ReMix:Mega Man 2 "Teardrinker" 4:25

By The Wingless

Arranging the music of one song...

"Bubble Man Stage"

Primary Game: Mega Man 2 (Capcom , 1988, NES), music by Manami Matsumae, Takashi Tateishi

Posted 2002-09-24, evaluated by the judges panel


Hot on the heels (well, on the OCR timeline at least) of his last ReMix, The Wingless gives us a very liberal interpretation of Bubbleman that I'd probably describe as hybrid electro-acoustic instrumental - drums are VERY much secondary to the chimelike piano arpeggio, NES-chiptune melody, harp, and orchestral strings and timpani, and the arranging emphasis is on playing quite a bit with chord progression and the overall evolution of the piece. There are some intervals that do border on atonal - Orkybash writes:

Though I usually like stuff The Wingless does, I gotta say that this took a couple listens to appreciate. There's a lot of notes that seem to clash, but somehow it works. or maybe I'm just tired. At any rate, I'm liking it now - it's something different, it's definitely *very* interesting, and it grows on you. And personally, I think one of the signs of a really good piece of music is it's deep enough that it has room to grow after several listens.

. . . and I'd tend to concur with that conclusion: not gonna be everyone's cup of tea, a little on the "avant-garde" side of chromatic relationships, but decidedly interesting and obviously something that is sonically on the level and involved planning and juxtaposition. With the wrong instruments and mixing, this is the type of arrangement that would die a thousand, slow, horrible deaths. Thankfully, The Wingless makes it work, and the results are certainly worth investigating for the curious. Also, a good example of how an oft-ReMixed tune can truly still go into unexpected territory.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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MC Final Sigma
on 2012-11-17 19:07:48

I just have to say - first post, btw - that I love this ReMix. I'd say it's one of the most visionary on the site; cinematic, even. It takes what it is a rather bubbly tune and draws its dark undercurrent to the fore. I interpret this mix as something like Bubble Man's slow descent into mania, or a haunting look into his demented mind - it oozes creepy psychosis. In that respect, it reminds me of modern treatments of comic book villains like Mr. Freeze or the Joker, transforming a cartoony villain into a serious psychopath. That's what I hear in this, anyway. I love the transition at 1:05 and then again at 1:15, where a cheery chip tune section clashes with the cold, spacious strings, juxtaposing these two aspects of the villain (a similar trick occurs at 1:54ish and then 2:12). Great work, really chilling stuff; you got a download and a lot of listens from me.

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orlouge82
on 2011-06-03 22:55:27

This song started playing off my playlist, and I know I had been listening to it for a long time, but I didn't really remember how long. Looks like I had originally downloaded it on 9/27/2002.

I probably could have figured it was that old since the album tag is "http://remix.overclocked.org/," but I digress.

This is a great song that I have had on various playlists of mine since I downloaded it almost nine years ago.

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ella guro
on 2010-03-16 09:32:45

I used to not like this mix, now I enjoy it a lot. It's a very strange combination of, like, what sounds like could have been this relatively straightforward pseudo-cheesy relaxing type orchestral piece with avant-garde weirdness. But then there's a strange chiptune that seems almost half-assedly thrown in. It's hard to describe, but layering of all the different parts is harmonically very wacky and also sort of delayed in places, making stuff clash in new and interesting ways. It sort of brings things out of the original that you didn't think would be there in the first place. I've listened to a bunch of other mixes by Wingless and none of them ever hit me like this one did. It's definitely something that was original and it's sad that more people don't try to attempt things like this.

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OA
on 2009-12-04 15:37:43

interesting juxtaposition of the source and the new sections here; I think for the most part the arrangement worked, though it got a little crazy harmonically near the end. I think some adjustments could have tightened up that section a little bit more. Also, some of the sounds were a bit lofi for my tastes, and the mixing of the higher quality sounds with the 8 bit bloops wasn't as seamless as it could have been.

Still a great source and a pretty good arrangement, so check it out and decide for your self!

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ChaosPlayer
on 2009-09-25 15:53:53

Out of all of the Bubbleman stage OC'd, I'd have to say hands down to this one. It makes it completly complex, simple to listen, classical and old school. I have no idea how I missed looking at the list of this sound track but I am as happy as a cat finding this.

:nicework:

A + must listen ...:shock:

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Marmiduke
on 2009-03-19 10:37:33

This is a pretty interesting mix because it adequately represents the original melody is a fresh way WHILST STILL tampering and adding additional layers beneath that. So this to me sounds like a finished mix which has then had a string backing applied much later in production. Not that that is my assumption, that's just how it sounded to me. The result is something that I wouldn't describe as dissonant, but perhaps an against-the-grain harmony that I don't entirely dislike. Whereas the piece would otherwise be a solid but slightly bland take on Bubbleman, it most definately benefits from a new persona with its sombre, unpredictable backing tones.

Unmistakably Wingless, which equates to top notch mixing.

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42
on 2009-01-17 23:49:40

This mix seems vaguely Castlevania-like, and the piano is good. It's great how it just compliments and melds with the 8 bit sounds.

Looking through some of the older posts, I can understand and sympathize with their sentiments, but I don't really like the ending. It sounds like the dial tone after one has been cut off on the phone which is like :???:

But this is still an Incredible mix and worth listening too.

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Bummer
on 2005-11-20 08:23:04

Man, that piano is awesome. I did recognize it somehow, and when i saw that `The Wingless´ made this one, I ran to the remixes from Secret of Mana and looked at Aphrodite Oceanus and the one that had remixed it. Much indeed, it was Wingless. This kind of piano is characteristic.

And for this song, I can understand why many felt like this was like two songs played at the same time, but I found it brilliant. The music of Bubbleman's stage is made of several different tunes, Wingless just simply brought them out into the light much more, and although it sometimes it felt that the tunes didn´t connect, it still feel that this is a great arrangement, best bubbleman remix so far.

Awesome Wingless.

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AboveTheDust
on 2005-02-18 10:47:00

It's no secret that I like The Wingless, but this ranks near the top of my favorite songs from him. Admittedly it took some time before I appreciated it, but once I got into it this song really took off for me.

Using the original NES music as a base is something not many remixes have and may people tend to shy away from listening. Yes, I admit, 8-bit music isn't the best stuff to listen to, but he-of-no-wings manages to splice the 8-bit music with synth pianos and a drumbeat like no one else on this site does.

On a specific note, throwing the 8-bit beeps that come it at 0:08 and last for a good part of the song between the right and left channels was a great idea.

It takes skill to work with 8-bit beeps and buzzes, yet somehow The Wingless pulls it off absolutely beautifully. Great job and great music.

Note: Admittedly, though, if you go rocking out to this in anywhere but private you will get strange looks. 8-bit tunes and sounds don't exactly recieve a warm welcome in most people's hearts. Video game players only, I guess.

-Dust

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Dr. Wily
on 2004-12-07 23:40:24

Even after a few listens this mix is still so mysterious.. whether it's the underlying fluttery piano in Wingless style or if it's just the arrangement itself, I felt something beautiful stir from beneath the warbles and fuzzes of the synth, almost like discovering swet pineapple beneath its coarse and spiny surface. It really is a piece you have to listen to closely and form an overall picture to appreciate, I believe. Great stuff.

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jordex
on 2004-11-05 20:40:05

veddy veddy nice

its hard to find good megaman songs outa the huge list. this is definatly one of those good songs!

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Less Ashamed Of Self
on 2004-08-04 20:24:35

It's very disonant, and that wasn't what you should've been going for with this mix. I don't know man, could've been much better. Nice ideas, even a nice final mood, but I'm with everyone else here... it's kind of like listening to two songs at once, nice if it's abstract art music... bad if it's wingless. :( I like all your other stuff though.

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Synchrone
on 2004-01-25 22:19:45

Pff.. I like it a lot. Definitely an excellent song, just not my cup of tea. I like his 'Secret of Mana' remix more.

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rebirth9283
on 2003-09-30 14:55:56

Let me first congratulate The Wingless: he actually came up with a remix that left me with no idea what to say about it.

To the people who called it overcrowded or disorganized or some variation of those terms: I half agree. There's a lot going on in this piece. If I didn't know better, I'd say The Wingless couldn't decide which cool ideas to implement or to leave out... so he threw 'em all in. I have to say, though, that while the piece is crowded, it sounds good.

To the bassaholics out there: Stuff it. This is good stuff even without a driving bassline. You want that, listen to AE.

One thing I have to bring up: the keychanges. They sound incredible. A bit weird, but in a good way.

Actually, that sums up this entire piece: weird, but in a good way.

And that's about all I can say about this one.

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Corporal Eschebone
on 2003-09-09 16:47:03

I haven't listened to this song for like 4 days, and 4 days ago it had a 92.5% rating in my head. But, then I decided to give it the honor of being the first mix to receive a 95% from me. Honestly, if I find anything better, I'm going to have to toughen up my rating system.....maybe even have to find an exact formula for what I shouls rate things. :)

Let me put that in big, bold letters for you.

THIS SONG IS THE BEST DAMN SONG I'VE EVER LISTENED TO!!!!

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Mega Man 2 (Capcom , 1988, NES)
Music by Manami Matsumae,Takashi Tateishi
Songs:
"Bubble Man Stage"

Tags (9)


Genre:
Mood:
Dark,Quirky,Solemn,Trippy
Instrumentation:
Chiptune,Harp,Piano
Additional:
Arrangement > Dissonance
Time > 4/4 Time Signature

File Information


Name:
Mega_Man_2_Teardrinker_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,382,873 bytes
MD5:
42f5e012bca5274b7583345ebe8507c5
Bitrate:
160Kbps
Duration:
4:25

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