Majeliss

Merry meet my dudes. Thanksgiving is near.
I've been a fan of ocremix since early 2000s and been on and off participating in the community since probably around 2003. Good times and bad lol. And since then I have witnessed many beginners and amateurs grow into quite capable artists, musicians, sound designers, producers, composers etc... even in the within the professional gaming industry. The ocremix community has been a big part of my amateur musical training and learning, and I'm sure it has been a big part in many others.
I'd (and hopefully others) like to know who were the OCRemixers/OCR Staff that you found inspiring when you were a newbie here. I'd like to know the details of your memories, experience and feelings about being a newbie here too. 
It is my intention that I would like this thread to be an outlet for fans and matured remixers to express their thankfulness, experiences and love to the talented people who have contributed their works and support to the community. In other words ego food for the deserving contributors in the spirit of Thanksgiving. 

I think you got the logic progression all wrong. I'm not saying a remixer can artistically claim, or is entitled to the original composers work. I'm challenging these points you have made:
Depending on how creative you are, a remix/rearrangement CAN be your own.
The House of the Rising Sun, by The Animals... Based on your logic that I understand... That song as we know and experience it, is not theirs. Did I follow your logic correctly?
If The Animals had your kind of limited mind set, we wouldn't have such a great piece of music. Because of this, I find your reasons unconvincing or having little weight so far. Because I believe that song is The Animals claim. It is their song. 
Same thing with the book/broadway/musical Wicked. By your standard, the writers and poets can not "claim" it "their own." Which I believe they can.
If you disagree with this, and discussing the thread which you started still entertains you, then let me know what point I'm missing. 

Hey guys!
I just recently finished up this little solo piano arrangement of Song of Healing from Majora's Mask and thought I would share it with you all. I realize this is an insanely popular piece for people to remix/cover, but it's such a special piece, but I think the tune is so malleable and it was fun to try and do something different with it. I originally had made something far more virtuosic and flashy but it didn't fit the intimate feel of the original. I instead opted for something more subdued and "pretty". I added a little intro and outro based on some of the original harmonic material and I think it works as a nice framing device for the piece. At first I keep the tune fairly traditional, but ended up gradually adding some of my own personal flourishes throughout. Hope you guys enjoy it. Let me know what you think. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3NexJ5G1dg

This started out as something totally different, but ended up being a retro 80s take on the classic Corneria theme from Starfox (or Starwing in my case), based on very happy memories watching Stranger Things & enjoying the soundtrack. Straightforward stuff but playing around with the atmosphere was great fun! Would love to hear your thoughts.
EDIT: Second update to the track. Good enough for my YouTube channel but keen to hear your thoughts before submitting to OCR!
Here's the track:
Here's the original:
     
And here's the Stranger Things theme tune, which the track isn't based on but gives a good idea of the feel.
Thanks for listening! Let me know what you think.

Yes, there is as much "piggybacking" in originals (which can also be derivative work) as say an artists doing "fan fiction." 
For example, the successful novel "Wicked" literally "piggyback" rid the Wizard of Oz novel series. Creatively wise, I consider it having no less artistic merit than, what you would consider an "original" The Lord of the Rings. Lord of the rings, maybe be "Original" … but is it really strictly speaking "Original?"
Another example, The House of the Rising Sun. Many renditions/covers etc... The Animals have made it their own. Even though Bob Dylans version was earlier and similar. Hear a bunch of versions and takes of The House of the Rising Sun, and you should appreciate how artistically well their creations are. In fact, one could say the Animals house of the rising sun is the definitive The House of the Rising Sun. 
And as for your spiderman scenario... Drawing fan art of spider man with your spin on it, can be exactly the same as trying to make your own "original" super hero that's in the genre of spider man. 
The capacity of imagination can be needed in these tribute art as much as "originals." And by the way, the level of originality in most "original art" can easily be challenged-be it music, film, etc.. Making what you would consider original, literally look like a fan art, but instead it would be considered a "rip off."
Disney has rightly claimed "creative ownership" on its remixed artistic endeavors. 
Astro Boy, Mega Man, Mighty Number 9, Mega Man X, Mega Man Zero.... What really are we taking about here?
Now, obviously, if we are taking about making money, and the legality of it, then that's a different story. I believe that if you are talented enough, and hard working, you can work with the current system and monetize any art-be it "remix" or "original."
And if it is all about money in regards of "claiming"... you maybe in the wrong business, as there are many other money making options that will guarantee better return and pay.
 

dude, what's with the 'tude? lol
"*hits blunt*"..."pedantry"..."the logic being touted"... 
seriously bro? you keep making these ostensibly narrow-minded broad strokes about creativity and originality all the while lookin down your nose pretentiously at everyone offering a counter like you're the first person on these forums to write original music.
besides, there's plenty of logic in the premise being argued... that, barring legality and the most rigid of interpretations, there isn't a whole lot of difference between a piece of music that blatantly derives its tone, style, and phrasing from another and one that begins with the specific compositional structure but interprets it in an entirely unique and original approach. (i can tell you like examples as it ruffles your feathers somethin wicked so here's another:) a band that sounds exactly like System of a Down but writes songs System of a Down hasn't, isn't fooling anyone; they're not very original or unique. an artist who takes the epic orchestral Liberi Fatali and writes a killer four piece punk rock arrangement for their band is considerably more original no matter how hard you plunk on your keyboard trying to suggest otherwise. they're both derivative despite having different reasons for being so and yet can both be enjoyed for whatever element of them is original or refreshing without this unnervingly unnecessary debate. how is that not logical?
and no, dude, it isn't pedantic. for someone who supposedly takes great pride and care in "studying a score to discover what composition techniques," you sure have a fundamental misconception of how scrupulous and precise and overwrought with minutiae that writing music is. are you sure you actually do write any original music in the first place or are you just here to blow hot takes all over the thread? there's utterly nothing pedantic about a conversation on music, man. particularly on a music forum lollllllllll *insert Carl Sagan mind-blown gif here*
*hits blunt*
lol at this point, i'm not entirely shocked but even then, i'm still a bit perturbed that you'd dig up the ol' pot stigma card... blatantly undercutting Majeles' statement with the absurd suggestion that he must have been stoned to have said it, further denigrating any stance taken opposite yours. I can't quite figure out if you're 12 or 72. LIKE... BRUH HAVE YOU EVER HAD A FORUM DISAGREEMENT... ON WEEEEEED?????? 1998 called and wants its outdated weed dig back.
honestly, if you're so irritated with (by, at this point, SEVERAL...) people calling bullshit on your assertion that there is no creative or original value in the hard work of talented, creative, and original artists when working on video game arrangements... then why do you keep responding? especially if the only way you're going to do so is by being a colossal douche? like maybe some of us actually prefer to express their unique voice through videogame remixes. i personally don't; that's why i have an original music career. makes utterly no difference to me... but you know... it might to others and that's perfectly ok! i can recognize the artistry and abilities of any musician without having to pinky finger a point about how much better it is to write "original" music, suggesting those who disagree with you are "threatened" by the "inferiority" of the form... 
nahhhh, i'm pretty sure you're just being an asshole at this point.

Yes, I think I can consider myself as still Remixing/rearrange... I try to make time for it-as it is very educational when dissecting pieces from established composers. I've done remixes/rearrangements and originals for a while... and in my experience, I have learned much more doing arrangements and remixes than originals. Especially submitting remixes to the judges or to the community. Which would be my #1 drive to make remixes. 
The feedback that the judges give is so valuable-and it is FREE. Judges who have a good idea of what they are doing, spending their time critiquing what they are hearing... 
As for what you said here:
 
Haha, you make fan art/fan fiction sound like low tier creative endeavors. Originals can be exactly the same-maybe not monetary-wise, but creative-wise definitely. 
There are rearrangements of videogame music that I consider significantly higher tier than original music that is super duper cliché to a genre. In fact, I hardly see a creative difference between "fan art" and someone who makes skrillex-like-dubstep that is "original."
There are plenty of originals that are actually "fan art" types. And there are plenty of "fan art" types that over time became "originals." 
 

Yes, I think I can consider myself as still Remixing/rearrange... I try to make time for it-as it is very educational when dissecting pieces from established composers. I've done remixes/rearrangements and originals for a while... and in my experience, I have learned much more doing arrangements and remixes than originals. Especially submitting remixes to the judges or to the community. Which would be my #1 drive to make remixes. 
The feedback that the judges give is so valuable-and it is FREE. Judges who have a good idea of what they are doing, spending their time critiquing what they are hearing... 
As for what you said here:
 
Haha, you make fan art/fan fiction sound like low tier creative endeavors. Originals can be exactly the same-maybe not monetary-wise, but creative-wise definitely. 
There are rearrangements of videogame music that I consider significantly higher tier than original music that is super duper cliché to a genre. In fact, I hardly see a creative difference between "fan art" and someone who makes skrillex-like-dubstep that is "original."
There are plenty of originals that are actually "fan art" types. And there are plenty of "fan art" types that over time became "originals."