ReMix: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 'Salsa Snake'
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- Game: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (Konami, 2001, PS2)
- ReMixer(s): Xtormrage
- Composer(s): Harry Gregson-Williams, Norihiko Hibino, Rika Muranaka, Tappy Iwase
- Song(s): ''Metal Gear Solid' Main Theme'
- Posted: 2005-07-19, evaluated by the judges
¡Si, Señora! Newcomer Xtormrage, in real life one mild-mannered Jorge Luis Boscan, gives us a salsa makeover of the indefatigable MGS2 main theme:
"Took some time to assemble the percussion, but it was really fun making this tune. I've never enjoyed making a song/remix this much."
Firstly, disclaimer: this is definitely one of those mixes where arrangement picked up some slack for production. Some significant slack, actually, reminding me of the earlier of Dr. Fruitcake's two submissions (to date), which was strong on arrangement but not breaking the sample bank. These sorts of tracks do put us in quandary, because OCR is specifically not a MIDI site, and yet sometimes the relative audio quality of nevertheless exceptional arrangements does stray into General MIDI territory. Jorge's arrangement well capitalizes on what it's got, though, and let's face it - no matter how great your samples are, doing a latin arrangement rife with sax and brass is going to be difficult. Articulations, dynamics, and the overall arrangement are actually more key than having the best samples in the world, and the remixer handles all three gracefully and skillfully. Plus, the percussion - yummy. Nothing less than stellar, and perfect samples in this instance. The rhythm track alone is a compelling reason to download and enjoy this mix, but the real spotlight is the conceptual transmogrification of this militant, epic orchestral theme into a salsa piece - sounds difficult even on paper, to me at least, but from the very outset it's apparent Jorge is deadset on achieving this goal, and he never waivers. Senor Baranowsky got jiggy with the ethnic instrument identification game:
"Take it from me, i've been getting into latin percussion pretty hardcore lately, and these skins are quite well done. We've got the tumbao on the congas, we've got shakers, some cymbals, and rad timbale licks. The mixer does well to use cowbell when it's appropriate, and not in Bruce Dickinson-style excess. It's beyond my current abilities to recognize whether it's in 3:2 or 2:3 casscare, but it sounds like there's an effective use of both, in moderation. A drum kit, with ride cymbal work, might have filled up the percussion a bit more, but there's nothing wrong with sticking to the classics.
We've got the genre-authentic piano that provides a groove rather than trying to be the star, and the electric bass is certainly kosher for the more pop-centric salsa sound. It's not Pancho Sanchez, but it's fun, sounds convincingly hispanic and is very successful at adapting a tune in a way that I never saw coming. Great Work here."
RAD TIMBALE LICKS - now there's a phrase you just don't hear often enough, eh? At any rate, most judges cited brevity, samples, and some questionable panning decisions on the saxes as salient issues, but the arrangement ultimately won them over. You've gotta respect the conceptual cajones at the very least, even if you're not into the genre per se. I have this gut feeling that the teeming masses have been crying out for RAD TIMBALE LICKS, and Xtormrage, with his initial mix, delivers timbale licks that are indeed radical, and a whole lot more. Sounds like Jorge had a blast making this mix, and I'm guessing it'll have a similar effect on many upon hearing it. Fantástico!
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the I don't tend to enjoy game melodies crammed to fit into bizarre, ill-suited genres just for the sake of representing a genre, but I think this one is pretty damn enjoyable. It just sounds decent, to the degree that I just sat back and didn't argue it. It spices up the melody in a way I wasn't expecting, which resulted in me really getting into it.
The prominent brass is a great compliment to the original tune, even if it isn't as authentic sounding as humanly possible. It should, at the very least, show a lot of people how this sort of adaptation is done correctly, and that a lot of thought (or luck?) is crucial.
- Marmiduke on April 2, 2009
Quien se hiba a imaginar que existira algo como el Theme de Metal Gear Solid 2 en Salsa!???
Para mi esta increible y me la disfruto el doble con esta sangre Puertorriquena que tengo ^_^
Ohhh y yo tambien me llamo Jorge Luis jajaja!!!
Buen trabajo,me la disfruto cada segundo!
Perfect out of 10 ^_^
- Sol-Buster on June 7, 2008
The percussion is well layered and the bass line is suitably authentic, though I think the mid-high are a bit loud in it, making it sound more synthetic than it needs to. The piano is superb and really leads the mix. Also notably good are the brass hits; very effective and well programmed. Excellent hits, and the sax is pretty good too.
Overall a great mix, though I think a Big hit on the final note would have been a more satisfying ending. As is, it's still a keeper. :-)
- OA on February 18, 2008
This is no exception. Yeah, the instruments were synthed, but what you did with them more than made up for it.
9.5/10
- Oni-91 on December 18, 2007
Originally Posted by #ocremix
>i can so picture Snake and Raiden Salsa' dancing to this, lol
>well, raiden at least
>like a fag :P
Yeah? I actually have a MUCH easier time picturing Snake doing the dancing. He's got a much better sense of humor than Raiden, he just hides it well~
Anyway, as for this remix, I think it's hilarious. That's all I really have to say about it.
If it were ever recorded with live instruments, I think it could be epic.
- Kojius on August 16, 2007
- DJ Pili on August 7, 2005
Nonetheless, very well done. I liked the intro espeically.
- The Xyco on July 25, 2005
Bien echo.
- LOD-squa on July 20, 2005
- Less Ashamed Of Self on July 19, 2005
- Samuru on July 19, 2005
94/100
- Txai on July 19, 2005
i can imagine the cast of metal gear forming a big conga line.
great song :D
- The13thAce on July 19, 2005
#ocremix wrote: >i can so picture Snake and Raiden Salsa' dancing to this, lol
>well, raiden at least
>like a fag :P
- jordex on July 19, 2005
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