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
banador: Just so good and interesting picture of the Nemesis that this music creates.
das.Mordschaf: Its just GREAT ❤️
cinemaniac: Perhaps the best remix of this, the best C64 theme out there ever!
92%
t0ester: Brilliant!!
eliot: The original can not be beaten by any remake 😀
PhunkyData: Love this old classic.
93%
countzorg: Shimmering
john4p: Brilliant.
Melaure: Excellent, I have found Jarre's fealings in this tune 😃
92%
Year 2001
machinae supremacy - Great Giana Sisters
ptitfous: Had metal fans rocking on this!!
NWorXParallax: It'a a fantastic work. I can't get off. Let's play it again!!
GlenBenton: Rocks like hell!
96%
Tonka - Last Ninja - Palace Gardens (Loader)
L0rd3vyL: One of my favorite remixes, if not my favorite remix of the Palace Gardens Loader tune
decibel: Lovely, the fade out at the end is sublime
Heshan: I LOVE this version and play it loud in my tesla
93%
DHS - Max Headroom (Orbital 3241 Elevator Mix)
aero: Simply gorgeous
humorguy: Great value for money DHS just keeps on doin' it!
legus: Gooood!!!
90%
Year 2002
Glyn R Brown - Firelord - Symphonic
cosmic_gerbil: This is way cool… It reminds me of Lord of the Rings somehow
Craze: Well, this is not the work of a hobby musician. This is professional. Extremely well performed and creative remix.
Tas: Still sets a standard
96%
Mahoney - Armageddon Man (Vocal Jazz feat. Karin Öjehagen)
MORBID: This is brilliant!
bordeaux: Thank you for this outstanding piece of art!
migu: So very beautiful still.
95%
Glyn R Brown - Gordian Tomb Adventures
Pietafon: Awesome!
_steve_: Simply stunning. Very emotive and well produced. Another classic from Glyn.
Reverend Kirdneh: This tune is epic!
95%
Year 2003
Lagerfeldt - Dutch Breeze/Robocop 3 (Progressive Uplift)
bordeaux: Still one of my favorite remixes ever after 3 years!
infamous: Outstanding
donkeyspank: So good! The speech just adds to the atmosphere!
93%
Thomas Detert - Supernova (the slow tune)
snorski: Epic
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.
NecroPolo: This one is stunning. Damn! Quality is timeless.
93%
91%
Year 2004
mad_medicine: I think, I'll throw my Conan 2 Sondtrack - CD in a deep pit!
raiden: A real Golden Composer Glyn Is the best A GOD!
gamleerik: Totally awesome. We should have more like this, then the world would be a better place.😉
97%
raiden: JUst So SWEET! Cant say anything els Good Job 😉
YogibearRenoise: Best Sweet RMX!
snorski: Brilliant
97%
DHS - The Human Race (Bando alle Seghe)
NecroPolo: Excellent rendition. No more, no less.
Gildan: WHOA! A stunner from DHS, when the bass and drums kicked in it took me to bliss…
Amok: Still great but I think its overrated and I prefer DJ Mitch's version… Finally I cant resist it… 😃
94%
Year 2005
Makke - Artura(Dublin Delight Mix) feat. Andreas Wallström
prq: Gotta love the Irish sounds! Brilliant!
placio74: Brilliant & Masterpiece!!!
brix: Awesome! Great fun to listen to too. Where's my Guinness?
95%
Marcel Donné - Something Stranger Remake
commodoremuseum: When's the album coming out?
NecroPolo: Some synth epic stuff never hurts. Great work.
_steve_: A piece completely worthy of the outstanding vote. Extremely atmospheric with amazing ambience and instrumentation.
92%
92%
Year 2006
Andy Gilmour & LMan - Robocop Title
gibs: Yeah that piece rock, and has a very very very good sound… Very good production with good arrangements… Very proffessional
Chainsaw: Robooooooo!!!
Ryrynz: Had this on my PC for almost 10 years and haven't voted on it. Emotion from the get go, I feel like it would almost belong on Cowboy Bebop or some other high profile anime closing. Incredible stuff!
95%
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Tristess
Chainsaw: This is really a masterpiece!
lil_eve: Wow… Just wow. I'm such a piano fan. To hear it in combination with such non-classical elements is a great experience. Never imagined such a thing. This Remix found its way into my playlist ^^
olla: Simply great!! Keep it up Moogie…
93%
machinae supremacy - Sidology 2 Trinity
Fozzee69: Brilliant in every way!
gforg: Great song!
Sargon: Really nice Sid Metal!
93%
YEAR 2007
Reyn Ouwehand - Green Beret (live at The Church)
BeeZerk: Very Impressive, well done!
Zatuffli: GIGANTOMANISCH!
stainless_steel: Awesome rulage by master reyn rockin the curch. Amen!
97%
Dafunk - Destruction - The New Beginning (rmx)
NecroPolo: Not my style but it's perfectly done.
Peter W: Here's that dreamy sound again with a taste of a melodic trance breeze, great stuff!
LaLa: Great arrangement, great sounds, great mastering, great, great, great.
93%
chilli_uk: The more you listen the more you need to listen - great work Dafunk
Dumper: A great tune all round, Dafunk just keeps the quality coming, excellent.
infamous: There is nothing this man touches that doesnt turn to gold, absolutely stunning tune.
93%
YEAR 2008
Mordi - Plastic Pop (I Miss You mix)
Mrcookie: Great, I don't mind the auto tuner. It gives the voice a mysterious shape which fits perfectly into the tune.
dafunk: Very interesting take. Thanks!😊
Xking: I love this tune. Very good singer and lyrics.
93%
Dafunk - Hardcore Power (We Believe In Goa - Remix)
Tex: Yeah!
Dr-Duke: Is it just me, or seems there to be a little Boz-train after the beginning? *smiles* Besides joking, very nice track Dafunk. Personally I most love the intro on this one.
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)
exo: Once again you deliver, Peter. 😀 Effortless flowing musical energy.
Amok: Just great…
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.
92%
YEAR 2009
Firestorm - Commando (Sound of SceneSat Edit)
infamous: Absolutely amazing tune, been waiting for a while for this to be put up here. Hans zimmer would cry if he heard this… Sheer tears of joy.
Metal: Hands down - this is the best remix for a very long time! Simply an amazing piece of work!!
Fozzee69: This is the best remix so far! Sounds like so many different film scores including James bond, Leon the professtional and many more! Love it!
96%
Jogeir Liljedahl - Synth Sample - The Stationary Ark
Zilog: Smooth as always, Jogeir…
Dr Future: Jogeir, I REALLY want a child from you!
C64ever: I'm not familiar with the original sid, but this is a nice soothing track to listen to.
95%
Danceaway: Best oceanloader remix I've heard… Very nice
Mrcookie: With this one, it can load for hours without making me impatient
Skitz: What can I say! Simply Outstanding!
94%
YEAR 2010
k_rostoen: What Mayhem shouted
xo: OMFG - a masterpiece!😀
Mbraze: Awesome remake with awesome guitar solo!
95%
Chabee - Baboon (Skydive ReMix)
Mordi: Cool tune. Great sounds and lovely percussion. I love your style!
Metal_VIB: Pure porn! A tad too mellow for my taste though, but a really good arrangement of the track.
Mitch van Hayden: Superb!
92%
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.
Makke: Standing ovations from me. Only one complaint: The drums sound way too flat, static and thin for this heavy track.
Waz: Let there be rock! It's a very good rendition of several LN tunes but done seamlessly with plenty of good nods to the original. It really does need some harder drums though, otherwise excellent all round.
92%
YEAR 2011
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Jazzcat (007)
nettuno: Excellent, melody, arrangement and a style unique. WOW!
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?
chabee: The sax plays amazing! Nice work!
93%
YogibearRenoise: Great as almost always!
_steve_: Great as usual… Very chilled
soppa: One of my personal favorites, could listen to this all day long.
94%
Peter Clarke - Ocean Loader 3 (Cinematic remix)
NecroPolo: I'm not really into orchestral remixes but only lack of hearing would let me say that I don't appreciate the work behind it much. It's a great track with great arrangement but I like the other version better.
Musoman: This was MY favourite Ocean Loader, brilliant
Pandarific: I absolutely LOVE THIS!
94%
YEAR 2012
bastard: Thanxxx!
Zekses: Simply outstanding as usual. I love your remixes!
ZnL: Awesome, good work!
94%
Andreas Wallström and NecroPolo - DMC demo IV 2 (Celtic Mission mix)
Dees Productions: Wow, such a great sound and energy in this song. I really like this!
truck: \m/ worthy comment I'm just not coming up with right now here
Mordi: Sweet track!
93%
Vaggelis Papadopoulos: Amazing and powerfull Remix NecroPolo!! Kudos brother!!
L0rd3vyL: Awesome. Love me some rock, and you do Armand's tune supurbly.
werdy: Sorry but I can't be objective - original sid is one of my favorite music and this remix is OUTSTANDING. Pure energy everywhere.
93%
YEAR 2013
KhaosLight2: Jarre in 2013 ❤️
chilli_uk: Mix between kreftwork and jarre - so so clever - love it
N3XU5: A masterpiece 😃
93%
LukHash - Supremacy (youtube vid)
MORBID: Such a brilliant remix!
Crono: Masterpiece!
eisei: Love the video too
93%
BeeZerk - BeeZerk - Blasphemy (Feat. Pallaso & Kage)
archon: Wow, great mix and fitting the vocals in just perfectly!
omoroca: Brilliant! Amazing! This year's summer smash hit! Added to my collection.
_steve_: Wow. Beezerk does it again! This is just fantastic.
93%
YEAR 2014
Slaygon - Platoon (Inexperti belli)
Worped: Absolutely epic!
LMan: Killer track.
Kate Eternal: Wonderful!
94%
Robert Engstrand - The Mansion Gardens (Last Ninja medley)
Mordi: Very nice!
Neo-Rio: Deus-Ex: Human (or ninja) Revolution? I'm not sure if it was a deliberate homage to that game, but I loved it. Perhaps if SID lead sounds were a bit lower, it'd be perfect. As it is, send it to Eidos Montreal and see what they say!
K8-bit: Beautiful. Hairs on the back of neck rising kind of good. Please do more Last Ninja themes like this!
93%
Markus Schneider - Enlightenment - Druid II
LMan: Markus Schneider is back, better than ever.
speedy: He's back with really top notch orchestration and mega pro hollywood sound. I waited soo long for a new release. More please!
DHS: Wow! I mean, WOW!
93%
Year 2015
Slaygon - Never Die (Skitz lives forever)
gator: This is an amazing track!
NecroPolo: This track is made of harmony, musicality and honour. Maximum respect, man!
Martinflash: This is the power of Commodore 64 people.
96%
Dr Future - Fist II - The Legend Continues
LaLa: Lovely arrangement, Western-style oriental ambience done right.
Joe Mc Lutz: One word: MAGIC!
NecroPolo: All I can say, it nailed the feel of the original to the bone. Goosebumper.
95%
MRT - Eagles (Easy Flight mix)
nummer2: Love it 😊
mfe: Takes a few too many liberties with the melody for my liking, but it's well mixed.
blubberdiblub: Wow, just wow! The reverberation creates a dreamy atmosphere, the bass line so powerful and the strings simply lovely.
93%
YEAR 2016
spavatch: Excellent remix, wonderful in every way!
Dr.Piotr: Best guitar by Imany and god action on the bass
Sokratekk: Would fit in any Italo Disco set… Great!
96%
Johan Andersson - Out Run - Splash Wave (surf mix)
symbols: So Pulp Fiction! 😃
ChrisBond: What can I say, perfect Beatles like 😊
Tomsk: So much fun to listen to! Excellent
94%
NecroPolo: Despite that I hate dancing and dreamy stuff to quite a high degree I'd be a fool not to see the values of this quality track. Great work and a floor filler contender on a demoscene party.
hillsman: Catchy! Quality!!
L0rd3vyL: Awesome!. … Just awesome!
94%
YEAR 2017
SIDNIFY - Supremacy (Overprime mix)
ZetaNicco: Your Will Be Doneeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
MORBID: Oh yeah!
L0rd3vyL: Fantastic remix, dude
97%
HighCSharps: Awesomeness in one word!! Thanks
russ: Awesome. Really enjoying this 😀
Shargo: MRT and Danko o/ O/ o/
94%
96%
YEAR 2018
FastLoaders - Commando High Score
Marcus: Well done!
LaLa: Wow! Just wow! Perfect!
MatrixRevolution: I love this Melody!!!
96%
Erestor: Perfect!
Tas: WOW! Love the angry yet calm feel. Markus, this is sooo good. Thank you for sharing this.😊
marcel: Is there a superlative for epic? If there is, than this remix is it! Amazing bit of work Sir!
95%
FastLoaders - Ghouls and Ghosts
kwed: Too much (prog) rock for one hand!
LMan: Perfect.
Mordi: Nailing all the arpeggios on guitar. Impressive remix!
94%
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.
JustPhreak: Outstanding work!
Poppykuk: Great arrangement. Keeps the atmosphere of the original but sounds huge.
96%
Glyn R Brown - Firelord (from 8Bit Symphony)
Mano: Top notch.
Gildan: Glyn… Nuff said
grin: I really love these interpretations, very effective ear libricators!
97%
aix: I don't comment very often, but when I do… Whoa.
omoroca: After 20 seconds I knew I have to vote Outstanding. Because… It is. Great job!
c64glen: Outstanding. Unfamiliar with the original but there Pink's Who Knew in there.
97%
YEAR 2020
peltazoid: Amazing!
Paulie68000: One of my all time favourite arcade pieces; I love the seamless blend of genres from the opening strings to the guitar break near the end. Pure class.
Walter12: Best… remix… EVER!!
96%
Peter Clarke, ziona & Slaygon - Tales of Boon (The Collaboration Mix)
Glyn R. Brown: The more I listen to this track, it just gets Better & Better 😊 Great work Guys…
Poppykuk: Another musical journey with peter clarke. I hear the other players and it all works beautifully together. I love the way the soundscape changes.
Marcus: I can't remember the game but wow what a score!. If this great track is 3rd place what is 2nd and 1st in the remix competition.
95%
SIDNIFY - The Last Ninja - The Wilderness
NecroPolo: Spendid work lads!
Tomsk: Quality right here. Brilliant mastering, superb use of the original SID, and punchy as anything! Love this!
Mano: Solid, Well done.
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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