ReMix:Cool Spot "Smileyspot" 1:48

By Mazedude

Arranging the music of one song...

"Parade Tune (Radical Rails)"

Primary Game: Cool Spot (Virgin , 1994, SNES), music by Tommy Tallarico

Posted 2003-07-29, evaluated by djpretzel


Chris apparently ReMixed this happy-go-lucky theme from Tommy Tallarico's Cool Spot score after several requests from different sources coincidentally popped up at the same time. This reminds me somewhat of YPOI's old Banana ReMix, not compositionally or in the arrangement but in the relative brevity and simplicity yet the amazingly catchy, addictive, can't-get-it-outta-your-head vibe. The original melody has a lot of credit to claim for that, of course, but the dude of maze has let the goof factor (cheese factor?) go overboard and really capitalized on the funkiness with a wah-processed electric piano bass, fun vibes, unobstrusive percussion, and (icing on the cake) some unabashed scat singing and whistling that would make Andy Griffith proud. At the perfect length, Chris doesn't press his luck by going too far out there with embellishments or poetic license soloing. Apparently there was, at one point in time, a longer, more fleshed-out version, but it was lost in a rare instance of Mr. Getman displaying signs that he is indeed human and can err and miscalculate like the rest of us. He writes: "It's short. I wasn't really planning on submitting it, but I've actually had a LOT of folks really like it. Apparently it's one of those "gets stuck in your head" kinda things. So, I was gonna make it a lot longer, and I did - I added harmonica, kazoo, more whistling, more vocals... but THEN I lost the dang file! I never do that... but somehow, yep - lost the longer version. And truthfully, I wasn't happy with it that way, it didn't hold together right. So, the short version it is. It's a silly song man, enjoy. We need a Cool Spot remix on the site anyways. :)" Hopefully Mr. Tallarico, who's visited the halls of OCR on at least one occasion that I'm aware of, will appreciate the earnest and good-natured kitschy overhaul Chris has provided. For my money, I think it's great - brings a smile to my face while still being musically tight. The interaction between the main melody and the moving vibe part is just killer. For uniqueness, the perfect length, and an appropo application of singin' and whistlin', this comes highly recommended.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Txai
on 2016-02-02 10:10:40

How can you take a game about a red spot with sunglasses seriously? You can't. And this track truly celebrates this goofy premise with cheesy wah EP, rhythm steel drums and joyful commercial-like vocals. The whistling, caught me by surprise as much as the trombone in his Plok 'Title Jam' piece. Fade-out ending was appropriate. I just wish this was a little longer. Just a little bit.

Sometimes, all you need is silliness. There are a few other Mazedude works with this type of mood.

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Black_Doom
on 2015-05-20 14:44:00

Mazedude's stuff doesn't give you much opportunity to sit back and relax. But this is just the case. Very nice!

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Sir_Downunder
on 2009-12-12 00:14:38

This is happy song, I can't deny it, it makes a smile like a goofball :tomatoface:

It's short, but it's still awesome and catchy as hell.

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OA
on 2009-05-05 11:05:20

Well, i'm a little early for the 7-18-09 review, but it'll be ok.

Dang, it's short!

It's cute though, with the singing and whistling and the charming happiness. I'm not sure whether or not this could be developed further without having it lose a little of the carefree attitude, so the fade is fine by me in this case. Sometimes, you just gotta fade, you know?

Fun stuff, I love how Mazedude always challenges himself to try new things, it's pretty inspiring to me. :-)

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Radiowar
on 2007-07-18 09:02:51

haha love those vocals, this is a pretty catchy tune. nice.

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Heyjohnny
on 2005-07-18 13:56:44

very good, and yes...very happy. I also own this game, but I'm too lazy to hook up my snes and play it old school-like. I wish there were more remixes of this game, because it had an outstanding soundtrack (in my opinion) I thought that it was gonna be a lame game when I first rented it (around 6 years old maybe?) and then it was so good that I went to the used game place and bought it. I still have it in my Super nintendo drawer....it's been in there for about 6-7 years! If I were home I'd go look at it right now, but oh well. That probably won't happen for another 2 years.

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jordex
on 2005-01-03 03:36:18

wow i had no clue that tommy tallerico made the ost

of this

i love what mazedudes done to it, its soothing

its got a nice relaxing at the beach feel to it

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PotatoeCS
on 2004-07-30 16:43:47

man i still listen to this song still ever since last year!! :D such a great song *applauds*

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Bill Cosby Presents
on 2004-04-06 21:02:53

This game is flippin sweet. Its got real style! When I was a kid I played it a bunch....oh yeah the song was cool too!

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Anders
on 2003-08-16 12:10:25
Overall, this is a really cool song, and deserves a picture of a bald guy's thumbs up.

thumbs-up.jpg

^ I can't get over that. :lol:

Great, great song to listen to when you need a quick pick-me-up. Catchy voicing lends a lot of character to the whole thing. I remember renting the game a few times, trying to spell UNCOLA in the bonus stages.....good times.....

They coulda made a sequel with the release of dnL, but oh well.

As I said, great work, love to hear more. *runs off to ebay to look for used Cool Spot game*

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Joshua Morse
on 2003-08-07 17:13:39

I find that Mazedude consistently adds much needed flavor and variety to his tracks. And this one is no exception.

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Eccles
on 2003-08-04 06:41:19

Briliant piece...

i would have preferred the vocals to have been louder, perhaps...they get drowned out by the steel drums and...is that a sample of someone blowing a bottle top?

The fadeout seemed to come a little quick and if I had done the track I would have tried to get a proper ending in...but that said, the current isnt bad.

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xamgis
on 2003-08-02 13:02:28

This was cool...such a light-hearted work...a great summer song...

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Psycrow
on 2003-08-01 15:41:03

Kinda short, kinda simple, and whatever instrument was used for the melody is rather annoying-- i don't know if it's the EQ or my speakers or what :P "Happy" alone isn't enough to pull this one through IMO. C'mon, Mazey, you can do better!

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mern
on 2003-08-01 05:27:44

Almost makes me want to sing Led Zeppelins' "D'yer Mak'r".

"Oh, oh oh oh, oh, oohhh...I won't let you go....."

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Cool Spot (Virgin , 1994, SNES)
Music by Tommy Tallarico
Songs:
"Parade Tune (Radical Rails)"

Tags (1)


Genre:
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Additional:
Time > Duration: Short

File Information


Name:
Cool_Spot_Smileyspot_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
2,761,690 bytes
MD5:
014e2e03ac46fdc422670e53ffeb00fa
Bitrate:
197Kbps
Duration:
1:48

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