Super Mario 64 - Dire Dire Docks (Neon X remix)

Remix of Dire Dire Docks from Super Mario 64 on Nintendo 64

This is my favourite theme from Super Mario 64, it brings such feelings and emotions. This is also not a very friendly theme to remix, I noticed. The original holds a naked electric piano throughout the whole song, and I really didn't want to reuse an electric piano in my remix. So I had to laborate a lot before I felt satisfied.

I used my lead synth a lot, since it fits so well with the melodies in Dire Dire Docks. Long, swelling tones, perfect for building vibrato and that 80s synth coloured chords.

I couldn't find the artist behind the underwater background. Give me a shout if you know who made it!

#SuperMario64 #DireDireDocks #Remix

[TheCreepypro]

the docks have never sounded better nice job!

[ViewtifulVideos]

I love this! It reminds me of Quantum Leap!

[andyvella]

This is so good, why does it only have 280 likes?

[pyro]

Reminds me of first Sonic Mania trailer :0

[SNEStalgia]

As soon as this started playing the nostalgia waves hit me. This is such a cool song, and, as always, you do great work!

[juef]

What a beautiful surprise! I didn't expect this style at all, and yet, this is Nintendo-high quality. I hope they hire you someday! :D

[Equalyze]

Dude, let me just say right off the bat: This is a straight-up _upgrade_ to the original Dire, Dire, Docks, in my opinion. The original tune is a classic, and stands out as one of this game's finest, but I just love how you transformed what was normally a calm, gently undulating piece into something energetic and lively, yet still ambient and deep.

That intro is wonderfully done, gradually fading in the music, which works really well for a piece that's featured in water levels - there's something about having the music come gradually "into the picture", so to speak, that feels inherently watery and atmospheric. I really like the use of those choral-sounding pads in this remix... and the chords in the supporting parts sound so rich and detailed. It sounds like you wrote a series of your own variations of the original chords in this remix, which wouldn't surprise me at all, since all of your remixes are heavily arranged with your own composition and alterations to not only the melody, but the bass and supporting parts, as well. And speaking of bass, it's really cool what you did with the bass here, having it accent on the upbeats, to give the music more of a pulsing kind of feel.

And there's that Neon X lead again that I love so much... I swear, you could use that lead synth in _wedding_ music and it would somehow work! But for real, even a mellow song like Dire, Dire Docks benefits from being Neon-ized, and it adds such excitement and feeling to any song, the way you used it with pitch bend, vibrato, portamento... it's awesome.

As I mentioned in a different video of yours, I've really come to look forward to your improvised melodies, and your own compositions in each remix. For instance, the section beginning at 1:58 is so good, the way it takes the original melody and transforms it into something surprising, yet in-theme. And I know that it must take a lot of work, not only to compose the new melody variations, but to also re-work the bass and supporting parts around them. I imagine quite a bit of trial-and-error goes into it, and I actually have been meaning to ask: when you compose these parts, do you sit down at a piano (or other instrument) and try out different melody alterations?... or is it kind of an "on-the-fly" thing, where you have a sense for how you want it to go, and you make slight tweaks after you've entered in the notes? And it might be something entirely different, but I was just curious to know what your process is. Thanks in advance!

And hey, those drums are superb, and they really liven up this remix! I'll admit: Dire, Dire Docks/Jolly Roger Bay was never my favorite piece in Super Mario 64, and mainly because it lacked drums in most sections of those levels. But here, the drums are a feature of the piece, and the rhythm is super cool, with those pattern-breaker up-beats in the kick, to kind of shake up the groove every few measures... I like that it feels like the drums are always changing up, but in a subtle way, so it never sounds disconcerting. Excellent fills and transitions, as well, and the overall flow just works... I especially like how everything kind of comes full-circle, and you drop out the drums at the end to conclude with more of an ambient, atmospheric feel, just like how the song started. It feels like every part in each of your songs, from the minor details to the big picture, is really well thought-out.

Excellent work, Neon X, and thanks for the consistently superb music! ^_^

[caviar_dreamz]

This is sooo good, your music is always top notch

[gabess]

Sick remix. I've listened to a bunch of yours and I really like the "Neon X Synthwave" style. It sounds like a modern early 2000s (or maybe even 90s but that's a bit of a stretch) synthwave, with way better vsts and awesome chord changes and melody variations that weren't in the og.

I hope u continue making remixes, because they are awesome :)

Edit: I also forgot to add I love all of the subtle arp loops and alt harmonizers in the background

[CodingGenesis]

Such a fantastic remix. Well done! Thank you.

[BlueToonYoshi]

Very nice remix! I like it! thumbs up!

[maidude]

Great work with this and all your other mixes! I'd be interested in what you could do with some of the Sonic the Hedgehog tracks for Sega Genesis. Some of them are pretty jam. You may find some inspiration to put your spin on em'. Cheers!

[neente]

I'm so confused why you can produce new songs so quickly with such good quality and get so little attention. What is the catch?

[TommyX]

If i use this music for a video, is it a problem?