ReMix:Final Fantasy X "The Flooded Temple" 4:20

After the absolutely berserk Dynamite Headdy ReMix we just posted, now's a time for class and gentility. :-) Bluelighter beautifully blends Nakano and Umetasu Final Fantasy X themes together for solo piano! It's a picture of refinement with a little bit of loneliness, as explained by the ReMixer:

"Here is a piano arrangement of two themes heard at the beginning of the game. In the history, it was when Tidus (the main character) discovered a desolated word. J. Nakano made an atmosphere track for "Underwater Ruins", a little scary. However, the melody had some delicacy.

I've tried to adapt this in my arrangement (parts 1 to 3 and 9, cf. breakdown). About part 3, it the same melody but with a more marked rhythm like in the original.

There was also a stressful side in the original piece. At part 1 and 4, we retrieve the strange harmony of the original. At part 4, I've added some ornaments based on these harmonies.

"No Hopes, No Dreams" (N. Uematsu) came naturally after "Underwater". Musically, some common harmonies allowed me to make my transition. These parts (6 to 8) are more powerful with a more marked rhythm.

The piece ends by part 9, a delicate part similar to part 2. Enjoy!

BREAKDOWN:

1 - 0'00 "Underwater" (1'04-2'00)
2 - 0'26 "Underwater" (0'00-0'30)
3 - 1'27 "Underwater" (0'30-1'04)
4 - 2'00 "Underwater" (1'04-2'00)
5 - 2'29 "No Hopes" (0'23-0'38)
6 - 2'44 "No Hopes" (0'10-0'23, the key transposition) & "Underwater" (0'30-1'04)
7 - 2'58 "No Hopes" (0'38-1'20)
8 - 3'25 "No Hopes" (0'23-0'38)
9 - 3'43 "Underwater" (0'00-0'30)"

It's always worth investigating how Bluelighter segments the moods and timing of his sections, so we appreciate the details he provides. Judge MindWanderer quickly shared kudos for an exquisite performance:

"Classic Bluelighter piano work. Great interleaving of the two sources into a seamless arrangement. Gorgeous work all around."

I'd even go as far as saying this may be Bluelighter's strongest solo piano piece yet here on OCR. The adaptation of the "Underwater (0'-0'30)" section was easily my favorite portion here, and retaining the droplet-inspired sound of Nakano's original theme there was super effective. Our reservoir of judging feedback, prophetik music, appreciated every drip-drop of musicality on display:

"the intro is in a 3-3-2 pattern in the left hand with some great flourishes in the right - love the energy. after this, the underwater theme is brought in with a flowing arpeggiated line underneath the melodic material. this picks up with a switch to triple meter around 1:28 - this flows so well, great concept. 2:00 brings back the rolls in the right hand, and it flows right into no hopes so seamlessly. excellent concept.

the use of big blocks of chords to punctuate the part before the no hopes melodic material at about 2:52 is inspired - totally unlike anything else in the piece, and does a great job defining a totally new feel. this trickles down and goes back to the underwater theme with the flowing arpeggios in the left hand. this is a nice bookend to the piece. then the maj7 chords to finish it are great.

easy vote. beautiful arrangement."

A splendid tickling of the 88 keys with style for days, including the original accompaniment. Who knows, perhaps another one for Bluelighter's future concert repertoire, eh? Nice job, Guillaume!