ReMix: Yoshi's Story 'O! Say Can Yoshi'
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- Game: Yoshi's Story (Nintendo, 1997, N64)
- ReMixer(s): Bladiator
- Composer(s): Kazumi Totaka
- Song(s): 'Yoshi's Song', 'Yoshi's Story'
- Posted: 2005-12-06, evaluated by the judges
Karl paves the way for anyone who's ever had a really cheesy mix title in mind for their latest opus to not feel quite as ashamed, as it's hard to best "Oh, Say Can Yoshi" - it's a fine, ripe gorgonzola to the day-old muenster most of us can muster. Blad's latest solo piano has some recording issues - it's live, but it's mic'd a little distant, with a whole lotta room going on, almost like a too-generoulsy applied convolution reverb. However, levels are decent enough to hear the variation in dynamics and nuances in the performance. Karl says as much himself, with visceral language:
"So, like, I have this remix. I got the idea from Dr. Fruitcake because he is totally the man, the midi man, but the man, none-the-less. I took the songs from the end that came from Yoshi's Story and I made this remix. Then I had to go search for the music because I didn't know what it was. From what I can tell, this is the Title Screen music and Yoshi's Theme (a section from both). Then I got the bright idea to do it live, and it came out ok. It's like the Kirby one: not the best recording, but I really just work with what I have, and the university obviously is not one for high production quality. I'm surprised they can hit the record button some days. Anyways, I was juiced, the mics were hot, and I really squirted this one out. Hope you enjoy it."
Karl squirts, and what can one do but appreciate the byproduct? Whilst undoubtedly enjoying a vegemite sandwich, TO writes:
"As soon as the mix starts we can hear the title screen theme brought in softly with the piano, and that plays until 0:53 when Yoshi's Theme is brought on, playing those groovy parts on the lower chords of the piano from the original. Love that sound. The Yoshi's theme part continues until the Karl eventually mixes the two themes together after the 2 minute mark to create a very creative and upbeat mix of the two themes."
Highlight for me would be the jammin' chromatic flourishes at 1'16" and 1'19" and the like, as they break the happy-go-lucky, almost Peanuts-esque mold and throw a little more bebop/jazz into the swing of things. The overall vibe transitions from mellow nostalgia to upbeat romp in well under three minutes. For a live performance, the confidence, consistency, and coherence are all admirable, but it's ultimately the transitioning, fluid arrangement that starts off pensive and ends up pompous (in a good way) that makes it all tick. More unique, inspired work from Bladiator that I'll never be able to come close to playing myself, making me appreciate it all the more.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - Hydrargyria on April 1, 2011
- TheCorty on October 1, 2010
But no, Karl is too cool to have a cut and paste review. Really, I am not feeling the 2 chromatic bits, but the rest is phenomenal; I love the energy that picks up, and how effortless it all sounds. One of my favorite OCR piano mixes. It's infectious. :-)
- OA on May 4, 2010
- Polo on April 11, 2010
I am sorry that I did not pay proper attention to bladiator in the past
that has changed; he is fantastic
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand this is one of the best remixes ever
- Benjamin Briggs on October 12, 2009
Very cute piece, definatly makes me think of Charlie Brown. Wish the recording was better quality, but it has charms of it's own as is.
My qualm with it is that the two little chromatic sections seem out of place. I feel like if you had done more with those two tiny sections it would have been fine, but as it is there isn't enough for it to really 'fit in.'
Worth the download.
- DragonAvenger on September 10, 2008
I'm also gonna echo others and beg you to post sheet music of this. Please? Hard as I try, I can't do this song justice...:cry:
- Yera on June 13, 2008
Also, this and "Mean Streak on Main Street" are the best remix titles. EVAR.
- Jaybell on October 24, 2007
pianokeyblade wrote: Please post sheet music. :D
QFT
This just came up in iTunes. I don't remember if I listened to it when I first downloaded it (I must have..), but I'm really digging this. I'm a mediocre piano player, but I always love trying out stuff like this anyway. I have a simplified version of klutz's 600 AD in Piano memorized.
- Steben on July 18, 2006
Absolutely beautiful stuff here. It's so...jubilant and yet...mature, like someone else said. It's a nice balance. Now only if you could re-record it, it would be perfect. Sound quality and such, y'know?
- Press Start on February 27, 2006
- DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff on January 20, 2006
- lady zelda on January 20, 2006
- Zekian on January 5, 2006
- mecca on January 4, 2006
