This is Australia

[Cry Logic]

My old mate Geoff Stapleton, who plays keyboards with

legendary Aussie band GANGgajang, has just put up a

Video he shot recently of a remix I did of their most

famous song, Sounds of Then (This is Australia).

 

[YOUTUBE]wd4hRVJvxTQ[/YOUTUBE]

 

The remix was done by me entirely in FL Studio.

(With the help of a few 3rd party Synths and FX)

You'll notice a fair bit of Wave Candy in there,

as well as my ugly mug and, of course Cal Callahan,

who wrote and sang the original.

 

I'm interested in what you think of it.

It's dance music and absolutely locked to the grid

so I expect it won't be everyone's cup of tea.

 

If you're Australian you'll have more of an idea of the

history and context of the song in the Australian music scene.

There aren't many Aussies who don't know this song.

 

Anyway .... check it out and let me know what you think yeah?

 

For comparison ... here's the original version.

 

[YOUTUBE]ML9h3I5Uktw[/YOUTUBE]

 

I'm using the name Cry Logic for this project and any further remixing projects I may do.

Which is the main reason I changed my user name on this forum to Cry Logic.

 

cheers

GREGi

[John Sayers]

On an ABC Radio poll recently this song was voted the No 1 song of the aussie summer. I see no need to add anything to it. The feel of the original is infectious - your version is not I'm afraid.

 

As you can see I have no time for re-mixes.

[Cry Logic]

I respect your opinion John,

but, like I said, it's dance music.

Locked to the grid.

If you don't like that sort of thing

you're not gonna like this remix.

 

For what it's worth, Cal, the writer of the song,

absolutely loves the remix and the video,

so I'm happy, if the client's happy.

 

I'm too close to it to tell, but I will say that,

to my ears the original sounds very dated now.

[John Sayers]

I like locked to the grid and the original was locked to the grid also as I'm sure Buzz Bidstrop the drummer would have played to a click - the synth sequences would have also been locked to the grid.

 

Don't want to sound negative but of course the songwriter loves it - he'd love to have another round of royalties and a new video, who wouldn't especially as we've all forgotten him.

 

I just don't believe you should play around with classic songs which are as much part of the Australian culture as this is - would you do a remix of the Beatles collection or the Beach Boys?

 

Remix something that isn't already famous and make it better.

[claveslave]

I'm sorry but that is awful. I do want to thank you for posting the original though, in Hi Q. Awesome. Why F with a classic? Of course the writer would say it's OK. What on earth did you do with the vocals? Fix it!

 

More like "This Is Arpeggiator"

[claveslave]

hehehe You guys are missing the point. It's *sposed *to sound that way. I like "This is Arpeggiator" That's cool. Wish I'd thought of it myself.

 

I don't know why you deleted your post. You make valid points. I think it's danceable anyway in its original form. Solid as a rock. Whatever. If it allows another generation to appreciate, then so be it.

[Cry Logic]

I don't know why you deleted your post. You make valid points.

Oh I don't know. It was a spur of the moment thing.

When I saw it posted up on the forum, it seemed like

a bit of an over reaction to your (and John's) criticisms.

Which is not how I want to come across at all.

You have a right to your opinions.

I think it's danceable anyway in its original form. Solid as a rock.

The original would clear the floor in the kind of venue I envision it will be played in.

It's gotta have that quantized 4 to the floor doof doof doof feel to even be considered.

Whatever. If it allows another generation to appreciate, then so be it.

That's the idea.

[John Sayers]

 

That's the idea.

 

 

No it's not - it's you climbing on the back of the Band, the Producers, the Engineers and Crew that created the record. You think that with your puney synthesisers and your sequenced DOOF! you can make it more acceptable to a new generation.

 

I suspect you underestimate both generations.

[Ernest Buckley]

I`m not Australian and I never heard this song but I can tell you the original version had my foot stomping more than the remix. Isn`t it supposed to be the other way around? The band version has a nice groove to it. The bass is working really nice with the drums, whereas the remix sounds lazy and the vocals don`t sit right either but thats two things in my opinion: 1. its a mix thing and 2. whenever you hear remixes these days, the vocals are so overly done, its almost fascinating. This remix seemed lazy and the vocals were blah for lack of a better word.

[Cry Logic]

 

No it's not - it's you climbing on the back of the Band, the Producers, the Engineers and Crew that created the record. You think that with your puney synthesisers and your sequenced DOOF! you can make it more acceptable to a new generation. I suspect you underestimate both generations.

 

 

Time will tell John.

 

I'm happy to wait and see what happens.

[John Sayers]

I accept that

[Cry Logic]

I`m not Australian and I never heard this song but I can tell you the original version had my foot stomping more than the remix. Isn`t it supposed to be the other way around? The band version has a nice groove to it. The bass is working really nice with the drums, whereas the remix sounds lazy and the vocals don`t sit right either but thats two things in my opinion: 1. its a mix thing and 2. whenever you hear remixes these days, the vocals are so overly done, its almost fascinating. This remix seemed lazy and the vocals were blah for lack of a better word.

 

I definitely understand where you're coming from.

Out of 2 or 3 what I called "Beta" mixes, that I presented to the band,

this is the one they went for.

I wanted to keep refining it and I'd probably still be working on it if they hadn't taken the decision out of my hands.

 

I hear things in the mix that make me cringe, but after all is said and done,

if the client is happy so am I.

 

Now we wait and see if the public agree.

 

I actually really enjoyed the process and I'd love to do more.

 

It's a lot of fun.

[1manband]

I liked it. Now the video.....kind of made me dizzy, lol. But I stopped looking at the video, cranked it up, and I thought it was pretty good.

[1manband]

 

No it's not - it's you climbing on the back of the Band, the Producers, the Engineers and Crew that created the record. You think that with your puney synthesisers and your sequenced DOOF! you can make it more acceptable to a new generation. I suspect you underestimate both generations.

 

 

 

 

Sorry, but that just seems mean to me.

[daklander]

I first only listened to the remix. Now, understand, I'm not into that genre at all but I thought if that's supposed to be an improvement the original is not worth listening to. After reading some of the comments here I did. Yeah, the original was pretty damned good and I came to the conclusion it was the synths that hurt the remix. For one, they were much too much in your face and needed to be set back so they were less intrusive.

[blue2blue]

I'm using the name Cry Logic for this project and any further remixing projects I may do. Which is the main reason I changed my user name on this forum to Cry Logic. cheers GREGi

Having heard neither before, and with the stipulation that I'm neither a fan of lite rock or neo-new wave electronica, I have to say that I found the remix a fair amount more satisfying, sonically and musically (although the percolating arpeggios were starting to get on my nerves when I cut out mid-way through). Neither is something I would seek out or be in a rush to return to, though, so I suspect I'm not the target audience.

[Cry Logic]

Thanks to everyone who's commented.

I appreciate people taking the time to comment on

something that is not a genre they would normally listen to.

 

The remix is not meant to be an improvement on or to replace the original.

 

It's not really meant for "listening".

 

It's meant for dancing.

 

The idea was to make a version of the song more suitable for

playing in a dance situation like at a rave or in a dance club.

 

These are situations where the DOOF DOOF DOOF is more or less

continuous from the moment the gig starts till closing time.

The aim is to keep the dance floor full and pumping continuously

all night long!

 

In that context, the arpeggios were mixed up to keep the whole

thing driving along.

 

Whether I succeeded at that or not?

A I said above ... time will tell.

[Ernest Buckley]

Cry,

 

Let us know how this does. I`m always interested in what other forumites are doing.

 

As you said, your clients were satisfied and that is most of the battle.

 

Peace,

E

[Cry Logic]

Cry, Let us know how this does. I`m always interested in what other forumites are doing. As you said, your clients were satisfied and that is most of the battle. Peace, E

Absolutely.

I think they intend to put it up on itunes at some stage.

 

There might also be further remixes of the song down the track,

by myself and maybe other remixers.

 

Meanwhile, I've bought the crylogic.com domain and am busy

building a web site.