ReMix: Final Fantasy IX 'Shepherd Won't Alone'
- Game: Final Fantasy IX (Square, 2000, PS1)
- ReMixer(s): Tuba Lin
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): You Are Not Alone
- Posted: 2004-08-06, evaluated by the judges
Newcomer Tuba Lin might in fact be our first ReMixer from Taiwan - I'm not 100% sure that's the case, but at any rate he's submitted a very elaborate, fresh take on the popular You're Not Alone track off FF9, in an orchestral style that he pulls off admirably. This mix doesn't feature the best samples in the world, but is a great example of how a full, varied, dramatic arrangement can compensate for/alleviate sound quality that isn't stellar. Besides that, the Roland SC-8850 used isn't awful by any stretch of the imagination. The recording is a little low and has a bit of hiss, but nothing too prohibitive. What I especially love here is how the ReMixer isn't afraid to alter tempo, switch from solo to ensemble portions, toggle between sections with a lot of forward momentum to more syncopated stops, and use countermelody - in particular, most everything the flutes are doing for most of the track - and do so abundantly. Tuba's obviously got a flair for the dramatic, as this piece runs a wider spectrum of orchestral colors than many symphonic pieces, and does so with technique and emotion to boot. The ReMixer writes:
"Several years after I listened the original music, I got some idea about the prelude part and flute and harp part,but I stopped for some reason. One day while I'm listening the OC remixes I suddenly realize that I should arrange something for submission to OCR, and this is it."
I'm both glad he went back and completed his ideas and that he submitted the finished product, and I also think it's cool that we receive submissions from all over the planet from people with an abundance of varied skills and styles. Good stuff, great first mix, and lovely to see this popular theme given a symphonic overhaul.
- Lucentas on June 20, 2009
Awesome interpretation! :-)
- OA on October 17, 2008
- I_Love_OC_ReMixes on December 24, 2005
Thanks TL.
- Bummerdude on September 22, 2005
The Jenova remix from FF7 that was done in Piano is a good example. Listining to the original version of that, a piano remix is quite possibly the farthest thing from my mind, and I am a pianist. But regardless, I enjoyed it.
This song is very nice because it's differant. It isn't as noisy (not in a bad way) as the original, and yet it's packed with emotion and feeling. I very much enjoy this remix, and I feel that Tuba Lin has done a great job, remixing a song and not only making a remix of it, but a remix that is differant enough from the original to be apprecited independantly while still "knowing its roots."
Keep up the excellent work. 9/10.
~Syruss
- Lord_Syruss_Khalai on May 22, 2005
"You Are Not Confined" by Sonicade was certainly good, but only in a standard way. It is a result of presentation tweaking whereas Shpherd is a result of musical inspiration.
- FooBar on May 7, 2005
- benevolensaurus on December 3, 2004
- Reload on December 1, 2004
It starts off with a a few drums to open, then a gentle and relaxing flute steals the show but not for long, as the drums return and carry on. It's almost like the drums and flute "agree" to work together, and what we get next is the drums playing to add body to the main "You're Not Alone!" beat, while the flutes incorporate a unique and very original interpretation to it, a soul so to speak.
You all might call me crazy, but the real 'masterpiece' of this mix, is at 2:08 - where the tempo slows down. Sure some got bored at this part, but this is where the mixer, Tuba Lin, begins to interpertate the piece to make it his own. Not much to say, up until 2:42 where we get another original/unique interp. of an organ-y type intrument to take the regular beat just one step further. Ten seconds later, that flute returns to make very good original translations/additions to the song. It continues to do it's thang and I can't get over how [b]he was able to move away from the original track to make very powerful changes, yet stay close enough to it to maintain the "You're Not Alone!" appeal that hooked us all to that song.[/b]
The song begins to come to an end, with the flute and percussion continuing their "snazz" until the flute wraps it all up.
It's hard to describe how I listen to this song, but I heavily believe that this song would appeal to everyone who didn't like it too much if they listen to the underlying additions, as opposed to trying to stay close to the original beat. As my review shows (hopefully), that[i] this is one of those rare songs where the beauty of it is in it's subtleties[/i] rather than it's connection to the original.
[PS. I'm not very good with intrument identification =P]
- zero stryker on October 9, 2004
Well, making sense, lets start with the intro. It's original, and decent. Good job there.
After that we get the melody put on repeat for the remainder of the song.
Aside from some new harmonies, a drum beat, and a change in instruments, there isn't much different than the original. I was bored before 2:00 had passed, usually not a good sign.
My original feelings of this song for the OSV version was "It's not long enough." With this version my thoughts are "Please God, when will this song end?"
Good attempt, I'd say a 4/10 for being able to change the style.
- Darangen on September 3, 2004
I would love to hear more - the flutes at 1:15 were lovely to hear. 7.5/10
- flipt on August 26, 2004
- SixthFlyingMan on August 11, 2004
That's what I was left with at 1:15 when the flutes come in doing their countermelody. Holy goddamned shiznizzle they were amazing. I'm listening to it for my FIFTH time now in a row (normally I'll listen to a whole game and then go and pick out my favourites but this...this is CRAZY!) and the goosebumps aren't getting any smaller. If I had one piece of advice for the mixer, I'd say [b]DO MORE![/b]
- Graeme Shaw on August 11, 2004
I'm sorry about my English isn't well.
I come from Taiwan.I'm glad I can share my remix here.
I use flute patch a lot because it is good enough for use
in the music as a single solo instrument patch.
There are other solo instruments patch in 8850,
but they are suck.They can be used in some situation with
other patch,but not for a single solo part.
My sound card is Sound Blaster Live Value 5.1.
I use cakewalk 9.0 to compose and Sound Forge 5.0 to record.
How can I prove recording quality?
I know gigasampler is a good software for use,but I bought
my computer several years ago,the PIII-500 cpu isn't fast enough
for gigasampler.
I only played FF9 for about 20 hours,and You're Not Alone
track stay in my heart until now.
One day while I was riding home,an idea came to me.This
is 00:24 to 00:47.Then I found I also need a prelude,and
its came to me while waiting the trffic light.
I began to work after I arrived home.I have done most part
from 00:00 to 00:47.
Playing game is great fun,so is remix/compose music,but
playing game is easy and relax,and remix/compose makes
me feel good but very tired.I have to think about many
things about hamorny,balance,tempo and so on.
These things made me left the remix for about 1 or 2 years.
Its is easier to put a disc in my PS2 instead of opening
cakewake.
One day while I was listening the OC remixes I suddenly
realize that I should arrange something for submission
to OCR,so I continued the remix.
I was thinking about a big change after 2:07,but things
went different while I was making this part.Another
idea came in so it became to this kind of music that you
hearing now.
I have heared a music called "Lonly Shepherd" in both
Nana's album and Kill Bill OST.Its a great piece about
"lonely" and "sacrifice".
Hero in legend or fantasy story usually need to save
someone or a country,sometimes even whole world,so I
think hero is a kind of shepherd.But our hero won't
be alone,that is why I named it with "Shepherd Won't Alone".
I learned a lot of skill while making this remix.
This is a great experience.
- Tuba on August 9, 2004
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