OCR01242 - Donkey Kong Country "Beneath the Surface"

[DCAlexis]

AWESOME remix. One of my favourites. The cameos are a very nice original touch.

Does anyone have a guitar tab for the jazz solo that kicks in around 3:04? I'm working on right now, but it gets a little fast at the end and hard to pick out all the notes and slides.

[halc]

i love this one so much, it's just too good.

[OceansAndrew]

Pretty nice stuff, good soundscape, and though i got jarred out of the feeling with the frog cameo near the end, overall it was lush and interesting. Nice performances and everything clicked.

[a_d]

Some people have commented on a video of this I uploaded to YouTube and pointed out some neat easter eggs:

5:19 Psalm 23 (Bible)

5:27 Frog's Theme (Chrono Trigger)

5:40 Kraid's Lair (Super Metroid)

5:55 Title Theme (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

[Altermentality]

Hehe. I know this song is pretty old, but I've been listening to it for years. Now that I'm a member, I'd just like to say how much I appreciate it.

Funnily enough, I hadn't played Chrono Trigger when I first heard this mix. It was only later, after I had finally been introduced and it became one of my favorite games of all time, that I saw someone mention the Frog cameo in this song. I had gotten so used to hearing this piece as it is, and recognizing it as its own beautiful work, that even after hearing the original Frog's Theme I failed to put them together until it was pointed out to me.

The cameos are a creative touch. I was reading this thread and someone else mentioned the feeling of lost things lying at the bottom of the ocean. That's a great analogy. To me this song is also somewhat like sinking into an ocean of nostalgia. Your memories from different periods in your life are coming gently and inobtrusively back to greet you- I've been playing DKC since I was old enough to comprehend anything, and Zelda came in when I was around 13, and Chrono Trigger a few years after that. For me, it's almost like moving from the past- where things seemed to move a lot slower and I had all the time in the world, which is why the piece is a DKC theme- and rushing towards these later themes in the future where everything seems to move a lot faster, which is why they are only snippets.

[Nintendude794]

Hehe. I know this song is pretty old, but I've been listening to it for years. Now that I'm a member, I'd just like to say how much I appreciate it.

Funnily enough, I hadn't played Chrono Trigger when I first heard this mix. It was only later, after I had finally been introduced and it became one of my favorite games of all time, that I saw someone mention the Frog cameo in this song. I had gotten so used to hearing this piece as it is, and recognizing it as its own beautiful work, that even after hearing the original Frog's Theme I failed to put them together until it was pointed out to me.

The cameos are a creative touch. I was reading this thread and someone else mentioned the feeling of lost things lying at the bottom of the ocean. That's a great analogy. To me this song is also somewhat like sinking into an ocean of nostalgia. Your memories from different periods in your life are coming gently and inobtrusively back to greet you- I've been playing DKC since I was old enough to comprehend anything, and Zelda came in when I was around 13, and Chrono Trigger a few years after that. For me, it's almost like moving from the past- where things seemed to move a lot slower and I had all the time in the world, which is why the piece is a DKC theme- and rushing towards these later themes in the future where everything seems to move a lot faster, which is why they are only snippets.

I caught that the whisper was the 23rd Psalm (I've been raised a Christian; I'm a LOST geek, remember Mr. Eko? Anyway...) I knew there was something hauntingly familiar about those guitar phrases in the fifth minute. Now I know where from for certain.

Donkey Kong Country was my first video game. Aquatic Ambience has pretty much always been my favorite theme from the soundtrack. So it's fair to call this mix my absolute favorite OCremix of all time, especially in how many times I've listened to it as compared to every other excellent remix in my collection.

Beneath The Surface, lost things lie at the soul of the sea. This song is soaring through a storm of solace; recalling all the depressing disappointment of your life, but failing to summon tears, you only close your eyes and wince as if pinched by years past. Regret hides behind fear of the unknown; life is a love and hate relationship with the universe. Beneath The Surface, the scars are deeper; bad memories more fervent than the good. But the good is still there, and everywhere, so you never lose sight of all importance. Refreshed by this piece, you hold on to hope and survive to thrive.

This song obliterates oxymorons and clears conundrums, it simplifies death and destruction with love and life by embodying them in a soothing sweet sorrow. I also leave it on loop as I struggle to fall asleep.

Released from prison after life behind bars, an old man in a movie (I will not mention the movie for this could be seen as a spoiler) narrates: "I saw an automobile once when I was a kid, but... now, they're everywhere! The world went and got itself in a big, damn hurry..." Yes we have.

(here's the scene, check it out)

"This is your life and it is ending one minute at a time." -Fight Club.

Better make the most of it.

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, old time is still a'flying. And this same flower that smiles today, tomorrow will be dying."

[-Dan]

Simply my favorite relax mix. So sweet.

Congratulations and thank you Vigilante!

[sergio]

From first hearing this, I identified 5.07-5.09 as a piece of the Chrono Trigger main theme (in addition to the other three obvious references). Haven't seen anyone else mention this, though... am I reading too much into it?

I have some vague recollection that Vigilante had a habit of inadvertently 'improvising' pre-existing phrases of music, so perhaps that could explain it.

[MechaFone]

Holy crap amazing. Not looking for hidden messages here, I just enjoy this incredible remix whenever I'm looking to space out or relax.

[Crulex]

Oh, nice! I'm really digging the jazzy Latin beat that gets stronger over the course of the mix. This is simply amazing! Man, this is a sexy ReMix, especially in the last two minutes. Damn.

[ectogemia]

That descending string line near the whispery part, simple as it is, wrenches me every time I hear it. I love it.

What a fantastic mix.

Except the Frog cameo. Wind Scene (or whatever the 600 AD overworld theme is) would have been perfect.

[Tuned Logic]

One of the best mixes on this site, bar none.

[Pyro Paper Planes]

You know, I never even noticed the cameos until people pointed them out in this thread. I DID notice the similarity to Kraid's theme, and just thought it was a coincidence.

By far my favourite mix on an OverClocked ReMix album, if not one of my favourite pieces from this site. One question: Are the drums real? That deep snare is one of the best snare hits I've ever heard. The ride cymbals work well too. What type of reverb did you use for them?

[Marmiduke]

The Donkey Kong Country soundtrack has a dark, atmospheric vibe that I don't think anyone has nailed nearly as well as Vigilante with this mix. Simply put, this is a stunning rendition of an incredible melody.

It's pretty hard to mess up such rich material, but its even harder to surpass it.

The intro makes me sway, the body makes me a kid again and the outro makes my heart ache. A beautiful piece of music that isn't betrayed by its ambition or its performances. Everything comes together effortlessly and in its own time, resulting in a sexy, soulful masterpiece. Much love for this one.

[Bahamut]

This is a pretty sweet take on the Aquatic Ambiance, even being conservative. Great job by Jesse here that remains sweet to listen to even 8 years later!

[genius11433]

Everything comes together effortlessly and in its own time, resulting in a sexy, soulful masterpiece. Much love for this one.

Took the words right out of my mouth. This is one sexy piece of music, perfect for being with that special someone.

[timaeus222]

A little boomy past the 4.5 minute mark, but other than that, this is awesome.

EDIT: is it just me or is Chrono Trigger at 5:28 - 5:34?

Edited December 15, 2014 by timaeus222

[Black_Doom]

This is aweome. The sax is so gorgeous <3 The piano is gloomy yet light . The guitar is chillin'. The soft percussion is great as well. I love the dreamy atmosphere oh this mix. A true classic!

[Sterkmann]

I got Kraid's lair and OOT title screen :}

Good job in my opinion. I like sober mixes, and I am not fan of improvisation in remixes... (which makes me hating 99% of OCremix of course).

[Adamekora]

I didn't get the OoT Title Theme, even knowing it was in there. But I must admit this song in one of my favorite of all time of OCR! It's so smooth and soft and perfect. I'm in love with it!