ReMix: Final Fantasy 'Finally Home'
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- Game: Final Fantasy (Nintendo, 1987, NES)
- ReMixer(s): Darangen
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'Chaos Temple'
- Posted: 2006-02-02, evaluated by the judges
For some reason the intro to this reminds me of Semisonic's 'Closing Time'; probably the strong repeating third pattern and nothing more. Darangen returns to the FF that started at all and the Chaos Temple theme, which he arranged in April of last year, for some straightforward rock that does actually fit the 'alternative' mold a bit, and could easily have been accompanied by a vocal. Mike writes:
"RPGamer.com has held a competition "Splendid Performance", where a challenge was to give a theme a new feeling and/or meaning. So I took the Chaos Temple theme, which usually made me feel weighed down and fighting an uphill battle, and made it into a cheerful, liberated feeling. Something that would go great with the ending credits of the game."
It's rather crafty how Mike's indeed succeeded in Prozac-ifying a less upbeat melody, and while production values with his work remain high and his guitar skills always bring quite a bit to the table, the most memorable and enjoyable thing to me here is how he's changed the mood dramatically. It's a good thing, too, as he'd previously ReMixed the exact same theme, and it's not the most elaborate melody, so something needed needed to change. Shariq writes:
"Nice! You successfully took the Chaos Temple theme and put it in a major key. I've always found that harder to do than the vice versa (probably cause I suxxx), but this was really effective. I like how you kept the B section though, since that was already in a major section of the original. Guitars are clean and the song changes up and progresses nicely throughout. I really like this."
I'm a little short on time this week, and Larry did a good job on the play-by-play, so let's see what he sez, too:
"In particular, nice instrumentation from :33-:44 & :55-1:06 with that e-violin-type deal, and the whistley/sine wave lead was also nice and understated. Both helped create a nice texture to the piece when in play.
Arrangement basically retreads itself at 1:30, so though the arrangement ideas were very thorough and interpretive in the first place I was a bit disappointed to hear the same sections basically repeated at 1:30, 1:51 & 2:02, though you did supplement those with the electric guitar to beef things up, which was certainly good although a bit too subtlely applied.
2:36 finally built off of the first part of the track into some new material before going back to some of the ideas of the first section to close things out at 3:16 via gradual subtraction of sounds. Seemed like the drums from 2:36-3:16 were getting crunchy and/or distorting, but I'd need a second opinion. Regardless, I was glad to see things progressed and developed here nicely like DarkeSword mentioned after my initial repetition fears."
I don't always agree 100% with Larry's Madden-esque dissections of mixes, but this seemed on; things get just the slightest bit repetitive, but as soon as you begin to notice it, it goes away. All in all, a creative piece that achieves what it sets out to achieve from an arrangement perspective and provides a distinct, unexpected take on a well-known theme.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the i haven't read any of the comments, but i'm sure at least 10 of
them mentioned the smashing pumpkins similarity. Nice blend of
sounds, I loved the monoglide synths especially, and and the
arrangement was really well done. I think turning the rhythm
guitars down a tad would have been best, but i'm still enjoying
this a lot. Nice work.
- OA on February 25, 2010
- OA on February 25, 2010
One word that sticks out in my mind when I listen to this is
"homesickness".
The way this is arranged it's so beautiful and just seems to hearken back to better, simpler, long past times. The way the mood is so masterfully crafted here is astounding.
Oh wow, this is really a deeply thoughtful and amazing track.
I'm very impressed with the work here and recommend it.
- 42 on December 29, 2009
The way this is arranged it's so beautiful and just seems to hearken back to better, simpler, long past times. The way the mood is so masterfully crafted here is astounding.
Oh wow, this is really a deeply thoughtful and amazing track.
I'm very impressed with the work here and recommend it.
- 42 on December 29, 2009
LOL! Honestly I thought I was gonna hear " ♪ Today is the
greatest, Day I've ever known... ♫ "
Nice remix though!
- sandrodz on December 15, 2009
Nice remix though!
- sandrodz on December 15, 2009
Another rock style for Darangen to experiment in! For me, I almost
hear this as an older Matchbox 20 track or something that I would
hear on TLC/HGTV. I like the soft synth leads you have. Creates a
warm moment in the music. Very reflective. Infact, if I didn't know
this was Darangen, I would guess it was an early OA track :). I
like it a lot. Mixes of this type don't seem to be terribly common
here on OCR and it's a great breather from the norm. After
finishing the track, I feel that there is some life lesson that I
should've come away with.
"You know, as I looked back on my life....."
Good work man!
- tweex on October 14, 2009
"You know, as I looked back on my life....."
Good work man!
- tweex on October 14, 2009
I played this song for my music theory students, and we all agreed
that it should be played at the end of an 80's show about some
teenager who learns new life lessons and narrates every
episode.
*Cue music* *show teenager polishing his beat up Buick* *Cue narration*
"...and in the end, did it really matter if I didn't win the Corvette? Well, yes, but I know there are better things to worry about, too."
Then again, I come up with random things. Regardless, I really like this song. The interpretation on it is amazing, and the change of style really fits well. Definately a keeper for me.
- DragonAvenger on August 14, 2008
*Cue music* *show teenager polishing his beat up Buick* *Cue narration*
"...and in the end, did it really matter if I didn't win the Corvette? Well, yes, but I know there are better things to worry about, too."
Then again, I come up with random things. Regardless, I really like this song. The interpretation on it is amazing, and the change of style really fits well. Definately a keeper for me.
- DragonAvenger on August 14, 2008
Darangen is my favorite remixer on OCR! It's hard to choose which
of the Chaos Temple mixes I like best by him but I have to say both
of them were awesome. Keep it up!
[IMG]http://aycu38.webshots.com/image/22637/2001938014123295090_rs.jpg[/IMG]
- LiquidusSnake821 on August 8, 2007
[IMG]http://aycu38.webshots.com/image/22637/2001938014123295090_rs.jpg[/IMG]
- LiquidusSnake821 on August 8, 2007
I really enjoyed this remix, I love listening to it every time it
is shuffled up on my MP3 player.
- Fraggy on July 11, 2007
- Fraggy on July 11, 2007
I vote for SP-similarity for sure. And, yeah, it could use some
vocals. This must be the karaoke version, yes?
In other words: it's totally rockin'! Though, I'm not a huge rock or emo fan, the skill shines through. Keep it up.
- meccaneer on March 26, 2006
In other words: it's totally rockin'! Though, I'm not a huge rock or emo fan, the skill shines through. Keep it up.
- meccaneer on March 26, 2006
I love this one. The 'Warriors of Light' remix did a great job of
transforming the original track into an uplifting rock theme, but
this one just takes that to a whole new level.
...But I can't decide which I like better!
- WarpstarRider on March 23, 2006
...But I can't decide which I like better!
- WarpstarRider on March 23, 2006
Excellent song, one of my new favorites.
I love your FF1 remixes Darangen, they are just so well done.
Great job man, Keep up the awesome work.
- Zutnunzor on February 21, 2006
I love your FF1 remixes Darangen, they are just so well done.
Great job man, Keep up the awesome work.
- Zutnunzor on February 21, 2006
How did I forget to comment on this?
Darangen is one of my favorite remixer off of this site, and his remixes never disapoint me in any way
Great job.
- Psychotic Ninja on February 18, 2006
Darangen is one of my favorite remixer off of this site, and his remixes never disapoint me in any way
Great job.
- Psychotic Ninja on February 18, 2006
After further examination, I think this song sounds more like
"Today" by the Smashing Pumpkins than "Closing Time". Either way,
this is still rockin'.
- DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff on February 11, 2006
- DJ Skratch 'n' Sniff on February 11, 2006
This song..made me cry. Turn it up, Close your eyes, and listen.
Its Amazing. Best on my 157-strong OcRemix playlist.
I love it Darangen. Keep up the good work.
- OngoingWalnut on February 7, 2006
I love it Darangen. Keep up the good work.
- OngoingWalnut on February 7, 2006
No doubt I'm a sucker relaxed, reflective electronic rock music, so
this mix hits all the right notes with me. With a style reminding
me of Tears of Contention, this mix definately feels like a part of
a much larger story; no doubt why many reviews mention it would
feel good at the end of a movie or video game, and I'll second, or
third, or whatever that motion.
The key, I think, is all in the synths. With the grinding, distorted guitar behind and the silky smooth synths leading and providing added effects, the mix proves that in music, opposites do attract.
My one minor point, is that I think the synths are drowned out too much by the guitars, so I might enjoy a small dynamic tweak there. But that's only if I had to pick something out.
First rate.
- Emura on February 5, 2006
The key, I think, is all in the synths. With the grinding, distorted guitar behind and the silky smooth synths leading and providing added effects, the mix proves that in music, opposites do attract.
My one minor point, is that I think the synths are drowned out too much by the guitars, so I might enjoy a small dynamic tweak there. But that's only if I had to pick something out.
First rate.
- Emura on February 5, 2006
I love it. Very smart interpretation, Darangen. You never cease to
impress me with your impecable playing and perpetually reinventive
arrangement. Somebody tell Uwe Bowl to make an awful Final Fantasy
One movie and use this as the end credits theme; surely it would be
the film's high point, for more than one reason.
Upon subsequent listenings, the intro's been reminding me of Today by Smashing Pumpkins.
- Shael Riley on February 5, 2006
Upon subsequent listenings, the intro's been reminding me of Today by Smashing Pumpkins.
- Shael Riley on February 5, 2006
