Christmas Special Editorial: 20 years of RKO (The charts revisited)
Published: 24/12/2020 by Neil Carr
In the year 2000 Jan Lund Thomsen's RKO (remix.kwed.org) was born. Finally, a resource that enabled remixers to uploaded their remixes for the world to enjoy. Before that time the remixing scene were made up of several websites spread around the internet. Finding these sites and jumping around from one to another was a painful and a somewhat chaotic experience. Over the years RKO would establish itself to be the one stop shop to get your c64 remix fix. In this Christmas editorial special we go back through the years and present the top 3 remixes voted by our readers from each year to the current day. So grab a cuppa sit back and enjoy whilst we take you on a nostalgia trip. Oh! and if you haven't voted yet on these remixes here's a chance to do so. Happy Christmas everyone.
*Ratings are correct at the time of publish. Ratings subject to varience should votes be cast.
YEAR: 2000
Nebdar: Very good atmosphere build up and orchestral arrangment. Brilliant play and great work
Capitaine: Crazyyy! It's just the original tune atmosphere. Many thanks for this :)
condor: Never commented this one... With Zoids, I think it can von title of your best remix.
93%
mfe: To take something so simple and make it this atmospheric requires skill. Kudos!
karter: Must have for every collection. Outstanding!
Nebdar: This tune has sole and purpose... Similar to the Twin peaks Tv series tune
93%
john4p: Brilliant.
condor: Agreed with ommoroca - wonderful!
Trydowave: Best version of zoids. Obvious Jarre influence. Great stuff
92%
Year 2001
machinae supremacy - Great Giana Sisters
soundtrix: Spectacular Power!!
Tas: Groundbreaking!
mfe: I'm not a metal man, but the quality in this cannot be dismissed!
96%
Tonka - Last Ninja - Palace Gardens (Loader)
Dr Hambone: Absolutely perfect from start to finish apart from the snare build up at 1. 15 which I find a bit over the top. Well done. This is my favourite remix I've heard!!!
deadguyfromhun: Great track, with a "traditional" Last Ninja rythmics..
decibel: Lovely, the fade out at the end is sublime
93%
DHS - Max Headroom (Orbital 3241 Elevator Mix)
humorguy: Great value for money DHS just keeps on doin' it!
chairmankaga: One of my favourite SID remixes.
madrigal: Wonderful remix, DHS is a guarantee for quality!;)
91%
Year 2002
Glyn R Brown - Firelord - Symphonic
raiden: Fucking Awesome! Glyn Keep this up will ya ;)
Chappers: Flawless and simply brilliant! Glyn should be making big bucks producing quality like this for the big budget movies.
Dan: HOLY FUCK!
96%
Mahoney - Armageddon Man (Vocal Jazz feat. Karin Öjehagen)
allannoe: Outstanding!
plokolp: One of the best pieces of music I have ever listened to. Never get tired of listening to this. Pink Floyd should recruit Karin for the Great Gig in the Sky!
kaus: Really tender..
95%
Glyn R Brown - Gordian Tomb Adventures
Grigul: My personal all-time favourite. One of the oldest tracks I heared at SlayRadio, and still love and enjoy it. Glyn R. Brown is a Master of c-64-remixes.
madrigal: Wonderful, with such "barbarian epic style". Glyn, this is your masterpiece!:)
ricky: !
95%
Year 2003
Lagerfeldt - Dutch Breeze/Robocop 3 (Progressive Uplift)
zera: I hear the song already for years. And I will hear it still many years. Ingenious.
gforg: Auuusommee!
NecroPolo: That's what I'd call a proper sonic threatment! Not my style but I don't really care when I meet such high quality work.
93%
Thomas Detert - Supernova (the slow tune)
LaLa: As a huge fan of Vangelis how could I vote anything but "outstanding" on this masterpiece? It sounds like something straight out of "1492 - Conquest of Paradise".
Ryrynz: Beautifully done.
Amok: OMG... Powerful, Epic, Awesome... Speechless...
93%
mz1453: Sounds like Kitaro! Relaxing, clear and yet powerful!
exo: Simply a great song.
Dan: Sit back, put your feet up and enjoy!
92%
Year 2004
Skitz: I seriously think Glyn should score the forthcoming Hobbit film he is that good! This reminds me of the Gladiator score especially with the vocals in there. I think we should send some of his stuff to Peter Jackson!
tusy: Great
Dumper: What a wonderful tune, great to see Glyn back.
97%
LaLa: Vangelis meets Sweet - the result is so good, I think it's even more emotional than the original... Wow...
NecroPolo: I still like the original SID better - but hey, what a piece of synth art...! It captures the essence.
Sideside: Cs-80!!!
96%
DHS - The Human Race (Bando alle Seghe)
humorguy: In a different class. Like Mr. Brown and just one or two others not in the charts.
Dumper: I gave this an orange before, but hearing it quite a bit lately I now feel it deserves a nice big red one.
Netopejr: This is what a REMIX means! Inovative, personal and - last but not least - PROFESSIONAL!
94%
Year 2005
Makke - Artura(Dublin Delight Mix) feat. Andreas Wallström
karter: Woooow.... This is it....
tball: Brilliant, especially the lyrics. Not sure what else to say.
romeo_knight: This is simply amazing! Makke, it's an honour to be beaten by you!
95%
Marcel Donné - Something Stranger Remake
Zilog: Lovely!
LMan: Great 80s style synth hymn.
ahovland: Don't have words:)
93%
saulc12: Filled with sweet and mellow fruitfulness - sheer bliss
merl: ........... Wow :O. I wish Glynn was my music-teacher!
tazuk: Sounds very Mike Oldfieldish, which is not a bad thing :o)
92%
Year 2006
Andy Gilmour & LMan - Robocop Title
mfe: Except for one cheesy niggle with this piece that makes me cringe, the rest is about as good as it gets!
Zieman: An instant favourite!
TNT: I like the combination of the synths and the guitar and I love 80s style. Simply stunning!
96%
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Tristess
mania: Awesome tune and the synth sound at 1:19 rocks, don't listen to them ;)
ender: ::thumbs up::
klosterkatten: Perfect piano play, it feels like im never gonna get tired of this one.
94%
machinae supremacy - Sidology 2 Trinity
LokkoLori: This is Supremacy... Literally
Kelsaurian: Absolute ballar!
radsbr: Very good song!
94%
YEAR 2007
Reyn Ouwehand - Green Beret [live at The Church]
inqisit0r: Very nice. Update:This obviously deserves an outstanding. Amazing. This is a flowing, imaginative, original composition. Everything comes together.
el sid: This is absolutely one of my top ten favourites around here. Absolutely brilliant performance and beautiful guitar play!
BeeZerk: Very Impressive, well done!
97%
Dafunk - Destruction - The New Beginning (rmx)
Man from Stars: I like it all impresinve rithmic music for me.
bratac: Excellent, it has melody and yet is trancy.
snorski: Smooth!! Like it a lot!
93%
Nebdar: It is outstanding it instantly focus my attention and ears on this track
Nada: This is professional stuff. Depeche Mode sound like Michael Bolton next to this!!! Dafunk, you rule!
the_jinx: Great feel to it.. Wonderfull stuff!!
93%
YEAR 2008
Mordi - Plastic Pop (I Miss You mix)
bunker: The first time I thought it was a silly little thing but I grew to love it and now think it's epic. Love the digital effects on the vocals.
Mayhem: Quite frankly one of the remixes of 2008 imo. Utterly sublime production.
brix: Hell a good one! Something very different, well executed and the original melody is good to recognize.
93%
Dafunk - Hardcore Power (We Believe In Goa - Remix)
BeeZerk: Top notch tune, clear production, great transitions, prof arrangement and perfect lenght. The hookline is the thing I like the most, awesome work.
migu: Simply great!
Waz: Now this IS nice, and even nicer than the old version Dafunk did. Chucked this through my Mission m73 biwired floorstanders and that bass is pumping to say the least. The latter part sounds epic trance style too, it rocks!
93%
Peter W - Stargate (Not As Trancelucent As)
Varan: Builds up the mood very nicely the first minutes and then releases a nice melody. Very dreamy indeed. The ending feels a bit "flat" though.
prowler: Very professional dreamtrance! A bit sleepy at times, but very enjoyable.
Nebdar: It is so nice to listen to it. The time pass so quickly
93%
YEAR 2009
Firestorm - Commando (Sound of SceneSat Edit)
Gothmog: Woha! O_O RESPECT!!!!
Lewrax: Fascinating......
alpi: Awesome arrangement and brilliant-sounding, thumbs up *cheers
96%
Jogeir Liljedahl - Synth Sample - The Stationary Ark
DoubleMan: Oh my God... Thats so beatifull...
chabee: I love it!!!
Maegnuz: Jogeir - need I say more?
96%
XxDUSTYxX: Thumbs up! This one is brilliant!
Xtrabyte: Excellent
Dumper: Stunning, and a beautiful use of sounds.
94%
YEAR 2010
mfe: Love the execution of this version.
Melaure: Great job!
horizoner: This one blew me away - AWESOME!!!
95%
Chabee - Baboon (Skydive ReMix)
condor: Sounds, details... Brilliant! Reminded me to moog's remixes.
unreal: Yeaa! It is a great remix now!! I loves the feel, and the various elements and samples in the music! Congratulations, I am waitin' the next one, my friend!:)
Mordi: Cool tune. Great sounds and lovely percussion. I love your style!
93%
SIDrip Alliance - From First to Last (AROK12 tribute mix)
K8-bit: I really really like this.. I love the guitar play, and the nostalgia the montage brings me.. But I think more variation in the SIDdy parts would've been better.. Too much reliance on the samey triangle lead IMHO.
maindrian: Makes me want to dry hump my speakers. It's THAT filthy. The lead does feel a little flimsy over the top of all that crunchy guitar, but boy, oh boy, does that guitar crunch.
Spite: A very good (and unique) remix of Last Ninja tunes. A but flat on the drums and the bass could go up a bit, but the uniqueness of the remix still makes it one of the best rock-remixes so far this year.
93%
YEAR 2011
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Jazzcat (007)
nettuno: Excellent, melody, arrangement and a style unique. WOW!
_steve_: How can this be rated "bad? ! " - were you even listening to the same song as everyone else?
NecroPolo: _steve_: Someone needs to grow taste or ears, maybe both :) I'd really appreciate some explanation coming with bad rating instead of trolling with no name. That's coward in a way, eh?
93%
Wilfred: My first favourite on remix64, simple, beautiful arrangement
Ryrynz: Once again Mordi delivers us beautiful sounds.
aero: It just feels groooooooove!
94%
Peter Clarke - Ocean Loader 3 (Cinematic remix)
Foxfield: I want to see a movie with this one in it's soundtrack.
Pandarific: I absolutely LOVE THIS!
hillsman: The best Ocean Loader? Check. The original composer? Check. Win! Win!
94%
YEAR 2012
LMan: Perfect, just perfect, mate.
DSMarine: One just doesn't walk past Mordi's music XD. Great as always.
Zekses: Simply outstanding as usual. I love your remixes!
94%
Andreas Wallström and NecroPolo - DMC demo IV 2 (Celtic Mission mix)
rotteroy: Horns up!!!
Frida Katarina: Wow! I heard this and wondered if it was Steve Morse on the guitar. Made me happy!
Dees Productions: Wow, such a great sound and energy in this song. I really like this!
94%
XxDUSTYxX: Awesome Remix, so much energy! Arman was a legend. He and his music will be missed.
chabee: Great as it is!
teo: Great remix, has it all what's needed!
94%
YEAR 2013
Mayhem: Not a SID familiar with, but the remix sounds great :)
Slayer: Nice work.
NecroPolo: That SID is a heavy piece of cake, man! Execution is flawless, the remix gone several steps beyond the original (already great) atmosphere. I like it soundwise, too.
94%
LukHash - Supremacy [youtube vid]
oxygen: I really liked your original tone, wonderful work piece
MORBID: Such a brilliant remix!
_steve_: Very powerful chip mix. Another fantastic mix
93%
BeeZerk - BeeZerk - Blasphemy (Feat. Pallaso & Kage)
JLD: Amazing remix!!
Melaure: Top of the charts!
NecroPolo: Man that's some serious summer hit stuff that is beyond being a cool SID remix. Awesome work!
93%
YEAR 2014
Slaygon - Platoon (Inexperti belli)
The SIE: Outstanding it is..
Jojje70: Awesome guitars, very well produced with lots of atmosphere!
druu: Outstanding indeed! From the very first version to this piece of gold, it just keeps getting better! Chills well deserved.
95%
Robert Engstrand - The Mansion Gardens (Last Ninja medley)
thomassd: Cool!
Jimbob: A hugely enjoyable track. The vocals work amazingly well.
bahamut_ger: Oh my God. VERY NICE MEDLEY. Thank you for that one. One of the Best I heard so far
93%
Markus Schneider - Enlightenment - Druid II
Blackstar: Love it - count me in for next tour
Gocab: Nice take and realy great hollywood sound.
infamous: Markus has always been a fantastic musician and all thats changed over the years to me is the increase in production values, great stuff as always.
93%
Year 2015
Slaygon - Never Die (Skitz lives forever)
_steve_: An incredibly emotive piece
Nickenstein: This is seriously fucking beautiful, Slaygon! (In my head, Skitz will never die.)
L0rd3vyL: What an amazing mix. Early favorite for Best C64 remix for 2015. Can't wait to see what this year has in store.
96%
Dr Future - Fist II - The Legend Continues
Uraniummind: Das ist der erste C64-Remix-Track den ich sogar runtergeladen habe, um ihn in meinen Musikordner zu packen
LaLa: Lovely arrangement, Western-style oriental ambience done right.
NecroPolo: All I can say, it nailed the feel of the original to the bone. Goosebumper.
95%
MRT - Eagles (Easy Flight mix)
timmya4000: Absolutely fantastic, top notch, faultless
NecroPolo: This track has antique aesthetics and balance. The style is not really for me. The quality is.
nummer2: Love it :)
94%
YEAR 2016
spavatch: Excellent remix, wonderful in every way!
mika: Aaaaand that one is going straight to my car playlist
Ripper7575: This is the best version of Cybernoid 2 in my opinion. Very good quality of sounds.
96%
Johan Andersson - Out Run - Splash Wave (surf mix)
symbols: So Pulp Fiction! :D
finnr: Awesome. Has been on repeat for more than an hour now :)
gABBa =aGp=: Hey boy, you ever were on woodstock? Great tune!:)
94%
94%
YEAR 2017
SIDNIFY - Supremacy (Overprime mix)
Amiga4eveR: Superb!
chabee: Great work guys!
Brosa: Holy cow... Full throttle, love it!
97%
Mordi: Well done! A pleasant listening experience. Edit: Relistening two months later. It's really nice!
JustPhreak: Really nice!!
russ: Awesome. Really enjoying this :-)
95%
95%
YEAR 2018
FastLoaders - Commando High Score
Breadbox Bill: This Remix is amazing!
FNL: Excellent! :-D
Ryrynz: Sounds a bit too crisp at the start in comparison to the rest.. But I'll let it pass.
97%
96%
95%
YEAR 2019
Peter Clarke - Firelord - Symphonic (a nod to Glyn)
Marcus: I still love Glyn's version after all these years(2002)! It's almost impossible to improve his fantastic version or his Times of Lore. Your choir Peter fits perfectly your remix and I got goose bumps. Very Well Done! Both versions are just great for me.
Breadbox Bill: I love it!
Poppykuk: Great arrangement. Keeps the atmosphere of the original but sounds huge.
98%
Glyn R Brown - Firelord (from 8Bit Symphony)
Chris Abbott: A huge upgrade to the iconic 2002 version. Make sure you catch the "pure symphony" version at http://www.8-bit-symphony.com
Tas: It's Glyn and his name is the new word for better than epic! So, This is full of Glynness!=)
grin: I really love these interpretations, very effective ear libricators!
98%
Mordi: Dane meets Liljedahl! Highly enjoyable!
aix: I don't comment very often, but when I do... Whoa.
c64glen: Outstanding. Unfamiliar with the original but there Pink's "Who Knew" in there.
97%
YEAR 2020
Makke: After a number of listens I updated my vote to red. Sega Super Sonic Team Band quality!
archon: I listened to the original arcade and mainly the C64 version million times. This is a gigantic interpretation Sega should pay for and I'm sure everyone who knows the original would appreciate. So much effort in this, deserves alot of love :) Thank you!
XxDUSTYxX: Extremely catchy feel-good music!:)
95%
Peter Clarke, ziona & Slaygon - Tales of Boon (The Collaboration Mix)
NecroPolo: Welcome to the movie :)
XxDUSTYxX: Excellent collaboration! Thank you very much for this Remix, ziona, Slaygon and Peter Clarke!:)
MagicMosher: You guys should absolutely keep up the work together the harmony between the 3 styles of music takes me on a journey
95%
SIDNIFY - The Last Ninja - The Wilderness
XxDUSTYxX: Thank you for your powerful and catchy hi-quality remix, SIDNIFY! Ben Daglish will never be forgotten!
Ahriakin: Great remix, lots of energy while respecting the source.
Ryrynz: Doesn't get much better than this, it's got all the elements of a top notch remix, love the fresh new SID sound, what an evolution! Holy shit @3:00, bro we need more remixes from you here!
95%
People, we should considder ourselves lucky to be part of a community diverse enough to cover everything from the solitary hobbyist with a copy of Fruityloops to an 80-piece symphonic orchestra. The solitary remixer can afford to be out of pocket on a remix since the music isn’t his/her day job - the professional musician doesn’t have that luxury. Dismissing one over the other isn’t a way to take the hobby in new directions. If you prefer the freely available renditions, that’s fine by me - but don’t knock commercial efforts simply for having a cost. No one is in this to get rich.
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