Posted 2017-02-14, evaluated by the judges panel


Happy Valentine's Day, from us to you! We've got a sweet symphonic vocal ballad arrangement of Lunar 2 from newcomer Chris Muggli-Miller to celebrate the occasion, featuring an almost spiritual/inspirational aesthetic, a wonderful lyrical ebb & flow to the accompaniment, and some stirring runs & dynamic swells to accentuate Chris's voice:

"From Lunar: Eternal Blue, one of my all-time very favorite games, here is my arrangement of "Lucia's Theme." Orchestra + vocals. The title "Blue Star Prayer" comes from one of Lucia's spells that was deleted from the final game (still accessible by a glitch).

Lunar 2 was one of those games that affected me more strongly than it had any right to do. While I thought the ending song was a perfect way to end the story, part of me wondered how it might have sounded if it had been a full orchestra production, like the ending themes from Final Fantasy games with which I was more familiar. Looking online and seeing a curious lack of fan-made Lunar 2 remixes and tributes out there, I decided to do my part.

Here is "Lucia's Theme," re-envisioned to sound more like a Final Fantasy ending theme, thereby combining two of my favorite things. True Lunar 2 fans will discover other themes from the game hidden throughout the orchestration. All arrangement and production is 100% my own work, including the vocals. Here, you can listen to me sing a song that was never intended for my voice type. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Additionally, I had the good fortune of being able to share this version with Noriyuki Iwadare (composer of the original) who gave it his personal stamp of approval. That finally makes me cool, I just know it. Enjoy. Thank you!"

The vocalist's style and the stirring presentation remind me of an aesthetic you might hear in a Contemporary Christian or praise context; not a good or bad thing, per se, but I think it works well with this particular source and with the ReMixer's voice. The highlights for me are all the runs, flourishes, and ornamentations Chris has baked into the accompaniment, which is heavy on string swells, agile woodwinds, and harp/bell arpeggios... the net effect is that it's not someone singing OVER an orchestra, it's someone singing WITH an orchestra, as the two components complement one another from phrase to phrase. When I first heard it, I described it to the judges as a "swirling, old-school Disney feel," and I think that label sticks & says a good deal. Chimpazilla writes:

"This instrumentation gets my highest rating, WOW it's well done. The vocal comes in a touch loud for me, and while the singing is competent with good vibrato, there are spots that are flat. Even so, this cover is sensational."

Nutritious adds:

"Great instrumentation and writing on display... Chris achieves a great balance between the backing orchestra and the vocals so that the former supports, rather than competes with, the latter.

Great delicate phrasing on even more minor backing instruments. Top notch sequencing here. Man, instrumentation sounds gorgeous. I'm plagued with sample envy."

Samples are definitely good, but it's more about how they're being employed.... very good ear for part-writing, balance, dynamics, AND tempo, all of which breath life into the arrangement. Great & romantic stuff for V-Day; hope to hear more from Chris in the future!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 5 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
avatar
Crulex
on 2017-04-05 02:23:21

Dude, man, I'm blown away by how well your voice goes to this! It's freaking magical how the vocals here guides instrumentation and flows with the orchestra, which sounded beautiful in it's own right. Gorgeous all around, and the goal of giving it that Final Fantasy ending vibe was achieved here. Very cool ReMix, man.

avatar
lontas
on 2017-03-12 00:56:33
On 3/4/2017 at 7:14 PM, LavenderWolf said:

Your voice is stunning~ I may have melted XD Rich and gentle, and I can feel the love you have for Lunar.

Thank you! This comment made my day. Spreading the Lunar love is exactly what I was hoping this remix would do.

- Chris

avatar
LavenderWolf
on 2017-03-04 20:14:18

Your voice is stunning~ I may have melted XD Rich and gentle, and I can feel the love you have for Lunar.

avatar
lemnlime
on 2017-02-25 13:38:56

I can't believe this is the only remix of Lunar 2 on the site! Such a great, underrated sprite-based RPG. By coincidence, I just played it again a few months ago and was reminded of all the things that make the 2 main Lunar games so great (interesting characters, intriguing story and, of course, upbeat music). This is a worthy remix but I personally would have preferred seeing a remix of another song since I found the lyrics a little on the cheesy side

avatar
djpretzel
on 2017-02-14 16:17:13

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (Working Designs , 1999, PS1)
Music by Noriyuki Iwadare
Songs:
"Lucia's Theme"

Tags (15)


Genre:
Ballad,Symphonic
Mood:
Mellow,Romantic
Instrumentation:
Bells,Brass,Flute,Harp,Singing,Strings,Vocals: Male,Woodwinds
Additional:
Lyrics > Lyrics: Existing
Time > Tempo: Slow
Time > Tempo: Variable

File Information


Name:
Lunar_2_Blue_Star_Prayer_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
12,289,545 bytes
MD5:
81cf159ec213a5a92f038f44432b92d6
Bitrate:
212Kbps
Duration:
7:40

When I was alone as one,
my eyes were as blind, I know.
Sky brilliant with blue elegance,
I couldn't behold.

When I was alone as one,
My heart was as ice, so cold.
Wind whispering sweet melodies,
I could not behold.

Sight to my eyes,
and warmth to my heart,
Your love has been such to me.

Pull closer now,
And strengthen my leaning,
Toward love to heal all my wounds.

When our hearts both beat in time,
There's magic in your smile,
It seems there's nothing we can't do.

And within your warm embrace,
My heart will find a place,
Even from afar,
Our love forever shall be destiny.

When I was alone as one,
my eyes were as blind, I know.
Sky brilliant with blue elegance,
I couldn't behold.

When I was alone as one,
My heart was as ice, so cold.
Wind whispering sweet melodies,
I could not behold.

Sight to my eyes,
and warmth to my heart,
Your love has been such to me.

Pull closer now,
And strengthen my leaning,
Toward love to heal all my wounds.

When our hearts both beat in time,
There's magic in your smile,
It seems there's nothing we can't do.

And within your warm embrace,
My heart will find a place,
Even from afar,
Our love forever shall be destiny.

When our hearts both beat in time,
There's magic in your smile,
I know there's nothing we can't do.

And within your warm embrace,
My heart will find a place,
Even from afar,
Our love eternal shall be... destiny.

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