraphone has a similarly MIDI-ish sound, but I actually kind of like it in this piece. It works. The jazz guitar playing is simple but great, and reminds me of Pat Metheny in many parts.
Fortunately, with all of these strengths, the structure and pacing of the arrangement brings it all wonderfully together. Blending some of the prototypical techniques of smooth jazz with Harmony's unique take on the source track, it stays fresh and maintains an easy forward drive from beginning to end. It keeps a cohesive groove and consistent style, all while wandering about with pretty melodic lines and textures, and at the same time not taking itself too seriously. My minor gripes are ultimately not really even gripes at all. Creative and stylistic. Excellent.
… … …
By the way, I didn't see the lyrics posted anywhere (I apologize if I overlooked them), so I went ahead and had a quick couple of listens and jotted them down myself. Most of it was pretty straightforward, but the scatting was pretty tricky to discern accurately. I think I got it down fairly true-to-form, though:
SEGA!
(Oooowaahoooo)
(Oooooooooooo)
(Oooowaahoooo)
(Oooooooooooo)
Oh let's go, Sonic
Dr. Robotnik, nooo
C'mon let's go, Sonic
Don't let Robotnik go-oooh
[vibraphone solo]
(daht-dow, zaht-dow)
Oh let's go, Sonic
Dr. Robotnik, nooo
Oh let's go, Sonic
Don't let Robotnik go-oooh
[guitar and piano break]
(yaah-daht-dow, yaah-daht-dow, yaah-daht-dow)
(yaah-daht-dow, yaah-daht-dow)
Oh let's go, Sonic
Dr. Robotnik, nooo
C'mon let's go, Sonic
Don't let Robotnik go-oooh
(yaah-daht-dah-daht-dah-daht-dah-daht-dow)
(naah, naah, naah)
(daah, daah, daah)
(naah, naah, naah)
(naah, naah, naah)
[break section]
(shoobwah-doo-bwah-doo-doo-zwah-daht-dah-dow)
(shibbity-bop-boo-doo-zwhee-daht-doo-doo-daht-doo)
(zooboobity-bop-bah-doo-doo-doo-dit-doo-doo)
Come on, Sonic, gooo
[drum fill outro]
Sonic, Sonic, oooh
- Poga on January 2, 2006
Good flippin' stuff, Harmony
- MisterBiggler on June 8, 2005
- Shhteve on May 22, 2005
i actually recently had an idea for a springyard arrangement.. but i think i'll just forget about it now :lol:
- po! on May 21, 2005
(re)interpretation: 28/30
sound quality: 29/30
only a very few OCReMixes are better than this one.
- Nineko on May 8, 2005
PriZm wrote: It's a shame the guitar sounds unprofessional due to lack of equipment.
What? The recording quality was great along with the playing.
- Phil1450 on May 8, 2005
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