ReMix: The Adventures of Bayou Billy 'El Lagarto'

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The Adventures of Bayou Billy

One can only wonder whether Konami's decision to localize "Mad City" into "The Adventures of Bayou Billy" actually helped sales; I for one never really connected with or completely bought the protagonist's supposed Cajun/Creole street cred. Wiki informs me that there are uncomfortable similarities between the game's plot/original boxart and Crocodile Dundee II, which makes me cringe with unfortunate memories of Paul Hogan. One thing we can all agree on, however, is that the game's soundtrack was all sorts of badass. EGM just ran an awesome feature on Maezawa in their latest issue, and while it never became a real franchise, the game still has a place in the hearts of VGM fans as one of Konami's classics. Evil Horde's hooking us up with our first ReMix since Mazedude's classic 'Trippin' on Alligators' back in 2002. Janne writes:

"Here is my Adventures of Bayou Billy remix. About six months ago I listened to good old NES tunes and the funky guitar and the "muy caliente" chorus in Bayou Billy's soundtrack just blew me away. I needed to remix this, badly. The ending result is somewhere in the fields of 70´s latin-esque-funk/disco. I came up with this latin piano vibe and the rest followed that - hence the name "El Lagarto" which is the spanish word for lizard. The word alligator is an anglicization of el lagarto. How convenient.

The remix has two songs from the Bayou Billy soundtrack. The main vibe is from the first stage. I tried to find out what the second song is, but I couldn't get past the first stage to check it out because the game is so FREAKING DIFFICULT. But I believe it is the second stage theme."

Wiki also informed me that Bayou Billy was supposedly the only game even Captain N himself couldn't conquer; respect. In a completely irrelevant sidenote, I also ran across Bayou Billy's Homemade Soda Pop while googling. No relation. So I'm glad we're getting this one out in 2008 because it adds a last dash of flavor to an awesome year. EH has taken a completely different direction with his mixing, here, going way out on a limb with brass, wah, Latin flava aplenty, and mucho creativity in the arrangement department. Oh and a freakin' delicious, funky bass that drips fat-filled character. Awesome piano slides, inspired percussion, some of the best ensemble brass writing on OCR, and just a heapin' helpin' of pure gusto. Reminds me VERY much of Santa Esmeralda, visually of the Thurman-Liu Kill Bill showdown with an instrumental version of 'Misunderstood' playing. Towards the end the sheer number of instruments firing at the same time is almost overpowering, but that's basically the idea.

This is a badass, eye/ear-opening ReMix; Evil Horde's prior mixes are rock-solid-and-then-some, but for me this one's groundbreaking, very unique on OCR, and pushes the artist's compositional arsenal out into a whole new expanse of possibilities. It's the type of thing I absolutely love to see, I can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeves for 2009, and it's just in time for any VGM-theme NYE parties that want a hottastical latin/disco jam on their playlists. Also, RAD TIMBALE LICKS. Major props - absolutely inspired ReMix.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Right from the get-go this song unapologetically pays homage to the source in a unique fashion that can only come from being taken from Bayou Billy. I always enjoyed the song on the Nintendo when I played this, closely followed by the jeep stage music... which, as a bonus, was also included in this, and the transition was pulled off very nicely. I'm not sure anyone not familiar with the music would be able to tell that it was actually a separate track... it sounds like more of a breakdown. Way to ninja that in there. And great job on the Santana-esque guitars towards the end. Sounded great.
Can't say enough good stuff about this track. It's got a permanent slot on my OCR playlist.

- Bip on August 11, 2009
This is what the ultimate bayou barbecue sounds like. Billy's spending a day-long truce with his enemies, flippin' burgers, poppin' open fizzy beer bottles, tossin' horseshoes, breakdancing, crackin' jokes, AND battling alligators. Contagious, mind-blowing fun. It's probably due in large part to how the Latin brass and the wah guitar play off one another, blending and countering with blendmelodies and countermelodies alike. Of course, the other instruments (particularly the claps and drums) sound just as hot, even if they're not as prominent.
Superlative work.

- Polo on April 13, 2009
Holy shit this is so much fun! Reminds me of Santa Esm-- oh, David nailed that in the write-up. Fuck, I love that song. And this is terrific too. Amazingly well done!

- richter on February 18, 2009
This is surprisingly fun to listen to!
It's like there's a party in my pants, and-
...I don't sleep with this remix, whatchu talkn' about?

- MechaFone on February 15, 2009
Heck yeah!
This is awesome.
This pulls everything off everything off superbly.
Very nice :grin:

- 42 on January 17, 2009
Martin Penwald;496151 wrote: and I really love the castanets (or whatever that is) used throughout the song, e.g. from 0:22 on.

That's actually just basic handclapping. Me and few friends of mine clapped it to a really crappy mic. And it worked out great.
On other news:
Thanks everyone for the great feedback! Really glad you like it.

- EvilHorde on January 17, 2009
Absolutely great piece of music. The whole style reminds me of some of the music in the very first GTA game, way back. The wah-wah guitars are great, the overwhelming guitar from 3:30 onwards is even better, and I really love the castanets (or whatever that is) used throughout the song, e.g. from 0:22 on.

- Martin Penwald on January 16, 2009
omfg.
*passes out with joy*

- OA on January 8, 2009
This is not only instantly awesome, it gets better with each listen. Latin-funk-wahwah...whatever it is it's effing boss, and I never knew I needed it until now. It's like there's a party in my ears and all the belly dancers are invited. Even Shakira. I listen long time.

- K.B. on January 6, 2009
This ReMix is hot, hot, hot! I was sold from the opening measure. The instruments are woven together masterfully yet have such independent energy and vibrance. Tastes like someone put hot sauce in this gumbo.
Buen provecho! Can we have some more, please?

- glasfen on January 6, 2009
This is seriously the best thing I've heard from OCR ever. EVER. #1. Top of the charts. SERIOUSLY. Oh my gosh, this is great.

- LuigiFan on January 1, 2009
This song is very fun. Not sure I could listen to it 'all' the time, but when I do I enjoy it.

- Elex Synn on January 1, 2009
Man, it's hard to get this song off my music player's loop. From top to bottom, there's really nothing about this song that I don't like. I'm surprised it's not getting more reviews in this thread.

- Citan on December 30, 2008
This mix is so sexy I have to change my underwear every time I listen to it.
Guitars are very well done, bass is especially well-done, and the brass is excellent.

- Geoffrey Taucer on December 29, 2008
Lucentas;490171 wrote: it gets a tiny bit repetitive after a while, but when it's this much fun, who cares?

If it was repetitive, I couldn't notice it at all.
This remix. Just as it started, the first thing I thought of was Boney M (well, the 70s are beyond my time). Then.. Undercover Brother. And then... yes, Kill Bill was there.
That this piece reminds me of these bands/movies does not explain why it's a solid piece, but rather it is so awesomely alive, catchy, and fun that it causes me to think of other things I enjoy(ed).
muy caliente. :nicework:

- SoulinEther on December 28, 2008

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