ReMix: Silent Hill 'NayTomorrow'
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- Game: Silent Hill (Konami, 1999, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Tamimi
- Composer(s): Akira Yamaoka
- Song(s): Not Tomorrow 1 (Lisa's Theme)
- Posted: 2002-08-27, evaluated by djpretzel
Newcomer Tamimi sent me a really . . . interesting email. Not sure why, but for some reason he attributed the delay between him submitting his ReMix and it getting posted to OC ReMix being "racist" and anti-Arab. Rest assured, this is not the case - we may be slow, true, but not racist. One of my better friends is Afghan, so hopefully that clears things up a bit for him (sent an email tonight but no response yet). Anyway, his mix from the original Silent Hill is quite good and, unlike many mixes of this game, favors melodic content over nightmarish ambient effects. Tamimi also used an Arabic instrument called a "nay", which he plays, extensively - it's quite beautiful and lends a very important human, emotional element to this piece. Some background on the nay:
"The word nay from Persian is used to describe a single reed pipe of the simplest design whose origins go back to the Sumerian civilization.
Nay is the generic Arabic name for simple open-ended reed instruments which usually have 6 holes in the front for the fingers to play and 1 hole underneath for the thumb. Fine, mellow tones are brought forth by blowing gently over the orifice of the tube while manipulating the fingers and thumbs; by blowing with more or less force, sounds are produced an octave higher or lower, and tunes in different scales can be played by utilizing nays of various lengths.
Although very simple, the nay is extraordinarily versatile. Its poetical timbre makes it especially suitable for melancholy effects expressing both joy and yearning."
This concludes your world music educational lesson for the night :) Built on crystalline electric piano and bell, you can hear the nay immediately - it wavers with an intimate uncertainty that makes it quite ideal for a lead part in this sort of piece. Synth pads and a great synth harp join into a gorgeous extended passage without the clear lead of the intro, which makes a return at 2'47". Though there's some hiss on the recording and the ending stops a little abruptly, there's phrases here that are stunning, and I do think Tamimi's done an excellent job in rendering the original theme in a new fashion, with a unique instrument that I'd not previously heard of but have quickly grown to appreciate. Highly recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the On a side note it really annoys me when people will play that 'no no I'm not a racist/bigot/etc. because one of my best friends is asian/black/latino/white/middle eastern/etc' and that's suppposed to make the whole situation better. That is such a lame come back. Was Tamimi supposed to say 'Oh you do? well that changes everything!' or something along those lines?...It diminishes his intelligence. I'm not saying this was posted late because of discrimination or that dj pretzel is that sort of person (i don't know him). but that was the lamest comeback ever. I wish he'd take that comment down from the review...
- aakapaisiiwa on August 8, 2008
- XD Omen XD on May 31, 2006
There were quite a bit of times where I just wasn't prepared for what actually happened. In fact, 5 seconds into the song the piano makes a minimalist appearance (a whole 7 spine chilling notes). I was expecting another round of the intro before any other instruments joined in, but got a nice example of what to expect from the rest of the piece: minimalistic, with just a few unexpected twists to keep one interested.
The beat itself is extremely simple, repeating the same 4 measures for the majority of the piece. Not much else is really needed, as the nay provides all the dynamic/emotional aspects of the song. The occasional accompanying instruments add just enough variety to keep the piece from getting too boring.
Overall, the pure emotion present within the nay is what drives this piece. I, for one, found the ending to be absolutely brilliant. To me, the entire premise of the song is a very mellowdramatic outlook on life (call it emo, if you will). Everything is depressing, even the various moments that have meaning are still melancholy, all leading up to an abrupt end (suicide, accident, etc.). At least that's how I interpret it.
- SPFiredrake on March 16, 2006
- neminem on May 23, 2005
not that its bad although i hate that ending
it sounds like he took the notes from the midi and failed to create an ending proerly for mp3 format
i also don't see what's so emotional about it... this song just feeds on the emotion of the orginal it doesn't really build on anything nor does it necessarily make it worse
maybe i'm just being cynical???
- Redslash on January 31, 2005
ifirit wrote: If anyone is interested in listening to this earlier copy of the [i]Extended Version[/i] of "Not Tomorrow, " send me a PM.
Interesting. Thanks, for that info. I would like to hear it, actually. ;)
- myf on January 31, 2005
But I have to admit that I agree with so many others.....quite the abrupt ending.....but thats a small thing....
Well worth the download
- ^^DeusEx^^ on January 31, 2005
Mythril Nazgul wrote: However, i have a minor gripe with the abrupt ending, however, it can be forgiven.
[u]Interesting note[/u]: In the early days of in-game music ripping, someone tried to record "Not Tomorrow" in mp3 form. The purpose was to capture an [i]extended version[/i] of "Not Tomorrow," in order to allow the fans to listen to more than what is on the Original Soundtrack. However, lacking proper editing software, this [i]extended version[/i] was cut-off in an irregular place during the recording. Despite this, the track was promptly placed on the internet for all fans to download.
This [i]Extended Version[/i] of "Not Tomorrow" was the first attempt at making a "Complete Soundtrack" of Silent Hill's music, mostly because the official soundtracks often lacked certain tracks or complete versions of those tracks. You might even go so far as to say it was the first available mp3 of any in-game music not released on CD. Who knows? Anyway, the point is that Tamimi's [i]aburpt ending[/i] is a direct tribute to that first mp3 version of "Not Tomorrow," a common misunderstanding among newer fans of the series.
Since this mp3 was released on the internet, several incarnations of a Complete Soundtrack have passed through the Silent Hill circles, the most famous of which are Dustfungus' [i]Silent Hill Media[/i], Silent Hill Forum's [i]Complete OST[/i] sections, and most recently [i]The Sound of Silence[/i].
If anyone is interested in listening to this earlier copy of the [i]Extended Version[/i] of "Not Tomorrow, " send me a PM.
- ifirit on January 30, 2005
Probably not, however I am still "expecting more" as the mixer himself so eloquently put it earlier in this thread. This mix is pure trance (not in the electronica sense) delight, with the kind of vibes I would find on a Pure Moods CD (which I do own) and the soft, soothing melancholic feeling that draws well upon the original. The live instrument recording only adds to the excellence of this piece in leaps and bounds. I have no problems with the other instruments (specifically that e. piano that is being scrutinized). In one word: beautiful. In two words: beautiful and sad.
However, i have a minor gripe with the abrupt ending, however, it can be forgiven. Please make more music, Tamimi.
- myf on January 30, 2005
The piano and nay accompany together so well for this, that this song sounds so. . .saddening, yet also hopeful.
Excellent work for Tamimi and such expert use of a wondrous instrument on a great song.
- FinalGamer on January 29, 2005
Once again I've seen a couple of people mention something along the lines of creepy. Me, I happened to be writing a sad/romantic scene for a story when I started listening to this. The scene is now a page longer than it was supposed to be.
It also reminds me of something from a fantasy-like game/movie/cartoon/etc.
Okay, now I'm rambling. ^^;
Key words: Beautiful, sad, romantic, inspiring.
And with that last note, I'll end by saying this remix is going on my "Dramatic Inspiriation" playlist. ^_^ Great work!
- Babysoft-chan on December 4, 2004
really liked your take on this. Its fine.
Not by its sound alone, but you can really feel like you're totally alone when you hear it.
Is that a good, or bad response?
- Kadosho on June 18, 2004
- Patriarch K on July 9, 2003
Im not overly keen on the electric piano sample used.
It doesnt ruin the mood or anything, it just...doent sound right to me or something. I'd have preferred an actual piano, but whats done is done (and its not like it makes it an apalling tack or anything)
The piece however, is amazingly beautiful...
I had actually heard a Nay many times before this piece, but this is the only time it really sounded this good...
I also like the sine wave that plays after the Nay...thats just beautiful ^_^
The only real problem with it is the sharp cut-off...I would have preferred a fadeout or if possible some form of improvised finish.
I highly recommend this track to anyone, not just the fans of silent hill...its just brilliant.
- Eccles on June 24, 2003
- Landon on October 7, 2002
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