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
RoJ: Outstanding is just the right word for this remix!!
prq: Excellent tune
Wilfred: I have listenea t least 50 times, but still very enjoying experience. Simply brilliant piece of music!
92%
eliot: The original can not be beaten by any remake 😀
Dumper: Absolutely brilliant.
Nebdar: This tune has sole and purpose… Similar to the Twin peaks Tv series tune
93%
humorguy: Oh sorry fell up from somewhere really nice. Big fat red one!
condor: Agreed with ommoroca - wonderful!
eliot: Very very very outstanding 😊
92%
Year 2001
machinae supremacy - Great Giana Sisters
benoni: Whoaw! I would like to hear it in the air - and not only tonight! My All-time-favourite!
Hex Madroom: One of my all-time favorites. A brilliant classic.
Breadbox Bill: Excellent!!
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!!!
Jogeir Liljedahl: What can I say! Probably the best tune on the site!! STUNNING!!!
Nebdar: Awsome remix cool one with proper soul
93%
DHS - Max Headroom (Orbital 3241 Elevator Mix)
chairmankaga: One of my favourite SID remixes.
aero: Simply gorgeous
madrigal: Wonderful remix, DHS is a guarantee for quality!😉
90%
Year 2002
Glyn R Brown - Firelord - Symphonic
Trygil: Such a sweeping remix. I felt like I've been taken on an incredible adventure! Love it!!
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.
96%
Mahoney - Armageddon Man (Vocal Jazz feat. Karin Öjehagen)
kaus: Really tender…
macb3t: Absolutely brilliant!!!
prq: This is an excellent tune and Karin's voice is outstanding
95%
Glyn R Brown - Gordian Tomb Adventures
Reverend Kirdneh: This tune is epic!
humorguy: This is awesome. The first stirrings of a what has become a GREAT mixer.
Ginjirou: Absolutely amazing. Required entry on any mp3 player I own. Simply sublime! Could be from a shaolin monk stage show…?
95%
Year 2003
Lagerfeldt - Dutch Breeze/Robocop 3 (Progressive Uplift)
gforg: Auuusommee!
schnaggi: Yeeeeah!
emrebulsat: Perfect… The Powerful SAW Sound… Trance it…
93%
Thomas Detert - Supernova (the slow tune)
Supergrobi123: Ooooooutstanding, man!!!
chabee: Fantastic!
Dumper: Truly wonderful.
93%
91%
Year 2004
spellcoder: Superb, much variation of rythm, volume, vocals throughout the music, yet it is one
Ryrynz: Awesome remix.
mustafa: Never played the game, but this remix is fantastic
97%
97%
DHS - The Human Race (Bando alle Seghe)
LaLa: F--ing awesome! I'm in total awe! (And that doesn't happen very often.) The beginning reminds me of Deep Forest - same great ethnic feeling.
Dumper: I gave this an orange before, but hearing it quite a bit lately I now feel it deserves a nice big red one.
infamous: Proof that DHS aint a one trick pony… This is a MUST have… Wonderful tune
94%
Year 2005
Makke - Artura(Dublin Delight Mix) feat. Andreas Wallström
deleyt: Excellent!
Tas: Great fun, very enjoyable. Super dooper pooper scooper
snorski: One word: GREAT!!
95%
Marcel Donné - Something Stranger Remake
commodoremuseum: When's the album coming out?
ifadeo: F**k'n brilliant! OUTSTANDING!
DHS: Standing ovation from me. This is spine chilling and procured some erections too 😊
92%
winc: This is very high quality and professional remix. LOVELY work!
prowler: Wonderful as always by Glyn. Mmm, the Recovery has been on my SID-playlist for 20 years now, which does not make things worse. Thanks Glyn!
nec5: Really. You won't get better than this for orchestra/chant music. A+
92%
Year 2006
Andy Gilmour & LMan - Robocop Title
XxDUSTYxX: This one is brilliant! The guitar-sound, the ambience and the mixing is just perfect! Thumbs up!
Chainsaw: Robooooooo!!!
Kate Eternal: Very nice 80s-style tune!!! Extra red one for the tabs!😊
95%
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Tristess
widar: Amazing, simply amazing! The best?
bratac: Fantastic, and the lead is IMO perfect for this tune.
omoroca: Don't know the original, but I love it. More of that, please! Added to my collection.
93%
machinae supremacy - Sidology 2 Trinity
Steve Foster: Brilliant in every way!
weasel: Hahaha!! Remixae SUPREMACY!!! Great version again, guys!! Yeah…
Snake1: Brilliant!
93%
YEAR 2007
Reyn Ouwehand - Green Beret (live at The Church)
Noisywan: I'm not familiar with the original SID song but I loved it.
cyphax: Simply beautiful.
BeeZerk: Very Impressive, well done!
97%
Dafunk - Destruction - The New Beginning (rmx)
snorski: Smooth!! Like it a lot!
GSC: Napierdalaj 😃
klosterkatten: This tune is great! You really improved! Well done, I cant give anything but this cute red smiley.
93%
knotti: Nice beat Nice Track
gol: Amazing sound
moog: This tune I'm listening over and over again with my mp3 player.
93%
YEAR 2008
Mordi - Plastic Pop (I Miss You mix)
Agemixer: Lovely! Good arrangement & everything, your best remix so far. My humble individual vote for this individual tune, not affected by anyone above (to make it clear). Balancing votes recognized, not fair. Kids…
Trace: LOVELY! 😃 jl74: You should vote on the remix, not on how god or bad the original itslef is…
carpii: Ahhh I love this tune, it makes me happy and thats all I want from music
93%
Dafunk - Hardcore Power (We Believe In Goa - Remix)
NecroPolo: This musical style is not my cup of tea. The top notch execution is.
Nada: Nice!!!
Danceaway: Starts 08 as he left 07… Top stuff and the sounds are bang on, along with top mixing… Keep it up Master Dafunk…
93%
Peter W - Stargate (Not As Trancelucent As)
Nebdar: It is so nice to listen to it. The time pass so quickly
prowler: Very professional dreamtrance! A bit sleepy at times, but very enjoyable.
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)
nicodaemus: It is a bit too much at the beginning but about half-way to the end I ended up loving it. Good for you and me as well, I guess. 😃
L0rd3vyL: One of my favourite Commando remixes
Flyingsaucer: I like it so much wonderful old time.
96%
Jogeir Liljedahl - Synth Sample - The Stationary Ark
deleyt: Great stuff!
condor: Reminded me to Kitaro's masterpieces… And My immortal. Beautifull arrangeemnt.
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
ScottMcUK: Thank you soooo much for this. Hope you pay homage to some of the other Ocean Loaders also.
russ: This is just amazing, I cant stop playing this 😀
94%
YEAR 2010
p2: One off JB's better songs even gets better every time it's remixed!! F*cking great gituar solo & sound!! We want more, we want more… Di!! This version together with Marcel Donne's and Lagerfeldt's version is my top 3 of Sweetness! -p2/h3@tw@v3
Ryrynz: Awesome, though I still prefer Marcel Donne's version. His background tune adds alot of oomph and this ones a bit blippy. This tune instead focuses on the lead and thats what makes this tune get a red.
lomaxx: I miss something: a flaw.
95%
Chabee - Baboon (Skydive ReMix)
Zilog: Exquisite!
C64ever: Really good this, nice and mellow to listen too.
Karmar: Beautiful
92%
SIDrip Alliance - From First to Last (AROK12 tribute mix)
Danceaway: Love it, top mix and it blends through each track perfectly, looking forward to seeing you guys live at somepoint in the future… Keep it up guys!!!
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.
Makke: Standing ovations from me. Only one complaint: The drums sound way too flat, static and thin for this heavy track.
92%
YEAR 2011
moog (Sebastian Bachliñski) - Jazzcat (007)
Mordi: Been listening to this regularly since it's release on SceneSat Vol 2. Outstanding as ever.
Melaure: What a wonderfull piece of Jazz. Sax, guitar,. … Not far from perfection!
LMan: The name's Funk. Moog Funk.
93%
NecroPolo: Drax gets Mordified. I like both factors.
Dees Productions: The perfect mix of a perfect song. Like to drizzle honey all over the floor and just roll around!
LMan: I love DRAX' melodies, and I love Modi's remix.
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.
MattMaybee: Wow! Really different but really good!
Pandarific: I absolutely LOVE THIS!
94%
YEAR 2012
ulfepulf: Kult!
DSMarine: One just doesn't walk past Mordi's music XD. Great as always.
snorski: Sweet!
94%
Andreas Wallström and NecroPolo - DMC demo IV 2 (Celtic Mission mix)
LMan: Yeah ROCK! The awesomeness! Can you guys make a remix of Commando, just like this one?
werdy: Until now (and the SIDrip) I wasn't a rock fun. BUT NOW I AM. This tune is awesome, rock on!!!
Amok: ACE!!! The drums and bass could be more prominent though 😊
93%
Chainsaw: Just awesome great. This rocks!!! Red smile, because there is no higher one!
bordeaux: Great tribute, awesome guitars - thanks a lot!
teo: Great remix, has it all what's needed!
93%
YEAR 2013
monty: Never expected Kitaro to join RKO. Welcome, dude! 😃
KhaosLight2: Jarre in 2013 ❤️
N3XU5: A masterpiece 😃
93%
LukHash - Supremacy (youtube vid)
Volkans80: Very good
Crono: Masterpiece!
weasel: LukHash is a BLAAAST!!! 😃 Really, really cool stuff he's doing here! KEEP ON GOING, pal! *Thumbs UP!*
93%
BeeZerk - BeeZerk - Blasphemy (Feat. Pallaso & Kage)
Cyanuric: A little thin if you ask me but cool stuff nontheless!
JLD: Amazing remix!!
weasel: Yeah!!! What LMan said!!! 😃😃😃
93%
YEAR 2014
Slaygon - Platoon (Inexperti belli)
defiance: This is amazing…!
The SIE: Outstanding it is…
LaLa: Grungy, metallic, dirty. Just like war. I can just see the platoon marching through the muddy jungle. Very, very well done!
94%
Robert Engstrand - The Mansion Gardens (Last Ninja medley)
Zilog: Goosebumps everytime!
Jojje70: The female vocals does a wonderful job in this remix, totally lifts it to a higher level! Great production and arrangement, nicely done.
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
LaLa: Cinematic! Epic! Orchestral! Welcome back, Markus!!!
The SIE: Well, what more can I say when everything is already said. OUTSTANDING.
Thiad: This is Great. Cool Remix.
93%
Year 2015
Slaygon - Never Die (Skitz lives forever)
_steve_: An incredibly emotive piece
Makke: This is simply brilliant!
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
Aule: Atmospheric Masterpiece!
Joe Mc Lutz: One word: MAGIC!
chosc: Hello! Well Done man, your tune is so wonderful and sometimes it remembers me of the old kung fu movies.
95%
MRT - Eagles (Easy Flight mix)
Pepe Pinapple: Two Steps ahead!
LaLa: Very chillax. Clean and refined, unique and personal. Me like!
blubberdiblub: Wow, just wow! The reverberation creates a dreamy atmosphere, the bass line so powerful and the strings simply lovely.
93%
YEAR 2016
Mordi: Cool! Very original take on the source. I like the mood.
ChrisBond: Wow - that is a really good remix, good sounds good arragement, but a little static beat - love it anyway, and thanks a lot for the Cybernoid I Bonus at the end - lovely
Shark: Superb remix and liked the Cybernoid 1 part towards the end. Great stuff!
96%
Johan Andersson - Out Run - Splash Wave (surf mix)
ChrisBond: What can I say, perfect Beatles like 😊
Blackstar: Love it!
vurtx: Just perfect in all areas.
94%
94%
YEAR 2017
SIDNIFY - Supremacy (Overprime mix)
Haxel: Beautiful mixing and gorgeous arrangement!
XxDUSTYxX: That's so dope! |m|
ShakeZpear: Wow - gimme more of this!
97%
Ryrynz: Would like something more like Apollo2k's version but no denying the quality of this.
redhot: Awesome, especially the bass line
HighCSharps: Awesomeness in one word!! Thanks
94%
96%
YEAR 2018
FastLoaders - Commando High Score
LaLa: Wow! Just wow! Perfect!
Jojje70: Crisp and very well produced with nice improvs!
LMan: Super sweet rock ballad. All thumbs up!
96%
95%
FastLoaders - Ghouls and Ghosts
Uglybob: Progressive
Amon73: Uno dei migliori che ho ascoltato qui 😊 Ci vorrebbero più FastLoaders nel mondo 😊 Perfetto!
GlenBenton: Wow, man!
94%
YEAR 2019
Peter Clarke - Firelord - Symphonic (a nod to Glyn)
bastard: Absolutely wonderful arrangement!
_steve_: Love Glyn's original - this re-imagining of that is very well put together and is a great addition to it. Not sure omoroca is hearing the same tune as eveyone else.
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.
96%
Glyn R Brown - Firelord (from 8Bit Symphony)
_steve_: This is simply amazing. The only way to top it is being at the live performance in June
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
celina w: This remix is really amazing!
97%
97%
YEAR 2020
peterparker: Nice and fitting guitar solo!
Mordi: Awesome track, Peter! Your britishness is really shining through in this one, with the ELO references.😃
Mayhem: Erm… Wow!
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…
tw1l1ght: Wow! You guys better be careful not being 'asked' to get a permit from the community before being allowed to submit more entries in that trio -> Puts each of your best sides into a complete package of awesomeness! ❤️ @3:30 - SO Slaygons part!😉
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.
95%
SIDNIFY - The Last Ninja - The Wilderness
MatrixRevolution: Amazing!
JLD: Superb!
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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