ReMix: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 'Falling Back'
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- Game: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo, 1998, N64)
- ReMixer(s): Darangen
- Composer(s): Koji Kondo
- Song(s): Gerudo Valley
- Posted: 2005-12-11, evaluated by the judges
Darangen writes:
"This is a lyrical remix of Gerudo Valley. I made it for RPGamer.com's Splendid Performance competition, round 4. I know the judges haven't been fans of my lyrical remixes in the past, but I believe my vocal work has improved at least somewhat since my last vocal submission, so hopefully I'll either get acceptance or some new, helpful comments."
This does represent an improvement over the last mix Michael sent our way that had vocals, and while it lacks the clarity and pitch control of Hale-Bopp's 'Summertime' or jdproject's 'Ken Song,' those mixes set a pretty high benchmark for vocals in the genre. Michael also gets vocabulary bonus points for managing to write a rock lyric that incorporates the word 'ardency' - and in the chorus, no less. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure if that's the type of word I'd use in a rock song, but there's still vernacular cajones involved in doing so. This is Gerudo, which becomes readily apparent at 0'26" after a nice, edgy electric guitar intro. The chorus really works well in the chosen genre - it's already addictive as hell, but Darangen's power guitar anthematic treatment ensures that it'll be reverberating around in your head even longer. Instrumentally, it's what you'd expect from Mike, and the highlight for me was (surprise) the rockin' wah-wah solo at 2'45" - great addition. Vocally, I think the ReMixer sounds better when he's singing on top of a heavier bed of guitar and drums than he does in the more exposed passages. When the first verse entered, I was a little shaky (especially the "all" in "all that we've been through"), but as things progressed, they improved. Gray and Jesse both hated the intro, citing the production primarily, but it didn't rub me the wrong way. Of course, I like the White Stripes, so what the hell do I know? Quoth Oji-wan Kenobi:
"Mike's vocals are my main gripe, as they sound thin and a bit beginnerish. With more practice, but more importantly time, Mike's voice will continue to be stronger. Plus, on multiple listens, the delivery style sits a lot a better in the track. I could have gone for some richer harmonies, but the harmonization here sounded pretty nice. I liked the tone when the chorus's hit, and the lyrics were really catchy. A lot of people are gonna be singing 'em.
I thought the track could have sounded sharper, but I loved the arrangement here and the production was alright. The "Gerudo Valley" theme was skillfully woven with original material that pieced together very naturally. Great rock conversion with some genuine (even if unintended) pop overtones."
Pretty much. I can certainly appreciate the challenges of doing vocal mixes when one is not a singer by nature, and this represents marked improvement in my book, and the panel's as well. Furthermore, it's Darangen, and it's Gerudo, and this should be enough for more than a lot of you, so embrace your inner ardency and check it out.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the First of all, I LOVE the Gerudo theme song. The acoustic guitar theme rocks. You took this song and made it even more amazing.
The guitar intro was well played. Then we pick things up a notch or two. I liked the transition. Throughout the guitar solo, the bass line needs to "walk". The bass doesn't always have to stay on the root of the chord. Let it play different notes of the chord, too.
Everyone here has a slight problem with your vocals. You need to be aiming for a big, open sound. Take a deep breath, open your mouth, and let the air flow through your diaphragm.
I think that you're having a problem with not knowing what you want to sound like just yet. Sure you need some training, which I'm sure you have been doing, but there's more to it than that.
What you need to do is listen to various artists to get a good idea of what you want to sound like. Recommendations: Breaking Benjamin, Chicago, Daughtry, Disturbed, Evans Blue, My Chemical Romance, Queen, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, SR-71, and 30 Seconds to Mars.
Listen to these artists, pick out what you like and don't like about them. Match their tones. Create your own voice style.
Keep it up, and I hope to hear more from you!
- kalbtrombone on December 24, 2008
Liontamer;78994 wrote: Like "Singing Pretzel", all lyricists have to start somewhere. Nice work, IMO.
But not on a song that passed through the panel, eh? This shouldn't have made it to the site. It induces laughter from friends and family.
- richter on November 28, 2008
I'm listening to the acoustic version now, and it's equally amazing. Keep up the great work.
- Lion Hearted on July 5, 2007
- Rein on June 30, 2007
Much love.
- Duo on May 3, 2007
Also, I've been getting alot of requests for a instrumental mix of this. It's probably not going to happen, sorry if that busts your bubbles.
Alas. I absolutely love the instrumental work in this remix; fantastic stuff, exactly the sort of stuff that makes your other works so appealing.
But the vocals make it unlistenable to me. I won't comment on their quality, since I am far from an expert in that area and so many people have already gone more in depth, but... they're just not my cup of tea, stylistically.
I would love to hear either another version down the road when you're a more experienced singer, or an instrumental version.
EDIT: As soon as I posted this I found your acoustic version of this track on your site. And I love it. Your singing has definitely improved by leaps and bounds, and you managed to get rid of the whiny boy-band feel to it.
Great work.
- lord-of-shadow on April 17, 2007
Geoffrey Taucer wrote:
Yes.
It's called Darangen's awesomeness.
Agreed. This is one of my top five favorite remixes dispite how much I hate it. And, yes, I know how much sense that makes. Good work Darangen.
- HourGlass on October 11, 2006
HourGlass wrote: Is there subliminal messages in this song that command me to listen to it over and over?
Yes.
It's called Darangen's awesomeness.
- Geoffrey Taucer on August 13, 2006
- HourGlass on August 13, 2006
Darangen has major talent and the intro seemed a bit...off...from the rest of the Remix, but it never once hurt my opinion of it. You've hooked me on this song and I find myself singing it out. You have major Talent dude, I'll be checking out your other Remixes...and a way to stop this song from continuiously playing in my head, hah, but seriously, keep it up, I hope to see more of this kinda thing from you.
Later.
- Salem_Wolf on May 29, 2006
The chorus is not mixed as strongly as I would have liked - there is a slight delay in the voices, which muffles up the words a bit, and makes them sound as if the vocalist not annunciating words. However, the rest of the vocals are not as bad as most of the listeners would let on. The vocals definitely don't ruin the song; I just think everyone's been spoiled by some other vocal mixes posted on the site, which have been absolutely stellar.
Some of you need to read the other reviews before posting. Darangen said that he was taking voice lessons back on page 1. I look forward to seeing him improve. For an early vocal attempt, at the time, getting on OCR is a strong achievement.
Good work from Darangen here, and I will be looking for the next vocal mix he sings for.
- Arcana on February 23, 2006
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