Posted 2015-12-23, evaluated by the judges panel


Our first ReMix of Drakengard 3 comes from OCR newcomer sschafi1 (Sean Schafianski), who has conjured up a folk/rock ballad complete with a Japanese Vocaloid-style (technically the shareware alternative, UTAU) take on the source vocals/lyrics - he writes:

"Being a huge fan of Keiichi Okabe and his work on NieR, I figured it was time to make a Drakengard 3 remix to commemorate this fantastic new game! :) This is a pop/rock arrangement of "Black Song (International)." The original name is much longer but "International" means the same thing, haha. Here, you get a very good helping of the source material, so it is definitely not too liberal this time around. I bought the official piano book and used the exact same progression as the original source; it is a little longer than the original because of the added guitar solo.

The arrangement starts mellow and slowly builds while gaining instrumentation, then bursts out into the rock section. After the guitar solo, it ritards and goes back to being mellow and slows down considerably at the end as per the original. Added vocals via UTAU. My first time using the program, haha. I hope you all enjoy! :)"

Vocaloid, along with poster child Hatsune Miku, has sort of carved out its own aesthetic in the music world - no one's going to mistake it for a human... and that's okay. There are often fleeting moments of uncanny valleyness where synthetic vocals can approach realism, but taken as a whole they just tend to have their own unique sound that some people love. It takes a bit of work to get things sounding as good as they do on this mix, at least from my observation, so props to Sean for working with UTAU pretty successfully - especially since it was his first rodeo. Accompaniment is warm & rich, guitar solo is a nice touch, and generally speaking while the vocal is prominent, it's got quite a bit of support. Liontamer writes:

"The source tune is all about taking that melody and going 6 minutes with lots of changes in what's surrounding it, and I felt this arrangement did a solid job with the same approach, with the textures constantly evolving. Electric guitar soloing at 4:18 was fun; the slowdown at 5:06 was sudden though and could have used a few extra bars to breathe... All in all, this sounded very much like a professional Japanese arrange album piece as far as the concept and presentation."

There are tons of Vocaloid pieces on YouTube, including game arrangements, but not all of them have an accompaniment this strong; kudos to sschafi1 on his OCR debut!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 6 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Crulex
on 2018-05-15 02:47:15

I really never had a problem with Vocaloid music, though I do admit that I'm more of a fan of the deeper voiced ones like Luka or Meiko, so this is even closer to what I enjoy in this field because it is much clearer than the usual vocaloid stuff. And beyond the vocals, the music itself was very pleasant to listen to and had a smooth, warm feel. I could see this fitting very much into a Vocaloid rhythm game with how it showcases a steady beat with the strong guitar solo. Very nice, I enjoyed hearing this!

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Alcino
on 2016-01-15 07:29:48

Great-sounding remix! I'd really like to add it to my collection, for repeat listening, but Vocaloid hurts my ears... I don't suppose there's a version without?

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Brandon Strader
on 2015-12-24 07:21:46

Sean Schafianski -- I have massive respect for you my friend. So much that I double, nearly triple-checked to make sure I spelled your name right. :) This is so many miles and leagues above my OCR solo debut remix. By most standards even more established remixers this would be seen as a strong remix. Sure, there's some oddness to the mixing... vocals a tad loud, would have preferred a little more body to the acoustics.. Starting at 1:07 it seemed like the kick and snare was loud, and the kick could have used more of a low-end boost to give it some warmth/thump, maybe around 80Hz.. bass presence in the mix seems a bit too sterile, a bit clean. But the performances are so amazingly well done and everything sounds so awesome, and distinctly Japanese-arrangement sounding. With Emi Evans singing on this, it would sound right out of NieR perhaps. Maybe for the upcoming NieR 2? :P

It's weird that around here critiques can be summed up to "I wasn't bothered by THIS..."

But with this song, I find myself not really being bothered by any particular element. I love the piano, both the sound and the sequencing (or performance, not gonna assume). Aforementioned nitpicks don't even bother me, they're just things that I personally would have dug hearing differently but doesn't affect my enjoyment of the song. The guitar solo is really nice and the tone is well-crafted. I think the drums could have used a little work in terms of leveling and EQ, but on the whole, the sound design is fantastic and the arrangement is very pleasing.

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teeteejay
on 2015-12-24 00:19:21

I'm so happy that OCR posted a Vocaloid remix!! the ACG community (anime-comic-games) had always been overlapping at conventions, it's about time one of them broke into OCR.

In the info above, though, it does not state which UTAU voice was used. I'm curious to know.

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Necrox
on 2015-12-23 19:59:37

Definitely sounds like NieR. I haven't heard many Vocoloid pieces, but the tone in this one seems better, more articulate. I agree on the backing being strong; it certainly helps when I don't comprehend the lyrics.

Also found this fun to improv snare solos over for some reason.

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Liontamer
on 2015-12-23 05:05:45

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

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Drakengard 3 (Square Enix , 2013, PS3)
Music by Akitaka Tohyama,Chihiro Onitsuka,Kakeru Ishihama,Keigo Hoashi,Keiichi Okabe,Kuniyuki Takahashi,Nobuyoshi Sano
Songs:
"Kuroiuta (International Version)"

Tags (11)


Genre:
Ballad,Folk,Rock
Mood:
Mellow
Instrumentation:
Acoustic Guitar,Electric Guitar,Piano,Singing,Vocals: Female
Additional:
Lyrics > Lyrics: Existing
Time > 4/4 Time Signature

File Information


Name:
Drakengard_3_Ignus_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
11,607,547 bytes
MD5:
a47009d1d0de7503113c608d39abe883
Bitrate:
226Kbps
Duration:
6:47

JAPANESE (KANJI):

アタラセ リ
ハメツアウ タ
ケモノト ナリ トキリ

ウバイサ ル
ハリノシラ ベ
リンネノ ヒト タリ

シト ハバタツアミ
コイ クライシロカラ
イツ オア トオク キコエ
アマイ キロクバネ ササメク

クロイハナ
アノコエガ
コワレタメノ アル ママ

クロイハナ
アノウタガ
ツクリマイツ アル ママ
イミ

アタラセ リ
コオリアウ タ
アクムナ マウ ヒヲ

ムト タチキルシガ
イク アカイモリカラ
イム ベク ケガレ ハラム
ヨワイ アノオモイ ハガレル

クロイハナ
アノコエガ
イノリノチガ アル ママ

クロイハナ
アノウタガ
ザンゲノヒガ アル ママ
キエ

サイヤクア
マチオリル
コワレタトキ ヒト ユメ

クリカエリ
ワカレユキ
ユルサレザル オト ハナ
シウ

JAPANESE (ROMAJI):

Atarase ri
Hametsuau ta
Kemonoto nari tokiri

Ubaisa ru
Harinoshira be
Rinneno hito tari

Shito habatatsuami
Koi kuraishirokara
Itsu oa tooku kikoe
Amai kirokubane sasameku

Kuroihana
Anokoega
Kowaretameno aru mama

Kuroihana
Anoutaga
Tsukurimaitsu aru mama
Imi

Atarase ri
Kooriau ta
Akumuna mau hio

Muto tachikirushiga
Iku akaimorikara
Imu beku kegare haramu
Yowai anoomoi hagareru

Kuroihana
Anokoega
Inorinochiga aru mama

Kuroihana
Anoutaga
Zangenohiga aru mama
Kie

Saiyakua
Machioriru
Kowaretatoki hito yume

Kurikaeri
Wakareyuki
Yurusarezaru oto hana
Shiu

ENGLISH (rough):

A harmless song of ruin
which creates a monster
that harms itself, and others

The tension lifted from me,
when reborn, alone

Spreading my wings of death, on high
Love blooms from the darkest white
I hear distant murmurs
Sweet whispers from the wings of the past

The black flower is the voice
which abides in this broken eye

The black flower is the song
where it has been since its creation
awaiting its purpose

A harmless song of ice
frosting the days, when the nightmares dance

No escape from the death
Emerging from the scarlet woods
Pregnant with the spawn of an abomination
I let go these weak thoughts

The black flower is the voice
I hear, always, in bloodied prayers

The black flower is the song
that shall ring out the day of repentance
in which all shall disappear

The disaster will fall upon us
It sounds the arrival of Doomsday

When this repeats, our paths will diverge
O', unforgiving Flower's song
Let me be free, in this final moment!

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