Game Music Cover Challenge

We see a number of them being released each year: covers and interpretations of MSX game music. Popular choices are games by Konami, Falcom, Micro Cabin and Compile. Because, well, they did outstanding tracks during their MSX years. But many other companies have done exceptional tracks now and then. So, we've decided to trigger the musicians among you all and organize a brand new challenge: the game music cover challenge, do read on!

It's actually not unlike the scene music remake challenges we've organized before. The rules, in a nutshell:

You'll pick one or more songs from commercial MSX games.
You may do a remake of one song as well as a medley of multiple songs.
Your entry is either a completely new song or an older but as-of-yet unreleased song.
You can stick to the original notes 1:1, but you can also make a large new piece based on MSX game themes. The spirit of the contest however is to make something that most listeners can easily identify as being MSX game music.
The style is up to you, it can be orchestral, pop, electro, etc.
You can use anything you wish to produce your entry, the latest studio technology, the London Symphony Orchestra, a Russian male choir, your guitar, Inuit throat singing, anything. If you've been at TYME, any of the songs performed by the WST trio could have been an entry.

We'll start this challenge announcing the members of the jury already! First is MRC admin and notable cover composer Wolf. He is joined by former member of Instrument of Darkness DandAN from Italy. He was happy to take the seat of jury again, after he's already been jury for one of the Scene Music Remake challenges. The final member and only non-composer of the jury is Oscar Centelles from Spain, a hardcore MSX game music fan with an exquisite taste in covers.

The deadline is for the challenge is 31 january 23:59 CET. So, this includes the Christmas holidays, giving you some time to prepare your entry. Send your entry (MP3/192+kbps) to admins@msx.org in time and you'll be in the race for the title and a nice prize which we will announce later!

Comments (22)

By konamiman

Paragon (1198)

19-12-2013, 09:48

Can I apply with an old Moonsound tune (I made it in 1997)? Also, can I submit more than one tune?

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

19-12-2013, 10:32

You can send in multiple tunes indeed. If time allows I will send in more than one entry myself

As for applying with older tunes; that's something that can only be done with songs that haven't been released yet. So if you haven't released your 1997 song before, you can do so now

By konamiman

Paragon (1198)

19-12-2013, 12:01

Oh no... they were published on bgmsx.com

By Low_Profile

Champion (425)

19-12-2013, 12:20

The deadline is a bit soon for me, so no promises!

(b.t.w. any way to change my login email address without using it, because it doesn't exist anymore)

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

19-12-2013, 12:23

@Low_Profile: just mail me at jorito@msx.org with your new e-mail address, then I'll fix it for you!

By MsxKun

Paragon (1124)

19-12-2013, 12:28

Me wants!
Will use some Moog and Korg synth but also MSX gear!

By meits

Scribe (6542)

19-12-2013, 12:53

Ah yeah! Let's get started...
Oh well, I already got started, because I knew this was going to happen... Hope to burst your speakers soon

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

19-12-2013, 13:20

I added an extra rule to the challenge to make it clear that you can submit new songs or older songs that haven't been released before.

By meits

Scribe (6542)

19-12-2013, 15:55

Ah, so now you also have a crap load of tunes you can submit

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

19-12-2013, 16:49

Meits wrote:

Ah, so now you also have a crap load of tunes you can submit

Nah, fortunately I already released all my previously unreleased tracks here on MRC earlier this year. They are in the music player

By Pac

Scribe (7007)

19-12-2013, 17:23

I Hope we can listen really new songs, I mean those undervalued songs from other companies... They deserve a chance!

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

19-12-2013, 17:28

I have something very nice planned already and if time allows I will try to create another song.

By yzi

Champion (444)

19-12-2013, 21:08

Re: undervalued songs from other companies

If the idea is to cover tunes that are recognized as MSX music, then doesn't that sort of rule out obscure small time games and companies? Just thinking.

"...make something that most listeners can easily identify as being MSX game music..."

Myself, I'm thinking either F1 Spirit or Salamander, because those were _the_ MSX games that had music I enjoyed on the 1980s.

By valkyre

Hero (661)

19-12-2013, 21:21

lazy jones would be fun, maybe I will dust down the dx7!

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

19-12-2013, 21:44

Sounds like a good plan, valkyre. It's definately off the beaten path!

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

19-12-2013, 22:00

yzi: that rule doesn't rule out obscure MSX music, e.g. obscure JP text adventures no one outside Japan has ever played. Sword of Legend Lenam comes to mind. The point of that 'can easily identify as being MSX game music'-rule means that I'd rather hear a reasonably true arrangement of the original songs as they are, rather than something like 'grab a 3 second motif and make something completely different with it'.

My orchestral thingies may be the best examples (Galaxy Hero Legend 2, Bride of Space Time, Parodius). They're quite liberal but the intrinsic themes are all still there, it's not like you really have to use a microscope to find them.

Putting it this way: if you know that a specific tune is very popular, then the chances are that the audience will like a cover of that tune; similar notes, just using modern day production methods. You rather want "hey, that's Salamander I hear!" than "uhm, what on earth is that??"

Of course you can stretch things a bit, for instance by adding more themes from the same game. It's not unlikely that you'd do that as most MSX game music is rather short. By the time games featured richer and longer tunes, commercial game companies in Japan were already diminishing, so there's not much material like that.

By meits

Scribe (6542)

20-12-2013, 13:18

Most original MSX1 titles have short music indeed, but some, and most of them are ports, have extreme long music... In most cases that the only tune in the game as well

By syn

Prophet (2123)

20-12-2013, 13:40

I dont really like doing remixes but ill see if I find inspiration to enter...

By AuroraMSX

Paragon (1902)

12-01-2014, 23:15

Oh sheit, I'd really really love to start doing some remake -- just any. But helas: with a 10-months old daughter and having moved home last month, I have no time and no gear available :-/

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1790)

12-01-2014, 23:32

Pity! Hopefully you can join in a next challenge!

If all goes well I can send in my own entry tomorrow

By olonguet

Resident (46)