ReMix:Pokémon Red Version "Polka Center" 1:46

By worldsbestgrandpa

Arranging the music of one song...

"Pokémon Center"

Primary Game: Pokémon Red Version (Nintendo , 1996, GB), music by Junichi Masuda

Posted 2014-10-29, evaluated by djpretzel


POKEPOLKA!! Filling grandpas everywhere with enmity & envy, worldsbestgrandpa burst geriatrically onto the OCR scene back in February with a super-fun bluegrass take on "Kakariko," and now follow that up with some POKEMANZ JAMZ in a similar vein - here's the submission email in all of its unadulterated glory:

"Welcome to our Pokémon Center.
We can heal your Pokémon to perfect health.
Shall we heal your Pokémon?
...
Ok, may I see your Pokémon?
...
Thank you for waiting.
Your Pokémon are fully healed.
We hope to see you again."

The Poké Center theme played on button box accordion, banjo and some flatfoot dancing!

Since the courts have ordered me to refrain from producing electronic music because my beats were too nasty and deemed a threat to public health, I am forced to settle with lowly acoustic instruments of the worst kind. Hopefully, I will still be able to corrupt the youths with a lousy button box (stolen from the dying arms of a Polish immigrant) and a surly banjo (lifted from a drunken homeless). My inspiration for this piece was the bottle of whiskey I also appropriated from said homeless, which would explain the very unprofessional flatfoot dancing you hear on the track. Please don't tell my mother! Hail Sagan.

I'd like to just clarify at this juncture that we at OCR do not advocate stealing from dying immigrants of ANY origin OR from the homeless, sober or otherwise. We do endorse hailing Sagan, though, so I guess it washes out. Larry writes:

"Very short, but it never repeats verbatim, which is mission critical for ANYTHING under 2 minutes; it's got to substantially evolve, not cut-and-paste ideas. Not a sharp recording, but it's perfectly fine for our purposes and has context. Love the spirited performances, variations on the source tune and the instrument tradeoffs between the accordion and banjo. Sometimes the source tune would feel a bit too understated during the banjo leading, but it wasn't anything that actually harmed the piece vis-a-vis the standards. Awesome concept and fun execution!"

Ditto all that; it's a knee-slappin', chewin' tobaccy, get-yer-pokemanz-healed-here hoedown. Given the cultural context usually associated with the genre, I'd otherwise expect this healing center to eschew science-based medicine as the devil's work and opt instead for good old-fashioned faith healing, except that the Sagan nod suggests reason. More great, distinct stuff from worldsbestgrandpa; love the variety these mixes are bringing to the table in representing a less common genre, and (just as importantly) representing it WELL!!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 11 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Chernabogue
on 2015-12-28 11:36:25

Awesome idea, concept, and instrumentation -- the performance is also strong. Despite its short length, there are some neat creative ideas here and there. Maybe too minismalist in the end, but damn, that was great! :) More please, man!

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worldsbestgrandpa
on 2014-12-01 07:47:14

I teach English in Japan right now and play this song on accordion during games of hot-potato : D and so far only one JHS student has recognized it

My only *groan* with the writeup is being categorized as "bluegrass". Next sub will be sure to point out this is in the "Old Time" or "Appalacian String Band" tradition!

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ZPedro
on 2014-11-30 12:56:06

Youth is not just a matter of age or of particular instrument, as this ReMix feels younger to me than some of the synthesizer-filled or shreddage-filled ReMixes on this site. It is a great piece, full of spontaneity, energy, and yes, youth. I feel the melody is particularly well suited to the instruments, and the adaptation is very well done on top of that. Someone's definitely having fun here, so make sure to listen to it.

Also, can I get a collective *groan* at the writeup?

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CausticBleach
on 2014-11-05 16:50:59

At first when I read the description, I was already put off a little bit because I'm not the biggest fan of the banjo and its type of music, but this was a pleasant little surprise.

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Gwee
on 2014-11-04 19:28:41

makes me think of italy :mrgreen:

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Crulex
on 2014-11-03 16:39:17

Short as all hell, but beyond that, this is quite the fun little ditty of the PokeCenter that I would probably hear at a crafts fair. Love this direction. Nice work.

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timaeus222
on 2014-10-31 00:44:15

When Misdreavus become mischievous

On the night of Hallow's Eve

They fly around and deceive

With tricky intentions, they are frivolous.

They may inflict some with a status

And sometimes make them faint

But otherwise things turn out well

The frequency of battles get put on hiatus

The end of these Pokemon it ain't

Some other day they will scream their battle yell.

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OverClocked PodCast
on 2014-10-30 14:34:18

I saw the title and everything immediately fell into place. Upon listening, I was not disappointed. I love the goofy and the unexpected!

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mwrspeedy25
on 2014-10-30 05:46:09

*sits in a boat in the middle of a lake.*

"Gonna catch me some Pokemanz!"

*hears banjo music*

"I hear banjo music...row faster Ash!"

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Brandon Strader
on 2014-10-30 05:46:03

Most offensive write-up I've ever seen on OCR, but a good song.

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djpretzel
on 2014-10-29 15:14:52

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Pokémon Red Version (Nintendo , 1996, GB)
Music by Junichi Masuda
Songs:
"Pokémon Center"

Tags (6)


Genre:
Folk
Mood:
Happy
Instrumentation:
Accordion,Banjo
Additional:
Time > Duration: Short
Time > Tempo: Fast

File Information


Name:
Pokemon_Red_Version_Polka_Center_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
2,626,174 bytes
MD5:
b6770070cbca167006549dc247184360
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
1:46

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