OCR02078 - Donkey Kong Country 2 "Us Monkeys Together"

[djpretzel]

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

[BlackPanther]

As a whole this song is tight. I like how diotrans' vocals sit in this one, it's a perfect fit, great song you too.

[OceansAndrew]

I really enjoyed this track on the project, and the cool percussive bits and the upbeat nature of the track are really pleasant. Amy sounds great, and the lyrics are really cute. A great track with a lot of character, be sure to check this one out.

[Brandon Strader]

This is a great song and worthy addition to the OCR catalogue. A lot of people were hating on the vocals in the project thread, but I find both the performance and the overall execution to be spot on. The Mandarin lyrics are interesting; I have no idea what is being said, but I like the tonal qualities of the language. I agree that it adds uniqueness to the song. The instrumental portion is also well done and adequately layered without forcing too many elements into your face like is popular with some modern music. I wouldn't say the song is simple, but it sounds very comfortably made and as a result, is a pleasant experience. Yatta yatta.

Post your opinion

[xtp183]

This tripped me right up! I had a bunch of songs in my playlist including some chinese ones, then I popped this one in and when it started I thought I clicked the wrong song! I didn't expect someone would ever do a chinese language song on ocr~ very much appreciated you guys, I'm diggin' it.

[LostChronos]

Damn nice. If you've ever listened to the music in the credits in some of those manga videos, and liked it, you'll love this. This hits the mark. Good job guys.

[Dhsu]

Wow, never thought I'd here a ReMix with Mandarin vocals, and yet here it is. One might ask why a Donkey Kong arrangement is in Chinese, but I ask...why not? Nobody seems to care when people add English lyrics to Japanese video game music.

Awesome stuff. Kudos to Flickerfall, and high fives to diomom!

[Master_Yoshi]

I loved this song so much when the DKC2 project came out. Fun, bubbly, refreshing. The equivalent of a cold fizzy drink on a hot summers day. Can't sit through this and not have a little smile on my face.

My only gripe is the percussion. From the stretch between 2:35 to 3:05 or so, the percussion is really exposed and it's kind of jarring. The percussion just sort of overpowers everything else in that section, I wish it had sounded a bit less cluttered, but oh well! I do love the changeup after that, and didn't really mind when it for the rest of the mix, so it might just have been an issue with the levels in it. The track isn't really any worse for it, and is still awesome.

In other business, I do love how this mix exemplifies how great and varied vocal mixes can be. Hell, every vocal track on the project is great, but c'mon OCR! When are you gonna post backwards room to finish the set off?

[halc]

i love this. it and Nicole/co's 'A New Place' really stuck out to me as two of the most memorable remixes on the album. the vocal treatment in VGM always has an interesting (and risky) choice, but this is a very charming take on the original. awesome work, both of you

[Crulex]

Very cool. I love when someone tries to add lyrics to these songs because they're like blank slates that you can add to. Being able to do a vocal track and pulling it off is great. Pulling it off, in another language than English much less, is extremely impressive. These ReMixers definitely pulled this track off amazingly. The music has a great pop beat and the singing was beautiful. One of the highlights of the DKC 2 album for sure.

Edited August 8, 2010 by Crulex

[Loning]

Personally, i've come to enjoy foreign languages in songs, esp. Asian. It adds so much flavor to a song that it brings more out of it than w/o.

This specific piece is very well executed and I definitely enjoy listening to it. You have one great voice and for someone who'll never even understand Chinese(mandarin), I wanted to encourage you about using vocals in other languages. I think that's what makes OCR so unique, the ability of artists to step outside of their comfort zone and make something truly special.

Great job!

[Bahamut]

You know, at first I was sort of ehh on the song, but it really has grown on me over the course of listening to the album. This is a light & enjoyable song that really nails the atmosphere down.

Love it, great work Amy & Vinnie!

[Emunator]

True story, I was at a friend's dorm listening to this song on speakers while me and said friend ran through Donkey Kong Country 3, and out of nowhere, his Mandarin-speaking roommate popped out and practically shouted "WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO AND WHY CAN I UNDERSTAND IT?" We then proceeded to have him translate the song for us I guess that's a good reaction though?

Great remix though, I definitely feel like Amy upped her singing game on this one. Still room for improvement but it definitely feels like a solid effort that works in context. Such a cheery take on what I always felt was a more thoughtful, slow-paced original. Not what I was expecting or even hoping for for this source, but I like what I hear.

[454Casull]

Finally, a song that isn't compressed to hell. Great job on the mix.

[R3fan]

If it isn't too much trouble I would like an instrumental version of this as well. Again I really don't mean to offend anyone. If it is too much trouble than forget I asked.

[jebushatesu]

I glanced over at the translation lyrics, and I'm relieved at the decision to have the song in Chinise as opposed to English. The vocals match the music incredibly well, and repeating the English lyrics in my head only sounds awkward. Excellent composition choice!

[Dyluck]

When I went into Serious Monkey Business, I was really looking forward to my favourite tunes for one of my favourite VGM soundtracks and how they got treated, and expected that I would go out with a pin in something like Stickerbush Symphony or Bayou Boogie or Krook's March as my favourite ReMix on the album. I did not expect it to be this, an electro-pop children's song sung in Mandarin to Snow-Bound Land. 

Despite not being able to understand the words, the fact that it has a treatment like a children's song captures the nostalgia I have for this game, and especially thinking of the nature of those words. The song makes me ache viscerally for those days parked in front of my my portable CRT at the end of my bed, trying to find every last bonus barrel and DK Coin, washing myself aurally with the amazing soundtrack and exploring the world Rare had crafted.

Music transcends language, and this proves it.