ReMix: Final Fantasy VI 'Little Painter Girl'
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- Game: Final Fantasy VI (Square, 1994, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Adam Dachis
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): Relm
- Posted: 2005-05-29, evaluated by the judges
Newcomer Adam Dachis writes:
"I submitted another version of this about ten months ago. It was piano and drums back then. Now it's more of a "film soundtrack", as the people on the WIP boards are saying."
I can't begin to tell you how glad I am Adam reworked this piece, and how much of an improvement I think this new incarnation is. Taking Relm's theme and working it into an uplifting, cinematic (as correctly described) vision, Adam's second version employs some unique alterations to the rhythm of the original melody that give his arranging style a unique feel. It's mostly piano-driven, but there are strings, harp, flute, and orchestral percussion along for the ride, and sample quality and production are on the whole strong. If there's a weakness to the whole enchilada it's the arrangement decision to feature a rolling snare as the sole percussive element for considerable spans of time - I think something more elaborate could have worked. Whether the ReMixer knows it or not, there's a very Thomas Newman vibe going on here, especially at 1'38", where a quick key change and resolution varies it up a bit and tempers the overall bubbly, positive vibe with a little quirkiness. Next to the way Adam's played with the rhythm of the melody and layered it inwards upon itself, 1'38" is actually my favorite arrangement decision - Larry, Jesse, and Shariq all thought the notes sounded bad, out of place, awkward, or all of the above, but Gray and Harmony didn't. I think familiarity with Newman's work might help here; he's made it "okay" to blend in some pretty unusual changes into more conventional, major-key contexts. Being familiar with and appreciative of Newman's style, not only would I not call the resolution at 1'38" awkward, but I think it's one of the mix's key strengths and that it'd be less memorable and interesting without it. This is definitely a cinematic and not classical style of orchestral arrangement, with plenty of moving parts and a great ear for layering and transitions. It's interesting to see so many different opinions from the panel on this one - if only for the lovely moving flute part at 2'06", I can't see not giving this some arrangement kudos for simply having some interesting, compelling ideas. That's the mix's main strength, I feel - it has more than a couple interesting, provoking compositional ideas going on. Some of those ideas, as Jesse notes, are repeated quite a bit, perhaps mebbe a smidgin' too much, but hey, at least they're good ideas, representing dramatic, substantive changes to the original phrasing that really work. As a fan of Newman's approach of course I'm gonna enjoy the most Newmanesque submission we've seen to date; Dachis is certainly his own man, and I'm not suggesting this is emulation or imitation, but there's definite similarities, all of them positive in my book. There's also enough differences for the arrangement to stand on its own. If I'd tried to ReMix the Relm theme and come up with this, I'd personally be happy, I know that much. This also represents one of the most dramatic reinventions of a previously submitted (and rejected) piece I can recall; the submission/resubmission process isn't bulletproof (no process is), but here it worked out really well. Good stuff.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - ChaosPlayer on April 25, 2009
- yosefu on April 12, 2009
- metalsnakejuice on April 10, 2009
--Eino
- evktalo on April 5, 2009
But seriously an excellent mix. Check this out.
- OA on April 3, 2009
- Lucentas on December 6, 2008
- MajLink on June 20, 2006
- Mythezza on June 16, 2006
the high notes on the piano gives that cute "Relm"
appearance, the music just marching through my head.
In other words: I LOVE IT! :D
- Bummerdude on September 19, 2005
Great piano! nice instrumentation, specially with the initial march drums and later flaute.
Congrats!!!
- gasto on July 8, 2005
- maestermatt on July 5, 2005
That whole 1:38 thing, it sure does stand out. I think maybe it doens't belong in this song because it doens't seem to match the feel. After listening to the song a few times, however, it loses it's "missplacedness", as you become accustomed to it. At any rate, it was a risk, one that I woul not have taken myself, but in the end seems to work regardless.
I'd say a 9 out of 10, since it's a very nice song, but for the most part, a little simpler than others. Don't get me wrong, simple is rarely synonomous with bad, and in this songs case, is one of it's important distinguishing factors. I do wish it were longer. I could listen to this song for quite a whie and not tire of it. Reflecting, I don't know if this type of remix of this perticular song could be not simple. At any rate, it's a wonderful song. I like it very much, and in my opinion, you have done a great job.
~Lord Syruss
[Edit]
You know, I'd like to revisit the whole 1:38 thing. After listening to this song a few more times, I really come to appreciate the variance. I have to say, it was a good decision on your part, as it changes the song a bit, but still lends to the beauty of it. Way to go on that. I really do like the melody of that section.
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[Edit]
Well, this song really is a masterpiece. I truly love it now. I'm going to go ahead and give it a 10 out of 10. Man do I love this song.
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- Lord_Syruss_Khalai on June 23, 2005
This arrangement has an uplifting tense feel to it all, which definitely reminds me of "Blues Traveler"(I think this has to do with the drums mainly) and "Wings"(26 second mark for sure) although toned down. But then I definitely feel it has an innocent touch and almost sounds a lot like "The Treasure Which Cannnot Be Stolen"(42 second mark piano).
That innocent touch brings the light-heartedness feel to it that made the original so memorable. A few keys sound like they're from the original(42 second mark woodwinds/synthesizers) but this only happens in a couple of places for only around 10 seconds at a time...otherwise you could have fooled me that this was "Relm".
And that breakdown of the music at the 1:38 mark is brilliant. Love it.
Overall, "Little Painter Girl" is very pleasing to the ears. I could listen to this for a long time to come. Download this now.
- Krelian on June 18, 2005
- Geoffrey Taucer on June 9, 2005
- LadHolyman on June 6, 2005
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