ReMix:Puzzle Bobble "Silver Dragon's Bubbles" 3:21

By COUCOU

Arranging the music of one song...

"Journey to PaoPao Island!"

Primary Game: Puzzle Bobble (Taito , 1994, NGCD), music by Kazuko Umino, Yasuko Yamada

Posted 2004-02-25, evaluated by the judges panel


Also known as 'Bust-a-Move' (not to be confused with the dancing game 'Bust-a-Groove'), Taito's Puzzle Bobble gets its first attention on OCR courtesy of COUCOU. This is a fun little electronica mix that uses a lead synth strongly resembling a duck, to humorous and light-hearted effect. If that sounds a little odd, maybe it is, but when you hear you shall understand. There's a chipper octave bass, some popping bubble effects, filtered analogue arpeggios, and minimal but get-the-job-done percussion. There a great little vibrato synth counter-melody that comes in at the first minute mark that's fun too, preceding a bubble-percussion break and then a variation on the main melody. Towards the end there's a pretty damn cool synth solo that does massive monoglide, and in general a wider variety of synth textures are brought in to keep things interesting throughout. New judge Daniel Baranowsky writes:

"The percussion is a bit more subdued than I would like, and an EQ-fest would more likely fix that than an actual volume increase. E.G., fatness in the snare (~250 Hz), Thump in the Kick (80-150 Hz), etc etc etc. But given the silly-ass nature of the piece, I don't think it subracts too much from it.The synths are well programmed, obviously a lot of care was put into their portamento and timbre in general. The gutteral, analogish bass works great with the more floaty leads. Enter 2:25, the lead solo. Very well done. A bit on the louder side, doesn't blend as well as it could, but still acceptable. I actually like the "Casio Keyboard" sound to it. Mmmm... Nostalgia.

I have to note that despite the intentionally retro feel, very few Casio home keyboards had analog filters or emulations thereof, if any, which is a big part of this mix. Darkesword noted the dry feel to the overal composition and that perhaps some more attention to DSP could have helped, but I'm not sure that this more direct, cleaner approach isn't preferable for this type of happy/jolly/chipper retro-nostalgia fest. At any rate, this definitely captures the pure sugary bubble-gumosity of Zuntata's original and the cute, carefree vibe that permeates the series. Fun.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Txai
on 2017-05-04 09:30:04

It's enjoyable enough. I just noticed Coucou is french. And this certainly sounds like an european track. Specifically, I get Stereo Total vibes from this.

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TillyFun
on 2014-04-19 11:15:11

aww it's just so so happy! :3

bloop! ... bloop! ... bloop! :u

Love the subtle trilling from 1:00 to 1:20.

The track seems to hit its stride around the midpoint, and especially at 2:00 when the harder sound kicks in a moment.

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OA
on 2009-03-20 09:39:37

Pretty split opinions on this one. I think a bit of humanization on the leads would make a world of difference in improving the sound of this. The sounds are well chosen and processed, but the percussion is wimpy, and the main melody and counterpoint is just so stiffly presented that it really holds this one back.

I absolutely love the filtered pads, however; what a beautiful sound. The fact that it's tied to a great chord progression earns a big ol' ^__^ from me.

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Kulaman
on 2006-01-30 17:26:56

if i can possibly come up with a problem with this remix, it's that it's TOO happy. seeing as how i've never run into that before, i give this a 10/10.

having never played Puzzle Bobble i haven't heard the original, however, i HAVE played Bubble Bobble and i love it. YAY! :D

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RimFrost the Tourianist
on 2004-08-24 16:26:53

The quack quack sound is very nice and uplifting at times , and the bubble part is a cool touch...has been awhile since i heard anything THIS happy :)

Great bassline too.

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fisherman
on 2004-03-18 12:26:48

I love this! :D I just want to dance around now. My favorite part is the bubble popping sounds, when they're by themselves.

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Air Man
on 2004-03-17 00:43:45

I absolutely adore this remix. I loved the original Bust a Move theme music, and then I finally found a remix...hoo-wee! Fantastic.

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ESHbyESH
on 2004-03-12 10:19:14
FUNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm likin' it very much!

I agree with all the positive reviews here and think all the negative reviewers can stick their heads in the pooper.

THBBBPT!

That's got to be one of the most terrible and un-helpful comments i've ever seen. Atleast people who didn't like it gave good reasons, rather than something like "I like it. yay. people who don't ilike it suck" - and by being critical, we're in turn helping the mixer develop their work, so it's really a positive thing ^^

You're right, I wasn't too helpful. I don't remember what I was on that night. Here's the intelligent version:

Catchy beat, good subtle driving bass. Not overdone at all.

The main melody instrument is fun, like a duck. Which is fun. Ducks are fun.

I like the trills and interplays of various instrunments in the background.

The little theramin type sound right before the breakdown is cool, never heard that sample before.

Breakdown at 1:15 is sufficiently "bubbly" for the game it represents.

The added notes after the breakdown make it interesting enough so it doesn't feel repetitive.

Whoa! Total shift at 2:00! Keep going, keep going!

Instrument at 2:15 is just a bit too shrill, but I'm still with it. And then it ends.

That's why I like it.

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King Matt I
on 2004-03-11 19:09:36

Oh, this is great! :D Heh! I love the silly mood that this song captures. It pretty much portrays the feel of the game... Although I can't say that game ever had that much of an emotional impact on me in the first place. Definitely a keeper, though. I love the duckish, cheesy-sounding (in a good way- it just contributes to the mood so well) whatever the heck that is leading the song! :P I wish the bubble-popping sounds starting at 1:14 had been elaborated upon just a bit- they could've been in more parts of the song and I would've loved it... So good job on the bubbles, although I do wish there had been more of them. And yes, I realize that there was the occasional popping sound throughout the entire time, but if you don't know what I was talking about, you are a complete idiot. As far as the variation in instruments is concerned near the end of the song, I loved it. The song would have been borderline boring if they hadn't been integrated, but with them, it was the perfect amount of ducky-sounding thing. Hahaha! This song is so silly, though, that there's really not much to argue with. Two thumbs up. Because I can do that. I have two thumbs.

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pmk
on 2004-03-11 18:55:00

Very very funny! Just perfect, the main instrument looks like a child singing very cool LOL :lol:

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Hadyn
on 2004-03-04 04:41:03
FUNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm likin' it very much!

I agree with all the positive reviews here and think all the negative reviewers can stick their heads in the pooper.

THBBBPT!

That's got to be one of the most terrible and un-helpful comments i've ever seen. Atleast people who didn't like it gave good reasons, rather than something like "I like it. yay. people who don't ilike it suck" - and by being critical, we're in turn helping the mixer develop their work, so it's really a positive thing ^^

Think about it.

~Hadyn

Disclaimer: Echo2K4 is an exception to what i've said. His/her post was worse than yours ^^;

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SnIpErMiKe
on 2004-03-03 19:04:46

Only thing I hate about this song is that the damn music is caught into my head...... again.

I honestly laughed out loud when the song started, but the snare drum-type hits definitely could be a little better, the song does sound like an 80's-type song, but that stood out too much to FULLY enjoy the song.

Still, makes the memories all flood back.

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MahBoiiii
on 2004-02-28 07:31:35

i love the bust a move game music. i serously have been wanting to make a remix of this song for a while. (i still dont have any remixing program damnit).

This song was ok. liked the bubble bursting in the background, but he chose the wrong rythems for this song/not enough syncopations. he also didn't put in the high counter-melody part from the game in.

The choice of music is great, but not the remix itself. I still listen to it for the origanal theme from it.

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ESHbyESH
on 2004-02-26 21:14:26

FUNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm likin' it very much!

I agree with all the positive reviews here and think all the negative reviewers can stick their heads in the pooper.

THBBBPT!

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Puzzle Bobble (Taito , 1994, NGCD)
Music by Kazuko Umino,Yasuko Yamada
Songs:
"Journey to PaoPao Island!"

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File Information


Name:
Puzzle_Bobble_Silver_Dragon's_Bubbles_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
4,912,744 bytes
MD5:
1f322c00633c89e8ba377cfe63538cd5
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
3:21

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