Today I
continue to celebrate my first year of blogging with listing my
personal top 10 original songs, and top 10 OCReMix songs.
On
Monday I wrote that Chrono Trigger was tied for the number 1 spot of
my favourite VG music. Of all the music from OCReMix I have, not
including albums, Chrono Trigger music makes up the most of that list
coming in at over 110 tracks. Maybe some day I will go through every
track and give it a proper review, but today I will be only reviewing
10 of them, along side the 10 tracks from the original soundtrack
that inspired them.
~~~~
10:
Singing Mountain (Unreleased)
Singing
Mountain never got an official release until the DS port of the game
came out. It, like one of the battle themes were cut from the game.
According to Chrono Compendium, Singing Mountain was originally going
to be a dungeon, but the developers didn't have a need for it and was
inevitably cut. The song remained on the OST and wouldn't be seen in
game until the DS Re-release.
This
song itself is a great piece and I do wonder why it was cut. Was it
for time or did the dungeon simply felt tacked on? The song is
certainly more morose then some of the other tracks on the album and
would have served well as the dungeon to where you find Crono and
restore him to life. Honestly I would have preferred to have this
song play in the background while scaling Death's Peak
10:
Crying Mountain ~ saiko
Crying
Mountain by saiko can be considered a companion piece to Suzembachi's
Forever (see below). Where Forever was the song of bringing Crono
back from the brink, Crying Mountain is the song that is played while
they are on the journey to save their mute comrade.
I love
what saiko did with Singing Mountain. He gives the track an air of
danger and desperation. The team is trying to save Crono and there is
a huge chance that it won't work. That their trials and struggles
would be for nought. It makes the song feel far more important and
you know that failure is not an option.
9:
Frog's Theme
Frog is
a badass character. Underneath his amphibian appearance, he is a
loyal soldier. Although he lost his humanity to Magus, he continued
to defend the crown of Guardia. To his last breath he will fight and
die for his his homeland.
His
theme exemplifies those characteristics. It's a wonderful track for a
hero, that inspire confidence and competence to those who serve with
him.
9:
Knights Come Marching Home ~ Ailsean
I have
to give kudos to remix artist for this song. Many artists will merely
use other VG music while making a track, but Ailsean took the war
song When Johnny Comes Marching Home and mixed it with Frog's theme.
In the end it became less Frog's Theme, and a theme for all of the
soldiers serving under the amphibious warrior.
Ailsean
also incorporated Beatrix Theme (not The Rose of May) into this mix
and I feel it completes the song. Added with When Johnny Comes
Marching Home, and you have one of the more unique tracks ever put
out by Ailsean. While it is not his best work, (Terra in Black is his
best work IMO), it is still a great song to listen to.
8:
Robo's Theme
Due to
the meme status of a certain 80's singer, Robo's theme has exploded
in popularity. Due to the fact that both songs sound incredibly
similar
Despite
that, Robo's Theme is still a good personal character theme. Unlike
Frog's medieval style fanfare, Robo's is far more futuristic and
showcases the robot's sweet character. He is a big brick of a
character, but a loyal friend and comrade to the group. Unlike the
other machines in the series, he cares for all life and exists to
serve and help humans. Not to enslave and exterminate them.
8: The
Incredible Singing Robot: Star Salzman
I love
what Star Salzman did with this song. While the techno/electronica
aspect of the song is great, the added lyrics are what sells the song
for me. Star Salzman takes the role of the copper tinted titan and
sings the praises of Robo.
You
would think that the song would be obnoxious or annoying when using a
robot voice, but Star Salzman plays down the voice work so it is more
subtle. It allows the listener to visualize that it is Robo singing
without being over the top or obnoxious.
While
the track is not superior to the original song, I do like what Star
Salzman did with it and hope that it inspires other performers to
tackle this song.
7:
Memories of Green
Memories
of Green is an enigma for me. As a song, I enjoy it a lot. Like many
of the world map themes in the game, it is soft and relaxing. However
unlike the other tracks, it doesn't make me curious about the world I
am in. Honestly it makes the world seem kind of bland and empty and
at the start of the game, you don't want that. You want to question
what is over the mountain ridge or across the ocean.
At the
same time, though it suits the world because at that moment, the
world is supposed to be bland. History has forgotten the war with the
Reptites, the segregation between the Earthbound Humans and the
population of Zeal and the War against Magus and his Mystics is a
distant memory. The population also is unaware that they are simply
cattle to be culled when Lavos awakens in 1999.
The
song maybe bland and boring, but it fits the world.
7:
Destiny Ark ~ Ryo Lion
I don't
know why this track appeals to me so much. Perhaps it is because it
has taken the familiar Memories of Green melody and turned it around.
While listening to this song, I want to explore the world of 1000 AD.
To cross the mountains and voyage over the seas. It makes me
interested in the world I am saving.
Ryo
Lion did a great job here and there is a part of me that wants to
replace the original track with this. However I do know that it
wouldn't fit with the world map of 1000 AD
6: Wind
scene (Medieval Theme)
In the
fantasy genre, the medieval era is usually considered quiet and
reserved. The battles take place in far off lands away from their
homes. It's a far more simple life then what we are sued to today.
That is what I feel when I am travelling around the world of Chrono
Trigger during the middle ages. It is a peaceful era for them, even
with the war against the mystics near their front door, people still
get on with their lives.
6:
600ad in Piano ~ kLuTz
Doing a
piano only remix is hard work and very few people can pull it off
successfully, so when I came across 600ad In Piano, I didn't know
what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised however and for the
longest time this was the crown jewel of my OCReMix collection. Of
course as my music collection grew it was soon replaced, but this
song has always stayed with me.
In
turning Wind Scene into a piano work, he has stripped the song of any
meaning. However that is not a bad thing as the end result sounds
like something you would hear in the castle. It is a nice track to
listen to when you need some time to be alone and think.
5:
Corridors of Time (Zeal Island)
As I
said on Monday's article, the theme to Zeal Island, is one of magic
and mystery. The people of Zeal were a people who embraced hedonism
and sloth. To them they were not vices, but a way of life and the
track showcases that element, while giving off an air of mystery. In
the game they explained that the Zeal way of life used to be
worshipping the Sun Stone, but soon after they had found a greater
source of power to worship. It wasn't until the end of that era that
both the characters realized what was the source of worship.
Corridors
of Time is fantastic in portraying the land of Zeal as mysterious and
aloof civilization. It distracts you with the magic while having you
ignore the true threat. Over time you come to feel comfortable with
the hedonism and you want to forget the problems.
5:
Island of Zeal ~ MazeDude
Mazedude
didn't do much to the original track, but his subtle work is what
makes this track all the more endearing. From my perspective, it
seemed that the artist was trying to make Zeal what it was before the
corruption of Lavos. Zeal was supposed to be the future of humanity.
To be free of the sins that kept the Earthbound shackled to their
lives. They wanted to set an example and lead Humanity to a golden
age that would never end.
Mazedude
did a great job on his re-imagining of Corridors of Time. While there
wasn't extensive work done like other remixes, he made enough subtle
changes to make the song feel new.
4:
Peaceful Days
Crono
is quite possibly the most “normal” jRPG hero to come out of the
90's. Instead of being an amnesiac with tremendous power, a care free
vagabond or a disgraced, angst-ridden knight, he was just a kid
living in a small kingdom. The most he had to worry about was not
getting injured through one of Lucca's inventions. The track,
Peaceful Days allows the listener to visualize what the world of
Chrono Trigger is like in the year 1000 AD. A calm, serene place
where the neighbours know one another and the kids can play in the
fields from dawn till dusk.
In a
sense, Peaceful Days could be the theme for any small town in North
America.
4: Blue
Skies over Guardia: Darkesword
If
Square Enix were to ever make a Chrono Trigger anime, they would need
to put this song at the start as it fits the series so perfectly.
This song instills of wonder and excitement and gets the listener
wanting to experience the world of Chrono Trigger.
Darkesword
did a fantastic job on this song and it is the best way to introduce
someone to the series. While Inciting Incident and Morning Sunlight
is good for starting Chrono Symphonic, it is Blue Skies Over Guardia
that works as an introduction.
This
song is so happy and full of energy that you cannot help but smile up
listening to it.
3: The
Day the World Revived
This
track is one of the game most simple tunes. It is a single instrument
work that plays only once during the course of the entire game and
that is when Crono is revived on the summit of Death Peak. You cannot
help but feel a renewed sense of hope when hearing this track.
There
are times for fanfares and a time for simplicity and the moment Crono
was brought back from the brink, it was time for simplicity. I
honestly believe that had there been a boisterous fanfare, it would
have ruined the moment.
3:
Forever: Suzumebachi
Simplicity
works for the original track, but Suzumebachi decided to go against
the grain and give the song a bit more life, for lack of a better
term. Forever is a perfect companion peace to saiko's rendition of
Singing Mountain. While the former is about the journey to saving
Crono, this track is about the act. Marle and company are willing to
go on a wild goose chase to save him and risk everything.
While
The Day The World Revived gave the listener a renewed sense of hope,
Forever makes you feel that you never lost hope. That despite the
problems, there was always a small glimmer of hope left. Forever
grabs onto that light and never lets go, no matter the cost.
2:
Epilogue; To Good Friends
There
was no need for a big bombastic farewell party. After a journey
through time and space, the fire forged friends are finally leaving.
Frog, goes back to serve the royal family, Ayla goes back to her time
and leads her people through the start of the ice age, Robo goes back
to the future to help the changed world and perhaps to reunite with
Atropos XR and Magus goes to wherever to search for his time
displaced sister. It is a rather sombre affair as they know that this
is their final farewell.
Of all
jRPG's from the SNES era, I believe that the Chrono Trigger ending is
by far the best one I have seen. The developers decided to keep the
ending rather low key and downplayed the role of the characters.
While they were indeed the heroes, the world didn't know it. The
people didn't know who it was that saved them.
2: To
Dear Friends ~ Erutan
Early
last year Erutan had gotten her Twitter account hacked and her
Youtube account suspended and for an indie music producer that could
do alot of damage. However after some time, everything became
rectified and she was able to continue to upload her covers and
original work (go buy Raindancer now).
The
first song she uploaded was her cover of the To Good Friends which
was sung in the perspective of Crono recalling there trip through
time. Obviously the song was inspired by the opening of the first
cinematic where Crono looks at the picture of him and his friends.
Honestly,
I feel that this song was a letter from Erutan to her fans, thanking
her for sticking with her throughout her trials. I could be wrong
however.
Still
it is a solid song and is second only to the next song.
1: To
Far Away Times
The
90's era of video gaming wasn't all that strong on story telling when
it came to people in love. There were some good examples, but they
were few and far between. Chrono Trigger did it right with Marle and
Crono as I felt that the two began to get close during their
adventures. When Crono died trying to save his friends, it deeply
affected the tomboy princess and she was willing to do anything to
save the spiky haired swordsmen.
While
these days it can seem cheesy and cliche, it shows that there was a
time that Square and Enix could write a good story, making the
romance blossom naturally and not so angst ridden. Each character has
a reason why they are in that mind and despite some hardships, the
characters don't complain about their lot in life. They do things to
change it.
Will we
ever see a resurgence of that era of writing? Who knows, but if not
we could always look back fondly.
1: The
Place We Knew: Jillian Aversa/Reuban Kee
I love
this song so much. It is such a warm song that when I listen to it, I
get a bit misty eyed. I can't help but imagine that this is being
sung by either Marle, Crono or Lucca in their twilight years,
reminiscing about their adventures through time.
This
song remains my favourite Chrono Trigger remix and I highly doubt any
song off the site could replace it. When playing the game, when I get
to the end, I will mute the game itself and put on this song as I
feel it is far superior to the original track away in every way.
When I
first heard the lyrics, I admit I was apprehensive, but as I
continued to listen, I began to mentally paint a picture of the three
main characters far older remembering their life.
Reuban
Kee and Jillian Aversa did a wonderful job on this song and I cannot
help but see this song as my number one.
~~~~
There
you have it, my top 10 songs from both the official soundtrack and
from OCReMix. There are countless other songs and bands out there,
but for this, I wanted to stick with what I knew best and that was
OCReMix. There are dozens, if not hundreds of wonderful different
variations of the Chrono Trigger OST out on the internet from the
folks over at The World is Square to The Bad Dude's CHRONOTORIOUS
album.
It's
been more then a year, and a hundred articles, lets go with another
year and another 100.
I'm
Daimo Mac and I am still lost in the music.
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